Basketball Lists: Top 500 All-Time Players, 2018 Edition: 150-101

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 150 through 101 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.

150) Walt Bellamy, C, 1961-1975

First overall pick in 1961 out of Indiana (where he was the school’s first ever black star) and the first ever pick of the expansion Chicago Packers, who would soon become the Baltimore Bullets

Finished second in the NBA in scoring in his rookie season with a career high 31.6 points per game, and third in rebounding with 19.0, making him an easy choice for Rookie of the Year

Never quite reached those statistical heights again, but did average 25.6 points and 15.9 rebounds per game over his next four seasons, and ultimately averaged a double-double in 11 of his 14 NBA seasons

Named an All-Star in each of his first four seasons

Finished in the top 10 in rebounds per game in his first seven seasons

Made it as far as the Conference Finals just twice in his career, in 1965 with the Bullets and in 1970 with the Hawks

Still holds the Wizards franchise records for points per game, rebounds per game, and PER

149) Lou Hudson, G/F, 1966-1979

Led the Hawks in scoring in his rookie season with 18.4 points per game, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Dave Bing

Averaged 21+ points per game for seven straight seasons starting in ’68-’69, peaking at 27.1 points per game in ’72-‘73

2nd-Team All-NBA in ’69-’70, and was named to six consecutive All-Star teams starting in 1969

Also a terrific rebounder for his height (6’5”), he averaged as many as 6.6 rebounds per game in ’68-‘69

Scored 59 points in one game in 1969, which ties him with Bob Pettit and Dominique Wilkins for the Hawks franchise record

Nicknamed “Sweet Lou” for his scoring touch and his gentle demeanor, he found himself at odds with the brash Pete Maravich and the Hawks eventually traded him to the Lakers to close out his career

Carried the Hawks to the Conference Finals in 1967, 1969 and 1970, but never played in the NBA Finals

Third all-time in Hawks franchise history in total points, behind Wilkins and Pettit

148) Slater Martin, G, 1949-1960

Already 24 years old when he joined the Lakers in ’49-’50, having served a tour of duty with the Navy during World War II before attending college
Won four NBA titles with the Lakers, the last three as the team’s starting point guard
Considered the best defensive point guard of his generation, and the second best overall at the position behind Bob Cousy
Named 2nd-Team All-NBA five times (always behind Cousy), and was a seven-time All-Star
Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in assists per game six different seasons
Traded by the rebuilding Lakers in 1956, he had a brief stopover with the Knicks before winding up with the Hawks for the remainder of his career
Played in three NBA Finals with the Hawks, including winning the title in 1958; ultimately played in seven NBA Finals and won five titles
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982, joining his Lakers teammates George Mikan, Clyde Lovellette, Vern Mikkelsen, and Jim Pollard

147) Glen Rice, F, 1989-2004

Still the all-time record holder for career points scored at Michigan, he was drafted fourth overall in 1989 by a Heat team in need of scoring and star power, and quickly provided both
Led the Heat in scoring with 22.3 points per game in ’91-’92 as the team made its first ever playoff appearance
Spent his first six seasons in Miami but was traded in 1995 to the Hornets in exchange for Alonzo Mourning
Named to three consecutive All-Star teams with the Hornets, starting in 1996
Scored a career high 26.8 points per game in ’96-’97, good for third in the NBA, while also leading the league in three-point field goal percentage
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’96-‘97
Traded to the Lakers during the ’98-’99 season, where he became a clutch third scoring option and the final piece needed to turn the team into a title contender
Started at small forward and was the third-leading scorer as the Lakers won the 2000 championship

146) Bill Laimbeer, C, 1980-1994

One of the league’s all-time great villains and enforcers, to the point that Nintendo released a video game called Bill Laimbeer Combat Basketball
Started his pro career in Italy before spending one-and-a-half uneventful seasons with the Cavs, who traded him to Detroit at the ’81-’82 deadline
Immediately took over as the Pistons starting center and averaged a double-double over the next six full seasons, peaking in ’84-’85 with 17.5 points and 12.4 rebounds per game
Led the NBA in rebounding in ’85-’86 with 13.1 per game, and finished in the top five in the league in four other seasons
Named to four All-Star teams
Deadly in the pick-and-roll with Isiah Thomas thanks to his reliable mid-range jumper, but took on a lesser offensive role and concentrated more on his defense just as the Pistons were becoming title contenders in the late ‘80s
An indelible member of the “Bad Boy” Pistons, he was the starting center on the three straight NBA Finals appearances starting in 1988, including the titles in 1989 and 1990
Detroit’s all-time franchise leader in rebounds, and, appropriately, personal fouls

145) Anthony Davis, C, 2012-Active

Finally had the major breakout season everyone was waiting for in '17-'18, averaging a career high in scoring with 28.1 points per game, finishing third in MVP voting, and carrying an undermanned Pelicans team to the second round of the playoffs
Has averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in every season since his rookie year (when he averaged a respectable 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game)
Led the NBA in blocks per game three times, peaking at 2.9 per game in '14-'15
1st-Team All-NBA three times, 1st-Team All-Defensive once, and a five-time All-Star
A first overall pick by the then New Orleans Hornets in 2012 out of Kentucky, where he was consensus Player of the Year and the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player while leading the Wildcats to a championship
Won gold at the 2012 Olympics with the U.S. team, becoming just the second American player in the Dream Team era to do so without previous NBA experience, joining Christian Laettner

144) Harry Gallatin, F, 1948-1958

Raised in a pastoral Illinois town, and an attendee of tiny Truman State in Missouri, he was a fish out of water playing for Knicks, and nicknamed “Farmer Harry” by his teammates

His other nickname was “Horse,” a further reference to his rural upbringing but also to his physical play and durability; didn’t miss a single game (or practice, according to him) over an eight-year, 610 game stretch starting in ’48-’49 (a Knicks franchise record)

Averaged a double-double over his final eight seasons, and probably did in his first two as well but they didn’t keep track of rebounds back then

Led the NBA in rebounds per game in ’53-’54 with a career high 15.3, and finished in the top five in the category in three other seasons

1st-Team All-NBA in ’53-’54, 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’54-’55, and an All-Star in seven straight seasons starting in 1951

Teamed up with Connie Simmons on the Knicks frontline that led the team to three straight NBA Finals appearances starting in 1951

143) Mel Daniels, C, 1967-1977

The first big name college star to spurn the NBA for the ABA, he spent most of his time with the Indiana Pacers, bookended by brief appearances with Minnesota and Memphis

Won ABA MVP in ’68-’69, when he averaged a career high 24.0 points and 16.5 rebounds per game, and in ’70-’71 when he averaged 21.0 points and a career high 18.0 rebounds per game

Led the ABA in rebounds per game three times

1st-Team All-ABA four times, and played in seven consecutive ABA All-Star Games

Dominated the ABA on Indiana as a one-two punch with Roger Brown, reaching four ABA Finals and winning three of them, in 1970, 1972, and 1973

Over his first six seasons he averaged 20.5 points, 16.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game

Suffered throughout his career from debilitating back pain which limited his NBA career to just 11 games after the merger before retiring at age 32

The all-time ABA leader in total rebounds and fourth in points, and in 2012 became the first player that spent the majority of his career in the ABA to be named to the Hall of Fame

142) Zelmo Beaty, C, 1962-1975

Selected third overall by the Hawks in 1962 to initially team up in the front court with Bob Pettit and eventually be his heir apparent

One of the best defensive centers of the ‘60s, regularly facing down Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Nate Thurmond

Averaged 20+ points and double-digit rebounds three times for the Hawks, peaking in ’65-’66 with 20.7 points and 13.6 rebounds per game

Never played in the NBA Finals, but helped lead the Hawks to the Conference Finals in five of his six seasons there

Dissatisfied with Hawks management as the team moved to Atlanta in 1968, he astutely leveraged his star power into a huge contract with the Utah Stars of the ABA, but had to sit out a season after the Hawks sued

Led the Stars to the ABA title in his first season with the team with a huge performance in game seven of the ABA Finals with 36 points and 16 rebounds; won Playoffs MVP for 1971

Finished second in ABA MVP voting in ’70-’71, and third in ’71-’72; named 2nd-Team All-ABA both those seasons

Named to three ABA All-Star teams and two NBA All-Star teams

Returned to the NBA with the Lakers in ’74-’75 in a limited role before retiring

141) Larry Foust, C, 1950-1962

One of the league’s first star centers, he was named to the All-Star Games eight times in the first nine editions of the exhibition
Played for the Pistons for seven seasons and they reached the playoffs in each of them, including NBA Finals losses in 1955 and 1956
Averaged a double-double six times, ultimately averaging 15.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game over his first eight seasons
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’51-’52 and 1st-Team all-NBA in ’54-‘55
Played in five NBA Finals in his career, all losses: 1955 and 1956 with the Pistons, 1959 with the Lakers, and 1960 and 1961 with the Hawks
Upon his retirement in 1962 he was second all-time in league history in rebounds, behind only Dolph Schayes (he is now 68th)
Implicated for his role in allegedly abetting Jack Molinas in fixing Pistons games during the ’53-’54 season, but was never arrested, fined, or suspended for his actions

140) Mark Price, G, 1986-1998

Named ACC Player of the Year while at Georgia Tech, beating out Brad Daugherty and Len Bias, but fell to the second round of the 1986 Draft
Selected by the Mavericks but then immediately traded to Cleveland, where he joined Daugherty, Ron Harper, and Hot Rod Williams in an incredible rookie class
One of just seven members of the 50/40/90 club for players who shot 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw in a single season (the other six members are either current or future Hall of Famers ahead of him on this list), achieving it in ’88-‘89
1st-Team All-NBA in ’92-’93, a four-time All-Star, and finished as high as seventh in MVP voting
Led the NBA in free throw percentage three seasons, and his 90.4% career average is second all-time behind Steve Nash
Like so many of his teammates he struggled with injuries and has his postseason experience regularly ruined by Michael Jordan, including his lone Conference Finals appearance in 1992
Second all-time in Cavaliers history behind LeBron James in assists, steals, and three-point field goals

139) Shawn Marion, F, 1999-2015

Drafted by the Suns in 1999 out of UNLV, and by his second season he was leading the team in scoring, rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage, while logging minutes at both forward positions and occasionally center
Averaged 19+ points and nine-plus rebounds per game for five straight seasons starting in ’01-’02, peaking in ’05-’06, with career highs in points per game (21.8) and rebounds per game (11.8)
Got his nickname “The Matrix” from Kenny Smith for his versatility and ability to rack up stats across the board
Named to four All-Star teams
Led the NBA in total steals twice, and was one of the all-time greatest defenders never named to the All-Defensive team
After heartbreaking playoff exits with the Suns in 2005, 2006, and 2007, he finally made his NBA Finals debut with Dallas in 2011, starting every playoff game at small forward as they won the title

138) Horace Grant, F, 1987-2004

Drafted 10th overall by the Bulls in 1987, five spots after Scottie Pippen, and took over the starting power forward position a year later when Charles Oakley was traded to the Knicks
In his first five seasons in the starting lineup he averaged 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and the Bulls reached at least the Conference Finals every year
On the ’90-’91 and ’91-‘92 Bulls title teams he was third in scoring and second in rebounding, and in ’92-’93 he was fourth in scoring and the rebounding leader
After Michael Jordan’s initial retirement, he put up career highs in scoring (15.1 per game) and rebounding (11.0 per game) in ’93-’94 and was named an All-Star
Bolted in 1994 for a huge free agent contract with the Magic to team up on the frontline with Shaquille O’Neal
2nd-Team All-Defensive for four straight seasons, starting in ’92-‘93
Eventually reunited with both Phil Jackson and Shaq on the Lakers in ’00-’01, starting at power forward as the team won its second straight championship
Played in five NBA Finals, three with the Bulls, one with the Magic, and one with the Lakers, winning titles in four of them

137) Richard Hamilton, G, 1999-2013

Started his career with the Wizards for three years where his scoring talent was mostly wasted on a bad team and he became the answer to the trivia question “who was the starting shooting guard when Michael Jordan made his ill-fated 2001 comeback and played small forward?”
Traded to the Pistons in 2002 and spent the next nine seasons starting in the back court, alongside Chauncey Billups for the first seven, with the team reaching at least the Conference Finals the first six years in a row
Was Detroit’s leading scorer for eight seasons in a row, averaging 17+ points per game in each of them, peaking at 20.1 points per game in ’05-‘06
Also led the Pistons in scoring in the ’03-’04 and ’04-’05 postseasons that ended with them winning the championship and then returning to the NBA Finals
Detroit’s all-time leading playoff scorer (he took the mantle from Isiah Thomas)
Named to three All-Star teams
Played terrifically in the 2004 NBA Finals, averaging 21.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, and arguably deserved Finals MVP over Billups

136) Buck Williams, F, 1981-1998

Rookie of the Year for the Nets in ’81-’82, beating out Isiah Thomas in the voting
Averaged a double-double in each of his first seven seasons, all of them with New Jersey, peaking in ’84-’85 with 18.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game
Never led the NBA in rebounds per game, but finished either second or third in the category six times
Led the NBA in field goal percentage two straight seasons, in ’90-’91 and ’91-‘92
Named to the All-Defensive team five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’82-’83, and was an All-Star three times
Helped carry the Nets to the playoffs five times, four of which ended in first round losses and the other a second round loss in 1984
Traded to the Trail Blazers in 1989 (for Sam Bowie) and took over as their starting power forward for six seasons, playing in the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992
Especially skilled on the offensive boards, he’s third all-time in NBA history in the category
Still the Nets all-time leader in total rebounds (he was also their all-time leader in points for a long time until Brook Lopez passed him by just four points) and is fifth in the category in Blazers history

135) Jack Sikma, C, 1977-1991

Long before Dirk Nowitzki’s fadeaway or Tim Duncan’s patented bank shot, there was “The Sikma Move,” his signature post face-up followed by a step-back jumper
Started immediately at center in his rookie season, helping the Sonics reach the 1978 NBA Finals, but struggling in the series against Wes Unseld
Came back stronger and smarter the next year, averaging 15.8 points and 14.8 rebounds per game in the 1979 Finals as the Sonics won the rematch over Washington
Averaged a double-double for seven straight seasons starting in ’78-’79, peaking in ’81-’82 with career highs with 19.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game
Named to seven straight All-Star teams and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting twice
Became a fan favorite in Seattle for his rebounding, his defensive intensity, his gangly appearance, and his mop of curly, blonde hair
Led the NBA in defensive win shares twice, and finished in the top five in rebounds per game five times
Though he spent his final five seasons with Milwaukee, he is still the Sonics/Thunders’ franchise all-time rebounding leader

134) Earl Monroe, G, 1967-1980

Picked up the nicknames “Thomas Edison” and “Jesus” on the playgrounds of Philadelphia, because he was the inventor and the truth; eventually added the nicknames “Black Magic” and “The Pearl”
Attended Winston-Salem State when no other school wanted him, but was such a revelation in college that he was drafted second overall by the Bullets in 1967
Won Rookie of the Year while averaging 24.3 points per game, and was named 1st-Team All-NBA
Scored a career high 25.2 points per game in ’68-’69, good for second in the NBA
Though he averaged 20+ points per game four more times in his career, he would never return to the individual heights of his first two seasons as knee and hip injuries and soreness were near-constant issues
Led the Bullets in scoring in ’70-’71 when they reached the NBA Finals, losing to Milwaukee
Traded to the Knicks early in the ’71-’72 season (after briefly considering defecting for the ABA), teaming up with Walt Frazier in the “Rolls Royce” back court
Played in two NBA Finals with the Knicks, winning a title in 1973
The lowest rated player on this list that was named to the NBA 50 Greatest Players list in 1996

133) Paul Westphal, G, 1972-1984

Spent his first three seasons with the Celtics, who never knew how to fully deploy the dynamic combo guard, but he did win a championship in 1974 off the bench
Traded to the Suns in 1975 and instantly became their best player, averaging 20.5 points per game to lead them to a surprise NBA Finals appearance against his former Celtics teammates
He was phenomenal in that 1976 Finals series in a valiant effort from the Suns that came up short in six games
In five seasons with Phoenix averaged 22.5 points and 5.6 assists per game, and was named to four All-Star teams (was later an All-Star for a fifth time with Seattle)
1st-Team All-NBA three times, and 2nd-Team All-NBA once, and finished sixth in MVP voting in ’77-‘78
Struggled in later stops with the Sonics and Knicks, reportedly showing up to camp overweight and suffering injuries regularly
Played one final season with the Suns before retiring, then came back nine years later as their head coach, leading them to their only other NBA Finals appearance in franchise history in 1993

132) Deron Williams, G, 2005-2017

A star wrestler in his youth, and it’s easy to see how those mechanics and that brute strength were deployed in physical brand of basketball
Drafted third overall by the Jazz in 2005, one spot ahead of Chris Paul, with whom his career will always be inexorably linked
In his second season, ’06-’07, led the Jazz in assists and was second in scoring as they made their only Conference Finals appearance of the last 20 years
Averaged double-digit assists per game four times, and finished in the top five in the league in the category seven times
2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and a three-time All-Star
Developed a reputation as a coach killer, supposedly running the legendary Jerry Sloan out of town in Utah, then being a leading contributor of the Avery Johnson firing in Brooklyn
Has technically not yet retired as of this writing, with his last appearance coming for Cleveland as a backup point guard in the 2017 NBA Finals
Won gold medals on the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams

131) Gail Goodrich, G, 1965-1979

Teamed up in the back court with Walt Hazzard to lead UCLA to the first two titles of the John Wooden era, in 1964 and 1965 (even though his father, Gail, Sr., played basketball at rival USC)
A territorial draft selection of the Lakers in 1965, where he initially backed up his former college teammate Hazzard
Played in the 1966 and 1968 NBA Finals before getting selected by Phoenix in the expansion draft
Did a little bit of everything in his two seasons with the Suns, averaging 21.9 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, and leading the team to the 1970 Conference Finals, where they lost to his former Lakers teammates
Traded back to the Lakers in 1970 and was now a star player, averaging 22+ points per game for four straight seasons, peaking at 25.3 in ’73-‘74
The leading scorer and second in assists on the ’71-’72 Lakers that won the title and many consider the greatest team in league history
1st-Team All-NBA in ’73-’74, and a five-time All-Star
Ultimately played in five NBA Finals with the Lakers, winning in just one of them
The third highest-scoring lefty in NBA history, trailing only David Robinson and Bob Lanier

130) LaMarcus Aldridge, F, 2006-Active

Seemed washed up after struggling through his first two seasons with the Spurs, then had a career revival in ’17-’18 as the team’s offensive centerpiece, averaging 23.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, named 2nd-Team All-NBA for the second time, and finishing ninth in MVP voting
Averaged 21+ points and eight-plus rebounds per game for five straight seasons with the Blazers, peaking in ’13-’14 with 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game
Named to six All-Star Games
Second overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, and has easily outplayed all the other top 10 picks in that draft, including Andrea Bargnani, Adam Morrison, and the player the Bulls traded him for on draft day, Tyrus Thomas
Portland’s all-time franchise leader in rebounds, and is second in points behind Clyde Drexler

129) Terry Cummings, F, 1982-2000

Won Rookie of the Year for the Clippers in ’82-’83 (beating out James Worthy and Dominique Wilkins) after they selected him with the second overall pick, but spent just two seasons with the team before getting traded to the Bucks
Averaged 20+ points and eight-plus rebounds in seven of his first eight NBA seasons, peaking in both categories in his rookie year with 23.7 points and 10.6 rebounds
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’84-’85 and finished fifth in MVP voting
Started to struggle in the early ‘90s after suffering a debilitating knee injury, but managed to last until ’99-’00, playing 1,183 games over 18 seasons
Played in the postseason 13 times, making it as far as the Conference Finals twice (1986 with the Bucks and 1995 with the Spurs) but never reached the NBA Finals
Named to two All-Star teams

128) Chet Walker, F, 1962-1975

The starting small forward, third leading scorer, and third leading rebounder on one of the greatest teams of all time, the ’66-’67 76ers
Never named to an All-NBA team, but played in seven All-Star Games, three as a member of the Sixers and four while playing for the Bulls
Averaged a double-double for the 76ers in ’63-’63, with 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and peaked his scoring later on with the Bulls in ’70-’71, with 22.0 points per game
Nicknamed “The Jet” long before Kenny Smith thanks to his speed and leaping ability, he was arguably the most popular player in Bulls history before they drafted Michael Jordan, leading the team to back-to-back Conference Finals appearances in 1974 and 1975
A big time scorer up to the end, he averaged 19.2 points per game in his final season (’74-’75), and averaged 17 points or higher in 10 of his 13 pro seasons
Made just the one NBA Finals appearance in 1967, but his teams made the playoffs in all 13 seasons he played
Could have continued playing past 1975, but quit the sport over frustration with Bulls management and launched a career as a Hollywood producer

127) Vern Mikkelsen, F, 1949-1959

Born in raised in Minnesota, and drafted territorially by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1949, he supposedly signed with the team only because they promised George Mikan would retire in a year
Mikan instead played five more seasons, so he shifted to power forward and became a prototypical example for the position
Won four titles with the Lakers in his first five NBA seasons, then played in the NBA Finals once last time with the team in 1959 before retiring just before the team moved to Los Angeles
Averaged a double-double for the season five times, peaking late in his career with 17.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in ’57-‘58
2nd-Team All-NBA four times, and was named to six All-Star teams
Also a terrific defender and passer, he was the Lakers’ best player in the years between Mikan’s 1954 retirement and Elgin Baylor’s 1958 drafting, and carried the team to Conference Finals appearances in 1955 and 1957
Lakers owner Bob Short attempted to lure him out of retirement in 1960 by offering him 25% ownership of the team (which would be worth over $250 million today) but he declined, wanting to stay retired in his home state of Minnesota

126) Maurice Cheeks, G, 1978-1993

A steady presence on the ‘80s 76ers, never seeking the spotlight and always looking to make his star teammates better
Drafted in the second round in 1978 out of little West Texas A&M University, but took over Philly’s starting point guard job by the end of his rookie season and held the position for the next decade
Averaged a career high 15.6 points per game in ’86-’87, but always stepped it up in the playoffs, with 16.3 points per game in the ’82-’83 title season and a career high 20.8 points per game during the 1986 postseason
Never led the league in steals per game, but finished in the top 10 in the category in each of his first 10 seasons
1st-Team All-Defensive for four straight seasons starting in ’82-’83, and an All-Star four times
Played in three NBA Finals with the 76ers, losing to the Lakers in 1980 and 1982 before winning the title in 1983
Fifth all-time in NBA history with 2,310 steals, and 13th in career assists; Philadelphia’s all-time franchise leader in both categories

125) Mitch Richmond, G, 1988-2002

Rookie of the Year in ’88-‘89
Averaged 22.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in his three seasons with the Warriors, but Run-TMC didn’t muster playoff success and he was traded to the Kings in 1991
Averaged 20+ points per game in each of his first 10 seasons, peaking at 25.9 in ’96-‘97
In 1993 he became the first Kings player since their 1985 move to Sacramento to be named to an All-Star team, his first of six consecutive appearances that included winning MVP of the 1995 edition
Arguably the second best shooting guard of the ‘90s, he was also named 2nd-Team All-NBA three times
Sacramento’s leading scorer for seven consecutive seasons, but the team managed just one playoff appearance during that team, a first round loss in 1996
Signed with the Lakers for his final season in ’01-’02, finally reaching the NBA Finals and winning a title
Played on two U.S. Olympic teams, winning bronze in 1988 while still at Kansas State, then winning gold in 1996 in Atlanta as part of the Dream Team III squad

124) Tom Chambers, F, 1981-1998

Famously won All-Star MVP in 1987, arguably the game’s peak in terms of star-studded participation
Scored 17.2 points per game as a rookie for the Clippers, but received almost no attention on a terrible team, and was unceremoniously traded to the Sonics in 1983
Spent the next five seasons in Seattle and then five seasons in Phoenix and was a star for both teams, averaging 20.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game over that stretch, peaking at 27.2 points per game in ’89-’90, good for fourth in the NBA
Helped lead the Sonics to a surprise run to the 1988 Conference Finals, and the Suns to the Conference Finals in 1989 and 1990, then later was more of a role player off the bench as the Suns reached the 1993 NBA Finals
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’88-’89 and ’89-’90, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting both seasons
Named to four All-Star teams

123) Kevin Love, F, 2008-Active

His father, Stan, played for five seasons in the NBA
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’11-’12, when he also finished sixth in MVP voting, and in ’13-‘14
Led the NBA in rebounds per game in ’10-’11 with 15.2 per game, and is one of just three players to average 15+ per game in a season in the last 20 years, along with Andre Drummond and Ben Wallace
Also finished second in the NBA with 13.3 rebounds per game in ’11-’12, and third with 12.5 rebounds per game in ’13-‘14
Had a career high 26.1 points per game in ’13-‘14
Played in four straight NBA Finals with the Cavaliers; he was third in playoff scoring and third in playoff rebounds on the ’15-’16 title team
Named to five All-Star teams, three with the T-Wolves and two with the Cavs

122) Ed Macauley, F/C, 1949-1959

Was good friends with Celtics owner Walter Brown, and had a no trade clause with the team, but opted to allow them to ship him to St. Louis in exchange for the draft rights to Bill Russell in 1956 so that he could better support his son, who suffered from spinal meningitis
After a rookie season with the St. Louis Bombers (who drafted him territorially, as he had grown up in the area), he spent the next six seasons with Boston and was an All-Star in each of them
Led the NBA in field goal percentage twice, and in ’53-’54 became the first player ever to shoot better than 48% from the field
Averaged 17+ points and eight-plus rebounds in each of his first five seasons with the Celtics
Played two full seasons with the Hawks at the end of his career and they made the NBA Finals in both of them, winning the title in 1958
Eventually became the youngest player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame, and the only player ever to have his jersey retired by the Celtics despite never winning a championship with the team

121) Dikembe Mutombo, C, 1991-2009

Born in poverty in the Congo, one of 12 children, he earned a USAID scholarship to study medicine at Georgetown where John Thompson recruited him for the basketball team even though he barely spoke English
Had an incredible rookie season with the Nuggets, with 16.6 points (a career high), 12.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game (he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Larry Johnson)
Averaged a double-double with at least three blocks per game in each of his first seven seasons
Led the NBA in blocks per game three times, and in rebounds per game twice, peaking with 14.1 in ’99-‘00
Defensive Player of the Year four times, a mark matched only by Ben Wallace, but was somehow named 1st-Team All-Defensive only three times
Played in eight All-Star Games
His most enduring moment came in the 1994 playoffs, when he fell to the ground crying in celebration after his Nuggets stunned the top-seeded Sonics in a first round series; he would eventually play in the NBA Finals with the 76ers in 2001 and the Nets in 2003
Second all-time in NBA history in career blocks

120) Richie Guerin, G, 1956-1970

Still an active Marine when the Knicks drafted him in 1954, he had to wait two years for his tour to end before he could join the NBA at the age of 24
2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and played in six consecutive All-Star Games starting in 1958
Scored 20+ points per game for four straight seasons, peaking in ’61-’62 with 29.5 per game (he also averaged an impressive 6.9 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game that season)
Was the best player for many years on mostly atrocious Knicks teams, reaching the playoffs just once in his seven seasons there, a first round sweep in 1959
Took on a secondary scorer role in later seasons with the Hawks, but finally got to play for a contender, pairing up in the back court with Lenny Wilkens as the team reached the Conference Finals in 1964, 1966, and 1967
Spent two years with the Hawks as player-coach before retiring to become the full-time coach in 1967; he was coaxed back onto the court in ’68-’69 after the team moved to Atlanta
In his final game of his career in 1970 at the age of 37, he scored 31 points in a first round playoff loss against the Lakers

119) Jack Twyman, F, 1955-1966

Could shoot from essentially anywhere on the floor, and averaged 31.2 points per game in ’59-’60, placing him second in the league behind Wilt Chamberlain
Played his first two seasons with the Rochester Royals before the team moved to Cincinnati for the rest of his 11-year career
Averaged 25+ points and eight-plus rebounds per game for three consecutive seasons, starting in ’58-‘59
2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and named to six All-Star teams
Immensely durable, he played in the full slate of regular season games in eight of his 11 seasons, and never missed more than seven games in a season
Teamed up with Oscar Robertson to help lead the Royals to the Conference Finals in 1963 and 1964, but never reached the NBA Finals
Before Robertson his most talented teammate and best friend was Maurice Stokes, and when Stokes was paralyzed following a 1958 injury, he became his caretaker until his death in 1970
Became a TV announcer after retiring as a player, and made the famous “I think we see Willis coming out of the tunnel!” call during the 1970 NBA Finals

118) Vince Carter, G, 1998-Active

Still going strong at age 41, he’s played in 20 NBA seasons for seven different franchises, compiling 24,868 points, which places him 22nd in league history
Though his career is lengthy, it’s mainly defined by one second round playoff series in 2001, when he averaged 30.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game for the Raptors against the 76ers, but attended his college graduation on the morning of game seven and was solely blamed for Toronto’s loss that evening (he missed a series-winning shot at the buzzer)
Had arguably the greatest solo Slam Dunk Contest performance of all-time, winning the event in 2000
Arguably the greatest player in Raptors franchise history, but still derided by fans for purposefully tanking the ’04-’05 season to force a trade to the Nets
Averaged 20+ points per game for 10 straight seasons, peaking at 27.6 per game in ’00-‘01
Rookie of the Year in ’98-’99, 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’00-’01, and an eight-time All-Star
Played in just one Conference Finals in his career, in 2010 with Orlando

117) Walter Davis, F, 1977-1992

Had 24.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in his rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year and finished fifth in MVP voting
That turned out to be a career high in both categories, but he did average 20+ points per game five more times in his career
Spent his first 11 seasons with the Suns, and is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer
Led Phoenix to the Conference Finals twice, in 1979 and 1984, and returned one more time as a role player for the Blazers in 1991
2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and a six-time All-Star
Though he was often brilliant for the Suns, he was also inconsistent, suffering from a lingering back injury and a nasty cocaine habit
When the NBA instituted its new drug policy in 1987, he immediately came forward and asked for help with his cocaine addiction, which sullied his reputation but helped him get sober while avoiding suspensions being handed out to peers like Micheal Ray Richardson
Eventually reconciled with the Suns franchise, and they retired his jersey in 1994

116) Jamaal Wilkes, F, 1974-1986

Played off the bench in his rookie season with the Warriors, but was second on the team in both points and rebounds as they won the NBA title and he was granted Rookie of the Year
Returned to his native Los Angeles in 1977 by signing with the Lakers, and became the starting small forward for the early years of Showtime
Averaged 20+ points per game for three straight seasons, peaking at 22.6 in ’80-‘81
Named to three All-Star teams, one with Golden State and two with Los Angeles, and was 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice
He was second on the team in scoring when the Lakers won their first title of the Magic Johnson era in 1980, then third on the team in scoring for the ’81-’82 title run
Ultimately played in five NBA Finals in his career, winning titles in three of them; he also earned a fourth ring in 1985 but missed the playoffs after suffering a knee injury late in the regular season
So effective at UCLA that John Wooden once called him the “ideal player” and so consistent with his jump shot that Chick Hearn called it a “20 foot layup”

115) Reggie Miller, G, 1987-2005

This probably seems low on the list for him, but consider that he never won a championship, never was a legitimate MVP candidate, and was never named higher than 3rd-Team All-NBA
Played 1,389 games over 18 seasons, all with the Pacers, and is 20th all-time in career points scored and second in three-point field goals (behind only Ray Allen)
Averaged 18+ points per game for 12 straight seasons, peaking at 24.6 per game in ’89-‘90
Led the NBA in free throw percentage five times, and his 88.8% career mark is ninth all-time amongst non-active players
Was undoubtedly the Pacers’ best player for most of his career, and led the team to four Conference Finals appearances in six years, all of them losses, before finally breaking through to the NBA Finals in 2000, where they lost to the Lakers in six games
Indiana’s all-time leader in points, assists, steals, three-point field goals, and free throws
Memorable for his offensive style of running through a elaborate maze of screens to find open space for three-pointers, and for his dominance of the Knicks during the ‘90s, especially in Madison Square Garden

114) Blake Griffin, F, 2010-Active

Seemed like he might be part of a long line of Clippers draft disasters when they selected him first overall in 2009 and he missed his entire first season after knee surgery
Came back strong in '10-'11, winning Rookie of the Year and being named to his first of five consecutive All-Star teams
Threw down countless highlight reel dunks in his early years with the Clippers, many on alley-oop passes from Chris Paul, and several in the 2011 All-Star Slam Dunk Contest when he famously leaped over a Kia Optima at the behest of the NBA (who also likely colluded with Kia to award him the contest title)
Has averaged 20+ points per game in all but one of his seven NBA seasons, peaking overall in his rookie year with 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, while averaging a career high 24.1 points per game in '13-'14
2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and finished third in MVP voting in '13-'14
In his six full seasons with the Clippers he helped them reach the playoffs every year, but only as far as the second round
Despite already being second in franchise history in total points and third in rebounds, the Clippers traded him to Detroit during the '17-'18 season

113) Chris Mullin, F, 1985-2001

Things could have taken a quite different turn for him if he hadn’t sought rehab for his alcoholism early in his pro career
Inherited Larry Bird’s throne as the league’s best outside shooter in the late ‘80s
Averaged 25+ points per game for five straight seasons, starting in ’88-’89, when he peaked with 26.5 per game
Named to five All-Star teams, 1st-Team All-NBA once (in ’91-’92) and 2nd-Team All-NBA twice
The oldest member of the Run-TMC Warriors, he never managed to carry the team past the second round of the playoffs in 12 seasons there
An integral member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team, with his European-style long range shooting and passing touch (he also won gold as an amateur in the 1984 Olympics)
Became more of a situational shooter late in his career, and led the NBA in effective field goal percentage in ’97-‘98
Finally played in the NBA Finals late in his career, coming off the bench for the Pacers in ’99-‘00
An underrated defender with quick hands, he’s Golden State’s all-time franchise leader in steals (though Stephen Curry will soon pass him)

112) Jo Jo White, G, 1969-1981

Considered a sort of demarcation line of Hall of Fame eligibility until he was finally inducted himself in 2015
Finals MVP for the Celtics in 1976, based in large part on his 33 point, nine assist performance in the game five double-overtime thriller
Drafted in the first round in 1969 by the Celtics, in the summer after Bill Russell’s retirement, and essentially held down the starting point guard position for the entire following decade
Peaked statistically early in his career, with 23.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in ’71-‘72
Named to seven consecutive All-Star teams, and was 2nd-Team All-NBA twice
Third in scoring and second in assists on the ’73-’74 title-winning Celtics team, then led the ’75-’76 Celtics in scoring and assists in the title run that ended with his Finals MVP award
A bridge between Sam Jones and Dennis Johnson as the somewhat overlooked do-it-all Celtics legend that was overshadowed by his flashier teammates, Dave Cowens and John Havlicek

111) Gus Johnson, F, 1963-1973

Long before the Dunk Contest, SportsCenter, Youtube, or Nike commercials, he was the preeminent dunker of his era and his exploits were mostly spread by word-of-mouth
Generally credited with inventing the tomahawk dunk (during a game) and being the first NBA player to shatter a backboard
Didn’t reach the NBA until the age of 25, having spent some time with the Harlem Globetrotters, and only managed eight solid NBA seasons before his knees failed him
Averaged 16+ points and 11+ rebounds in his first eight NBA seasons, peaking at 20.7 points per game in ’66-’67 and 17.1 rebounds per game in ’70-‘71
2nd-Team All-NBA four times, 1st-Team All-Defensive twice, and a five-time All-Star
Played most of his career with the Bullets, who struggled for much of it, but did contribute to their NBA Finals run in ’70-‘71
Played one season in the ABA at the end of his career, coming off the bench for the Pacers and winning the 1973 championship

110) Rajon Rondo, G, 2006-Active

A late first round pick out of Kentucky in 2006, as most teams were scared off by his lack of shooting touch, he became the perfect point guard at the perfect time for the Celtics in '07-'08
With Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen handling the bulk of the scoring, he was able to concentrate on his decision-making and defense, helping lead the Celtics to the 2008 championship
Effectively expanded the "Big Three" to a "Big Four" in '09-'10, being named to his first of four straight All-Star appearances and helping the Celtics return to the NBA Finals
Has led the NBA in assists per game three times, twice for the Celtics and once for the Kings (a career high 11.7 per game in '15-'16); also led the NBA in steals per game in '09-'10
Has never averaged more than 13.7 points per game in a season but is consistent in his scoring and also steps it up in the playoffs
1st-Team All-Defensive twice, and has finished as high as eighth in MVP voting
Later career stops with the Kings, Mavericks, Bulls, and Pelicans have been less successful, though he did help New Orleans make a splash in the 2018 playoffs

109) David Thompson, G, 1975-1984

A prototypical Michael Jordan, he could dunk with fury, defend with tenacity, and score from anywhere on the floor, and would have been an all-time great if he had stayed healthy and out of trouble
Selected first overall in both the NBA and ABA drafts in 1975, and chose the Nuggets of the ABA, and won Rookie of the Year and finished second in MVP voting
In his first two NBA seasons he averaged 25.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, was named 1st-Team All-NBA both seasons, and finished third in MVP voting in ’77-‘78
Battled George Gervin for the scoring title in ’77-’78, just losing out despite scoring 73 points in the final game of the season, the highest single-game total in NBA history by anyone besides Wilt Chamberlain or Kobe Bryant
Had two more great season in ’78-’79 and ’80-‘81, with an injury-plagued struggle in between in ’79-’80, before injuries, drug use, and the pressure of signing the largest contract in league history took hold
Had some flashes of brilliance in his late years, but mostly struggled with the Nuggets and Sonics before retiring in 1984 at age 29

108) Kawhi Leonard, F, 2011-Active

Finals MVP in 2014, as he averaged 23.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game over the last three games, while providing arguably the toughest defensive performance LeBron James has ever faced
A former Mr. Basketball in California and an All-American at San Diego State, he still slipped to 15th in the 2011 NBA Draft due to his perceived lack of offensive polish
Finished second in MVP voting in '15-'16, and third in '16-'17, and won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year trophies in '14-'15 and '15-'16
1st-Team All-NBA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive three times, and a two-time All-Star
Averaged a career high 25.5 points per game in '16-'17
Struggled through the '17-'18 season with a mysterious thigh injury that cost him all but nine games
Seemingly clashed with teammates, coaches, and management when the Spurs medical staff cleared him to return to play but he refused, wanting to seek further advice from his own doctor; San Antonio responded by trading him to the Raptors in the offseason

107) Bailey Howell, F, 1959-1971

Spent the first half of his career carrying bad teams to doomed playoff appearances before getting traded to the Celtics to provide a shot in the arm in the waning years of the Bill Russell dynasty
Spent four seasons in Boston and won two titles, in 1968 and 1969, each time as the team’s third-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder
His early seasons came with Detroit, who drafted him second overall in 1959
Averaged 17+ points and double-digit rebounds in his first seven seasons, averaging 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds overall during that span
Named to six All-Star teams, four with the Pistons, one with the Bullets, and one with the Celtics
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’62-‘63
Though his teammates were often lacking, he reached the playoffs in 10 of his 12 pro seasons, including carrying the Pistons to the Conference Finals in 1962, and the Bullets in 1965
At the time of his retirement in 1971 he was in the top 10 in NBA history in 11 separate statistical categories, including total points and total rebounds
Such a huge star at Mississippi State that a yearly award given to the state’s best college player is named after him, but never played in the NCAA Tournament as the school boycotted it due to integration

106) George Yardley, F, 1953-1960

Due to military service he didn’t reach the NBA until 1953 at the age of 25, and lasted just seven seasons before retiring
Popular amongst fans for his dynamic style and flair for the dramatic, he was arguably the fifth best player of the mid-to-late ‘50s after Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes, and Bob Pettit
Led the NBA in scoring in ’57-’58 with 27.8 points per game and became the first player to score over 2,000 points in one season, while also averaging a career high 10.7 rebounds per game
Carried the Fort Wayne Pistons to back-to-back NBA Finals in 1955 and 1956, losing in the former edition in controversial fashion that may have been a result of teammates with mob connections throwing games
Finished in the top five in MVP voting twice, and was named to the All-Star Game in six of his seven seasons
Forced to retire in 1960 due to a hand injury, but still managed to average 20.2 points per game for the Syracuse Nationals in his final season

105) Marques Johnson, F, 1977-1990

Led UCLA to the final title of John Wooden’s coaching tenure in 1975, and two years later won the award newly named after his coach for NCAA player of the year
Selected third overall by the Bucks in 1977 to essentially replace their former UCLA star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Came in second in Rookie of the Year voting for ’77-’78 with 19.5 points and a career high 10.6 rebounds per game
Finished third in the league in scoring in ’78-’79 with 25.6 points per game and averaged 20+ points per game in five more seasons
Working with coach Don Nelson he revolutionized the “point forward” concept, taking on a play maker role from his small forward position (as the Bucks lacked a traditional point guard) while still adding scoring and rebounding
1st-Team All-NBA in ’78-’79, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and an All-Star five times
Led Milwaukee to the Conference Finals in 1983 and 1984, but was soon traded to the Clippers in a cash-saving measure
Had two solid seasons with the Clippers before a major neck injury forced him to retire after playing in just 20 games in his final five years

104) Bobby Jones, F, 1974-1986

Drafted fifth overall by the Rockets in 1974, but opted to join the Nuggets in the ABA instead as they offered more money
Though he averaged just 14.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in ’75-’76, he finished second in ABA MVP voting and helped lead the Nuggets to the ABA Finals
Maybe the best defender of his generation, he was 1st-Team All-Defensive in his first nine NBA seasons, and surely would have won at least one Defensive Player of the Year award if it had existed before 1983
Named to four NBA All-Star Games and one ABA All-Star Game, and won Sixth Man of the Year in ’82-‘83
Led the ABA in field goal percentage twice, and the NBA once
Spent his first two NBA seasons with the Nuggets before getting traded to the 76ers in 1978 and accepting a sixth man role
Played in three NBA Finals with the 76ers, including their championship in 1983
Extremely popular amongst Sixers fans for his defensive intensity and work ethic, and had his jersey retired by the team almost immediately after his 1986 retirement

103) Dan Issel, C, 1970-1985

Despite being a star under Adolph Rupp at Kentucky, he fell to the eighth round of the 1970 Draft and opted to sign with the local Kentucky Colonels of the ABA
Played his first six years in the ABA, where he was an All-Star every year, named to the All-ABA team five times, won a scoring title, won Rookie of the Year, and finished second in MVP voting in ’71-’72 (behind his Colonels teammate, Artis Gilmore)
Played in four ABA Finals, three with the Kentucky Colonels (including a 1975 title) and one with the Nuggets
Averaged 30.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game in his first two ABA seasons, and though his stats dipped in the NBA they were still impressive, including averaging 20+ points per game six times
Teamed up with David Thompson as a dangerous scoring duo on the Nuggets as they transitioned from the ABA to NBA, including a Conference Finals appearance in 1978; he returned to the Conference Finals again with Denver at the end of his career in 1985, as a sixth man
11th all-time in total points when taking into account both ABA and NBA stats, he’s second in Nuggets franchise history in the stat and is the all-time franchise leader in rebounds

102) Gus Williams, G, 1975-1987

With his behind-the-back passes, fast break orchestration, and sneaky drives to the basket, he earned his nickname “The Wizard”
Drafted initially by the Warriors, but made little impact in his two seasons there before signing with Seattle where he was an instant sensation, teaming in the back court with Dennis Johnson as a pair of unorthodox combo guards
Led the Sonics in scoring and steals, and was second in assists in the ’77-’78 season that ended with an NBA Finals loss to the Bullets, and the ’78-’79 season that ended with a title
During the 1979 Finals he had 32 points in game one, 23 points in two, 36 points in game four, and a team high 23 points in the deciding game five, but lost out on the Finals MVP trophy to Johnson
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’79-’80 and helped the Sonics return to the Conference Finals, but sat out the entire ’80-’81 season in protest of management refusing to restructure his contract
Came back strong in ’81-’82 with a career high 23.4 points per game, was named 1st-Team All-NBA (over Magic Johnson) and finished fifth in MVP voting
Named to two All-Star teams

101) Lenny Wilkens, G, 1960-1975

Though they reached the NBA Finals in his rookie year (the only Finals appearance of his 15-year career), he was misfortunate to be drafted by a Hawks team that was fighting against integration of black players
He quickly became the team’s only great player as white stars Bob Pettit and Cliff Hagan began to age and the franchise refused to infuse the roster with young black talent
Named to the All-Star team nine times in a 10-year stretch, and was All-Star MVP in 1971
Finished in the top five in assists per game in 10 different seasons, leading the league once in ’69-’70 with 9.1 per game
Totaled 7,211 assists in his career, which placed him second all-time behind Oscar Robertson at the time of his retirement (he’s still 14th all-time)
Finished second in MVP voting in ’67-’68, but wasn’t named to the All-NBA team
Traded to the Sonics in 1968 and soon became their player-coach, just the second black coach in league history after Bill Russell; eventually spent 32 seasons as a head coach, winning 1,332 games to set the all-time record (eventually broken by Don Nelson) and leading Seattle to the championship in 1979

Nov 29, 2018

Top 500 All-Time Players, 2018 Edition: 150-101