The New Top 50

A lot has changed since SLAM first did this in ’97.

Ranking the Top 50 NBA players of all-time is no easy task. Making a list like this is not an exact science and, as you could guess, people are already squabbling—on our website, on other websites and in barbershops across the country—over the list we published in our latest issue. But is it really fair to have the debate before the complete list and reasoning is available for all to see? We don’t think so, and that’s why we decided to post our Top 50 in its entirety online. If you’re a real hoops head, a fan of SLAM or just a collector of basketball history, you should still go cop the issue; the images and the layout of the list in SLAM #130 are dope (not to mention the other usual goodness inside).

In any event, using the overriding standard that we only grade the players on their careers up until now (in other words: imagine if every current player retired tomorrow—which in the case of this list was about May 15—where would they stand?), eight full- and part-time members of the staff were given several days to study their history and prepare their own views. Then when gathered in our company’s conference room and hammered it out. We referenced the lists we did in ’97 (SLAM #19) and ’03 (SLAM Presents the 75 Greatest Players of All Time) a bit, but we mostly started from scratch, taking into account changes to current player’s legacies over the past six years as well as new appreciations for players of the past.

There were—and still are—a few disagreements about where guys ended up, but for the most part this list represents the consensus of the SLAM editorial staff. Will it represent yours as well? We know you won’t be shy about letting us know either way.

1. Michael Jordan
In case you were wondering, this was the least debated slot on the entire list. We’re not saying Michael Jordan can never be toppled, but for the time being, based on every consideration we could give, Mike is the one. Pure stats and their place in history? Try 30.1 ppg for his career (first all time). Or 2,514 steals (second all time). Honors? Rookie of the Year, 14 All-Star Games (MVP three times), 10 First Team All-NBA teams (nine First Team All-Defense), five MVP awards (plus six Finals MVPs). Dominant at both ends of the floor? Um, did you read the stats and honors above?! Championships? Six. Went head-to-head with other greats? Shoot, MJ ended one era (Magic-Bird-Isiah) before its time, and basically single-handedly kept a Hall of Fame lineup’s worth of stars (Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller, John Stockton) from ever winning a ring.    Entertaining? The most. Impact on the game? Ditto. Really, Michael Jordan is the perfect basketball player, and the only way he wasn’t finishing No. 1 was if we’d devised a new label for whoever we deemed “the best.”—Ben Osborne

2. Wilt Chamberlain
There was no farewell tour. In fact, he may not have realized he had played his last NBA game until long afterward. But for Wilt Chamberlain, the ’72-73 season was the end. It didn’t seem that way. Sure, the 36-year-old Chamberlain averaged a career-low 13.2 points per game. But he shot over 70 percent from the floor—a record that still stands—and he led the League in rebounding for the 11th time. Wilt entered the League as the Basketball Colossus and stomped the record books flat. In his very first game, he posted 43 points and 28 rebounds. He went on to win both the Rookie of the Year and the MVP. In ’61-62, he scored 100 points in a game, averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds, and played all but eight minutes of the season. He only won two NBA titles, spurned again and again by Bill Russell’s Celtics. But his personal numbers stood up. They always did. Chamberlain’s last-ever NBA game came against the Knicks, in Game 5 of the 1973 NBA Finals. He scored 23 points and pulled down 21 boards. His team lost.—Russ Bengtson

3. Bill Russell
I can’t prove that Bill Russell is into arithmetic, but I have a hunch he must love numbers. Russell’s gotta appreciate the number 1—that’s where he falls on the all-time list of chips won (11). He likes 2 also, collecting the second-most rebounds of all time (21,620). If he wasn’t into the digit 3, he’d better like it now, because that’s where we have him on this list. Four is special to Russ, too, it being the number of times he led the L in rpg (22.5 for his career). Five is near and dear—it’s the number of times he hauled in the MVP hardware, though he easily could have had a few more. And 6, well, 6 is the number that the Celtics retired along with him, after soaking it with sweat, tears and champagne over a 13-season career, while making the Celts into the storied franchise that they are. By being the greatest winner of all time, Bill Russell made the Celtics into a franchise of winners—long after his playing days ended. If you don’t believe me, just ask Kevin Garnett.—Tzvi Twersky

4. Shaquille O’Neal
A legend in his own time. A juggernaut. A true difference-maker if ever there was one. Made everybody he played with better. Shaquille O’Neal is a star amongst stars and has been one of the focal points of the League for his entire 17-year career. His stats are monstrous. For reference sake, here are a couple: Playoff averages of 25 and 12, 15 All-Star Game appearances, tied with Chamberlain for the most times leading the League in field goal percentage (9), won two scoring titles, ’93 Rookie of the Year, 2000 MVP, three Finals MVPs and four rings. Could have had more if not for the Kobe battles, but still, four rings is nothing to laugh at. At his peak he was a physical marvel, 7-1 and 330-plus yet agile and quick. An underrated shot-blocker. Arguably the best post scorer ever. Even now, he still routinely pushes around other big men with a physicality rivaled by only a few players in the history of the game. He made you laugh. Made Kings fans cry. He calls himself the LCL (Last Center Left). I believe him.—Khalid Salaam

5. Oscar Robertson
Big O was the only player ever to average a triple double for a season: 30.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg and 11.4 apg in ’61-62, his second year in the League. Read it and weep. He averaged 25.7 for his 14-year career, once led his team in boards from the backcourt and dished out the fourth-most assists ever, playing in an era when they were less often credited than today. And he had the undying respect of his peers. “Oscar would beat you anytime he had the ball in his hands at the end of a game,” says Elvin Hayes. “He was a complete player.”—Alan Paul

6. Magic Johnson
He wasn’t a very good shooter, nor was he particularly athletic by NBA standards. And if you’re only old enough to know him as the husky guy on TV who hawks rebate anticipation loans for predatory lending firms, you’ll be excused for not understanding what made him so wonderful to watch in his prime: No player in the history of the game better combined court vision, creativity, competitiveness and sheer joy. This dude now, I don’t even know who he is. Twenty-five years ago, he was everything basketball is supposed to be.—Ryan Jones

7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Sometimes the numbers tell the story. Just consider the 38,387 points Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored in 1,560 games over 20 seasons, the most ever in the NBA, by a long shot. Some more numbers to ponder: 11.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2 bpg and 6 rings. But Cap also transcended the stats, as one of the most intelligent, enigmatic athletes ever and the creator of the sky hook, which Bill Russell called “one of the greatest innovations in the history of sports.“ Its brilliance, Russell added, was that “it was completely unique to Kareem’s physical abilities, proportions and coordination.” All of that made the shot virtually indefensible.—AP

8. Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan is the best power forward to ever play basketball. Over 12 seasons, he’s accumulated one Rookie of the Year award, two MVPs, three Finals MVPs, four championships, nine First Team All-NBA appearances and 11 All-Star Game invites. And all for the same franchise. His career numbers are dizzying, but Duncan has never been about the stats. With his quick wit, quiet grace, no-nonsense approach to the game and always, always perfect positioning, Tim Duncan playing basketball is poetry personified. At 33 years old, his career is probably winding down. Enjoy him—and appreciate him—while you still can.—Lang Whitaker

9. Larry Bird
Larry Bird collected every accolade the NBA offered. At 6-9, 220, and long-armed, Bird had the body for ball and he was blessed with a natural command for it, if not abundant athleticism. Physical limits didn’t stop “Larry Legend.” You don’t average 24.3 ppg and 10 rpg without athleticism, but Larry did. You don’t average 6.3 apg and 1.7 spg as a forward, but Larry did. You don’t win three rings and last 13 seasons in the L with a bad back, but somehow Larry did. More than anything else he did, he always found ways to overcome, to compete, to win and to repeat.—Matt Caputo

10.  Jerry West
Jerry West honed his skills in solitude, emerging from Cabin Creek, WV, to lead West Virginia University to the NCAA title game in 1960. West was rawboned, long armed and springy. His jump shot, especially off the dribble, was warm pie. West’s reticent aloneness both fueled and haunted him. His Lakers lost in the Finals his first six seasons, and each heartbreak added kindling to his astonishing drive to win. After more than a decade in the League, West’s ’71-72 Lakers won 33 consecutive games—still the record—and the NBA Championship. West chipped in 25.8 points and 9.7 assists on perhaps the greatest team ever. Modest yet self-assured, West was also the best clutch shooter the game has seen. He averaged a remarkable 27 ppg over 14 years, but upped that to 29 in 153 Playoff games—all before the three-point line. West was named an All-Star every year, First Team All-NBA 10 times. Here are two measures of the respect given Jerry West: He is the only Finals MVP not on the championship team. His image is the NBA’s logo.—Rus Bradburd

11.  Elgin Baylor
Do you believe in basketball evolution? You should, you know. Because the NBA wasn’t always like this. And I’m not just talking about recent developments like three-pointers and Thundersticks. The fundamentals of the game have changed. They’re still changing. They’ve always been changing. But if you know anything at all about evolution, you know it isn’t just about small steps. Because that’s not how you get from Ralph Kaplowitz set shots to LeBron James dunks in a mere 60 years. Somewhere along the line, someone has to leap. And Elgin Baylor took the biggest leap of them all. Understand this, if you understand nothing else: Without Elgin Baylor, there is no Michael Jordan, no Kobe Bryant, no LeBron James. Elgin took a ground-bound game skyward, transformed the entire sport. True, he never won an NBA championship, despite playing in eight NBA Finals. But his 61-point outburst in 1962 remains an NBA Finals record. His 19.8 rpg average in ’61 is unsurpassed by any other non-center. Everyone since has just built on the foundation he laid.—R. Bengtson

12.  Kobe Bryant
Perfectionism is the persistence of will in obtaining the optimal quality of spiritual, mental, physical and material being. Also referred to as Kobeism. When discussing KB24, there are a few things you have to take into account. One, he was constructed in a lab by commissioner David Stern and company. Sixty percent MJ, 20 percent Tiger Woods and 20 percent Jellybean Bryant (for physical attributes). Two, he’s only 30 years old and has 12 healthy seasons under his belt with three rings, 11 All-Star Game appearances and two scoring titles. Last but not least, how many players can give you 25-30 points when their defender is doing a great job stopping them? Kobe is the product of Michael Jordan as MJ was the product of Dr. J. Some may argue that there’s a different best active player, but truth is Kobe Bryant has the only set of keys to the best basketball player car and it’s going to be a few more years until he lets anyone else drive. For now he’s welcoming all students to ride alongside in the passenger seat. Put your seatbelt on and enjoy the ride.—Konate Primus

13.  Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem the Dream, first thrust onto the basketball consciousness as a star for the great University of Houston teams of the early ’80s, went on to an NBA career that featured a dozen All-Star selections, the all-time record for blocked shots, two Finals MVPs, two Defensive Player of the Year Awards, the most steals in Rockets history and the ’94 League MVP Award under his belt. A rare talent who—due in part to his youth training as a soccer player in his native Nigeria—possessed superb footwork. One of the very few dominant players on both offense and defense, he scored nearly 27,000 points in his career and grabbed nearly 14,000 rebounds. Offensively, all the pump fakes and change of directions were designed to get his opponent off balance (seriously, the Dream Shake could have a write-up all its own) and out of position. Standing 7-0 with an athletic 255-pound body, he used both finesse and muscle, and combined quick hands, upper body strength and nimbleness to shut down opponents.—KS

14.  Bob Pettit
At 6-9 and only 215 pounds, Bob Pettit was under-undersized. But after being cut from his high school team as a freshman and as a sophomore, Pettit went on to star at his hometown Louisiana State and then play 11 seasons in the NBA and total over 20,000 points and 12,000 rebounds. Pettit played his entire career for the Hawks, though at the time the team was based in Milwaukee, then St. Louis. As a rookie, BP averaged 20.4 ppg with 13.8 boards and won the Rookie of the Year award. His coach, Red Holzman, noted, “We didn’t ever hope that anybody could be that good.” His second year, Pettit averaged 25.7 and 16.2. In 1958, Pettit lead the Hawks to the NBA Finals against Bill Russell and the Celtics. The Hawks won the chip—the franchise hasn’t won another since—with Pettit going for 50 points in the decisive Game 6. As Bill Russell himself said, “Bob made ‘second effort’ a part of the sport’s vocabulary.”—LW

15.  Julius Erving
If it wasn’t for Dr. J, there is no SLAM. I have 180 words with which to justify his placement on this list, but I could have ended after those first 10 and been done with it. Because without the Doctor, I’m not writing this at all. Julius Erving didn’t invent the dunk, it just seems that way. Wilt Chamberlain, then a student at the University of Kansas, was dunking on a 12-foot basket as early as the mid ’50s. Doc wasn’t even the first guy to dunk from the free-throw line—Jim Pollard had done it as early as the late ’40s. In fact, the NCAA had banned dunking by the time Erving started at UMass in 1968. What Erving did was turn the dunk into an offensive weapon, a tool with which to demoralize and destroy. Ask Bill Walton. Ask Michael Cooper. Yes, he won four MVPs (three in the ABA). Yes, he won three championships (two in the ABA). Yes, he was the main reason behind the ABA/NBA merger. But mostly, without him, there is no us.—R. Bengtson

16.  Moses Malone
I’m old enough to have seen Moses Malone play basketball, but I mostly remembered the older, balding, bespectled, paunchy Moses who played out his career in a series of stints in peculiar locales (including Milwaukee and San Antonio). The Moses I don’t remember seeing is the man who parted the waters for players to go pro straight out of high school, the 6-10 center who averaged 24.8 points per game and 17.7 rebounds per game as a 23-year-old. Counting the two seasons he played in the ABA right after high school, Moses played 21 years of pro ball and retired with averages of 20.3 and 12.3. He won an NBA title and a Finals MVP, was a three-time regular season MVP, was an 11-time All-Star, led the NBA in rebounds per game six different times, and even led the NBA in minutes per game twice. Why, you may ask, is Moses ranked below Dr. J, when Moses’s stats and legacy are obviously superior? Well, Dr. J had a cool afro and could dunk. Other than that, I’m not sure why. Let my people go.—LW

17. John Havlicek
Tireless, gutsy, smart, scrappy and winner are all adjectives people used to describe Hondo’s game. The 6-5 guard/forward was certainly tireless, averaging more than 35 mpg nine different times. Gutsy also works, too, as Havlicek played through injuries, playing less than 75 games only once in his 16-year career. In that career, he managed to average over 20 ppg, 6 rpg and 4 apg, showing he was smart with the rock. It’s not just the stats, though; it was the way he accumulated them. Whether starting or coming off the pine, whether picking-and-popping or driving to the hoop, whether rebounding or passing, Havlicek did it all to the fullest. And that’s why he was the winner he was, pocketing eight championships. If you add it all together, one word can be used to describe him: complete.—TT

18. Karl Malone
Behind Karl Malone’s ringless fingers are two fists full of honors and records, of which we can only begin to highlight here. Malone was an All-Star every season from 1988 to 2002. He finished among the top eight in MVP voting for 14 straight seasons, and he won the award twice. He was First Team All-NBA for 11 straight years. He finished in the top 10 in total rebounds and top 5 in scoring for 13 consecutive seasons. Malone never missed more than two games in a season with the Jazz and played in the Playoffs every year of his career. He’s second all-time in career points and first in field goals made. Karl Malone was the prototype of being consistently great. And it doesn’t take a title to prove it.—Ryne Nelson

19. Isiah Thomas
Some of you under the age of 30 might look at Isiah Thomas’s ranking and shrug your shoulders, only knowing him from his scandal-ridden tenure with the Knicks. But settle down and learn something: Not only does he belong here, but there’s no debate about it. Clutch, quick and tough-minded, Zeke was a hard match-up for backcourt and frontcourt players alike. He routinely broke down his initial defenders and drove to the rack with determination. Additionally, he was an asshole (I mean that in a good way) to match, with a mean streak that only intensified his competitiveness. Thomas was the brains behind those fabled Detroit Pistons Bad Boys teams in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He scored over 18,000 points, dished out over 9,000 assists, was selected for a dozen All-Star games and was named the 1990 Finals MVP.—KS

20. Charles Barkley
Before the fat jokes every Thursday night and before senior citizen challenges at All-Star Weekend, there was a man who stood 6-4, who pumped fear into opponents and laid down the law in the paint. Often we give credit to those oversized with exceptional skill, and just as often we overlook the undersized players who cast just as large of a shadow. But how can anyone overlook someone who gives you 22 ppg with 12 rpg over the course of 16 years in the League? Yeah, Sir Charles didn’t get the one nice piece of jewelry he was aiming for, but he has his spot in the HOF, plus an MVP, a gold medal and countless other achievements. Plain and simple, Barkley was one of the toughest forwards to play this game. And some might even say he’s a great role model for future Hall of Famers.—KP

21. Rick Barry
Rick Barry’s prime was divided between the NBA, the ABA and various courtrooms, as the leagues fought over him. This reflected the tumult of the times but also overshadowed the fact that he was one of the game’s all-time greatest offensive players, scoring over 25,000 points in 14 seasons. “Rick had a tremendous outside shot,” recalls Chet Walker. “If we had had three-pointers during our era, this guy would have been truly unstoppable.” Barry led the NBA in scoring his second season with 35.6 ppg, but the League sued him when he tried to jump to the ABA. He was forced to sit out a year before his 34 ppg led the rival league in ’69. He returned to the NBA after four years. “Rick was as good at working the pick and roll as any forward ever,” recalls Slick Watts, who teamed with Barry on the Rockets, “He could shoot or pass great coming off a screen from a big guy, and he could also put the ball down once or twice, then score on anyone.”—AP

22. John Stockton
First all-time in assists (5,000 more than second place). First all-time in steals (700 more than second place). John Stockton didn’t just exceed what anyone thought a 6-1, 175-pound guard out of Gonzaga could do, he absolutely demolished expectations. Working brilliantly alongside Karl Malone and Jerry Sloan for the only team he’d ever suit up for (a record 19 seasons with one franchise), Stock ran the game at both ends of the floor with supernatural hands and unprecedented guile. The biggest negative to Stock’s career is his lack of a ring, but you can blame MJ for that. It should go without saying, given the outrageous numbers Stock put up, but dude hardly ever missed a game; in 17 of his seasons he didn’t miss a single outing, including closing his career with five straight seasons starting every possible game. And the 10-time All-Star wasn’t out there for charity—in ’02-03, his last campaign, Stock quietly led the NBA in assists per 48 minutes. He’s headed into the Hall this fall…though most people won’t notice cause you know who’s going in, too.—BO

23. Elvin Hayes
The Big E infuriated coaches and drove teammates crazy, but that marvelous turnaround jumper of his helped him become the sixth-leading scorer in NBA history. The top overall pick of the San Diego Rockets in ’68 after playing in one of the most famous college games in history (a 71-69 win for his Houtson Cougars over UCLA), Hayes led the NBA in scoring as a rookie and soon became one of the most productive and durable big men in history. In 1972, the Rockets traded Hayes to the Bullets, where he joined Wes Unseld on one of basketball’s most formidable front lines. Hayes helped the Bullets to the ’75 Finals, but a surprising four-game loss to Golden State earned the Big E criticism from those who considered him a selfish player. Three years later, he lifted Washington to the title, earning vindication against his detractors. Hayes finished his 16-year career in Houston and is remembered as a pioneering power forward and force on offense and the backboards.—Michael Bradley

24. Bob Cousy
When you think of razzle-dazzle and creative handles, you probably think of streetball. But long before the AND 1 Mixtape Tour, Boston Celtics point guard Bob Cousy was known as the “Houdini of the Hardwood.” Cousy helped contribute six titles to the greatest dynasty in any sport of all time. And even though his numbers won’t blow you away (18.4 ppg, 7.5 apg, 5.2 rpg), his crossover would crack any present day below-average NBA defender’s ankles. The New York native pioneered leading the break with behind-the-back dribbles and no-look passes that seemed headed nowhere until you saw a teammate swoop in and finish off the dime. He saw what other people didn’t see, and he knew what to do when he saw the opening. Cousy’s innovation shaped ballhandling on all levels of the game forever.—MC

25. David Robinson
Basketball, like life, is funny. In both cases, one or two moments can come to define your existence. Take David Robinson, a guy who averaged 24 ppg, 12 rpg and 4 bpg as a rookie, and went for 30 and 11 a few years later. Ten-time All-Star. Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, League MVP. Dream Teamer. And yet when I think of David Robinson, what do I think of? The guy Dream embarrassed in the Playoffs. The guy whose greatest contribution to his franchise was missing most of the ’96-97 season. But this is my problem, not his. For the first half of his career, David Robinson was all-world. For the second half, he was “only” a terrific, selfless role player with two rings to show for it. Nothing funny about that.—RJ

26. Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale looked like he was built in some mad scientist’s lab, perfectly constructed for low-post dominance. The man was all arms and legs, 6-10, 225, with limbs that seemed to stretch halfway across the court. He used those long arms to become one of the great low-post defenders in the game as well as an offensive force; he could release a shot over anyone, no matter how tall, athletic or determined. Consistently praised for being tough to guard by Charles Barkley, McHale teamed with Robert Parish and Larry Bird to form one of the game’s all-time great front lines for a dozen years, leading the Celtics to three titles. He often came off the bench as a super sixth man, abusing tired starters or overmatched subs, but he was rarely not on the floor at the end of tight games, and he won many with clutch shots, blocks or free throws.—AP

27. Scottie Pippen
Bring up Scottie Pippen and people like to talk about his negatives—once refusing to come in for the conclusion of a Playoff game, not winning a ring without Jordan, etc. But by doing that they miss the obvious. Dude was a serious player and basically perfected the point-forward position, especially during the second three-peat when he took over much of the ballhandling responsibilities for the Bulls. Additionally he was a lockdown wing defender, a key element in the overlooked fact that those championship Chicago teams of the ’90s were the best defensive teams that many of us have ever seen. At 6-7 and 228, Pip had the requisite strength and the speed to guard several positions on the floor. He did all this while being the team’s second option, scoring nearly 19,000 points over his career, making his complementary contributions to Jordan not just happenstance but crucial to the Bulls success.—KS

28. Jason Kidd
At 6-4 and 210 pounds, Jason Kidd was faster, stronger and bigger than most of the guys he went up against. But instead of running his opponents over, Kidd used a Mensa-level hoops IQ to outfox most of them, using pin-point passing to rack up over 10,000 assists in his first 15 seasons. His 103 triple-doubles are third all-time in NBA history, and they attest to Kidd’s singular ability to play a complete game in the modern era. While his defense these days is often mostly cursory, he was named First Team All-Defense four different times and is the NBA’s active steals leader. Kidd reinvigorated the Nets in the early Y2K, carrying them to the Finals twice, and then reinvigorated his own game with a trade to Dallas in 2008.—LW

29. George Mikan
There was no father to his style. That George Mikan was the NBA’s first great big man is almost beside the point; he was professional basketball’s first big man, period. A gangly 6-10, Mikan stepped into a game played by average-sized men taking set shots and changed it forever. He was both a freak and a superstar at a time when the game had neither and needed both. Understand this: They changed rules for this man. He dominated the lane so thoroughly that they widened it, and he swatted so many shots from above the rim that they disallowed the practice. Comparing him to the greats who came after, players with more size and talent, is a waste of time, and really beside the point. George Mikan is peerless because he literally had no peer.—RJ

30. Kevin Garnett
Career stat lines like 20 ppg, 11 rpg, a four-time rebounds per game leader, seven-time All-Defense First Team and one MVP pretty much sums up Mr. Garnett. Allow me to elaborate: Kevin is the most giving selfish player ever. Every dunk or fadeaway is done with the intent to make you feel bad about yourself. Every rebound he snatches is another way of telling you he’s better than you. His intense eyes and war cries are his way of letting out the pain for you. KG came into the League in 1995 as a hyped-up skinny high school kid from Illinois via South Carolina who played with passion and intensity. In 2009, 14 years later, you can call KG a man who lived up to the hype and plays with intensity and passion every game.—KP

31. Willis Reed
When Willis Reed emerged from the tunnel in Madison Square Garden to inspire his teammates to beat the Lakers in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, he created a moment that would last forever in League folklore. That one moment shouldn’t overshadow the many other accomplishments in his successful, if brief, NBA career. In his 10 years with the Knicks, he was Rookie of the Year, a seven-time All-Star, two-time NBA Champ, two-time Finals MVP and also the MVP of the 1970 All-Star Game. Considered the greatest Knick ever by many New York fans, Reed was the captain of the franchise’s only two NBA championship teams. The injuries that created that defining moment also ended his career, and Reed retired after the ’73-74 season. He posted averages of 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds over 650 games.—MC

32. Wes Unseld
Wes Unseld was an absolutely ferocious rebounder. Using his 6-7, 245-pound body to hold off any and all comers, he averaged 14 rpg for his career, along with 10.8 ppg and 3.9 apg. He was Finals MVP when the Bullets won the ’78 title. “Wes had some big scoring games, but his focus was on being a tough guy and leader and to get extra shots for his team,” recalls Dave Cowens, a regular opponent and fellow HOF member. “He could also throw the outlet pass better than anyone, whipping a two-handed pass all the way downcourt while still in the air.”—AP

33. Nate Thurmond
At a time when great centers roamed the NBA, Thurmond was a major interior force, even if he didn’t receive great attention. A product of Bowling Green University, Thurmond made an immediate impact with the San Francisco Warriors, who drafted him in 1963. During his 11 seasons there, he led the club to a pair of Finals appearances and played in six All-Star games. There was nothing flashy about Thurmond, who excelled at the defensive end and was a ferocious rebounder. Thurmond concluded his 14-year career with averages of 15.0 ppg and 15.0 rpg, not to mention the considerable respect of those who competed against him.—MB

34. Dolph Schayes
A 6-8, 220-pound forward, Schayes was named to a dozen consecutive All-Star games from 1951-62, leading the Syracuse Nationals to three Finals and the ’55 title. He had deep range on his set shot and unusual agility for a big man of his era. He retired in ’64 as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer (19,247 points). “Dolph was completely tenacious and he worked as hard as anyone ever could have,” recalls Bill Russell. Schayes’ opponents were forced to work equally hard or risk being embarrassed because he never quit moving, exhausting defenders with a style he once summed up simply: “Basketball is a game of movement, so move!”—AP

35. Walt Frazier
Those who follow the Knicks now know Frazier as the colorful wordsmith who covers them on the MSG Network. But back in the ’70s, Frazier was one of the best point guards in the League and skillfully weaved his way into seven All-Star appearances, four All-NBA First Team selections, seven All-Defense selections and two Knick championships. An accomplished defender who was known for his quick hands and unflappable personality, Clyde ended his decade-long Knicks career as the franchise’s career leader in assists and points. Selected to the NBA’s 50 Greatest Team, he finished with over 15,000 points and 5,000 assists.—KS

36. Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing was called a warrior so much it’s a wonder his No. 33 isn’t hanging in The Arena in Oakland. It does, however, hang in MSG, despite a tumultuous last few years in blue and orange and his ultimate failure to bring a title to New York. But, in his prime, the irascible (and often sweat-soaked) Ewing was perhaps the best jump-shooting center in NBA history, a shot-altering force in the middle, and the last line of a ferocious blue-collar defense. A fierce and proud competitor to the end, Ewing was the League’s first true warrior.—R. Bengtson

37. Jerry Lucas
Jerry Lucas was one of only two players selected out of high school in the NBA’s old territorial draft, picked by the Cincinnati Royals in 1959. When he finally joined the team (and Oscar Robertson) in ’64, the 6-8, 230-pound PF averaged 17.7 ppg and 17.4 rpg and was named ROY. The next season he went for 21.4 ppg and 20 rpg to become just the third “20-20” player in League history. He is also one of only four guys to get 40 rebounds in a game. Lucas finished his 11-year career in New York, and when the Knicks won the ’73 title, it gave Lucas championships in high school, college, the Olympics and the NBA. “Jerry combined skill, hard work, determination, knowledge of the game and raw intelligence as well as anyone,” says Clyde Frazier.—AP

38. Gary Payton
Some guys are handed nicknames, but the only way you get a name like The Glove is by earning it. He played with a feral, confrontational quality unusual for point guards. He intimidated 95 percent of the guards in the League with that style and dominated best point guard in the League discussions for the entire ’90s. His nine All-Star Game selections are bolstered by nine All-Defense First Team selections and highlighted by his Defensive Player of the Year Award in ’96 (the only PG to ever win that honor), the season he led the Seattle SuperSonics to the NBA Finals. After stints with the Celtics and Lakers, he reemerged with the Heat and hit the key shot in Game 3 of the ’06 Finals, capping a Hall of Fame career with a deserved Championship ring.—KS

39. Allen Iverson
“We talking about practice?” One of the most memorable quotes in basketball history, and oddly enough it came from a man who led the League in scoring four times, averaged 27 ppg for his career and made 10 All-Star games all while being constantly injured and extremely undersized. Generously listed at 6-0, Allen Iverson banged with the best and played through every injury short of a broken leg. But still, “We are talking about practice, not a game.” Not the game? He was League MVP, All-Star MVP twice and ROY. “We are talking about practice.” There is no question about his dedication, heart, love, nor individual talent. But while you may question how AI will solidify his place among the greats, only he knows. Because Allen Iverson is still The Answer.—KP

40. Billy Cunningham
They didn’t call him the Kangaroo Kid for nothing. A 6-6, 220-pound small forward, Billy Cunningham used his outstanding hops to dominate from the wing. From 1968-72, he grabbed between 11.7 and 13.6 rpg, along with 24.3 ppg and 4.6 apg. That was after he served as an electrifying sixth man on the 68-13 1967 Sixers and before he went to the ABA and was MVP of the League. A blown knee prematurely ended his career in ’75, but Cunningham earned another ring as coach of the ’83 Sixers. “I’d like to take credit for the jumping but it was a God-given talent,” says Cunningham, a Brooklyn native who spent countless hours on the playground. “It was easy to develop a game because we just played so much against so many great players.”—AP

41. Clyde Drexler
Clyde Drexler wasn’t your typical superstar. A sublimely brilliant all-around guard, the high-flying Drexler simply kept his head down—on and off the court—and never stopped moving. Drafted out of Houston in ‘83, he led the Blazers to two Finals appearances, in ‘90 and ‘92, finally winning a championship with Houston in ’95. But he wasn’t just hanging on to get a ring—that year he led the Rockets in points, assists and steals. Yet, polite to the end, he chose to walk away. “I think it’s better to go before you’re asked,” Drexler once told me. “I worked too hard to develop those skills to see them atrophy.”—RB

42. LeBron James
There is no number that better describes the difficulty of doing an all-time player list than this one. Forty-two for LeBron James? I’m writing this in mid-May. Will he vault to 37 if the Cavs win the title this year? Who knows? And who cares? He’s here, in the conversation, in his sixth season and still shy of his 25th birthday. Ignore the marketing and the talc showers. The stats, not to mention the opinions of his rivals and peers, do not lie; being ranked No. 42 right now is irrelevant. King James’ destiny is single-digit.—RJ

43. Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins was called the Human Highlight Film, but it wasn’t only because of his dunking. Nique had a deadly mid-range game, an array of off-the-glass jumpers, and he developed into a reliable three-point shooter. Still, it was the dunks that made Nique greater than so many of his peers. In fact, if he’d played during the YouTube era, he’d probably be five or six slots higher on our list. Playing the majority of his career in the same conference as Larry Bird and Michael Jordan kept Nique from ever making it to the NBA Finals. But for fans of basketball played above the rim, nobody did it better than Dominique Wilkins. Ever.—LW

44. Dave Cowens
While Cowens is the last of the eight Celtics in our 50, he is also the most unique of them. Cowens accumulated a solid resume: 17.6 ppg, 13.6 rpg, two NBA Titles and an MVP award. But this doesn’t tell the whole story of the 6-9 center’s 11-year run. Always hyperactive and tenacious on the court, Cowens was just as eccentric off of it—retiring once mid-season, driving a taxi cab during another. The fact that he was able to do so much on the court while doing so much off it is a testament to his greatness.—TT

45. George Gervin
The “Iceman” ruled over his 13 pro seasons with some of the coldest scoring skills in the history of the game. A 12-time NBA or ABA All-Star, Gervin was regularly among the top NBA scorers, including four finishes as the League’s leader. Famous for his Afro, skin-and-bones body type and for pioneering the finger roll, Gervin’s 26,595 career points, two 30-plus ppg seasons and All-Star Game MVP trophy keep his legacy frozen in time. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also the only guy to be teammates of both Julius Erving and Michael Jordan. Although he never won a title or League MVP, Gervin was one of the most dangerous offensive threats of any era.—MC

46. Bob McAdoo
If it weren’t for McAdoo’s second act as a standout reserve on four Laker Finals teams, few would remember the sweet-shooting forward for anything other than controversy. A star at UNC, he joined the Buffalo Braves in 1972 and became an immediate sensation, winning three scoring titles. But McAdoo clashed with ownership midway through the ’75-76 season and began a five-team odyssey that eventually brought him to the Lakers. Though a former MVP, McAdoo thrived in a reserve role and played big parts on L.A.’s ’82 and ’85 title teams. He finished his career as a star in the Italian League.—MB

47. Earl Monroe
At 6-3, Earl Monroe couldn’t get over you. At 190 pounds, he couldn’t go through you. So he had to figure out how to go around you. And go around you Monroe did, with a dizzying arsenal of spins and dribbles that left opponents clutching at air. A four-time All-Star with the Knicks and Bullets, Earl the Pearl’s blacktop-bred game occasionally even left him wondering. “The thing is, I don’t know what I’m going to do with the ball,” Monroe once said. “And if I don’t know, I’m quite sure the guy guarding me doesn’t know either.”—R. Bengtson

48. Dennis Rodman
How did Dennis Rodman become the best rebounder ever? Divine intervention. Over (growing nine inches between his 19th and 20th birthdays) and over (drafted a Bad Boy) and over. At 19, Dennis Rodman was a 5-9 twerp, hanging out in malls, stealing cheap watches. By 30, he was gathering over 25 percent of the rebounds on the court. Plainly, Dennis knew before everyone else where the rebound would be. You know what was craziest about the Worm? His “court sense.” How else, in basketball’s modern age, could a 36-year-old possibly average 15 rebounds for an entire season?—RN

49. Walt Bellamy
Walt Bellamy had one of the greatest rookie seasons in NBA history, averaging 31.6 ppg and 19 rpg season for the Chicago Packers after being the top pick in the ’61 Draft. “Bells” played in 1,043 of 1,055 games during his 14-year career and retired in ’74 as the sixth-leading scorer (20,941 points, 20.1 ppg) and third all-time rebounder (14,241 rebounds, 13.1 rpg). He is in great company as one of only seven players to score 20,000 points and grab 14,000 boards, along with Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elvin Hayes, Robert Parish, Moses Malone and Karl Malone.—AP

50. Steve Nash
At 6-2, maybe 190 pounds, Nash has scored over 13,000 points and dished over 7,500 assists in his 13 NBA seasons. But more relevantly, he won two MVP awards with a couple of eye-popping seasons in Phoenix. Were his numbers inflated from playing in Mike D’Antoni’s system? Maybe. But as Nash himself told me a few years ago, “It was from team play and it was how well our team did that made me the MVP. I owe it all to my teammates, and I realize it’s unique. It’s good for kids and good for the game that the MVP was awarded to someone who won it in a team setting.”—LW