Source: Michael Reaves / Getty
The new NBA season launched this week and much of the celebration of its return was centered around the league’s 75th anniversary, along with a list of the 75 greatest players of all time. While there are some expected names on the list, there have been several snubs and #NBATwitter definitely had something to say.
The league has done similar lists before, most famously its 50 all-time greats list that was released on the league’s 50th anniversary. All of the names from the previous list were grandfathered to the current one, with the additional 25 being a mix of names that should’ve been on the first iteration and plenty of snubs abound this time.
The complete list can be viewed below:
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
RAY ALLEN
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO
CARMELO ANTHONY
NATE ARCHIBALD
PAUL ARIZIN
CHARLES BARKLEY
RICK BARRY
ELGIN BAYLOR
DAVE BING
LARRY BIRD
KOBE BRYANT
WILT CHAMBERLAIN
BOB COUSY
DAVE COWENS
BILLY CUNNINGHAM
STEPHEN CURRY
ANTHONY DAVIS
DAVE DEBUSSCHERE
CLYDE DREXLER
TIM DUNCAN
KEVIN DURANT
JULIUS ERVING
PATRICK EWING
WALT FRAZIER
KEVIN GARNETT
GEORGE GERVIN
HAL GREER
JAMES HARDEN
JOHN HAVLICEK
ELVIN HAYES
ALLEN IVERSON
LEBRON JAMES
MAGIC JOHNSON
SAM JONES
MICHAEL JORDAN
JASON KIDD
KAWHI LEONARD
DAMIAN LILLARD
JERRY LUCAS
KARL MALONE
MOSES MALONE
PETE MARAVICH
BOB MCADOO
KEVIN MCHALE
GEORGE MIKAN
REGGIE MILLER
EARL MONROE
STEVE NASH
DIRK NOWITZKI
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
HAKEEM OLAJUWON
ROBERT PARISH
CHRIS PAUL
GARY PAYTON
BOB PETTIT
PAUL PIERCE
SCOTTIE PIPPEN
WILLIS REED
OSCAR ROBERTSON
DAVID ROBINSON
DENNIS RODMAN
BILL RUSSELL
DOLPH SCHAYES
BILL SHARMAN
JOHN STOCKTON
ISIAH THOMAS
NATE THURMOND
WES UNSELD
DWYANE WADE
BILL WALTON
JERRY WEST
RUSSELL WESTBROOK
LENNY WILKENS
DOMINIQUE WILKINS
JAMES WORTHY
Of course, many of these names should be there, notably Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and other league-transforming stars. Bob McAdoo, one of the biggest snubs from the 50th-anniversary list, is included. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA Finals MVP and Milwaukee Bucks superstar is just 26 years of age and made the list, along with Portland Trailblazers sharpshooter Damian Lillard. Dominique Wilkins, another 50th-anniversary snub, has also made the cut.
Check out the reactions to the list from NBA Twitter below.
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Photo: Getty
1.
19 current or former Lakers (if I counted that right) on the list of the 75 greatest players in NBA history. #NBA75
One former Laker missing that's definitely snub IMO: Pau Gasol
You could also make a case for Dwight Howard.
Current Lakers: LeBron, AD, Westbrook, Melo pic.twitter.com/OKqvrLMa45
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 21, 2021
2.
Belated Top 75 NBA thing that I hate myself for doing but I gotta because it is gospel: The biggest snub is TMac, and anyone who disagrees can come get these digital hands.
— Mike Piellucci (@mikelikessports) October 22, 2021
3.
Dwight Howard was the biggest snub from the NBA’s Top 75 list. Here’s why: https://t.co/QpWFVIsA0w
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) October 22, 2021
4.
Klay Thompson’s resume:
3x NBA Champion
5x All-Star
2x All-NBA
Most points scored in a quarter
Most points scored in under 30 minutes (60)
Most threes in a game
Most threes in a playoff game
2nd greatest shooter of all time
Snubbed from the NBA’s top 75 list.. pic.twitter.com/VyshITg1j2
— Optimistic Warriors Fan (@GoIdenState) October 21, 2021
5.
The biggest snubs of the NBA 75 list: pic.twitter.com/OQSwi8QHJ5
— ȶei (@notorioustei) October 21, 2021
6.
The #NBA75 list isn't even bad. Every undeniable NBA great made the list. Dwight Howard is the only snub that should raise eyebrows. All these other "snubs" being named were injury-prone or sidekicks. Still great, but not top 75!
— Da Kid Gowie (@DaKidGowie) October 22, 2021
7.
Dwight Howard not making the NBA Top 75 with this resume is insane pic.twitter.com/kqnLBKT4Kp
— Ahmed/Ben Simmons tricked me
(@big_business_) October 21, 2021
8.
There's no argument for Damian Lillard to make that Top 75 list over Dwight Howard pic.twitter.com/2RR1s8V2JH
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) October 21, 2021
9.
Klay Thompson is definitely a top 75 player in NBA History. pic.twitter.com/cVVe7SOnHi
— Optimistic Warriors Fan (@GoIdenState) October 21, 2021
10.
this man wasn’t in the NBA’s top 75 pic.twitter.com/vkV3309vF2
— okayJAY¹¹ (@makenossense) October 22, 2021
11.
.@ShannonSharpe on whether Kyrie Irving should be on the NBA's Top 75 list:
"Based on what? Because he hit a shot?! Outside of LeBron, what has Kyrie done? If you base it on his resume, he's not a Top 75 player. I got a bigger problem with Dwight Howard not making it." pic.twitter.com/JIYprEQZDn
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) October 22, 2021
12.
Man of class and dignity
Best player in Denver Nuggets history
Leading scoring of the 80s
Not a top 75 NBA player?! Alex is in my book! pic.twitter.com/zJzvhVdMsZ
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) October 21, 2021
13.
Shaq seeing that Dwight Howard didn’t make the NBA’s Top 75 list: pic.twitter.com/Afj8EpgXbb
— Colb (@___Colb___) October 21, 2021
14.
NBA voters be damned for keeping Vince Carter off the top-75 list. pic.twitter.com/nj6X3irw4Z
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) October 22, 2021
15.
I’m honored to be selected as one of the NBA’s top 75 players of all time, alongside a wealth of talent. Congratulations to my fellow Hoya, Allen Iverson for also making the list.
#HOYASAXA #NBA75 https://t.co/uAc1Q113fL
— Patrick Ewing (@CoachEwing33) October 20, 2021