The NBA released a list of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996. In the 15 years since then there have been several great players that deserve to be on the list. We took the time to update the list and add the great players from recent history.
50. Gail Goodrich
Gail Goodrich held a valuable role during the Lakers 1971-72 season where the team won a still-record 33 games consecutively, posted what was at the time the best regular season record in NBA history, and also won the franchise’s first NBA championship since relocating to Los Angeles.
Goodrich was the leading scorer on that team, averaging 18.6 points per game. He is also acclaimed for leading UCLA to its first two National Championships under the legendary coach John Wooden, the first in 1963-64 being a perfect 30-0 season.
In 1996, 17 years after his retirement from professional basketball, Goodrich was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ug-ikmg6Fg
49. Reggie Miller
Miller was known for his precision three-point field goal shooting, especially in clutch situations, most notably against the New York Knicks.
He retired with the then-record in most career three-point field goals made with 2,560. A five-time All-Star selection, he led the league in free throw accuracy five times and won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Miller is one of five Pacers to have his jersey (#31) retired by the team. Miller was also selected for the Pacers’ 40th anniversary team in 2007.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKNoJocnn-I
Next: The Human Highlight Film & 3-Point Killer
48. Dominique Wilkins
Wilkins’ nickname was the “The Human Highlight Film” for his athletic ability and highlight reel dunks. As a basketball player he was known as an acrobatic scorer, an outstanding finisher and one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history. His number 21 jersey was retired by the Hawks on January 13, 2001.
Prior to his last three NBA seasons, Wilkins never averaged fewer than 20 points per game and captured a scoring title in 1985-86 with an average of 30.3 points per game.
A nine-time NBA All-Star and the winner of two NBA Slam Dunk Contests, Wilkins registered 26,668 points and 7,169 rebounds in his NBA career.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyUf-9ruJi8
47. Ray Allen
Ray Allen is one of the most accurate 3-point and free throw shooters in NBA history. He is a ten-time NBA All-Star and won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the 2000 United States Men’s Basketball Team.
On February 10, 2011, Allen became the NBA’s all-time leader in regular season three-point field goals made, surpassing Reggie Miller’s mark of 2,560.
Allen finally captured championship fever when he won his first ring with the Boston Celtics in 2008.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNR_v61wwvo
Next: Rhymes with Great & The Big E
46. Nate Thurmond
Nate Thurmond, or “Nate the Great”, was more than just great. He was an NBA superstar who played most of his career for the previous San Francisco Warriors as their forward.
Nate has reached so many great accomplishments throughout his career, but none more unique than being the first NBA player to record a quadruple double. He reached this feat on October 18, 1974 against the Atlanta Hawks with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks.
In addition to this great milestone, he was also selected as an NBA All-Star seven times and selected on the NBA All-Defensive Team five times in his career.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGxnIB2vojo
45. Elvin Hayes
In Hayes’ career with the San Diego/Houston Rockets and the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets, Hayes played 1,303 games over 16 seasons, registering 27,313 points (eighth all-time) and 16,279 rebounds (fourth all-time).
Hayes never missed more than two games in any of his 16 seasons in the NBA. In addition to his 1968 scoring title, he led the NBA in rebounding in 1970 and 1974.
Hayes played in twelve straight NBA All-Star Games from 1969 to 1980.Hayes was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team during the 1996–97 NBA season and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSrAFvj-ZXI
Next: Bullet Legend & The Flash
44. Wes Unseld
Famed for his rebounding, bone-jarring picks and ability to ignite a fast break with his crisp, accurate outlet passes, Unseld made up for his lack of size (6’7”) with brute strength and sheer determination.
Unseld took the Bullets franchise to four NBA Finals, and won the championship in 1978 over the Seattle SuperSonics, in which he was named the Finals MVP. He ended his playing career following the 1980–1981 season, and his #41 jersey was retired by the Bullets shortly thereafter.
In 984 NBA games – all with the Bullets – Unseld averaged an offensive double-double, with averages of 10.8 points and 14.0 rebounds per game, as well as 3.9 assists per game, averaging over 36 minutes played per game.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbHgDLGc6cc&feature=related
43. Dwayne Wade
After entering the league as the fifth pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Wade was named to the All-Rookie team and the All-Star team the following seven seasons. In his third season, Wade helped lead the Miami Heat to their first NBA Championship in franchise history.
He was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP as he helped lead the Heat to a 4–2 series win over the Dallas Mavericks. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Wade led the United States Men’s Basketball team, commonly known as the “Redeem Team”, in scoring, as they captured gold medal honors in Beijing, China. In the 2008–09 season, Wade led the league in scoring and earned his first NBA scoring title.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSYiqIvZvoQ
Next: Big Game James & Rhymes with Glide
42. James Worthy
“Big Game James” was a seven-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion. A standout for the North Carolina Tar Heels, the 6 ft 9 in small forward was the MOP of the 1982 NCAA Tournament and #1 pick of the 1982 NBA Draft.
Worthy was an All-American high school basketball player at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, North Carolina. Worthy averaged 21.5 points and 12.5 rebounds during his senior season, for a team that lost in the state championship game.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TKCxO67aGw
41. Clyde Drexler
A 10-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA named him one of basketball’s fifty greatest players as of 1996. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and an NBA championship in 1995 with the Houston Rockets.
Drexler also came within one stat of achieving a quadruple-double on two occasions:Portland Trail Blazers at Milwaukee Bucks, January 10, 1986: 26 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals and Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings, November 1, 1996: 25 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 10 steals.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTzfJP6PeFY&feature=related
Make sure you follow the rest of the list by checking out Part II and Part III.