Basketball Lists: 500 all-time greatest players (2019 edition): #500 to #451

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 500 through 451 for the year 2019.

The full list for 2019 can be found here as just a list, and here with full player bios. Last year's full list can be found here.

500) Mike Gminski, C, 1980-1994

The last great Duke star of the pre-Coach K era and one of the first marquee players to take advantage of the NCAA early entry policy; still at or near the school’s all-time leaderboard in points, rebounds, and blocked shots
Drafted seventh overall by the Nets but found only limited playing time early in his career as he attempted to bulk up to meet the rigors of the NBA schedule
Eventually became a starting center, and enjoyed a solid four-year prime with New Jersey and Philadelphia, averaging 16.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game
Became a beloved figure with the 76ers, amassing rebounds and short jumpers on a bruising frontline with Charles Barkley and Rick Mahorn
Finished his career with over 10,000 total points and over 6,000 rebounds
Reached the postseason eight times with the Nets, 76ers, and Hornets, but never past the second round

499) Tom Gugliotta, F, 1992-2005

A combo forward that could hit from long range and battle on the boards, he was a consistent presence early in his career for the Bullets team that drafted him #6 overall and the Timberwolves team for which he blossomed into an All-Star
Averaged 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game for the first six seasons of his career, before various injuries started to take their toll
Traded from Washington to Minnesota in 1995, became a perfect complement to Kevin Garnett in the front court and was named to 1997 All-Star team while helping lead the T-Wolves to their first ever playoff appearance
Was never the same after an ankle surgery in 1998 and a near death experience with sleeping pills in 1999, and spent his late career mostly sitting on the bench
Played for Jim Valvano at N.C. State, where he was supposedly given a scholarship only because his father was old friends with Valvano

498) Darrall Imhoff, C, 1961-1972

Starred under the legendary Pete Newell at California and then on the 1960 U.S. Olympic team
Drafted third overall by the Knicks in 1961, right behind his Olympic teammates Jerry West and Oscar Robertson
Cracked under the pressure of New York and failed as their starting center, but found a second life as an indispensable reserve for the Lakers
Played in three NBA Finals with Los Angeles (1965, 1966, and 1968) and was named to the 1967 All-Star team while earning the nickname “The Ax” for his tough and relentless presence off the bench
Retired after a final season with the Blazers, and stayed in Portland to become a longtime radio announcer and franchise ambassador, up until his death in 2017

497) Kerry Kittles, G, 1996-2005

Third option on the Nets behind Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin as they reached back-to-back Finals in 2002 and 2003
Broke the school record for career points at Villanova and then set the NBA rookie record for three-pointers made in ’97-‘98
As the first draft selection of the John Calipari Nets era, averaged 16.8 points per game in his first two seasons, but struggled with injuries the rest of his career
Missed the entire ’00-’01 season due to knee surgery, and with his offensive game never fully recovered, he returned as a role player
Played one final injury-addled season with the Clippers before retiring in 2005

496) Brian Shaw, G, 1988-2003

One half of the “Shaw-Shaq Redemption,” an alley-oop pass to Shaquille O’Neal that carried over from their time together in Orlando to their teaming up in Los Angeles
Played on three straight Lakers title teams in 2000, 2001, and 2002 as a tall, defensive-minded bench combo guard that fit perfectly into Phil Jackson’s system
Initially drafted by the Celtics in 1988 and saw increased playing time late in his rookie season, but had disagreements with coach Jimmy Rodgers and bolted to play professionally in Italy (as a teammate of Danny Ferry)
Eventually returned to Boston and replaced Dennis Johnson in the starting lineup, but spent most of his career as a defensive and three-point shooting specialist off the bench in stops with the Heat, Magic (with whom he played in the 1995 Finals), Blazers, and Lakers

495) Tom Henderson, G, 1974-1983

Always known first for his toughness, and it’s no surprise he now works at a juvenile correctional facility
Easily the greatest player in NBA history to play college ball at Hawaii
Drafted seventh overall by the Hawks in 1974, and averaged a career high 14.2 points per game for Atlanta in ’75-‘76
Started at point guard for the Bullets in ’77-’78, and led the team in assists as they won their first and only championship
Played in two more NBA Finals, in 1979 with the Bullets, again as their starting point guard and assists leader, and in 1981 as a backup combo guard for the Rockets
Played on the 1972 U.S. Olympic team that lost a controversial Gold Medal Game against the U.S.S.R. and has still not claimed their silver medals

494) Al Harrington, F, 1998-2014

One of the first prep stars to take advantage of the NBA loosening its eligibility rules in the ‘90s, and was only 18 when he made his pro debut
Eventually lasted 16 seasons in the NBA, amassing over 10,000 points and 5,000 rebounds
After helping the Pacers reach the 2004 Conference Finals, he had his best statistical seasons with the Hawks, averaging 18.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game over a two-year stretch
Suffered from injury woes later in his career, but was still productive in stops with the Warriors, Knicks, and Nuggets
Though he retired from the NBA in 2014, he’s stayed active on the court, playing in the Big 3 league and in China

493) Aaron McKie, G, 1994-2007

After starring at the high school level in Philadelphia then moving on to Temple, his NBA career started with Portland but it's no surprise his most memorable years came with the Sixers
Mostly starting at shooting guard in the back court with Allen Iverson, he was second in scoring, second in assists, and third in rebounding on the '00-'01 76ers team that reached the NBA Finals
Won Sixth Man of the Year for '00-'01, but then started for the 76ers in the majority of their postseason games that year
Averaged a career high 12.2 points per game in '01-'02
Spent seven-plus seasons with Philadelphia, but also logged time with the Blazers, Pistons, and Lakers in a 13-year career
Though he had stopped playing to become an assistant coach by then, he was part of the 2008 trade that brought Pau Gasol from Memphis to Los Angeles

492) Marvin Webster, C, 1975-1987

Nicknamed "The Human Eraser" for his ability to block shots

Drafted third overall by the Hawks in 1975, but opted to play in the ABA's final season instead, with the Nuggets

Averaged a double-double for two straight seasons, with 14.0 points and 12.6 rebounds per game for the Sonics in '77-'78, and with 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game for the Knicks in '78-'79

Leading rebounder, third in scoring, and third in assists on the '77-'78 Sonics team that reached the NBA Finals and lost in seven games to the Bullets

Signed a big free agent contract with the Knicks in 1978, but started to struggled with both hepatitis and tendinitis

Finished 10th in MVP voting in '77-'78

491) Drazen Petrovic, G, 1989-1993

Started his pro career at age 13 in his native Croatia (then part of Yugoslavia)

Drafted by Portland in the third round in 1986, but didn’t join the NBA until ’89-’90, when the Blazers bought out his contract with Real Madrid

Played in the 1990 NBA Finals with the Blazers, but played only sparingly behind Clyde Drexler at shooting guard; his trade request was granted in 1991 when he was dealt to the Nets

With an aggressive attacking style matched with a silky smoother jumper, he was a sensation for New Jersey, averaging 21.4 points per game over the ’91-’92 and ’92-’93 seasons

Teaming up with Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson, he helped lead the Nets to their first playoff appearance in six years in 1992

Died in a car accident in Germany in June of 1993, rendering his career tragically short

Played for the Yugoslavia national team at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, winning bronze and gold medals respectively, then won silver with Croatia at the 1992 Olympics

490) Brian Grant, F, 1994-2006

Memorable for his signature dreadlocks and for getting massively overpaid by the Heat in 2000, but had some solid seasons with Sacramento, Portland, and Miami
Drafted eighth overall out of Xavier in 1994, he was 1st-Team All-Rookie for the Kings, averaging 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game
Extremely versatile, he could play both forward positions and center, and defend and rebound solidly across the board, and was a major asset for the late ‘90s Blazers, helping them reach as far as the Conference Finals in 2000
Signed a seven-year, $87 million contract with the Heat that seemed crazy even at the time, but had a career year for them in ’00-’01, with 15.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game
Spent much of his time in Miami filling in as an undersized center for Alonzo Mourning, who was dealing with a kidney disease
His huge contract eventually became an asset as it allowed Pat Riley to include him in the trade to the Lakers for Shaquille O’Neal in 2004

489) Rodney Rogers, F, 1993-2005

Nicknamed “The Durham Bull” for his domination at the high school level in North Carolina, continued on to win ACC Player of the Year while at Wake Forest
Drafted in the 1993 lottery by the Nuggets, he was traded to the Clippers in 1995 and languished for years on their mismanaged roster
After signing with the Suns in 1999, won Sixth Man of the Year for the ’99-’00 season as a do-it-all combo forward
Was also a key bench contributor for the Nets as they reached the 2003 Finals
After retiring in 2005, broke his neck in a dirt bike accident leaving him paralyzed; he and his wife started the Rodney Rogers Foundation in his native North Carolina to raise money and awareness for those dealing with paralysis

488) Donyell Marshall, F, 1994-2009

One of so many players who were just drafted too high in the mid ‘90s as NBA teams were adjusting to shifting draft class demographic; got a huge rookie contract from the Timberwolves, which didn’t seem to sit right with fans, the media, and veteran teammates
Was traded to the Warriors during his rookie season
Never lived up to his fourth pick, but did have a 15-year career and totaled over 10,000 points
Had some solid seasons with the Warriors and then the Jazz as the third scoring option behind Karl Malone and John Stockton, peaking at 14.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over a seven year prime
Came off the bench for the Cavs late in his career, helping them reach the NBA Finals in 2007 as a role player

487) Jimmy Walker, G, 1967-1976

Mentored by Celtics star Sam Jones on the playgrounds of Boston, he led the NCAA in scoring while playing at Providence and would have joined the Celtics in the 1967 if the NBA hadn’t disbanded the territorial pick that year
Was drafted instead with the first pick by Detroit and expectations were high as he joined Dave Bing in the back court
Averaged 19.9 points per game in a three year prime with the Pistons, and was named to two All-Star teams
His career started to go off the rails after a trade to Houston in 1972, as he struggled with weight gain issues that had plagued him since childhood, and he never lived up to his hype as the first pick, especially compared to the man drafted right after him, Earl Monroe
Retreated from public life after his retirement and passed away in 2007 having never met his son, Jalen Rose

486) Billy Owens, F, 1991-2001

A precursor of the current crop of play making, do-it-all small forwards, especially Kevin Durant, who has specifically mentioned him as a major influence
After a star career at Syracuse, almost immediately made enemies of two NBA fan bases by holding out of training camp for the Kings team that signed him because he didn't get a big enough contract offer, and by getting subsequently traded to the Warriors for Mitch Richmond, which broke up the popular Run-T.M.C. team
Peaked statistically in '93-'94, with 15.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game
Seemed destined to fulfill coach Don Nelson's point forward role in Golden State, but never lived up to the hype
Reached the playoffs just three times in his 10-year career, all of them first round losses
Found less success in later stops with the Heat, Kings, Sonics, 76ers, and Pistons before retiring in 2001 at age 31

485) Nate McMillan, G, 1986-1998

Though he was just a second round pick of the Sonics in 1986 out of N.C. State, he eventually spent all 12 seasons of his career with the team
Tied the NBA rookie record (with Ernie DiGregorio) with 25 assists in a single game
Held down Seattle’s starting point guard position for four seasons until Gary Payton took it over, averaging 8.3 assists per game over that stretch
Though he spent most of his career coming off the bench, he led the NBA in steals per game in ’93-’94, and was named 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice
Helped lead the Sonics to the NBA Finals in 1996
Had his number retired by the franchise upon retiring as a player in 1998, and almost immediately took over as the team’s head coach
Nicknamed “Mr. Sonic,” he is still third in franchise history (including the Oklahoma City Thunder years) in assists and second in steals

484) Walt Dukes, C, 1955-1963

First seven-footer in NBA history, but was lanky and not always coordinated, and ended up leading the NBA in personal fouls twice
Also one of just three players in league history (along with James Edwards and Elvin Hayes) to compile over 300 fouls in five consecutive seasons
Named NIT MVP while leading Seton Hall to the 1953 title and was drafted that summer by the Knicks, but opted to play for the Harlem Globetrotters instead
Spent most of his NBA career with the Pistons, and retired in 1963 as the franchise’s all-time leading rebounder (he’s still seventh on the leaderboard)
Named to back-to-back All-Star teams in 1960 and 1961
Graduated from New York Law School in 1960 and became a successful civil rights attorney after retiring from basketball

483) Ralph Simpson, G, 1970-1980

Not to be confused with Ralph Sampson, or the Simpsons character Ralph Wiggum
A high school teammate of Spencer Haywood in Detroit, and they won the state championship together in 1967
Selected 11th overall by the Bulls in the 1972 NBA Draft, but by then had already played two full seasons with the Denver Rockets in the ABA
Averaged 20+ points per game in three different ABA seasons, peaking at 27.4 points per game in '71-'72
Named 1st-Team All-ABA in '75-'76, and played in five ABA All-Star Games
Helped the Nuggets make their only ABA Finals in 1976
Struggled to adapt to the NBA after the merger, adding only meager scoring off the bench in short stints with the Pistons, Nuggets, 76ers, and Nets

482) Swen Nater, C, 1973-1984

Wasn’t recruited out of high school and spent his time at UCLA on the bench, but was still a first round pick in the NBA and ABA thanks to his size (6’11”)
Chose to play with the Virginia Squires and became a star in the renegade league thanks to memorable mustache and gritty style of play
Was a two-time All-Star in the ABA, and led the league in rebounds per game with 16.4 in ’74-‘75
Drafted by the Bucks in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft, but spent most of his NBA career with the dead-end Clippers; finally got a chance to play for a contender late in his career with the ’82-’83 Lakers
Led the NBA in rebounds per game in ’79-‘80
Born in the Netherlands and living in an orphanage after his parents moved to the U.S., he only made it to America at age nine because his family was reunited by a TV game show

481) Ray Scott, F, 1961-1972

Possessing a mature game for a rookie, he put in major minutes for the Pistons as they made a surprise run to the Conference Finals in 1962; it turned out to be the only time in his NBA career that his team won a playoff series
After taking over as starting power forward in his second season, averaged 16.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game over the next five seasons with Detroit
Ultimately averaged a double-double for his NBA career with the Pistons and Bullets, with 14.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, but was never named to an All-Star team
Rounded out his career with two seasons in the ABA with the Virginia Squires, starting alongside Julius Erving at forward
Took over as Pistons coach soon after retiring as a player, and in 1974 became the first black coach to win Coach of the Year

480) Joe Graboski, F, 1948-1962

Standing 6’7”, he was one of the few (and maybe only) NBA big man considered strong and talented enough to hang with George Mikan
After dropping out of high school and never attending college, was discovered as a ball boy for the Chicago Stags and signed a pro contract, but didn’t break out as a star until joining the Indianapolis Olympians in 1951
Carried the Olympians to playoff appearances in 1952 and 1953, where he faced down Mikan in series losses to the Lakers
Selected by the Warriors in the 1953 dispersal draft after the Olympians folded, he settled in on the frontline alongside Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston, and helped Philadelphia to the NBA title in 1956, scoring a game high 29 points in the clinching game five of those Finals
Lasted 14 seasons in the NBA, basically an eternity for players who started in the BAA, but especially for one who came seemingly out of nowhere

479) Tyrone Corbin, F, 1985-2001

Quintessential NBA journeyman, with 11 franchise changes in 16 seasons, and never played for more than three consecutive years with any one team

Starred for the Timberwolves team that selected him in their expansion draft, averaging 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in his two seasons in Minnesota

Versatile, durable, and willing to take on any assignment, he also had memorable stops with the Suns, Jazz, and Hawks as each of those teams found playoff success

Was the starting small forward for Utah when they reached the Conference Finals in 1992 and 1994, and came off the bench at both forward positions for Phoenix’s 1989 Conference Finals team

Eventually returned to the Jazz as a coach, taking over the head position from Jerry Sloan when he retired in 2011

478) Ray Felix, C, 1953-1962

On paper he was the league’s tallest player when he joined the Bullets in ’53-’54, standing 6’11”, one inch taller than his rival, George Mikan

Named an All-Star in his rookie season in 1954, becoming just the second black player ever to play in the exhibition game, and was named Rookie of the Year at the end of the season

Spent his best seasons starting at center for the Knicks, averaging 12.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game over a four-year prime starting in ’54-‘55

Became a key bench player for the Lakers late in his career, helping the team reach the NBA Finals in his final season, ’61-’62, with the series ending with a game seven overtime loss to the Celtics

Faced off regularly with Bill Russell, and once so infuriated the Celtics star that Russell punched him in the head during a game, knocking him unconscious

477) Armen Gilliam, F, 1987-2000

Drafted second overall by the Suns after a star career at UNLV, he never reached stardom in the NBA but had a solid 13-year career in complementary roles

Averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over his first nine seasons with Phoenix, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and New Jersey

Though he garnered the nickname “Hammer” for his punishing style of play, he was thoughtful and soft-spoken off the court, and had a reputation as a team leader at all of his NBA stops, many of them marked by youthful rosters

As a result of playing on so many rebuilding teams, he never played in the second round of the playoffs

476) Butch Beard, G, 1969-1979

Starred at Louisville alongside Wes Unseld, who had previously been a high school rival in his native Kentucky

Struggled in his rookie year with the Hawks, and then was forced to take a year off after being drafted into the U.S. Army (though he was ultimately not deployed to Vietnam)

Came back strong with the Cavaliers in ’71-’72 (they selected him in the expansion draft during his military service), with career highs in points (15.4 per game) and assists (6.7 per game) and an appearance in that season’s All-Star Game

Starting point guard for the ’74-’75 Warriors championship team; he was fourth on the team in playoff scoring, and second in assists

Though he was a steady presence at point guard, he played for five teams in his first six NBA seasons, going from Atlanta to Cleveland to Seattle to Golden State back to Cleveland then on to the Knicks

Came as close as any point guard in NBA history to leading the league in field goal percentage, finishing second in ’74-’75 behind Don Nelson

475) Kevin Loughery, G, 1962-1973

A true New Yorker: born in Brooklyn, raised in the Bronx, attended college at St. John’s, and drafted in 1961 by the Knicks
Never suited up for his hometown NBA team though, as he opted to play out his final year of college eligibility and then join the NBA with the Pistons in 1962
Eventually became a mainstay for the Bullets, where he teamed up with Gus Johnson as the best players of the team’s Baltimore era
Eventually started in the back court with Earl Monroe, and made a living hitting open shots when Monroe was double-teamed by opponents; peaked in ’68-’69 with 22.6 points per game
Helped the Bullets reach the 1971 NBA Finals by defeating his hometown Knicks in a Conference Finals upset

474) Larry Siegfried, G, 1963-1972

Supposedly was so torn up by losing to Cincinnati in the 1961 NCAA title game while at Ohio State that he turned down a contract from the Cincinnati Royals team that drafted him third overall in 1962, signing instead with the Cleveland Pipers of ABL
Eventually turned up on the Celtics when his former college teammate John Havlicek convinced Red Auerbach to give him a chance
Won five titles in Boston, three of them as the starting point guard after K.C. Jones retired
Led the NBA in free throw shooting percentage twice, and overall shot 85.4% from the line for his career, which places him second on the leaderboard for players whose career ended before the ABA merger (trailing only Bill Sharman)
Disappointed with his frozen contract, he became one of the first big name players to hold out of training camp in 1968, even threatening to move back to Ohio and join the priesthood before the Celtics finally relented and gave him a new two-year deal

473) Keith Erickson, F, 1965-1977

John Wooden once called him the best pure athlete he had ever coached, and he starred in baseball and volleyball for UCLA in addition to winning two NCAA championships in basketball
Played his early NBA days with the Warriors and Bulls but eventually returned home to Los Angeles in a 1968 trade to the Lakers, who needed a reliable backup at small forward for the aging Elgin Baylor
Was a vital member of the Lakers teams that reached the NBA Finals in 1969, 1970, and 1973, but missed almost the entire legendary ’71-’72 title season, including every playoff game, with a leg injury
Put up his best stats in later years with Suns, peaking at 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in ’73-‘74
Played in one more NBA Finals in 1976 with the Suns, losing in six games to the Celtics

472) Tyrone Hill, F/C, 1990-2004

Played for seven franchises in 15 NBA seasons, including two separate stints each with the Cavaliers and Sixers

An All-Star in 1995 for the Cavs, when he averaged career highs in scoring (13.8 points per game) and rebounds (10.9 per game)

Averaged a double-double in ’97-’98 as well for the Bucks, with 10.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game

Finished second in the NBA in field goal percentage in ’96-’97 at 60.0%; he never shot above 55% in any other season in his career

After starting his career as a role player on the Run-TMC Warriors, played for middling teams in Cleveland and Milwaukee before getting some playoff success with the 76ers

Starting power forward on the ’00-’01 Sixers team that reached the NBA Finals, finishing second on the team in scoring and fifth in rebounding

471) Mel Counts, C, 1964-1976

Raised in a tranquil fishing town in Oregon but found himself on both sides of the bitter Celtics-Lakers dispute of the ‘60s

Drafted by the Celtics in 1964 as an insurance policy for Bill Russell and won two titles in Boston as a backup center

Traded to the Bullets for Bailey Howell in 1966, then was traded again to the Lakers less than a year later where he split time as the starting center with Darrall Imhoff until Wilt Chamberlain joined the roster

Holds the distinctions of being the only player to participate in multiple Finals for both the Celtics and Lakers (he played in three Finals losses with Los Angeles in 1969, 1970, and 1973), and the only player to back up both Russell and Chamberlain

Famously led a comeback off the bench in game seven of the 1969 Finals when Chamberlain sat with an injury

470) Mario Elie, G/F, 1990-2001

Starred at the legendary Power Memorial Academy in New York alongside Chris Mullin, but was un-recruited by major colleges and wound up at American International in Division II
Taken with the third-to-last pick (#160 overall) by the Bucks in 1985, was waived in the preseason, and spent five years playing in Argentina, Ireland, and Portugal
Finally earned a rotation spot with the Warriors in ’91-’92, but had his best seasons soon after with the Rockets, where he earned the nickname “Junkyard Dog” for his defensive intensity
Played off the bench at both wing positions for the Rockets during their title runs in 1994 and 1995, famously hitting the “Kiss of Death” game winner in a second round victory over the Suns in the latter season
Averaged a career high 11.7 points per game as the starting small forward for Houston in ’96-‘97
Won a third championship in 1999 as the starting shooting guard for the Spurs

469) Devin Harris, G, 2004-Active (2018 rank: #480)

An All-Star in '08-'09 for the Nets, when he averaged a career high 21.3 points per game
Has spent 15 seasons in the NBA but played in just 985 total games due to various injuries (about 65 games per season)
Fifth in scoring and fourth in assists in the playoffs in 2006, as he helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals, playing in a three-guard rotation in the back court with Jason Terry and Adrian Griffin
Selected fifth overall by the Wizards in 2004 out of Wisconsin, then traded immediately in a blockbuster to Dallas (along with Christian Laettner and Jerry Stackhouse) for Antawn Jamison; would later be involved in several other huge trades, including the one that brought Jason Kidd to Dallas and the one that brought Deron Williams to the Nets

468) Mark Eaton, C, 1982-1993

Evidence of note of his elite shot blocking skills: leading the league in blocks per game four times in a five year span between 1983 and 1988, compiling 14 blocks in a single game in 1988 (just short of the record of 15 held by Manute Bol and Shaquille O’Neal), and becoming the only player in NBA history to record 400 blocks in a single season, when his 456 blocked shots in ’84-’85 shattered the previous record of 393 set by Elmore Smith
Was also named Defensive Player of the Year twice (in 1985 and 1989), made the All-Star team in 1989, and played in the postseason with Utah 10 times
Surprisingly durable for such a big man (he stood 7’5”), his knees and back finally started to betray him around ’91-’92, causing his retirement
Despite his massive frame he was lightly used on his high school basketball team and was resigned to a career as an auto mechanic in his Calfornia hometown when a coach at nearby Cyprus College spotted and recruited him (he eventually wound up at UCLA)

467) Tony Allen, G, 2004-2018

Has never averaged more than 10 points, five rebounds, or two assists per game over a full season, but always made an impact in the 14 years he played
Made the All-Defensive team six times in a seven-year stretch, including being named 1st-Team All-Defensive in '11-'12, '12-'13, and '14-'15
Part of the '07-'08 Celtics title team, though he played only limited minutes off the bench in the postseason
Had more impact on the '09-'10 Celtics that reached the NBA Finals, backing up Ray Allen at shooting guard as a bench defensive specialist
Best years came with the "grit and grind" Grizzlies, putting up consistent numbers and top-flight defense as the team reached new heights, including a Conference Finals appearance in 2013

466) Jim Jackson, F, 1992-2006

Expected to start immediately for the Dallas team that drafted him fourth overall, he instead sat out most of his rookie season over a contract dispute
Eventually took the court and joined Jason Kidd and Jamal Mashburn as an apparent rising star trio
Averaged 25.7 points per game in ’94-’95, but missed a lot of time with injury and was perturbed that Kidd appeared to be getting more adulation and attention
Supposedly feuded with Kidd as part of a love triangle with singer Toni Braxton, and was traded away to the Nets in 1997
Played for 12 teams in his final 10 NBA seasons, including semi-successful stops in Golden State and Atlanta, but had a tendency to publicly harp about his team’s struggles, and most fan bases resent him to this day for it

465) Tom Van Arsdale, F, 1965-1977

One of a set of identical twins with his brother Dick, and the two played together in their Indianapolis high school, then at Indiana University, and finally in their final NBA season, '76-'77 with Phoenix
For many years he was far-and-away the greatest player in NBA history to never reach the playoffs before DeMarcus Cousins passed him, and he will likely re-inherit the mantle in 2019
Named to three consecutive All-Star Teams as a member of the Royals, starting in 1970
Peaked in the '69-'70 and '70-'71 seasons with Cincinnati, averaging 22.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game
Came closest to reaching the postseason in '67-'68, when he was traded from the Pistons to the Royals, and his new team finished one game behind his latter team for the East's final playoff spot

464) Don Kojis, F, 1963-1975

One of a handful of players that was a member of three different expansion teams, which is indicative of how often he changed franchises, playing for six teams in a 12-year career, which was rare in his age
Averaged 19.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in ’67-’68 for the San Diego Rockets, and was named to his first of two consecutive All-Star Games that season
Was selected by the Rockets and Bulls in their respective expansion drafts, and was initially drafted in the second round in 1961 by the expansion Chicago Packers
Though he could have joined the NBA in 1961, he played AAU ball for two years in the hopes of making the 1964 U.S. Olympic team, but finally relented and signed with the Packers (who were by then the Baltimore Bullets) in 1963

463) Rudy Gobert, C, 2013-Active (2018 rank: N/A)

Has won Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons, becoming the ninth player to win the award in back-to-back years
1st-Team All-Defensive three years in a row, and was 2nd-Team All-NBA in '16-'17
Set the NBA combine records for wingspan and standing reach but fell to the Jazz with the 27th pick
Led the NBA in blocks per game in '16-'17, and has finished in the top five in the category in three other seasons; also led the NBA in field goal percentage in '18-'19
Born and raised in northern France, he's represented his national team at the World Cup and Olympics, following in the footsteps of his father, who represented the national team in the '80s

462) Connie Simmons, C, 1946-1956

A star on the pick-up playground courts of Queens, he played on the high school team with his older brother, Johnny, but was disinterested in college and opted to enter the workforce instead

He was rediscovered years later playing an impromptu scrimmage against his brother and some of his Celtics teammates, and was offered a contract basically on the spot despite no college experience

After one-and-a-half seasons with Boston, he was traded to the Bullets down the stretch of the ’47-’48 season, and was their leading scorer as they won the 1948 BAA title

Eventually settled in as the starting center for the Knicks, leading them to three straight NBA Finals in 1951, 1952, and 1953, all losses

Never an All-Star or league leader, but spent 10 seasons in the NBA, leading his team to the playoffs in seven of them, and the Finals in four

461) Joel Embiid, C, 2016-Active (2018 rank: N/A)

Has still played in only about 150 games over three seasons in his career, but has already left an indelible impact
Drafted third overall by the "process" 76ers in 2014, but didn't suit up for the team until '16-'17 due to multiple surgeries in his right foot
Almost instantly became one of the league's premier centers, being named 1st-Team All-Rookie despite playing just 31 games in '16-'17
Averaged 27.5 points (fourth in the NBA) and 13.6 rebounds per game (second in the NBA) in '18-'19 while leading the Sixers to the second round of the playoffs
A two-time All-Star, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice, and finished seventh in MVP voting in '18-'19

460) Andrew Bynum, C, 2005-2014

Debuted at the age of 17 for the Lakers in 2005, making him the youngest player in NBA history, and was only 26 years old when his career ended in 2014

Drafted #10 overall by a Lakers team in flux, was thrusted into the starting lineup in his second season due to injuries to Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown

Lost a lot of time due to knee injuries, but showed some flashes of brilliance especially in his ’11-’12 All-Star season, when he averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game

Missed the 2008 run to the Finals due to injuries, but was a (inconsistent) part of the 2009 and 2010 title teams

Dealt to the 76ers in 2012 as part of the Dwight Howard trade, and quickly flamed out in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Indiana to wrap up his career

459) Kevin Martin, G, 2004-2016

Never an All-Star, but a consistent offensive force in his prime, averaging 22.4 points per game during a five year peak with the Kings and Rockets

An explosive scorer despite an unorthodox shot motion, his breakout came in the 2006 playoffs, when he buried a buzzer beater in a first round game three win over the Spurs (though the Kings eventually lost the series)

Finished second in Most Improved Player voting for the ’06-’07 season behind Monta Ellis

Injury prone due to his svelte frame, suffered various ailments to his ankle, groin, and shoulder that forced him to miss significant time later in his career and retire in 2016 at age 33

Played in the postseason just three times in his 13-year career, and never advanced past the second round

458) Steve Mix, F, 1969-1983

Grew up in Toledo, OH and brought blue-collar mentality to his game

So consistent with his lefty jumper mechanics that teammates called his favorite floor spots “Mixville”

After short stints with the Pistons and in the ABA was named to All-Star Game in 1975 as member of Sixers

Leading scorer and rebounder for Philadelphia for several seasons before they signed Julius Erving, then became Dr. J’s mentor and took supporting role in offense

Played with Sixers in Finals losses in 1977, 1980, and 1982; then played with Lakers in 1983 Finals when they lost to his former Philly teammates

457) Nene, F/C, 2002-Active (2018 rank: #450)

Born Maybyner Rodney Hilario in Brazil, he was nicknamed “Nene,” Portugese for “baby” due to being the youngest in his family and eventually legally shortened his name in 2003
Already had several years of pro experience in his native Brazil when the Knicks drafted him in the 2002 lottery and then traded him to Denver
Showed early signs of potential stardom for the Nuggets until tearing his ACL and MCL during the ’05-’06 season, robbing him of basically an entire year of playing time and sapping him him of much of the on-court volatility that he thrived on
Peaked statistically for the Nuggets in ’10-’11, leading the NBA in field goal percentage while averaging career highs in points per game (14.5) and rebounds per game (7.6)
Has never reached the NBA Finals, but has played in the Conference Finals starting for the Nuggets in 2009 and then as a lightly used backup center for the Rockets in 2018

456) Bruce Bowen, F, 1996-2009

Barely recruited out of high school, he had a star turn at Cal State Fullerton but went undrafted in 1993

Played in France and the CBA for several years before finally making his NBA debut late in the ’96-’97 season, logging exactly one minute for the Heat

After brief and unmemorable stops with Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, he signed with the Spurs for the ’01-’02 and took over the starting small forward spot for the next eight years

Won championships with the Spurs in 2003, 2005, and 2007 as a defensive specialist, always taking on the toughest assignment on the opposing team, from Richard Jefferson to Kobe Bryant to Richard Hamilton to LeBron James

Named to eight consecutive All-Defensive teams, including 1st-Team All-Defensive five times; never won Defensive Player of the Year, but finished as the runner-up three times

455) Larry Jones, G, 1964-1974

Played with the 76ers in his rookie year, '64-'65, but was languishing in the Eastern League when the ABA started in 1967
Became one of the ABA's biggest early stars, with a remarkable four-year prime with the Denver Rockets and Miami Floridians, and became the league's first player to reach 5,000 career points
Led the ABA in scoring in '68-'69 with a career high 28.4 points per game
1st-Team All-ABA for three straight seasons starting in '67-'68, and a four-time All-Star
Was the first ABA Players' Association president and fought tirelessly for better pay and conditions for players, which may have contributed to his inability to secure contracts later in his career
Played one final NBA season with the Sixers in '73-'74 before retiring

454) Cuttino Mobley, G, 1998-2009

An exciting player in his own right, but spent most of his college and pro career overshadowed by star teammates

Played with Tyson Wheeler at Rhode Island, then in the Rockets back court with Steve Francis on a team that could score at will but struggled to compete and seemed to exponentially age coach Rudy Tomjanovich

Later was a member of the Clippers team that made a shocking run to the second round of the playoffs in 2006, then almost immediately flamed out as players feuded with each other and coach Mike Dunleavy

Didn’t do much but score, but scored in bunches, including a career high 21.1 points per game in ’01-’02 for Houston

Was forced to cut his career short when a physical revealed he had the same heart condition that caused the deaths of Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis

453) Jason Williams, G, 1998-2011

After a rocky college career that included a rescinded scholarship from Providence, a controversial transfer from Marshall to Florida, and a suspension from Florida for marijuana use, settled in with a stellar rookie season for the Kings

Just another colorful character on a roster stocked with them, he led Sacramento to a memorable near upset of the Jazz in the first round of the 2000 playoffs and then their first playoff series win in over 20 years in 2001

Traded to the Grizzlies in 2001 for Mike Bibby, his time with Memphis was his best statistically (14.0 points and 8.1 assists per game in ’01-’02), it was also marked by off court-incidents, including supposed altercations with fans and journalists

Emerged wiser and seemingly more mature after a trade to the Heat in 2005, and started all 82 games in Miami’s ’05-’06 season that ended with a championship

452) Purvis Short, F, 1978-1990

Like Joe Barry Carroll two years later, he is a player with an undeniably great career that will be forever tainted by where exactly the Warriors drafted him – fifth overall in 1978, one spot ahead of Larry Bird

Never named an All-Star and spent much of his time coming off the bench, but still established a solid career for the Warriors

Long before Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, he was the original long range shooting star for Golden State, taking advantage of the newly established three-point line with his trademark “rainbow shot”

Finished in the top five in the NBA in scoring in two straight seasons, with 28.0 points per game in ’84-’85 and 25.5 points per game in ’85-’86; scored 59 points in a game against New Jersey during that stretch

Struggled late in his career with knee injuries and was forced to retire in 1990 at age 32

451) Bryon Russell, F, 1993-2006

Usually thought of first as the player falling to the floor (after arguably being pushed off) trying to cover Michael Jordan shooting the series clincher in the 1998 NBA Finals; when Jordan specifically referenced Russell in his Hall of Fame induction speech, Russell rebuked with a challenge: a one-on-one rematch for charity (Jordan has yet to accept)

Drafted late in the second round out of Long Beach State in 1993, and played sparingly off the bench for Utah in his first few seasons

Entered the starting lineup in ’96-’97, and his terrific man-to-man defense and quick first step to the basket were major asset’s in Utah’s runs to the 1997 and 1998 Finals

Peaked with 14.1 points per game in ’99-’00 just as the Jazz were fading back into irrelevancy

Played in one more Finals with the Lakers in 2004, logging only garbage time minutes

Oct 10, 2019

500 all-time greatest players (2019 edition): #500 to #451