Get ready to embrace debate, folks. The NBA 75 list is here.
As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, the league will be releasing a list featuring the 75 greatest players in NBA history during the first week of the 2021-22 season. A similar list was compiled ahead of the 1996-97 season to honor the 50 greatest players of all time, but given the amount of talent that has come through the league since then, it’s possible a few players from the original top 50 will lose their spots.
TOP 75 PEAKS IN NBA HISTORY: 75-51 | 50-26 | 25-11 | 10-1
Who do YOU think will be selected to the 75th Anniversary Team?
75 Greatest Players will be announced on TNT’s NBA Tip-Off and ESPN’s NBA Today starting tonight at 6pm/et through Thursday.
25 members of the team will be announced on each of the three days. #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/HLeeV4Bkrk
— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2021
Which legends of the game will land on the list? Which players will earn the “snub” label? The Sporting News will update the NBA 75 list below as the names are announced.
NBA 75 team: Full list of players revealed
(Note: These are not rankings. Nos. 26-50 will be revealed on Wednesday, and Nos. 51-75 will be revealed on Thursday. )
1. Hal Greer
2. Dirk Nowitzki
3. Bob Pettit
4. Oscar Robertson
5. Bill Russell
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo
7. Kevin Durant
8. Elvin Hayes
9. Jerry Lucas
10. Willis Reed
11. Nate Archibald
12. Bob Cousy
13. Dave Cowens
14. James Harden
15. Hakeem Olajuwon
16. Kevin McHale
17. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
18. George Mikan
19. John Stockton
20. Steve Nash
21. Charles Barkley
22. Julius Erving
23. George Gervin
24. Moses Malone
25. David Robinson
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When will the NBA 75 list be unveiled?
The NBA 75th anniversary team will be unveiled in three parts during the first week of the 2021-22 season.
- First 25 players revealed: Tuesday, Oct. 19 (6 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Next 25 players revealed: Wednesday, Oct. 20 (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Last 25 players revealed: Thursday, Oct. 21 (6 p.m. ET, TNT)
Who votes on the NBA 75 list?
The NBA 75th anniversary team was selected by a panel of media members, current and former players, coaches and team executives. The league has not yet announced if it will share voting results or if it presented specific guidelines that each voter was required to follow. The process seems largely subjective.
How will the NBA celebrate its 75th anniversary season?
There will be several dates on the 2021-22 season schedule featuring classic matchups, including a Nov. 1 contest between the Knicks and Raptors that will take place on the 75th anniversary of the NBA’s first regular-season game. The league will also introduce a special 75th anniversary season logo as well as new Classic and City Edition uniforms.
Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler, Magic Johnson, Bob Pettit and Oscar Robertson as well as 14-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki will serve as ambassadors throughout the season. Given that they will have a significant presence at league events, including 2022 All-Star weekend in Cleveland, it feels safe to assume that they made the NBA 75 list.