50 Greatest Players in NBA History
NBA commissioner David Stern stood before the press on the 29th of October 1996. He spoke inside the Grand Hyatt New York hotel. This building once housed the Commodore Hotel where the original NBA charter was signed in 1946. The league marked its fiftieth year of existence with this specific announcement. It became the third anniversary team ever created by the organization. Forty-seven of the fifty honorees gathered later that season in Cleveland. They appeared during the halftime ceremony of the 1997 All-Star Game. Eleven players were still active when the list first broke. All have since retired from professional basketball.
Fifty panelists cast unranked votes to determine the final roster. Sixteen voters were former players acting in their capacity as athletes. Thirteen members came from print and broadcast news media outlets. Twenty-one representatives represented teams as current or former general managers. Thirteen of those team representatives had previously played in the league. Players could not vote for themselves under these rules. Only three voting former players failed to make the cut. Bill Bradley did not receive a spot on the list. Johnny Kerr also received no selection despite his ballot. Bob Lanier remained off the final roster after casting his vote.
Wilt Chamberlain scored thirty-eight thousand points over his career. He grabbed seventeen thousand four hundred forty rebounds for various franchises. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar accumulated twenty-three thousand seven hundred fifty-seven total points. Michael Jordan led all scorers with thirty-two thousand two hundred ninety-two points. He won six Most Valuable Player awards between nineteen ninety-one and nineteen ninety-eight. Charles Barkley recorded twenty-three thousand one hundred forty-nine points and eleven thousand four hundred sixty-three rebounds. Julius Erving posted eighteen thousand three hundred sixty-four points across multiple teams. All fifty honorees eventually earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Pete Maravich was the only selected player who had passed away by 1996. Shaquille O'Neal retired last among the active group at the end of the 2010-11 season.
Ten head coaches received recognition alongside the player selections. Members of print and broadcast media compiled this specific list alone. Five coaches were still active when the announcement occurred in 1996. Bill Fitch, Phil Jackson, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Lenny Wilkens held current roles. Red Holzman died in 1998 while Red Auerbach passed in 2006. Chuck Daly followed in 2009 and Jack Ramsay in 2014. John Kundla died in 2017 and Bill Fitch in 2022. Lenny Wilkins died in 2025. Phil Jackson coached until after the 2010-11 season. Don Nelson never won a championship as a coach despite five titles as a player. Wilkens remains the sole member to appear on both lists.
The top ten teams combined for an average of sixty-six wins per season. The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls set a single-season record with seventy-two victories. Six out of thirty franchises had multiple teams selected for the honor. Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers each secured two spots. Philadelphia 76ers also received two nominations alongside the Chicago Bulls. Wilt Chamberlain played for the 1966-67 Sixers and 1971-72 Lakers. James Edwards, Dennis Rodman, and John Salley appeared on the 1988-89 Pistons and 1995-96 Bulls. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen joined the Bulls in both 1991-92 and 1995-96. K.C. Jones coached the Celtics in 1985-86 after playing there in 1964-65. Billy Cunningham served as a player for the Sixers in 1966-67 before coaching them in 1982-83.
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Common questions
When did NBA commissioner David Stern announce the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History?
NBA commissioner David Stern announced the list on the 29th of October 1996. He spoke inside the Grand Hyatt New York hotel to mark the league's fiftieth year of existence.
Who were the panelists that voted for the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History?
Fifty panelists cast unranked votes including sixteen former players, thirteen media members, and twenty-one team representatives. Only three voting former players failed to make the final roster while players could not vote for themselves under these rules.
Which player scored the most points among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History honorees?
Michael Jordan led all scorers with thirty-two thousand two hundred ninety-two points during his career. Wilt Chamberlain followed with thirty-eight thousand points and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar accumulated twenty-three thousand seven hundred fifty-seven total points.
How many head coaches received recognition alongside the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History?
Ten head coaches received recognition alongside the player selections because members of print and broadcast media compiled this specific list alone. Lenny Wilkens remains the sole member to appear on both lists as a player and coach.
Which teams had multiple franchises selected for the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History honor?
Six out of thirty franchises had multiple teams selected for the honor with Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers each securing two spots. Philadelphia 76ers also received two nominations alongside the Chicago Bulls which set a single-season record with seventy-two victories.