NBA Top 100 Players 50-30
- Jordan Ennis
- Jul 27, 2020
- 17 min read
We now are getting to the really tough parts of this list. I’m expecting a lot of push back for some of these guys and both dreading and excited for the debates to come. Remember I count impact on the league not just “Is this person the best player in a vacuum.” NBL, BAA and ABA stats/accolades count. With that being said here’s this part of the list.
50- Paul Pierce
6’7 Small Forward Boston (Nets, Clippers, Wizards)
Champion, FMVP, 10x All Star, 4x All NBA
Career Stats: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Prime Stats: 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
The Truth was the second best player on the overrated Celtics Big 3 of the late 00s and early 10s. Also, PP was way more team first than Ray and way less fake than KG. He also was an actual leader unlike Rondo though he was. Pierce was the heart of those teams even if KG was the Soul. While KG was the better player Pierce was the more likable one. He was never the best player in the league, probably only the best player at his position for 2-3 years max, wasn’t the best player in his draft, but he was awesome. Larry Bird said he was the best Isolation Scorer in Celtics history. His legend even proceeded him even in his old man years, “I called Game!” Is still one of the best lines ever, and one I used any time I won a pick up game. His old man game let him age gracefully. I loved Pierce and in case it’s not obvious it’s not a sentiment I share with his teammates in that Trio. Pierce was one of the 50 best players ever and that’s The Truth.
49- Jason Kidd
6’4 Hall of Fame Pure Point Nets, Mavs, Suns (Knicks)
Champion, 10x All Star, 6x All NBA, 9x All Defense, ROY, 5x Assists Title.
Career Stats: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals,
Prime Stats: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals.
J-Kidd was so fun to watch. I. Love. Passing. So when Kidd was in the zone it was Jordan’s Basketball Nirvana. Originally mockingly calls Ason Kidd because he had no J, he finished his career 3rd in 3 pointers made, he is now 10th. Kidd started out with the Mavericks “Triple J” line up of Jim Jackson, Jamaal Mashburn and himself. While those 3 all individually were great the team as a whole struggled, and arguments over women became public and caused the Mavs to eventually trade away all 3. In Phoenix he frequently played in a 4 guard lineup (Kevin Johnson, Steve Nash, Rex Chapman and himself) to have a blistering pace, He was later paired with Penny Hardaway in an attempt to have the best backcourt in the league, injuries kept that from happening. He was traded to the Nets and exploded. That team fit him perfectly and he finished second in MVP voting and made consecutive finals appearances before losing to the Dynasty of the Lakers and Spurs. A trade for Vince Carter was supposed to make the team finally break through but it never worked out. Kidd finally slowing down was returned to Dallas where he had one more all star appearance and led a fantastic offense built around Dirk Nowitzki to a title. Kidd’s defense on Wade in those finals was extremely important as was his sometimes placement on LeBron. Kidd was one of the greatest Pure Points in NBA and one of the few pass first point guards to win a title.
48- Dwight Howard
6’10 Pivot Orlando, Houston, (Lakers, Atlanta, Washington, Charlotte)
8x All Star, 8x All NBA, 5x All Defense, 3x DPOY, 5x Rebound Title, 2x Block Title.
Career Stats: 17 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks.
Prime Stats: 20 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks.
People completely forgot how good prime D12 was. He was a massively powerful defender but also had hops for days, Superman really did fit him (even if it fit Shaq more). His shot blocking was not always the smartest but it demoralized opponents into thinking they couldn’t score. In Orlando he was an absolute monster who took a team to the finals. The youngest player ever to have a 20/20, the youngest ever to have a DPOY. Then Dwightmare happened. He forced his way out of Orlando all the while trying to have everyone love him, he clashed with Kobe and Didn’t fit well with Pau in LA and in Houston took too long to realize he was second banana to James Harden. Some people seem to completely forget how singularly dominant Prime Dwight was and it’s a shame that most people think of him post back injury and feuding with teammates. Dwight Howard is a Hall of Famer for those of you who don’t think so, you are just plain wrong.
47- Wes Unseld
6’7 Hall of Fame Combo Big Bullets
Champion, FMVP, MVP, 5x All Star, All NBA, Rebounding Title, FG% Title, ROY, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 11 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.
Prime Stats: 14 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, blocks and steals not recorded.
“The Wide U” was basically immovable down low. Being the size of some guards he held his own against Kareem, Wilt, Reed and the rest. The king of the outlet pass, a move his namesake Kevin Wesley Love also perfected. A master at dropping guards with a well set screen. Dennis Rodman on the boards before Dennis Rodman. Unseld made the finals 4x after the team had never had a winning season till he was drafted. Similar to Ben Wallace he was the heart and sole of a team that also included another superstar and it’s hard to rank him or Hayes as the better player. The term “Superstar Roleplayer” was used to describe him, I feel it’s pretty accurate. He played on teams with really balanced scoring and didn’t demand the ball but did his best to put the team first and win the game.
46- Elvin Hayes
6’9 Hall of Fame Combo Big, Rockets, Bullets
Champion, 12x All Star, 6x All NBA, 2x All Defense, Scoring Title, 2x Rebounding Title, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 21 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks.
Prime Stats: 24 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks.
The Big E was a walking bucket. Known for his Abrasive personality he needed a team first partner like Unseld to help keep him in check. Hayes had a beautiful fade-away jumper. But his honesty with himself and teammates wore thin and Hayes contemplated suicide early in his very individually successful career. When he made it to the Bullets he was known as one of the top players in the league but also a perpetual coach killer. Moving to forward helped unlock Hayes but giving him less defensive responsibility and letting him roam and save his energy for offense. His career arch is so matched with Wes Unseld that it’s crazy they were drafted right after each other. The 2 of them made the best front court duo before the merger of the NBA/ABA and it really could have had multiple rings together.
45- Clyde Drexler
6’7 Hall of Fame Wing Blazers, Rockets
Champion, 10x All Star, 5x All NBA, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals,1 block.
Prime Stats: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
Clyde the Glide, it’s such a great name, one that perfectly fits his play style and rhymes so that is another plus. Drexler turned in some great performances in Portland where he should have had a ring if either Sam Bowie, a player legitimately good enough to be defensible going before MJ, or Arvydas Sabonis, who if he would have played a full NBA career would be top 20 talent, had been able to have their primes with him. Even with all the problems of having lesser teammates Clyde still dragged his team to 2 finals and became a member of The Dream Team. Then half way through his 12th season he was traded to his hometown team, in Houston Clyde reunited with his college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon to bring back “Phi Slamma Jamma” to the NBA, the Rockets had been a little slow out of the gate after resting on their champion laurels and Clyde brought energy back to the team. Despite being the 6th seed The two friends dominated their way to stopping Shaquille O’Neil and Penny Hardaway from creating an Orlando Dynasty. Drexler’s all around game made him a perfect second guy to Hakeem’s singular brilliance, because of age they only made that one finals but one has to wonder if any of the other what ifs of Drexler’s career would have worked out how much higher he would be on this list.
44- Russell Westbrook
6’3 Pure Point, Thunder, Rockets
MVP, 9x All Star, 8x All NBA, 2x Scoring Title, 2x Assist Title.
Career Stats: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals.
Prime Stats: 25 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals.
Few players in any era are capable of the individual statistical brilliance of Russell Westbrook. 3 years averaging a 20 point triple double, a 20-20-20 game, 43 points in a finals game. Westbrook is this generations Allen Iverson, his power and grit being both his greatest strength and his fatal flaw. Westbrook gets caught up in the moment, trying to go tit for tat with the lethal shooters of the era, something he can’t do, his style of play makes him hard to pair with other superstars who need the ball, he cares way too deeply about statistical outcomes. Even with all of that Westbrook is an outstanding player. One who can go toe to toe with any superstar on any given night. Westbrook is one of the most powerful guards to ever grace the NBA hardwood. His fast break ability as either the finisher or set up man is breath taking. Westbrook is overrated but at the same time one of the greatest overachievers in NBA history.
43- Chris Paul
6’1 Pure Points, Hornets, Clippers (Rockets, Thunder).
10x All Star, 8x All NBA, 9x All Defense, ROY, 4x Assists Title, 6x Steals Title.
Career Stats: 19 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals,
Chris Paul is one of the best passers in NBA history, one of the greatest mid range guys ever and a fantastic performer in the clutch. He can do almost anything on either side of the court including guarding prime Kevin Durant in the playoffs. A super efficient and advanced stats darling he tends to fall short in the playoffs. I don’t think this is totally a fair assessment though. Pass First Point Guards don’t win titles, Jason Kidd, Rajon Rondo, Louie Dampier, and Bob Cousy, are the only ones to do it in the ABA/NBA (Magic is a Point Forward). When your teammates are that dependent on you creating looks for them it makes it harder to beat great defenses in the playoffs. CP3 is a generational point guard who earned his spot on this list, even if he didn’t win a title.
42- Giannis Antetokounmpo
6’11 Front Court Bucks.
MVP (Maybe 2x depending on how voting goes this month), 4x All Star, 3x All NBA, 2x All Defense, MIP.
Career Stats: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.
Prime Stats: 27 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks.
The Greek Freak is the one who sparked my Idea that the traditional 5 positions don’t work he even stretched my definition of Front court by also playing both guard positions. Born to Nigerian refugees in Greece “The Alphabet” first caught my attention on grainy cell phone video’s. I grew up in Nigeria, and Giannis is the second best Nigerian player ever— if Greece wants him I don’t care he’s Nigerian, ask anyone who I talked hoops with in College and they will tell you I was convinced he was going to be Magic Johnson and Scottie Pippen at the same time... turns out I was under selling how good Giannis could become. Yes it’s a little early to have him this high. I am ok with that because I know I’m going to have to move him up eventually. Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo is the best player in the world right now, and several players ahead of him on this list can never claim that they were ever top dog.
41- Artis Gilmore
7’2 Hall of Fame Center Colonels, Bulls, Spurs (Celtics)
Champion, MVP, 11x All Star, 5x All ABA, 5x All Defense, ROY, ABA all time team, 4x Rebound Title, 6x FG%Title,
Career Stats: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks.
Prime Stats: 22 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks.
A-Train is one of the most slept on Players in the history of the NBA. Probably because even though he had a long career his peak was short and his prime was mostly in the ABA, especially his defensive peak. One of the strongest players to ever play the game, he also had nice touch and a decent high post/short mid range shot. A soft spoken and extremely shy giant of a man (who in the ABA they measured at 7’5 because apparently they counted the Afro) Gilmore let his game do the talking. In 17 seasons he was one of the best bigmen of the 70s and deserves to be remembered for his incredible foot work and skill in a massive frame that should have left him way worse of a player.
40- Bob Pettit
6’9 Hall of Fame Power Forward
Champion, 2x MVP, 11x All Star, 11x All NBA, ROY, 2X Scoring Title, Rebound Title, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats, 26 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists.
Prime Stats: 27 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists.
The Bombardier from Baton Rouge was doubted when he first came into the league, at 200 lbs it was laughable to think he could stand up to the pounding of the NBA. Bob Pettit wouldn’t quit. He kept going even when he would miss he would have a put back. He was tenacious on the boards and had a nice outside shot. After deciding to lift weights between his rookie and sophomore seasons, something his team trainers told him would make him a worse player because he would slow down and not be able to jump, he won the MVP. The next year the Hawks added 4 Hall of Famers, Ed McCauley, Cliff Hagan, Slater Martin, and player/coach Alex Hannum. They beat Bill Russell’s celtics in the Finals. Pettit has been greatly overlooked when talking about the best power forwards of all time and I hope to remind people he was really, really good.
39- Sam Jones
6’4 Hall of Fame Off Guard. Celtics.
10x Champion, 5x All Star, 3x All NBA 25th Anniversary Team, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists.
Prime Stats: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists.
Mr. Clutch came through when it counted. A super fast Shooter with a great bank shot, he also played good defense and would do anything the coach asked. Jones was devastated to be drafted by the Celtics a team he thought he couldn’t make, he determined himself to always out work everyone on the team, something he did for his entire career. His career performance in the playoffs was incredible he seemed to always hit the big shot. Russell would catch the ball and outlet pass to a streaking Jones for a wide open bank shot, repeat, every game, till the championship, off season repeat again. Jones, in 1969, game 4, behind by one point turned and looked to player coach Bill Russell in the middle of the time out, the two locked eyes. The teammates nodded and Russell one last time called the play for Jones, Jones knew the shot was going in before it left his hands. With that both Russell and Jones retired as champions, just like it should have been.
38- Kawhi Leonard
6’7 Wing Spurs, Raptors Clippers
2x Champion, FMVP, 4x All Star, 3x All NBA, 5x All Defense, 2x DPOY.
Career Stats: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
Prime Stats: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
Kawhi is the best perimeter defender in NBA history. He’s one of the most clutch players ever who completely goes to a different world in the playoffs. He’s the closest thing the modern NBA has to Michael Jordan. Watch the clips of LeBron cussing when Kawhi enters the finals games and realize how good he is when totally locked in. When entering the NBA the biggest knock on him was his shooting, he locked in with the Spurs shooting coach and his career 3FG% is .381 on almost 4 attempts a game. Turning strengths into absolute strengths and weaknesses into strengths is how The Claw rolls. This year for the Clippers he’s averaging a career high 5.5 assists per game! If his body holds up (not a guarantee at this point unfortunately) Kawhi will Skyrocket up this list.
37- Bob Cousy
6’1 Hall of Fame Pure Point Boston (Royals it was 7 games at the age of 41 we won’t be talking about it.)
6x Champion, MVP, 13x All Star, 12x All NBA, 8x Assists Title, 25th Anniversary Team, 35th Anniversary Team, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists.
Prime Stats: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists.
The Houdini of the Hardwood was fantastic at making magic with his dribbling, passing and shot creation. Having watched what full games I could I was struck by how many things he did that looked like a modern player. His efficiency wasn’t good but at that time it was normal, his athleticism was average but his IQ is tremendous. Breaking his arm at 13 “Cooz” learned to be ambidextrous and it showed later in his playing style. Red Auerbach tried hard not to have Cousy on the Celtics but fate almost forced it to happen and the Point Guard from Holy Cross was the best player a available when the Celtics picked in a dispersal draft after passing on him once. Red would later be extremely happy he got the flashy guard and the two would make the Celtics a popular team to watch in the 50s and a championship powerhouse when Russell joined the team. Cousy was the player who made Russell look even better and Russell covered for Cousy’s mistakes. Cousy was the perfect second guy for basketball’s original GOAT.
36- Dave Cowens
6’9 Hall of Fame Combo Big Celtics (Bucks)
2x Champion, MVP, 8x All Star, 3x All NBA, 3x All Defense, ROY, 50th Anniversary Team,
Career Stats: 18 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.
Prime Stats: 19 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.
Big Red is both overrated and also underrated. His MVP season was basically given to him for him doing statistical achievements no one else had done, kind of like Westbrook’s triple double, and just like that year the person who really deserved MVP didn’t get it (Harden, Kareem). Cowens could spread the floor and defend the paint. He was a really good defender and a modern big man in the 70s. While he gets bumped up in the imaginations of people just because of his undeserved MVP his way of thinking the game is super underrated. He wasn’t the best player on those Celtics teams (Hondo) but he definitely brought a lot to the table and was extremely important to them.
35- Steve Nash
6’3 Hall of Fame Pure Point, Suns, Mavericks, (Lakers) 2x MVP, 8x All Star, 7x All NBA, 5x Assist Champion.
Career Stats: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal.
Prime Stats: 17 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal.
Nashty was the second best passer in NBA history. His jumper was beyond lethal and his grit was unsurpassed. I want to hit the Elephant in the room. 2 MVPs is probably too high. Duncan, Kobe, Dirk, all of them had better cases for MVP that year but Nash did something special. But, MVSteve was coming off what some thought would be the ending of his career leaving a Dallas team that wouldn’t pay him because of his bad back. He turned his career around and became the puppet master of the first truly modern NBA offense. Every NBA team now uses his High Pick and Roll plays, the “Nash dribble” is part of the NBA vocabulary, his ability to shoot made Tre Young, Steph Curry and Damian Lillard’s careers possible. Would he be this high on this list without the underserved MVPs? No, would he still be one of the greatest Pure Points of all time? Absolutely.
34- Elgin Baylor
6’5 Hall of Fame Wing Lakers
11x All Star, 10x All NBA, ROY 35th Anniversary Team. 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 27 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists.
Prime Stats: 31 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists.
Let me explain to you how we got Michael Jordan, Jordan patterned his game off of Dr J and David Thompson, they patterned their games off of Connie Hawkins, he followed Elgin. The first modern wing. His head fakes and change of direction layups were legendary (he invented the Euro Step that was later brought back). His jumping ability was insane, once in college he tore his armpit on the rim, HIS ARMPIT! A fantastic shooter and good passer, a great defender and insane rebounder “Rabbit” hooped his way to being one of the best players in the league. Elgin lost in the finals 8 times, and retired because he refused to come off the bench... his Lakers won the title that year. Baylor was one of the all time greatest players most casual fans have never heard of.
33- Isiah Thomas
6’1 Hall of Fame Pure Point Pistons
2x Champion, FMVP, 12x All Star, 5x All NBA, Assist Champion 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 19 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals.
Prime Stats: 20 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals.
Zeke is one of the hardest players to rank on this list. His play elevated so high in the playoffs it feels like 33 is entirely too low. His dribbling is insane, he is in my opinion the best ball handler pre 2000. The Baby Faced Assassin was a killer in the clutch, his shooting stats don’t show how deadly his open jumper could be. Pocket Magic also could pass and was great at knowing which teammates needed touches before they would check out of games. He turned Mark Aguirre into a good teammate, as a Mavs fan I say this might be his greatest accomplishment. He is linked to Stockton by the time period and Tuss definitely had a better prime. Now Thomas had no business being on the dream team his body had already started to betray him (although Stockton was injured the whole time so he would have helped there). But, he was definitely the second best guard of the 80s, as MJ was coming into his own. The leader of the most hated team ever, was hated because he was that good.
32- Dolph Schayes
6’8 Hall of Fame Power Forward Nationals/Sixers
Champion, 12x All Star, 12x All NBA, Rebound Title, 25th Anniversary Team, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists.
Prime Stats: 23 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists.
Jumping into the collective conscious as a 16 year old playing for New York University in an MSG game Schayes became a Star in the NBL at just 18. Playing across the entire beginning of the NBA he was the only Superstar to successfully translate from the beginning till after the shot clock era. His inside hook and deep range set shots made him a great offensive weapon and his interior defense and bruising stile made him age into a tough nosed defender. Schayes and Mikan were the rivalry of the 40s-50s Schayes was one of the best players to ever play the game. He was a fantastic free throw shooter in an era where everyone was hacked all the time. Schayes transitioned from the slow plodding style of Mikan and Larry Foust into the faster offenses of Bob Pettit and Wilt Chamberlain. Mastering both styles. Dolph Schayes was a legend and needs to be remembered as such.
31- Willis Reed
6’9 Hall of Fame Combo Big Knicks
2x Champion, 2x FMVP, MVP, 7x All Star, 5x All NBA, All Defense, ROY, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 19 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists.
Prime Stats: 21 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists.
Willis Reed was a lot better than I thought before I watched the footage of him in his prime. Known for being super clutch in his 2 finals wins I thought he was just a big strong center who took all the credit from Clyde who really was the best player on those teams (I was right about Frazier, wrong about Reed). Reed was an inspirational leader and that is what he is most remembered for. He was the Tim Duncan of his day, solid fundamentals, really good at everything, would slam it on you if you weren’t paying attention. Those Knicks teams needed a strong leader. Cazzie Russell, Dick Barnett, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Jerry Lucas, Phill Jackson and Clyde Frazier all had very big personalities. Reed once was called in as a National Guardsmen to a protest, Jackson was leading it. Reed was an anchor on those dominant defenses and the heart and sole of the team.
30- Walt Frazier
6’4 Hall of Fame Combo Guard Knicks, (Cavs)
2x Champion, 7x All Star, 6x All NBA, 7x All Defense, 50th Anniversary Team.
Career Stats: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals.
Prime Stats: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals (steals only counted for 2 seasons of his prime.
“Clyde” played by a philosophy made on the dirt courts of the segregated south. Aggressive defense first, Pass to the open man instead of taking a wild shot. These things would serve him well as the best point guard of the 70s. Several schools offered him scholarships to be their QB but Southern Illinois University offered him one for Basketball, Frazier desperately wanted to go pro in a sport and there were no Black QBs so he dedicated himself to the hardwood. Half way through a lackluster rookie year a new coach in Red Holzman took over and Frazier as well as fellow rookie Phill Jackson took blossomed. Though we didn’t keep the stat at the beginning of his career Mr. Cool was said to have multiple double digit steals games. Frazier deserves at least one of Reeds Finals MVPs and probably more accolades than he got. Many considered him the greatest defensive guard ever before MJ and some still do. These days Clyde is still working in MSG as their broadcaster, his colorful clothes hide the fact that he was once the King of the Garden.
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