Basketball Lists: [2019] Top 500 overall players, with bios

500) Mike Gminski, C, 1980-1994

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

499) Tom Gugliotta, F, 1992-2005

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

498) Darrall Imhoff, C, 1961-1972

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

497) Kerry Kittles, G, 1996-2005

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

496) Brian Shaw, G, 1988-2003

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

495) Tom Henderson, G, 1974-1983

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

494) Al Harrington, F, 1998-2014

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

493) Aaron McKie, G, 1994-2007

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

492) Marvin Webster, C, 1975-1987

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

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

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

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

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

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

491) Drazen Petrovic, G, 1989-1993

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

490) Brian Grant, F, 1994-2006

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

489) Rodney Rogers, F, 1993-2005

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

488) Donyell Marshall, F, 1994-2009

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

487) Jimmy Walker, G, 1967-1976

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

486) Billy Owens, F, 1991-2001

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

485) Nate McMillan, G, 1986-1998

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

484) Walt Dukes, C, 1955-1963

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

483) Ralph Simpson, G, 1970-1980

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

482) Swen Nater, C, 1973-1984

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

481) Ray Scott, F, 1961-1972

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

480) Joe Graboski, F, 1948-1962

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

479) Tyrone Corbin, F, 1985-2001

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

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

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

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

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

478) Ray Felix, C, 1953-1962

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

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

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

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

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

477) Armen Gilliam, F, 1987-2000

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

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

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

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

476) Butch Beard, G, 1969-1979

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

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

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

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

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

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

475) Kevin Loughery, G, 1962-1973

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

474) Larry Siegfried, G, 1963-1972

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

473) Keith Erickson, F, 1965-1977

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

471) Mel Counts, C, 1964-1976

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

468) Mark Eaton, C, 1982-1993

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

467) Tony Allen, G, 2004-2018

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

466) Jim Jackson, F, 1992-2006

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

465) Tom Van Arsdale, F, 1965-1977

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

464) Don Kojis, F, 1963-1975

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

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

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

462) Connie Simmons, C, 1946-1956

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

460) Andrew Bynum, C, 2005-2014

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

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

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

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

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

459) Kevin Martin, G, 2004-2016

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

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

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

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

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

458) Steve Mix, F, 1969-1983

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

456) Bruce Bowen, F, 1996-2009

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

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

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

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

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

455) Larry Jones, G, 1964-1974

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

454) Cuttino Mobley, G, 1998-2009

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

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

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

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

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

453) Jason Williams, G, 1998-2011

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

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

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

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

452) Purvis Short, F, 1978-1990

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

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

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

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

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

451) Bryon Russell, F, 1993-2006

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

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

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

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

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

450) Wally Szczerbiak, F, 1999-2009

The son of a former ABA and European League star, he was born and raised in Spain during his father’s playing days

Selected sixth overall by the Timberwolves in 1999 Draft, immediately took over the starting small forward position and was named 1st-Team All-Rookie

Was the second or third scoring option on the T-Wolves behind Kevin Garnett for several seasons, peaking in ‘01-’02 with 18.7 points per game, and helped the team finally make its first Conference Finals appearance in 2004, coming off the bench behind Latrell Sprewell

Named to the 2003 All-Star team

Traded to the Celtics in 2006 and started to struggle with injuries that necessitated multiple surgeries on his ankles

Finished his career with the Cavaliers, coming up just short of NBA Finals appearances in 2008 and 2009 before retiring due to knee injuries

449) Juwan Howard, F, 1994-2013

His NBA career spanned two whole decades and was capped with back-to-back championships with the Heat, but his biggest claim to fame will always be the Fab Five at Michigan

Was drafted by the Bullets in 1994, who soon traded for his Michigan teammate, Chris Webber and they became a dangerous low post duo

He and Webber were Washington’s leading two scorers for four seasons and led the Bullets to their only playoff appearance of the decade, a first round loss to the Bulls in 1997

He was named to the All-Star team in ’95-’96, while averaging career highs in points per game (22.1) and rebounds per game (8.1)

After reaching the second round of the playoffs just once in his first 16 seasons signed with the Heat in 2010 and was on the roster as they reach the NBA Finals three consecutive times, winning the title in the last two

448) Lucius Allen, G, 1969-1979

Part of arguably the greatest NCAA team of all time, the ’67-‘68 UCLA Bruins that finished 29-1

Though he was drafted third overall by the Sonics in 1969, he was traded just a year later to Milwaukee and reunited with his college teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Played key minutes off the bench backing up Oscar Robertson as the Bucks won the title in 1971

Eventually wrested the starting job from Robertson and became the team’s second scoring option thanks to a reliable jumper

Peaked in ’73-’74 with 19.1 points per game and even garnered some MVP votes (Abdul-Jabbar won the trophy), but tore cartilage in his knee late in the regular season and missed Milwaukee’s run to that year’s Finals

Such a dominant force in high school that he was named Kansas Player of the Century in 1999; finished his pro career back in his hometown, playing for the Kansas City Kings

447) Gerald Wallace, F, 2001-2015

Considered the league's most underrated player for so long that he eventually became arguably overrated just by virtue of that reputation

His late career was unfortunately marred by his signing of arguably one of the worst contracts in league history: four years for $40 million with the Nets in 2012

Synonymous with the Bobcats, a franchise that technically lasted for only 10 seasons and selected him in their expansion draft; he was their only All-Star and led them to their first playoff appearance in 2010

Averaged 18.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his four-year prime, and also joined Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson as the only players to average two-plus steals and two-plus blocks in a single season

446) Kirk Hinrich, G, 2004-2016

Grew up idolizing Gary Payton and applied his leadership lessons and defensive focus to a solid 13-year career

After a star turn at Kansas, concentrated more on ball handling and defense in the NBA, but could still rack up points, averaging as high as 16.6 points per game in ’06-‘07

Became an indelible member of the Bulls teams that made the first playoff appearances of the post-Michael Jordan era

Was 1st-Team All-Rookie in ’04-’05 and 2d-Team All-Defensive in ’06-‘07

Played in 11 postseasons with the Bulls and Hawks, but his teams never advanced past the second round

Before matriculating at Kansas, he was a three-sport star in high school and was named Mr. Basketball in Iowa

445) Clifford Ray, C, 1971-1981

Found only limited playing time on the Bulls frontline after they drafted him in 1971, but made the most of it, averaging 8.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game over his first three seasons in just 27.7 minutes per game

Matched up impressively against Wilt Chamberlain in a first round loss against the Lakers in his rookie season, averaging 15.3 points and 16.5 points per game for the series

Traded to the Warriors in 1974 for the aging Nate Thurmond, and was the starting center on the ’74-’75 team that won the championship, leading the team with 10.6 rebounds per game; they defeated his former Bulls teammates in the Conference Finals

Averaged 10.2 rebounds per game over his first seven seasons before struggling later in his career with injuries

Once put his large frame and long arms to good use off the basketball court when he rescued a marine park dolphin by reaching into its throat and pulling debris from its stomach

444) Goran Dragic, G, 2008-Active (2018 rank: #459)

Born in the former Yugoslavia, he has represented his native Slovenian team at three FIBA World Cups, including alongside his younger brother, Zoran, in 2014
After several years finding only limited playing time he had his breakout season with the Suns in ’13-’14, with a career high 20.3 points per game, plus 5.9 assists per game
Won the Most Improved Player award for ’13-’14, and was named 3rd-Team All-NBA
Named to his first All-Star team in 2018
Traded to the Heat right after LeBron James returned to Cleveland, and has become the team’s undisputed leader, leading the team in points and assists in ’17-’18 as they returned to the playoffs
Played with his brother Zoran throughout the entire ’14-’15 season, as they were traded together from Phoenix to Miami

443) Kendall Gill, G, 1990-2005

Started off strong with the Hornets, named 1st-Team All-Rookie, leading the team in scoring in just his second season with 20.5 points per game, and teaming up with Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning to lead them to the second round of the 1993 playoffs

Was traded to the Sonics in 1993, but quickly fell out of favor with coach George Karl, especially after taking a leave of absence to deal with clinical depression

Traded again to the Nets in 1996, and scored a career high 21.8 points per game in ’96-‘97

Started to concentrate more on his defense with the Nets, and led the NBA in steals in ’98-’99; also tied the NBA record for steals in a game with 11 (with Larry Kenon)

Won the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest in 1990, but finished in last in the NBA edition when he participated during his rookie season

442) Joe Barry Carroll, C, 1980-1991

Never came close to living up the hype surrounding him when he was selected first overall in 1980, but still had a solid and lengthy career

Golden State traded away Robert Parish and the rights to Kevin McHale to trade up and select Carroll, and his later career struggles inspired fans to label him “Joe Barely Cares”

Averaged 20+ points and seven-plus rebounds per game in four straight seasons in his prime for the Warriors (with a one-year stint in Italy sprinkled in between) and was named to the All-Star team in 1987

As Golden State’s leading scorer in ’86-’87, led the team to its first playoff appearance in a decade

Many now just remember him as a bust, and a footnote in the Genius of Red Auerbach story, but reviewing his stats and skills and contributions to Golden State tell a different story

441) Fred Carter, G, 1969-1977

Self-proclaimed “best player on the worst team in history” as the top scorer and second in assists on ’72-’73 Sixers team that finished 9-73

Averaged 21.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game during his three-year prime with Philly

Before playing with 76ers was starting shooting guard on Bullets team that reached 1971 Finals

Became first black student at Mount St. Mary’s in 1965 and is greatest player in NBA history to come from the school

Widely credited with popularizing the fist bump gesture as a part of celebrations

440) Jon McGlocklin, G, 1965-1976

After a couple quiet seasons buried on the Royals’ bench, he was selected by the Bucks in the 1968 expansion draft and has been an indelible franchise legend ever since

Scored Milwaukee’s first ever basket in 1968, was their first All-Star in 1969, and was a key part of their first title team in 1971

After averaging 19.6 points per game as a point guard in ’68-’69, shifted over to shooting guard to accommodate Oscar Robertson and took on more of a long range shooting specialist role on the ’70-’71 championship team

After retiring in 1976 has become a franchise ambassador for the Bucks, including his jersey retirement, a longtime TV analyst job, and his presidency of the MACC Fund, a Milwaukee-based non-profit that raises money for childhood cancer research

An Indiana high school legend back when that really meant something, he was also a star at Indiana University

439) Kevin Duckworth, C, 1986-1997

Seized the moment in his second NBA season when the two centers in front of him on the Blazers depth chart (Sam Bowie and Steve Johnson) went down with injuries, and held on to the starting center job for six seasons

Named to the All-Star team in 1989 and 1991

Won the Most Improved Player award in his breakout ’87-’88 season

Peaked statistically in ’88-’89, with 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game

Started at center for the Blazers in two NBA Finals, in 1990 and 1992

Struggled with injuries and weight issues in late career stops with the Bullets, Bucks, and Clippers

Spent many years as a franchise ambassador for Portland until his sudden and tragic death from heart failure in 2008 at the age of 44

438) Udonis Haslem, F, 2003-Active (2018 rank: #465)

Florida's native son, he was raised in Miami, played college ball at Florida and has spent his entire NBA career with the Heat

Was already embracing a role player’s mentality in college, deferring to future Heat teammate Mike Miller as the Gators reached the Final Four in 2000

Went undrafted and was cut in training camp by the Hawks due to weight management issues; lost 70 pounds while playing professionally in France and signed with the Heat in 2003

Took over as the starting power forward almost immediately, and was second on the team in rebounding and fifth in scoring as they won the 2006 title

Has ultimately played on five Finals teams in Miami, and is one of just three post-merger players to win three championships after going undrafted (Bruce Bowen and Scott Williams are the others)

Trails only Dwyane Wade in total games played in Heat franchise history, and is their all-time leader in total rebounds

437) Mehmet Okur, C, 2002-2012

Already a superstar in his native Turkey when the Pistons drafted him in the second round in 2001

Became the first Turkish born player to ever win a championship, contributing off the bench at power forward and center for the Pistons in ’03-‘04

Came into his own after signing with the Jazz and becoming their starting center, peaking in ’05-’06 with 18.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game

Named an All-Star in 2007 (also the first, and still only, Turkish born player to have that distinction)

Helped the Jazz reach their first Conference Finals of the post-Karl Malone/John Stockton era in 2007

Though he played in several major tournaments with the Turkish national team, he missed his opportunity to represent his home country when they hosted the FIBA World Championships in 2010 due to an Achilles injury which also forced him to retire at age 32

436) Rickey Sobers, G, 1975-1986

His rookie year with the Suns started off quietly, but crested into a starring role in what would be dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played”

In gave five of the 1976 Finals he tied Paul Westphal for the team lead with 25 points as the Suns fell in a triple overtime thriller against the Celtics

Though his career arguably peaked in that game, he did last 10 seasons in the NBA and compiled over 10,000 points

Played in the postseason just two more times in his career, with the Bulls in 1981 and the Bullets in 1984, both first round losses

Peaked with the Pacers in ’77-’78, with 18.2 points and 7.4 assists per game

Was the first star player at UNLV under coach Jerry Tarkanian

435) Tim Thomas, F, 1997-2010

Once noted by Ray Allen as a player who could be amongst the league's best if he cared to be

Traded on draft day to the 76ers for fellow incoming rookie Keith Van Horn, but lasted just two seasons with Philly

Thrived soon after in a sixth man role for the Bucks, helping them reach the Conference Finals in 2001

Peaked in ’03-’04 when he was traded from Milwaukee to the Knicks at the deadline, with 14.7 points per game

Had fleeting moments of great play with the Knicks, Bulls, Suns, Clippers, and Mavericks, but never anything sustainable as he always seemed indifferent towards his basketball career

Took a leave of absence from the Mavericks in 2010 to care for his sick wife, and missed on the team’s subsequent championship run

434) Junior Bridgeman, F, 1975-1987

Regularly led the Bucks in scoring off the bench (topping out at 17.6 points per game in ’79-’80) and would have won multiple Sixth Man of the Year awards if it had existed before ’82-‘83

Had a rocky start in Milwaukee as the centerpiece of the trade haul that the Bucks received from the Lakers in exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but endured and became a franchise legend

Born Ulysees, Jr., he was nicknamed “Junior” as a child to differentiate him from his father, and “The Torch” as an adult due to his ability to score in a hurry off the bench (a real forebear for Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson)

Played great in the 1984 Conference Finals against Boston, averaging 17.3 points per game and giving an admirable defensive performance against Larry Bird

Built a business empire in both his native home of Louisville and his adopted home of Milwaukee after retiring from basketball, and had expressed interest in parlaying his fortune into ownership of an NBA team

433) Rickey Green, G, 1977-1992

Was toiling for the Hawaii Volcanos of the CBA when the Jazz signed him in the summer of 1980; had previously been cut by the Warriors and Pistons

Lightning quick off the dribble and possessing sticky hands on defense, he had a breakout season in ’81-’82

Held on to Utah’s starting point guard position for four years, averaging 13.8 points, 8.4 assists, and 2.4 steals during that stretch, before giving way during the ’85-’86 season to a young John Stockton

In ’83-’84 he led the NBA in steals per game and total steals, was named the All-Star team, and helped the Jazz reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history

Trails just Stockton and Karl Malone on the all-time Jazz leaderboard in total assists and total steals

432) Bradley Beal, G, 2012-Active (2018 rank: #492)

Has become the focal point of the Wizards offense the last three years with John Wall struggling with injuries, averaging 23.8 points per game
Also averaged career highs in rebounding (5.0 per game) and assists (5.5 per game in '18-'19
Named to the last two All-Star teams
Steps up his scoring in the playoffs, averaging 24.0 points per game over his last three postseason appearances
Drafted third overall by the Wizards in 2012 after one star season at Florida, and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting behind Damian Lillard and Anthony Davis

431) Roy Tarpley, F, 1986-1995

Maybe the quintessential NBA example of a player’s incredible talent not being enough to overcome their off-court troubles

Spent an entire decade in the NBA, but played in just 304 total games during that span, including the postseason

Averaged 15.0 points and 12.2 rebounds per game during his three-year prime, starting in ’87-’88

Named Sixth Man of the Year for Dallas in ’87-’88, and led the NBA in offensive rebound percentage

Was huge for the Mavericks in the ’87-’88 playoffs, averaging 17.9 points and 12.9 rebounds per game as they came within one game of making the NBA Finals

Started to struggle with injuries in the ’90-’91 season, including a torn ACL, was arrested multiple times for DWIs, and eventually suspended indefinitely by the NBA for failing three drug tests

Kicked around several European leagues before rejoining the Mavericks in 1994, but was soon banned for life by the NBA for alcohol abuse, a decision over which he’d battle the NBA in court for years, finally settling with them in 2009

430) Caldwell Jones, C, 1973-1990

One of four brothers who all played in the NBA

Spent five seasons in the ABA, averaging 15.8 points per game for the Conquistadors, Sails, Colonels, and Spirits before joining the 76ers as a free agent after the merger

Never averaged double-digit points in an NBA season, but made his reputation as a tireless rebounder and defender

Averaged 9.2 rebounds per game in six seasons with Philadelphia, and was named 1st-Team All-Defensive twice

Mostly played off the bench backing up Darryl Dawkins, and helped the Sixers reach the NBA Finals in 1977, 1980, and 1982 before being packaged as part of the trade that netted Moses Malone

Ultimately played in 1,299 ABA and NBA games combined, later spending time with the Blazers, Spurs, Bulls, and Rockets, for whom he teamed up with his brother Major

429) Willie Wise, F, 1969-1978

Dubbed by Sports Illustrated in his prime as “the best two-way player in pro basketball,” he’s often overlooked due to playing eight of his nine pro seasons in the ABA

2nd-Team All-ABA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive twice, and a three-time ABA All-Star

Helped lead the Stars to the ABA Finals three times, first in his rookie year with the team in Los Angeles in 1970, then winning the title in Utah in 1971, and losing in 1974, as the team’s leading scorer

Peaked in ’71-’72 with 23.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and averaged 20+ points per game in four straight seasons

Struggled in a later stop with the Virginia Squires as knee injuries and poor conditioning took their toll, and played only sparingly for the Nuggets and Sonics after joining the NBA with the 1976 merger

428) Darrell Griffith, G, 1980-1991

His “Dr. Dunkenstein” nickname was inspired by George Clinton and well earned during his exciting career at Louisville, where he redefined the recently reinstated slam dunk

Carried it over to the NBA, where he teamed up with Adrian Dantley on the thrilling early ‘80s Jazz teams and participated in the 1985 Slam Dunk Contest (where he threw down a 360 degree slam)

Was an accomplished long range shooter in addition to a polished dunker, and led the NBA in three-point field goals and three-point shooting percentage during the ’83-’84 season

Lost most of his explosiveness after a stress fracture to his foot late in the ’84-’85 season, but remained effective up until his 1991 retirement

Still fourth all-time in Jazz history in total scoring, behind only Dantley, Karl Malone, and John Stockton

427) Thaddeus Young, F, 2007-Active (2018 rank: N/A)

One of the most underrated players in the NBA over the last decade, stuck playing on mostly bad or middling teams
Career high in scoring was 17.9 points per game in '13-'14, as the leading scorer on an atrocious 76ers team
Had his best overall statistical season in '15-'16 for the Nets, with 15.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game
Reached the second round of the playoffs just once in his career, with the '11-'12 #8 seed 76ers that upset the Bulls in the first round after Derrick Rose was injured
His father, Felton, was a star at Jacksonville in the late '70s and was drafted by the Buffalo Braves but never played in the NBA

426) B.J. Armstrong, G, 1989-2000

The first draft selection of the Phil Jackson era in Chicago in 1989, but spent most of his early career on the bench behind veteran John Paxson

Never an elite play maker at point guard, but he could rely on a consistent long range jumper and took full advantage of opponents double-teaming Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen

Led the Bulls in bench scoring in the ’90-’91 and ’91-’92 seasons that ended in championships

Was a surprising inclusion in the 1994 All-Star Eastern Conference starting lineup, and finished second in the Three-Point Contest that year behind Mark Price; finished the ’93-’94 season with a career high 14.8 points per game

Selected by the Raptors in their expansion draft but never suited up in Toronto, instead getting traded to the Warriors before the season started

Now a high-profile agent, with clients including Draymond Green and Derrick Rose

425) Greg Ballard, F, 1977-1989

Won a title with the Bullets in his rookie season, acting as a glue guy off the bench, and played in the team’s 1979 Finals loss

Drafted fourth overall, he became the starting small forward in ’79-’80 and held down the position for six seasons

A terrific dribbler and passer for a man his size (6’7”), and led the league in turnover percentage in ’81-‘82

Also an elite defender, he was the Bullets’ all-time franchise leader in steals for over 20 years until John Wall broke the record

Was traded from Washington for Manute Bol in 1985, and spent time late in his career playing in Italy as part of an NBA outreach program before retiring with the Sonics in 1989

424) John Lucas, G, 1976-1990

An All-American at Maryland in both basketball and tennis before becoming the #1 overall pick in 1976; he was once ranked in the world top 600 before giving up his racket career to focus on the hardwood)

Among the top ten league leaders in assists per game in each of his first five seasons

Eventually began to struggle on the court due to his substance abuse off the court, and blew opportunities with the Rockets, Warriors, Bullets, Cavaliers, and Spurs

Seemed to come back clean with Houston in ’84-’85, but then failed a drug test late in the ’85-’86 season and missed the entire postseason as the Rockets reached the NBA Finals

Submitted to rehab after the NBA suspended his Rockets teammates Mitchell Wiggins and Lewis Lloyd, and managed to las several more NBA seasons as a solid role player

423) Michael Adams, G, 1985-1996

Had one of the quirkiest shot releases in NBA history, a self-described “push shot” that was supposedly a result of always being the smallest player on the court during childhood pick-up games in his native Hartford

Was also undersized at only 5’10” and 162 pounds

Led the league in three-pointers made two times, and set the record for most consecutive games with a three-point field goal (he’s still fifth on the list, far behind current record holder Stephen Curry)

Averaged 26.1 points, 10.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game for the Nuggets in ’90-’91, one of the best statistical season ever for a point guard

Made the All-Star team in 1992 as a member of the Bullets

422) Kenny Anderson, G, 1991-2005

His unique, playground-inspired style seemed like a harbinger of the shifting tenor of the point guard position, but ultimately had only minor long-term impact

Started his career strong with the Nets, averaging career highs in points per game (18.8) and assists per game (9.6) in ’93-’94 and being named to the All-Star team

Had a hectic off-court lifestyle, infamous for his partying and ultimately fathering seven children with five different women, and played erratically during his prime for the Nets, Hornets, and Trail Blazers

Settled into a veteran floor general role with the Celtics, helping them reach the Conference Finals in 2002

Seemingly hung around a little too long in the NBA, which in retrospective seems to be related to his perpetual legal and financial troubles

421) Gerald Wilkins, G, 1985-1999

Selected in the second round by the Knicks in 1985, 46 picks after they took Patrick Ewing, but became an essential piece of their late ‘80s revival

Though not as powerful as his older brother, Dominique, he was still an acrobatic dunker, and participated in the Slam Dunk Contest in 1986 and 1987

Averaged 18.3 points per game in a two year prime with New York, but built his reputation from there on his defense

Was particularly hyped as a Michael Jordan “stopper” but really only slightly slowed him down more so than other defenders, and was on the wrong end of a highlight reel game winning shot by Jordan in the 1993 playoffs

Had some good years later as a defensive specialist with the Cavs, but his career started to slip due to injuries and was mostly unmemorable, save for a three-game stretch in ’98-’99 when he and Dominique were teammates in Orlando

420) Brad Miller, C, 1998-2012

Plodding, unathletic, and, by his own admission, probably unable to dunk, but put together a solid 14-year career out of his old-school skills of passing, pick setting, and mid-range jump shooting

Undrafted out of Purdue and was playing professionally in Italy when the Hornets signed him during the 1998 lockout

Had a solid four year prime with the Pacers and Kings between 2002 and 2006, averaging 14.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and being named to two All-Star teams

A perfect fit in the Indiana system, where he could do all the dirty work like setting complex picks for Reggie Miller, and in Rick Adelman’s Sacramento system, where his reliable short jumper and passing vision were in line with the European offensive style

Led the league in offensive rating in ’04-’05 despite averaging just 15.6 points per game (which was a career high)

419) Cliff Robinson, F, 1979-1992

Not to be confused with the other Cliff Robinson who starred for the Blazers in the ‘90s and will appear later on this list

Was so green when he joined the NBA in 1979 that even in his second season he was still the league’s youngest player

Averaged 17.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his first 10 NBA seasons with the Nets, Kings, Cavaliers, Bullets, and 76ers, but reached the playoffs just three times, each time a first round loss

In addition in scoring and rebounding he was also an adept and versatile defender, often shifting to an undersized center position when called upon to defend the opposing team’s best offensive player

Left the NBA in 1989 due to injuries suffered during a car accident, but made a brief comeback with the Lakers down the stretch of the ’91-’92 season and actually faced off against the other Cliff Robinson in a playoff series that spring

418) Mo Williams, G, 2003-2016

Despite a stellar career at Alabama, he fell to the second of the Draft in 2003 as teams considered him too small to play his natural shooting guard position

After a quiet rookie season with the Jazz eventually broke out with the Bucks, averaging 16+ points per game in three straight seasons in Milwaukee as the starting point guard

Traded to Cleveland in 2008 to become the second scoring option behind LeBron James, and averaged a career high 18.3 points per game in ’08-’09 while being named to the All-Star team and helping the team reach the Conference Finals

Endeared himself to Cavs fans as a team leader in the wake of James’ departure for Miami, but was traded during the ’10-’11 season to the Clippers

After stints with the Clippers, Blazers, Jazz, Timberwolves, and Hornets, returned to the Cavs in ’15-’16 as a deep bench combo guard and earned a championship ring

417) Orlando Woolridge, F, 1981-1994

Remembered mainly for his high-flying, high-scoring days with the Bulls pre-Michael Jordan, his career was still long and productive after that

Led the Bulls with 19.3 points per game in ’83-’84; it would take a decade for another player besides Jordan to lead the team in scoring

Actually increased his scoring in two years playing alongside Jordan, with 21.9 points per game, and averaged 20+ points per game again in later seasons with the Nets and Nuggets

One of the best in-game dunkers of his era, thanks to his incredible in-flight boy control

Eventually played in one NBA Finals, coming off the bench for the ’88-’89 Lakers

After leaving the NBA, he ended up starring for coach Mike D’Antoni in Italy, where he led Benetton Treviso to the European Cup title in 1995

416) Mario Chalmers, G, 2008-2018

Starting point guard for three Heat NBA Finals teams, including champions in '11-'12 and '12-'13, and backup guard on the '10-'11 Finals team
Fourth on the team in playoff scoring, and third in assists, on the '11-'12 Heat that won the title
Has averaged 10+ points per game in just three seasons, including his rookie one, when he was named 2nd-Team All-Rookie; peaked at 10.3 points per game in '15-'16, playing for the Heat and Grizzlies
Served as the proverbial little brother to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, but his occasional moments of glory, including a 25-point outburst in a crucial game four win in the 2012 NBA Finals against Oklahoma City
Hit a clutch, game-tying three-pointer in the 2008 NCAA Championship Game, helping Kansas eventually defeat Memphis in overtime
The only player in NBA history that was born in Alaska

415) Roy Hibbert, C, 2008-2017

His throwback style – a plodding, back-to-the-basket, shot blocking center – served him well for several years but couldn’t last long as the league had passed him by

Probably would have been a top 10 pick in 2007, but fell out of the lottery to the Pacers in 2008 after returning to Georgetown for his senior year

Plugged away for seven years in Indiana, with All-Star appearances in 2012 and 2014

Peaked in ’11-’12 with 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game

Finished in the top five in the league in blocks for three straight seasons, and was named 2d-Team All-Defensive in ’13-‘14

Helped the Pacers reach back-to-back Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014, both devastating losses to the Heat

Had later unsuccessful stops with the Lakers, Hornets, and Nuggets, and went unsigned for the entirety of the ’17-’18 season before officially retiring

414) George Hill, G, 2008-Active (2018 rank: #425)

Has played for five different teams in his 10 NBA seasons, and each of them has reached the playoffs except one (the Pacers in ’14-’15)
Started as a role player for the Spurs, backing up Tony Parker for three seasons before getting traded to the Pacers in 2011 as part of the infamous Kawhi Leonard deal
As the starting point guard, helped the Pacers reach back-to-back Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014, then made it back with the Bucks in 2019 as a backup
Had his two best statistical seasons with the Pacers in ’14-’15 (16.1 points and 5.1 assists per game) and his one season with the Jazz in ’16-’17 (16.9 points and 4.2 assists per game)
Started at point guard for the Cavaliers in ’17-’18 as they reached the NBA Finals; was third on the team in playoff scoring and second in assists

413) Eddie L. Johnson, G, 1977-1987

Nicknamed “Fast” for obvious reasons, he was as quick to the basket as anyone in the ‘80s, but also a polished perimeter defender

Emerged as a leading scorer for the Hawks and was consistently the team’s second option behind John Drew and later Dominique Wilkins, peaking at 19.1 points per game in ’80-‘81

Named to consecutive All-Star rosters in 1980 and 1981, and the All-Defensive team twice

After a trade from Atlanta to Cleveland in 1986, his career quickly spiraled out of control due to injuries and rampant cocaine use; suspended for life by the NBA soon after for failure to attend mandated addiction rehab sessions

412) Johnny Green, F, 1959-1973

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

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

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

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

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

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

411) Billy Paultz, C, 1970-1985

Nicknamed “Whopper” for his size and stature, standing 6’11” and 235 pounds

Averaged a double-double in five of his six ABA seasons, peaking at 16.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in ’72-’73 for the Nets

Led the ABA in blocks per game in ’75-’76, and finished third in league history in total blocks

Named to three ABA All-Star teams, and helped lead the Nets to the 1974 title

Transitioned to the NBA post-merger with the Spurs, and became more of a role player, but lasted nine seasons in the league

Played in the 1981 NBA Finals with the Rockets, backing up Moses Malone at center, and reached the Conference Finals with the Spurs in 1979 and 1983

Between the ABA and NBA his teams reached the postseason in all 15 seasons he played professionally

410) Ben Gordon, G, 2004-2015

Drafted third overall by Chicago and became the only player to win Sixth Man of the Year as a rookie; finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind his college teammate (at Connecticut) Emeka Okafor

Split the rest of his time with the Bulls between the bench and starting lineup, averaging 20+ points per game twice, in ’06-’07 and in ’08-‘09

Signed a huge free agent contract with the Pistons in 2009, but never came close to living up to it, thanks in large part to injuries, his lack of conditioning, and erratic behavior

Hasn’t played in the NBA since 2015, but has made several comeback attempts including stints in the G-League

Born in London to Jamaican parents, he could have used his dual citizenship to represent the host British team in the 2012 Olympics, but was dropped from consideration after missing several mandatory meetings and training camp appearances

409) Jeff Ruland, C, 1981-1993

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

408) Vernon Maxwell, G, 1988-2001

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

406) Elden Campbell, F, 1990-2005

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

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

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

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

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

405) Boris Diaw, F, 2003-2017

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

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

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

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

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

404) David Wesley, G, 1993-2007

Un-drafted out of Baylor in 1992 because NBA teams considered him a tweener between the guard positions

Ultimately became the second highest scoring undrafted player in league history, with 11,842 total points

Was consistently the second or third scoring threat for the Hornets in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, peaking at 17.2 points per game in ’00-‘01

Also developed himself into a top level defender and ball handler

Spent the ’06-’07 season with the Cleveland team that reached the Finals, but didn’t log any postseason playing time

Charged with reckless driving in 2000 for his participation in a street race that led to a crash and the death of his then Hornets teammate, Bobby Phills

403) Gar Heard, F, 1970-1981

Hit the original “The Shot” in the 1976 NBA Finals, a game five buzzer beater that forced triple overtime; it was legendary but ultimately ineffectual, as his Suns team lost that game and subsequently the series in six

Spent most of his career as a journeyman power forward, drifting between five teams in the ‘70s

Peaked statistically with the Buffalo Braves, with 15.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in ’73-’74 as the team made its first ever playoff appearance

Was traded from the Braves to the Suns at 1976 deadline, and averaged a double-double in the playoffs as they made their surprise run to the NBA Finals

Also an accomplished defender, he would have racked up a lot more blocked shots in his career if the stat had existed before ’73-‘74

402) Drew Gooden, F, 2002-2016

Drafted fourth overall by the Grizzlies in 2002 and traded to the Magic just nine months later in a harbinger of the untapped potential and transitory nature of his career, though he did finish with over 8,000 career points and 6,000 rebounds

Best seasons arguably came with Cleveland, where he was a reliable presence on the ’06-‘07 Finals team

Played for 10 different teams in a 14-year NBA career, with a plodding, traditional power forward style that couldn’t always keep up with the increasingly fast-paced NBA of the ‘00s

Led Kansas to the Final Four in 2002 while winning the NABC Player of the Year award, and had his jersey #0 retired by the school soon after

401) DeMarcus Cousins, C, 2010-Active (2018 rank: #414)

Finally made a playoff appearance in 2019, in fact made a Finals appearance, though it was bittersweet as he missed most of the postseason with an injury and struggled when he did play
2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and a four-time All-Star
Over his first eight seasons in the NBA, he had career averages of 21.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, with highs of 27.0 points per game in '16-'17 and 12.9 rebounds per game in '17-'18
Has struggled to stay upright, playing in 75 or more games in just two seasons in his career, both of them early on
Notoriously fiery on the court, he has led the NBA in personal fouls three times and has several suspensions to his name
Won gold at the 2016 Olympics as part of the U.S. team

1993 playoffs, and an embarrassing 2-of-18 shooting performance from the field in game seven of those Finals

400) Mike Newlin, G, 1971-1982

Part of the Rockets’ first draft class after it moved to Houston in 1971, and half of arguably its all-time greatest back court duo with Calvin Murphy

In his second season through his fifth season, he averaged 17.1 points and 5.1 assists per game, and endeared himself to fans with his trademark dives to the floor chasing loose balls

Moved to be bench for Houston in ’76-’77 to make room for John Lucas, but remained a key player for several more years

Peaked in scoring after a trade to the Nets, with 21.4 points per game in ’80-’81

Shot 86.9% from the free throw line in his career, and finished in the NBA top ten in that category nine different seasons

399) Hot Rod Williams, F, 1986-1999

Though nicknamed “Hot Rod” (due to his childhood predilection for making car engine noises while playing), played more like a workhorse truck than a flashy racecar

Indicted as part of a point shaving scandal at Tulane (he was eventually acquitted of all charges), he spent one season in the USBL before joining Cleveland’s franchise-altering rookie class in ’86-’87 with Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, and Ron Harper

Played three positions off the bench and was renowned for his shot blocking, rebounding, and defensive enforcement

Could also contribute offense when needed, especially in ’89-’90 when he averaged 16.8 points per game to help compensate for a rash of Cavs injuries

Despite never being an All-Star, received the then largest contract in sports history from the Cavs in 1990 and could never live up to the expectations from that agreement, which signaled the beginning of the end for that era of Cavs history

398) David Lee, F, 2005-2017

Made the All-Star team twice, in 2010 with the Knicks and in 2013 with the Warriors

Before Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson blossomed into their current state, he was Golden State’s biggest star for several years, averaging 18.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in his first four seasons with the team

Lost his starting job to Green due to an injury during the preseason in 2014, and played only limited minutes off the bench during the postseason as the Warriors won the 2015 title

Had his best overall season as the starting center for the Knicks in ’09-’10, with 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game

Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in rebounding four different times

Retired in 2017 after playing with the Spurs against his former Warriors teammates in the Conference Finals

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

Maybe the most eclectic pro career of his era, from inauspicious beginnings in Greece to tough guy stints with Indiana and New York (that inexplicably included a Slam Dunk Contest appearance) to a star turn with Toronto

Started with Panathinaikos of the Greek League in 1990 after falling to the second round of the NBA Draft

Wound up with the Pacers in 1993 and spent several years as a bruising and versatile sixth man and sometime starter

Played on all four Pacers Conference Finals appearances in the ‘90s, but wasn’t there for the 2000 NBA Finals run as he had been traded to Toronto

Shifted from power forward to center with the Raptors and blossomed into a star at age 31, averaging 13.3 points and 9.3 rebounds over the next four seasons and playing in the 2001 All-Star Game

396) Corey Maggette, F, 1999-2013

Spent his best years with the Clippers, who were building an island of young misfit toys that also included Elton Brand and Quentin Richardson

Led the team in scoring twice, peaking at 22.2 points per game in ’04-‘05

Missed the majority of the Clippers’ ’05-’06 season due to injury, but returned on time for the franchise’s first playoff series win in Los Angeles, contributing a team-high 23 points in the series clinching win over Denver

Like so many other young players, he eventually fell out of favor with coach Mike Dunleavy and ditched town to sign with Golden State in 2008, showing occasional scoring outbursts over his final few seasons while dealing with various injuries

Thanks to his slashing style of play, led the NBA in total free throws made in ’03-’04 despite missing nine games due to injury

395) Calvin Natt, F, 1979-1990

Drafted by the Nets but traded to the Blazers in his rookie year, he averaged 20.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game down the stretch of his rookie season

Became one of the team’s biggest stars in the wake of Bill Walton’s departure, popular amongst coaches, teammates, and fans for his scoring, rebounding, and bone-shattering screens

Traded to the Nuggets in 1984, where his stats got a boost from coach Doug Moe’s up-tempo system

Averaged a career high 23.3 points per game for Denver in ’84-’85, was named to the All-Star team, and helped the Nuggets make a surprise run to the Conference Finals

Spent some time late in his career with the Pacers and Spurs, and holds a distinction as the only NBA player to log playing time for all four former ABA franchises

394) Leroy Ellis, C, 1962-1976

His most famous stint was as the original Blazers center, even though he spent just one season with the team

That season was ’70-’71, right in the middle of his career, and he scored 15 points and 22 rebounds in Portland’s debut game, a win over Cleveland

Originally drafted by the Lakers to back up Rudy LaRusso, he played in the NBA Finals in 1963, 1965, and 1966, all losses to Boston

Started at center for two seasons for the Bullets, averaging a double-double during that time

Eventually returned to the Lakers again as a backup, this time behind Wilt Chamberlain, as the team finally won the championship in 1972

Holds the distinction of playing on one of the greatest teams of all time (the ’71-’72 Lakers who won 33 straight) and then, due to a trade, immediately playing on one of the worst teams of all time (the ’72-’73 Sixers who finished 9-73)

393) Rudy Gay, F, 2006-Active (2018 rank: #405)

Controversy seems to always follow him, starting with his freshman year at Connecticut when the NCAA investigated his recruitment but ultimately found no wrongdoing

Selected eighth by the Rockets in the 2006 Draft, but immediately traded to the Grizzlies, where he became a high-scoring star for six-plus seasons whose individual successes never seemed to translate to team success, and they made the playoffs just once in 2012

Averaged 18+ points per game in each of his full seasons with Memphis, and is still in the top five all-time in franchise history in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks

After a short stop in Toronto, wound up on another moribund team in Sacramento, where he averaged a career high 21.4 points per game in ’14-'15

Finally joined a decent team in ’17-’18 as the third leading scorer on the Spurs, making just his second and third career playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019

392) Brook Lopez, C, 2008-Active (2018 rank: #404)

Starred at Stanford alongside his twin brother, Robin
Has had a long and productive NBA career, albeit an injury-plagued one where he always seemed to be falling just short of stardom level
Made one All-Star team in 2013 while playing for the Nets, but even that was a controversial decision, as he was surprisingly added to the roster by commissioner David Stern after Rajon Rondo pulled out with an injury
Averaged 20+ points per game in four separate seasons, but has always struggled with rebounding and defense for a man of his size, and his teams have reached the playoffs just three times in 11 seasons
After signing a huge contract with Brooklyn in 2015 and not living up to it, was eventually unloaded on the Lakers with whom he slogged through another difficult season for a bad team in '17-'18
Finally played for a contender in '18-'19, as the starting center for the Bucks team that reached the Conference Finals

391) Derrick McKey, F, 1987-2002

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

390) Chuck Person, F, 1986-2000

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

389) Lou Williams, G, 2005-Active (2018 rank: #446)

A bench specialist extraordinaire, he’s started in just 109 of his 861 career games

Won Sixth Man of the Year for the Raptors in ’14-’15 and for the Clippers in ’17-‘18

A rare prep-to-pro player that fell to the second round of the draft but still found NBA success; he originally committed to play at Georgia but declared for the draft at the last minute instead

Averaged 15.5 points per game in ’14-’15, which was then a career high, but has since had his best scoring seasons past the age of 30, with 17.5 in ’16-’17 (split between the Lakers and Rockets) and 22.6 in ’17-’18 for the Clippers

Led the Clippers in scoring in ’17-’18 despite coming off the bench in 60 of 79 games

Has only made it as far as the second round of the playoffs, in 2012 with the 76ers and in 2017 with the Rockets

388) Don Buse, G, 1972-1985

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

387) James Silas, G, 1972-1982

Nicknamed “Captain Late” for his fourth quarter heroics and “The Snake” for his explosiveness towards the basket

Waived by the Rockets his rookie year before signing with Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA (who eventually became San Antonio Spurs)

Led the ABA in true shooting percentage and offensive rating in ’75-’76; was named 1st-Team All-ABA the same season

Played on a torn MCL in his first NBA season and never recovered his athleticism, but still averaged 14.2 points per game in six NBA seasons

First player in Spurs history to have his jersey retired

386) Ray Williams, G, 1977-1987

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

385) Thurl Bailey, F, 1983-1999

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

384) Cedric Ceballos, F, 1990-2001

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

383) Jameer Nelson, G, 2004-2018

Won essentially every collegiate award possible during his time at St. Joseph’s, but fell to the #20 pick of the 2004 NBA Draft
Spent the first 10 seasons of his career with Orlando, where he was functional and consistent, albeit unspectacularly; annihilated the franchise record for total assists and is top five for the Magic all-time in total points, steals, and field goals
Named to one All-Star team in 2009, but tore his shoulder right before the break and missed the rest of the regular season and most of the playoffs; did return on time for Orlando’s Finals appearance against the Lakers, but played limited minutes off the bench
Was the second best Magic player on the team that reached the 2010 Conference Finals, averaging a career-high 19 points per game during the playoffs
Has transitioned in a journeyman late his career, including stops with the Mavericks, Celtics, Pelicans, Nuggets, and most recently the Pistons

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

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

381) Andre Drummond, C, 2012-Active (2018 rank: #489)

He was the #1 recruit in the country coming out of his Connecticut high school in 2011, but eventually fell to the ninth pick of the NBA Draft in 2012 due to his struggles with shooting
Has led the NBA in rebounds per game three times, with 14.8 in ’15-’16, 16.0 in ’17-’18 (which was the highest single-season average since Dennis Rodman had 16.1 per game in ’96-'97), and 15.6 in '18-'19
Also led the league in total rebounds the last four seasons, with over 1,100 rebounds each year, another total that puts him in territory last occupied by Dennis Rodman in the mid ‘90s
Played on the All-Star team in 2016 and 2018
Finally improved his free throw shooting in ’17-’18 to 60.5% after historically bad performances the three prior years
Has made just two playoff appearances in his seven seasons with Detroit, both first round sweeps

380) Doug Christie, G, 1992-2007

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

379) Christian Laettner, F, 1993-2005

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

378) Dick Van Arsdale, G, 1965-1977

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

377) Doug Collins, G, 1973-1981

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

376) Mickey Johnson, F, 1974-1986

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

375) Rick Fox, F, 1991-2004

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

374) J.R. Smith, G, 2004-Active (2018 rank: #375)

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

373) Josh Howard, F, 2003-2013

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

372) Ron Boone, G, 1968-1981

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

371) Steve Francis, G, 1999-2008

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

370) Larry Hughes, G, 1998-2012

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

369) Sleepy Floyd, G, 1982-1995

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

368) Terry Dischinger, F, 1962-1973

Won Rookie of the Year in ’62-’63 while averaging a career high 25.5 points per game for the Chicago Zephyrs

Was named to the All-Star team in each of his first three seasons, one with the Zephyrs, one after they moved to Baltimore and became the Bullets, and one with the Pistons; averaged 21.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game over this stretch

Took off two years in his prime to serve in the U.S. Army

Lasted six more seasons in the NBA upon his return in ’67-’68, but was never the same star player again, taking on more of a role player position with the Pistons

Reached the playoffs just once in his career, a first round loss with the Pistons in 1968

Started at small forward for the 1960 U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Rome, despite being the youngest member at age 19

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

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

366) Cazzie Russell, F, 1966-1978

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

365) Billy Knight, F, 1974-1985

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

364) Lonnie Shelton, F, 1976-1986

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

363) Damon Stoudamire, G, 1995-2008

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

362) Brian Winters, G, 1974-1983

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

361) Nick Anderson, G, 1989-2002

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

360) Kelly Tripucka, F, 1981-1991

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

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

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

358) Jeff Teague, G, 2009-Active (2018 rank: #365)

The last player at Wake Forest to be an All-American, honored as such back in 2009
Drafted by the Hawks and spent his first seven seasons with the franchise, slowly taking over the starting point guard job
Averaged 14+ points and six-plus assists per game for six straight seasons, peaking in scoring in ’13-’14 (16.5 points per game) and assists in ’16-’17 (7.8 per game)
An All-Star for Atlanta in 2015
Led the Hawks in playoff scoring and assists in ’14-’15, as the team made its first Conference Finals appearance in 45 years
Now the starting point guard for the Timberwolves but struggled with injuries in '18-'19 and seems to have peaked statistically

357) Danny Manning, F, 1988-2003

Definitely on the short list of greatest college careers of all time, but his pro career was marked by injuries, bad luck, and the Clippers curse

Selected first overall by the Clippers in 1988 back when they were still the definitive worst franchise in the NBA by leaps and bounds

Tore his ACL during his rookie season but came back strong a year later, eventually reaching All-Star status in ’92-’93 while averaging 22.8 points per game and leading L.A. to the playoffs

Unhappy with the departure of coach Larry Brown and his contract situation, he sparred with management during the ’93-’94 season and was traded to Atlanta

Was named to a third All-Star team in 1994 but that turned to be his peak as various knee injuries affected the remainder of his career

Settled into a solid bench role in the last half of his career, and won Sixth Man of the Year in 1998 while playing for Phoenix

356) Dale Davis, F, 1991-2007

Lasted 16 seasons in the NBA, most of it spent as a consistent force of nature in the paint

Started his career out of Clemson with the Pacers, starting almost immediately at power forward and averaging nearly a double-double (10.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game) during his four year prime

Played on all five Pacers teams that reached the Conference Finals in the Reggie Miller era, including the NBA Finals appearance in 2000, a season in which he was named to the All-Star team

Traded to Portland in 2000 and his stats quickly started to slip even though he lasted another seven seasons

Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in offensive rebound percentage for 11 consecutive seasons

355) Monta Ellis, G, 2005-2017

One of the better pure scorers in the NBA during his prime, finishing in the top ten in scoring in ’09-’10 (25.5 points per game) and ’10-’11 (24.1 points per game)
Also finished in the top five in the NBA in steals per game three different times
Won Most Improved Player in ’06-’07 for the Warriors in his second season after being lightly regarded as a second round pick in 2005 straight out of high school (the final draft of the prep-to-pro era)
Was an inconsistent but nonetheless important piece of the “We Believe” Warriors team that shocked Dallas in the first round of the 2007 playoffs as a #8 seed
That turned out to be Ellis’ only second round playoff appearance of his 12-year career, with five other appearances with the Bucks, Mavericks, and Pacers ending in round one
Missed most of the ’08-’09 season right in his prime after tearing a ligament in his ankle in a moped accident

354) Hedo Turkoglu, F, 2000-2015

The first Turkish player in NBA history, he led a great generation of players from his home country into the league, including Mehmet Okur and Ersan Ilyasova
Started his career as part of the renowned Kings bench crew, with his utility and three-point shooting serving as assets for a perennial contender
His prime eventually came in Orlando, where he teamed up with Rashard Lewis as a dangerous, oversized forward duo, peaking in ’07-’08 with 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game en route to winning the Most Improved Player award
Helped the Magic to a surprise NBA Finals appearance in 2009 when his size and shooting created severe matchup issues in the Conference Finals for Cleveland
Crumbled under the pressure of a huge contract granted by the Raptors in 2009, and his later career was defined by near constant injuries and a surprise steroid suspension

353) Jim Paxson, G, 1979-1990

He may not be #1 overall on this list, but he does claim the top spot amongst members of the Paxson family, beating out his father, Jim, Sr., and his brother, John
Was arguably the best Blazers player in the immediate years after Bill Walton’s departure, up until he lost his starting job to a young Clyde Drexler
Was named to two All-Star teams, in 1983 and 1984, while averaging 21+ points per game each of those seasons; was also 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’83-‘84
As an oversized (6’6”) guard, would regularly post up smaller opponents to rack up points
As much as he’s memorialized for his best years with Portland, he’s almost just as reviled for his brief stint in Boston where he called out Larry Bird to the media for his poor relationship with coach Jimmy Rodgers

352) Trevor Ariza, F, 2004-Active (2018 rank: #374)

Fifth all-time amongst active players in career steals with 1,515, and moved up to 44th all-time in NBA history in '18-'19
Always more of a defensive specialist, but has averaged 12+ points per game in four different seasons, peaking at 14.9 per game for the Rockets in '09-'10
A second round pick of the Knicks, his time in New York and with Orlando was uneventful, but he found his niche after getting traded to the Lakers in 2007
Played in back-to-back NBA Finals with the Lakers in 2008 and 2009, and was the starting small forward and fourth in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and second in steals on the ’08-’09 title team
Something of a journeyman, his '19-'20 season with the Kings will mark 10 franchises played for in 16 NBA seasons, including two separate stints with the Rockets

351) Tyson Chandler, C, 2001-Active (2018 rank: #363)

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

350) Michael Redd, G, 2000-2012

One of the best shooters of his generation, but ultimately remembered best for one calamitous contract and one devastating injury
Was an All-Star during the ’03-’04 season, the only one in which he started in all 82 games
Finished fifth in the NBA in ’06-’07 with a career high 26.7 points per game, but appeared in only 53 games due to injuries; averaged 20+ points per game for six consecutive seasons
Spent all but one of his 12 seasons with the Bucks, who drafted him in the second round in 2000; despite having grown up in Ohio and being personally recruited by LeBron James, he spurned a free agency offer from the Cavs in 2005 and instead resigned with Milwaukee for a mammoth six-year $91 million contract
Simultaneously tore his ACL and MCL in 2009, effectively ending his already injury-riddled career
Played on the 2008 U.S. Olympic “Reedem Team” that won the gold medal

349) Andrei Kirilenko, F, 2001-2015

Only 18 when drafted by the Jazz in 1999, but already had two years of pro experience in his native Russia
Joined Utah in 2001 and soon became the face of the franchise after Karl Malone and John Stockton’s departures, as well as a global ambassador for the NBA
Peaked in ’03-’04 with 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-Star team and made his first of his three All-Defensive appearances
Led the league in blocks in ’04-‘05
Only player in Jazz history besides Malone to appear in the franchise’s all-time top ten in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks
Played with Russia in the 2000 and 2012 Olympics, and during the 2011 NBA lockout starred for CSKA Moscow, leading them to the Euroleague title while winning MVP

348) Jimmy Jones, G, 1967-1977

One of the earliest stars of the ABA, he was an offensive force for his hometown New Orleans Buccaneers
Averaged 26.6 points per game in ’68-’69, good for second in the ABA, while leading the league in field goal percentage
Was named 1st-Team All-ABA three times, and was an All-Star in six of his seven ABA seasons
Led the Bucs to the ABA Finals in 1968, and the Utah Stars to the ABA Finals in 1974
In 1974 finally joined the roster of the Bullets team that had drafted him seven years earlier, backing up Kevin Porter as they reached the 1975 NBA Finals
Averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game in his ABA career, and is fifth all-time in league history in total assists

347) Darryl Dawkins, C, 1975-1989

Claimed to have descended from the Planet Lovetron (he was actually born in Orlando) and supposedly received the “Chocolate Thunder” nickname from diehard Sixers fan Stevie Wonder
His original nickname in the pro ranks was actually “Man-Child,” as he became the first player to make the leap directly from high school to the pros
Though he was the fifth pick in the 1975 Draft, his playing time early on was sparse and his breakout didn’t come until the ’79-’80 season
One two separate occasions in 1979 laid down a dunk so aggressive that it shattered the backboard, causing a length game delay and eventually forcing the NBA to switch to breakaway rims
Helped Philadelphia to Finals appearance in 1977, 1980, and 1982 (eventually earned a ring in 1989 with the Pistons, though he didn’t participate in the playoffs that season)
Never quite lived up to expectations, peaking at 16.8 points per game in ’83-’84 after a trade to the Nets

346) Terrell Brandon, G, 1991-2002

Played point guard apprentice to Mark Price for four seasons with the Cavs before finally taking over as full-time starter in ’95-‘96
Made two consecutive All-Star appearances in 1996 and 1997, and was the only Cleveland player on the roster when they hosted the latter edition
Averaged 19.4 points and 6.4 assists per game over the stretch of his two All-Star seasons, and was named “best pure point guard in the NBA” by Sports Illustrated
Was traded to the Bucks in the summer of 1997 (as part of the Shawn Kemp deal) and started to deal with injuries that hampered the rest of his career
Traded again to the Timberwolves in 1999 (as part of a blockbuster that also included Stephon Marbury and Sam Cassell), he became a play maker and second scoring option behind Kevin Garnett, but had his career cut short by a major knee injury in 2001

345) Paul Seymour, G, 1947-1960

Spent 10 seasons with the Syracuse Nationals, almost the entirety of the franchise’s time in upstate New York, and is arguably their second greatest legend after his longtime teammate Dolph Schayes
Came off the bench for the ’49-’50 Nationals team that lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals, and was the starting shooting guard for the squads that reached back-to-back Finals in 1954 and 1955, winning the franchise’s first championship in the latter
Named to three consecutive All-Star teams, starting in 1953, and was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’53-’54 and ’54-‘55
Had a longtime rivalry with Bob Cousy, that on several occasions turned into physical altercations on the floor
Took over as player-coach late in his career, then full time coach for the Hawks after retiring as a player and was fired for refusing to bench Cleo Hill, the only black player on the team

344) James Edwards, C, 1977-1996

Spent 19 seasons in the NBA with eight different teams, compiling over 14,000 points and over 6,000 rebounds
Also committed over 4,000 career personal fouls, good for 12th all-time
Peaked statistically in early seasons with the non-contending Cavaliers and Pacers, averaging 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over a four-year stretch, starting in ’78-‘79
Was traded the Pistons in 1988 and became an indelible member of the “Bad Boys,” with his serene demeanor (earning him the nickname “Buddha”) and unassuming court presence standing out on a roster filled with brash personalities
Started at power forward for Detroit in ’89-’90, finished third on the team in scoring and fourth in rebounding as they won the championship
Ultimately played in four NBA Finals, winning three titles, two with the Pistons (1989 and 1990) and one at the end of his career with the Bulls (1996)

343) Avery Johnson, G, 1988-2004

Unwanted by the NBA after a stellar-but-unnoticed career at Southern, and spent a year in USBL purgatory
In his first six NBA seasons he was waived or traded by the Sonics, Nuggets, Rockets, Warriors, and Spurs multiple times before finally catching on with San Antonio in ’94-’95 at the age of 29
Put his leadership skills and hardened bulldog attitude to good work, becoming a team leader and playmaker for the Spurs and taking over the starting point guard position for five seasons
Averaged a career high 9.6 assists per game for the Spurs in ’95-’96, good for third in the NBA
Hit the series clinching shot in game five of the 1999 NBA Finals against New York, and was third on the team in scoring and first in assists as the Spurs won their first title in franchise history

342) Al Jefferson, C, 2004-2018

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

341) Kenny Smith, G, 1987-1997

Known to most fans now as the jovial foil to Charles Barkley on TNT’s Inside the NBA, but was once an unsung hero of Houston’s back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995

Earned the nickname “The Jet” for his quick first step and explosiveness at the basket, and competed in three All-Star Slam Dunk Contests

Drafted by the Kings and was 1st-Team All-Rookie

Had his best statistical season with the Rockets in ’90-’91 with 17.7 points and 7.1 assists per game, even earning some MVP votes

Took on more of a playmaker role in the Rockets’ title years, but often contributed clutch shots in key moments, such as his buzzer beater that tied game one of the 1995 NBA Finals against Orlando and sent it to overtime where the Rockets eventually won

Retired at age 31 due to injuries; spent time with the Hawks, Magic, Pistons, and Nuggets in addition to the Kings and Rockets

340) Rodney McCray, F, 1983-1993

Had a dynamic college career as a member of the famed “Doctors at Dunk” at Louisville who reached the Final Four three times in his four years there
Drafted third overall by the Rockets in 1983 as a compensation pick for losing Moses Malone in free agency
Both an effective rebounder and an elite passer despite playing small forward, he was also terrific defender and was named 1st-Team All-Defensive in ’87-‘88
Helped the Rockets reach the 1986 NBA Finals
Became more of a scorer after getting traded to the Kings, peaking at 16.6 points per game in ’89-‘90
Lost most of his effectiveness late in his career due to an abdominal injury, but did put in some minutes off the bench for the Bulls during their title season in ’92-‘93

339) Antonio McDyess, F, 1995-2011

His career is basically split in two parts, before and after severely rupturing his knee in 2001
Was named 1st-Team All-Rookie for the Nuggets, in the three season stretch from 1998 to 2001 he averaged 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and was named to the 2001 All-Star team
Missed almost three entire seasons after rupturing his Patellar tendon, during which he was traded from Denver to the Knicks to the Pistons
Remade his late career game as a mid-range jump shooter and sharp defender off the bench, and helped Detroit reach the NBA Finals in 2005
Played on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team that won gold, as an injury replacement for Tim Duncan
Originally drafted second overall by the Clippers, who traded him to Denver for Brent Barry and Randy Woods

338) Bob Boozer, F, 1960-1971

Drafted first overall by the Royals in 1959, one year before they selected Oscar Robertson, but delayed his NBA debut so that he could play on the 1960 U.S. Olympic team (with Robertson and Jerry West)
Became Cincinnati’s starting power forward immediately, and averaged a double-double in his second and third seasons
Traded to the Knicks in 1964 to make room for Jerry Lucas (he would later publicly call the trade racially motivated), and then spent a year as a role player for the Lakers
Found a starring role with the Bulls, who selected him in their 1966 expansion draft, averaging 21.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his two seasons in Chicago
Was the first Bulls player to make an All-Star team, in 1968
Finished his career with the Bucks, reuniting with Robertson, and was the sixth man on the ’70-’71 championship team

337) Scott Wedman, F, 1974-1987

One of the league's first health nuts, he was a vegetarian and gym rat in an era where some guys were smoking cigarettes during halftime of games, and was nicknamed “The Invisible Hulk” for his propensity for disappearing into the gym for hours
Drafted sixth overall by the Kansas City Kings in 1974, he teamed up with Tiny Archibald to carry them to the playoffs four times in his seven years there
Was an All-Star in 1976 and 1980, and averaged a career high 19.0 points per game in both ’79-’80 and ’80-‘81
Eventually joined the Celtics, where he was Larry Bird’s backup for four seasons, three of which ended with a Finals appearance and two with titles
Shot a perfect 11-of-11 from the floor during a game one blowout victory over the Lakers in the 1985 NBA Finals, which became known as the “Memorial Day Massacre”
Started in 19 games for an injured Kevin McHale during the epic ’85-’86 Celtics season that many consider the greatest of all time

336) Louie Dampier, G, 1967-1979

Arguably the true face of the ABA, he’s the league’s all-time leader in points and assists

Spent all nine seasons of the ABA’s history playing for the Kentucky Colonels, and led them to a surprise championship in 1975

Named to seven ABA All-Star teams, 2nd-Team All-ABA four times, and led the league in three-point field goals twice

Never led the ABA in assists per game, but finished in the top ten in the category in all nine seasons

Selected by the Spurs in 1976 dispersal draft and lasted three seasons in the NBA coming off the bench as a combo guard

An All-American at Kentucky, and played on the infamous 1966 team that lost in the NCAA championship to the all-black Texas Western starting lineup

335) Sam Lacey, C, 1970-1983

Probably the most underrated center of the ‘70s, and undoubtedly a franchise legend for the Kings
Played 11 ½ of his 13 NBA seasons with the Kings, starting when they were the Cincinnati Royals and ending in Kansas City; the franchise eventually retired his jersey
Once the NBA started tracking blocks and steals in ’73-’74, he tallied 100+ in both categories for six straight seasons (he’s one of only five players in history to do so)
Was named to the 1975 All-Star team
Averaged a double-double in each of his first six seasons, peaking at 14.2 points and 13.4 rebounds per game in ’73-‘74
Helped lead the Kings to a rare Conference Finals trip in 1981, their only such appearance during their Kansas City era

334) Don Ohl, G, 1960-1970

Played two years of semi-pro ball after falling to the fifth round of the 1958 Draft
Eventually made the Pistons roster, and averaged 16.7 points per game in his first four seasons with the team
Was traded to the Bullets in 1964 and became even more of a scoring threat, averaged 19.7 points per game over his first three seasons in Baltimore
Tended to save his biggest games for the playoffs, where he led the Pistons in scoring as they reached the 1962 Conference Finals, and averaged 26.2 points per game in 13 playoff game appearances with the Bullets, still a franchise record
Made five All-Star appearances, two with Detroit and three with Baltimore
Nicknamed “Waxie” by teammates for his meticulously maintained crew-cut hair

333) Caron Butler, F, 2002-2016

Initially drafted by the Heat in 2002, but pinballed to the Lakers before eventually settling into his prime with the Wizards
A 6”6’ swingman that could square up against shooting guards but rebound against forwards and centers
Averaged 19.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in four seasons in Washington, an era of individual success that was also marred by injuries and playoff disappointments
Named to back-to-back All-Star teams in 2007 and 2008
Missed the 2008 playoffs due to injuries which would vex him for the remainder of his career
After joining the Mavericks, missed the ’10-’11 season due to knee surgery and had to watch as his teammates won the title
Had later stints with the Clippers, Bucks, Thunder, Pistons, and Kings before finally retiring officially in 2018

332) Larry Kenon, F, 1973-1983

Consistently the second best player on the Spurs during their George Gervin heyday, he was one of the most overlooked stars of the late ABA/early merger era
Averaged 20 points and 16 rebounds per game for Memphis State in 1973, but fell to the third round of the NBA Draft due to leaving school early
Opted to join the ABA and won a title in his rookie season with the Nets (he was actually drafted by the Memphis Tams but they couldn’t afford to pay him)
Though he played second banana to Julius Ervin on the Nets and Gervin on the Spurs, he was an All-Star in all three of his ABA seasons and later named to two NBA All-Star teams
Actually increased his scoring and rebounding significantly in the NBA, averaging 21.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in his first four NBA seasons, all with the Spurs
Recorded a rare triple-double that included 11 steals, which is still tied for the single-game NBA record

331) Max Zaslofsky, G, 1946-1956

At the age of 21 he led the Chicago Stags to the inaugural NBA Finals in 1947

Was named 1st-Team All-NBA in his rookie season, and held the record for almost 60 years as the youngest player to receive that accolade until LeBron James broke it

Led the NBA in total points in ’47-’47 and free throw percentage in ’49-’50, and was the second best pure scorer of the league’s early years after Joe Fulks

Ultimately named 1st-Team All-NBA in his first four seasons, and played in the second ever All-Star Game in 1952

Selected by the Knicks in 1950 dispersal draft after the Stags folded, returning home after being raised in Brooklyn

Helped the Knicks reach three straight NBA Finals starting in 1951

330) Jason Richardson, G, 2001-2015

While carrying an otherwise putrid Warriors squad for years, he became a fan favorite for life for his dunks, long range shooting, and gregarious personality
Won back-to-back Slam Dunk Contests in 2002 and 2003
Averaged a career high 23.2 points per game for the Warriors in ’05-’06, and led the NBA in three-point field goals in ’07-’08 while averaging 21.8 points per game for the Bobcats
After five years of cellar dwelling, finally reached the playoffs with the Warriors in 2007 as they pulled off a stunning first round upset of top seeded Dallas
Finally got to play on contenders late in his career with the Suns and Magic before a knee injury forced him into early retirement
Held the Warriors franchise record for three point field goals for several years before getting surpassed by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson

329) Jamal Crawford, G, 2000-Active (2018 rank: #342)

The only player to win Sixth Man of the Year three times, he took home the trophy with the Hawks in ’09-’10, then with the Clippers in ’13-’14 and ’15-'16
Spent most of the first half of his career as a starter, and averaged a career high 20.6 points per game starting for the Knicks at shooting guard in ’07-'08
Led the NBA in free throw percentage in ’11-’12 at 92.7%; after struggling with free throw shooting early in his career, he’s finished above 90% in four of the last seven seasons
Selected eighth overall by the Cavaliers in 2000 despite getting kicked out of Michigan for recruiting violations, and traded on draft day to the Bulls
Has played 19 seasons in the NBA but only made eight playoff appearances, none of which were on a team that advanced past the second round
Passed the 19,000 career points plateau in '18-'19 and, barring injury, will move into the top 50 all-time scorers in '19-'20

328) Tom Meschery, F, 1961-1971

Born Tomislav Nikolayevich Mescheryakov, his parents fled the Bolshevik Revolution and he was the first NBA player of Russian descent
Nicknamed “The Mad Russian” for his bruising enforcer style on the court, and led the league in personal fouls in his rookie season
Was an All-Star for the Warriors in ’62-’63 while averaging a career high 16.0 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game
Second in scoring behind Wilt Chamberlain in ’63-’64 Warriors that lost to the Celtics in the NBA Finals, and a starting power forward on the ’66-’67 Warriors that lost in the Finals to the 76ers
Became a popular figure late in his career in Seattle after the Sonics selected him in the 1967 expansion draft
Post-playing career endeavors have included owning a tea shop, teaching high school English, and publishing several books of poetry, and he still blogs to this day on his website, Meschery’s Musings

327) Willie Naulls, F, 1956-1966

Had an impact on basketball beyond what can be measured in stats, titles, or accolades, as the first black athlete to be captain of an American pro team
Captained the Knicks after they traded for him in 1957, and over a five-year prime with New York averaged 20.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game
Was named to four All-Star teams in that five-year stretch
Later recruited by Bill Russell and Red Auerbach to join the Celtics to come off the bench behind John Havlicek and Satch Sanders
Spent three seasons in Boston, winning a title in each, including the ’64-’65 team that many consider the best of the Russell era
One of the earliest stars under John Wooden at UCLA, he led the team to the NCAA Tournament in 1956 where they lost to Russell and San Francisco in the Sweet 16

326) Sidney Wicks, F, 1971-1981

Selected second overall by the Blazers in 1971 after the team paid the Cavs not to take him first
Scored 20+ points per game in his first four seasons, and double-digit rebounds in three of them, overall averaging 23.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game during that span
Named an All-Star in each of his first four seasons
Won Rookie of the Year for the ’71-’72 season, putting together arguably the greatest rookie season ever for a non-future Hall of Famer
Never led Portland to the playoffs in his five seasons with the team, finally making his one and only postseason appearance with the Celtics in ’76-‘77
After averaging 24.5 points per game in his rookie campaign, his scoring average dropped every single season, finishing with 6.7 for the Clippers in ’80-‘81

325) Jrue Holiday, G, 2009-Active (2018 rank: #456)

The youngest All-Star in 76ers franchise history, when he was named to the team in 2013 at the age of 22

Had his best statistical season for Philly in ’12-’13, with 17.7 points and 8.0 assists per game, but was traded that summer to the Pelicans for a first round pick

Struggled in his first few seasons in New Orleans due to injuries and having to take leaves of absence to care for his wife, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor

Had another breakout season in ’17-’18 with 19.0 points per game, helping to lead the Pelicans to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008

Scored a career high 21.2 points per game in '18-'19

1st-Team All-Defensive in ’17-'18 and 2nd-Team in '18-'19

His brothers, Aaron and Justin, are also both in the NBA, while both of his parents and his sister were college basketball stars; his wife, Lauren, is a two-time gold medalist and World Cup champion as part of the U.S. national soccer team

324) Kemba Walker, G, 2011-Active (2018 rank: N/A)

Named Most Outstanding Player of the 2011 NCAA Tournament after leading Connecticut to the title and was selected ninth by the Hornets in the ensuing NBA Draft
Has averaged 17+ points and five-plus assists per game in six straight seasons, every year since his rookie campaign, with a career high of 25.6 points per game in '18-'19
An All-Star each of the past three seasons
Despite playing just eight seasons for the Hornets before signing with the Celtics this past summer, he's the franchise's all-time leading scorer (passing Dell Curry in '17-'18) and second in assists behind Muggsy Bogues
Has made just two playoff appearances, both first round losses

323) Reggie Lewis, G, 1987-1993

Born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare heart defect that cut his life and promising career short in 1993, and could have been treated if he had ever been screened by a cardiologist

Drafted by the Celtics in 1987 when the roster was still stacked but seemingly aging in dog years

Got his big opportunity in ’88-’89 when Larry Bird and Danny Ainge were waylaid with injuries, and within two years he was the undisputed team leader and top scorer

Averaged 20.8 points per game in each of his last two seasons, and was named to the All-Star team in 1992

Collapsed during a workout in July of 1993 and couldn’t be revived; was eventually pronounced dead by cardiac arrest

His #35 was retired by the Celtics in 1995, one of only two players in team history to be so honored without having won a championship

322) Jimmy Butler, G, 2011-Active (2018 rank: #416)

Named to four All-Star Games, and has been 3rd-Team All-NBA twice
2nd-Team All-Defensive four times
Won Most Improved Player in ’14-’15, and finished 10th in MVP voting in ’17-'18
Averaged 20+ points per game for four consecutive seasons, peaking at 23.9 per game in ’16-'17
Spent his first six seasons with the Bulls before becoming a journeyman, switching from the Timberwolves to the 76ers to the Heat in just the last two years
Has struggled with injuries throughout his career, missing 10 or more games in every season but one
Played on the gold medal winning 2016 U.S. Olympic team

321) John Johnson, F, 1970-1982

Maybe the most underrated small forward of the ‘70s, as he spent the first half of his career starring for bad teams and the second half as a role player for contenders

Instantly the best player on the expansion Cavaliers team that drafted him in 1970, averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in his first two seasons

Named to the All-Star team in each of his first two seasons, becoming the first ever Cavs All-Star

Had some time as a successful starting small forward for the Blazers before getting traded to Houston in 1976 and getting buried on the bench

Remade himself as a point forward on the Sonics in ’77-’78, and helped the team reach back-to-back NBA Finals, winning a championship in the latter in 1979

320) Arvydas Sabonis, C, 1995-2003

His pro experience started at age 16 in his native Lithuania (then part of the Soviet Union) but he didn’t reach the NBA until 15 years later

A lot happened in between, including two Olympics medals (gold for the U.S.S.R. in 1988, when he outplayed David Robinson in a matchup against the USA, and bronze for Lithuania in 1992), six European Player of the Year awards, and several attempts by NCAA and NBA teams to lure him stateside

Finally joined the Blazers in 1995 (they had drafted the “European Bill Walton” in the first round nine years prior) and despite his body being ravaged by injuries and overuse, he put together a solid seven-year NBA career

Was All-Rookie in ’95-’96, averaged a double-double in ’97-’98 with 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, and helped lead the Blazers to back-to-back Conference Finals in 1999 and 2000

319) Kevin Porter, G, 1972-1983

Heralded as one the fastest point guards of the '70s, and one of the decade’s premier passers, but also of one of the most overlooked

Led the league in both total assists and assists per game four times in a seven year stretch, but was never named to an All-Star team

Mostly played on bad teams like the Pistons and Nets, but his early career stint with the Bullets included an NBA Finals appearance in 1975

Broke Bob Cousy’s record for most assists in a game with 29 during the ’78-’79 season (it was later broken by Scott Skiles, but he’s still second all-time)

Peaked at 13.4 assists per game for the Nets in ’78-’79, while also averaging a career high 15.4 points per game; only John Stockton and Isiah Thomas have averaged more assists in a single season

318) Nikola Jokic, C, 2015-Active (2018 rank: N/A)

Born in Serbia, which was then part of Yugoslavia, he flew under the radar despite blossoming as a star in his native pro league, and was a steal for the Nuggets with the 41st overall pick in 2014
Over the last two seasons has averaged 19.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game
Had many firsts in '18-'19: first All-Star nod, first time averaging 20+ points per game, and first playoff appearance (where he led the NBA in rebounds per game and PER despite the Nuggets losing in round two)
1st-Team All-NBA in '18-'19, and finished fourth in MVP voting, becoming the first Serbian player to accomplish either of those feats

317) Doc Rivers, G, 1983-1996

His leadership skills as a coach, which helped Boston win the 2008 title, gestated in his playing days, especially with the Hawks

An imposing floor general, as a versatile combo guard who stood 6’4”, he never did anything particularly impressive statistically (he did average 10.0 assists per game in ’86-’87 which is not too shabby) but led the team with his ball handling, passing, and quick hands on defense

Played in the 1988 All-Star Game

Spent eight season with the Hawks, leading them to the playoffs six times, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists

Spent much of his later career with the Knicks splitting time as the starting point guard with Derek Harper, and the sprained knee that kept him sidelined for the 1994 playoffs arguably may have cost New York the title

316) Mack Calvin, G, 1969-1981

Fondly remembered in the ABA annals for his diminutive size, endless motor, and infectious love of the game

Arguably the best point guard in ABA history, with five All-Star appearances, three nods on the 1st-Team All-ABA, and consistently amongst the league leaders in assists per game

Played on five different teams in seven ABA seasons: the Los Angeles Stars (with whom he played in the 1970 Finals), Miami Floridians, Carolina Cougars, Denver Nuggets, and Virginia Squires

Unrecruited by John Wooden at UCLA despite starring in high school in Long Beach, he attended rival USC instead and was part of the ’68-'69 Trojans team that shocked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion

Drafted in the 15th round by the Lakers in 1969, he eventually joined the team as a free agent when the ABA dissolved in 1976, becoming a teammate of Kareem

315) Brandon Roy, G, 2006-2013

Not counting a five-game comeback with the Timberwolves in ’12-’13, he played in just five NBA seasons and was an All-Star in three of them

Peaked in ’08-’09, with 22.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game

Led the Blazers to back-to-back 50 win seasons in ’08-’09 and ’09-’10, both of which ended with first round playoff losses (his teams never advanced past round one)

Won Rookie of the Year in ’06-’07 after being selected with the sixth pick by the Timberwolves and then getting immediately traded to Portland

Was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’08-’09, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting

Played 70+ games in a season just twice, ultimately lasting just 326 total NBA games due to near constant issues related to the lack of cartilage in his knees

314) Phil Smith, G, 1974-1983

A San Francisco luminary at the high school, college, and pro level, he’s so revered in his hometown that September 27th is "Phil Smith Day" in the city

First pick of the ABA Draft in 1973, but opted to stay in school one year longer and fell to the second round of the 1974 NBA Draft

Contributed bouts of scoring and defense off the bench for the Warriors in his rookie season as they won the NBA championship

Took over as the starting shooting guard in ’75-’76 and was named 2nd-Team All-NBA, 2nd-Team All-Defensive, and finished seventh in MVP voting

Averaged 19.6 points per game over his four year prime, and was named to two All-Star teams

Suffered an Achilles’ injury early in the ’79-’80 season from which he never recovered, and he wound down his career with brief and unmemorable stops with the Clippers and Sonics

313) Anthony Mason, F, 1989-2003

One of the toughest, most resilient, and most versatile players in NBA history

His career got off a trying start; selected in the third round by the Blazers then almost immediately cut, he spent time with pro teams in Turkey, Venezuela, and the CBA before finally signing with his hometown Knicks in 1991

His defensive versatility was especially on display in the 1994 playoffs, when he managed to hamper Scottie Pippen in the Conference Finals and then Hakeem Olajuwon in the NBA Finals

Won Sixth Man of the Year in ’94-‘95

Stepped up his offensive output in later stints with Charlotte and Miami (where he reunited with Pat Riley), averaging a career high 16.2 points per game in ’96-’97 and being named to the 2001 All-Star team

312) Paul Pressey, F, 1982-1993

Helped revolutionize the “point forward” position, setting the stage for future stars like Scottie Pippen and LeBron James

A terrific passer with a high court IQ, he was also such an explosive dunker that he earned the nickname “Rubber Band Man” while playing at Tulsa

Never an All-Star but was named All-Defensive three times, received MVP votes twice, and was arguably the most important player on the Bucks teams that reached the Conference Finals in 1984 and 1986

Was a serious stat stuffer in his first full season as a starter, ’84-’85, with 16.1 points, 6.8 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game

Retired as a player to become a coach for the Warriors in 1992, but was pressed back into service on the court for 18 games that season due to a rash of injuries to Golden State

311) Joe Caldwell, F, 1964-1975

One of the best pure athletes of the pre-merger era; described by Julius Erving as the best man-to-man defender he faced in the ABA

Also a pioneer in NBA contract negotiations, one of the first players to be represented by an agent, and the first player to successfully escape the reserve clause and jump ship for the ABA

Started in the NBA in 1964, where he was drafted second overall by the Pistons but spent most of his career with the Hawks

Named to the All-Star team in 1969 and 1970, and averaged a career high 21.1 points per game in ’69-‘70

Despite being one of the NBA’s best two-way forwards he was underpaid and underappreciated by management and jumped ship for the ABA, leading to a legal dispute

Was named to two ABA All-Star teams in four seasons with the Carolina Cougars

310) Lionel Hollins, G, 1975-1985

Only of only two All-Americans in Arizona State history, along with James Harden, and the first overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft

Took over as Portland’s starting shooting guard in ’76-’77, and was the assists leader, steals leader, and third in scoring on that year’s championship team

In ’77-’78 was named 1st-Team All-Defensive, an All-Star, and scored a career high 15.9 points per game (was later named 2nd-Team All-Defensive the next season)

Was traded by the rebuilding Blazers to the Sixers at the deadline in 1980, and became a complementary player to Julius Erving on the wing as Philadelphia reached the 1980 and 1982 NBA Finals

Struggled through injuries in late career stops with the Cippers, Pistons, and Rockets

Had his jersey retired by the Blazers in 2007, on the 30th anniversary of the championship team

309) Mychal Thompson, C, 1978-1991

Though he played high school and college ball in the U.S., he was born in the Bahamas and became the first foreign-born player ever drafted first overall in the NBA

Selected by the Blazers to replace the injured and holding-out Bill Walton, and was 1st-Team All-Rookie as their starting center

Broke his leg playing pick-up ball back in the Bahamas, and was forced to miss the entire ’79-’80 season

Came back strong for the Blazers and peaked in ’81-’82 with 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game

Had a second life as a backup center on the Showtime Lakers, playing in four NBA Finals late in his career, winning championships in 1987 and 1988

His son, Klay, is an NBA All-Star and has won multiple championships with the Warriors

308) Ricky Pierce, G, 1982-1998

Spent the majority of his 16-year career coming off the bench, ultimately going down as one of the greatest sixth men of all-time

Won the Sixth Man of the Year award twice with the Bucks, in ’86-’87 and in ’89-’90 when he averaged a career high 23.0 points per game

Played in the 1991 All-Star Game, and just five days later was traded from Milwaukee to Seattle

Got a chance to start at shooting guard for the Sonics, and was their leading scorer in ’92-’93 as they reached the Conference Finals

Shot 87.5% from the free throw line in his career, and finished in the top 10 in the NBA seven times in that category

After retirement, invented a specialized basketball called the Accushot22 (a reference to his jersey number) that helps kids learn to properly shoot

307) John Starks, G, 1988-2002

One possibly apocryphal story that says a lot about his career: While toiling in the CBA in 1990, he was supposedly about to get a contract offer from the Pistons, but the team balked after he was ejected from a game for bumping a ref

Another one: Later that fall, when he was a long-shot to make the Knicks roster, he supposedly injured his knee trying to dunk on Patrick Ewing during practice, and the team technically couldn’t cut him due to the injury

Undrafted in 1988 after bouncing around four different colleges (including getting expelled from two of them for detrimental conduct)

Won Sixth Man of the Year in ’95-’96, was named 2nd-Team All-Defensive in ’92-’93, and made the All-Star roster in ’93-’94 (when he peaked with 19.0 points per game)

Played in numerous dramatic playoff series with the Knicks, and made a series of unforgettable blunders, including crippling ejections during the 1993 playoffs, and an embarrassing 2-of-18 shooting performance from the field in game seven of those Finals

306) Jim McMillian, F, 1970-1979

The first three-time winner of the Hagerty Award, which is granted to the best college player in New York (Chris Mullin eventually matched the feat) while leading Columbia to their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 1968

Drafted by the Lakers in 1970 and took over the starting small forward position after Elgin Baylor’s 1971 retirement

Was in the starting lineup for all of the Lakers’ 33-game winning streak during the ’71-’72 season, and their eventual championship that spring

Averaged 18.8 points per game during the regular season in ’71-’72, and made some key contributions in the playoffs, including a 42 point performance during the Conference Finals against Milwaukee

Played again in the 1973 Finals with Los Angeles before getting traded to Buffalo

Led the Braves to their first ever playoff appearance in ’73-’74 with his best statistical season, 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game

305) Sean Elliott, F, 1989-2001

Though he did spent one year with the Pistons (traded to Detroit in 1993 for Dennis Rodman), he was a lifetime Spur, joining the team in 1989, the same season as David Robinson, and going out in 2001 as a champion

San Antonio reached the playoffs 10 times in his 11 years with the team, eventually winning the championship in 1999

Was consistently the team’s second or third leading scorer, peaking at 20.0 points per game in ’95-‘96

Named to the All-Star roster in 1993 and 1996

Hit the “Memorial Day Miracle” shot during the 1999 Conference Finals against Portland, an improbable off-balance three-pointer that clinched game two of the series

Announced after the 1999 championship run that he played the season with a rare kidney disease that required a transplant; received a new kidney from his brother and played one more full season with the Spurs before retiring

304) Mel Hutchins, F, 1951-1958

Drafted second overall out of BYU in 1951 by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, who were about to move to Milwaukee and shorten their name to the Hawks

Had an incredible rookie year, averaging 9.2 points and 13.3 rebounds per game, and leading the NBA in total rebounds

Averaged a double-double in ’52-’53 with 11.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game

Named to four All-Star teams, one with the Hawks, and three with the Pistons

After being sold to the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1953, he helped the team reach back-to-back NBA Finals in 1955 and 1956

Finished fourth in the first ever NBA MVP voting in ’55-’56, behind only Bob Cousy, Paul Arizin, and Bob Pettit

Retired in 1958 at age 30 due to various lingering knee injuries

His sister, Colleen, Miss America 1952, married NBA star Ernie Vandeweghe, whose son, Kiki, also eventually played in the league and is on this list

303) Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C, 1997-2011

Though he’ll always be considered only the second greatest Lithuanian player after Arvydas Sabonis, he enjoyed a slightly greater NBA career in all respects

Was able to join the Cavs immediately after they drafted him in 1996, but missed his entire rookie season with a broken foot

It took until ’02-’03 for him to be healthy enough to play a full slate, and over the ensuing six year prime he averaged 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, and was named to two All-Star teams

Settled into a secondary role behind LeBron James in Cleveland as the team reached the 2007 NBA Finals

Only mildly effective late in his career due to his ailing feet, he followed James to Miami as a free agent and played in the 2010 Finals before retiring

Retired as the Cavs’ all-time leader in rebounds, a mark that has since been broken by James, but is still the franchise leader in total blocks

302) Eddie Johnson, F, 1981-1999

Not to be confused with “Fast” Eddie Johnson who starred for the Hawks in the ‘80s and is now incarcerated

Lasted 17 seasons in the NBA, and is one of just 54 players to score over 19,000 points in their career, but was never an All-Star

A legend in Greece, where he dominated their pro league for one season in ’94-’95 while taking an NBA sabbatical

Peaked early in his career with the Kansas City Kings, averaging 22.9 points per game in ’85-‘86

Best known for his seasons with the Suns, including winning Sixth Man of the Year in ’88-’89 while averaging 21.5 points per game

Played in the Conference Finals four times – 1989 with the Suns, 1990 with the Suns, 1993 with the Sonics, and 1997 with the Rockets – but never the NBA Finals

301) Dale Ellis, G, 1983-2000

Named Most Improved Player in ’86-’87, when he was traded from the Mavericks to the Sonics and tripled his scoring average to 24.9 points per game
Led Seattle in scoring in all four full seasons with the team, peaking at 27.5 points per game in ’88-’89, good for third in the NBA, and led the team to the 1987 Conference Finals
Named to the All-Star team in 1989 and won that year’s Three-Point Shootout, in his fourth straight year of competing
Led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage in ’97-’98; finished in the top 10 in three-point field goals 11 different times, and retired second all-time in the category (he has since been bumped all the down to 17th)
Holds the Sonics franchise record for most points scored in a single season (not counting their years as the Oklahoma City Thunder)

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

250) Clifford Robinson, F, 1989-2007

Ahead of his time as a 6’10” small forward with a European-style long range shooting touch and passing skills

Held the record for tallest player with 1,000+ career three-pointers until Dirk Nowitzki eclipsed him

Started several games for the Blazers in his rookie season as the team reached the 1990 NBA Finals, and was a star sixth man when they returned in 1992

Won Sixth Man of the Year in ’92-’93, played in the 1994 All-Star Game, and was named 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice

Extremely versatile, he could play and defend all three front court positions, and was an early adopter of modern training and dieting techniques, which allowed him to play the full slate of games eight times in his career

Ultimately totaled over 19,000 career points over 1,380 games (13th all-time) over 18 seasons

249) Xavier McDaniel, F, 1985-1998

Truly a one-of-a-kind player, from his “X-Man” nickname to his intimidating shaved head and eyebrows combo to his ability to vacillate between both forward positions with ease
Became the only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in both scoring and rebounding in his senior year at Wichita State
Took over as Seattle’s starting small forward in his rookie season, and finished just behind Patrick Ewing in Rookie of the Year voting
Peaked statistically in ’86-’87 with 23.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, helping Seattle make a surprise run to the Conference Finals
Named to the All-Star team in 1988
Eventually ended up with the Knicks, where his defensive intensity was put to good use in battles against Scottie Pippen, most notably in the 1992 playoffs

248) Josh Smith, F, 2004-2017

Seemed perpetually on the brink of stardom throughout his entire career, but has never made an All-Star team in 13 NBA seasons
One of the last players to reach the NBA straight from high school, he was the 17th pick of the Hawks in 2004
Averaged 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Hawks in ’07-’08 as they made their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade
Peaked statistically in ’11-’12, with career highs in points per game (18.8) and rebounds per game (9.6) while leading the NBA in defensive win shares
After playing his first nine seasons with the Hawks, he found less success in later stops with the Pistons, Rockets, Clippers, and Pelicans, who cut him after just three games played early in the ’17-’18 season
Won the Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie, including a dunk where he leaped over Andre Miller

247) Cedric Maxwell, F, 1977-1988

Always came up biggest in the NBA Finals, especially while winning Finals MVP in 1981 for the Celtics

Averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during the 1981 NBA Finals against Houston, stats that he would match in a regular season just once in his career, in ’79-’80, when he averaged career highs in scoring (19.0) and rebounding (9.9)

Seemed like Boston’s future at the forward position when they drafted him in the first round in 1977, but soon acquiesced that role to Larry Bird and Kevin McHale

Also a huge factor for the Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals against the Lakers, coming up with a near triple-double in game seven with 24 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, and taunting James Worthy with a choke sign after he missed a clutch free throw

One of two eligible players to win Finals MVP but not be inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with Chauncey Billups; lowest rated player on our list to win either MVP or Finals MVP, now that he's been passed by Andre Iguodala

246) David West, F, 2003-2018

NCAA Player of the Year in 2003 while at Xavier, but fell to the Hornets at #18 in the draft due to his age (already 23) and being an unnatural fit at either forward position
Had a breakout season in ’05-’06 after the team added Chris Paul, settling into an undersized power forward position by using his strength, court IQ, and shooting touch to successful ends
Named to All-Star teams in 2008 and 2009
Over a four-year peak starting in ’06-’07, he averaged 19.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game
Signed with the Pacers after the 2011 lockout was lifted, and was arguably their second best player after Paul George in the next three seasons that ended with back-to-back Conference Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014
Eventually joined the Warriors as a role player, winning titles in 2017 and 2018 as a backup power forward/center
Second all-time in Pelicans franchise history in points, rebounds, and blocks, with all three of his records in those categories being broken by Anthony Davis

245) Allan Houston, G, 1993-2005

One of the best three-point shooters of the '90s and early '00s, but the first thing most people remember is his maximum contract, a $100 million deal inked in 2001 that is one of the most regrettable in league history

Initially drafted by the Pistons and was their second leading scorer behind Grant Hill with 19.7 points per game in ’95-‘96

Spent his final nine seasons with the Knicks after initially signing with them in 1996

Hit a buzzer beater to clinch a first round series upset over the Heat in 1999, and scored 32 points in the clinching game six of the Conference Finals against Indiana, leading the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals

Named to two consecutive All-Star teams in 2000 and 2001, and played on the 2000 U.S. Olympic basketball team in Melbourne

Scored a career high 22.5 points per game in ’02-’03 after signing his huge contract, but started to struggle with injuries before suddenly retiring in 2005

244) A.C. Green, F, 1985-2001

Earned the nickname “Iron Man” by playing in 1,192 consecutive NBA games, the all-time record, between 1990 and 2000
Drafted by the Lakers in 1985, right in the throes of Showtime, and quickly took over as the starting power forward
Spent his first eight seasons with Los Angeles, playing in four NBA Finals, winning two of them, in 1987 and 1988
Averaged just 9.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for his career, but lasted 16 seasons and amassed over 12,000 career points and over 9,000 rebounds
2nd-Team All-Defensive in ’88-’89, and an All-Star in ’89-‘90
After spending some time with the Suns and Mavericks, returned to the Lakers in ’99-’00 and won a third championship as the team’s starting power forward, bridging a literal and metaphorical gap between the 1988 and 2000 titles
Suffered through most of his career from singultus, a diaphragm affection that causes violent hiccupping and supposedly prevented him from ever sleeping more than two hours at a time

243) Brad Daugherty, C, 1986-1994

Not as elite a player as Bill Walton or as culturally significant as Yao Ming, he was still one of the greatest “what if” big men with a too-short career plagued by injuries
Matriculated at North Carolina at the age of 16, and four years later was selected first overall by the Cavs in the 1986 Draft
Made his first All-Star team in just his second season, ’87-’88, and was eventually named an All-Star five times over a six-year stretch
Averaged 19.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game over that six year prime
Was part of a Cleveland rookie class that also included Mark Price, Ron Harper, and Hot Rod Williams that contended year-to-year but never reached the NBA Finals, thanks in large part to Daugherty’s injuries (also in large part to continually running into Michael Jordan in the playoffs)
Missed half the ’89-’90 season with a back injury that lingered for the rest of his career, forcing him to step away from the game at age 28 in 1994

242) Vin Baker, F, 1993-2006

Cut from his high school and recruited only at University of Hartford, he built himself into the eighth overall pick in 1993 and was 1st-Team All-Rookie for the Bucks
Had a remarkable four-year prime starting in his second season, ’94-’95, averaging 19.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game
Was named to the All-Star team four years in a row, starting in 1995
2nd-Team All-NBA in ’97-’98, his first season with the Sonics after getting traded there as part of the deal that sent Shawn Kemp to Cleveland
After signing a huge contract with Seattle in 1998, started to struggle with pressure, injuries, and alcoholism, and was never the same player again, trudging through disappointing late career stints with the Celtics, Knicks, Rockets, and Clippers
Reportedly blew over $100 million dollars earned during his career, and was working at a Starbucks back in Connecticut when the Bucks gave him a broadcasting job in 2017

241) John Wall, G, 2010-Active (2018 rank: #252)

First overall pick of the Wizards in 2010 after one star season at Kentucky
Named to five All-Star teams and finished seventh in MVP voting in '16-'17
Averaged 16+ points and 7.5+ assists per game in each of his first eight NBA seasons, peaking in both categories in ’16-’17 with 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game; has averaged double-digit assists three seasons
Finished either second or third in the NBA in assists per game for four straight seasons starting in ’13-'14
One of the speediest players in NBA history, delighting fans with his lightning-fast drives to the basket that have also left him vulnerable to injuries and caused him to miss a lot of playing time
Has led the Wizards to the playoffs four times, with two ending in second round losses and two in first round losses
Basically took a mulligan on the '17-'18 and '18-'19 seasons due to injuries, and his '19-'20 season is similarly in doubt

240) Andy Phillip, G, 1947-1958

Led the NBA in assists per game for three straight seasons, starting in ’49-‘50

In ’50-’51 he became the first NBA player to average over six assists per game over the course of a season, and in ’51-’52 became the first to average over eight assists per game; only Bob Cousy would average as many in a season between 1952 and 1960

Started his career with the Chicago Stags, and when they folded and he was taken in the 1950 dispersal draft by the Warriors, Red Auerbach was supposedly disappointed and considered the other Stags point guard, Cousy, a consolation prize

Named to five straight All-Star teams, starting in 1951, and was 2d-Team All-NBA twice

Helped lead the Fort Wayne Pistons to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 1955 and 1956

Finally did join Auerbach and Cousy on the Celtics, and won a title as their backup point guard in 1957

239) Guy Rodgers, G, 1958-1970

As Wilt Chamberlain’s right hand man and starting point guard for five-plus seasons, he had plenty of opportunities to rack up assists and is still the Warriors all-time franchise leader in the statistic (though Stephen Curry will be passing him soon)

Led the NBA in assists per game in ’62-’63 and ’66-’67; his league-leading 10.4 per game in ’62-’63 made him just the second player after Oscar Robertson to average double-digit assists in a season

Also finished second in the league in assists per game six times

Played in four All-Star Games, but could never crack the All-NBA team, getting consistently overlooked for Robertson, Bob Cousy, and Jerry West

Reached the NBA Finals just once in his career, with the Warriors in 1964

Racked up 20 assists in Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962

In ’66-’67 he became the first player to ever crack 900 total assists in a season (Tiny Archibald is the only other pre-merger player to do so), and upon his retirement in 1970 he was third all-time in total career assists behind only Cousy and Robertson

238) Kenyon Martin, F, 2000-2015

So dominant in college at Cincinnati that he was the first overall pick in 2000 despite suffering a broken leg in his senior year; he was also the last college senior ever selected with the top pick

Averaged 17.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during the 2002 and 2003 playoffs, helping lead the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances

Named to the 2004 All-Star team

Traded to the Nuggets in 2004 and started to struggle again with injuries, leading to several major knee surgeries; he missed all but two games in the ’06-’07 season, and never fully regained his effectiveness after

Still managed to contribute, especially on defense and rebounding, as the Nuggets reached the Conference Finals in 2009

After short and unremarkable stints with the Clippers, Knicks, and Bucks, he retired in 2015

237) Antawn Jamison, F, 1998-2014

Drafted fourth overall by the Raptors out of North Carolina, then immediately traded to the Warriors for his collegiate teammate, Vince Carter

After a quiet rookie season, had a solid four-year stretch for the Warriors, averaging 21.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, but the team never advanced to the playoffs

Won Sixth Man of the Year for Dallas in ’03-’04 and finally made his first playoff appearance, a first round loss

Had another great five-year peak with the Wizards, averaging 20.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game over that stretch

Named to two All-Star teams for Washington, in 2005 and 2008

Traded to Cleveland at the deadline of the ’09-’10 to add some offensive support for LeBron James, but struggled to fit into the rotation

Ultimately made just six playoff appearances in 16 seasons, never advancing past the second round

236) Joe Fulks, SF, 1946-1954

The first great scorer and big star of the NBA, thanks to his innovative jump shot that was quickly copied across the league and rendered the two-handed set shot obsolete

His unique shooting style that has set the stage for every NBA player since was supposedly honed in his depression-era Kentucky childhood, when he would shoot rocks at a tobacco can nailed to a woodshed

Won the first two NBA scoring titles, with 23.2 points per game in ’46-’47, and 22.1 in ’47-’48, impressive numbers in the pre-shot clock era

Named 1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, and played in the first two All-Star Games in 1951 and 1952 (he also would have won at least one MVP trophy if such a thing existed before 1956)

Scored 63 points in one game in 1949, a single game record that stood for over a decade until Elgin Baylor broke it (only eight other players have scored more points in a single game since)

Led the Warriors to the first NBA title in 1947, and then a Finals loss in 1948

235) Sam Perkins, F, 1984-2001

Played on the 1982 NCAA championship team at North Carolina and the 1984 U.S. Olympic gold medal team with Michael Jordan before getting drafted fourth overall by Dallas in 1984

Had his best statistical stretch early on with the Mavericks, averaging 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game over a five year stretch

Signed with the Lakers as a free agent in 1990, and started at power forward as the team reached the 1991 NBA Finals

Traded to the Sonics in 1993, where he came off the bench at both power forward and center and was a steady presence as the team reached the 1993 Conference Finals and the 1996 NBA Finals

Spent 17 seasons in the NBA, compiling over 15,000 points, and his teams made the playoffs 15 times

Improved his long range shooting late in his career, and even participated in the 1997 All-Star Three-Point Shootout

Played in the NBA Finals a third and final time as a role bench player for the Pacers in 2000

234) Satch Sanders, F, 1960-1973

Though he got his nickname due to his resemblance to the legendary, colorful pitcher Satchel Paige he was also nicknamed “The Quiet Man” for his stoic demeanor

Drafted in the first round by the Celtics in 1960 and quickly took over the starting small forward position from Frank Ramsey

In his first nine NBA seasons he won eight championships; only his longtime teammates Sam Jones and Bill Russell have more career titles

Typically only the fourth or fifth option in the Celtics offense, his career high was 12.6 points per game in ’65-’66, but he was shockingly consistent, averaging double-digit scoring for nine straight seasons starting in ’61-‘62

One of the best defensive forwards of the ‘60s, he would have been named All-Defensive more than just once if the designation had existed before ’68-‘69

Hung around for a few years after Russell’s retirement, playing on the Celtics until 1973

233) DeAndre Jordan, C, 2008-Active (2018 rank: #246)

Surprisingly fell to the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft, where the Clippers stole him with the 35th pick
Currently the all-time leader in NBA history in field goal percentage (67.0%) and led the league in the category for five straight seasons; his 71.4% shooting in ’16-’17 trails only Wilt Chamberlain in ’72-’73 as the best in a single season in league history
Has also led the NBA in rebounds per game twice (’13-’14 and ’14-’15), offensive rating once (’16-’17), and defensive win shares once (’14-’15)
Was 1st-Team All-NBA in ’15-’16, an All-Star in 2017, and has been named 1st-Team All-Defensive twice
Has yet to advance past the second round of the playoffs

232) World B. Free, G, 1975-1988

Gave himself the nickname “All-World,” which eventually inspired his legal name change from Lloyd Free in 1981

Finished second in the league in scoring behind George Gervin in two straight seasons for the Clippers, with 28.8 points per game in ’78-’79 and 30.2 in ’79-‘80

2nd-Team All-NBA in ’78-’79, and finished sixth in MVP voting

Made just five playoff appearances in his career, but did help the 76ers reach the NBA Finals in 1977

Put up a valiant for an undermanned Cavaliers team in a first round series against the Celtics in 1985, with 26.3 points and 7.8 assists per game for the series as Cleveland almost pulled an upset

Averaged 20+ points per game for eight straight seasons with the Clippers, Warriors, and Cavs

231) Jerry Sloan, G, 1965-1976

Known to most people now as the long-time Utah Jazz coach, but was once upon a time one of the toughest perimeter defenders in the NBA

Drafted by the Bullets in 1965, then taken first by the Bulls in the next year’s expansion draft, leading to the nickname “Original Bull”

Though he was typically Chicago’s second or third leading scorer, he was mostly renowned for his defense, and was named to the All-Defensive team six times (including first-team four times)

Probably would have won Defensive Player of the Year at least once if it had existed in his era (it was instituted in 1982) and led the league in steals multiple times if they were being tracked

Played on two All-Star teams, in 1967 and 1969

Helped lead the Bulls to back-to-back Conference Finals appearances in 1974 and 1975

230) Paul Millsap, F, 2006-Active (2018 rank: #244)

Was a surprise star early on for the Jazz, who had nabbed him in the second round out of the Draft out of Louisiana Tech
Came off the bench for several seasons before taking over as the starting power forward in ’10-’11 to replace Carlos Boozer
Made four consecutive All-Star teams for the Hawks, starting in 2014, and was named 2nd-Team All-Defensive in ’15-'16
Over a consistent seven-year prime, averaged 16.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for the Jazz and Hawks
Played in the postseason in his first 11 NBA seasons
Signed a huge contract with the Nuggets starting with the ’17-’18 season, but only appeared in 38 games due to a broken wrist; was able to better contribute in '18-'19 as they reached the postseason second round

229) Andre Miller, G, 1999-2016

Led the NBA in assists per game in ’01-’02 with a career high 10.9 while breaking the Cavs franchise record for total assists in a season with 882 (a record that still stands)

Spent 17 seasons in the NBA with nine different franchises (the Cavaliers, Clippers, Nuggets, 76ers, Blazers, Wizards, Kings, Timberwolves, and Spurs), and played full slate of regular season games 10 times

Compiled 8,254 career assists, placing him 10th all-time

His career high in scoring was 17.0 points per game for Philly in ’07-‘08

Made the playoffs nine times in his first 15 seasons without ever advancing past the first round, until finally making his first and only second round appearance with the Wizards in 2014

Nicknamed “The Professor” for his thoughtful leadership

Carried Utah to a surprise Final Four appearance in 1998

228) Randy Smith, G, 1971-1983

Drafted #104 overall by the Buffalo Braves in 1971, he was a long shot to even make the roster but by the end of his rookie season he was their starting small forward and one of their top scorers (he settled into his more natural shooting guard position for the rest of his career)
Played in the full slate of regular season games in 10 of his first 11 seasons and was the original Iron Man with 906 consecutive games played before his record was eventually broken by A.C. Green
Consistently the second scorer on the Braves through his prime behind Bob McAdoo, he averaged 20+ points per game for four consecutive seasons, and peaked at 24.6 in ’77-‘78
Named to the All-Star team in 1976 and 1978, when he won All-Star MVP coming off the bench
Played on terrible teams for most of his career, starting with eight seasons with the Braves/Clippers followed by short stints with the Cavs, Knicks, and Hawks; reached the playoffs just four times in 12 seasons, and never as far as the Conference Finals

227) Vlade Divac, C, 1989-2005

Only 21 years old when he joined the Lakers in 1989, but already had several years of professional experience under his belt in his native Yugoslavia

One of the first centers to really succeed with the European high-post style, running the offense from the top of the key

Took over as the Lakers starting center in ’90-’91, helping lead the team to the last NBA Finals appearance of the Showtime era

Peaked in ’94-’95 with 16.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game

Traded to the Hornets in 1996 in exchange for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant

Found his most memorable success after signing with the Kings in 1999, being named to the All-Star team in 2001 and helping Sacramento reach the Conference Finals in 2002

Won two Olympic silver medals with Yugoslavia in 1988 and 1996, but never got a chance to represent his native Serbia after it declared independence

226) Jeff Mullins, G, 1964-1976

After a star amateur career with Duke and the 1962 U.S. Olympic team, his early time in the NBA with the St. Louis Hawks was inauspicious

Blossomed into an All-Star level player after being traded to the Warriors in 1966, and spent the remaining decade of his career with the team

Starting at shooting guard, he was second on the Warriors in scoring in ’66-’67 behind Rick Barry as they reached the NBA Finals

Averaged a career high 22.8 points per game in ’68-’69, the first of four straight seasons in which he averaged 20+ points per game

Named to three consecutive All-Star teams, starting in 1969

Took on more of a complementary role when Barry returned to the Warriors from the ABA, but was still a key contributor off the bench for the ’74-’75 title team

225) Otis Thorpe, F, 1984-2001

Lasted 17 seasons in the NBA, long enough to play for both the Kansas City Kings and the Vancouver Grizzlies

Had his best statistical season in his early years with the Kings, with 20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in ’87-‘88

Traded to the rebuilding Rockets in 1988, he became a franchise cornerstone at power forward, perfectly complementing Hakeem Olajuwon with his defense, rebounding, and offensive efficiency

Finished in the top 10 in the NBA in field goal percentage for seven consecutive seasons

Averaged a double-double for Houston for the fifth and final time of his career in ’93-’94 as the team won the NBA title, then was traded that summer for Clyde Drexler

Developed a reputation as a malcontent, especially in his late career as a journeyman, once going so far as refusing to talk to head coach Doug Collins in Detroit, instead communicating via second-hand messages through assistant coaches

Named to the All-Star team in 1992

224) Arnie Risen, C, 1948-1958

Arguably the best defensive center of the ‘50s, he went toe-to-toe regularly with rivals George Mikan and Neil Johnston

Started his college career at Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College, which inexplicably had a basketball team, before transferring to Ohio State, whom he led to consecutive Final Four appearances

Began his long rivalry with Mikan after signing with the Indianapolis Kautsyks of the NBL in 1946

Joined the Rochester Royals in ’48-’49, and led the NBA in field goal percentage in his first season in the league

Led the Royals in scoring (16.1 points per game) and rebounding (12.0 per game) in ’50-’51 as they won their only title in franchise history

Named to four straight All-Star teams starting in 1952

Finished his career backing up Bill Russell at center in Boston, winning the title in 1957 and getting pressed into service in the 1958 NBA Finals after Russell went down with an ankle injury

223) Ron Harper, G, 1986-2001

A career that can be neatly divided in two parts, the first as a failed franchise savior for the Cavaliers and Clippers, and the second as a role player for the Bulls and Lakers dynasties

Led the Cavs in scoring in his rookie year with 22.9 points per game (a career high), was second in assists, and fourth in rebounding, but struggled with injuries over the next couple seasons

Traded to the Clippers in 1989 with team management claiming his excessive partying and drug use was becoming a problem (he has always denied the accusations)

Became one of many would-be Clippers stars to blow out his knee, and was never the same physically

Eventually won five championships as a starting point guard, three with the Bulls in 1996, 1996, and 1998, and two with the Lakers in 2000 and 2001

222) Michael Finley, G, 1995-2010

Up there with Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre as one of the greatest prep stars in Chicago history, he had a relatively quiet college career at Wisconsin and fell to the 21st pick of the 1995 Draft

Averaged 20+ points per game for five straight seasons in his prime with the Mavericks, peaking at 22.6 in ’99-‘00

A major workhorse, he played the full slate of regular season games nine times in his career, and led the NBA in minutes per game three times

Made back-to-back All-Star teams in 2000 and 2001

Third in scoring and second in rebounding on the Mavericks team that reached the 2003 Conference Finals

Signed with the Spurs as a free agent in 2005, and won a championship in 2007 as their starting small forward; played in the NBA Finals one more time in 2010 as a bench role player for Boston before retiring

221) Metta World Peace, F, 1999-2017

One of the NBA’s most talented players in his prime, but was never capable of overcoming his personal demons to reach his full potential
Named Defensive Player of the Year in ’03-’04, the same year he made his only All-Star appearance
1st-Team All-Defensive twice and 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice
Never led the NBA in steals per game, but finished second in the category in four different seasons
After leading the Pacers to the Conference Finals in 2004, he was averaging an impressive 24.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the title contenders early in the ’04-’05 season when the Malice in the Palace incident changed everything
Entered the stands during an altercation with Pistons fans and was suspended 73 games for his actions, the longest suspension for on-court activity in league history
Had some solid seasons with the Kings and Rockets, then helped the Lakers win the 2010 championship as a defensive specialist and third scoring option

220) Bob Davies, G, 1948-1955

Such a huge star at Seton Hall that when he led the team to the NIT in 1941, their quarterfinals matchup against Rhode Island drew the then biggest basketball crowd of all-time to Madison Square Garden

Reportedly invented the behind-the-back dribble during his time at Seton Hall

After serving in the Navy during World War II, he signed with the Rochester Royals of the NBL in 1945 and was MVP of the league in ’46-‘47

When the NBL merged with the BAA to form the NBA in 1948, he was already 29 years old but still effective, and was the league’s best point guard for several years until Bob Cousy came along

Named 1st-Team All-NBA four straight years, and 2nd-Team All-NBA once, and played in the first four All-Star Games, starting in 1951

Second in scoring and first in assists on the ’50-’51 Royals team that won the only championship in franchise history (they are now the Sacramento Kings)

219) Toni Kukoc, F, 1993-2006

Drafted by the Bulls in 1990 but didn’t reach the team until 1993 in the wake of Michael Jordan’s first “retirement” announcement
In between he starred for his native Croatia in the 1992 Olympics, helping them win the silver medal (he also previously won silver with Yugoslavia in 1988)
As a 6’11” small forward that couple play any position, shoot from anywhere, and handle the ball, he was a revelation of the potential of implementing European-style dynamics to NBA lineups
Won Sixth Man of the Year in ’95-’96, after Jordan’s return and the trade for Dennis Rodman sent him back to the bench
Chicago’s third leading scorer behind Jordan and Scottie Pippen on the teams that won championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998; labeled by Phil Jackson as the team’s “X-Factor” during that era
Peaked statistically right after Jordan’s second retirement, with career highs in points (18.8), rebounds (7.0), and assists (5.6) per game in ’98-’99, and led the Bulls in each category that season

218) Larry Johnson, F, 1991-2001

The best player on the legendary Runnin' Rebels that won UNLV's only title in school history in 1990

Selected first overall by the Hornets in 1991 and was the first superstar in franchise history, winning Rookie of the Year in ’91-’92 and becoming the first Hornets player to start in an All-Star Game in 1993 (he was named to a second All-Star team in 1995)

Peaked at 22.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in ’92-’93, and was 2nd-Team All-NBA

Popular early in his career for his elite offensive skills, explosiveness dunks, and Converse-licensed alter ego “Grandmama,” but things quickly turned in the ’93-’94 season when he signed a huge contract that embittered fans and teammates, and started suffering from back injury troubles

Traded to the Knicks in 1996 and became a fan favorite during their run to the 1999 NBA Finals, especially for his game-winning four-point play that tipped the Conference Finals against the Pacers

217) Jerome Kersey, F, 1984-2001

A second round draft steal for the Trail Blazers in 1984, the same year they made the disastrous decision of selecting Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan

Didn’t play much early in his career, but eventually settled in as Portland’s starting small forward for six seasons, a perfect complement to Clyde Drexler on the wing

Averaged a career high 19.2 points per game in ’87-’88 when he first took over the starting job from Kiki Vandeweghe

Second on the Blazers in scoring and rebounding as they reached the 1990 NBA Finals, and then third in both categories during their 1992 Finals run

Participated in four consecutive Slam Dunk Contests, starting in 1986, and finished second behind Jordan in the 1988 edition

Eventually won a title with the Spurs in 1999, playing sparing minutes off the bench

While playing for the Warriors he once challenged a young Latrell Sprewell during practice, and Sprewell proceeded to retrieve a two-by-four from the locker room and physically threatened him with it

216) Rashard Lewis, F, 1998-2014

Considered a potential lottery pick coming out of high school in 1998, he instead was a second round steal for the Sonics

Spent his first nine seasons in Seattle, peaking statistically in the final season, ’06-’07, with 22.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while setting the franchise record for three-point field goals (it was later broken by Kevin Durant)

Named to the All-Star team for Seattle in 2005 and Orlando in 2009

Traded to the Magic in 2007 where he became a third scoring option but a deadly match-up problem, helping the team reach the 2009 NBA Finals with his versatility and long range shooting

Played in two NBA Finals late in his career as a bench role player for the Heat, winning a championship in 2013

Led the NBA in three point field goals in the ’08-’09 season

215) Rolando Blackman, G, 1981-1994

Born in Panama but raised in New York and was eligible for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that skipped the games due to a boycott of Soviet Russia

Teamed up with Derek Harper in the best back court in Mavericks history, and spent 11 seasons with the Dallas team that drafted him

Became the first Mavericks player to be named to multiple All-Star teams, ultimately participating in four of them

Averaged 20+ points per game three times, peaking at 22.4 per game in ’83-’84, and was consistently Dallas’ second leading scorer after Mark Aguirre

Helped lead the Mavericks to their first ever Conference Finals in 1988

Spent his final two seasons with the Knicks and was a key contributor to the 1994 NBA Finals team

Held the Mavericks franchise record for total points scored for 18 years until it was broken by Dirk Nowitzki, and held the NBA record for total points scored by a Hispanic/Latin player until it was broken by Pau Gasol

214) Larry Costello, G, 1954-1968

One of the last holdouts to continue using the two-handed set shot, as star players like Joe Fulks and Paul Arizin had long since popularized the jumper

Actually managed to somehow thrive with his antiquated offensive style, and was named to six All-Star teams, including five straight starting in 1958

Arguably the second best point guard of the late ‘50s after Bob Cousy, he finished in the top 10 in the NBA in assists per game six different seasons

Led the league in free throw percentage twice, as his set shot style was still perfectly tailored to that skill

Played for the Syracuse Nationals in their final six seasons before moving to Philadelphia and becoming the 76ers, and helped lead them to the playoffs in each of those seasons

Retired initially in 1965, but was lured back by former coach Alex Hannum to play the ’66-’67 season with Philadelphia, winning a title as a lightly used backup

213) Alvan Adams, C, 1975-1988

Had career highs in scoring (19.0 points per game), rebounds (9.1), and blocks (1.5) in his rookie year, and won Rookie of the Year for ’75-‘76

Second leading scorer on the Suns in his rookie season behind Paul Westphal, and helped them make a surprise run to the 1976 NBA Finals

Never hit those peaks again, but did average an impressive 16.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game over the next six seasons

Spent all 13 years of his career with Phoenix, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in rebounds and steals (he had surprisingly quick hands for a center), and is in the top five in assists, blocks, and points

Wore jersey #33 in honor of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and had his number retired by the Suns soon after his retirement, but allowed it to be temporarily reused by Grant Hill when he signed with the team in 2008

212) Al Horford, C, 2007-Active (2018 rank: #242)

His father, Tito, was the first Dominican-born player in NBA history
Teamed up with Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer to lead Florida to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007, and was selected third overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, in the same lottery as his star teammates
Named to four All-Star teams with the Hawks, then a fifth later as a member of the Celtics in 2018
Immediately became Atlanta’s starting center, and in 2008 led them to their first playoff appearance in nine years, nearly pulling off a first round upset of the eventual champion Celtics
Despite various injuries, has missed the playoffs just once in his 12-year career
Peaked statistically in ’12-’13 with 17.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game
Never reached the NBA Finals, but has played in the Conference Finals once with Atlanta and twice with Boston

211) Derek Fisher, G, 1996-2014

Spent 12 seasons with the Lakers, playing in seven NBA Finals (four as a backup, and three as the starting point guard) and winning five titles

His most memorable moment came in a second round series against the Spurs in 2004, when he nailed a buzzer beater to win game five that Tim Duncan would later label as a “lucky shot”

In between his Lakers stints he spent two seasons with the Warriors, during which he had a statistical peak in ’05-’06 with 13.3 points and 4.3 assists per game, and one season with the Jazz

Backed up Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City late in his career, and made an eighth NBA Finals appearance in 2012

Only seven players in NBA history have more NBA Finals appearances than his eight, and his 251 playoff game appearances is the all-time record

210) Andre Iguodala, F, 2004-Active (2018 rank: #235)

Won his Finals MVP award for the Warriors in 2015, when his defense on LeBron James was probably weaker than you remember, but his statistical output in the series was probably better than you recall, as he was second on the team in scoring (with 16.3 points per game), third in rebounding, third in assists, and third in steals
Aside from that NBA Finals performance, he’s been mostly a defensive specialist for the Warriors, helping them reach five straight NBA Finals and win three titles
Had his statistical peak with the 76ers team that drafted him, averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game over a four-year stretch, starting in ’06-‘07
Named to the All-Star team in 2012
Has averaged 10+ points, five-plus assists, and five-plus rebounds per game in six seasons, though not since ’12-’13 with the Nuggets
1st-Team All-Defensive in ’13-‘14
Won a gold medal with the 2012 U.S. Olympic team
Gained some traction as a Hall of Fame candidate during the latest postseason, but his metrics don't support a candidacy

209) Mark Jackson, G, 1987-2004

Fourth in NBA history – trailing only John Stockton, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash – with 10,334 career assists

Led the league in assists per game just once, in ’96-’97 with 11.4, but finished in the top 10 in the category in 11 other seasons, including in ’01-’02 at the age of 36

Drafted 18th overall by the Knicks and won Rookie of the Year in ’87-’88, one of only two non-lottery picks to do so in the lottery era, along with Malcolm Brogdon in ’16-‘17

An All-Star in ’88-’89, just his second year in the league, when he averaged a career high 16.9 points per game

Rarely missed games and started at point guard consistently in each of his first 15 seasons in the league, playing for the Knicks, Clippers, Pacers, Nuggets, and Raptors

Traded away by the Knicks in 1992, he seemed to take extra delight in tormenting his former team in the playoffs as a member of the Pacers, especially in 2000 when Indiana defeated New York in the Conference Finals and he made the lone NBA Finals appearance of his career

208) Mookie Blaylock, G, 1989-2002

Led the NBA in steals per game twice, in ’96-’97 and ’97-’98, and finished in the top five in the category for 10 consecutive seasons, starting in ’90-‘91

One of just 12 players in NBA history with over 2,000 career steals, he holds the Hawks franchise record in the category, as well the franchise mark in three-point field goals, and is second all-time in total assists

Named to the All-Star team in 1994 for the Hawks, and was 1st-Team All-Defensive twice, and 2nd-Team All-Defensive four times

Helped carry the Hawks to seven consecutive playoff appearances starting in 1993, but never past the second round

Though he never played in Seattle, he inspired the band Pearl Jam so much that they initially called themselves Mookie Blaylock, and eventually titled their first album Ten in tribute to his jersey number

207) Archie Clark, G, 1966-1976

Despite a star high school career in Detroit, he wasn't recruited by any major colleges and chose to join the U.S. Army

Spotted by a college scout while playing for a military intramural team, and became an All-Big 10 selection while at Minnesota and eventually drafted by the Lakers at the age of 25

Third leading scorer on the Lakers behind Jerry West and Elgin Baylor in ’67-’68 with 19.9 points per game as the team reached the NBA Finals

Traded to the 76ers in 1968 as part of the Wilt Chamberlain deal

Averaged a career high 25.2 points and 8.0 assists per game in a ’71-’72 season split between the Sixers and the Bullets, and was named 2nd-Team All-NBA

Named to the All-Star team in 1968 with the Lakers and in 1972 with the Bullets

His teams made the playoffs in all 10 seasons he played

206) Joakim Noah, C, 2007-Active (2018 rank: #209)

Led Florida to back-to-back NCAA titles and was a lottery pick of the Bulls in 2007
Averaged a double-double in four different seasons; over a five-year prime starting in ’09-’10, averaged 11.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game
Won Defensive Player of the Year in ’13-’14 (while leading the NBA in defensive win shares), and has been 1st-Team All-Defensive twice
Named to two All-Star teams, and was 1st-Team All-NBA in ’13-’14 while finishing fourth in MVP voting
Struggled since ’13-’14 with injuries and suspensions, appearing in just 124 total games over the last four seasons, averaging just 5.4 points per game for the Bulls, Knicks, and Grizzlies
Won the Citizenship Award in ’14-’15 for his work in founding the Noah’s Arc Foundation to help at-risk youth in Chicago

205) Baron Davis, G, 1999-2012

Always a terrific scorer and play maker, but also an underrated rebounder, even notching the occasional triple-double despite being listed at just 6’3”

An All-Star in 2002 for the Hornets in Charlotte, and in 2004 when they were in New Orleans

Led the NBA in steals per game twice, in ’03-’04 and ’06-’07, but was never named to the All-Defensive team

Averaged 20+ points, seven-plus assists, and two-plus steals per game three times in his career, in ’03-’04 for the Hornets, and in ’06-’07 and ’07-’08 for the Warriors

Saved his best for the postseason, leading the Hornets to back-to-back first round series wins in 2001 and 2002 (the only time in franchise history that’s happened) and leading the Warriors, as a #8 seed, to a stunning first round upset of the top-seeded Mavericks in 2007

Struggled constantly with knee injuries and a relaxed attitude that seemed to always border on lackadaisical

204) Jim Pollard, F, 1948-1955

Though his NBA career lasted only seven seasons, he had spent several years before that playing in the AAU, on the U.S. Coast Guard All-Star Team during World War II, and for the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL

Joined the NBA in ’48-’49 with the Lakers after the BAA-NBL merger

Nicknamed “Kangaroo Kid” and “Jumpin’ Jim” for his leaping ability (he could supposedly dunk from the free throw line), and was consistently the team’s second scorer after George Mikan

Peaked at 15.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in ’51-‘52

Named to four All-Star teams, was 1st-Team All-NBA twice, and 2nd-Team All-NBA twice

His Lakers won the championship five times in his seven NBA seasons

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978

203) Dick Barnett, G, 1959-1974

Possessed an odd set of jump shooting mechanics, where he kicked out both legs, but was so consistent with his shooting that his teammates nicknamed him “Fall Back” because they knew his shot was going in and it was time to fall back on defense

Starred early on for the Syracuse Nationals but was so disillusioned by his contract situation and positional usage that he defected to play one season in his prime in the ABL for George Steinbrenner’s Cleveland Pipers

Returned to the NBA with the Lakers in ’62-’63 and was the team’s third leading scorer after Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, helping them reach the NBA Finals in 1963 and 1965

After getting traded to the last place Knicks, averaged a career high 23.1 points per game in ’65-‘66 and was an All-Star in 1968

Settled into a supporting role with New York and eventually played in three NBA Finals with the franchise, including championships in 1970 and 1973

202) Charles Oakley, F, 1985-2004

One of the toughest and scariest enforcers in NBA history, but also one of the most skilled and accomplished rebounders

Led the NBA in total rebounds in back-to-back seasons, ’86-’87 and ’87-’88, and finished in the top five in rebounds per game three times, peaking at 13.1 in ’86-‘87

Averaged a double-double for the season six times in his career

Drafted by the Cavaliers and then traded immediately to the Bulls, he was a personal favorite teammate of Michael Jordan, who was distraught and sullen when he was traded to the Knicks for Bill Cartwright in 1988

In the ’93-’94 season he was an All-Star, named 1st-Team All-Defensive, and started at power forward in an NBA record 107 total games across the regular season and playoffs, helping the Knicks reach the NBA Finals

Made late career stops with the Raptors, Bulls, Wizards, and Rockets, where he was still revered and feared by teammates and opponents into his late 30s

Third all-time in Knicks franchise history in total rebounds

201) Charlie Scott, G, 1970-1980

A star at North Carolina, where he was the first black scholarship athlete in any sport, but fell to the seventh round of the 1970 Draft and spurned the Celtics for an ABA contract with the Virginia Squires

His rookie year was a revelation, winning Rookie of the Year, finishing third in MVP voting, averaged 27.1 points per game, and almost carrying the Squires to the ABA Finals

Was averaging 34.6 points per game in his second season when he left the ABA to join the Suns, who had drafted for his draft rights from Boston

Led the Suns in scoring in each of his first three full seasons, peaking at 25.4 points per game in ’73-’74, good for fifth in the NBA

Named an NBA All-Star three times in addition to two ABA All-Star appearances

Traded back to the Celtics in 1975 in exchange for Paul Westphal, he was the starting shooting guard on the ’75-’76 team that won the NBA title, defeating his former Suns teammates in the Finals

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

150) Zelmo Beaty, C, 1962-1975

Selected third overall by the Hawks in 1962 to initially team up in the front court with Bob Pettit and eventually be his heir apparent
One of the best defensive centers of the ‘60s, regularly facing down Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Nate Thurmond
Averaged 20+ points and double-digit rebounds three times for the Hawks, peaking in ’65-’66 with 20.7 points and 13.6 rebounds per game
Never played in the NBA Finals, but helped lead the Hawks to the Conference Finals in five of his six seasons there
Dissatisfied with Hawks management as the team moved to Atlanta in 1968, he astutely leveraged his star power into a huge contract with the Utah Stars of the ABA, but had to sit out a season after the Hawks sued
Led the Stars to the ABA title in his first season with the team with a huge performance in game seven of the ABA Finals with 36 points and 16 rebounds; won Playoffs MVP for 1971
Finished second in ABA MVP voting in ’70-’71, and third in ’71-’72; named 2nd-Team All-ABA both those seasons
Named to three ABA All-Star teams and two NBA All-Star teams
Returned to the NBA with the Lakers in ’74-’75 in a limited role before retiring

149) Glen Rice, F, 1989-2004

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

148) Bill Laimbeer, C, 1980-1994

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

147) Harry Gallatin, F, 1948-1958

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

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

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

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

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

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

146) Mark Price, G, 1986-1998

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

145) Larry Foust, C, 1950-1962

One of the league’s first star centers, he was named to the All-Star Games eight times in the first nine editions of the exhibition

Played for the Pistons for seven seasons and they reached the playoffs in each of them, including NBA Finals losses in 1955 and 1956

Averaged a double-double six times, ultimately averaging 15.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game over his first eight seasons

2nd-Team All-NBA in ’51-’52 and 1st-Team all-NBA in ’54-‘55

Played in five NBA Finals in his career, all losses: 1955 and 1956 with the Pistons, 1959 with the Lakers, and 1960 and 1961 with the Hawks

Upon his retirement in 1962 he was second all-time in league history in rebounds, behind only Dolph Schayes (he is now 68th)

Implicated for his role in allegedly abetting Jack Molinas in fixing Pistons games during the ’53-’54 season, but was never arrested, fined, or suspended for his actions

144) Mel Daniels, C, 1967-1977

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

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

Led the ABA in rebounds per game three times

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

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

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

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

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

143) Shawn Marion, F, 1999-2015

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

142) Damian Lillard, G, 2012-Active (2018 rank: #195)

Overlooked coming out of high school and wounded up starring at Weber State for three seasons, where developed into the top point guard prospect in the 2012 NBA Draft
One of just four players in history to win Rookie of the Year unanimously, after he led all rookies in scoring and assists
Has averaged 25+ points per game each of the last four seasons, peaking at 27.0 per game in ’16-‘17
Finished eighth in MVP voting in ’15-’16, fourth in '17-'18, and sixth in '18-'19
1st-Team All-NBA in ’17-’18, 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’15-’16 and '18-'19, and a four-time All-Star
Has led Portland to six straight playoff appearances, and their first Conference Finals appearance in 19 years in 2019
Closed out a first round series against the Rockets in 2014 with a game six buzzer beater then repeated the feat against the Thunder in 2019
Already second in Blazers franchise history in total points and third in assists

141) Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, 2013-Active (2018 rank: #336)

Became one of the youngest MVP winners of all-time in '18-'19 at age 24, also won Most Improved Player in '16-'17
Has remarkably improved both his scoring and rebounding in all six NBA seasons, peaking in '18-'19 at 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, good for third and sixth in the NBA respectively
1st-Team All-NBA and 1st-Team All-Defensive in '18-'19, has also been 2nd-Team All-NBA twice and 2nd-Team All-Defensive once
Led the NBA in PER in '18-'19 with 30.9, which was the 12th highest single-season total in league history (only Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Wilt Chamberlain have posted higher totals)
Led the Bucks to their first Conference Finals appearance in 18 years in 2019
Born in Greece to Nigerian parents but didn’t receive his Greek citizenship until age 18

140) Horace Grant, F, 1987-2004

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

139) Richard Hamilton, G, 1999-2013

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

138) Jack Sikma, C, 1977-1991

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

137) Buck Williams, F, 1981-1998

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

136) Paul Westphal, G, 1972-1984

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

135) Earl Monroe, G, 1967-1980

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

134) Gail Goodrich, G, 1965-1979

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

133) Deron Williams, G, 2005-2017

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

132) Terry Cummings, F, 1982-2000

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

131) Chet Walker, F, 1962-1975

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

130) Vern Mikkelsen, F, 1949-1959

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

129) Maurice Cheeks, G, 1978-1993

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

128) Mitch Richmond, G, 1988-2002

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

127) Tom Chambers, F, 1981-1998

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

126) Anthony Davis, C, 2012-Active (2018 rank: #145)

Finally had the major breakout season everyone was waiting for in '17-'18, averaging a career high in scoring with 28.1 points per game, finishing third in MVP voting, and carrying an undermanned Pelicans team to the second round of the playoffs
Has averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in every season since his rookie year (when he averaged a respectable 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game)
Led the NBA in blocks per game three times, peaking at 2.9 per game in '14-'15
1st-Team All-NBA three times, 1st-Team All-Defensive once, and a six-time All-Star
Struggled with injuries again in '18-'19 and will look to bounce back in '19-'20 with the Lakers
A first overall pick by the then New Orleans Hornets in 2012 out of Kentucky, where he was consensus Player of the Year and the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player while leading the Wildcats to a championship
Won gold at the 2012 Olympics with the U.S. team, becoming just the second American player in the Dream Team era to do so without previous NBA experience, joining Christian Laettner

125) Paul George, F, 2010-Active (2018 rank: #232)

Had an incredible year for the Thunder in '18-'19, with career highs in points (28.0 per game, second in the NBA), rebounds (8.2 per game), assists (4.1 per game), and steals (2.2 per game to lead the NBA)
Drafted 10th overall by the Pacers in 2010 out of Fresno State
Spent seven seasons with the Pacers and carried them to six playoff appearances, including Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014
1st-Team All-NBA and 1st-Team All-Defensive in '18-'19 and finished third in MVP voting; 3rd-Team All-NBA four times, 1st-Team All-Defensive twice, and 2nd-Team All-Defensive twice
Named to six All-Star teams
Opted to resign with the Thunder in 2018 and deemed destined to spend his career trying to lift small market teams to success, but changed course in the summer of 2019, forcing a trade to the Clippers to team up with Kawhi Leonard

124) Dikembe Mutombo, C, 1991-2009

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

123) Jack Twyman, F, 1955-1966

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

122) Richie Guerin, G, 1956-1970

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

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

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

120) Walter Davis, F, 1977-1992

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

119) Jamaal Wilkes, F, 1974-1986

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

118) Kevin Love, F, 2008-Active (2018 rank: #123)

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

117) Reggie Miller, G, 1987-2005

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

116) Vince Carter, G, 1998-Active (2018 rank: #118)

Still going strong at age 42, he’s played in 21 NBA seasons for eight different franchises, compiling over 25,000 points, one of just 22 players in NBA history to do so
Though his career is lengthy, it’s mainly defined by one second round playoff series in 2001, when he averaged 30.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game for the Raptors against the 76ers, but attended his college graduation on the morning of game seven and was solely blamed for Toronto’s loss that evening (he missed a series-winning shot at the buzzer)
Had the greatest solo Slam Dunk Contest performance of all-time, winning the event in 2000
Arguably the greatest player in Raptors franchise history, but still derided by fans for purposefully tanking the ’04-’05 season to force a trade to the Nets
Averaged 20+ points per game for 10 straight seasons, peaking at 27.6 per game in ’00-‘01
Rookie of the Year in ’98-’99, 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’00-’01, and an eight-time All-Star
Played in just one Conference Finals in his career, in 2010 with Orlando

115) Chris Mullin, F, 1985-2001

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

114) LaMarcus Aldridge, F, 2006-Active (2018 rank: #130)

Seemed washed up after struggling through his first two seasons with the Spurs, then had a career revival in ’17-’18 as the team’s offensive centerpiece, averaging 23.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, named 2nd-Team All-NBA for the second time, and finishing ninth in MVP voting
Averaged 21+ points and eight-plus rebounds per game for five straight seasons with the Blazers, peaking in ’13-’14 with 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game
Named to seven All-Star Games, five with Portland and two with San Antonio, and has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting twice
Had another solid season in '18-'19, with 21.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game
Second overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, and has easily outplayed all the other top 10 picks in that draft, including Andrea Bargnani, Adam Morrison, and the player the Bulls traded him for on draft day, Tyrus Thomas
Portland’s all-time franchise leader in rebounds, and is second in points behind Clyde Drexler

113) Jo Jo White, G, 1969-1981

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

112) Gus Johnson, F, 1963-1973

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

111) Rajon Rondo, G, 2006-Active (2018 rank: #110)

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

110) David Thompson, G, 1975-1984

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

109) Bailey Howell, F, 1959-1971

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

108) George Yardley, F, 1953-1960

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

107) Marques Johnson, F, 1977-1990

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

106) Bobby Jones, F, 1974-1986

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

105) Dan Issel, C, 1970-1985

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

104) Gus Williams, G, 1975-1987

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

103) Pete Maravich, G, 1970-1980

Played in just 658 games over 10 NBA seasons, and passed away soon after at age 40 due to heart failure that may have occurred during his career

Led the NCAA in scoring in three straight seasons at LSU, but never reached the NCAA Tournament with the team (this would become a theme)

Drafted third overall by the Hawks, who had just moved to Atlanta, in 1970 and immediately granted one of the league’s biggest contracts, which rankled many of his new teammates and opponents

Could score from anywhere on the court and was maybe the second best ball handler of the pre-merger era after Bob Cousy, but showed little aptitude or interest in rebounding, defense, passing, or listening to coaches

Averaged 25+ points per game in five seasons, including a league-leading 31.1 points per game for the Jazz in '76-'77, while also adding 5.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game

1st-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, a five-time All-Star, and finished third in MVP voting in '76-'77

In his first nine seasons he reached the playoffs just three times, all first round losses, but he finally played in the Conference Finals in 1980 with the Celtics

102) Lenny Wilkens, G, 1960-1975

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

101) Anfernee Hardaway, G, 1993-2008

Though he was often compared to Michael Jordan throughout his career, his size and style was more of a Magic Johnston-esque oversized point guard that could control the game in multiple ways besides scoring

Finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Chris Webber (whom the Magic passed on in the draft) and teamed up with Shaquille O’Neal to lead Orlando to its first playoff appearance

Averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game over the next three seasons as he established himself as a star as the Magic reached the NBA Finals in 1995 with him as the second leading scorer and top in assists

Named 1st-Team All-NBA twice, an All-Star four times, and finished third in MVP voting in ’95-‘96

Took over as the team leader and face of the franchise when O’Neal left for the Lakers in 1996, but immediately started to struggle with knee injuries and feuded with head coach Brian Hill

Spent his later years with the Suns, Knicks, and Heat showing occasional flashes of his old brilliance but struggling to stay on the floor due to the toll of multiple knee surgeries

100) Joe Dumars, G, 1985-1999

One of the ultimate “glue guys” in NBA history, with blue collar bona fides that served him well starring for the Pistons for all 14 seasons of his career

Named Finals MVP in 1989 with a masterful performance in Detroit’s sweep of the Lakers, leading the team with 27.3 points per game, finishing second with 6.0 assists per game, and contributing shutdown defense on Magic Johnson

Arguably the best one-on-one defender that Michael Jordan ever faced, inventing the so-called “Jordan Rules” using detailed footwork, situational awareness, and hand-checks to especially menace the Bulls star in the 1988, 1989, and 1990 Conference Finals

Played in three NBA finals with the Pistons, winning two titles

1st-Team All-Defensive four times, an All-Star six times, and 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’92-‘93

Remained a steady force on the roster throughout the ‘90s, long past the “Bad Boys” era, and became a mentor for a young Grant Hill later in his career

Second all-time in Pistons franchise history in total points and total assists, behind only longtime back court mate Isiah Thomas in both categories

99) Manu Ginobili, G, 2002-2018

His father, Jorge, was a basketball coach, and young Manu was one of the few Argentinian kids to have a poster of Michael Jordan on his wall instead of Diego Maradona

Made his professional debut at age 18, playing for his father in the Argentine La Liga, then won Euroleague Finals MVP in 2001 for Italy's Kinder Bologna before joining the NBA in 2002

Such a unique style that it's become an archetype, his "Euro step" on offense and his ability to take charges on defense have become staples of not just young foreign-born players but many American ones

Played in five NBA Finals with the Spurs, winning four of them in 2003 (his rookie year), 2005 (when he was second on the team in playoff scoring), 2007, and 2014

Spent most of his early career as a starter but soon switched to his signature sixth man position and won Sixth Man of the Year in '07-'08

Named to the All-Star team in 2005 and 2011

One of the biggest legends in FIBA history, he was MVP of the 2004 Olympics tournament while leading Argentina to a shocking upset of the U.S. and a gold medal; he also led Argentina to a bronze medal in 2008, fourth place in 2012, and a quarterfinals appearance in 2016

The only non-American player to ever win an Olympic gold medal and an NBA title

98) Bill Walton, C, 1974-1987

Few athletes in any sport have had such a fleeting body of work inspire such a fawning devotion years after his career ended

Born with brittle foot joints and unusually high arches, he averaged just 36 games per year in his 13-year career

Despite playing in just 65 games in ’76-’77 he averaged 18.6 points, 14.4 rebounds (leading the NBA) and 3.2 blocks (also the league leader) per game, was 2nd-Team All-NBA, finished second in MVP voting, led the Blazers to their only title in franchise history, and won Finals MVP (in the decided game six of the NBA Finals against Philly he compiled 20 points, 23 rebounds, eight assists, and seven blocks)

Followed it up in ’77-’78 by playing just 58 games, but averaging 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game to win league MVP and be named 1st-Team All-NBA and 1st-Team All-Defensive

Came back from a broken foot to play in the 1978 playoffs, but re-injured it in a first round series against Seattle and was never the same again

Sat out the entire ’78-’79 season due to what he considered mistreatment of his injuries and was traded to the Clippers, for whom he played in just 102 games over five years

Eventually found some solace as a backup center for the legendary ’85-’86 Celtics, winning a second championship at the end of his career

97) Connie Hawkins, F, 1967-1976

Caught up in the 1961 NCAA point shaving scandal while a freshman at Iowa, he was never proven of any wrongdoing but was unfairly expelled from school and blackballed from the NBA

After several years in the ABL and with the Harlem Globetrotters he joined the ABA for its inaugural season with the Pittsburgh Pipers and immediately dominated the new league

In his first ABA season he was MVP, scoring champion (with 26.8 points per game), second in the league in rebounds, third in assists, and playoffs MVP while leading the Pipers to the title

His second ABA season was cut short by a knee injury, and he was finally allowed to join the NBA in ’69-’70 at the age of 27 thanks to a lawsuit and resultant bad press

Basically had a four-year NBA prime before his knees, wracked by years of playing on subpar surfaces, started to give out, averaging 20.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for the Suns during that span

1st-Team All-NBA in ’69-’70, and was named to four NBA All-Star Games

Almost single-handedly led the Suns to a first round upset over the Lakers in 1970, his first of just two NBA playoff appearances, both of which ended in round one

96) Bob Dandridge, F, 1969-1982

An overlooked, indispensable star of not one, but two different championship teams, almost an entire decade apart

Fell to the Bucks in the fourth round of the 1969 Draft (44 spots after they selected Kareem Abdul-Jabbar first overall), but by his second season he was second on the team in postseason scoring, assists, and rebounds as they defeated the Bullets in the 1971 NBA Finals, winning the only championship in franchise history

Seven years later he was a member of the Bullets and the second leading scorer, and third in assists and rebounds in their ’77-’78 title season, also the only one in franchise history

A strikingly consistent scorer in his prime, he averaged between 18.4 and 21.5 points per game for nine straight seasons, starting in ’70-‘71

Named to four All-Star teams, and in ’78-’79 was 2nd-Team All-NBA, 1st-Team All-Defensive, and finished fifth in MVP voting

His defense in the 1978 playoffs was crucial, hampering George Gervin, Julius Erving, and Dennis Johnson in consecutive series wins

Also played in the NBA Finals in 1974 with the Bucks and in 1979 with the Bullets, and scored more points in the ‘70s in the Finals than any other player

95) Chris Bosh, F/C, 2003-2016

Sometimes the forgotten member of the legendary class of 2003, he went from a starring role on a team nobody noticed to third banana status on one of the league's most scrutinized squads
Drafted fourth overall by the Raptors, he instantly became the franchise's biggest star in the wake of Vince Carter's departure
Averaged 20+ points per game in each of his five seasons of prime with Toronto, overall averaging 22.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per over that stretch
Named to 11 straight All-Star Games starting in 2006, and in '06-'07 was 2nd-Team All-NBA while finishing seventh in MVP voting
Led the Raptors to the playoffs just twice, both first round losses, as the team wasted his talent with poor draft lottery and free agency decisions
Jumped at the chance to join his fellow 2003 draftees LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the Heat in 2010, leaving the Raptors as the franchise's all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker (he is still second, first, and first respectively in those categories)
Had some star performances for the Heat from time-to-time, but also often faded into the background, such as game seven of the 2013 NBA Finals when he went scoreless from the field
Played in four straight NBA Finals with the Heat, winning titles in 2012 and 2013
A recurring blood clot kept him off the floor from February of 2016 to March of 2019 when the Heat retired his jersey and he officially announced his retirement

94) Ben Wallace, C, 1996-2012

Won Defensive Player of the Year four times, a feat matched only by Dikembe Mutombo
A three-sport star at his Alabama high school but was lightly recruited by colleges and ended up at tiny Virginia Union, the alma mater of his mentor, Charles Oakley
By far the greatest post-merger player to go undrafted (John Starks is a distant second on our list), he got his NBA start after the Wizards signed him as a free agent
Led the NBA in rebounds per game twice, peaking at 15.4 per game in ’02-’03 (only Dennis Rodman and Andre Drummond have averaged more in a season in the last 30 years) and finished in the top five in the NBA in the category for six straight seasons
Also led the NBA in blocks per game once, defensive rating three times, and defensive win shares four times
2nd-Team All-NBA three times, 1st-Team All-Defensive five times, and played in four All-Star Games
Had little offensive game to speak of, and never averaged double-digit points in a season, coming close with 9.7 per game in ’04-‘05
Played in back-to-back NBA Finals with the Pistons, winning a championship in 2004; he had an incredible 18 point, 24 rebound performance in their clinching game five of the 2004 Finals against the Lakers

93) Blake Griffin, F, 2010-Active (2018 rank: #114)

Seemed like he might be part of a long line of Clippers draft disasters when they selected him first overall in 2009 and he missed his entire first season after knee surgery
Came back strong in '10-'11, winning Rookie of the Year and being named to his first of five consecutive All-Star teams
Threw down countless highlight reel dunks in his early years with the Clippers, many on alley-oop passes from Chris Paul, and several in the 2011 All-Star Slam Dunk Contest when he famously leaped over a Kia Optima at the behest of the NBA
Has averaged 20+ points per game in all but one of his eight NBA seasons, peaking overall in his rookie year with 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game
2nd-Team All-NBA three times, 3rd-Team All-NBA twice, and finished third in MVP voting in '13-'14
His Clippers and Pistons teams have reached the playoffs in all full seven seasons he's played, but never further than the second round
Had a career high 24.5 points per game in '18-'19 for the Pistons

92) Dave Bing, G, 1966-1978

Detroit’s first superstar player, and so popular in the city that they eventually elected him mayor
Reached the playoffs just five times in his 12 years, and advanced to the second round just once, late in his career with the Bullets in 1977
Rookie of the Year for ’66-’67, averaging 20.0 points per game
Averaged 20+ points per game in each of his first six seasons, peaking at 27.1 per game in ’67-’68, which was second in the NBA
1st-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, a seven-time All-Star, and finished in the top five in MVP voting twice
Excelled on the court despite poor sight that stemmed from a childhood eye injury
Really only made the postseason once in his prime, a first round loss to the Celtics in 1968; his other four appearances came late in his career when he was still effective but no longer a star player
Third all-time in Pistons history in total assists, and fourth in points; only Isiah Thomas made more All-Star appearances for the franchise

91) Chauncey Billups, G, 1997-2014

Started his career as the third overall pick for the Celtics in 1997, but in one of the franchise’s all-time worst trades they dealt him to the Raptors during his rookie season for an aging Kenny Anderson
Had disappointing short stints with the Raptors, Nuggets, and Timberwolves before finally catching on with the Pistons in '02-'03
Finals MVP in 2004, as the Pistons stunned the Lakers in the NBA Finals; he averaged 21.0 points and 5.2 assists per game in the series and provided some tough defense on Kobe Bryant, but was a controversial pick over Richard Hamilton
Actually played better for the Detroit in every statistical category in the ’04-’05 playoffs, but this time they lost to the Spurs in the NBA Finals
Named to five All-Star Games, and in ’05-’06 was 2nd-Team All-NBA, 2nd-Team All-Defensive, and finished fifth in MVP voting
After a late career trade back to the Nuggets (in exchange for Allen Iverson) he averaged a career high 19.5 points per game in ’09-‘10
Played in seven straight Conference Finals starting in 2003, the first six with Detroit and the final one with Denver in 2009

90) Cliff Hagan, F, 1956-1969

Part of one of the greatest forward duos in NBA history for nine seasons with Bob Pettit on the St. Louis Hawks
During that era the team reached the Conference Finals seven times, the NBA Finals four times, and won the only championship in franchise history in 1958
Drafted initially by the Celtics in 1953, he served in the Air Force and didn’t join the NBA until 1956, by which time his rights had been traded to the Hawks, along with Ed Macauley, in exchange for Bill Russell
The leading playoff scorer (with 27.7 points per game), second in rebounds, and third in assists on the ’57-’58 Hawks championship team; also led the entire league in playoff scoring (28.5 points per game) in the ’58-’59 season when the Hawks lost in the Conference Finals
Averaged 20+ points per game four straight seasons, peaking in ’59-’60 with 24.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game
2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and a six-time All-Star
Lured out of retirement in ’67-’68 to be a player-coach for the Dallas Chaparrals, he became the first player to be an All-Star in both the NBA and ABA

89) Shawn Kemp, F, 1989-2003

Became just the fourth player in NBA history to be drafted without playing college ball (he was set to play for Kentucky, but left school before the season started after being accused of robbery)
Averaged a double-double for six straight seasons in his prime, peaking in ’95-’96 with 19.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game
Quickly became a fan favorite for his powerful in-game dunks rivaled only by Dominique Wilkins, and earned the Seattle-themed nickname “Reign Man”
Dominated the 1996 NBA Finals despite his Sonics losing to the Bulls in six games, but held out to start the ’96-’97 season, upset over his contract situation especially after Seattle management lavished a huge deal on Jim McIlvaine
Traded to Cleveland in 1997 and signed a seven-year, $100 million contract, after which his drug and alcohol use accelerated, his weight ballooned, his attitude deflated, and his career eventually spiraled
Did average a career high 20.5 points per game for the Cavs in ’98-‘99
2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and a six-time All-Star

88) Pau Gasol, F/C, 2001-Active (2018 rank: #93)

The first, and still only, foreign-born player with no college experience to win Rookie of the Year, doing so almost unanimously in '01-'02 after the Hawks drafted him third overall then immediately traded him to Memphis
Though his younger brother, Marc, has surpassed him as the biggest star in Grizzlies history, the elder Pau was the franchise's first star; he led the team to its first ever playoff appearance in 2004, and became their first ever All-Star in 2006
Had his scoring peak in '06-'07, with 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, but actually improved his rebounding totals later in his career, averaging 10+ rebounds per game five times, peaking at 11.8 per game in '14-'15 for the Bulls
Traded to the Lakers at the deadline during the '07-'08 season, and played in three straight NBA Finals, winning titles in 2009 and 2010
Arguably should have been MVP of the 2010 NBA Finals over Kobe Bryant, after his 19 point, 18 rebound performance in game seven, along with his stout defense, was the difference-maker
2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and a six-time All-Star
MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Cup as Spain won the title, then led his home country to silver medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and a bronze in 2016

87) Alonzo Mourning, C, 1992-2008

In retrospect he was the perfect centerpiece for John Thompson’s Georgetown teams and Pat Riley’s Heat and it’s appropriate that he ended starring for both
Led the NBA in blocks per game twice, including a career high 3.9 per game in ’98-’99 (an amount that no player has matched in the 19 seasons since), and finished in the top five in category seven other seasons
In ’98-’99 he was Defensive Player of the Year, 1st-Team All-NBA and 1st-Team All-Defensive, and finished second in MVP voting
In ’99-’00 he was Defensive Player of the Year, 2nd-Team All-NBA and 1st-Team All-Defensive, and finished third in MVP voting
Led the Hornets to their first playoff appearance in 1993, then led the Heat to their first Conference Finals appearance in 1997, and eventually won a title as a backup to Shaquille O’Neal on the ’05-’06 Heat (after making a comeback from a rare kidney disorder)
12th all-time in NBA history in total blocks, and far and away Miami’s franchise leader in the category (with over twice as many as second place Dwyane Wade)
Over his first eight seasons (before his kidney condition) he averaged 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game

86) Bernard King, F, 1977-1993

Took the NBA by storm with his scoring, using skills honed on the streets of Brooklyn, a tantalizing mix of fakes, stutter-steps, and spin moves
Led the NBA with 32.9 points per game in ’84-’85, making him the second lowest rated player on this list to win a post-merger scoring title, ahead of only Pete Maravich
Additionally averaged 24.2 points per game in his rookie season, 26.3 in ’83-’84, and an incredible 28.4 (third in the NBA) in ’90-’91 after coming back from major knee surgery
1st-Team All-NBA twice, and finished second in MVP voting in ’83-’84 behind Larry Bird
Never interested in doing much on the floor besides scoring, though he did have an aptitude for rebounding early in his career, averaging as high as 9.5 rebounds per game
Played for five teams (New Jersey, Utah, Golden State, New York, Washington) in his first 10 seasons, and reached the playoffs just five times in his career, reaching only as far as the second round with the Knicks in 1983 and 1984
Was incredible in those 1984 playoffs, averaging 34.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, scoring 40+ points in half of those games, and willing an undermanned Knicks roster to push the mighty Celtics to seven games in their second round loss
Never the same after tearing his ACL in 1985, but developed a terrific long range shot and had some solid late years with the Bullets

85) Bob Lanier, C, 1970-1984

In his 14 NBA seasons he had about as many All-Star appearances (eight) as he did postseason appearance (nine)
Averaged 20+ points and double-digit rebounds for seven straight seasons, peaking in ’71-’72 with 25.7 points and 14.2 rebounds per game
Was never named to the All-NBA team, but finished third in MVP voting in ’73-’74 and fourth in ’76-‘77
Drafted first overall by the Pistons in 1970 thanks to them winning a coin flip over the Rockets, and spent the entire decade with the team racking up stats but never advancing past the second round of the playoffs
Clashed with coach Dick Vitale in '78-'79 and begged management for a trade to a contender, and they obliged by trading him to Milwaukee (getting a first round pick in return)
Despite having had seven surgeries on his knees he put in four solid seasons with the Bucks, finally experiencing the Conference Finals in 1983 and 1984
Second in Pistons franchise history in total rebounds, third in points, and third in blocks

84) Tim Hardaway, G, 1989-2003

Just six feet tall but built like a tank, fast as a missile, and possessing maybe the second best crossover dribble ever (after Allen Iverson), he was one of the most exciting players of his generation
1st-Team All-NBA in ’96-’97 when he also finished fourth in MVP voting, and 2nd-Team All-NBA three times
Averaged 22.7 points, 10.0 assists, and 2.2 steals per game in his three-year prime before a major knee injury cost him some explosiveness
Spent his early years with the Run-TMC Warriors, but his later prime anchoring the Pat Riley Heat along with Alonzo Mourning, and reached the Conference Finals just once in his career, in 1997 with Miami
Named to five All-Star teams
Never led the league in assists per game, but finished in the top 10 in the category for nine consecutive seasons
Held the Heat franchise record for total assists for a while, but now sits second behind Dwyane Wade
Won a gold medal as part of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team in Melbourne

83) Spencer Haywood, F, 1969-1983

From amateur hero to professional pariah to youthful superstar to cocaine-addled and washed up by age 31 to eventually a Hall of Famer
Arguably the most purely talented power forward of all time with a deadly combination of speed, power, and shooting touch
In one ABA season with the Denver Rockets he led the league in scoring (30.0 points per game) and rebounding (19.5 per game, a league record), and was named Rookie of the Year, All-Star MVP, and league MVP
Challenged the NBA (with the help of Sonics owner Sam Schulman) in court and won, forcing the league to establish the “hardship” rule to allow eligibility for non-college graduates
Despite drawing hatred (usually racially based) from many opponents and fans, he was a dominant force for the Sonics, averaging 24.9 points and 12.1 rebounds in his five seasons with the team
1st-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and an All-Star four times
Began to struggle with cocaine addiction after getting traded to the Knicks in 1975 and his career was never the same
Helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals in 1980, but was dismissed from the team during the playoffs after showing up to practice hungover and subsequently banned from the NBA

82) Dave DeBusschere, F, 1962-1974

Like fellow pre-Bad Boys Pistons superstars Bob Lanier and Dave Bing, his time with the franchise is marked by great individual play with no ensuing playoff success
Averaged a double-double in each of his last 10 NBA seasons, peaking at 18.2 points per game in ’66-’67 and 13.5 rebounds per game in ’67-’68, and putting in an impressive 18.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in his final seasons, ’73-‘74
Having grown up in Detroit, he was the Pistons’ first ever territorial draft pick in 1962, and soon became their player coach at the age of 24
As soon as the All-Defensive team was implemented in ’68-’69 he became a mainstay, named to it for six seasons in a row; also named to eight All-Star teams and was 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’68-‘69
Considered a coup and the final missing piece of a title contender when he was traded to the Knicks in 1968, and he played in three NBA Finals with the team, winning two titles
Later became ABA commissioner and was instrumental in the 1976 merger, and then general manager of the Knicks, when he was responsible for drafting Patrick Ewing

81) Neil Johnston, C, 1951-1959

Plucked from a Minor League Baseball team in Indiana, he only lasted about seven seasons in the NBA, all with the Warriors, but packed a lot into that time and was the second best center of the early-to-mid ‘50s behind George Mikan
1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, and a six-time All-Star
In ’54-’55 he became one of just three players in NBA history, along with Mikan and Wilt Chamberlain, to lead the NBA in scoring and rebounding in the same season
Also one of just six players to win three straight scoring titles, with 22.3 points per game in '52-'53, 24.4 in '53-'54, and 22.7 in '54-'55
Additionally led the league at least once in field goal percentage, PER, win shares, and free throws
Despite his accomplishments, the rest of the Warriors roster in his time was lacking, especially after Paul Arizin took a three-year leave of absence to serve in the Korean War
Eventually did win the title in 1956 after Arizin returned; he was second in scoring, first in rebounding, and third in assists on that ’55-’56 title team

80) Kevin Johnson, G, 1987-2000

Like any Suns legend (see Amare below), his career is defined in large part by bad breaks and championship near misses
Drafted seventh overall by the Cavaliers in 1987 but was traded to Phoenix during his rookie season and spent the rest of his 13-year career there
Suffered throughout his career from an undiagnosed hernia that caused him severe muscle pain and caused a lot of missed games
Averaged 20+ points and double-digit assists for three straight seasons starting in ’88-’89
2nd-Team All-NBA four times, and an All-Star three times
Finished in the top five in assists per game six times
Played terrifically in the playoffs, leading the Suns to Conference Finals appearances in 1989 and 1990, and teaming up with Charles Barkley to reach the NBA Finals in 1993
Struggled through the rest of his career with his hernias, but managed to last until 2000 and held the Suns franchise record for most assists for many years until Steve Nash broke it

79) Dennis Rodman, F, 1986-2000

One of the great underdog stories in NBA history, he couldn’t make the basketball team in high school and was working as a janitor when he got a shot playing NAIA ball which he parlayed into a second round draft spot in 1986
Wiry, gangly, relentless, and a student of the game, he could guard three positions, possessed an endless motor, and was arguably pound-for-pound the greatest rebounder of all time; would obsessively study arc motions of teammates and opponents’ shots to best position himself for boards
Played on the Pistons NBA Finals teams in 1988, 1989, and 1990, winning championships in the latter two, mostly as a sixth man
Led the NBA in rebounds per game for seven straight seasons
He’s the only player to average 18+ rebounds per game in a post-merger season, and he did it twice, with 18.7 in ’91-’92 and 18.3 in ’92-’93; he also had the fourth-highest (17.3 in ’93-’94), fifth-highest (16.8 in ’94-’95) and sixth-highest (16.1 in ’96-’97) post-merger seasons
Defensive Player of the Year winner twice, and named 1st-Team All-Defensive seven times
Won championships with the Bulls in 1996, 1997, and 1998, even as his erratic behavior rankled teammates, coaches, and fans

78) Ray Allen, G, 1996-2014

An All-Star 10 times, but was named 2nd-Team All-NBA just once, in ’04-‘05
Attempted and made more three-pointers in his career than any player in NBA history, though those records probably won’t stand up against Stephen Curry for much longer
Averaged 20+ points per game eight times, peaking at 26.4 in ’06-’07 for the Sonics
Played in four NBA Finals and won two championships, one with the Celtics in 2008, and one with the Heat in 2013, when he made arguably the most clutch three-pointer in NBA history, one that tied game six against the Spurs and turned the tide of the series
Arguably should have won Finals MVP in 2008 over Paul Pierce, with an impressive 20.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while guarding Kobe Bryant
Sixth all-time in NBA history in free throw percentage, with a career total of 89.4%; his 95.1% on free throws in ’08-’09 is the fourth highest of all-time in a single season, but somehow didn’t lead the league
Had one of the most pure and fluid jump shots in NBA history, one that was meticulously mastered through repetition, and he credits his obsessive-compulsive order for the skill

77) Adrian Dantley, F, 1976-1991

Averaged 20+ points per game in a season for six different teams during his 15-year career, though most of his prime was spent with Utah
Even as he was proving himself as an NBA level scoring machine, there were concerns over his height (6’5”) being too short for his natural position of small forward, and his many transactions, especially early in his career, are a result of that anxiety
Won Rookie of the Year for the Braves in ’76-’77, then was immediately traded that offseason to the Pacers (no Rookie of the Year has been traded so quickly since)
Averaged 30+ points per game for four consecutive seasons, winning the scoring title in ’80-’81 (with a career high 30.7) and ’83-’84, and also led the NBA in offensive win shares four times
2nd-Team All-NBA twice and a six-time All-Star
Reached the playoffs just twice with the Jazz, both second round losses, and right as the team was starting to rebuild into contenders around John Stockton and Karl Malone he was traded to the Pistons in 1986
Leading scorer on the ’87-’88 Pistons that reached the NBA Finals, then was traded at the deadline in ’88-’89 for Mark Aguirre

76) Amare Stoudemire, C, 2002-2016

With his body frame, preternatural skills, and explosive offensive style, he couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Shawn Kemp when he debuted for the Suns in ’02-’03 at the age of 19 and became one of just two players in NBA history (along with LeBron James) to win Rookie of the Year after joining the league straight from high school
Thrived in the seven-seconds-or-less offense with his ability to run the floor as a big man to finish breaks and hit short jumpers
Averaged 26.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in ’04-’05 and was even better in the playoffs, dominating Tim Duncan and the Spurs in the Conference Finals even though the Suns lost in five games
Was found to have knee cartilage damage that summer, and missed basically the entire ’05-’06 season after microfracture surgery, and never fully recovered his explosiveness
1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA four times, and a six-time All-Star
Averaged 20+ points per game seven times, including his first season in New York after signing a huge free agent contract in 2010, with 25.3 points per game in ’10-’11, his last great season
Had a series of playoff disappointments with Phoenix, including Conference Finals losses in 2005 and 2010

75) James Worthy, F, 1982-1994

How did the Lakers, fresh off winning a title, nab him with the top overall pick in 1982? You can thank miserly Cavs owner Ted Stepien, who had traded them the pick years earlier in a cash-cutting move
Missed the playoffs in his rookie season due to a broken leg as the Lakers went on to lose to Philadelphia in the NBA Finals, but eventually played in six NBA Finals and won three titles
With blinding speed and a powerful dunk he was the ultimate finisher on Magic Johnson fast breaks, and was also an underrated defender at both forward positions
Earned his “Big Game” nickname at North Carolina, when he was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1982 NCAA Tournament, and lived up to it in the 1988 NBA Finals, when he won Finals MVP thanks to a 36 point, 16 rebound, 10 assist performance in game seven
Also had his fair share of big game woes, most notably when his lazy pass was intercepted by Gerald Henderson to clinch game two of the 1984 NBA Finals, and when he played so poorly in the 1986 Conference Finals loss to the Rockets that Jerry Buss almost traded him to Dallas for Mark Aguirre
Averaged 19+ points per game for seven consecutive seasons before his knees started to fail him in ’91-‘92
Named to seven All-Star teams

74) Nate Thurmond, C, 1963-1977

Born in Akron as the son of a Firestone rubber plant worker, and he brought that blue collar attitude to his NBA career
Drafted third overall by the Warriors in 1963 even though they already had Wilt Chamberlain, and was awkwardly inserted at power forward for his first two seasons
Averaged 20.5 points and 22.0 rebounds per game in ’67-’68, one of four seasons in which he averaged 20+ points and 15+ rebounds
Never led the NBA in rebounds per game, but he finished in the top five six times, and is one of just five players to average 20+ rebounds in a season
Got shut out of the All-NBA team by Chamberlain and Bill Russell, but finished second in MVP voting in ’66-’67, and was named 1st-Team All-Defensive twice and an All-Star seven times
Gained a reputation in the ‘60s as the league’s best screen-setter, and as the only center who could handle Russell and Chamberlain defensively
Played in two NBA Finals with the Warriors, losses in 1964 and 1967, and was traded right before the team won the title in ’74-’75; later in his career he was a key contributor to the first Bulls team ever to reach the Conference Finals (in 1975) and then the first Cavaliers team to do so (in 1976)
Fifth in NBA history in career rebounds per game (15.0) and 10th in total rebounds (14,464)

73) Kawhi Leonard, F, 2011-Active (2018 rank: #108)

Joined LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to win Finals MVP with two different teams, nabbing one with the Spurs in 2014 and one with the Raptors in 2019
Averaged 23.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game over the last three games of the 2014 NBA Finals, while providing arguably the toughest defensive performance LeBron James has ever faced
Was even better in the 2019 playoffs, with an incredible 30.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game through the entire postseason while still remaining the defensive focal point for Toronto
A former Mr. Basketball in California and an All-American at San Diego State, he still slipped to 15th in the 2011 NBA Draft due to his perceived lack of offensive polish
Finished second in MVP voting in '15-'16, and third in '16-'17, and won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year trophies in '14-'15 and '15-'16
1st-Team All-NBA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, and a three-time All-Star
Averaged a career high 26.6 points per game in '18-'19 after a mysterious thigh injury cost him almost the entire '17-'18 season and led to the Spurs trading him to the Raptors

72) Grant Hill, F, 1994-2013

The son of a former NFL star with good looks, a sparking personality, and a star turn at Duke, he seemed ready-made to take the NBA by storm in the immediate wake of Michael Jordan’s retirement
Won co-Rookie of the Year with Jason Kidd in ’94-’95
Spent his first six seasons with the Pistons, averaging 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, and was named to five All-Star teams (there was no All-Star Game in 1999), but never led the team past the first round of the playoffs
1st-Team All-NBA in ’96-’97, and finished third in MVP voting; 2d-Team All-NBA four times
Signed a huge free agent contract with the Magic in 2000, but played just 47 games (out of a possible 328) in his first four seasons in Orlando due to ankle injuries
Returned to All-Star form for Orlando in ’05-’06 but then aggravated a sports hernia and was never the same after that
Blossomed as a defensive and long range shooting specialist in his late seasons with the Suns, finally advancing past the second round of the playoffs with a Conference Finals appearance in 2010

71) George McGinnis, F, 1971-1982

Not as big a name in retrospect as Julius Erving or George Gervin, but was arguably the best player in ABA history

Possessing the build (6’8”, 235 pounds) and nickname (“Baby Bull”) of a boxer, he was a beast in the paint and redefined the role of power forward in modern basketball

ABA MVP in ’74-’75, and 1st-Team All-ABA twice

Led the Indiana Pacers to three ABA Finals, winning titles in two of them, and was named Playoffs MVP in 1972

The ABA’s leading scorer in ’74-’75 with 29.8 points per game, to go along with 14.3 rebounds per game

Lured to the NBA a year before the merger by the Sixers in ’75-’76, and averaged 20+ points and double-digit rebounds in each of his first four NBA seasons

Top rebounder and third-leading scorer on the ’76-’77 Philly team that reached the NBA Finals

1st-Team All-NBA and finished fifth in MVP voting in ’75-’76, also 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’76-’77; named to three ABA All-Star teams and three NBA All-Star teams

Never took good care of his body and was basically broken down by the team he turned 30 in the early ‘80s; was traded back to the Pacers in what turned out to be a disastrous transaction, as they gave up Adrian Dantley to the Nuggets in exchange

70) Paul Pierce, F, 1998-2017

Won Finals MVP in 2008 at age 30 (the fourth oldest player to win the award for the first time) and was finally coronated as an NBA star, the culmination of years of carrying subpar Celtics rosters

Scored 26.1 points per game in ’01-’02, third in the NBA (he led the league in total points), and led the Celtics to their first Conference Finals appearance in 14 years

Averaged 25+ points per game in four other seasons, including a career high 26.8 in ’05-‘06

Named to 10 All-Star teams, and finally got his due as 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’08-‘09

Teamed up with Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to reach two NBA Finals, including the 2008 title for which he was named Finals MVP (in a controversial choice over Allen)

His teams reached the playoff 14 times in his 19 NBA seasons

Second in Celtics franchise history in total points behind only John Havlicek, he’s also the all-time team leader in three-point field goals and steals (breaking Larry Bird’s record)

Got his nickname “The Truth” from Shaquille O’Neal after an especially tough Lakers-Celtics battle during the ’00-’01 season

69) Alex English, F, 1976-1991

Scored more points in the ‘80s than any other NBA player

After early career stints with the Bucks and Pacers he was traded to the Nuggets during the ’79-’80 season and spent the rest of the decade piling up points for the team in Doug Moe’s hurry-up offense

Led the NBA in scoring in ’82-’83 with 28.4 points per game, part of a stretch of six consecutive seasons where he finished in the top five in the category; his career high with 29.8 points per game in ’85-‘86

Though his Nuggets teams were prolific and exciting, he and the team were also sieve-like on defense and he tended to be outplayed in the postseason by similar players like San Antonio’s George Gervin and Utah’s Adrian Dantley

Reached the playoffs 10 times, but only as far as the Conference Finals once, in 1985

Denver’s all-time franchise leader in both points and assists, he’s also fourth in rebounds and fifth in blocks

2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and played in eight All-Star Games

68) Wes Unseld, C, 1968-1981

Undersized for a center at 6’7”, but used his wide, stout body to great use especially in boxing out for rebounds, and he was arguably the best passing big man in NBA history

One of just two players, along with Wilt Chamberlain, to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, doing so in ’68-’69; his 13.8 points per game that season are by far the lowest ever for an MVP winner, and his 18.2 rebounds per game were impressive, but didn’t even lead the league

Finished with double-digit rebounds per game in 12 of his 13 seasons, and finished in the top five in the NBA in the category eight times, including leading the league in ’74-’75 with 14.8

Only averaged double-digit points in a second six times, peaking at 16.2 in ’69-‘70

Played his entire career with the Bullets and never missed the playoffs, leading them to the NBA Finals four times, including a championship in 1978

Despite playing on two bad knees and averaging just 9.6 points per game for the series, he won Finals MVP in 1978 as the Bullets defeated the Sonics

Made the All-NBA team just once, in his MVP season, but was named to five All-Star teams

67) Carmelo Anthony, F, 2003-Active (2018 rank: #70)

Likely would have been the #1 pick in almost any other draft after a star one-and-done career at Syracuse, but fell to the Nuggets at #3 behind LeBron James and Darko Milicic

One of the best pure scorers in NBA history, he averaged 20+ points per game in the first 14 seasons of his career, including a career high 28.9 per game in '06-'07 and a league-leading 28.7 per game in '12-'13

In addition to winning the scoring title in '12-'13, he's finished in the top five in the league in five other seasons

Has also averaged six-plus rebounds per game in 11 different seasons, peaking at 8.1 per game in '13-'14

2nd-Team All-NBA twice, a 10-time All-Star, and finished third in MVP voting in '12-'13

Led the Nuggets to their first playoff appearance in nine years in his rookie season in what would be the first of five consecutive first round losses; finally broke through to the Conference Finals with Denver in 2009, losing a tough series to the Lakers

Six-plus seasons with the Knicks after a trade had similar results, with impressive statistics but postseason failure, reaching the second round of the playoffs just once in 2013

Reached the 25,000 point plateau during the '17-'18 season and sits 19th in NBA history

66) Bill Sharman, G, 1950-1961

Bob Cousy’s longtime back court mate and almost a polar opposite to Cousy in his style, bringing a methodical, disciplined excellence to the floor

Starred in three sports at USC and was drafted by the Washington Capitols in 1950; when the team folded before the end of his rookie season he was playing baseball in the Caribbean League when Red Auerbach lured him back with a contract to play for the Celtics

Named 1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and played in eight All-Star Games (winning MVP of the 1955 edition)

One of the NBA’s top back court scorers of the ‘50s, peaking at 22.3 points per game in ’57-’58, as he was one of the first players to recognize the usefulness of the backboard when shooting; became the first guard to shoot better than 40% from the field in a season

Led the NBA in free throw percentage seven times; his career high of 93.2% in ’58-’59 stood as the league single season record for almost two full decades

Was 30 years old when he finally won his first title with the Celtics in Bill Russell’s rookie year, ’56-’57, and eventually won four championships before retiring in 1961

65) Sidney Moncrief, G, 1979-1991

Maybe the most underrated player of the league's most talented decade, the '80s, he was the team leader of arguably the decade’s most underrated team, the Bucks, and he’s the second highest ranked player on our list who is Hall of Fame eligible but not yet inducted
Led Milwaukee to three Conference Finals, losing to the 76ers in 1983 and the Celtics in 1984 and 1986, and reached the second round of the playoffs four other times
The only guard to win multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, with back-to-back victories in ’82-’83 and ’83-‘84
Named 1st-Team All-NBA in ’82-’83 (when he finished fourth in MVP voting), 2nd-Team All-NBA four times, 1st-Team All-Defensive four times, and an All-Star five times
Never among the league leaders in any major statistical category but consistently solid, averaging 20+ points, four-plus assists, four-plus rebounds, and one-plus steals per game in four straight seasons in his prime
Extremely efficient on offense, he led the league in offensive rating in ’80-’81 and finished in the top five in three other seasons
Made the playoffs in all 11 seasons he played, 10 with the Bucks and then one final year with the Hawks

64) Jerry Lucas, F, 1963-1974

Blessed with 20/10 eyesight and a supposed photographic memory, he was destined for stardom and drafted by the Royals before he even attended college at Ohio State

By the time he finally reached the NBA in 1963, he already had a star college career, a stint in the ABL with George Steinbrenner’s Cleveland Pipers, and a gold medal from the 1960 Olympics

Averaged a double-double in each of his first nine seasons, including two seasons where he averaged 20+ points and 20+ rebounds per game, peaking at 21.5 points and 21.1 rebounds per game in ’65-‘66

1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, an All-Star seven times, and Rookie of the Year for ’63-‘64

Led the NBA in field goal percentage in his rookie season

Partnered well on the court with star teammate Oscar Robertson, but off the court Robertson was resentful of his popularity; the Royals regularly reached the playoffs behind their two stars, but were continually defeated by the Celtics and 76ers

Eventually wound up with the Knicks where he backed up Willis Reed at center, reaching the NBA Finals twice, and in 1973 becoming the first player to win titles at the high school, college, Olympic, and NBA levels (Quinn Buckner and Magic Johnson have since joined him on that list)

63) Robert Parish, C, 1976-1997

Played in an NBA record 1,611 games over a 21-year career, 14 of which were spent with the Celtics

Incredibly consistent throughout the entire ‘80s, averaging 17.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game during the decade

Averaged a double-double in 10 different seasons, and is eighth in NBA history in total rebounds

Also an excellent defender, his non-flashy one-on-one stoutness was crucial in playoff matchups against Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Finished fourth in MVP voting in ’81-’82 and was named 2nd-Team All-NBA, played in nine All-Star Games

Played in all five Celtics NBA Finals appearances of the Larry Bird era, winning three titles; he was fourth in playoff scoring and second in rebounding on the ’80-’81 title team, and third in scoring and second in rebounding on the ’83-’84 title team

Played his final season with the Bulls in ’96-’97, earning a fourth title ring as the third-string center

Nicknamed “Chief” due to his stoic demeanor that reminded teammates of the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest character

62) Kevin McHale, F, 1980-1993

He wasn't much to look at, and like a reverse David Robinson was nobody's idea of the ideal basketball body, but it belied his sneaky athleticism and bevy of post moves

Drafted by the Celtics in 1980 and came off the bench for the better part of six seasons, winning Sixth Man of the Year in ’83-’84 and ’84-‘85

Averaged 20+ points per game for four straight years after entering the starting lineup, peaking at 26.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in ’86-’87 (the same season he became the only player ever to shot over 60% from the field and over 80% from the free throw line)

Named 1st-Team All-NBA and was fourth in MVP voting in ’86-’87; was named 1st-Team All-Defensive three times, and was a seven-time All-Star

Along with Larry Bird and Robert Parish he was part of all five Celtics NBA Finals teams in the ‘80s, with three titles won; he was second in scoring, third in rebounding, and first in blocks on the legendary ’85-’86 team

Played valiantly through foot and ankle injuries his whole career, which ultimately limited him to just 13 seasons

Led the NBA in field goal percentage in two consecutive seasons

61) Chris Webber, F, 1993-2008

According to our list, he’s the greatest player who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not yet inducted, likely due to the continued perception that he lacked focus and never reached his potential as a result
1st-Team All-NBA in ’00-’01 (while finishing fourth in MVP voting), 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, an All-Star five times, and Rookie of the Year for ’93-‘94
Averaged 20+ points per game for nine straight seasons, and double-digit rebounds per game in six of those seasons, peaking at 27.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game in ’00-’01 for the Kings
Led the NBA in rebounds per game with 13.0 in ’98-‘99
Though his early years with the Warriors and Bullets were heavy on stats but light on team success, his stint with the Kings was arguably the best stretch in franchise history since the early ‘50s; Sacramento reached the playoffs in all six seasons he was there, making it as far as the 2002 Conference Finals, and has just nine other playoff appearances in the last 50 years
Though games six and seven of the 2002 Conference Finals was a missed opportunity for the Kings, it was certainly not his fault, as he finished each of those games with a near triple-double

60) Tiny Archibald, G, 1970-1984

Put together one of the greatest single seasons ever by a guard, in ’72-’73, when he became the only player to lead the league in scoring and assists, at 34.0 and 11.4 per game, respectively (only Russell Westbrook has really come close since)

As much as his incredible stats define so does his inability to carry the Royals to playoff success, especially in that ’72-’73 season when they couldn’t even reach the postseason despite his individual heroics

Also finished second in the league in scoring in ’71-’72 (28.2 points per game), fourth in ’74-’75 (26.5) and fourth in ’75-’76 (24.8)

Born Nate and nicknamed “Tiny” for good reason, he was overlooked coming out of UTEP and, in a possibly apocryphal story, drafted by Kings general manager Bob Cousy sight unseen, and when Cousy finally met his new miniature point guard, he supposedly thought he had accidentally drafted an eighth grader

1st-Team All-NBA three, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, finished in the top five in MVP voting twice, and was named to six All-Star teams

After making the playoffs just once in his first eight seasons (a first round loss with the Kings in 1975), he missed an entire year with a torn Achilles and came back as a role player for the Celtics, winning a title in ’80-’81 as their starting point guard and third-leading playoff scorer

59) Hal Greer, G, 1958-1973

Played his high school ball in West Virginia during the final vestiges of segregation, then became the first black athlete ever to receive a scholarship at Marshall

Drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in 1958, who moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers in 1963, and spent his entire 15-year career with the franchise

Incredibly consistent, he averaged at least 19.6 points, 3.8 assists, and 4.7 rebounds for 10 consecutive seasons, while playing in the full slate of games in seven of those seasons; he peaked in scoring in ’67-’78 with 24.1 points per game

2nd-Team All-NBA for seven straight seasons, and an All-Star for 10 straight

Played in the postseason 13 times with the Nationals and 76ers

On the all-time great ’66-’67 76ers team that won the title, he was the leading playoff scorer with 27.7 points per game, and second in assists; he averaged

Philadelphia’s all-time franchise leader in total points, and is second in assists and sixth in rebounds

Shot 80.1% from the free throw line for his career, and 45.2% from the field, which was extremely high for a guard of his era

58) Artis Gilmore, C, 1971-1988

Led Jacksonville to a surprise appearance in the 1970 Final Four, but drew limited interest from the NBA and instead dominated the ABA in his early years

Won both Rookie of the Year and MVP in ’71-’72, and was 1st-Team All-ABA all five years he was in the league; led the ABA in rebounds per game four times, peaking at 18.3 in ’73-‘74

Reached two ABA Finals with the Kentucky Colonels, winning the 1975 title

Selected by the Bulls with the top pick in 1976 ABA dispersal draft, “Big A” immediately became their top scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker

Led the NBA in field goal percentage four times, and his 59.9% career mark is the all-time record amongst non-active players

Never named to an All-NBA team, but was top 10 in MVP voting three times, and was named to six NBA All-Star teams in addition to five ABA All-Star appearances

When taking into account both ABA and NBA stats, he’s fifth all-time in career rebounds, fourth in blocks, and 26th in points

Never made it further than the Conference Finals in the NBA, reaching it with the Spurs in 1983 and then as a third string center with the Celtics in 1988

57) Dennis Johnson, PG, 1976-1990

Remade himself twice during his career, starting as a dynamic combo guard for the Sonics, then a scoring leader for the Suns, then a defensive specialist for the Celtics

Cut from his high school team and was driving a forklift for a living when he finally got a chance with Los Angeles Harbor College and eventually moved on to Pepperdine, where he caught the eye of Sonics general manager Bill Russell

Played in back-to-back NBA Finals with Seattle, struggling in the 1978 loss to the Bullets (including an 0-of-14 performance in game seven), then starring in the 1979 rematch victory and winning Finals MVP

Traded to the Celtics in 1983 and played in four straight NBA Finals, including titles in 1984 and 1986

1st-Team All-NBA in ’80-’81, 1st-Team All-Defensive six times, and a five-time All-Star

Magic Johnson called him the greatest defender he ever faced and Larry Bird called him his all-time greatest teammate, but it took 14 years for him to get inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010; it was unfortunately a posthumous honor as he passed away in 2007

56) Bob McAdoo, C, 1972-1986

Maybe the best pure shooting center in league history, with a dangerous mid-range jumper and a bevy of post moves

Brought instant legitimacy to the nascent Buffalo Braves franchise when they drafted him second overall in 1972; won Rookie of the Year and led the team to three straight playoff appearances

Won three straight scoring titles, with 30.6 points per game in ’73-’74 (when he also became the last player to average 30+ points and 15+ rebounds in a season), 34.5 in ’74-’75 (a total that only Michael Jordan in ’86-’87 has surpassed since), and 31.1 in ’75-‘76

MVP of the ’74-’75 season and finished second in voting in ’73-’74 and ’75-’76, but was 1st-Team All-NBA just once and 2nd-Team All-NBA just once

With the Braves cleaning house in anticipation of a move to San Diego, he was traded to the Knicks during the ’76-’77 season and started to struggle with injuries and attitude and was never an MVP contender-level player again

Remade himself late in his career as a bench scoring specialist for the Lakers, backing up his former rival Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center, and played in four NBA Finals, winning titles in 1982 and 1985

55) Billy Cunningham, F, 1965-1976

Able to be effective at both forward positions, he rivals John Havlicek as the original quintessential sixth man

Though he was coming off the bench, he was as crucial as anyone not named Wilt Chamberlain to the title run of the one of the greatest teams of all time, the ’66-’67 76ers

After taking over in the starting lineup in ’68-’69, he averaged 23+ points and 11+ rebounds per game over the next four seasons, peaking in ’69-’70 with 26.1 points and 13.6 rebounds

1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, a four-time All-Star, and finished third in MVP voting in ’68-‘69

Joined the Carolina Cougars of the ABA in ’72-’73 and won league MVP while leading the franchise to its only Conference Finals appearance

Reunited with the 76ers in 1974 and essentially picked up where he left off, but blew out his knee early in the ’75-’76 season and was forced to retire

Eventually took over as coach of the 76ers, and led them to another NBA title in 1983

54) Tom Heinsohn, F, 1956-1965

Has represented Celtics basketball for six decades and counting, from his playing days to his coaching days to his still ongoing gig handing out “Tommy points” for hustle plays as a TV analyst and announcer

Lasted just nine seasons as a player (which is unsurprising considering his infamous disregard for conditioning or diet), starting as a fellow rookie with Bill Russell in ’56-’57, and played in the NBA Finals in every season

Only Russell and Sam Jones have won more titles than his eight

A versatile scorer who was also tough on defense, he was one of the most respected power forwards of his era

Led Boston in scoring during the ’59-’60, ’60-’61, and ’61-’62 (with a career high 22.1 points per game) title seasons; also averaged double-digit rebounds in two seasons

2nd-Team All-NBA four times and a six-time All-Star

Beat out his teammate Russell to win Rookie of the Year for ’56-’57, though racism almost certainly played a part in that decision

53) Tony Parker, G, 2001-2019

Belgian-born and French-raised, he first came onto the scene when he dominated the 2000 Nike Amateur Hoops Summit and supposedly almost signed a letter of intent with UCLA before opting to instead turn pro in France

Immediately became San Antonio's starting point guard in his rookie season, '01-'02, and seemed overwhelmed at times, especially in a second round playoff loss against the Lakers, but the Spurs wisely stuck with him

Held the starting point guard position for 16 seasons for the Spurs, during which time they reached five NBA Finals and won four titles in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014

Peaked statistically with his scoring in '08-'09 with 22.0 points per game, and with his passing in '11-'12 with 7.7 assists per game

2nd-Team All-NBA three times, a six-time All-Star, and finished as high as fifth in MVP voting in '11-'12

Named Finals MVP in 2007, when he dominated the Cavs with 57 total points in the first two games en route to a sweep

Far-and-away the Spurs' all-time total assists leader

52) George Mikan, C, 1948-1956

The best professional basketball player in the league's first ten years was a bespectacled awkward giant, who loped around the court like an Apatosaurus and could barely jump over a sheet of paper
Played just six NBA seasons, and was 1st-Team All-NBA at center each season; would have also won multiple MVP (and Finals MVP) awards if it existed
After leading the Lakers to the final NBL title in 1947, he carried them to five NBA titles in six years after merging into the league, and only lost in the Conference Finals in 1951 due to an injury
Led the NBA in scoring in his first three seasons, peaking at 28.3 points per game in ’48-’49, and led the league in rebounding twice, peaking at 14.4 per game in ’52-’53; also led the league in defensive win shares five times and PER three times
The first player to average 25+ points per game in a season, and the first player to total over 10,000 points for their career
Was so overwhelming at both the NCAA and NBA levels that each organization had to change its rules to dull his dominance, and he retired as a result in 1954, just as the new athleticism of the league was passing him by

51) Tracy McGrady, G/F, 1997-2013

Came to the Raptors as the seventh pick in 1997, straight out of high school, and soon found himself paired with Vince Carter as an explosive duo that never reached full potential; he spent just three years in Toronto before his star turn with the Magic

Won the scoring title in back-to-back seasons, with 32.1 points per game in ’02-’03 and 28.0 in ’03-’04; averaged 24+ points per game for seven straight years before starting to struggle with injuries

1st-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and a seven-time All-Star

Traded to the Rockets in 2004, where he teamed up with Yao Ming but started to struggle with injuries that slowed him for the rest of his career

In his first eight playoff appearances, one with the Raptors, three with the Magic, three with the Rockets, and one with the Hawks, his teams never advanced past the first round; in 2003 he averaged 31.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in almost carrying the eighth-seeded Magic to a stunning first round upset of the Pistons

Finally got to experience the Conference Finals and NBA Finals in 2013, when he signed with the Spurs late in the season and then retired after they lost to Miami in the Finals

50) Paul Arizin, F, 1950-1962

Played just 10 seasons in the NBA, all of them with the Philadelphia Warriors, and unfortunately lost two years in his prime due to serving in the U.S. Marines

Led the NBA in scoring twice, with 25.4 points per game in ’51-’52 (making him the second player to ever average 25+ points in a season after George Mikan) and 25.6 in ’56-’57

Had a longtime rivalry with Dolph Schayes of the Syracuse Nationals, with the two facing off regularly in the postseason

Led the Warriors to the 1956 title with 28.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game during the playoffs

1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once; finished second in MVP voting in ’55-’56 and third in ’56-‘57

Became just the second player to be named to 10 All-Star teams (Schayes had accomplished it just two years before) and is one of just three players to play in 10 or more seasons and make the All-Star team every year of his career (along with Jerry West and Bob Pettit)

Averaged 20+ points per game in every season except his rookie one and could have continued playing effectively into the mid ‘60s, but opted to retire instead of leaving his native Philadelphia when the Warriors moved to San Francisco in 1962

49) Willis Reed, C, 1964-1974

Had his signature moment in game seven of the 1970 NBA Finals, when he hobbled out of the locker room to play the first few minutes on a severe thigh tear, sparking the Knicks to their first title in franchise history

Won both MVP and Finals MVP in 1970, one of just 10 players in league history to do so; was also Finals MVP in 1973, becoming the first player to win the award multiple times

During his brief prime, which lasted just five seasons starting in '66-'67, he averaged 21.1 points and 14.0 rebounds per game and was an underrated defender

Also won Rookie of the Year in '64-'65, All-Star Game MVP in 1970, and finished second in MVP voting in '68-'69

1st-Team All-NBA just once, in his '69-'70 MVP year, 2nd-Team All-NBA four times, and an All-Star seven times

New York arguably could have also won the 1972 NBA Finals if he hadn't missed most of the season with a knee injury

Played just 650 career games over 10 seasons, the lowest total of any player in the top 50 of our list, including the active ones

48) Walt Frazier, G, 1967-1980

Arguably the catalyst and true heart of early '70s Knicks, even though Willis Reed is the one that won MVP and Finals MVP awards
Led Southern Illinois to a surprise NIT championship in 1967, catching the eye of pro scouts at Madison Square Garden and leading to the Knicks drafting him fifth overall
Averaged 20+ points and six-plus assists per game for six straight seasons in his prime, peaking in '71-'72 with 23.2 points and 6.7 assists per game
Definitively the premier point guard of the '70s, he was 1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, a seven-time All-Star (and was MVP of the 1975 edition), and finished as high as fourth in MVP voting in '69-'70
Named 1st-Team All-Defensive seven straight seasons, second all-time amongst point guards behind only Gary Payton; probably would have won Defensive Player of the Year at least once if it existed in his era
Played in three NBA Finals with the Knicks, winning titles in 1970 and 1973, and arguably could have won Finals MVP in 1970 but was overlooked in favor of Reed's heroic comeback from injury
Part of the famed "Rolls Royce Back Court" with Earl Monroe, he was truly a stylistic icon, also gaining the nickname "Clyde" for his affinity for Clyde Darrow-style hats

47) Sam Jones, G, 1957-1969

Only player in NBA history from North Carolina Central University, and didn't reach the league until age 24 due to military obligations

Drafted by the Celtics in 1957 when they were fresh off their first title, and in his 12-year career played in 11 NBA Finals, winning 10 titles

Took over Boston's starting shooting guard position from Bill Sharman during the '60-'61 season and held it for the rest of the decade

Nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" for his big game heroics, most notably in game four of the 1969 NBA Finals, when he hit the game winner and possibly saved the series for the Celtics, who were on the verge of falling behind three games to one

2nd-Team All-NBA three times, an All-Star five times, and finished in the top five of MVP voting twice; also had a reputation as one of the best defenders of his era

Averaged 20+ points per game for three straight seasons late in his career, peaking at 25.9 per game in '64-'65

Boston's leading playoff scorer in the 1964, 1965, and 1966 title seasons

His 10 championships stand second only to his longtime teammate, Bill Russell

46) Dave Cowens, C, 1970-1983

Had an aloof mien and oddball off-court behavior that belied an on-court intensity that few others could match
Wasn't considered a first round talent by most teams out of Florida State in 1970, but Red Auerbach, on a recommendation from Bill Russell, rightfully recognized a potential heir to Russell's center position
MVP in '72-'73, and finished in the top five in voting in each of the three subsequent seasons
2nd-Team All-NBA three times (including his MVP season), 1st-Team All-Defensive in '75-'76, an All-Star eight times, and Rookie of the Year for '70-'71
Teamed up with Jo Jo White and John Havlicek to lead the Celtics back to prominence after a two-year post-Russell swoon, winning championships in 1974 and 1976
Averaged 16+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in each of his first eight seasons, peaking with career highs in his '72-'73 MVP season with 20.5 points and 16.2 rebounds per game; also averaged four-plus assists per game six times
Never led the NBA in rebounding, but finished in the top three in the category five times
Sat out the beginning of the '76-'77 season in protest of managerial decisions by the Celtics, and managed his family Christmas Tree farm in Kentucky until management balked; could have continued with the Celtics past 1980 and won some more titles, but didn't want to be Robert Parish's backup

45) Dominique Wilkins, F, 1982-1999

Spent 15 seasons in the NBA, and was one of the league's best players almost the entire time, but never played in the Conference Finals, let alone the NBA Finals

In fact, his teams reached the second round of the playoffs just three times, in three straight years with Atlanta starting in 1986

His performance in the 1988 second round series against the Celtics is legendary, almost single-handedly willing the Hawks to a huge upset by outplaying Larry Bird

1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA four times, a nine-time All-Star, and finished second in MVP voting in '85-'86

Drafted by the Jazz third overall in 1982, but refused to play in Salt Lake City and was traded to the Hawks, with whom he spent the next 11 seasons (one can only imagine what a Wilkins-Karl Malone-John Stockton team might have accomplished)

Averaged 25+ points per game for nine straight seasons, including his scoring title with 30.3 points per game in '85-'86, and his career high 30.7 points per game in '87-'88 (he finished second in scoring that year to Michael Jordan)

13th in NBA history in total points, with over 26,000, and surpassed Bob Pettit for the Hawks franchise record in the category

44) Clyde Drexler, G, 1983-1998

First came to prominence with the Phi Slamma Jamma team at Houston, and played limited minutes in the 1983 NCAA Championship Game upset at the hands of N.C. State, due to foul trouble

Fell to the 14th pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, as teams were concerned about him skipping his senior year

Spent his first 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers team that drafted him, and is the franchise's all-time leader in points and steals, and is second in assists and rebounds

Known now as a scorer first, he was actually well-rounded his entire career, averaging 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per game over the course of his 15 seasons with the Blazers and Rockets

1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, an All-Star 10 times, and finished in the top five in MVP voting twice, in '87-'88 and '91-'92

Played in two NBA Finals with Portland, a loss to the Pistons in 1990 (where he was shut down throughout the series by Joe Dumars) and a loss to the Bulls in 1992 (where he played well head-to-head against Michael Jordan, but his teammates struggled)

Asked for a trade when the Blazers were rebuilding, and was dealt to Houston in 1994, where he reunited with his college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon and finally won a title in 1995

43) James Harden, G, 2009-Active (2018 rank: #52)

League MVP in '17-'18, he also finished second in voting in '14-'15, '16-'17, and '18-'19
Named Sixth Man of the Year in '11-'12
Became the 13th player in NBA history to win back-to-back scoring titles in '17-'18 and '18-'19; also finished second in the NBA in scoring in the three seasons prior
His 36.1 points per game in '18-'19 was the second-highest post-merger mark, trailing only Michael Jordan's 37.1 points per game in '86-'87
Led the NBA in assists in '16-'17 with a career high 11.2 per game, almost becoming just the second player in league history after Tiny Archibald to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season
After three years as a tertiary option off the bench for the Thunder, he was traded to the Rockets in 2012 and became a superstar, averaging 25+ points per game in each of the seven seasons since
Played in the 2012 NBA Finals with Oklahoma City, and has led the Rockets to Conference Finals in 2015 and 2018
1st-Team All-NBA five times, and an All-Star seven times
Has led the NBA in win shares each of the last three seasons, and in free throw attempts each of the last five seasons

42) George Gervin, G, 1972-1986

Listed as 6'7" and only 180 pounds, he was overlooked by NBA scouts due to his svelte stature and getting out of Eastern Michigan for punching an opponent during a game

In a possibly apocryphal story, he was signed by the Virginia Squires of the ABA after attending one of their games, criticizing their lack of long range shooting to the team's general manager, then stepping onto the court after the game and hitting 18-of-20 three-pointers

Spent just shy of two seasons with the Squires before getting dealt in a shady deal to the Spurs, with whom he'd play for the next 11 seasons, three in the ABA and eight in the NBA

1st-Team All-NBA five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-ABA twice, a 12-time All-Star across both leagues, and finished in the top three in NBA MVP voting for three consecutive seasons starting in '77-'78

Could score from basically anywhere on the floor, including his patented finger roll, and won the NBA scoring title four times, peaking at 33.1 points per game in '79-'80 (he clinched the scoring title in '77-'78 by scoring 63 points in his final game to edge out David Thompson)

Nicknamed "Ice" for his calm demeanor under pressure, but never reached the NBA Finals, making it as far as the Conference Finals in 1979, 1982, and 1983 (he was the greatest player never to reach the Finals for a long time before getting passed recently by Steve Nash and Chris Paul)

41) Isiah Thomas, G, 1981-1994

A career defined by so many successes, but also three key failures: his errant in-bounds pass that was stolen by Larry Bird and swung the 1987 Conference Finals to the Celtics, his refusal to shake Michael Jordan's hand after losing in the 1991 Conference Finals, and his lack of invitation to join the Dream Team

Named to the All-Star team in his first 12 seasons, he was also 1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and finished as high as fifth in MVP voting in '83-'84

Led the NBA in assists per game in '84-'85 with 13.9, a single season mark that only John Stockton has surpassed in NBA history; his 9.3 assists per game for his career is fourth in league history behind only Stockton, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson

Averaged 18+ points per game nine times in his career, peaking at 22.9 per game in '82-'83; averaged 20+ points and 10+ assists per game for four straight seasons starting in '83-'84

Heart and soul of the "Bad Boy" Pistons, he led them to five consecutive Conference Finals, three NBA Finals, and titles in 1989 and 1990, winning Finals MVP in the latter when he averaged 27.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game in a series victory over Portland

Detroit's all-time franchise leader in points, assists, steals, field goals, and free throws

One of just seven members of the 9,000 career assists club

Also missed out on a chance to play on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team due to the boycott, and the 1994 U.S. World Championship team due to an Achilles' tear that ended his career

40) Russell Westbrook, G, 2008-Active (2018 rank: #47)

Achieved the seemingly impossible in '16-'17, becoming just the second player in league history, joining Oscar Robertson in '63-'64, to average a triple-double over the course of a season

He then repeated the feat in '17-'18 and '18-'19, becoming the first player in league history to do it multiple times

MVP of the '16-'17 season and has finished in the top five in voting in three other seasons; 1st-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-NBA five times, and an eight-time All-Star

Won the scoring title in '14-'15 with 28.1 points per game and in '16-'17 with a career high 31.6 points per game, and has led the NBA in assists per game each of the last two seasons

Helped the Thunder reach the NBA Finals in 2012 but his teams have struggled in the postseason ever since; will look to break from that pattern with the Rockets in '19-'20 after a trade reunited him with James Harden

Led UCLA to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2007 and 2008, and was a member of the gold medal winning U.S. Olympic team in 2012

39) Stephen Curry, G, 2009-Active (2018 rank: #46)

Won league MVP in '14-'15 and '15-'16, becoming just the fourth guard in league history to win it in back-to-back seasons, joining Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Steve Nash

Even though he was the son of a former Sixth Man of the Year award winner (Dell) and a star at his North Carolina high school, he went ignored by the major college programs and spent his NCAA career at Davidson

Has averaged 20+ points per game each of the last seven seasons, with a career high of 30.1 in '15-'16 that led the league

Electrifies fans with his dribbling and passing skills, and has basically rewritten the sport with his long range shooting; has already annihilated several three-point shooting records, including the most three-point field goals in one season, and is already third in NBA history in total three-point field goals heading into the '19-'20 season and will almost assuredly soon pass Reggie Miller for second

Teaming up with Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and later Kevin Durant, he's led the Warriors to five consecutive NBA Finals, winning titles in three of them

1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and an All-Star six times

Led the NBA in three-point field goals for five straight seasons, and has also led the league in free throw percentage four times, and his 90.5% career mark is first in league history

38) Elvin Hayes, F, 1968-1984

Played exactly 50,000 minutes in 1,303 NBA games over 16 years, never missing more than two games in any season, compiling 27,313 points (10th all-time) and 16,279 rebounds (fourth all-time)
Named to the All-Star team in each of his first 12 NBA seasons, he was also 1st-Team All-NBA three times and 2nd-Team All-NBA three times
Was a focused honor student early on and didn't even pick up a basketball until 8th grade, but dominated on his high school team and starred at Houston, where he dueled Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1968 "Game of the Century"
Led the NBA in scoring with 28.4 points per game in his rookie season with the San Diego Rockets, but missed out on the Rookie of the Year award to his future Bullets teammate Wes Unseld
Averaged 25+ points and 14+ rebounds per game in each of his first four NBA seasons, and averaged 19+ points and 11+ rebounds per game in each of his first 12 seasons
Traded to the Bullets in 1972 and played in three NBA Finals with the franchise, including a title win in 1978 when he arguably should have won Finals MVP over Unseld
Led the NBA in rebounds per game twice, including a career-high 18.1 in '74-'75; he's one of just four players in league history to average 18+ rebounds in a season
Finished third in MVP voting in '74-'75 and '78-'79

37) Dwight Howard, C, 2004-Active (2018 rank: #38)

We're not excited about this either, but the numbers don't lie

Placed in the top five in MVP voting for four straight seasons starting in '07-'08, finishing as high as second behind Derrick Rose in '10-'11

1st-Team All-NBA five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, 1st-Team All-Defensive four times, and an All-Star eight times

The only player to win Defensive Player of the Year three straight seasons

Led the NBA in rebounds per game five times, peaking at 14.5 per game in '11-'12, in blocks per game twice, in defensive win shares four times, and in field goal percentage once

Only 18 years old when he debuted with the Magic in 2004, but was good enough already to be named 1st-Team All-Rookie

Spent his first eight seasons with Orlando and was undoubtedly the face of the franchise and arguably the greatest player in its history; he is their all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks

Carried the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals with an incredible playoff performance, averaging 20.3 points and 15.3 rebounds per game

Averaged 20+ points and 14+ rebounds per game in three different seasons

Later career stops with the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Hornets, and Wizards have brought diminishing returns and sullied his reputation

36) Gary Payton, G, 1990-2007

"The Glove" was arguably the greatest defensive point guard of all time, depending on your feelings on Sidney Moncrief's natural position, and won Defensive Player of the Year in '95-'96

1st-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-NBA five times, 1st-Team All-Defensive nine times (tied for the all-time record) and an All-Star nine times

Never finished higher than third in MVP voting, but did place in the top 10 for seven consecutive seasons, starting in '93-'94

Had a stretch of eight consecutive seasons where he averaged 19+ points, seven-plus assists, four-plus rebounds, and 1.5+ steals per game

Led the NBA in steals per game in '95-'96

Reached the NBA Finals with Seattle in 1996, where he put on arguably the toughest defensive performance Michael Jordan ever faced in a Finals; after a failed attempt to win an elusive ring with the Lakers in 2004, he finally earned it age 37 with the Heat in 2006

Eighth in NBA history in career assists, and fourth in career steals, compiled over a 17-year career with the Sonics, Bucks, Lakers, Celtics, and Heat

35) Jason Kidd, G, 1994-2013

Second behind John Stockton in career assists and one of just two players to compile over 12,000; also second behind Stockton in career steals with 2,684

Led the NBA in assists per game five times in a six-year stretch, peaking at 10.8 per game in '98-'99; maybe most impressively averaged double-digit assists at age 34, with 10.1 per game in '07-'08

Drafted second overall by the Mavericks in 1994 and won Rookie of the Year but struggled to gel with fellow stars Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn; part of three blockbuster trades during his long prime, from Dallas to Phoenix in 1996, from Phoenix to New Jersey in 2001, and from New Jersey back to Dallas in 2008

Finished as high as second in MVP voting in '01-'02, was 1st-Team All-NBA five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, 1st-Team All-Defensive four times, and an All-Star 10 times

Carried the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, and later won a title late in his career as the starting point guard for the '10-'11 Mavericks

Shot just 40% from the field in his career, and averaged 18+ points per game just one in his career, in '02-'03 with New Jersey

34) Steve Nash, G, 1996-2014

Won back-to-back controversial MVP awards in '04-'05 (just barely ahead of Shaquille O'Neal) and '05-'06 (edging out LeBron James), and arguably deserved it a third time in '06-'07 but finished in second just behind Dirk Nowitzki

The NBA's assist leader five times and finished with 11+ assists per game in four of those seasons, peaking at 11.6 per game in '06-'07

Shot 90.4% from the free throw line in his career, passing up Mark Price for the all-time league record; led the NBA in the category just twice, but finished in the top five 11 times

Suffering a seemingly endless string of playoff woes, starting with a loss with Dallas in the 2003 Conference Finals (when Nowitzki missed half the series with an injury), losses with Phoenix in the 2005 Conference Finals against the Spurs (with Joe Johnson hurt), the 2006 Conference Finals against his former Mavs teammates (with Amare Stoudemire hurt), the 2007 second round again against the Spurs (with a controversial suspension of Stoudemire), and the 2010 Conference Finals against the Lakers

1st-Team All-NBA there times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and an eight-time All-Star

Was passed up just this last season by Chris Paul as the greatest player in NBA history to never reach the NBA Finals

33) Rick Barry, F, 1965-1980

Made a curious decision in 1967, right as he was establishing himself as the NBA's newest superstar, sitting out a season (due to the reserve clause) so that he could join the Oakland Oaks of the ABA in '68-'69; probably would be at least in the top 25 of this list if he had just stayed with the Warriors
The NBA scoring champion for '66-'67 with 35.6 points per game, the seventh-highest total of all-time, and the highest by any player besides Wilt Chamberlain or Michael Jordan
Also finished second in the ABA in scoring in '71-'72 (with 31.5 points per game) and second in the NBA in '74-'75 (with 30.6 points per game)
Never won MVP in either league, but finished in the top five in voting in the NBA and ABA three times apiece
NBA Finals MVP in 1975 when he averaged 29.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.5 steals per game as the Warriors upset the Bullets in a sweep; also led the Warriors to the 1967 NBA Finals and the New York Nets to the 1972 ABA Finals
1st-Team All-NBA five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, 1st-Team All-ABA four times, and a 12-time All-Star across both leagues
With a unique under-hand style, he led the NBA in free throw percentage six times, including a 94.7% shooting mark in '78-'79 that set the league single-season record (it's since been knocked down to seventh all-time)
Has five sons that have played basketball professionally, three of them in the NBA: Jon (#802 on this list), Brent (#503), and Drew (#2785)

32) John Stockton, G, 1984-2003

Mr. Unspectacular but Reliable, he was never the league's best or most exciting player, but for 19 seasons he was a consistent force, missing just 22 total games

2nd-Team All-NBA six times, but 1st-Team All-NBA just twice, in the two seasons that Michael Jordan was playing baseball; never finished higher than seventh in MVP voting

Led the NBA in assists per game for nine straight seasons (breaking Bob Cousy's record of eight straight seasons), and in steals per game twice

Holds five of the six highest assists per game totals in a single season, including his NBA record 14.5 per game in '89-'90; he's the only player to average 14+ assists per game in a season and the only one to average 13+ per game in multiple seasons

The all-time NBA assist king with 15,806 in his career, and is also the league's all-time leader in steals with 3,265

Teamed up with Karl Malone to lead Utah to 19 straight playoff appearances, three of which ended with Conference Finals losses (1992 to the Blazers, 1994 to the Rockets, and 1996 to the Sonics) and two with NBA Finals losses (1997 and 1998 to the Bulls)

Named to 10 All-Star teams

31) Chris Paul, G, 2005-Active (2018 rank: #31)

Fell to the Hornets with the fourth pick in 2005, which was a surprise then that has only exacerbated every year since
Won Rookie of the Year and brought legitimacy to a Hornets franchise struggling in the wake of Hurricane Katrina; he eventually led them to their first playoff series victory in 2008 (they've had just one more since)
Led the NBA in assists per game four times, peaking at 11.6 in '07-'08, and in steals per game six times, peaking at 2.8 in '08-'09
Averaged 21.9 points, 11.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game over a two year stretch in '07-'08 and '08-'09, one of the best by a point guard in league history
1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, 1st-Team All-Defensive seven times, an All-Star nine times, and finished as high as second in MVP voting in '07-'08
Traded to the Clippers in 2011 after a deal with the Lakers fell through, and led the once moribund franchise to six straight playoff appearances but never past the second round
Traded again to the Rockets in 2017 and finally reached the Conference Finals in 2018 when a hamstring injury held him out of the last two games of the series as Houston fell to the Warriors
Seventh in NBA history in total assists, and ninth in steals

30) Dolph Schayes, F, 1949-1964

Doesn't usually get mentioned in the same breath as George Mikan, but had an empirically more impressive career and was arguably just as influential on the power forward position
Unlike most of his peers, he lasted 15 seasons in the NBA and was able to remain effective even after Bill Russell entered the league and changed everything
The first player to total over 10,000 career rebounds and the first player to total over 15,000 career points, he held the NBA all-time record in both categories for several years (broken by Russell and Bob Pettit, respectively)
1st-Team All-NBA six times, 2nd-Team All-NBA six times, an All-Star 12 times, and finished in the top five in MVP voting for three consecutive seasons, including second place behind Russell in '57-'58
When rebounds started getting counted in '50-'51, he was the first player to lead the league in the category, with 16.4 per game
Averaged 17+ points and 12+ rebounds per game in 10 of his 15 NBA seasons
Spent his entire career with the Syracuse Nationals, including one final season in Philadelphia after they moved there and became the 76ers, and the team reached the playoffs in each season except the last one
Would have won Finals MVP in 1955 if the award existed, as he dominated the Pistons to lead the Nationals to their first title; also led the team to tough NBA Finals losses against Mikan's Lakers in 1950 and 1954, and to the Conference Finals in 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1959, and 1961

29) Dwyane Wade, G, 2003-2019

Almost immediately galvanized the Heat into title contenders after they drafted him fifth overall out of Marquette in 2003, he led them to the Conference Finals in just his second season in 2005, but suffered from the flu and muscle strains as they lost to the Pistons

Dominated the 2006 NBA Finals, averaged 39.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 steals per game as the Heat defeated the Mavericks (with an obvious assist from the referees)

Eventually played in five NBA Finals with the Heat, winning titles in three of them

Led the NBA in scoring in '08-'09 with a career high 30.2 points per game (he also averaged 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.2 steals per game); finished in the top five in points per game in three other seasons

1st-Team All-NBA twice, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, an All-Star 12 times, and finished third in MVP voting in '08-'09

Accepted his role as second banana to LeBron James for four years but is no doubt the ultimate Heat star; he's the franchise's all-time leader in games played, points, assists, and steals

28) Scottie Pippen, F, 1987-2004

Could be argued to be the most overrated player of all-time or the most underrated player of all-time, depending on who you ask, but is definitively a prototype for the current crop of two-way superstar small forwards
Incredibly well-rounded, his stat lines include a nine-year stretch in his prime when he averaged 16+ points, five-plus rebounds, five-plus assists, and 1.5+ steals per game each season
Part of six Bulls titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998, and was undeniably the second best player on each of those teams after Michael Jordan
Had his best season in '93-'94 in the wake of Jordan's retirement, finishing third in MVP voting, winning the All-Star Game MVP, leading the NBA in steals, and carrying Chicago to a second round playoff appearance (that was sullied by his refusal to re-enter a playoff game after Phil Jackson drew up a play for Toni Kukoc)
1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive eight times (only Kevin Garnett has more appearances as a forward), and a seven-time All-Star
Almost reached the NBA Finals one more time in 2000 with the Trail Blazers, losing a tough seven-game Conference Finals series against the Lakers
Never won Defensive Player of the Year but was arguably the best wing defender of all time

27) Allen Iverson, G, 1996-2010

One of the most exciting players in history and also one of the most communal, he never won a title at the NCAA or NBA level but forever endeared himself to fans
First came to prominence after carrying his high school team to the Virginia state title, then getting arrested and sentenced to 15 years (it was soon commuted to four months) for his alleged involvement in a bowling alley brawl
After a star career at Georgetown he was drafted first overall overall by the 76ers in 1996, a perfect match for the city and franchise
Won four NBA scoring titles, with 26.8 points per game in '98-'99, 31.1 in '00-'01, 31.4 in '01-'02, and 30.7 in '04-'05; actually had a career-high of 33.0 points per game in '05-'06 but finished second in the league behind Kobe Bryant
Won MVP in '00-'01, Rookie of the Year in '96-'97, and All-Star MVP in 2001 and 2005
Put on a clinic in the 2001 playoffs, carrying the otherwise pedestrian Sixers to the NBA Finals with 32.9 points, 6.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game, while averaging over 46 minutes per game
Led the NBA in steals per game three times, and despite his kamikaze style of play also led the league in minutes per game seven times
1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and an All-Star 11 times
Struggled in late career stops with the Nuggets, Pistons, and Grizzlies before ultimately returning to the Sixers to finish out his career in 2010

26) Patrick Ewing, C, 1985-2002

It's been 18 years since his time with the Knicks ended with a trade to Seattle, but he's still far-and-away the franchise's all-time leader in games played, points, rebounds, blocks, and steals
Came into the league with a rookie hype that can maybe only be matched by Magic Johnson and LeBron James, with the Knicks selected him first overall in 1985 after winning the first-ever lottery
Averaged 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and two-plus blocks per game for nine straight seasons starting in '89-'90; peaked in scoring and blocks in '89-'90 with 28.6 points and 4.0 blocks per game (which somehow didn't lead the league, as he finished second behind Hakeem Olajuwon), and in rebounding in '92-'93 with 12.1 per game
Joined a Knicks team in total disarray and eventually carried them to 13 consecutive playoff appearances
1st-Team All-NBA in '89-'90, 2nd-Team All-NBA six times, finished in the top five of MVP voting six times, and played in 11 All-Star Games
One of the best shot blockers of his era and led the NBA in defensive win shares three times, but was never named 1st-Team All-Defensive
Made his only NBA Finals appearance in 1994 when he was outplayed by Olajuwon as the Knicks fell to the Rockets; lost to Michael Jordan's Bulls in the postseason in 1989 (second round), 1991 (first round), 1992 (second round), 1993 (Conference Finals), and 1996 (second round)

25) Dirk Nowitzki, F, 1998-2019

Easily the greatest foreign-born player with no NCAA experience in NBA history and will be for a long time, with Tony Parker a distant second (but Giannis tracking)
MVP of the '06-'07 season, after finishing third in voting the two years prior
Led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history in 2006, then to their first title in 2011, when he was named Finals MVP after a masterful performance in an upset of LeBron James and the Heat
Played several seasons professionally in his native Germany before getting drafted ninth overall in 1998, but struggled to adapt in his rookie year with Dallas
Starting in his third season, '00-'01, he averaged 20+ points and seven-plus rebounds per game for 11 straight years
With his patented step-back jumper that has influenced countless other stars, he's one of just seven players in NBA history to compile over 30,000 career points
1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA five times, and a 14-time All-Star
Has spent all 21 seasons and counting of his career with the Mavericks and has obliterated the franchise records for total points, rebounds, and blocks
Led the Mavericks to the playoffs for 12 straight seasons, with one title, one NBA Finals loss, one Conference Finals loss, three second round losses, and six first round losses

24) David Robinson, C, 1989-2003

With a chiseled physique that looked like the Roman ideal of the Olympic athlete, a bevy of skills, and preternatural leadership, he was tailor-made for NBA stardom but ultimately his accomplishments all have an asterisk to varying degrees
Of note: his MVP award in '94-'95 was overshadowed by his destruction at the hands of Hakeem Olajuwon in that season's Conference Finals, his two titles came as second banana to Tim Duncan, and his Rookie of the Year award was won at the age of 24
Played all four years at Navy and then served two years of duty before winning Rookie of the Year in '89-'90
1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, an All-Star 10 times, and finished in the top five in MVP voting four times aside from his victory in 1995
Averaged 23+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in his first seven seasons, including winning the scoring title in '93-'94 with a career high 29.8 points per game and leading the league in rebounding in '90-'91 with 13.0 per game
Defensive Player of the Year in '91-'92 when he led the NBA in blocks per game, and was 1st-Team All-Defensive four times
As the Spurs' best player he only led them as far as the Conference Finals once, in 1995, but won titles in 1999 and 2003 after Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich joined the franchise

23) John Havlicek, F, 1962-1978

Joined the Celtics machine as a first round pick in 1962, and over the next 14 seasons played in eight NBA Finals, winning all of them
Peaked statistically right after Bill Russell's retirement, averaging 26.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists over a three-year stretch starting in '69-'70
Finished as high as second in the NBA in scoring, with his career high 28.9 points per game in '70-'71
Finals MVP in 1974 when he did a little bit of everything to help the Celtics defeat the Bucks, at the age of 34
Likely would have won Finals MVP in 1968 as well if the award existed (it was introduced one year later), and undoubtedly would have won multiple Sixth Man of the Year awards (it was introduced six years after his 1977 retirement) as he spent his early career coming off the bench behind Sam Jones and Tommy Heinsohn
Seemingly endlessly tireless on the court, he averaged 40+ minutes per game in five different seasons, and led the NBA in the category twice
1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA seven times, 1st-Team All-Defensive five times, an All-Star 13 times, and finished in the top five in MVP voting twice
Russell called him the greatest "all-around" player he ever saw

22) Charles Barkley, F, 1984-2000

MVP of the '92-'93 season, he also finished second in voting in '89-'90, which was objectively one of the most talent-laden seasons in NBA history
Drafted fifth overall by the 76ers in 1984, thanks to a fleecing trade with the Clippers from years earlier, and reached the Conference Finals in his rookie season but wouldn't return until 1993 with Phoenix
With Julius Erving and Moses Malone both quickly aging, he took over as Philly's leading star by '86-'87, when he led the NBA with a career high 14.6 rebounds per game
Averaged 25+ points and 10+ rebounds in five seasons
Traded to the Suns in a blockbuster 1992 deal, he carried the team to the NBA Finals in his first season with the team but couldn't overcome Michael Jordan and the Bulls despite a valiant effort (averaged 27.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in the series)
Suffered tough losses to the Rockets in second round series in 1994 and 1995, and then as a member of the Rockets lost to the Jazz in the 1997 Conference Finals
Third greatest player of all time never to win a title (trailing only Karl Malone and Elgin Baylor) and the greatest player of all time to play in just one NBA Final
1st-Team All-NBA five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA five times, and an All-Star 11 times
Perpetually popular for his brash style of play and personality, most fans choose to remember him as better than his power forward rival, Karl Malone, but Malone had the empirically superior career

21) Kevin Durant, F, 2007-Active (2018 rank: #25)

MVP of the '13-'14 season, and finished second in voting to LeBron James in '09-'10, '11-'12, and '12-'13

Has averaged 25+ points per game in every season except for his rookie one (where he still averaged 20.3), peaking at 32.0 points per game in '13-'14

One of just six players to win back-to-back Finals MVP awards (along with James, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Hakeem Olajuwon) in 2017 and 2018 with the Warriors, he also played in the NBA Finals in 2012 with Oklahoma City

1st-Team All-NBA six times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, a 10-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year in '07-'08, and the All-Star MVP in 2012 and 2019

Winner of four scoring titles in a five-year stretch starting in '09-'10, and the one season he didn't win it he finished second behind Carmelo Anthony

An incredibly deadly shooter for his size (listed at 6'9"), he's shot 38.1% from three-point range in his career, and actually led the NBA in free throw percentage in '12-'13

In the last eight playoff appearances for which he's been healthy, his teams have reached at least the Conference Finals seven times

Enters another new stage of his career after an Achilles' tear that is likely to cost him the '19-'20 season, which he'll spend as a member of the Brooklyn Nets

20) Kevin Garnett, F, 1995-2016

Certainly would not have made it this high on the list if not for his 2007 trade to the Celtics, ending 12 years of toiling for usually subpar Timberwolves teams
MVP of the '03-'04 season, when he had his best Minnesota supporting cast and finally won his first playoff series, making it to the Conference Finals
Won Defensive Player of the Year in '07-'08, and was 1st-Team All-Defensive nine times, which ties him for the all-time record
Led the NBA in rebounds per game for four straight seasons starting in '03-'04, when he peaked with a career high of 13.9 per game; finished his career ninth in NBA history in total rebounds
For nine consecutive seasons starting in '98-'99, at the age of just 22, he averaged 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and four-plus assists per game
Reached the NBA Finals twice with the Celtics, winning the title in 2008 and losing to the Lakers in 2010; his 2009 knee injury probably cost the team an Eastern Conference three-peat
His 15 All-Star appearances is tied for the third-most in NBA history, and he was MVP of the 2003 edition
1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and finished in the top five in MVP voting five times, including his 2004 winning season
Never got the best of his longtime rival Tim Duncan, but did go down as a legend for two separate franchises (especially Minnesota, where he's still the all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks), and the third greatest player ever to join the league straight from high school

19) Bob Cousy, G, 1950-1963

His ambidexterity was due to a childhood injury that forced him to play lefty for a while, and it was the ultimate asset for the league's first dynamic play maker
Led the NBA in assists per game for eight consecutive seasons, and essentially smashed every assist record possible; he was the first player to total over 6,000 career assists (and he held the record for 10 years before Oscar Robertson broke it, and is still 17th on the all-time list) and first to average over nine assists per game in a season
Could do some scoring too, averaging 18+ points per game for 10 straight seasons
Named to the All-NBA team 12 times (1st-Team 10 times, 2nd-Team twice) and to the All-Star Game in all 13 seasons he played (not counting an ill-fated, brief 1970 comeback with the Royals)
MVP of the '56-'57 season, his first with Bill Russell as a teammate, and finished in the top five in voting in four other seasons
Teaming up in a killer back court with Bill Sharman, he carried Boston to six consecutive playoff appearances starting in his rookie year, but never to the NBA Finals until Russell arrived; eventually played in seven straight NBA Finals, winning six titles, which is still the record for a point guard
So beloved by his hometown fans that his retirement ceremony in the Garden was dubbed the "Boston Tear Party"

18) Moses Malone, C, 1974-1995

Played in 1,455 NBA and ABA games over a 21-year career, and is fifth in career rebounds and ninth in points
Led the NBA in rebounds per game six times, peaking at 17.6 per game in '78-'79, and had a stretch of 10 straight seasons finishing in the top five in the league in that category
One of just eight players to win three or more MVP awards, getting the trophy as a member of the Rockets in 1979 and 1982, and for the 76ers in 1983; also one of just 10 players to win MVP and Finals MVP in the same season
Averaged 24+ points and 11+ rebounds per game in seven seasons, peaking in his scoring in '81-'82 with 31.1 points per game, good for second in the NBA
Reached the 1981 NBA Finals with the undermanned Rockets and lost valiantly to the Celtics, then won the title in 1983 with the Sixers, averaging 25.8 points and 18.0 rebounds per game in a sweep of the Lakers that closed out the famed "fo', fo', fo'" run
Easily the most prolific offensive rebounder in NBA history, he led the league in the category eight times, and his 6,731 for his career is far-and-away the all-time record (second place Robert Parish had 4,598)
1st-Team All-NBA four times, 2nd-Team All-NBA four times, 1st-Team All-Defensive once, and an All-Star 13 times

17) Elgin Baylor, F, 1958-1972

Played in eight NBA Finals, all with the Lakers, but never won a title, retiring early in the '71-'72 season right before Los Angeles rattled off 33 straight wins en route to the championship; including reaching game seven of the NBA Finals four times, in 1962, 1966, 1969, and 1970
Had one of the greatest rookie campaigns of all time, with 24.9 points and 15.0 rebounds per game, winning Rookie of the Year and named 1st-Team All-NBA while leading the Lakers to the NBA Finals (their last appearance as the Minneapolis Lakers)
The first "above the rim" star, his athleticism was unmatched until a 1964 knee injury robbed him of much of his explosiveness
Averaged 24+ points per game in 11 seasons, and 30+ points per game in two, peaking at 34.8 per game in '60-'61, one of the highest totals of all-time that didn't lead the league (he finished second behind Wilt Chamberlain); finished with a career average of 27.4 points per game, which is third in NBA history behind Chamberlain and Michael Jordan
Also averaged 12+ rebounds per game nine different times, and had five different seasons where he finished in the top 10 in the NBA in points, rebounds, and assists per game
1st-Team All-NBA 10 times, an All-Star 11 times, and finished in the top five in MVP voting seven times, including second place in '62-'63
Still holds the NBA Finals single game record with 61 points scored in a game five win in the 1962 series (the Lakers would then lose games six and seven in close contests against Boston); he was also the first player (and still one of only six) to score 70+ points in a game, finishing with 71 in a regular season matchup against the Knicks in 1960
The second greatest player of all time to never win a title, and his eight Finals appearances without a championship is by far the record (Larry Foust is second with five appearances)

16) Julius Erving, F, 1971-1987

There were great dunks and dunkers before him, but he literally put the "slam" in slam dunk
Joined the Virginia Squires of the ABA in 1971 after going un-drafted in the NBA after leaving Massachusetts early
ABA accolades in two seasons with the Squires and three with the Nets: three consecutive league MVPs (1974, 1975, 1976), two playoff MVP awards (1974, 1976) as the Nets won two titles, three scoring titles, 1st-Team All-ABA four times, five All-Star appearances, won the inaugural 1976 Slam Dunk Contest
Sold by the Nets to 76ers after the merger (New York couldn't afford their entry fee while still retaining him) and spent all 11 NBA seasons with them
His stats took a hit, as expected, but still averaged 20+ points per game in his first nine NBA seasons, peaking at 26.9 per game in '79-'80
Carried the Sixers to NBA Finals appearances in 1977, 1980, and 1982, before finally winning a title in 1983 as the team's second best player behind Moses Malone
MVP of the '80-'81 season, and finished in the top five in voting in four other seasons, including second place in '79-'80
1st-Team All-NBA five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and an 11-time NBA All-Star
Reached the playoffs in all 16 seasons he played across both leagues, with three championships, three Finals losses, and four Conference Finals losses

15) Hakeem Olajuwon, C, 1984-2002

Won Defensive Player of the Year twice and was a dominant force on that end, but was also a revolutionary offensive post player, with a set of skills that are still considered the elite standard
Named both MVP and Finals MVP of the '93-'94 season, when he propelled the Rockets to their first title in franchise history, following it up with another title in 1995 and another Finals MVP award
Averaged 10+ rebounds per game in his first 12 NBA seasons, and led the league in the category twice, peaking at 14.0 per game in '89-'90
1st-Team All-NBA six times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, 1st-Team All-Defensive five times, an All-Star 12 times, and finished in the top five in MVP voting six times, including winning the award in 1994
Also led the NBA in blocks per game three times, and his 4.6 per game in '89-'90 are the fourth-highest single-season total in league history; led the NBA in defensive win shares four times and defensive rating five times
Seemed to always play his best in the postseason, from leading the Rockets to a surprise 1986 NBA Finals appearance to averaging an incredible 37.5 points and 16.8 rebounds per game in a first round loss in 1988, to absolutely decimating David Robinson in the 1995 Conference Finals, leading the Rockets to another surprise NBA Finals appearance as the #6 seed
The NBA's all-time block king, with 3,830 in his career; he's also Houston's all-time franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals

14) Bob Pettit, F/C, 1954-1965

Played in four NBA Finals, winning one title in 1958, but would have added more to both tallies if not for his prime coinciding with Bill Russell reaching the league
Drafted second overall by the Hawks in 1954 and played on year in Milwaukee with the franchise before it relocated to St. Louis for the rest of his career
Winner of the league's first MVP award in '55-'56, then again in '58-'59, and finished in the top five in voting in six other seasons; also won Rookie of the Year in '54-'55, and was named MVP of four All-Star Games
Averaged 20+ points and 12+ rebounds per game in all 11 seasons he played, peaking at 31.2 points per game in '61-'62 and 20.3 rebounds per game in '60-'61
Two-time NBA scoring champion, in '55-'56 and '58-'59 (when he became the first player to average 29+ points per game in a season), led the league in PER four times, and finished in the top five in rebounding 10 times, though he never led in the category
Led the Hawks to nine playoff appearances, reaching at least the Conference Finals in eight of them
1st-Team All-NBA 10 times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, and an All-Star 11 times
Third in NBA history in career rebounds per game, seventh in career PER, and eighth in career points per game
Dominated the 1958 Finals, including a then-record 50-point performance in the clinching game six and would have won Finals MVP if it was awarded back then; was also incredible in the 1957 Finals loss, but missed a tip-in at the end of game seven that would have given St. Louis the championship

13) Oscar Robertson, G, 1960-1974

MVP of the '63-'64 season, but finished third in voting in '61-'62 despite becoming the first player (and only one has done it since, Russell Westbrook) to average a triple-double in a season, with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game
Actually managed to average a composite triple-double over his first five NBA seasons, with 30.3 points, 10.6 assists, and 10.4 rebounds per game
1st-Team All-NBA nine times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, an All-Star 12 times, MVP of the All-Star Game three times, Rookie of the Year in '60-'61, and finished in the top five in MVP voting nine times
Carried the Cincinnati Royals to the Conference Finals in 1963 and 1964, but after losing both of those series to Bill Russell's Celtics, he and the team struggled in the postseason for the rest of the decade, including a three-year stretch of missing the playoffs entirely
Led the NBA in assists per game seven times, and broke Bob Cousy's record for career assists, one which he held for 22 years before Magic Johnson just barely squeezed past him
Traded to the Bucks in 1970 for pennies on the dollar, and revived his career playing second fiddle behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on a title contender
Played in two NBA Finals with Milwaukee, including a championship in 1971
Also won the scoring title in '67-'68, led the NBA in free throw percentage twice, and in offensive win shares four times

12) Jerry West, G, 1960-1974

Only 23 years old when he played in his first NBA Finals in 1962, he scored 35 points in an overtime game seven loss, and would lose six more Finals with the Lakers before finally winning his one and only title in 1972
Narrowly edges out his longtime rival Oscar Robertson as the greatest player of all time to win just one title
Averaged 25+ points per game for 11 consecutive seasons, including 30+ points per game four times, peaking at 31.3 per game in '65-'66
Led the NBA in scoring in '69-'70 with 31.2 points per game, in assists in '71-'72 with 9.7 per game, in PER twice, and in offensive win shares three times
Greatest player of all time to never win MVP, he finished second in voting four times, third in voting once, and fifth in voting three times
Played in nine NBA Finals with the Lakers, losing in 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1973, and winning the first title in Los Angeles in 1972; named MVP of the 1969 Finals by averaging 37.9 points and 7.4 assists per game, and is still the only player to win the award in a losing effort
1st-Team All-NBA 10 times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive four times, and an All-Star 14 times

11) Karl Malone, F, 1985-2004

Maybe the most controversial placement on this list, but consider that if it was built purely on regular seasons statistics he would place third after only Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and if it was based on just MVP voting results and All-NBA appearances, he would place fourth behind only Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and LeBron James
The greatest player of all time to never win a title, he appeared in NBA Finals with the Jazz in 1997 and 1998, and with the Lakers in 2004
Second in NBA history in total points with 36,928, seventh in career rebounds, and 10th in steals
1st-Team All-NBA 11 times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive three times, and a 14-time All-Star (only Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal have more appearances)
Both of his MVPs are somewhat controversial, as many consider it unfair that he beat out Michael Jordan in 1997 and Tim Duncan in 1999, but those were part of a string of 14 straight seasons when he finished in the top 10 in voting
Averaged 25+ points and nine-plus rebounds per game for 11 consecutive seasons, starting in '87-'88
Led Utah to the playoffs in all 18 seasons he played with the team, with two NBA Finals appearances, plus Conference Finals appearances in 1992, 1994, and 1996

10) Shaquille O'Neal, C, 1992-2011

Considering how dominant he was, it's surprising in retrospect that he won just one MVP award, in '99-'00, as he finished in the top five in voting in seven other seasons
One of just two players, along with Michael Jordan, to win three consecutive Finals MVP awards, in 2000, 2001, and 2002
Selected first overall by the Magic in 1992, he was expected to dominate immediately and did so, winning Rookie of the Year putting up 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds per game
1st-Team All-NBA eight times, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and was named to 15 All-Star Games, the third highest total in history
After Orlando missed the playoffs in his rookie season, he would lead his team to the postseason in 17 of his remaining 18 years in the NBA, including four titles (with the Lakers in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and with the Heat in 2006), two other NBA Finals appearances (with the Magic in 1995 and with the Lakers in 2004), and three other Conference Finals appearances (with the Magic in 1996, with the Lakers in 1998, and with the Heat in 2005)
Led the NBA in field goal percentage 10 times, and is second in NBA history amongst non-active players with a career 58.2% from the field; also led the league in PER five times and finished with a career mark of 26.4, third all-time behind Michael Jordan and LeBron James
Averaged 25+ points and 10+ rebounds per game for 10 straight seasons, starting in '93-'94

9) Larry Bird, F, 1979-1992

His time in the league was brief for such a legend, really just 10 legitimate seasons, but brilliant

One of just three players, along with Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, to win three consecutive MVP awards, in 1984, 1985, and 1986; during that same stretch he also won two Finals MVP awards, and he's one of just two players, along with LeBron James and Michael Jordan, to win MVP and Finals MVP in the same season multiple times

Averaged 21+ points (peaking at 29.9 per game in '87-'88), nine-plus rebounds (peaking at 11.0 per game in '82-'83), and five-plus assists (peaking at 7.6 per game in '86-'87) per game for eight straight seasons, starting in '80-'81

1st-Team All-NBA nine times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, an All-Star 12 times, Rookie of the Year in '79-'80, MVP three times (1984, 1985, 1986), Finals MVP twice (1984, 1986), and finished in the top three in MVP voting in eight seasons

Led the league in free throw percentage four times, peaking at 93.0% in '89-'90, PER twice, VORP four times, and win shares twice

Underrated as a defender, he was 2nd-Team All-Defensive three times and led the NBA in defensive win shares four times

Led the Celtics to the playoffs in all 12 seasons he played, winning three titles (1981, 1984, 1986), losing in two NBA Finals (1985, 1987), and losing in three Conference Finals (1980, 1982, 1988) in arguably the most competitive era in Eastern Conference history

8) Tim Duncan, F/C, 1997-2016

Earned the nickname "The Big Fundamental" for his boring ability to methodically break down opponents with bank shots, rebounds, and un-flashy defense

Spent 19 seasons in the NBA and is fifth in league history in total blocks, sixth in rebounds, and 14th in points

Owns five championship rings, the most of any player that never played for the Celtics, Lakers, or Bulls, winning titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named Finals MVP in the first three

Back-to-back league MVP in '01-'02 and '02-'03, part of a streak of eight straight seasons where he finished in the top five in voting

Eerily consistent statistically in his first 12 seasons, averaging 19+ points and 11+ rebounds per game every year, peaking in both categories in his '01-'02 MVP season, with 25.5 points and 12.9 rebounds per game

1st-Team All-NBA 10 times (including at age 36 in '12-'13), 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, 1st-Team All-Defensive eight times, and a 15-time All-Star

Played his entire career with the Spurs, and will stand as the franchise record holder in points, rebounds, and blocks for a long time

7) Kobe Bryant, G, 1996-2016

Had the most proverbial "growing up before our very eyes" career of any modern player, as he hit the league at age 18 in 1996, went through some highly visible growing pains with the Lakers, then developed into one of the greatest of all time

Finished in the top five of MVP for 11 consecutive seasons starting in '01-'02, which was just shy of Kareem's record of 12 straight years; won the award in '07-'08

Baptized by fire in the postseason, he air-balled a potential game-winning three-pointer in a second round series against the Jazz in his rookie year, as the Lakers bowed out in five games

Teaming up with Shaquille O'Neal, he helped lead the Lakers to four NBA Finals, winning titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and arguably could have won Finals MVP in 2002, averaging 26.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in a sweep of the Nets

Named 1st-Team All-NBA 11 times (only LeBron James has more), 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive nine times (tying the all-time record), and an All-Star 18 times (only Abdul-Jabbar has more)

Led to the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals again in 2008, 2009, and 2010, winning titles in the last two and Finals MVP

Won back-to-back scoring titles in '05-'06 (35.4 points per game) and '06-'07 (31.6 points per game); averaged 25+ points, five-plus rebounds, and five-plus assists per game in nine different seasons

Third in NBA history in career points, with 33,643, and scored the second-most points in a single game in history, with 81 against the Raptors in 2006

6) Magic Johnson, G, 1979-1996

Still maybe the most unique player in NBA history, a 6'9" point guard who redefined running the fast break but also possessed the size and skill set to ably fill in at center for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980 NBA Finals

One of just three players, along with Michael Jordan and LeBron James, to win three or more league MVPs (in 1987, 1989, and 1990), and three or more Finals MVPs (in 1980, 1982, and 1987)

Led the NBA in assists per game four times, peaking at 13.1 per game in '83-'84, averaged 10+ assists per game in each of his final nine seasons, and his career average of 11.2 per game is the all-time record

Also led the league in steals per game twice and free throw percentage once

Immediately took over as the Lakers' leader as a rookie, and led the team to 12 straight playoff appearances, reaching the NBA Finals nine times during that stretch (only Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Sam Jones have more career appearances), and winning five titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988

1st-Team All-NBA for nine straight seasons, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, an All-Star 12 times, and finished in the top three in MVP voting for nine straight seasons, including winning the award three times

5) LeBron James, F, 2003-Active (2018 rank: #5)

One of just two players, along with Bill Russell, to win four MVP awards in a five-year stretch, doing so in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013

Also one of just two players, along with Michael Jordan to win both league MVP and Finals MVP in back-to-back seasons ('11-'12 and '12-'13)

Has averaged 25+ points per game for 15 straight seasons, peaking at 30.0 per game in '07-'08 when he won the scoring title

Over 239 playoff games (the fourth-highest total in NBA history) has averaged an unreal 28.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game

1st-Team All-NBA 12 times (breaking Karl Malone's record in '17-'18), 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, 1st-Team All-Defensive five times, an All-Star 15 times, and finished a record 13 straight seasons in the top five of MVP voting (a streak that finally broke in '18-'19)

Led the NBA in PER six times, and his career mark of 27.68 is second only to Jordan in league history

Reached the NBA Finals an unprecedented (post-merger) eight straight times, four with the Heat and four with the Cavaliers; only Russell, Sam Jones, and Tom Heinsohn have more consecutive Finals appearances

Won two titles with Miami and one with Cleveland, and was named Finals MVP all three times

Struggled with injuries in '18-'19 with the Lakers, leaving his ability to pass the four players ahead of him on this list in doubt

4) Wilt Chamberlain, C, 1959-1973

Shattered the record books in '61-'62, when he scored a record 100 points in one game, and averaged a record 50.4 points per game for the season

In fact, starting in his rookie year, '59-'60, he averaged 37.6, 38.4, 50.4, 44.8, and 36.9 points per game over his first five seasons, which are the fourth, third, first, second, and sixth highest single season averages in NBA history

Also holds the record for rebounds per game in a season, with 27.2 per game in '60-'61, and holds six of the seven highest single season averages

1st-Team All-NBA seven times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, 1st-Team All-Defensive twice, and an All-Star 13 times

Inexorably linked with his longtime rival and playoff tormentor Bill Russell, the two players' teams met in the postseason eight times, with Chamberlain's team prevailing just once

Led the NBA in field goal percentage nine times, points per game seven times (he's second all-time with 30.1 per game for his career), rebounds per game 11 times (he's the all-time career leader with 22.9 per game), PER eight times, and win shares eight times

MVP of the '59-'60 (when he also won Rookie of the Year), '65-'66, '66-'67, and '67-'68 seasons, and finished in the top five in voting in six other seasons

Played in six NBA Finals, winning titles in 1967 with the 76ers and 1972 with the Lakers (when he was named Finals MVP)

Despite playing in just 14 seasons, he's fifth in NBA history in total points and still the rebound king, with 23,924 for his career

3) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, 1969-1989

Won his first Finals MVP in 1971 with the Bucks, and his second in 1985 with the Lakers, an astonishing 14-year difference that highlights the incredible consistency and longevity of his greatness
The NBA's all-time points leader with 38,387 compiled over 20 seasons, he's also third all-time in career rebounds, third in career blocks, second in games played, and first in total minutes played
1st-Team All-NBA 10 times (the record amongst centers), 2nd-Team All-NBA five times (his 15 total All-NBA selections is the record), 1st-Team All-Defensive five times, and named to a record 19 All-Star Games
Averaged 29.5 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game over his first eight seasons
Won scoring titles in '70-'71 and '71-'72 (with a career high 34.8 points per game), led the league in rebounding once (a career high 16.9 per game in '75-'76), blocks per game four times, field goal percentage once, PER nine times, and win shares nine times
His teams dominated at every level, starting with three high school New York City championships, three NCAA titles at UCLA, then 10 NBA Finals appearances (third all-time behind Bill Russell and Sam Jones), with titles for the Bucks in 1971 and for the Lakers in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988
His six league MVP awards (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1980) are a record, as are his 15 times finishing in the top five in voting and his 17 times finishing in the top 10

2) Bill Russell, C, 1956-1969

In a level of dominance unprecedented in any other team sport, he led the Celtics to 12 NBA Finals in his 13 seasons, winning the title in 11 of them (and the one they lost was due to him being injured); the players he matched up against were also legends, taking on the #4, #12, #13, #14, and #17 players on this list, in their respective primes
The first player to win three straight MVP awards (only Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird have matched it since), and the first player to win five total in his career (only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has more); after finishing seventh in MVP voting in his rookie season, he finished in the top four in the next nine seasons
Led the NBA in rebounds per game five times, and had the nine best single-season rebounding totals of any player besides Wilt Chamberlain, including a career high 24.7 per game in '63-'64; averaged at least 18 rebounds per game in all 13 seasons he played and despite playing in less than 1,000 career games he's second behind Chamberlain in career total rebounds
Also led the NBA in defensive win shares 11 times, and perhaps most impressively for a center, finished in the top 10 in assists per game four times
A victim of the lack of awards in his day, he would have won at least six or seven Finals MVP awards (they eventually named it after him), and just as many, if not more, Defensive Player of the Year awards
1st-Team All-NBA just three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA eight times (including in three of his MVP seasons), and an All-Star 12 times
The ultimate winner, he's the record holder for most Finals appearances with 12, most titles with 11, and even won two titles as the player-coach

1) Michael Jordan, G, 1984-2003

Many Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain purists argued against it for a while, but by the end of his career he was easily the consensus greatest player of all time, including in any holistic approach to quantifying career quality
MVP five times, in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998, and probably deserved to also win in 1993 and 1997
The only player to win MVP and Finals MVP in the same season four times, doing so in '90-'91, '91-'92, '95-'96, and '97-'98 (no one else has done it more than twice), and the only player to win Finals MVP six times (no one else has more than three)
Won 10 scoring titles, and it was basically 10 in a row starting in '87-'88 if you discount his baseball sabbatical seasons; averaged 30+ points per game in eight seasons, peaking at 37.1 per game in '86-'87, the highest total ever by a player besides Wilt Chamberlain; finished with a career average of 30.1 points per game, which is the NBA record
Led the Bulls to six NBA Finals, winning the title in all of them, plus two additional Conference Finals appearances in 1989 and 1990
1st-Team All-NBA 10 times, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, 1st-Team All-Defensive nine times, Rookie of the Year in '84-'85, Defensive Player of the Year in '87-'88, and finished in the top three in MVP voting 10 times
Holds the NBA record for most points in a single playoff game, scoring 63 in a losing effort in a second round series against Boston in 1986
Led the NBA in steals per game three times, PER seven times, and win shares nine times