Basketball Lists: Top 500 All-Time Players, 2018 Edition: 400-351

Every year we rank the 500 greatest players in NBA (and ABA) history based on various tranches of empirical data and historical context (breakdown of ranking criteria can be found here). The following is numbers 400 through 351 for the year 2018.

All previous entries can be found here. The full list can be found here with bios, and here as just a list.

400) Jeff Ruland, C, 1981-1993

He was an intimidating force at 6’11” and 240 pounds, but like so many men his size he was also done in by brittle feet and knees
Played 13 years in the NBA, but only in 332 games, i.e., about four full seasons worth of games
Was named 1t-Team All-Rookie for the Bullets in ’81-’82, and in the following four seasons averaged 20.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per game while being named to two All-Star teams
Finished third in the NBA in rebounds per game in ’83-’84 with 12.3, but also finished first in the league in turnovers that season
Started to struggle with injuries right before the 1985 All-Star break, breaking his foot and causing indefinite lingering issues
Retired in 1987 but made a surprise comeback in ’91-’92 after an experimental surgery restored his knee cartilage

399) Vernon Maxwell, G, 1988-2001

Given the nickname “Mad Max” as much for his mercurial demeanor as for his clutch shooting, he’s still both revered and reviled in his college locale of Florida and his main NBA home in Houston

Became the first true basketball star in Gators history, but his reputation is tainted by later admissions of illegally accepting agent money which led to NCAA sanctions for the program

Fell to the second round of the 1988 NBA Draft, and was traded twice in two years before catching on in Houston

Scored 21 points for the Rockets in game seven of the 1994 NBA Finals, and his tenacious defense on John Starks may have been the difference maker

Missed the entire 1995 playoffs as he feigned an injury in protest of the Clyde Drexler trade that was eating into his playing time

Became a journeyman late in his career, with varying degrees of success in stops in Philadelphia, San Antonio, Orlando, Charlotte, Sacramento, Seattle, and Dallas

398) P.J. Brown, F, 1993-2008

The highest rated post-merger player on this list that never scored more than 1,000 points in any given season

Played most of his prime with the Heat as an exemplar of their Pat Riley era, providing gritty rebounding and defensive intensity

Was name to the All-Defensive team three times with Miami

A rarity in that his statistical peaks actually came later in his career, averaging 9.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in five seasons with the Hornets that spanned Charlotte, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City

Spent his late career as a gun-for-hire defense and rebounding specialist, including a title with the Celtics in 2008

397) Johnny Green, F, 1959-1973

Averaged a double-double five times in his career, including at age 36 in ’69-’70 for the Royals

Was also named to the All-Star team in 1971 at the age of 37, while averaging 16.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for Cincinnati

Totaled four All-Star appearances in his career, the first three of which came early on with the Knicks

Despite his individual success with the Knicks, who drafted him fifth overall in 1959, he couldn’t lead them to the playoffs in six seasons, including in ’62-’63, when he averaged career highs in scoring (18.1 per game) and rebounding (12.1 per game)

Finally played for a contender in the 76ers in ’67-’68, but in a limited role off the bench as the team lost in the Conference Finals

Seemingly washed up by 1969, his late career revival with the Royals came after he begged coach Bob Cousy for a tryout

396) Elden Campbell, F, 1990-2005

Led the Lakers in total scoring in the ‘90s, which has to vex Lakers fans, for whom he conjures up mental images of languishing on the sidelines stretching out his injured back, or passively-aggressively feuding with coaches and teammates

Los Angeles’ first draft pick of the ‘90s (#27 overall in 1990) and their last trade of decade (dealt to Charlotte in exchange for Glen Rice)

Peaked in ’96-’97 as the starting power forward and occasional fill-in at center for Shaquille O’Neal with 14.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game

An accomplished defender, he regularly finished in the league’s top ten in blocked shots

Wound up with the Pistons in ’03-’04, and his solid defense against O’Neal (who had once labelled him as “lazy”) in the NBA Finals helped them win a surprise championship

395) Boris Diaw, F, 2003-2017

You probably wouldn’t guess it by looking at him now, but he was actually a Dunk Contest champion in his native France before joining the NBA in 2003

Spent most of his career listed as a power forward, but eventually logged major minutes at every position on the floor

Did a little bit of everything for the Suns in his prime, finishing the ’05-’06 season with 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game

Postseason success seemed to follow him everywhere, as he helped the Suns reach the Conference Finals in 2006, helped the Bobcats make their first ever playoff appearance in 2010, and helped the Spurs to back-to-back Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014, winning the title in the latter

After playing limited minutes for the Jazz in ’16-’17 he opted to return to France to star for the Levallois Metropolitans

394) David Wesley, G, 1993-2007

Un-drafted out of Baylor in 1992 because NBA teams considered him a tweener between the guard positions
Ultimately became the second highest scoring undrafted player in league history, with 11,842 total points
Was consistently the second or third scoring threat for the Hornets in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, peaking at 17.2 points per game in ’00-‘01
Also developed himself into a top level defender and ball handler
Spent the ’06-’07 season with the Cleveland team that reached the Finals, but didn’t log any postseason playing time
Charged with reckless driving in 2000 for his participation in a street race that led to a crash and the death of his then Hornets teammate, Bobby Phills

393) Gar Heard, F, 1970-1981

Hit the original “The Shot” in the 1976 NBA Finals, a game five buzzer beater that forced triple overtime; it was legendary but ultimately ineffectual, as his Suns team lost that game and subsequently the series in six
Spent most of his career as a journeyman power forward, drifting between five teams in the ‘70s
Peaked statistically with the Buffalo Braves, with 15.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in ’73-’74 as the team made its first ever playoff appearance
Was traded from the Braves to the Suns at 1976 deadline, and averaged a double-double in the playoffs as they made their surprise run to the NBA Finals
Also an accomplished defender, he would have racked up a lot more blocked shots in his career if the stat had existed before ’73-‘74

392) Drew Gooden, F, 2002-2016

Drafted fourth overall by the Grizzlies in 2002 and traded to the Magic just nine months later in a harbinger of the untapped potential and transitory nature of his career, though he did finish with over 8,000 career points and 6,000 rebounds
Best seasons arguably came with Cleveland, where he was a reliable presence on the ’06-‘07 Finals team
Played for 10 different teams in a 14-year NBA career, with a plodding, traditional power forward style that couldn’t always keep up with the increasingly fast-paced NBA of the ‘00s
Led Kansas to the Final Four in 2002 while winning the NABC Player of the Year award, and had his jersey #0 retired by the school soon after

391) Mike Newlin, G, 1971-1982

Part of the Rockets’ first draft class after it moved to Houston in 1971, and half of arguably its all-time greatest back court duo with Calvin Murphy
In his second season through his fifth season, he averaged 17.1 points and 5.1 assists per game, and endeared himself to fans with his trademark dives to the floor chasing loose balls
Moved to be bench for Houston in ’76-’77 to make room for John Lucas, but remained a key player for several more years
Peaked in scoring after a trade to the Nets, with 21.4 points per game in ’80-’81
Shot 86.9% from the free throw line in his career, and finished in the NBA top ten in that category nine different seasons

390) David Lee, F, 2005-2017

Made the All-Star team twice, in 2010 with the Knicks and in 2013 with the Warriors
Before Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson blossomed into their current state, he was Golden State’s biggest star for several years, averaging 18.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in his first four seasons with the team
Lost his starting job to Green due to an injury during the preseason in 2014, and played only limited minutes off the bench during the postseason as the Warriors won the 2015 title
Had his best overall season as the starting center for the Knicks in ’09-’10, with 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game
Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in rebounding four different times
Retired in 2017 after playing with the Spurs against his former Warriors teammates in the Conference Finals

389) Hot Rod Williams, F, 1986-1999

Though nicknamed “Hot Rod” (due to his childhood predilection for making car engine noises while playing), played more like a workhorse truck than a flashy racecar
Indicted as part of a point shaving scandal at Tulane (he was eventually acquitted of all charges), he spent one season in the USBL before joining Cleveland’s franchise-altering rookie class in ’86-’87 with Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, and Ron Harper
Played three positions off the bench and was renowned for his shot blocking, rebounding, and defensive enforcement
Could also contribute offense when needed, especially in ’89-’90 when he averaged 16.8 points per game to help compensate for a rash of Cavs injuries
Despite never being an All-Star, received the then largest contract in sports history from the Cavs in 1990 and could never live up to the expectations from that agreement, which signaled the beginning of the end for that era of Cavs history

388) Antonio Davis, F/C, 1993-2006

Maybe the most eclectic pro career of his era, from inauspicious beginnings in Greece to tough guy stints with Indiana and New York (that inexplicably included a Slam Dunk Contest appearance) to a star turn with Toronto
Started with Panathinaikos of the Greek League in 1990 after falling to the second round of the NBA Draft
Wound up with the Pacers in 1993 and spent several years as a bruising and versatile sixth man and sometime starter
Played on all four Pacers Conference Finals appearances in the ‘90s, but wasn’t there for the 2000 NBA Finals run as he had been traded to Toronto
Shifted from power forward to center with the Raptors and blossomed into a star at age 31, averaging 13.3 points and 9.3 rebounds over the next four seasons and playing in the 2001 All-Star Game

387) Corey Maggette, F, 1999-2013

Spent his best years with the Clippers, who were building an island of young misfit toys that also included Elton Brand and Quentin Richardson
Led the team in scoring twice, peaking at 22.2 points per game in ’04-‘05
Missed the majority of the Clippers’ ’05-’06 season due to injury, but returned on time for the franchise’s first playoff series win in Los Angeles, contributing a team-high 23 points in the series clinching win over Denver
Like so many other young players, he eventually fell out of favor with coach Mike Dunleavy and ditched town to sign with Golden State in 2008, showing occasional scoring outbursts over his final few seasons while dealing with various injuries
Thanks to his slashing style of play, led the NBA in total free throws made in ’03-’04 despite missing nine games due to injury

386) Calvin Natt, F, 1979-1990

Drafted by the Nets but traded to the Blazers in his rookie year, he averaged 20.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game down the stretch of his rookie season
Became one of the team’s biggest stars in the wake of Bill Walton’s departure, popular amongst coaches, teammates, and fans for his scoring, rebounding, and bone-shattering screens
Traded to the Nuggets in 1984, where his stats got a boost from coach Doug Moe’s up-tempo system
Averaged a career high 23.3 points per game for Denver in ’84-’85, was named to the All-Star team, and helped the Nuggets make a surprise run to the Conference Finals
Spent some time late in his career with the Pacers and Spurs, and holds a distinction as the only NBA player to log playing time for all four former ABA franchises

385) Al Jefferson, C, 2004-Active

Had a prime that’s surprisingly lengthy in retrospect, considering his injury history, averaging 19.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game over a seven-year stretch with the Timberwolves, Jazz, and Bobcats
Never named to an All-Star team, but finished in the top 10 in MVP voting in ’13-’14, and was named 3rd-Team All-NBA
Became the first player ever drafted by the Celtics straight out of high school, and was named 2nd-Team All-Rookie
His early and late careers have been marked by injuries and suspensions, and he missed the Pacers’ 2018 playoff appearance due to a sprained ankle
Played in the postseason just four times in his 14 year career, all of them first round losses

384) Leroy Ellis, C, 1962-1976

His most famous stint was as the original Blazers center, even though he spent just one season with the team
That season was ’70-’71, right in the middle of his career, and he scored 15 points and 22 rebounds in Portland’s debut game, a win over Cleveland
Originally drafted by the Lakers to back up Rudy LaRusso, he played in the NBA Finals in 1963, 1965, and 1966, all losses to Boston
Started at center for two seasons for the Bullets, averaging a double-double during that time
Eventually returned to the Lakers again as a backup, this time behind Wilt Chamberlain, as the team finally won the championship in 1972
Holds the distinction of playing on one of the greatest teams of all time (the ’71-’72 Lakers who won 33 straight) and then, due to a trade, immediately playing on one of the worst teams of all time (the ’72-’73 Sixers who finished 9-73)

383) Derrick McKey, F, 1987-2002

A dignitary for fans amongst two franchises, the Sonics and the Pacers
Drafted by Seattle in 1987 and contributed immediately on the frontline with Xavier McDaniel and Michael Cage
Averaged 15.4 points over five years as a starter for the Sonics, helping them reach as far as game seven of the Conference Finals against Phoenix in 1993
Traded to Indiana for Detlef Schrempf in 1993, and concentrated more on his defensive skills, and was named All-Defensive twice
Never put up big numbers for the Pacers and struggled with injuries, but was a part of their Conference Finals runs in 1994, 1995, 1998, and 1999, and their NBA Finals appearance in 2000
Extremely versatile, he mostly played at small forward but guarded every position on the floor

382) Chuck Person, F, 1986-2000

Nicknamed “The Rifleman” not for his long range shooting accuracy, but actually because of his mother’s love of the ‘50s TV series starring Chuck Connors
Spent most of his prime on the wing with Reggie Miller in Indiana as a premier shooting and trash talking combo
Won Rookie of the Year in ’86-’87, then averaged 27.0 points per game in Indiana’s first round playoff series loss that year to Atlanta
Averaged 19.0 points per game in his six seasons with the Pacers, but right before the team starting consistently reaching Conference Finals he was traded to the Timberwolves
Became a vital bench player late in his career for the Spurs, helping them reach the 1995 Conference Finals, but getting traded right before their ’98-’99 championship season
Was a teammate of Charles Barkley at Auburn

381) Don Buse, G, 1972-1985

A steady presence on the Pacers during their late ABA and early NBA years, and quietly one of the best perimeter defenders of the ‘70s
Signed with the Pacers in the ABA in 1972 after starring at nearby Evansville but falling to the fourth round of the NBA Draft, and was instantly one of the league’s best ball handlers and defenders
Helped lead Indiana to the ABA title in his rookie season
Led the ABA in assists and steals in ’75-’76, then led the NBA in the same two categories in ‘76-’77; was named 1st-Team All-Defensive in his first four NBA seasons
Despite his success in both leagues he plugged away in relative anonymity, with opponents often considering him unmemorable or just plain unknown and he used that disrespect to surprise opposing players with his quick hands on defense leading to a bevy of steals

380) Ray Williams, G, 1977-1987

Returned to his hometown of New York when the Knicks drafted him 10th overall in 1977 after a stellar college stint at Minnesota
Was thrust immediately into the starting point guard position in his rookie year after the Knicks traded away Walt Frazier
Had a three-year peak with the Knicks and Nets from 1979 to 1982, averaging 20.4 points and 5.9 assists per game, but seemingly fell off a cliff after a 1982 trade to the Kings
Set a Nets franchise record for points in one game (52) that stood for almost three decades
Fell into severe financial trouble after retiring from basketball and was eventually left homeless, sleeping out of his car in Florida, when several former teammates heard about his troubles and chipped in to help him out

379) Thurl Bailey, F, 1983-1999

Was the leading scorer and rebounder on the ’82-’83 NC State team that made a shocking run to the NCAA title under coach Jim Valvano
Though he never lived up to expectations as the seventh overall pick in 1983, he became beloved in Utah for his durability, clutch scoring, and bespectacled look
Averaged as many as 19.6 points per game in ’87-’88, but was mostly a complementary forward to Karl Malone
After several seasons in NBA purgatory with the Timberwolves, then some time playing professionally in Greece, he made a comeback with the Jazz in ’98-’99 at the age of 38
After retirement he’s found several second acts as an R&B singer, a conservative religious ambassador, and a community service leader

378) Cedric Ceballos, F, 1990-2001

First became a household name with a controversial victory in the 1992 Slam Dunk Contest, winning with a blindfolded dunk, the veracity of which many still dispute
Had a brief but spectacular three-year prime with the Suns and Lakers, starting in ’93-’94, averaging 20.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game over that span
Named to the 1995 All-Star team
Led the NBA in field goal percentage in ’92-’93, the last non-center to do so
Los Angeles’ leading scorer for two straight seasons before getting traded back to the Suns for Robert Horry
Mostly came off the bench for the Suns during the 1993 playoffs as they reached the NBA Finals
His NBA career ended after getting waived by the Nuggets in 2001, but he stayed actively professionally for another decade after that, including time in Israel, Russia, and the Philippines

377) Shareef Abdur-Rahim, F, 1996-2008

Played in 830 regular season NBA games but just one playoff series, which is the all-time record
Was instantly the best player on the Grizzlies team that drafted him third overall, and in five seasons in Vancouver averaged 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game
Named to the All-Star team in 2002 while playing for Atlanta
Possibly his greatest asset was his ability to stay on the floor; he appeared in 95% or more of his team’s regular season games in nine out of his 13 seasons in the NBA, but a knee injury forced him to retire in 2008 at the age of 31
Finally made his first playoff appearance in 2006 after 11 seasons, and his Kings lost in the first round to the Spurs

376) James Silas, G, 1972-1982

Nicknamed “Captain Late” for his fourth quarter heroics and “The Snake” for his explosiveness towards the basket
Waived by the Rockets his rookie year before signing with Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA (who eventually became San Antonio Spurs)
Led the ABA in true shooting percentage and offensive rating in ’75-’76; was named 1st-Team All-ABA the same season
Played on a torn MCL in his first NBA season and never recovered his athleticism, but still averaged 14.2 points per game in six NBA seasons
First player in Spurs history to have his jersey retired

375) J.R. Smith, G, 2004-Active

Seemed like his NBA career may have reached a premature end when he signed with a Chinese pro team during the 2011 lockout, but instead has had an astounding, though sometimes frustrating, second act since his return
Won Sixth Man of the Year for the Knicks in ’12-’13, while averaging career highs with 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game
Early in his career with the Nuggets he was often erratic, but shockingly consistent in terms of stats, averaging 13.7 points per game in five seasons
Just as his time with the Knicks was stalling out (including a drug suspension, knee surgery, and a bizarre habit of untying opponent’s shoes at the free throw line), a trade to Cleveland in 2014 revived his career, and he played in four consecutive NBA Finals with the Cavs
The starting shooting guard and fourth on the team in playoff scoring for the ’15-’16 Cavs title team

374) Trevor Ariza, F, 2004-Active

Seventh all-time amongst active player in career steals with 1,424, and will assuredly move into the top 50 in NBA history during the ’18-’19 season
Always more of a defensive specialist, but has averaged 12+ points per game in four different seasons, peaking at 14.9 per game for the Rockets in ’09-‘10
A second round pick of the Knicks, his time in New York and with Orlando was uneventful, but he found his niche after getting traded to the Lakers in 2007
Played in back-to-back NBA Finals with the Lakers in 2008 and 2009, and was the starting small forward and fourth in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and second in steals on the ’08-’09 title team
Something of a journeyman, his season with the Suns in ’18-’19 will mark his seventh franchise in 15 NBA seasons, including two separate stints with the Rockets

373) Doug Christie, G, 1992-2007

After several seasons riding the pine for the Lakers and Knicks, finally broke out with the Raptors in ’96-’97 as an elite perimeter defender and occasional scoring threat
Was traded to the Kings in 2000, where his versatility and high basketball IQ were assets on the freewheeling roster
Doubled down on his defensive intensity in Sacramento and was named to the All-Defensive team four straight years while also leading the NBA in steals in ’00-‘01
Initially a fan favorite, he later fell out of favor as his athleticism faded and his off-court tabloid lifestyle with wife Jackie seemingly became a distraction
Became a journeyman late in his career, including stops with the Magic, Mavericks, and Clippers

372) Christian Laettner, F, 1993-2005

Amassed a solid 13-year NBA career that many lambast as a flop due to comparisons to his incredible NCAA years
Won every conceivable NCAA award during his time at Duke, led the school to back-to-back national titles, and played on the U.S. Olympic Dream Team in 1992
Selected third overall by the Timberwolves, and averaged 17.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his first three seasons
Traded to Atlanta in 1996 after the T-Wolves drafted Kevin Garnett, and had his best statistical season in ’96-’97, with 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while being named to the All-Star team
Lost his starting job in ’97-’98 and started to really slip from there due mainly to injuries, struggling in later stints with the Pistons, Wizards, and Heat before retiring
Finally reached the Conference Finals at the end of his career, as a deep bench forward/center for the Heat in 2005

371) Dick Van Arsdale, G, 1965-1977

Drafted 10th overall by the Knicks in 1965, one spot before his identical twin brother Tom went to the Pistons
Spent three seasons with New York before getting selected by the Suns in the 1968 expansion draft
Became Phoenix’s first star player and earned the nickname “Original Sun” with three straight All-Star nods while leading the franchise to its first playoff appearance in 1970 and its first NBA Finals appearance in 1976
Averaged 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game over his first five seasons with the Suns before starting to struggle with injuries
Reunited with his brother on the Suns in ’76-’77, the final NBA season for both of them

370) Doug Collins, G, 1973-1981

He was the last non-center white player to be drafted with the first overall pick
Had a rough start to his career, playing for a Sixers team coming off a historically terrible 9-73 season, and broke his foot in training camp
Struggled to recover from that foot injury and it ultimately cut his career short, but his four year prime was nonetheless impressive
Over the course of a four stretch with the Sixers he was named to four All-Star teams while averaging 19.6 points per game, and was the second leading scorer behind Julius Erving on the team that reached the 1977 NBA Finals
Broke his foot again late in the ’78-’79 season, which was the beginning of the end
Retired in 1981 having played just 415 games over eight NBA seasons, all of them with the 76ers

369) Ron Boone, G, 1968-1981

The 147th pick of the 1968 NBA Draft out of Idaho State, he opted to instead sign with the Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA
Played in all eight ABA seasons with just three franchises: the Chaparrals, the Utah Stars, and the Spirits of St. Louis
Was named to four ABA All-Star teams, finished in the top five in MVP voting in ’72-’73, and was 1st-Team All-ABA in ’74-’75 while averaging a career high 25.5 points per game
Led the stars to the 1971 ABA title and an appearance in the 1974 ABA Finals
Selected by the Kansas City Kings in the ABA dispersal draft, and was their leading scorer for two seasons before finishing out his career as a role player for the Lakers and Jazz
Sits third on the all-time ABA leaderboard in total points (behind only Louie Dampier and Dan Issel) and sixth in assists

368) Mickey Johnson, F, 1974-1986

A late round pick from Aurora, a tiny Chicago-area college, he joined the Bulls right at the tail end of the Chet Walker/Bob Love/Jerry Sloan era
Was the last man off the bench in his rookie season in '74-'75 when Chicago came within one game of reaching the NBA Finals
Became the centerpiece of the team after Walker retired, as they rebuilt around his scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in a two-year stretch
Would have a career high in scoring years later with the Pacers, averaging 19.1 points per game in ’79-’80; finished his career with over 12,000 total points
Played mostly for subpar teams in Chicago, Indiana, Milwaukee, New Jersey, and Golden State, and never advanced past the first round of the playoffs again after his rookie season
Returned to his native Chicago after retirement, where he’s been a college coach, a county sheriff, a pest control company owner, and a candidate for city alderman

367) Rick Fox, F, 1991-2004

Born in Canada where his mother, a former Olympic track athlete hailed from, and raised in the Bahamas, his father's native country, before playing under Dean Smith at North Carolina
Became the first rookie to start on opening day for the Celtics since the man he replaced in the lineup due to injury, Larry Bird
Vacillated between the starting lineup and bench in his six seasons in Boston, averaging a career high 15.4 points per game in ’96-‘97
Signed as a free agent with the Lakers and remade himself as a role player contributing mostly defense and passing
Played in four NBA Finals with the Lakers, including back-to-back-to-back championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002
Came up with big playoff games for Los Angeles from time to time, including 13 points and 14 rebounds in the infamous game seven win over Sacramento in the 2002 Conference Finals

366) Josh Howard, F, 2003-2013

Supremely talented but often found his off-court actions and interviews detrimental to his career
Slipped to the end of the first round in the 2003 Draft, where Dallas stole him with the 29th pick and he immediately contributed to a title contender with his lockdown defensive skills
Eventually became the Mavs’ second scoring option after Dirk Nowitzki, and helped the team reach the 2006 Finals
Made the All-Star team in ’07-’08 while averaging career highs in scoring (19.9 per game) and rebounding (7.0 per game)
Eventually was deemed too much of a distraction for missing practices and advocating offseason marijuana use and was traded in 2009 to Washington
Tore his ACL just four games into his time with the Wizards, and played just 72 stunted games over his final three seasons before retiring

365) Jeff Teague, G, 2009-Active

The last player at Wake Forest to be an All-American, honored as such back in 2009
Drafted by the Hawks and spent his first seven seasons with the franchise, slowly taking over the starting point guard job
Has averaged 14+ points and six-plus assists per game for each of the last six seasons, peaking in scoring in ’13-’14 (16.5 points per game) and assists in ’16-’17 (7.8 per game)
An All-Star for Atlanta in 2015
Led the Hawks in playoff scoring and assists in ’14-’15, as the team made its first Conference Finals appearance in 45 years
Now the starting point guard for the young, up-and-coming Timberwolves

364) Steve Francis, G, 1999-2008

Immediately balked at playing in Vancouver when they selected him second overall in 1999, even citing “God’s will” as a reason he wasn’t meant to play there
Was quickly traded to the Rockets and won co-Rookie of the Year with Elton Brand
A three-time All-Star with the Rockets, in 2002, 2003, and 2004
Averaged 20+ points per game in three different seasons, peaking at 21.6 in ’01-’02 while also averaging 7.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game
Suffered with migraines and injuries throughout his career, and also seemed to be constantly clashing with coaches, starting with Stan Van Gundy in Houston and later with Brian Hill in Orlando
Teamed up with Stephon Marbury on the Knicks in ’06-’07 in arguably the most overpaid back court in NBA history
Finished his career with over 10,000 points despite playing in just 576 total games

363) Tyson Chandler, C, 2001-Active

A prep star in Compton, he spurned numerous scholarship offers to declare for the infamous 2001 Draft, where he was taken second overall, in between Kwame Brown and Eddy Curry
Traded on draft day from the Clippers to the Bulls, where he teamed up with Curry as a young front court duo
Finally had his breakout season with the Hornets in ’06-’07, averaging a career high 12.4 rebounds per game
Defensive Player of the Year for the ’11-’12 season, has been named to the All-Defensive team three times, was 3rd-Team All-NBA in ’11-’12, and an All-Star in 2013
Led the NBA in offense rating four times and field goal percentage once
Won an NBA championship as the starting center for the Mavericks in ’10-‘11
Made the roster for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team that won gold in London

362) Larry Hughes, G, 1998-2012

Played a full slate of 82 games just once, in ’99-’00, and played for eight franchises in 14 seasons
A combo guard who could handle the rock, score at will, and be an elite defender when he was engaged, he peaked in ’04-’05 with the Wizards with 22.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and a league-leading 2.9 steals per game (he was named 1st-Team All-Defensive)
Second leading scorer on the Cavs behind LeBron James in ’06-’07 as they reached the NBA Finals, but otherwise mostly played on bad teams
Was drafted by the Sixers as a lottery pick in 1998, but was frequently in coach Larry Brown’s dog house and lasted less than two seasons in Philadelphia
Managed to total over 10,000 points for his career

361) Sleepy Floyd, G, 1982-1995

One of John Thompson’s first big-time recruits at Georgetown, he eventually became a legend at the school after he and Patrick Ewing led them to their first Final Four in 1982
His NBA legacy is focused mainly on one quarter of play, when he scored 29 points in the fourth quarter (still an NBA record) for the Warriors in a 1987 second round playoff series game against the Lakers, helping them to an upset victory (they would eventually lose the series)
Played a full 82 game slate five times, and typically finished at the top of the assist leaderboard (his 10.3 assists per game in ’86-’87 was second in the NBA behind only Magic Johnson)
Named to the All-Star team in 1987
Traded to the Rockets in 1987 as part of the blockbuster Ralph Sampson deal, and held down the fort at point guard for several years before losing his job to Kenny Smith

360) K.C. Jones, G, 1958-1967

Played on the Celtics with Bill Russell for all nine seasons of his career, and won a title in the first eight
Also a teammate of Russell at San Francisco (where Red Auerbach spotted him while recruiting Russell), winning the NCAA title in 1955 and 1956, and on the 1965 U.S. Olympic team, winning gold in Melbourne
Drafted in 1956 but delayed his basketball career to serve a tour of duty in the Army, and attempt to make the Los Angeles Rams roster as a cornerback (he suffered a knee injury during the preseason)
Backed up Bob Cousy at point guard for the Celtics for five seasons, then held the starting job for the rest of his career
Never averaged more than 10 points or seven assists per game in a season, but contributed with his leadership, toughness, and defensive skills

359) Cazzie Russell, F, 1966-1978

Was such an imperative force at Michigan that the school’s home venue built right after his departure (the Crisler Center) was dubbed “The House That Cazzie Built”
Almost joined his hometown Pistons, but Detroit lost a coin flip to the Knicks, who selected him first overall in 1966
Was named 1st-Team All-Rookie and helped the Knicks reach the playoffs for first time in eight years
Won a title with the Knicks in 1970 as the first player off the bench, backing up Dave DeBusschere and Bill Bradley at the forward positions
Traded to the Warriors in 1971, and averaged a career high 21.4 points per game for them in ’71-’72 while making his only All-Star appearance
After three years as Golden State’s best player, lost his starting job again, this time to Rick Barry, and was traded to the Lakers before the Warriors’ ’74-’75 title season

358) Billy Knight, F, 1974-1985

Known to most fans now as a failed general manager in Atlanta, he was once a star player for the Pacers
Helped lead the Pacers to the ABA Finals in 1975, then was 1st-Team All-ABA and an All-Star in ’75-’76
Had an incredible first NBA season after the merger in ’76-‘77, averaging 26.6 points per game (good for second in the league) plus 7.5 rebounds per game, and being named to the All-Star team
Averaged 22.9 points per game for Buffalo in ’77-’78 after a trade, but became more of a secondary scorer upon returning to the Pacers in 1979
Helped lead the Pacers to their first NBA playoff appearance in 1981, but never played for a team that advanced past the first round of the NBA postseason
Third all-time in Pacers franchise history in total points, behind only Reggie Miller and Rik Smits

357) Lonnie Shelton, F, 1976-1986

At 6’8” and 240 pounds, he was once described as so large and wide that he could "set a pick on the sun"
Signed his first pro contract with the Memphis Sounds of the ABA, but claimed he was induced by Sounds star Marvin Barnes getting him drunk and returned for his senior season at Oregon State instead
Drafted by the Knicks but had his best years with the Sonics as a brutal paint presence for the team that won the 1979 title and then as all-around star by the team he made the All-Star team in 1982 (he was also 2nd-Team All-Defensive that season)
An epitome of consistency in his prime between 1977 and 1983, averaging 12-to-15 points and six-to-eight rebounds each season

356) Terry Dischinger, F, 1962-1973

Won Rookie of the Year in ’62-’63 while averaging a career high 25.5 points per game for the Chicago Zephyrs
Was named to the All-Star team in each of his first three seasons, one with the Zephyrs, one after they moved to Baltimore and became the Bullets, and one with the Pistons; averaged 21.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game over this stretch
Took off two years in his prime to serve in the U.S. Army
Lasted six more seasons in the NBA upon his return in ’67-’68, but was never the same star player again, taking on more of a role player position with the Pistons
Reached the playoffs just once in his career, a first round loss with the Pistons in 1968
Started at small forward for the 1960 U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Rome, despite being the youngest member at age 19

355) Damon Stoudamire, G, 1995-2008

Stood only 5’10” but packed so much strength into that tiny frame that he was nicknamed “Mighty Mouse” (and has an arm tattoo to match the moniker)
Was the face of the newly formed Raptors as their first draft pick (seventh overall) in 1995 and won Rookie of the Year in a landslide (became the shortest ever player to win the award) while setting the rookie record for three-pointers made
Peaked statistically in his first two seasons, with 19.6 points and 9.0 assists per game
Traded to the Blazers in 1998 and had an erratic prime of his career in Portland, including several arrests for marijuana possession that eventually caused the team to attempt to void his contract
Scored 54 points in one game in 2005, setting the Portland franchise record (it was later broken by Damian Lillard)

354) Brian Winters, G, 1974-1983

Averaged 11.7 points per game in his rookie year with the Lakers, but the team opted to completely rebuild and traded him away in 1975; became one of four answers to the trivia question "who did the Lakers trade to Milwaukee for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar"?
Finished second on the Bucks in scoring and assists in ’75-’76 as the team made an unlikely run to the playoffs
Was an All-Star in 1976 and 1978 for the Bucks
Led the Bucks with a career high 19.9 points per game in ’77-’78, relying mainly on his accurate long range shooting
Played 10 seasons with Milwaukee before retiring in 1983 and had his jersey retired by the franchise; still in the top five all-time in Bucks history in assists and steals

353) Nick Anderson, G, 1989-2002

Shooter of maybe the most famous errant free throws in NBA history, four straight missed in the waning moments of game one of the 1995 NBA Finals that headlined a Magic collapse and eventual sweep at the hands of Houston
Those misses essentially broke his confidence and spiraled his career, but he’s still an endearing and popular figure amongst Orlando fans
The Magic’s first ever draft pick in 1989 (11th overall) after an All-American career at Illinois
Led the team in scoring in ’91-’92 with a career high 19.9 points per game, and was second on the team in rebounding from the shooting guard position
Ultimately spent the entire ‘90s with the Magic, and currently works for the franchise as a TV analyst and community outreach ambassador

352) Kelly Tripucka, F, 1981-1991

Matriculated at Notre Dame, where he followed in the footsteps of his father, Frank, who was a legendary quarterback for the Irish
Drafted #12 overall by the Pistons in 1981, 10 spots after they selected Isiah Thomas
Averaged 21.6 points per game in his rookie season, joining fellow rookie Thomas on the All-Star team, and led the Pistons in scoring in ’82-’83, including a 56 point outburst against Chicago
Lost playing time and scoring opportunities after Chuck Daly took over as coach and was eventually traded to Utah in 1986 for Adrian Dantley
Struggled in his brief time with the Jazz, but returned to star status with the expansion Hornets in ’88-’89, leading the team with 22.6 points per game

351) Mahdi Abdul-Rahman (Walt Hazzard), G, 1964-1974

Born Walt Hazzard in 1942, he officially changed his name to Mahdi Abdul-Rahman in the late ‘60s after converting to Islam, a decision that undoubtedly cost him opportunities
Efficient on offense, he led the expansion Sonics with 24.0 points per game in ’67-’68, but could also be a pass-first playmaker, as he was in his later years with the Hawks
After playing on the first John Wooden championship team at UCLA in 1964, he was a territorial selection of the Lakers and helped them reach the Finals in 1965 and 1966
Endured years of confusion and sometimes outright hatred from fans and opponents, and retired in 1974 at the age of 30

Oct 25, 2018

Top 500 All-Time Players, 2018 Edition: 400-351