500 all-time greatest players (2019 edition): #300 to #251

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 300 through 251 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.

300) Micheal Ray Richardson, G, 1978-1986

• Selected fourth overall by the Knicks in the 1978 Draft, one year after they had traded away Walt Frazier to Cleveland 
• In ’79-’80 became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in assists (with a career high 10.1 per game) and steals (a career high 3.2 per game); led the NBA in steals per game again in ’82-’83 and ’84-‘85 
• Named to four All-Star teams, in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1985, and was 1st-Team All-Defensive in ’79-’80 and ’80-‘81 
• His play with the Knicks became increasingly erratic as his dependency on cocaine developed, and he was eventually traded twice in six months, going from the Knicks to the Warriors to the Nets 
• Made the All-Star team and led the league in steals with the Nets in ’84-’85, but in 1986 was banned for life from the NBA for repeated drug test failures 

299) Jack Coleman, F, 1949-1958

• Was on the wrong end of the “Coleman Play” in the 1957 NBA Finals, when his potential series winning shot in the waning moments of game seven was blocked by Bill Russell 
• Backed up Bob Pettit on the Hawks late in his career, and came back for one final season in ’57-’58 as the team won its only title 
• Drafted by the Rochester Royals in 1949 and starred for them for many years, including their championship run in 1951 
• Named to the All-Star team in 1955 while averaging a career high 12.8 points per game 
• Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in field goal percentage for five consecutive years, and was one of the league’s first players to finish above 45% shooting in a single season 

298) Marcus Camby, C, 1996-2013

• Selected second overall by the Raptors out of UMass in 1996, he was 1st-Team All-Rookie in a stacked class while averaging a career high 14.8 points per game 
• Led the NBA in blocks per game in just his second season, with a career high 3.7, then repeated the feat in ’05-’06, ’06-’07, and ’07-‘08 
• Won Defensive Player of the Year in ’06-’07 with the Nuggets, and was 1st-Team All-Defensive twice 
• After feuding with Raptors coach Butch Carter he was traded to the Knicks in 1998 and took over as their starting center for an injured Patrick Ewing in the 1999 playoffs, leading New York to the NBA Finals by dominating the Pacers in their Conference Finals series 
• Also led the league in rebound percentage four times, block percentage three times, and defensive rating once; averaged double-digit rebounds per game in 10 different seasons 
• Lasted 17 seasons in the NBA, compiling 2,331 blocks, good for 12th all-time 

297) Bill Bradley, F, 1967-1977

• One of the ultimate cases of an NBA player’s reputation far exceeding the actual empirical data of their career, he was a first-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame in 1983 
• Played NBA 10 seasons, all with the Knicks, during which they made the Conference Finals six times, the NBA Finals three times, and won the championship twice, in 1970 and 1973 
• Typically only the fifth or sixth scoring option on the team, but did average as much as 16.1 points per game in ’72-’73, which was also his All-Star season 
• A three-time All-American at Princeton, and was a territorial pick of the Knicks in 1965 but opted to instead attend Oxford, play professionally in Italy, and serve in the Air Force Reserves 

296) Mike Mitchell, F, 1978-1988

• Peaked statistically with the Cavaliers team that drafted him in 1978, including scoring 24.5 points per game in ’80-’81 while being named to the All-Star team 
• Was traded by the notoriously miserly Cavs to the Spurs for basically nothing 
• Took on a secondary scoring role in San Antonio, with his shooting touch a nice complement to George Gervin’s dynamic style 
• Put in especially impressive numbers during the postseason, averaging 22.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in the 1982 and 1983 playoffs, as the Spurs reached back-to-back Conference Finals 
• Ultimately averaged 20+ points per game six times in a seven-year stretch (and averaged 19.9 in the other year) 
• Also led the NBA in turnover percentage three times 

295) Tayshaun Prince, F, 2002-2016

• Lacked true athletic ability, but always seemed just on the verge of stardom 
• Took over the starting small forward position from Michael Curry in the 2002 playoffs, becoming the first player in NBA history to score more points in the postseason of his rookie year than the regular season 
• Basically held down the starting position for Detroit for the next 10 years, during which time they reached six consecutive Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and won one title in 2004 
• Made an incredible swooping block of a Reggie Miller layup in the 2004 Conference Finals against Indiana that still shows up in highlight reels to this day 
• Never made a huge offensive impact, but was shockingly consistent in his prime, averaging between 13.2 and 14.7 points per game and between 4.2 and 5.8 rebounds per game for seven seasons in a row 
• Named 2nd-Team All-Defensive for four straight seasons, starting in ’04-‘05 

294) Steve Smith, G, 1991-2005

• Had a trying rookie season after the Heat drafted him fifth overall, with two major knee surgeries and the sudden death of his mother, but was still named 1st-Team All-Rookie 
• Peaked statistically later with the Hawks, averaging 20.1 points per game in two consecutive seasons, ’96-’97 and ’97-’98, and leading the team in scoring for four straight seasons 
• Named to the All-Star team in 1998 
• Led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage in ’01-’02 with the Spurs 
• Shifted from being a two-way star for the Hawks to more of a “d-and-three” specialist in later stops with the contending Blazers, Spurs, and Heat; won a title with the Spurs in 2003, and made it as far as the Conference Finals with Portland in 2000 and Miami in 2005 

293) Jamal Mashburn, F, 1993-2004

• Named to an All-Star team once, in 2003 with the Hornets, during his second to last season at the age of 30 
• An All-American at Kentucky, he was one of the first great recruits of the Rick Pitino era and led the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1993 
• Led all rookies in scoring in ’93-’94 with 19.2 points per game, but finished third in Rookie of the Year voting 
• Set the Mavericks franchise record with 50 points in one game during the ’94-’95 season (later broken by Dirk Nowitzki) 
• Was a consistent threat late in his career for the Hornets, averaging 21.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game over four seasons 
• Forced to retire early due to complications from a risky microfracture surgery on his knee 
• One of just six players in league history to average 20+ points per game in his final season 

292) Bobby Wanzer, G, 1948-1957

• Teamed up with Bob Davies on the Rochester Royals as the NBA’s first great back court duo 
• Third on the team in playoff scoring, second in assists, and shot 91% from the free throw line as the Royals won the NBA title in ’50-‘51 
• Became the first NBA player to shoot over 90% from the free throw line in a season, when he led the league in ’51-’52 at 90.4% 
• Was named to five consecutive All-Star teams and three consecutive 2nd-Team All-NBA designations, starting in 1952 
• Grew up playing on the playground courts of Rockaway Beach, starred at Seton Hall, and did a tour of duty with the Marines before signing with the Royals just as they were joining the NBA 

291) Jalen Rose, F, 1994-2007

• Led Michigan’s “Fab Five” in scoring in his freshmen year, but was considered a question mark in the NBA due to his lack of a natural position; ended up playing well at three of them: point guard, shooting guard, and small forward 
• Averaged 21.1 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game over a three-year peak with the Pacers and Bulls, starting in ’00-‘01 
• Led the Pacers in scoring in their ’99-’00 Finals season, becoming the first player besides Reggie Miller to do so in eight years 
• Played brilliantly in the 2000 NBA Finals, scoring 30 points in a game two loss and 32 points in a game five win, as the Pacers fell to the Lakers in six games (he became the first Fab Five member to reach an NBA Finals, with only Juwan Howard joining him 12 years later) 

290) Stephen Jackson, F, 2000-2014

• Cut by the Suns team that drafted him and later the Grizzlies, he spent time in Australia and Venezuela before finally catching on with the Spurs 
• Was third on the Spurs in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and fourth in assists in their ’02-’03 championship season 
• Blossomed into a legitimate star player later on with the Warriors and Bobcats, averaging 20.5 points per game over a three-year stretch, though he was never named to an All-Star team 
• Was part of the ’04-’05 Pacers team that had their title hopes derailed by the Artest Melee (he was suspended 30 games for his role in it), the ’06-’07 Warriors team that shocked the top seeded Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, and was the leading scorer on the ’09-’10 Bobcats team that made the first playoff appearance in franchise history 

289) Nick Van Exel, G, 1993-2006

• Though he was a second round pick in 1993, he carried himself throughout his career with incredible amounts of confidence and swagger 
• A centerpiece of the Lakers’ rebuilding efforts after Magic Johnson and James Worthy retired, he sent five seasons with the team that included an All-Star appearance in 1998 
• Was eventually traded to the Nuggets to make way for Derek Fisher, and peaked with 18.4 points per game in an ’01-’02 season spent between Denver and Dallas 
• Second leading scorer on the Mavericks in ’02-’03, as the team made a high-octane run to the Conference Finals 
• Finished his career in ’05-’06 with the Spurs, giving him an inauspicious distinction as the only player to be teammates with Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tim Duncan, but never play in the NBA Finals 

288) Reggie Theus, G, 1978-1991

• Compiled over 19,000 total points in his 13-year career, which placed him in the top 30 all-time when he retired (he’s currently 53rd) 
• Also an elite passer for a man of his size (6’6”), and finished in the top 10 in assists per game in four seasons 
• Immediately became the leader of the Bulls in his rookie season, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Phil Ford 
• Named to the All-Star team in 1981 and 1983 
• Averaged 20+ points per game four different seasons, peaking at 23.8 in ’82-‘83 
• Also put up an impressive 18.3 points and 9.6 assists per game for the Kings in ’85-‘86 
• Was effectively replaced by Michael Jordan as the Bulls shooting guard and Jordan despised him, supposedly in part because he had previously dated Jordan’s wife, Juanita 
• Reached the playoffs just four times in his career, three of them first round losses, and one a second round loss with the Bulls in 1981 

287) Vinnie Johnson, G, 1979-1992

• Probably could have started for any other team in the league, but embraced his role as “The Microwave” in Detroit, coming off the bench and heating up immediately with his scoring 
• Got his nickname from Danny Ainge after he torched the Celtics in a 1985 playoff series (that Boston ultimately won) 
• Played on all three Pistons teams that made back-to-back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 1988, 1989, and 1990, winning the title in the latter two 
• Earned a second nickname, “007,” by hitting a series clinching basket in game five of the 1990 NBA Finals against Portland with 00.7 seconds left on the clock 
• Never an All-Star and never averaged more than 15.8 points per game in a season (in ’82-’83 when he spent some time in the starting lineup) but such a franchise legend that the Pistons retired his jersey and during the ceremony gifted him an engraved microwave 

286) Fred Brown, G, 1971-1984

• Spent his entire 13-year career with the Sonics; he’s second in franchise history in games played behind Gary Payton, and in the top five all-time in points, assists, and steals 
• Nicknamed “Downtown” for his long range shooting and became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in three-point field percentage when the three-point line was instituted in ’79-’80 (it’s undeniable his career stats would have been even more impressive if the three-point line had existed earlier) 
• Peaked at 23.1 points per game in ’75-’76, the same year he made his only All-Star appearance (also scored 58 points in a single game that season) 
• Was the second-leading scorer on the ’74-’75 Sonics team that made the first playoff appearance in franchise history, and the team captain on the ’77-’78 team that made its first NBA Finals appearance, and the ’78-’79 that won its only title (he sold his championship ring in an online auction in 2011 for reasons unexplained) 

285) Hersey Hawkins, G, 1988-2001

• His career could essentially be split in half, first as a secondary scorer behind Charles Barkley on the 76ers, later as a role player on the title contending Sonics of the mid ‘90s 
• Player of the Year of the NCAA in ’87-’88, when he led the nation in scoring at Bradley 
• Joined the Philadelphia starting lineup at shooting guard as a rookie and was named 1st-Team All-Rookie 
• Peaked in ’90-’91 with 22.0 points per game, and made the All-Star team that season 
• Traded initially to the Hornets in 1993, he eventually wound up with Seattle and helped them reach the NBA Finals in 1996 
• Seemingly never injured, he missed just seven total regular season games over his first 11 seasons in the NBA 

284) Robert Reid, F, 1977-1991

• The only member of the Rockets who played on both the 1981 and 1986 NBA Finals teams 
• Third on the team in scoring, third in rebounding, second in assists, third in blocked shots, and the leader in steals in ’80-’81 as the Rockets reached their first ever Finals 
• Retired for one season, in ’82-’83, to work at a Pentecostal church in Miami, but was lured back to Houston just as the team was rebuilding around Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon 
• Did a little bit of everything again for the ’85-’86 team as a backup forward, finishing third in the playoffs in scoring, and led the team in assists, as they reached the NBA Finals 
• Played his first 10 seasons with the Rockets, and is still in the top 10 all-time in franchise history in total points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks 

283) Glenn Robinson, F, 1994-2005

• Averaged 20+ points per game in eight of his 11 NBA seasons, peaking at 23.4 for the Bucks in ’97-‘98 
• His stats over his first nine years were shockingly consistent, averaging between 18.4 and 23.4 points per game and between 5.5 and 6.9 rebounds per game each season 
• Named to two consecutive All-Star teams in 2000 and 2001 
• Second leading scorer on Milwaukee behind Ray Allen in ’00-’01 as the team made their only Conference Finals appearance in the last 30 years, but publicly blamed Allen for the series loss, creating a media firestorm and locker room rift 
• Suffered with knee injuries late in his career, but won a title coming off the bench for the Spurs in ’04-‘05 
• Second all-time in Bucks franchise history in total points behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 

282) Mike Conley, G, 2007-Active (2018 rank: #315)

• Typically overshadowed in his career by teammates Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, he has quietly built one of the greatest all-time careers for a player without an All-Star appearance and will now get a chance to shine on his own in Utah
• Leaves the Grizzlies as the all-time franchise leader in points, assists, steals, and three-point field goals
• Led the league in total steals in ’12-’13
• Injuries have unfortunately marked much of his career, including a heel tear that required surgery and cost him the majority of the ’17-’18 season 
• Was a teammate of Greg Oden on the 2007 Ohio State team that reached the National Final, and was drafted fifth overall later that summer, four spots after Oden 
• His father, Mike, Sr., won gold in the triple jump at the 1992 Olympics 

281) Richard Jefferson, F, 2001-2018

• Drafted by the Rockets in 2001 after leading Arizona to the Final Four, but traded that day to the Nets 
• Was the top scorer off the bench for New Jersey in his rookie season with 9.4 points per game as the team reached the NBA Finals 
• Took over as the starting small forward in his second season and helped the Nets return to the NBA Finals in 2003 
• Averaged a career high 22.6 points per game for the Nets in ’07-’08, while playing in all 82 games 
• Also an elite defender in addition to being a solid scorer, but was never named to an All-Defensive team or an All-Star team 
• Missed a lot of time in his prime due to wrist injuries and became a journeyman later in his career, spending time with the Bucks, Spurs, Warriors, Jazz, Mavericks, Cavaliers, and Nuggets 
• Had a career revival in Cleveland in ’15-’16, playing major minutes off the bench as the team pulled off a stunning NBA Finals upset over the Warriors 

280) Roger Brown, F, 1967-1975

• Though a New York high school legend who signed a letter of intent with Dayton, he would never step foot on an NCAA or NBA court due to a supposed association with point shaver Jack Molinas 
• Banned from the NCAA and blackballed from the NBA, spent several years in semi-pro leagues before joining the nascent ABA in 1967 
• Signed by the Indiana Pacers on a recommendation from his friend, Oscar Robertson, and in eight years with the franchise was a four-time All-Star, 1st-Team All-ABA in ’70-’71, and led them to three championships 
• After years of playing semi-sanctioned basketball on concrete hard tops and shaky court floors, once his knees started to go they went fast, and he was forced to retire at age 32 in 1975 
• His reinstatement of eligibility for the NBA came too late, but he was later reimbursed by the league for his unfair banning and posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 

279) John Drew, F, 1974-1985

• Despite being one of the youngest players in NBA history when he reached the league at age 20, he averaged 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in his rookie year for the Hawks 
• Averaged 20+ points per game six different seasons, peaking at 24.2 in ’76-‘77 
• Named to two All-Star teams, in 1976 and 1980 
• Led the Hawks in scoring in ’77-’78 as they broke a five-year playoff drought, and in ’78-’79 when they had their first playoff series win in nine years 
• Blamed the city of Atlanta for his developed cocaine habit and asked for a trade to help try to beat it, but continued to struggle with addiction in Salt Lake City while playing for the Jazz 
• After failing a drug test in 1984 he became the first player ever banned for life from the NBA due to drug use under a new policy instituted by commissioner David Stern, and was out of the league at age 29 

278) Bill Cartwright, C, 1979-1995

• Had his choice of college options after a star high school career, but opted to stay close to home and follow in Bill Russell’s footsteps at San Francisco 
• Drafted third overall by the Knicks in 1979, and was an All-Star in his rookie year while averaging career highs of 21.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game (he finished a distant third in Rookie of the Year voting behind Magic Johnson and Larry Bird) 
• Suffered from regular foot injuries, was eventually replaced in the starting lineup by Patrick Ewing, and finally traded to the Bulls for Charles Oakley in 1988 
• Initially shunned and berated by Michael Jordan, he eventually became a key mainstay at center for the Bulls for their championship runs in 1991, 1992, and 1993 
• Though injured often, he ultimately lasted 16 seasons in the NBA, totaling over 12,000 points and over 6,000 rebounds 

277) Andrew Toney, G, 1980-1988

• Became a revered offensive threat in his brief but spectacular eight-year career, all spent with the 76ers 
• Despite his reputation as an elite scorer, he averaged 20+ points per game just once, with a career high 20.4 in ’83-‘84 
• Named to back-to-back All-Star teams in 1983 and 1984 
• Seemed to always save his best performances for playoff matchups against Boston, earning him the nickname “The Boston Strangler” 
• Swung the 1982 Conference Finals to Philadelphia almost single-handedly, with 30 points in a game two upset win in Boston Garden, a 39-point performance in game four, and a game-high 34 points in the deciding game seven 
• Played in two NBA Finals with the Sixers, in 1982 and 1983, winning the title in the latter 
• Started to struggle with a stress fracture in his foot during the ’84-’85 season and never fully recovered, forcing him to ultimately retire in 1988 at the age of 30 

276) Jack Marin, F, 1966-1977

• Part of maybe the most lopsided trade in NBA history when he was dealt from the Bullets to the Rockets in 1972 essentially straight up for Elvin Hayes 
• Known for his accurate left-handed shot, he scored a career high 22.3 points per game in ’71-’72 while also leading the NBA in free throw percentage 
• Teamed up with Earl Monroe on the wing to help lead the Bullets to the 1971 NBA Finals 
• Named to All-Star teams in 1972 with the Bullets and in 1973 with the Rockets 
• One of the first stars at Duke, he returned to graduate from law school after retiring from basketball, and has spent time as counsel for the National Basketball Retired Players Association 

275) Luol Deng, F, 2004-Active (2018 rank: #282)

• Born in what's now South Sudan, his father (a politician) moved the family to Egypt to escape the Sudanese Civil War, where he and his brother Ajou were taught basketball by Manute Bol, a fellow Sudanese 
• Played for the British national team as young as age 12 (as a naturalized citizen) before moving to New Jersey to play high school ball and then later for Duke; eventually represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London 
• Spent his first nine-plus seasons with the Bulls, who traded for him on draft day in 2004 
• Was named to the All-Star team in 2012 and 2013, and was named 2nd-Team All-Defensive in ’11-‘12 
• Peaked at 18.8 points per game in ’06-’07, while leading the Bulls to their first playoff series victory since Michael Jordan’s 1998 retirement 
• Later stints with the Cavs, Heat, Lakers, and T-Wolves have been much less successful

274) Kevin Willis, F, 1984-2007

• Lasted an incredible 23 years in the NBA, playing for eight teams over the span of four presidents and eight Friday the 13th sequels 
• Logged over 38,000 minutes in 1,424 games; only six players have played in more NBA games and all of them are either Hall of Famers or future ones 
• Peaked early in his career with the Hawks, especially in ’91-’92 when he averaged 18.3 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, and was named 3rd-Team All-NBA and an All-Star 
• Spent his first nine seasons with Atlanta, then spent time with the Heat, Warriors, Rockets, Raptors, Nuggets, Rockets, and Spurs, with whom he finally won an NBA title in 2003 
• Seemingly ended his career back with the Hawks in ’04-’05, but then made a surprise comeback with the Mavericks in 2007, appearing in five games at the age of 44, making him the oldest player in NBA history 

273) Carl Braun, G, 1947-1962

• Known for his long range shooting skill, he would benefitted greatly from a three-point line in his era 
• Named to five consecutive All-Star teams starting in 1953, after taking a two-year break from the Knicks to serve in the U.S. Army 
• Played in New York’s 1953 NBA Finals loss to the Lakers, and arguably could have been a difference maker in their 1951 and 1952 Finals losses if he was present 
• 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, in ’47-’48 and ’53-‘54 
• Averaged a career high 16.5 points per game for the Knicks in ’57-‘58 
• After spending his first 12 seasons with the Knicks, he played his final NBA season with the Celtics, coming off the bench as the third point guard as they won the 1962 championship 

272) Wayne Embry, C, 1958-1969

• The only African-American at his high school in Springfield, OH, his love of basketball grew even while enduring abuse from teammates, coaches and fans 
• Race would remain a heavy motif of his NBA careers, from his playing days on the racially-divided Royals to eventually becoming the first black general manager in NBA history 
• Immediately became the starting center after being drafted by the Royals 
• Starting in ’60-’61 averaged a double-double for five consecutive seasons, and was named to the All-Star team in each of them 
• Peaked in ’61-’62 with 19.8 points and 13.0 rebounds per game 
• As the captain and second best player on the team behind Oscar Robertson, helped the Royals reach back-to-back Conference Finals in 1963 and 1964 
• Traded to the Celtics in 1966 and finally won a championship backing up Bill Russell in ’67-’68, earning the nickname “Wayne the Wall” for his bone-rattling screens 

271) Gilbert Arenas, G, 2001-2012

• One of the greatest second round draft picks in NBA history, he came seemingly out of nowhere to become a star player, first for the Warriors in ’02-’03 (when he won Most Improved Player), then for the Wizards for several seasons 
• Finished fourth in the league in scoring in ’05-’06 (with 29.3 points per game) and third in ’06-’07 (with 28.4), when he also led the league in three point field goals and set the Wizards franchise record with 60 points in one game 
• Named to three straight All-Star Games starting in 2005, and was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’06-‘07 
• Became one of the first quintessential internet age stars, with his dynamic style of play, colorful personality, and endearing nicknames like “Agent Zero” and “Hibachi” 
• Despite missing most of the ’07-’08 season with a knee injury, he was granted a gigantic contract that offseason by Washington, which was really the beginning of the end 
• Suspended indefinitely during the ’09-’10 season for a locker room altercation involving guns 
• Became the first victim of the “amnesty clause” in 2011 when he was waived by the Magic to clear his monstrous contract 

270) Mike Bibby, G, 1998-2012

• Second pick of the Grizzlies in the 1998 Draft after leading Arizona to a surprise NCAA title one year earlier 
• Traded to the Kings in 2001 and became a centerpiece of the team that reached the 2002 Conference Finals and came within a few players (and/or officiating calls) of the NBA Finals 
• Led the Kings with 29 points in game seven of those Conference Finals, coming up huge in the clutch just as many of his teammates were tightening up and struggling 
• Peaked in ’05-’06 with 21.1 points per game, as the Kings were starting to rebuild and he had to take over more of the scoring load 
• Lasted 15 seasons in the NBA, totaling over 14,000 points, but was never an All-Star 
• Finally reached the NBA Finals in 2011 as the lightly used starting point guard for the Heat 
• Finished his career with the same Knicks team that had drafted his father, Henry, in 1972 

269) Serge Ibaka, F, 2009-Active (2018 rank: #321)

• 1st-Team All-Defensive three straight years, starting in ’11-'12 
• Finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in ’11-’12, third in ’12-’13, and fourth in ’13-‘14 
• Led the NBA in blocks per game twice, peaking at 3.7 per game in ’11-’12, which is tied for the highest single-season total of this century (with Hassan Whiteside, Theo Ratliff, and Alonzo Mourning); also led the NBA in total blocks for four straight seasons 
• His 9.78 block percentage in ’11-’12 was the highest in the NBA since Manute Bol in ’88-‘89 
• Peaked statistically overall in ’13-’14 with 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game 
• Fourth in playoff scoring and rebounding on the '18-'19 Raptors championship team; also played in four Conference Finals with the Thunder and the 2012 NBA Finals
• The first ever Congolese NBA player, his parents both played basketball for the national team 

268) Dick McGuire, G, 1949-1960

• The archetype for street-style play making New York point guards 
• Started with the sport with his brother (Al, a future Knicks teammate) on the playgrounds courts of the Bronx, wowing onlookers, including Bob Cousy, with his ball handling and spin moves 
• His flamboyant style was tempered a bit in the NCAA (at St. John’s) and the NBA, but still shone through from time to time 
• Made seven NBA All-Star rosters, five with the Knicks and two with the Pistons, and 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’50-‘51 
• Finished in the top six in the NBA in assists per game 10 times in an 11 year stretch, but never managed to lead the league 
• Played in three consecutive NBA Finals with the Knicks, starting in 1951 
• Though he closed out his career with the Pistons and then became their coach, he eventually returned to New York and spent four decades working for the franchise in various capacities, and his jersey was retired by the team in 1992 

267) Stephon Marbury, G, 1996-2009

• Drafted fourth overall by the Timberwolves and finished second just behind Allen Iverson in Rookie of the Year voting for ’96-‘97 while helping lead the franchise to its first ever playoff appearance 
• Seemed to perpetually feud with his coaches, from Flip Saunders in Minnesota to Don Casey in New Jersey to Isiah Thomas in New York, and was traded regularly as a result 
• An All-Star for the Nets in 2001 and the Suns in 2003, and was immediately traded after each appearance 
• Teams always seemed to improve immediately after trading him, from the Timberwolves replacing him with Sam Cassell to the Suns with Steve Nash to the Knicks with Jeremy Lin; his teams never reached the second round of the playoffs until his final season as a role player for the Celtics in ’08-‘09 
• Poured in 20+ points per game for seven straight seasons starting in ’98-’99, averaging 21.7 points and 8.3 assists per game during that stretch 
• Hasn’t played in the NBA since 2009 but became a legend playing professionally in China for nine years since 

266) Rik Smits, C, 1988-2000

• Only the second Dutch player to reach the NBA (Swen Nater was the first) 
• Also one of three players that played in all five of the Pacers' Conference Finals appearances in the ‘90s, and was generally regarded was their second best player behind Reggie Miller during that run 
• Over a six year prime, averaged 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and was a solid defensive force as the Pacers reached four Conference Finals during that stretch 
• Named to the All-Star team in 1998 
• Like most men of his size he had foot injury issues, which he specifically attributed to wearing tight shoes as a teenager when bigger sizes weren’t available 
• Indiana finally reached the NBA Finals in his final season, and he held his own against Shaquille O’Neal in that series before retiring that summer 

265) Rudy Tomjanovich, F, 1970-1981

• Drafted second overall by the Rockets and spent his entire 11-year career as a player with them, and later added 12 seasons as the head coach 
• Averaged a double-double in his second and third seasons, including a career high 11.8 rebounds per game in ’71-’72, then scored a career high 24.5 points per game in ’73-‘74 
• Was named to five All-Star teams, including four straight starting in 1973 
• Helped lead the Rockets to their first ever playoff series victory in 1975 
• Was never the same after being the recipient of “The Punch” in 1977, an on-court sucker punch from the Lakers’ Kermit Washington that left him with a life-threatening skull injury 
• Did spend several more years with the Rockets, including as a role player off the bench when the team made its first NBA Finals appearance in 1981 
• Still in the top five in Rockets franchise history in total points and total rebounds 

264) Otis Birdsong, G, 1977-1989

• Had his best statistical seasons early on with the Kansas City Kings team that drafted him, averaging 20+ points per game for three straight seasons, peaking at 24.6 in ’80-‘81 
• Named to three consecutive All-Star Games as a member of the Kings, and one more later on with the Nets, where he became just their second player to make an NBA All-Star roster (after Buck Williams) 
• 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’80-‘81 
• Led the Kings in scoring in ’80-’81 as they made a surprise run to the Conference Finals (their first such appearance in 17 years, and their last for another 21 years) 
• After a trade to New Jersey, helped the Nets win their first playoff series in 1984 

263) Happy Hairston, F, 1964-1975

• A consummate role player of the '60s and '70s, and the oft forgotten member of the Lakers starting five in '71-'72 that won 33 straight games and brought the trophy home to Los Angeles for the first time 
• Drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the fourth round in 1964 and quickly became one of their best players after just barely making the roster 
• Averaged a double-double in each of his final seven NBA seasons, peaking at 18.6 points per game in ’70-’71 and 13.5 rebounds per game in ’73-’74 (good for fifth in the league) 
• Started at power forward for the Lakers for six seasons that included three Finals appearances and the one title in 1972 

262) Isaiah Thomas, G, 2011-Active (2018 rank: #291)

• Overlooked at 5’9”, he fell to the last pick (#60) of the 2011 Draft 
• Showed some flashes of brilliance in his first few seasons with the Kings and Suns, along with long stretches in traction due to injury, but finally put it all together in ’15-’16 for the Celtics 
• Over a two-year stretch with Boston averaged 25.5 points per game and was named to consecutive All-Star teams 
• In ’16-’17 he was third in the league in scoring, 2nd-Team All-NBA, finished fifth in MVP voting, and led the Celtics to the Conference Finals 
• Has struggled immensely since his trade from Boston to Cleveland in 2017, struggling to stay on the floor due to his injured hip and logging limited stats for the Cavaliers, Lakers, and Nuggets while he's out there

261) Jeff Malone, G, 1983-1996

• Once cited by Michael Jordan as possibly the toughest defensive opponent he ever faced, but was never named to an All-Defensive team 
• Also a prolific scorer early in his career, averaging 20+ points per game in five consecutive seasons for the Bullets, peaking at 24.3 in ’89-‘90 
• Named to back-to-back All-Star teams in 1986 and 1987 
• Sort of a prototypical Reggie Miller, his main offensive strategy was running off screens to find open spaces for jumpers; hit one of the most memorable buzzer beaters in NBA history, an improbable, off-balance, over-the-backboard three-pointer during a late season win over the Pistons in ’83-‘84 
• After a 1990 trade to the Jazz, became a deadly third option behind Karl Malone (no relation) and John Stockton and was part of the 1992 Conference Finals team 

260) Eddie Jones, G, 1994-2008

• A controversial lottery pick of the Lakers in 1994, as the team was struggling to rebuild in the wake of the Showtime era, but won over fans with a stellar rookie year, and was named 1st-Team All-Rookie 
• Named to back-to-back All-Star teams for the Lakers in 1997 and 1998, then again for the Hornets in 2000 
• 2nd-Team All-Defensive for three straight seasons, starting in ’97-‘98 
• Played in four postseasons with Los Angeles, including the 1998 Conference Finals, but was traded to Charlotte in 1999 as part of the Glen Rice deal before the Lakers reached their first NBA Finals of the Shaq/Kobe era 
• Averaged a career high 20.1 points per game for the Hornets in ’00-’01, and led the NBA in steals 

259) Phil Chenier, G, 1971-1981

• Typically the second option on the Bullets in the ‘70s behind Elvin Hayes, he averaged 20.7 points per game over a five-year stretch starting in ’72-‘73 
• Named to three All-Star teams in 1974, 1975, and 1977 
• Averaged 24.2 points per game for the Bullets during the ’74-’75 playoffs as they reached the NBA Finals 
• 2nd-Team All-NBA and finished eighth in MVP voting during the ’74-’75 season 
• Started to struggle with a back injury during the ’77-’78 season, and ended up missing the entire postseason as the Bullets won their only title in franchise history 
• Returned for the end of the ’78-’79 season, but played only limited minutes in the playoffs as the Bullets returned to the NBA Finals 
• Selected by the Bullets in the first and only supplemental hardship draft in 1971, leaving California with one year of NCAA eligibility left, once of the first NBA players to do so

258) Derek Harper, G, 1983-1999

• One of the most unassuming stars of the ‘80s and the second greatest player in Mavericks history before Dirk Nowitzki came along (trailing only his longtime teammate, Rolando Blackman), he spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the franchise and had his number 12 retired in 2018 
• Dallas’ all-time franchise leader in assists and steals, and fourth all-time in points 
• 2nd-Team All-Defensive in ’86-’87 and ’89-’90, but never named to an All-Star team 
• Led the Mavericks in assists and was third in scoring as they made the first Conference Finals appearance in franchise history in 1988; helped the still new team reach the playoffs in six of his first seven seasons 
• Had his best statistical season in ’90-’91, with 19.7 points and 7.1 assists per game 
• Traded to the Knicks during the ’93-’94 season, and was the team’s starting point guard as they reached the 1994 NBA Finals 
• Compiled over 16,000 points and over 6,000 assists in his 16-year career 

257) Dan Majerle, G, 1988-2002

• Labeled by Charles Barkley as one of the league’s toughest players, his “Thunder Dan” nickname actually came from his brutish paint style, not necessarily his thunderous long range shooting 
• Came to the Suns in 1988 via a draft pick they had received in exchange for their star forward, Larry Nance 
• Spent seven seasons in Phoenix vacillating between the starting lineup and the bench, and the shooting guard and small forward positions, peaking at 17.3 points per game in ’91-’92 and being named 2nd-Team All-Defensive 
• Played in three straight All-Star Games, starting in 1992 
• Led the NBA in three-pointers made in ’92-’93, and played the most minutes of any Suns player as the team reached the NBA Finals 
• Traded to the Cavaliers in 1995 and saw his playing time dwindle in his final few seasons in Cleveland and Miami 
• His teams reached the playoffs in each of his first 13 seasons 

256) Derrick Coleman, F, 1990-2005

• Left Syracuse as its all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and was considered the next Karl Malone by most NBA scouts and executives 
• Won Rookie of the Year with the Nets, averaged 18.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game 
• His stats improved even further from there, and he averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds for three straight seasons starting in ’92-‘93 
• Named 3rd-Team All-NBA in ’92-’93 and ’93-’94, and played in the 1994 All-Star Game 
• Fans and the media turned on him in New Jersey after he signed the biggest contract in NBA history but the team wasn’t improving, and he lashed out in response at fans, the media, coaches, and teammates 
• His later years with the Sixers, Hornets, and Pistons were marked by injuries, weight gain, and misconduct fines and suspensions 

255) Don Nelson, F, 1962-1976

• With his small town upbringing, aw shucks attitude, crew cut haircut, and old school small forward mentality, he was a true relic of the NBA ‘50s that spread his career across the ‘60s and ‘70s 
• Played one season with his drafting team, the Chicago Zephyrs, then two with the Lakers (including an NBA Finals appearance in 1965) before spending his final 11 seasons with the Celtics 
• In nine of those 11 seasons, Boston made it as far as the Conference Finals, and they reached the NBA Finals in five of them, winning the title each time; along with John Havlicek, he bridged the gap between the Bill Russell ‘60s Celtics and the Dave Cowens ’70s Celtics 
• Led the NBA in field goal percentage in ’74-‘75 
• Took over more of the offensive load after Russell’s retirement, and had his best season in ’69-’70 with 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, both career highs 
• Despite suffering from an injured Achilles tendon for much of his career he once played 465 consecutive games, which was a Celtics franchise record at the time 

254) Jerry Stackhouse, G, 1995-2013

• Drew early and unfortunate comparisons to Michael Jordan, as a shooting guard from North Carolina selected with the third overall pick 
• Led the 76ers in scoring in his rookie year, with 19.2 points per game, and was named 1st-Team All-Rookie 
• Averaged 20+ points per game for four straight seasons starting in ’99-’00, peaking with 29.8 points per game for the Pistons in ’00-‘01, good for second in the league behind his former Philadelphia teammate, Allen Iverson 
• Named to the All-Star team in 2000 and 2001 as a Piston 
• Was never the same after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in 2003, but lasted 10 more seasons in the league, mostly in bench gunner roles 
• Played in the NBA Finals in 2006 as the sixth man and top bench scorer for the Mavericks

253) Kiki Vandeweghe, F, 1980-1993

• Benefitted from a stutter step fade-away that was nearly unstoppable due to size, and had an undeniable influence on Dirk Nowitzki, and by playing in the hurry-up Nuggets offense under coach Doug Moe 
• Finished second in the NBA in scoring in ’82-’83 with 26.7 points per game (behind only his Denver teammate, Alex English) and third in ’83-’84 with a career high 29.4 points per game 
• Named to the All-Star team twice with the Nuggets, in 1983 and 1984 
• Also had some scoring success later on with the Blazers, averaging 24.1 points per game over four seasons as the second scoring option behind Clyde Drexler 
• Though his teams reached the postseason in 12 of his 13 NBA seasons, they never advanced past the second round, even in his later years as a bench gunner for the early ‘90s Knicks 

252) Danny Ainge, G, 1981-1995

• Still the only high school athlete ever to be All-American in basketball, baseball and football, but played just basketball at BYU, where he hit a famous coast-to-coast buzzer beater in the 1981 NCAA Tournament 
• Vacillated between the starting lineup and bench for four straight Celtics NBA Finals teams, including titles in 1984 and 1986 
• Led the NBA in three-point field goals in ’87-’88, the same season he made his only All-Star appearance 
• Known for his intensity and dust-ups on the court, he famously was bitten by Tree Rollins during a game and almost came to blows with Michael Jordan during the 1992 NBA Finals 
• Peaked statistically with the Kings in ’89-’90, with 17.9 points per game 
• Ultimately played in six NBA Finals: 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987 with the Celtics, 1992 with the Trail Blazers, and 1993 with the Suns 

251) Truck Robinson, F, 1974-1985

• They called him "Truck" for his wide body and sometimes rugged style, but he was also an elegant offensive player with a reliable short jumper 
• Fell to the second round of the 1974 Draft and barely played in his early seasons with the Bullets and Hawks before his career took a star turn with the Jazz 
• His ’77-’78 season with the Jazz was incredible: led the NBA in rebounding with 15.7 per game, while also averaging 22.7 points per game; was named 1t-Team All-NBA and an All-Star; led the league in defensive win shares; averaged 44.8 minutes per game, which led the league and set the post-merger single season record which still stands today 
• Averaged 20+ points per game and double-digit rebounds a second time in ’78-’79, with a career high 24.2 points per game plus 11.6 rebounds 
• An All-Star again in 1981 for the Suns