50 Greatest Players in NBA History

[2] Forty-seven of the fifty players were later assembled in Cleveland, during the halftime ceremony of the 1997 All-Star Game.

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 list was announced.

[5] Eight of the 10 players from the 25th anniversary team were chosen, with Bob Davies and Joe Fulks—who both last played in the 1950s—being omitted.

Only three voting former players (Bill Bradley, Johnny Kerr, and Bob Lanier) were not selected to the team.

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 five of them—Bill Fitch, Phil Jackson, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Lenny Wilkens—were then active.

The list was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by members of the print and broadcast media who regularly cover the NBA.

Each team won the NBA championship, and they combined to average 66 wins per season.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , who voted as a player, was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
A white person with brown hair, wearing a gray suit and a blue shirt, smiles.
Larry Bird , who voted as a team representative, was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
A basketball player, wearing a light-colored jersey with the number "13", is holding a basketball in front of another basketball player who is wearing a dark-colored jersey with the number "6".
Bill Russell (left) and Wilt Chamberlain (center), who voted as players, were selected as two of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
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Michael Jordan was active at the time of the announcement of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
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Shaquille O'Neal was the last active member of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.