Basketball Lists: 500 all-time greatest players (2019 edition): #200 to #151

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 200 through 151 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.

200) Calvin Murphy, G, 1970-1983

Considered too small at 5’9” to be an NBA point guard, he fell to the second round in the 1970 Draft where he was snatched up by the then San Diego Rockets

Averaged 20+ points per game five times in his career, peaking at 25.6 in ’77-‘78

Named an All-Star in 1979

Led the NBA in free throw percentage twice, including his 95.8% in ’80-’81, which stood as the single season record for 28 years before it was broken by Jose Calderon; shot 89.2% from the free throw line in his career, which places him seventh all-time amongst non-active players

Spent all 13 seasons with the Rockets, finally reaching the NBA Finals late in his career in 1981, when he was still an effective second scoring option behind Moses Malone

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993 as the shortest player ever enshrined

Houston’s all-time franchise leader in total assists, and is second in both points and steals behind Hakeem Olajuwon

199) Detlef Schrempf, F, 1985-2001

Came to America from West Germany as an exchange student in 1980, and immediately led his Seattle-area high school team to a state title before starring at Washington

Standing 6’10” with prodigious passing and shooting skills, plus a versatility to allowed him to play any position, he was one of the earliest examples of the European big man style translating to the NBA

Played only sparingly in his first few seasons for the Mavs team that drafted him in the lottery in 1985, before having his breakout season with the Pacers in ’89-‘90

Named Sixth Man of the Year in back-to-back seasons for Indiana, ’90-’91 and ’91-‘92

Peaked statistically in ’92-’93 after getting inserted into the starting lineup, with 19.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game

Traded to the Sonics in 1993 and returned as a hometown hero, helping the team reach the NBA Finals in 1996

A three-time All-Star, once with the Pacers and twice with the SuperSonics

His teams reached the playoffs in 14 of his 16 NBA seasons, but the NBA Finals only once

198) Bill Bridges, F, 1962-1975

Initially spurned the NBA to play for the Kansas City Steers of the ABL, but relented after one season and joined the St. Louis Hawks

Spent his early years as an apprentice at power forward behind the legendary Bob Pettit

After taking over the starting job he averaged a double-double for nine consecutive seasons starting in ’64-‘65

Peaked in ’66-’67 with 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds per game

Though he was somewhat undersized as a power forward at 6’6”, he finished in the top 10 in the NBA in rebounds per game seven consecutive seasons

Named to three All-Star teams and was 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice (he would have made that team more often if it existed during his prime)

Stayed with the Hawks through their 1968 move to Atlanta, then eventually ended up with the Lakers, playing in the NBA Finals with them in 1973

Won a title in his final NBA season as third-string power forward for the Warriors in ’74-‘75

197) Norm Van Lier, G, 1969-1979

Arguably the best defensive guard of the ‘70s, he was such a fiery presence on the court that teammates nicknamed him “Stormin’ Norman”
Was named to the All-Defensive team eight straight seasons, including the first team three times
Also a terrific ball handler and passer, and also finished in the top 10 in the NBA in assists per game in each of those eight seasons
Led the league in assists per game with a career high 10.2 in ’70-’71
Spent his first two-plus seasons with the Royals, with whom he won the assists title in ’70-’71, but is best known for his years with the Bulls
Teamed up in Chicago with Jerry Sloan as one of the best defensive back courts in NBA history, leading the Bulls to Conference Finals appearances in 1974 and 1975
Named to three All-Star teams with the Bulls
Fourth all-time in Bulls history in both career assists and career steals, trailing just Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Kirk Hinrich in both categories

196) Paul Silas, F, 1964-1980

Never a star player or big time scorer, but undoubtedly one of the best rebounding and defensive forwards of his era, and a player that always seemed to make his teams better

Played in the postseason 14 times in his 16 NBA seasons, and won three NBA titles, two with the Celtics (1974 and 1976) and one with the Sonics (1979)

Averaged a double-double eight times in his career, peaking with ’69-’70 with 17.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game for the Suns

Named to two All-Star teams, one with Phoenix and one with Boston

1st-Team All-Defensive twice and 2nd-Team All-Defensive three times

Finished his career with 12,357 rebounds, which still places him 21st all-time

Became a coach immediately after retiring as a player, and has had stints with the Clippers, Hornets, Bobcats and Cavaliers, where he was LeBron James’ first pro coach

195) Red Kerr, C, 1954-1966

Drafted in the first round by the Syracuse Nationals in 1954 and immediately became the team’s second best player after Dolph Schayes

Helped the Nationals win the 1955 title in his rookie season, defeating the Pistons in the NBA Finals

Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in rebounding for eight consecutive seasons starting in ’56-’57, peaking with 14.7 in ’61-‘62

Scored a career high 17.8 points per game in ’58-‘59

Named to three All-Star teams

Spent his first 11 seasons with the Nationals, including their first year after moving to Philadelphia and becoming the 76ers, and played in the full slate of games in each of those seasons, earning him the nickname “Iron Man”

Selected by the Bulls in the 1966 expansion draft but opted to become the franchise’s first coach instead of a player, and won Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm

Still second all-time in 76ers franchise history in total rebounds

194) Jason Terry, G, 1999-Active (2018 rank: #203)

Second leading scorer and arguably the second best player on the ’10-’11 championship Mavericks team; he had a game-high 27 points off the bench in the clinching game six
It was a redemption story as he had previously struggled for the Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals loss to Miami
Sixth Man of the Year in '08-'09
Averaged 19+ points per game in three seasons, with a career high of 19.7 points per game for the Hawks in ’00-‘01
Wrapped up his 19th NBA season in ’17-’18, and he’s in the top 50 in league history in both assists and steals
Part of the 1997 NCAA championship team from Arizona
Known for his superstitious behavior, from sleeping in his uniform the night before games, to always eating the same chicken wing meal on game days, to being meticulous about his sock selection

193) Elton Brand, F, 1999-2016

Won Rookie of the Year while leading the Bulls in both scoring (with 20.1 points per game) and rebounding (10.0 per game)
Played even better in his second season but was traded to the Clippers as general manager Jerry Krause was more enamored with Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry as long term building blocks
Had five seasons with 20+ points per game and 10+ rebounds per game, peaking in ’05-’06 for the Clippers with 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds
Named to two All-Star teams as a Clipper, in 2002 and 2006; was named 2nd-Team All-NBA in that ’05-’06 season and finished seventh in MVP voting
Had six strong seasons with Los Angeles, averaging 19.1 points and 9.7 rebounds over that span, but led them to just one playoff appearance, and missed almost the entire ’07-’08 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon
Signed a big free agent contract with the 76ers starting in ’08-’09, but was never the same physically, and only marginally effective in his late career stops with Philly, Dallas, and Atlanta
Held the Clippers franchise record for total rebounds until it was broken by DeAndre Jordan

192) Alvin Robertson, G, 1984-1996

Won Defensive Player of the Year in ’85-’86, which was also the first of six consecutive seasons he was named to the All-Defensive team
Also won the Most Improved Player award for ’85-’86 and was 2nd-Team All-NBA, and was named to four All-Star teams
Led the NBA in steals per game three different seasons, and finished in the top five in the category six other times
Drafted seventh overall by the Spurs out of Arkansas in 1984, he quickly took over as the starting shooting guard when George Gervin was traded to Chicago
Peaked statistically in ’87-’88 for the Spurs with 19.6 points, 6.8 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game
One of only four NBA players, and the only non-center, to record a quadruple-double
Spent most of his career with struggling teams in San Antonio and Milwaukee, and made just four playoff appearances, all of them first round losses
The only player in NBA history to record 300 steals in a single season, with his 301 in ’85-‘86

191) Ralph Sampson, C, 1983-1992

As a 7’3” center with the skills and mentality of a point guard, he was such a revelation in the NCAA while playing for Virginia that he’s the only player ever to win the Wooden Award twice
Up there with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the most hyped prospects in draft history, he was a no-brainer top pick for the Rockets in 1983
Won Rookie of the Year for ’83-’84 while averaging 21.0 points and a career high 11.1 rebounds per game
Teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon as the “Twin Towers” starting in ’84-’85, when he averaged a career high 22.1 points per game and was 2nd-Team All-NBA and the All-Star Game MVP
Hit the series clincher in game five of the 1986 Conference Finals against the Lakers, leading the Rockets to the NBA Finals
Started to struggle in ’86-’87 as a result of a hard fall late in the ’85-’86 season and clashed with coaches over his role in the lineup before getting traded to the Warriors
Played just 170 total games in his final five seasons before retiring in 1992 at the age of 31

190) Antoine Walker, F, 1996-2008

It’s hard to overstate the love-hate relationship Celtics fans have with him, as he was their biggest star in the years between Reggie Lewis and Paul Pierce, but ultimately one of their most frustrating
His stats don’t lie in his seven seasons with the Celtics, averaging 20.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game over that span
Named to the All-Star team in 1998, 2002, and 2003
A terrific three-point shooter for a power forward but at times much too reliant on the long range shot, he led the NBA in three point field goal attempts three times, but led the league in three pointers made just once, in ’00-‘01
Along with Paul Pierce, helped lead the Celtics to the 2002 Conference Finals, their first such appearance in 14 years
Never quite lived up to the six year, $71 million contract bestowed on him by Boston (most of which he squandered just as quickly as he earned it) and was run out of town in 2003 in a trade to the Mavericks
Won a title in 2006 as a bench three-point specialist for Miami

189) Zach Randolph, F, 2001-2018

A paragon of apathy and wasted potential early in his career with the “Jail Blazers” that became a perennial All-Star and working class folk hero in his prime with the Grizzlies
Averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game five times in his career, with a career high of 23.6 points per game in ’06-’07 and a career high of 12.2 rebounds per game in ’10-‘11
Finished in the top five in the NBA in rebounds per game three times
An All-Star for the Grizzlies in 2010 and 2013
Teaming up on a killer frontline with Marc Gasol, he was the leading scorer on the first Grizzlies team to ever win a playoff series in ’10-’11, and on the first (and only) Grizzlies team to reach the Conference Finals in ’12-‘13
Has career has also included brief and unspectacular stints with the Knicks, Clippers, and most recently, the Kings

188) Rod Strickland, G, 1988-2005

Drafted by his hometown Knicks in the first round in 1988 and was named to the All-Rookie team, but found playing time sparse behind Mark Jackson and was traded to the Spurs in 1990
Had a unique play making style, terrific set of dribble fakes, and surprisingly stout defense
Peaked as a scorer with the Trail Blazers, averaging 18.9 points per game in ’94-’95 to go along with 8.8 assists
Led the NBA in assists per game with 10.5 for the Wizards in ’97-’98, and finished in the top five in the category in five other seasons
12th all-time in NBA history with 7,987 career assists
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’97-‘98
Reached the playoffs 11 times in his career, but nine of those ended in first round losses and the other two were second round defeats

187) Frank Ramsey, G, 1954-1964

Joined the Celtics in 1954 after a star career under Adolph Rupp at Kentucky, and immediately became the starting small forward in the lineup with Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman, reaching the Conference Finals in his rookie season

Took off a year for military service and returned to a team now headlined by Bill Russell and featuring Jim Loscutoff at small forward

Became a prototypical bench wing, able to produce anything his team needed whether it was instant scoring, rebounding, defense, or just hustle

Typically the team’s third or fourth leading scorer and third or fourth top rebounder, peaking in ’57-’58 with 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game

Played in eight NBA Finals with the Celtics in his career, winning the championship in seven of them

Hit the series winning shot in the 1957 NBA Finals against the Hawks, an off-balance jumper at the buzzer in double overtime of game seven to break a 123-123 tie

186) Michael Cooper, G, 1978-1990

Seemed almost impossibly thin at 6’5” and 170 pounds, and was maybe the most unassuming member of the Showtime Lakers, but none other than Larry Bird called him the best perimeter defender of the ‘80s

Barely made the Lakers roster in ’78-’79 after being drafted in the third round out of New Mexico, and played just seven total minutes in his rookie season

Saw increased playing time in ’79-’80 and became a mainstay in the Lakers rotation, usually coming off the bench, thanks to his ability to guard at an elite level at three positions

In his 12 NBA seasons, all spent with the Lakers, he played in eight NBA Finals and was one of three players along with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win five titles in the decade, in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988

Most of his offense came from his ability to hit open three-pointers, and he averaged double-digit scoring for a season just twice, peaking at 11.9 points per game in ’81-‘82

Named Defensive Player of the Year for the ’86-’87 season, and was named to the All-Defensive team eight consecutive years, including 1st-Team five times

185) Jeff Hornacek, G, 1986-2000

Offered no scholarships after high school and was a walk-on at Iowa State in 1982

Selected late in the 1986 NBA Draft, he barely played for the Suns in first two seasons but emerged as a scoring threat by ’89-‘90

Peaked in ’91-’92, his only All-Star season, with 20.1 points and 5.1 assists per game for Phoenix

Traded to the 76ers in 1992 as part of the Charles Barkley deal

Ended up in Utah via trade at the ’93-’94 deadline, and settled into his most famous role as the team’s third scoring option after Karl Malone and John Stockton for the remainder of the decade

Finished in the top five in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage five times, and in free throw percentage four times, including leading the league at 95% in ’99-’00, the fifth highest single season percentage in league history

Played in back-to-back NBA Finals with the Jazz in 1997 and 1998

Won the Three-Point Shootout during All-Star Weekend twice, in 1998 and 2000

184) Larry Nance, F, 1981-1994

Won the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1984, and earned the nickname “High Ayatollah of Slam-ola” in a fan voting contest sponsored by the Suns

Over a five year prime with Phoenix averaged 19.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game

Named to the 1985 All-Star team and attempted to defend his dunk title but finished fifth, far behind Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan; later played in the All-Star Game twice for the Cavaliers, in 1989 and 1993

Traded to Cleveland in 1988 in a rare deal that benefitted both teams as the Suns got Kevin Johnson in return

Played in the Conference Finals twice, losing to Magic Johnson’s Lakers with the Suns in 1984 and to Michael Jordan’s Bulls with the Cavs in 1992

At the time of his retirement in 1994 he held the NBA record for most blocked shots by a non-center, which was later broken by Tim Duncan

Named to the All-Defensive team three times

Had his #22 jersey retired by the Cavs in 1995, then “unretired” in 2018 after his son, Larry, Jr., was traded to the team and requested the number

183) Fat Lever, G, 1982-1994

Quite physically fit during his playing days; the nickname “Fat” came from a younger sibling who couldn’t pronounce his given name, Lafayette

One of the best rebounding guards in NBA history despite standing only 6’3”, he even led the Nuggets in the category in three separate seasons, peaking at 9.3 rebounds per game in ’89-‘90

Came about as close as anyone post-merger, pre-Russell Westbrook to averaging a triple-double for a season in ’86-’87, with 18.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game (he also averaged 2.5 steals per game that season, good for sixth in the league)

2nd-Team All-NBA in ’86-’87, a two-time All-Star, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting for ’86-’87 and ’87-‘88

The only player in NBA history to average over 14 points, six assists, six rebounds, and two steals per game for his career

Forced to retire at age 33 in 1994 due to a severe knee injury

Denver’s all-time leader in steals and second in assists

182) Kyrie Irving, G, 2011-Active (2018 rank: #204)

Born in Australia where his American father was playing basketball professionally, but grew up mainly in the U.S. and played for Duke before getting drafted first overall by the Cavs in 2011
Won Rookie of the Year in ’11-’12 while averaging 18.9 points per game
Has averaged 18+ points per game in all eight NBA seasons of his career, peaking at 25.2 per game in '16-'17
A six-time All-Star and was 2nd-Team All-NBA in '18-'19
Was Cleveland’s leading scorer and team leader until LeBron James returned in 2014, but still thrived in a secondary scoring and play making role
Part of the 2015 and 2017 NBA Finals Cavs teams (though he missed the majority of the first series with a knee injury)
Second in playoff scoring, assists, and steals on the ’15-’16 Cleveland title team; added one of the most indelible moments in Cleveland sports history with his clutch jumper that effectively put away game seven of that series and has since been dubbed “The Shot”
Forced a trade to the Celtics in 2017 and had two injury-marked but statistically successful years in Boston before leaving to sign with Brooklyn

181) DeMar DeRozan, G, 2009-Active (2018 rank: #202)

Spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Raptors, who drafted him ninth overall in 2009 out of USC, and is the all-time franchise leader in games played and total points

2nd-Team All-NBA in '17-'18, and finished eighth in MVP voting

Has averaged 20+ points per game for the last six seasons, peaking at 27.3 per game in '16-'17, good for fifth in the NBA

Named to four All-Star Games

Leading scorer on the '15-'16 Raptors team that made the franchise's first Conference Finals appearance, but struggled at times during that series loss to Cleveland

Won a gold medal with the 2016 U.S. Olympic team in Rio

Averaged 21.2 points per game, plus career highs in rebounding (6.0 per game) and assists (6.2 per game) for the Spurs in '18-'19

180) Kyle Lowry, G, 2006-Active (2018 rank: #213)

Born and raised in Philadelphia and was a star at Villanova, but his NBA career has been mainly centered in Canada
Fell to the 24th pick by the Grizzlies in the 2006 Draft, and was used only lightly in his first few seasons, but has used his tenacity and wits to become one of the league’s best point guards
Named to the last five All-Star Games
Had a career-high 22.4 points per game for the Raptors in '16-'17, and a career-high 8.7 assists per game in '18-'19
Led the Raptors to their first Conference Finals appearance in 2016, then shed years of playoff disappointments by being the team leader in assists and third in scoring on the 2019 Toronto championship team
Barring injury (or a trade), will become the Raptors franchise leader in assists in '19-'20 and will pass Vince Carter for third in total scoring
Had a brief, forgettable stint with the Rockets in between playing for the Grizzlies and Raptors

179) Tom Gola, G, 1955-1966

A two-sport star at La Salle High School in Philadelphia, moved on to nearby La Salle University, and was a territorial selection in 1955 of the Philadelphia Warriors
Also a champion at every level, leading his high school squad to the state championship, La Salle to its only NCAA title in school history in 1954, and the Warriors to the NBA championship in his rookie season
Averaged a double-double in three seasons, peaking in ’59-’60 with 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game
Named to five consecutive All-Star teams, starting in 1960, and was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’57-‘58
Missed two years in his prime due to service in the U.S. Army
After winning the 1956 championship, his Warriors returned to the Conference Finals three more times, losing to Bill Russell’s Celtics each time

178) Peja Stojakovic, F, 1998-2011

Drafted by the Kings in 1996 but didn’t join the team until 1999 and didn’t see real playing time until ’00-’01, when he won the Most Improved Player award with 20.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game
Named an All-Star in three straight seasons, starting in 2002
Had an incredible ’03-’04 season, averaging career highs in scoring (24.2 points per game, second highest average in the league) and rebounding (6.3 per game), leading the NBA in free throw percentage and three-point field goals, finishing fourth in MVP voting, and being named 2nd-Team All-NBA
Like so many of his Sacramento teammates he played a shell of himself for much of the infamous 2002 Conference Finals against the Lakers, famously air balling a three-pointer late in game seven that may have clinched the game and series
Shot 89.5% from the free throw line for his career, the fifth best total in NBA history
Won a title coming off the bench for Dallas in ’10-’11, then retired as a champion

177) Bob Love, F, 1966-1977

Made a living off his ambidexterity, allowing him to be equally effective shooting or dribbling righty or lefty
Couldn’t make the Cincinnati Royals roster when they drafted him in 1965, and bounced around the Eastern League for a while before finally catching on with the Royals in ’66-‘67
Struggled in his early seasons with the Royals and Bucks, but had a star turn with the Bulls after they traded for him in 1968
Chicago’s leading scorer for six straight seasons, starting in ’70-’71, averaging 22.9 points per game during that stretch and peaking at 25.8 points per game in ’71-‘72
Named to three All-Star teams, was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’70-’71 and ’71-’72, and was 2nd-Team All-Defensive three times
Led the Bulls to their first Conference Finals appearances in 1974 and 1975, the latter of which was a disappointing loss to the Warriors after holding a 3-2 series lead
Still sits third all-time in Bulls franchise history in total points, trailing only Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen

176) Joe Johnson, G, 2001-2018

Spurned scholarship offers from Duke and Connecticut to stay in his home state and play for Arkansas
Drafted 10th overall by the Celtics in 2001, and the franchise made a rare bad trade dealing him in his rookie year to the Suns for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers
Became a breakout star for the Suns, and his eye injury during the 2005 playoffs may have cost them their shot at a title, but was unwisely traded again, this time to the Hawks
Named to six All-Star teams with the Hawks, then a seventh later with the Nets
Averaged 20+ points per game for five straight seasons in his prime, peaking at 25.0 per game in '06-'07
Reached the 20,000+ career point plateau in ’17-’18, and currently sits 42nd all-time in NBA history
Has never played in the NBA Finals, but has reached the second round of the playoffs with six different franchises: Phoenix, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Miami, Utah, and Houston

175) Draymond Green, F, 2012-Active (2018 rank: #191)

Defensive Player of the Year for '16-'17, 1st-Team All-Defensive three times, and 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice
A second round draft pick out of Michigan State in 2012, he came off the bench at both forward positions for the Warriors in his first two seasons; in the five years he’s been the starting power forward the Warriors have reached the NBA Finals every year, winning titles in three of them
One of just three non-guards in the last 20 years to lead the NBA in steals per game (along with Kawhi Leonard and Gerald Wallace)
Peaked statistically in ’15-’16, with 14.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, both career highs
May have cost the Warriors the title in 2016 by getting suspended for game five of the NBA Finals, but was unbelievable in game seven of that series, with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists; he also helped close out the 2015 NBA Finals with a triple-double in the deciding game six

174) Byron Scott, G, 1983-1997

Drafted fourth overall by the Clippers, but traded to the crosstown Lakers before his rookie season in exchange for Norm Nixon
Took over as the starting shooting guard late in his rookie campaign and held the position for 10 years that included six NBA Finals appearances and three titles
Led the Lakers in scoring in the ’87-’88 title season with a career high 21.7 points per game (he was third in scoring in those playoffs behind Magic Johnson and James Worthy)
Led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage in ’84-‘85
Cut by the rebuilding Lakers in 1993, he signed with the Pacers and became an effective backup shooting guard behind Reggie Miller
Helped the Pacers reach back-to-back Conference Finals in 1994 and 1995, and in fact reached at least the Conference Finals in 10 of his first 12 NBA seasons and missed the playoffs just once in 14 seasons, in ’95-’96 with the Grizzlies, who selected him in the expansion draft
Returned to the Lakers for one final season in ’96-’97, acting as a mentor for a young Kobe Bryant

173) Yao Ming, C, 2002-2011

The first non-collegiate foreign-born athlete to be drafted #1 overall, he became arguably the sport’s most important global ambassador both during and after his playing career
Already had eight years of pro experience in his native China when he first suited up for the Rockets at the age of 22
Named an All-Star in each of his eight NBA seasons, thanks in large part to the league opening up voting to China
Averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game twice, with 22.3 points and 10.2 rebounds in ’05-’06, and 22.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in ’07-‘08
Peaked in terms of scoring in ’06-’07, with 25.0 points per game
2nd-Team All-NBA twice, in ’06-’07 and ’08-‘09
As befitting a man of his size, constantly struggled with foot, toe, and ankle injuries, and averaged just 54 games per season in his nine-year career
After several near misses finally helped the Rockets reach the second round of the playoffs in 2009, but never any further

172) Lamar Odom, F, 1999-2013

An instant star with the Clippers, he led the team in scoring in his rookie season and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting
Averaged a career high 17.2 points per game for the Clippers in ’00-’01, but fell out of favor with management for repeatedly failing marijuana testing and left for Miami as a free agent in 2003
After one season with the Heat was dealt to the Lakers as part of the Shaquille O’Neal trade and settled into a role as a do-it-all combo forward
Had two season-long double-doubles for the Lakers, and was most impressive in ’05-’06 with 14.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game
Played in three straight NBA Finals with the Lakers, winning titles in the latter two appearances in 2009 and 2010
After Andrew Bynum emerged and Metta World Peace joined the team, he shifted to the bench in ’09-’10 and was so effective he won Sixth Man of the Year one year later
Struggled with personal problems, injuries, and weight gain in late career stints with the Mavericks, Clippers, and Knicks before retiring

171) Rasheed Wallace, F, 1995-2013

His record of 41 technical fouls is literally impossible to break under current rules, as players now receive mandatory suspensions after 16 technicals and would therefore run out of games in which to draw further technicals
Named to four All-Star teams, two with the Blazers and two with the Pistons
Was the leading scorer and second leading rebounder on the ’99-‘00 Portland team that came within a play or two of reaching the NBA Finals
Peaked statistically in ’01-’02, with career highs in points (19.3) and rebounds (8.2) per game
Traded twice during the ’03-’04 season, first from the Blazers to the Hawks in early February, then to the Pistons just 10 days later
Proved to be the finishing touch on Detroit’s championship team, helping them upset the Lakers to win the 2004 title, then return to the NBA Finals in 2005
Played in one more NBA Finals with the Celtics in 2010 before retiring, though he made a brief comeback with the Knicks during the ’12-’13 season
Germinated and funded probably the greatest NBA championship celebration of all time, purchasing pro wrestling-style championship belts for he and his Pistons teammates in 2004

170) Marc Gasol, C, 2008-Active (2018 rank: #181)

Came into the league known simply as Pau’s younger brother, and was traded by the Lakers to the Grizzlies for his hermano before he ever played an NBA game
Defensive Player of the Year in '12-'13, even though he was 2nd-Team All-Defensive that year at center, behind Joakim Noah
1st-Team All-NBA in '14-'15, 2nd-Team All-NBA in '12-'13, and a three-time All-Star
Strikingly consistent in his statistical output, he’s averaged 15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in his career
Helped lead the Grizzlies to their first ever playoff series win in 2011, and their first ever Conference Finals appearance in 2013
Fourth on the Raptors in playoff scoring and third in rebounding as the starting center on the '18-'19 title team
The Grizzlies' all-time franchise leader in rebounds and blocks, and second in scoring behind only his longtime teammate, Mike Conley

169) Jermaine O'Neal, F/C, 1996-2014

Often overlooked compared to his peers like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, but had an incredible six-year prime starting in ’01-’02, averaging 20.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game over that stretch
Also named to six consecutive All-Star teams during that span, and in ’03-’04 was 2nd-Team All-NBA and finished third in MVP voting (behind Duncan and Garnett, naturally)
Drafted by the Blazers straight out of high school in 1996 and found only limited playing time before getting traded to the Pacers in 2000, where he slowly overtook Reggie Miller as the team’s best player and face of the franchise
Started to struggle in ’04-’05 with injuries and a suspension for his role in the Artest Melee, and spent the latter part of his career as a journeyman, playing a lesser role for the Heat, Raptors, Celtics, Suns, and Warriors
Indiana’s all-time franchise leader in blocked shots, and is fifth in total points

168) Dan Roundfield, F, 1975-1987

Named to the All-Defensive team five consecutive years starting in ’79-’80, including 1st-Team three times
Drafted by the Cavaliers in 1975 but started his career with the Pacers in the ABA then had his best seasons with the Hawks
Averaged a double-double in all six seasons with Atlanta, peaking with 19.0 points and 11.4 rebounds per game in ’82-‘83
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’79-’80, and finished a surprising fifth in MVP voting; also named to his first of three consecutive All-Star teams that season
In three seasons with the Pacers, six with the Hawks, one with the Pistons and two with the Bullets, he never advanced past the second round of the playoffs
Passed away tragically in 2012, saving his wife from drowning after a boat accident while on vacation in Aruba

167) Robert Horry, F, 1992-2008

Won seven NBA championships, two with the Rockets (1994, 1995), three with the Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002), and two with the Spurs (2005, 2007)
Only seven other players have won seven or more titles, and all of the rest of them are either Bill Russell or players that were longtime teammates of Russell; John Salley is the only other player to win titles with three different teams
His teams never lost in the NBA Finals in seven tries, and in his 16 NBA seasons he never missed the playoffs and never lost in a first round series
Averaged double-digit scoring for the season just three times early in his career with Houston, peaking at 12.0 points per game in ’95-‘96
Earned the nickname “Big Shot Bob” for his propensity for making huge playoff shots, including buzzer beaters in game one of the 1995 Conference Finals, game five of the 2002 Conference Finals (off a deflected rebound), and game five of the 2005 NBA Finals
Broke Michael Jordan’s record for most career three-pointers made in the NBA Finals, but has since had it broken by both LeBron James and Stephen Curry

166) Carlos Boozer, F, 2002-2015

Could have settled in as a killer forward combo with LeBron James in Cleveland, but supposedly walked out on a handshake deal with Cavs owner Gordon Gund and signed a restricted free agent contract with the Jazz in 2004 that the Cavs couldn’t match
Averaged 20+ points and double-digit rebounds for two straight seasons for Utah, in ’06-’07 and ’07-’08
Named to back-to-back All-Star teams in 2007 and 2008, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting for the ’06-’07 season
Teamed up with Deron Williams to lead the first post-Karl Malone, post-John Stockton Jazz revival, including a Conference Finals appearance in 2007
Signed a big contract with the Bulls in 2010 but started to struggle with injuries and his offensive skills eroding
Played on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team that finished with a disappointing bronze medal, and the 2008 “Redeem Team” that won gold

165) Mark Aguirre, F, 1981-1994

Drafted first overall, one spot ahead of his friend and future teammate Isiah Thomas, in 1981 by the Mavericks, who were coming off a last place finish in their inaugural season
Led the Mavericks to their first playoff appearance in ’83-’84, when he finished second in the NBA in scoring with a career high 29.5 points per game and became the franchise’s first All-Star
Averaged 24+ points per game in five of his seven full seasons with Dallas, and was ultimately named to three All-Star teams
Dallas made five consecutive playoff appearances in his time there, including a run to the 1988 Conference Finals where they almost upset the Lakers
Tended to rankle coaches and teammates with his score-first attitude and huge contract that he received from team management, and was finally traded to the Pistons during the ’88-’89 season
Took a more complementary role in Detroit, even eventually willingly giving up his job in the starting lineup to Dennis Rodman, as the team won back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990

164) Gene Shue, G, 1954-1964

Considered the best guard in Pistons history for a long time, until Dave Bing came along
Spent six years with the Pistons, during which time he made five All-Star appearances, was 1st-Team All-NBA once and 2nd-Team All-NBA once
Peaked statistically in ’60-’61, with 22.6 points and 6.8 assists per game
Though he was the third overall pick he was basically unwanted by the Warriors team that drafted him or the Knicks team that traded for him during his rookie season, and didn’t became a star player until joining the Pistons in ’56-‘57
The Pistons were coming off back-to-back NBA Finals appearances when he came to the team, but only managed two Conference Finals appearances in 1958 and 1962 during his time there
Became a head coach for 25 years after retiring as a player, and led his hometown Bullets to the 1971 NBA Finals, as well as the 76ers in 1977

163) Norm Nixon, G, 1977-1989

Started for the Lakers at point guard almost immediately in his rookie season, and in ’78-’79 led the NBA in total steals and was third in assists per game with 9.0
Clashed with Magic Johnson after the star was drafted in 1979 and he was forced to shift to shooting guard, but played nice long enough to win championships in 1980 and 1982, and play in the 1983 NBA Finals
Led the Lakers in scoring during the ’81-’82 playoffs that ended with a title
Traded to the Clippers in exchange for Byron Scott in 1983
Finished second in the league in assists per game in ’83-’84 behind Johnson with a career high 11.1
Missed two entire seasons due to knee and Achilles injuries, and after a brief comeback was forced to retire in 1989 at age 33
Named to two All-Star teams, one with the Lakers and one with the Clippers
His 8.3 career assists per game is the eighth highest total in NBA history amongst non-active players

162) Maurice Lucas, F, 1974-1988

Spent time with the Spirits of St. Louis and Kentucky Colonels of the ABA before they both folded, and was selected second overall in the ABA dispersal draft in 1976 by Portland
Tough, physical, and exceedingly smart, he was a perfect fit on Dr. Jack Ramsay’s roster and led the Blazers in scoring with 20.2 points per game during their ’76-’77 title season (he also added 11.4 rebounds per game for good measure)
Picked a fight with Darryl Dawkins late in game two of the 1977 Finals which drew an ejection but is also credited as the turning point of the series, as the Blazers rallied to win the next four games
Named to four NBA All-Star teams and one ABA All-Star Game, and in ’77-’78 was 1st-Team All-Defensive and 2nd-Team All-NBA
Listed as 6’9” and 215 pounds, with an array of post moves, a nose for rebounds, and a body that looked like it was sculpted from granite, he was in many ways the first modern power forward, setting the stage for future stars like Karl Malone and Kevin Garnett

161) Klay Thompson, G, 2011-Active (2018 rank: #229)

Passed his father, Mychal, on this list in 2017
One of the best pure shooters in NBA history and surely the best to be completely overshadowed by his own teammate, Stephen Curry
Averaged 20+ points per game in each of the last five seasons, despite playing with perennial scoring champion contenders Curry and Kevin Durant
Also one of the league’s most underrated perimeter defenders and was finally named 2nd-Team All-Defensive in '18-'19
Has finished second in the NBA in three-point field goals four times, each time behind his teammate, Curry, and is already 16th in league history in the category
A five-time All-Star
Started at shooting guard on five Warriors NBA Finals teams, three of which won the title; finished second in playoff scoring on the ’14-’15 title team, and third on the ’16-’17 and ’17-’18 teams
Faces an uncertain future after suffering an ACL tear during the 2019 NBA Finals loss

160) Clyde Lovellette, C, 1953-1964

One of only seven players to have won an NBA title, an NCAA title (at Kansas under Phog Allen), and an Olympic gold medal (as the leading scorer on the 1952 U.S. team in Helsinki)
Backed up George Mikan at center in his rookie season as the Lakers won the final championship of the Mikan era
Played in four more NBA Finals in his career, two losses with the Hawks as the starting center and then two championships with the Celtics late in his career as a third stringer
Averaged 20+ points per game and double-digit rebounds five times in his career, peaking with 23.4 points and 12.1 rebounds for the Cincinnati Royals in ’57-‘58
Played in four All-Star Games and was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’55-‘56
Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in field goal percentage for nine straight seasons, starting in ’53-‘54

159) Sam Cassell, G, 1993-2008

Drafted late in the first round by the Rockets in 1993 and stepped right into a perfect situation, contributing minutes off the bench behind Kenny Smith at point guard as the team won back-to-back championships in his first two seasons
Dealt to the Suns in 1996 as part of the Charles Barkley trade, the first of five major trades he was involved in during his career (further trades would also include Joe Smith, Terrell Brandon, Stephon Marbury, Michael Finley, and Jason Kidd, amongst others)
Never averaged 20+ points per game in a season, but came close with 19 or more four times, in ’97-’98 with the Nets, in ’01-’02 with the Bucks, in ’02-’03 again with the Bucks, and in ’03-’04 with a career high 19.8 for the Timberwolves
Named to the All-Star in 2004
Helped lead the Bucks to their only Conference Finals appearance this century in 2001, the Timberwolves to their only Conference Finals in franchise history in 2004, the Clippers to their first playoff series victory in Los Angeles in 2006, and the Celtics to their first title in 22 years in 2008

158) Rudy LaRusso, F, 1959-1969

The oft-forgotten third man on the ‘60s Lakers, doing all the dirty work while Jerry West was making plays and Elgin Baylor was scoring in droves

His teams reached the playoffs in all 10 seasons he played, though he missed the 1967 edition with the Lakers due to getting injured then traded

Played in the NBA Finals four times with the Lakers, all losses to the Celtics, in 1962, 1963, 1965, and 1966

Peaked statistically late in his career with the Warriors, averaging 21.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game over his two seasons in San Francisco

Named to five All-Star teams, three with the Lakers and two with the Warriors

Traded to the Pistons during the ’66-’67 season when he was injured, he never suited up for Detroit instead playing out his final seasons with the Warriors, losing in both seasons to his former Lakers teammates in the postseason

Was 2nd-Team All-Defensive in his final season, ’68-’69, and certainly would have made the team more often if it had existed earlier

157) Terry Porter, G, 1985-2002

Took over as Portland’s starting point guard in ’86-’87 and held the position for seven seasons, with the team reaching the playoffs in each of them

More of a play maker early in his career, he averaged a career high 10.1 assists per game in ’87-’88, then became more of a scorer later on, peaking at 18.2 points per game in ’92-‘93

Helped the Blazers reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, and the Conference Finals in between, and was second on the team in scoring each of those seasons

Set the NBA Finals record for most free throws made in a Finals game without a miss, with 15 in 1990

A two-time All-Star, in 1991 and 1993, and a surprise top 10 finisher in MVP voting in ’90-‘91

Ultimately missed the playoffs just once in his 17-year career, in ’95-’96 with the Timberwolves, but never won a title

Portland’s all-time leader in assists, and third in total points, and had his number retired by the franchise in 2008

156) Latrell Sprewell, F, 1992-2005

Committed “The Choke” in December of 1997, assaulting Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo, drawing a one-year suspension and the voiding of his contract

Before the incident has was a burgeoning star for Golden State, named to three All-Star Games, 1st-Team All-NBA in ’92-’93, and finished fifth in the league in scoring in ’96-’97 with a career high 24.2 points per game

Joined the Knicks after his suspension ended and immediately revived his career, leading the team in scoring during the 1999 playoffs as they made a surprise run to the NBA Finals, including a valiant 35 point, 10 rebound performance in the clinching game five against the Spurs

Named an All-Star again in 2001 for the Knicks

Traded to the Timberwolves in 2003 and found success as their secondary scoring option after Kevin Garnett, helping the team reach the Conference Finals in 2004

155) Derrick Rose, G, 2008-Active (2018 rank: #155)

Had an incredible three-year stretch starting in ’09-’10 where he took the league by storm, but has never been the same since tearing his ACL and has shown only brief spurts of his former MVP self
The lowest-rated player on our list to win NBA MVP (only the much younger Giannis is even close), and could easily become the first to win it but not get inducted into the Hall of Fame
First overall pick of the Bulls in 2008 out of Memphis, and won Rookie of the Year
Quickly became a fan favorite by driving to the basket with a reckless abandon unseen since Allen Iverson’s prime
Averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game in '10-'11, his MVP season, while leading the Bulls to the Conference Finals
Struggled with injuries throughout the ’11-’12 season, then tore his ACL during a round one game against the 76ers; has played in just 216 games in the six years since that injury, averaging just 16.2 points and 4.3 assists per game
1st-Team All-NBA in ’10-’11, and a three-time All-Star

154) Maurice Stokes, C, 1955-1958

Played just three seasons in the NBA before suffering brain damage from an on-court head injury, causing permanent paralysis and forcing him to retire in 1958

In each of his three pro seasons he was an All-Star, named 2nd-Team All-NBA, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting

Rookie of the Year in ’55-‘56

Led the NBA in rebounding in his rookie season with 16.3 per game, and actually increased his average over the next two seasons (peaking at 18.1 in ’57-’58) but finished second in the league those years behind Bill Russell

Also led the NBA in defensive win shares twice, and finished in the top five in the league in assists per game twice, peaking at 6.4 per game in ’57-‘58

Knocked unconscious during the last game of the ’57-’58 regular season, and after playing in the only playoff game of his career three days later in Detroit, he began to feel ill on the flight home and fell into a coma, coming out paralyzed

His teammate Jack Twyman took over as his legal guardian up until his death in 1970 at the age of 36

153) 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

152) 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

151) 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

Dec 5, 2019

500 all-time greatest players (2019 edition): #200 to #151