NBA Greats

I'm not nearly as knowledgeable of pro-basketball as I am baseball. But I'm a fan of the game, of the Lakers in particular, and I'm looking forward to tonight's NBA All-Star Game.

Bob Matthews had an interesting column in my local paper today, ranking the all-time greats of NBA basketball. In 1996, the NBA commemorated its 50th anniversary by choosing an official "50 Best and Most Influential Players". Here is how Matthews ranks those 50:

1. Michael Jordan
2. Wilt Chamberlain
3. Oscar Robertson
4. Bill Russell
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
6. Magic Johnson
7. Larry Bird
8. George Mikan
9. Karl Malone
10. Julius Erving
11. Elgin Baylor
12. Bob Cousy
13. Bob Pettit
14. Hakeem Olajuwon
15. Moses Malone
16. Shaquille O'Neal (the only still active player on the list)
17. Jerry West
18. John Havlicek
19. David Robinson
20. Kevin McHale
21. Charles Barkley
22. Isiah Thomas
23. Walt Frazier
24. Patrick Ewing
25. Willis Reed
26. Dolph Schayes
27. Dave Cowens
28. Billy Cunningham
29. Elvin Hayes
30. John Stockton
31. Rick Barry
32. George Gervin
33. Earl Monroe
34. Pete Maravich
35. Nate Archibald
36. Paul Arizin
37. Dave Bing
38. Sam Jones
39. Clyde Drexler
40. Robert Parish
41. Scottie Pippen
42. James Worthy
43. Lenny Wilkens
44. Wes Unseld
45. Bill Sharman
46. Nate Thurmond
47. Bill Walton
48. Jerry Lucas
49. Dave DeBusschere
50. Hal Greer

I have no major disagreements with this ranking... though I'd probably have Shaq a bit higher up. He then wrote:

Assuming the next official NBA all-time team will be the top 75 players for the league's 75th anniversary, here are the active players I believe already have clinched spots (in order of my preference):

• Tim Duncan
• Kobe Bryant
• Allen Iverson
• Kevin Garnett
• Jason Kidd
• Gary Payton

I agree with those choices, particularly the first three. Then he added:

Other active players who are well on their way to making the top-75 list:

• Steve Nash (a third MVP award would be the clincher)
• Dirk Nowitzki
• LeBron James
• Dwyane Wade
• Carmelo Anthony
• Tracy McGrady

Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Jermaine O'Neal, Gilbert Arenas, Elton Brand, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh have more to do but can't be discounted.

Five retired players who didn't make the 50th anniversary team but will deserve consideration for the 75th anniversary team are Dominique Wilkins, Bob McAdoo, Reggie Miller, Alex English and Connie Hawkins.

I'd say Nash is already deserving, and I agree that Dirk, Lebron, and Dwayne are certainly well on their way. And I thought Dominique Wilkins should have been included in the original 50 anyway, so definitely when/if they expand to 75. And Reggie Miller for sure also.