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50 Greatest Players in NBA History

 

50 Greatest Players in NBA History

The 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History (also referred to as NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team or NBA's Top 50) were chosen in 1996 to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). These fifty players were selected through a vote by a panel of media members, former players and coaches, and current and former general managers. In addition, the top ten head coaches and top ten single-season teams in NBA history were selected by media members as part of the celebration.[1] The fifty players had to have played at least a portion of their careers in the NBA and were selected irrespective of position played.

The list was announced by NBA commissioner David Stern on October 29, 1996, at the hotel Grand Hyatt New York, the former site of the Commodore Hotel, where the original NBA charter was signed on June 6, 1946. The announcement marked the beginning of a season-long celebration of the league's anniversary.[1] Forty-seven of the fifty players were later assembled in Cleveland, during the halftime ceremony of the 1997 All-Star Game.[1] Three players were absent: Pete Maravich, who had died in 1988, at forty;[2] Shaquille O'Neal, who was recovering from a knee injury; and Jerry West, who was scheduled to have surgery for an ear infection and could not fly.[3] At the time of the announcement, eleven players were active; all have subsequently retired. O'Neal was the last to be active in the NBA, retiring at the end of the 2010–11 season,[4] and the only member not currently in the Hall of Fame.

Contents

  • Players selected 1
    • Selection process 1.1
    • Voters 1.2
    • List 1.3
  • Top 10 Coaches in NBA History 2
  • Top 10 Teams in NBA History 3
  • See also 4
  • Notes 5
  • References 6
  • External links 7

Players selected

Selection process

The list was compiled through unranked voting completed by fifty selected panelists. Sixteen of the panelists were former players voting in their roles as players, thirteen were members of the print and broadcast news media, and twenty-one were team representatives: contemporary and former general managers, head coaches, and executives. Of the last group, thirteen were former NBA players. Players were prohibited from voting for themselves. Only three voting veterans (Bill Bradley, Johnny Kerr, and Bob Lanier) were not selected to the team.

Voters

* Denotes voter who was selected to the 50 Greatest Players list
Voter category As categorized by the NBA
Name Voter category
Abdul-Jabbar, KareemKareem Abdul-Jabbar* Player
Albert, MarvMarv Albert Media member
Attles, AlAl Attles Team
Auerbach, RedRed Auerbach Team
Baylor, ElginElgin Baylor* Team
Bing, DaveDave Bing* Player
Bird, LarryLarry Bird* Team
Blake, MartyMarty Blake Team
Blinebury, FranFran Blinebury Media member
Bradley, BillBill Bradley Player
Brown, HubieHubie Brown Team
Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* Player
Chortkoff, MitchMitch Chortkoff Media member
Cousy, BobBob Cousy* Player
Cunningham, BillyBilly Cunningham* Team
Daly, ChuckChuck Daly Team
DuPree, DavidDavid DuPree Media member
Embry, WayneWayne Embry Team
Erving, JuliusJulius Erving* Player
Gilmartin, JoeJoe Gilmartin Media member
Goldaper, SamSam Goldaper Media member
Hannum, AlexAlex Hannum Team
Harrison, LesterLester Harrison Team
Havlicek, JohnJohn Havlicek* Player
Hearn, ChickChick Hearn Media member
Holzman, RedRed Holzman Team
Jasner, PhilPhil Jasner Media member
Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson* Player
Kerr, JohnnyJohnny Kerr Player
Koppett, LeonardLeonard Koppett Media member
Lanier, BobBob Lanier Player
Layden, FrankFrank Layden Team
Lewin, LeonardLeonard Lewin Media member
McCallum, JackJack McCallum Media member
McGuire, DickDick McGuire Team
Mikan, GeorgeGeorge Mikan* Player
Pettit, BobBob Pettit* Player
Pollack, HarveyHarvey Pollack Team
Ramsay, JackJack Ramsay Team
Reed, WillisWillis Reed* Team
Robertson, OscarOscar Robertson* Player
Russell, BillBill Russell* Player
Ryan, BobBob Ryan Media member
Schayes, DolphDolph Schayes* Player
Sharman, BillBill Sharman* Player
Shue, GeneGene Shue Team
Thomas, IsiahIsiah Thomas* Team
Unseld, WesWes Unseld* Team
Vecsey, PeterPeter Vecsey Media member
West, JerryJerry West* Team

List

Eleven players (Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Robert Parish, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton) were active in the 1996–97 season, during which the team was announced. O'Neal was the last to be active in the NBA, retiring at the end of the 2010–11 season. All of the selected players except O'Neal have, as of 2015, been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Under current Hall of Fame rules, a player must be retired for five years before becoming eligible for election and induction as a player; therefore, O'Neal will not be eligible until the induction class of 2017. Lenny Wilkens was the only member of the players list to have been selected as a member of the coaches list. At the time of the list, only Pete Maravich was deceased. Since then, Wilt Chamberlain, Dave DeBusschere, Paul Arizin, George Mikan, Bill Sharman and Moses Malone have all passed away.

Italics Denotes player who was active in the NBA at the time of induction
* Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
All Star Denotes number of All-Star appearances
Year Denotes year of Basketball Hall of Fame induction
G Guard F Forward C Center
Pos Position Pts Points Reb Rebounds
Ast Assists MVP Most Valuable Player
Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2010–11 season, the last in which any player on the 50 Greatest list was active.
Name Team(s) played for (years)[a] Pos Pts Reb Ast Championships won[b] MVP won Finals MVP won AllStar Year Ref.
Abdul-Jabbar, KareemKareem Abdul-Jabbar* Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989) 		C 38,387 17,440 5,660 6 (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) 6 (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980) 2 (1971, 1985) 19 1995 [5]
Archibald, NateNate Archibald* Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha / Kansas City Kings (1970–1976)
New York Nets (1976–1977)
Boston Celtics (1978–1983)
Milwaukee Bucks (1983–1984) 		G 16,481 2,046 6,476 1 (1981) None None 6 1991 [6]
Arizin, PaulPaul Arizin* Philadelphia Warriors (1950–1962) F/G 16,266 6,129 1,665 1 (1956) None None 10 1978 [7]
Barkley, CharlesCharles Barkley* Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000) 		F 23,757 12,546 4,215 None 1 (1993) None 11 2006 [8]
Barry, RickRick Barry* San Francisco / Golden State Warriors (1965–1967, 1972–1978)
Houston Rockets (1978–1980) 		F 18,395 5,168 4,017 1 (1975) None 1 (1975) 8 1987 [9]
Baylor, ElginElgin Baylor* Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers (1958–1971) F 23,149 11,463 3,650 None None None 11 1977 [10]
Bing, DaveDave Bing* Detroit Pistons (1966–1975)
Washington Bullets (1975–1977)
Boston Celtics (1977–1978) 		G 18,327 3,420 5,397 None None None 7 1990 [11]
Bird, LarryLarry Bird* Boston Celtics (1979–1992) F 21,791 8,974 5,695 3 (1981, 1984, 1986) 3 (1984, 1985, 1986) 2 (1984, 1986) 12 1998 [12]
Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors (1959–1965)
Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)
Los Angeles Lakers (1968–1973) 		C 31,419 23,924 4,643 2 (1967, 1972) 4 (1960, 1966, 1967, 1968) 1 (1972) 13 1979 [13]
Cousy, BobBob Cousy* Boston Celtics (1950–1963)
Cincinnati Royals (1969–1970) 		G 16,960 4,786 6,955 6 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963) 1 (1957) None 13 1971 [14]
Cowens, DaveDave Cowens* Boston Celtics (1970–1980)
Milwaukee Bucks (1982–1983) 		C/F 13,516 10,444 2,910 2 (1974, 1976) 1 (1973) None 7 1991 [15]
Cunningham, BillyBilly Cunningham* Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1972)
Philadelphia 76ers (1974–1976) 		F/C 13,626 6,638 2,625 2 (1967, 1983) None None 4 1986 [16]
DeBusschere, DaveDave DeBusschere* Detroit Pistons (1962–1968)
New York Knicks (1968–1974) 		F/G 14,053 9,618 2,497 2 (1970, 1973) None None 8 1983 [17]
Drexler, ClydeClyde Drexler* Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998) 		G/F 22,195 6,677 6,125 1 (1995) None None 10 2004 [18]
Erving, JuliusJulius Erving* Philadelphia 76ers (1976–1987) F/G 18,364 5,601 3,224 1 (1983) 1 (1981) None 11 1993 [19]
Ewing, PatrickPatrick Ewing* New York Knicks (1985–2000)
Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)
Orlando Magic (2001–2002) 		C/F 24,815 11,607 2,215 None None None 11 2008 [20]
Frazier, WaltWalt Frazier* New York Knicks (1967–1977)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1977–1980) 		G 15,581 4,830 5,040 2 (1970, 1973) None None 7 1987 [21]
Gervin, GeorgeGeorge Gervin* San Antonio Spurs (1976–1985)
Chicago Bulls (1985–1986) 		G/F 20,708 3,607 2,214 None None None 9 1996 [22]
Greer, HalHal Greer* Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers (1958–1973) G/F 21,586 5,665 4,540 1 (1967) None None 10 1982 [23]
Havlicek, JohnJohn Havlicek* Boston Celtics (1962–1978) F/G 26,395 8,007 6,114 8 (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976) None 1 (1974) 13 1984 [24]
Hayes, ElvinElvin Hayes* San Diego / Houston Rockets (1968–1972, 1981–1984)
Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets (1972–1981) 		F/C 27,313 16,279 2,398 1 (1978) None None 12 1990 [25]
Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson* Los Angeles Lakers (1979–1991, 1996) G/F 17,707 6,559 10,141 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) 3 (1987, 1989, 1990) 3 (1980, 1982, 1987) 12 2002 [26]
Jones, SamSam Jones* Boston Celtics (1957–1969) G/F 15,411 4,305 2,209 10 (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) None None 5 1984 [27]
Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998)
Washington Wizards (2001–2003) 		G/F 32,292 6,672 5,633 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) 5 (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) 14 2009 [28]
Lucas, JerryJerry Lucas* Cincinnati Royals (1963–1969)
San Francisco Warriors (1969–1971)
New York Knicks (1971–1974) 		F/C 14,053 12,942 2,732 1 (1973) None None 7 1980 [29]
Malone, KarlKarl Malone* Utah Jazz (1985–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004) 		F 36,928 14,968 5,248 None 2 (1997, 1999) None 14 2010 [30]
Malone, MosesMoses Malone* Buffalo Braves (1976)
Houston Rockets (1976–1982)
Philadelphia 76ers (1982–1986, 1993–1994)
Washington Bullets (1986–1988)
Atlanta Hawks (1988–1991)
Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1993)
San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995) 		C/F 27,409 16,212 1,796 1 (1983) 3 (1979, 1982, 1983) 1 (1983) 12 2001 [31]
Maravich, PetePete Maravich* Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974)
New Orleans / Utah Jazz (1974–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980) 		G 15,948 2,747 3,563 None None None 5 1987 [32]
McHale, KevinKevin McHale* Boston Celtics (1980–1993) F/C 17,335 7,122 1,670 3 (1981, 1984, 1986) None None 7 1999 [33]
Mikan, GeorgeGeorge Mikan* Minneapolis Lakers (1948–1956) C 10,156 4,167 1,245 5 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) None None 4 1959 [34]
Monroe, EarlEarl Monroe* Baltimore Bullets (1967–1971)
New York Knicks (1971–1980) 		G 17,454 2,796 3,594 1 (1973) None None 4 1990 [35]
Olajuwon, HakeemHakeem Olajuwon* Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002) 		C 26,946 13,748 3,058 2 (1994, 1995) 1 (1994) 2 (1994, 1995) 12 2008 [36]
O'Neal, ShaquilleShaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic (1992–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)
Miami Heat (2004–2008)
Phoenix Suns (2008–2009)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2009–2010)
Boston Celtics (2010–2011) 		C 28,596 13,099 3,026 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006) 1 (2000) 3 (2000, 2001, 2002) 15 — [37]
Parish, RobertRobert Parish* Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980–1994)
Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)
Chicago Bulls (1996–1997) 		C 23,334 14,715 2,180 4 (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997) None None 9 2003 [38]
Pettit, BobBob Pettit* Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks (1954–1965) F/C 20,880 12,849 2,369 1 (1958) 2 (1956, 1959) None 11 1971 [39]
Pippen, ScottieScottie Pippen* Chicago Bulls (1987–1998, 2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (1998–1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003) 		F/G 18,940 7,494 6,135 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) None None 7 2010 [40]
Reed, WillisWillis Reed* New York Knicks (1964–1974) C/F 12,183 8,414 1,186 2 (1970, 1973) 1 (1970) 2 (1970, 1973) 7 1982 [41]
Robertson, OscarOscar Robertson* Cincinnati Royals (1960–1970)
Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974) 		G/F 26,710 7,804 9,887 1 (1971) 1 (1964) None 12 1980 [42]
Robinson, DavidDavid Robinson* San Antonio Spurs (1989–2003) C 20,790 10,497 2,441 2 (1999, 2003) 1 (1995) None 10 2009 [43]
Russell, BillBill Russell* Boston Celtics (1956–1969) C 14,522 21,620 4,100 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) 5 (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965) None 12 1975 [44]
Schayes, DolphDolph Schayes* Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers (1949–1964) F/C 18,438 11,256 3,072 1 (1955) None None 12 1973 [45]
Sharman, BillBill Sharman* Washington Capitols (1950–1951)
Boston Celtics (1951–1961) 		G 12,665 2,779 2,101 4 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961) None None 8 1976 [46]
Stockton, JohnJohn Stockton* Utah Jazz (1984–2003) G 19,711 4,051 15,806 None None None 10 2009 [47]
Thomas, IsiahIsiah Thomas* Detroit Pistons (1981–1994) G 18,822 3,478 9,061 2 (1989, 1990) None 1 (1990) 12 2000 [48]
Thurmond, NateNate Thurmond* San Francisco / Golden State Warriors (1963–1974)
Chicago Bulls (1974–1975)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1975–1977) 		C/F 14,437 14,464 2,575 None None None 7 1985 [49]
Unseld, WesWes Unseld* Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets (1968–1981) C/F 10,624 13,769 3,822 1 (1978) 1 (1969) 1 (1978) 5 1988 [50]
Walton, BillBill Walton* Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1979)
San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers (1979–1985)
Boston Celtics (1985–1987) 		C/F 6,215 4,923 1,590 2 (1977, 1986) 1 (1978) 1 (1977) 2 1993 [51]
West, JerryJerry West* Los Angeles Lakers (1960–1974) G/F 25,192 5,366 6,238 1 (1972) None 1 (1969) 14 1980 [52]
Wilkens, LennyLenny Wilkens* St. Louis Hawks (1960−1968)
Seattle SuperSonics (1968–1972)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1972–1974)
Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1975) 		G 17,772 5,030 7,211 1 (1979) None None 9 1989 [53]
Worthy, JamesJames Worthy* Los Angeles Lakers (1982–1994) F 16,320 4,708 2,791 3 (1985, 1987, 1988) None 1 (1988) 7 2003 [54]

Top 10 Coaches in NBA History

A man sitting down, flanked by two men dressed in military uniform. He is wearing a suit and bowtie, with a peach-colored scarf draped around his neck.
A man looking ahead. He is wearing a jacket and tie.
Red Auerbach (left) and Phil Jackson (right) both made the 1996 list of the top ten coaches in NBA history.

Alongside the selection of the 50 greatest players, was the selection of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History. The list was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by members of the print and broadcast media who regularly cover the NBA. All 10 coaches named were alive at the time of the list's announcement, and four of them—Phil Jackson, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Lenny Wilkens—were then active. Four have since died: Red Holzman in 1998, Red Auerbach in 2006, Chuck Daly in 2009, and Jack Ramsay in 2014. Jackson was the last of the ten to coach in the NBA; he announced his retirement after the 2010–11 season. Nelson was the only member to have never won a championship as a coach, even though he won five as a player. Wilkens was the only member of the coaches list to have been selected as a member of the players list.

* Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Year Denotes year of Basketball Hall of Fame induction
Coach Team(s) coached (years)[a] Coaching record Championships won as coach[b] Coach of the Year award(s) won Year Ref.
Auerbach, RedRed Auerbach* Washington Capitols (1946–1949)
Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–1950)
Boston Celtics (1950–1966) 		938–479 (.662) 9 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) 1 (1965) 1969 [55]
Daly, ChuckChuck Daly* Cleveland Cavaliers (1982)
Detroit Pistons (1983–1992)
New Jersey Nets (1992–1994)
Orlando Magic (1997–1999) 		564–379 (.598)
638–437 (.593)[c] 		2 (1989, 1990) None 1994 [56]
Fitch, BillBill Fitch Cleveland Cavaliers (1970–1979)
Boston Celtics (1979–1983)
Houston Rockets (1983–1988)
New Jersey Nets (1989–1992)
Los Angeles Clippers (1994–1998) 		944–1106 (.460) 1 (1981) 2 (1976, 1980) — [57]
Holzman, RedRed Holzman* Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks (1954–1956)
New York Knicks (1967–1982) 		696–604 (.535) 2 (1970, 1973) 1 (1970) 1986 [58]
Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson* Chicago Bulls (1989–1998)
Los Angeles Lakers (1999–2004, 2005–2011) 		414–160 (.721)
1155–485 (.704)[c] 		11 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) 1 (1996) 2007 [59]
Kundla, JohnJohn Kundla* Minneapolis Lakers (1948–1959) 423–302 (.583) 5 (1949 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) None 1995 [60]
Nelson, DonDon Nelson* Milwaukee Bucks (1976–1987)
Golden State Warriors (1988–1995, 2006–2010)
New York Knicks (1995–1996)
Dallas Mavericks (1997–2005) 		851–629 (.575)
1335–1063 (.557)[c] 		None 3 (1983, 1985, 1992) 2012 [61][62]
Ramsay, JackJack Ramsay* Philadelphia 76ers (1968–1972)
Buffalo Braves (1972–1976)
Portland Trail Blazers (1976–1986)
Indiana Pacers (1986–1988) 		864–783 (.525) 1 (1977) None 1992 [63]
Riley, PatPat Riley* Los Angeles Lakers (1981–1990)
New York Knicks (1991–1995)
Miami Heat (1995–2003, 2005–2008) 		798–339 (.702)
1210–694 (.636)[c] 		5 (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2006) 3 (1990, 1993, 1997) 2008 [64]
Wilkens, LennyLenny Wilkens* Seattle SuperSonics (1969–1972, 1977–1985)
Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1976)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1986–1993)
Atlanta Hawks (1993–2000)
Toronto Raptors (2000–2003)
New York Knicks (2004–2005) 		1014–850 (.544)
1332–1155 (.536)[c] 		1 (1979) 1 (1994) 1998 [65]

Top 10 Teams in NBA History

Also included in the NBA's 50th-anniversary celebration was the selection of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History. The list was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by members of the print and broadcast media who regularly cover the NBA. Teams were chosen from among all single-season individual teams. Each team won the NBA championship, and they combined to average 66 wins per season. The 1995–96 Chicago Bulls had the best single-season record in NBA history with 72 wins.

Six out of the thirty NBA franchises (twenty-nine franchises at the time of announcement) had a team named to the list; the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers had two teams selected.

Six players were on the roster of two teams on the list—Wilt Chamberlain with the 1966–67 Sixers and 1971–72 Lakers; James Edwards, Dennis Rodman, and John Salley with the 1988–89 Pistons and 1995–96 Bulls; and Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen with the Bulls in both 1991–92 and 1995–96. Three other individuals both played for and coached honored teams, all of whom completed this "double" with a single franchise—K. C. Jones with the Celtics as a player in 1964–65 and coach in 1985–86, Billy Cunningham with the Sixers as a player in 1966–67 and coach in 1982–83, and Pat Riley with the Lakers as a player in 1971–72 and coach in 1986–87. Phil Jackson, head coach of the Bulls from 1989 to 1998, was the only man to coach two teams that made the list. Although Jackson was under contract to the Knicks as a player in their 1969–70 championship season, he did not play that season as he was recovering from spinal fusion surgery.[66]

Players whose names are italicized were inducted after the announcement of the ten best teams. The Hall of Famers listed for each individual team are solely those inducted as players, and do not include those inducted in other roles.

Season Team Record Roster and head coach Players in the
Hall of Fame 		Players on the
50 Greatest Players list 		Ref.
1964–65 Boston Celtics 62–18 (.775) Ron Bonham, Mel Counts, John Havlicek, Tom Heinsohn, K. C. Jones, Sam Jones, Willie Naulls, Bevo Nordmann, Bill Russell, Tom Sanders, Larry Siegfried, John Thompson, Gerry Ward, coach Red Auerbach[d] 5 (K. Jones, S. Jones, Heinsohn, Russell, Havlicek)[e] 3 (S. Jones, Russell, Havlicek) [67]
1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers 68–13 (.840) Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Costello, Billy Cunningham, Dave Gambee, Hal Greer, Matt Guokas, Luke Jackson, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni, Chet Walker, Bob Weiss, coach Alex Hannum[d] 4 (Greer, Chamberlain, Cunningham, Walker) 3 (Greer, Chamberlain, Cunningham) [68]
1969–70 New York Knicks 60–22 (.732) Dick Barnett, Nate Bowman, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Walt Frazier, Bill Hosket, Don May, Willis Reed, Mike Riordan, Cazzie Russell, Dave Stallworth, John Warren, coach Red Holzman[d] 4 (Frazier, Bradley, DeBusschere, Reed) 3 (Frazier, DeBusschere, Reed) [69]
1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers 69–13 (.841) Wilt Chamberlain, Jim Cleamons, LeRoy Ellis, Keith Erickson, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston, Jim McMillian, Pat Riley, Flynn Robinson, John Trapp, Jerry West, coach Bill Sharman[d] 4 (Goodrich, West, Chamberlain, Baylor[f]) 3 (West, Chamberlain, Baylor) [70]
1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers 65–17 (.793) J. J. Anderson, Maurice Cheeks, Earl Cureton, Franklin Edwards, Julius Erving, Marc Iavaroni, Clemon Johnson, Reggie Johnson, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, Mark McNamara, Clint Richardson, Russ Schoene, Andrew Toney, coach Billy Cunningham 2 (Erving, Malone) 2 (Erving, Malone) [71]
1985–86 Boston Celtics 67–15 (.817) Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle, Dennis Johnson, Greg Kite, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Jerry Sichting, David Thirdkill, Sam Vincent, Bill Walton, Scott Wedman, Sly Williams, coach K. C. Jones 5 (McHale, Bird, Parish, Walton, Johnson) 4 (McHale, Bird, Parish, Walton) [72]
1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers 65–17 (.793) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Adrian Branch, Frank Brickowski, Michael Cooper, A. C. Green, Magic Johnson, Wes Matthews, Kurt Rambis, Mike Smrek, Byron Scott, Billy Thompson, Mychal Thompson, James Worthy, coach Pat Riley[d] 3 (Johnson, Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar) 3 (Johnson, Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar) [73]
1988–89 Detroit Pistons 63–19 (.768) Mark Aguirre, Adrian Dantley, Darryl Dawkins, Fennis Dembo, Joe Dumars, James Edwards, Steve Harris, Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer, John Long, Rick Mahorn, Pace Mannion, Dennis Rodman, Jim Rowinski, John Salley, Isiah Thomas, Micheal Williams, coach Chuck Daly[d] 4 (Thomas, Dumars, Dantley, Rodman) 1 (Thomas) [74]
1991–92 Chicago Bulls 67–15 (.817) B. J. Armstrong, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, Bob Hansen, Craig Hodges, Dennis Hopson, Michael Jordan, Stacey King, Cliff Levingston, Chuck Nevitt, John Paxson, Will Perdue, Scottie Pippen, Mark Randall, Rory Sparrow, Scott Williams, coach Phil Jackson[d] 2 (Jordan, Pippen) 2 (Jordan, Pippen) [75]
1995–96 Chicago Bulls 72–10 (.878) Randy Brown, Jud Buechler, Jason Caffey, James Edwards, Jack Haley, Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoč, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Dickey Simpkins, Bill Wennington, coach Phil Jackson[d] 3 (Jordan, Pippen, Rodman) 2 (Jordan, Pippen) [76]

See also

Notes

  • a American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
  • b Each year is linked to an article about the NBA Finals in that year.
  • c Italicized record and winning percentage reflect all games played through the 2010–11 season; the preceding record is that of the coach at the time of his selection.
  • d Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as coach; Bill Sharman was inducted as both a player and a coach
  • e A sixth player on this team, Sanders, was inducted into the Hall as a contributor in August 2011.[77]
  • f Having been injured in the second game, Baylor missed the remainder of the 1971–72 season. He retired at the beginning of the next season.[78]

References

General
  • "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved August 30, 2009. 
  • "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved September 13, 2009. 
  • "Top 10 Teams in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved September 13, 2009. 
Specific
  1. ^ a b c "The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved August 30, 2009. 
  2. ^ Rogers, Thomas (January 6, 1988). "Pete Maravich, a Hall of Famer Who Set Basketball Marks, Dies". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved September 13, 2009. 
  3. ^ Banks, Lacy (February 10, 1997). "Real dream team steals show".  
  4. ^  
  5. ^ "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  6. ^ "Nate Archibald NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  7. ^ "Paul Arizin NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  8. ^ "Charles Barkley NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  9. ^ "Rick Barry NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  10. ^ "Elgin Baylor NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  11. ^ "Dave Bing NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  12. ^ "Larry Bird NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  13. ^ "Wilt Chamberlain NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  14. ^ "Bob Cousy NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
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External links

  • NBA.com: The 50 Greatest Players page
  • NBA.com: Top 10 Coaches page
  • NBA.com: Top 10 Teams page
National Basketball Association's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History
NBA Anniversary Teams
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