50 najvećih igrača u historiji NBA-lige (50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History) izabrano je 1996. Ovaj spisak predstavlja 50 najvećih i najutjecajnijih igrača u prvih 50 godinaNBA-lige. Glavna obilježja ovih igrača jesu njihova sposobnost vođenja ekipe i igrački doprinos kojim su obogatili NBA-ligu. U isto vrijeme izabrano je i 10 najboljih trenera i 10 najboljih ekipa. Spisak je u oktobru 1996. uNew Yorku objavio povjerenik NBA-ligeDavid Stern. U vrijeme objave samo 10 igrača bilo je aktivno; posljedni aktivni igrač s ovog spiska bio jeShaquille O'Neal, koji se povukao na kraju sezone2010/11.
Ovo glasanje provodili su skoro svi učesnici NBA-lige, od novinara i bivših igrača do generalnih menadžera i trenera.
| Italik | Igrači koji su u to vrijeme bili aktivni | ||||
| Igrači koji su još aktivni uNBA | |||||
| Igrači koji su izabrani uKuću slavnih | |||||
| G | Bek | F | Krilo | C | Centar |
| Ime | Ekipe | Pozicija | Poeni | Skokovi | Asistencije | Osvojene titule prvaka | Osvojene nagrade zanajkorisnijeg igrača sezone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Ferdinand Alcindor) | Milwaukee Bucks(1969–1975) Los Angeles Lakers(1975–1989) | C | 38.387 | 17.440 | 5.660 | 6(1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) | 6(1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980) |
| Nate Archibald | Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City Kings(1970–1976) New York Nets(1976–1977) Boston Celtics(1978–1983) Milwaukee Bucks(1983–1984) | G | 16.481 | 6.476 | 2.046 | 1(1981) | – |
| Paul Arizin | Philadelphia Warriors(1950–1962) | F/G | 16.266 | 6.129 | 1.665 | 1(1956) | – |
| Charles Barkley | Philadelphia 76ers(1984.–1992.) Phoenix Suns(1992.-1996.) Houston Rockets(1996.–2000.) | F | 23.757 | 12.546 | 4.215 | – | 1(1993) |
| Rick Barry | San Francisco Warriors(1965–1967) New York Nets(1970–1972) Golden State Warriors(1972–1978) Houston Rockets(1978–1980) | F | 25.729 | 6.863 | 4.952 | 1(1975) | – |
| Elgin Baylor | Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers(1958–1971) | F | 23.149 | 11.463 | 3.650 | – | – |
| Dave Bing | Detroit Pistons(1966–1975) Washington Bullets(1975–1977) Boston Celtics(1977–1978) | G | 18.327 | 3.420 | 5.397 | – | – |
| Larry Bird | Boston Celtics(1979–1992) | F | 21.791 | 5.695 | 1.556 | 3(1981, 1984, 1986) | 3(1984–1986) |
| Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors(1959–1965) Philadelphia 76ers(1965–1968) Los Angeles Lakers(1968–1973) | C | 31.419 | 23.924 | 4.643 | 2(1967, 1972) | 4(1960, 1966–1968) |
| Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics(1950–1963) Cincinnati Royals(1969–1970) | G | 16.960 | 4.786 | 6.955 | 6(1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963) | 1(1957) |
| Dave Cowens | Boston Celtics(1970–1980) Milwaukee Bucks(1982–1983) | C/F | 13.516 | 10.444 | 2.910 | 2 (1974, 1976) | 1(1973) |
| Billy Cunningham | Philadelphia 76ers(1965–1976) | F/C | 13.626 | 6.638 | 2.625 | 2(1967, 1983) | – |
| Dave DeBusschere | Detroit Pistons(1962–1969) New York Knicks(1969–1974) | F/G | 14.053 | 9.618 | 2.497 | 2(1970, 1973) | – |
| Clyde Drexler | Portland Trail Blazers([1983–1995) Houston Rockets(1995–1998) | G/F | 22.195 | 6.125 | 2.207 | 1(1995) | – |
| Julius Erving | New York Nets(1973–1976) Philadelphia 76ers(1976–1987) | F/G | 30.026 | 2.272 | 10.525 | 1(1983) | 1(1981) |
| Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks(1985–2000) Seattle SuperSonics(2000–2001) Orlando Magic(2001–2002) | C | 24.815 | 11.607 | 2.215 | – | – |
| Walt Frazier | New York Knicks(1967–1977) Cleveland Cavaliers(1977–1980) | G | 15.581 | 4.830 | 5.040 | 2(1970, 1973) | – |
| George Gervin | San Antonio Spurs(1974–1985) Chicago Bulls(1985–1986) | G/F | 26.595 | 5.602 | 2.798 | – | – |
| Hal Greer | Syracuse Nationals /Philadelphia 76ers(1958–1973) | G/F | 21.586 | 5.665 | 4.540 | 1(1967) | – |
| John Havlicek | Boston Celtics(1962–1978) | F/G | 26.395 | 8.007 | 6.114 | 8(1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976) | – |
| Elvin Hayes | San Diego / Houston Rockets(1968–1972, 1982–1984) Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets(1972–1981) | F/C | 27.313 | 16.279 | 2.398 | 1(1978) | – |
| Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers(1979–1991, 1996) | G | 17.707 | 6.559 | 10.141 | 5(1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) | 3(1987, 1989, 1990) |
| Sam Jones | Boston Celtics(1957–1969) | G/F | 15.411 | 4.305 | 2.209 | 10(1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) | – |
| Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls(1984–1993, 1995–1998) Washington Wizards(2001–2003) | G/F | 32.292 | 6.672 | 5.633 | 6(1991,1992,1993,1996,1997,1998) | 5(1988, 1991–1992, 1996, 1998) |
| Jerry Lucas | Cincinnati Royals(1963–1969) San Francisco Warriors(1970–1971) New York Knicks(1971–1974) | F/C | 14.053 | 12.942 | 2.732 | 1(1973.) | – |
| Karl Malone | Utah Jazz(1985–2003) Los Angeles Lakers(2003–2004) | F | 36.928 | 14.968 | 5.238 | – | 2(1997, 1999) |
| Moses Malone | Buffalo Braves(1976) Houston Rockets(1976–1982) Philadelphia 76ers(1982–1986, 1993–1994) Washington Bullets(1986–1988) Atlanta Hawks(1988–1991) Milwaukee Bucks(1991–1993) San Antonio Spurs(1994–1995) | C/F | 27.409 | 16.212 | 1.796 | 1(1983) | 3(1979, 1982, 1983) |
| Pete Maravich | Atlanta Hawks(1970–1974) New Orleans / Utah Jazz(1974–1979) Boston Celtics(1979–1980) | G | 15.948 | 2.747 | 3.563 | – | – |
| Kevin McHale | Boston Celtics(1980–1993) | F/C | 17.335 | 7.122 | 1.670 | 3(1981, 1984, 1986) | – |
| George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers(1947–1956) | C | 10.156 | 4.167 | 1.245 | 5(1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) | |
| Earl Monroe | Baltimore Bullets(1967–1971) New York Knicks(1971–1980) | G | 17.454 | 2.796 | 3.594 | 1(1973) | – |
| Shaquille O'Neal | Orlando Magic(1992–1996) Los Angeles Lakers(1996–2004) Miami Heat(2004–2008) Phoenix Suns(2008–2009) Cleveland Cavaliers(2009–2010) Boston Celtics(2010–2011) | C | 27.619 | 12.566 | 2.920 | 4(2000,2001,2002,2006) | 1(2000) |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets(1984–2001) Toronto Raptors(2001–2002) | C | 26.946 | 13.747 | 3.058 | 2(1994,1995) | 1(1994) |
| Robert Parish | Golden State Warriors(1976–1980) Boston Celtics(1980–1994) Charlotte Hornets(1994–1996) Chicago Bulls(1996–1997) | C | 23.334 | 14.715 | 2.180 | 4(1981, 1984, 1986,1997) | – |
| Bob Pettit | Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks(1954–1965) | F/C | 20.880 | 12.849 | 2.369 | 1(1958) | 2(1956, 1959) |
| Scottie Pippen | Chicago Bulls(1987–1998, 2003–2004) Houston Rockets(1998–1999) Portland Trail Blazers(1999–2003) | F/G | 18.940 | 7.494 | 6.135 | 6(1991,1992,1993,1996,1997,1998) | – |
| Willis Reed | New York Knicks(1964–1974) | C/F | 12.183 | 8.414 | 1.186 | 2(1970, 1973) | 1(1970) |
| Oscar Robertson | Cincinnati Royals(1960–1970) Milwaukee Bucks(1970–1974) | G/F | 26.710 | 7.804 | 9.887 | 1(1971) | 1(1964) |
| David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs(1989–2003) | C | 20.790 | 10.497 | 2.441 | 2(1999,2003) | 1(1995) |
| Bill Russell | Boston Celtics(1956–1969) | C | 14.522 | 21.620 | 4.100 | 11(1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) | 5(1958, 1961–1963, 1965) |
| Dolph Schayes | Syracuse Nationals /Philadelphia 76ers(1948–1964) | F/C | 18.438 | 11.256 | 3.072 | 1(1955) | – |
| Bill Sharman | Washington Capitols(1950–1951) Boston Celtics(1951–1961) | G | 12.665 | 2.779 | 2.101 | 4(1957, 1959, 1960, 1961) | – |
| John Stockton | Utah Jazz(1984–2003) | G | 19.711 | 4.051 | 15.806 | – | – |
| Isiah Thomas | Detroit Pistons(1981–1994) | G | 18.822 | 3.478 | 9.061 | 2(1989,1990) | – |
| Nate Thurmond | San Francisco / Golden State Warriors(1963–1974) Chicago Bulls(1974–1975) Cleveland Cavaliers(1975–1977) | C/F | 14.437 | 14.464 | 2.575 | – | – |
| Wes Unseld | Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets(1968–1981) | C/F | 10.624 | 13.769 | 3.822 | 1(1978) | 1(1969) |
| Bill Walton | Portland Trail Blazers(1974–1979) San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers(1979–1985) Boston Celtics(1985–1987) | C/F | 6.215 | 4.923 | 1.590 | 2(1977, 1986) | 1(1978) |
| Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers(1960–1974) | G/F | 25.192 | 5.366 | 6.238 | 1(1972) | – |
| Lenny Wilkens | Atlanta Hawks(1960−1968) Seattle SuperSonics(1968–1972) Cleveland Cavaliers(1972–1974) Portland Trail Blazers(1974−1975) | G | 17.772 | 5.030 | 7.211 | 1(1979) | – |
| James Worthy | Los Angeles Lakers(1982–1994) | F | 16.320 | 4.708 | 2.791 | 3(1985, 1987, 1988) | – |
Odmah uz odabir najvećih igrača izabrani su i najveći treneri. U vrijeme objave spiska samo su četverica bila aktivna.
| Treneri koji su još aktivni uNBA | |
| Treneri koji su izabrani u Kuću slavnih | |
| Aktivni treneri koji su izabrani u Kuću slavnih | |
| (zagrade) | Godina ulaska u Kuću slavnih |
Nakon igrača i trenera odabrano je 10 najboljih ekipa koje su ostvarile najbolje rezultate u jednoj sezoni, a prosjek ekipe je da su osvojileNBA-titulu i ostvarile 66 pobjeda u toku sezone.
| Sezona/ekipa | Rekord | Doigravanje ostvarenje | Prva petorka, šesti igrač i trener | Igrači koji su izabrani u Kuću slavnih | Igrači koji su uvršteni u spisak 50 najvećih igrača |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964/65. Boston Celtics | 62–18 (.775) | Pobjeda u NBA finalu 1965. | K. C. Jones,Sam Jones,Tom Heinsohn,Tom Sanders,Bill Russell,John Havlicek; trener:Red Auerbach (izabran u Kuću slavnih kao trener) | 5 (K. C. Jones, S. Jones, Heinsohn, Russell, Havlicek) | 3 (S. Jones, Russell, Havlicek) |
| 1966/67. Philadelphia 76ers | 68–13 (.840) | Pobjeda u NBA finalu 1967. | Wali Jones,Hal Greer,Chet Walker,Luke Jackson,Wilt Chamberlain,Billy Cunningham; trener:Alex Hannum (izabran u Kuću slavnih kao trener) | 3 (Greer, Chamberlain, Cunningham) | 3 (Greer, Chamberlain, Cunningham) |
| 1969/70. New York Knicks | 60–22 (.732) | Pobjeda u NBA finalu 1970. | Walt Frazier,Dick Barnett,Bill Bradley,Dave DeBusschere,Willis Reed,Cazzie Russell; trener:Red Holzman (izabran u Kuću slavnih kao trener) | 4 (Frazier, Bradley, DeBusschere, Reed) | 3 (Frazier, DeBusschere, Reed) |
| 1971/72. Los Angeles Lakers | 69–13 (.841) | Pobjeda u NBA finalu 1972. | Gail Goodrich,Jerry West,Jim McMillian,Happy Hairston,Wilt Chamberlain,Flynn Robinson; trener:Bill Sharman (izabran u Kuću slavnih i kao igrač i kao trener) | 4 (Goodrich, West, Chamberlain, Baylor (bio je povrijeđen od 9. utakmice sezone te je nakon kraja sezone objavio povlačenje) | 3 (West, Chamberlain, Baylor) |
| 1982/83. Philadelphia 76ers | 65–17 (.793) | Pobjeda u NBA finalu 1983. | Maurice Cheeks,Andrew Toney,Julius Erving,Marc Iavaroni,Moses Malone,Bobby Jones; trener:Billy Cunningham | 2 (Erving,Malone) | 2 (Erving, Malone) |
| 1985/86. Boston Celtics | 67–15 (.817) | Pobjeda u NBA finalu 1986. | Dennis Johnson,Danny Ainge,Larry Bird,Kevin McHale,Robert Parish,Bill Walton; trener:K. C. Jones | 4 (McHale,Bird,Parish, Walton) | 4 (McHale, Bird, Parish, Walton) |
| 1986/87. Los Angeles Lakers | 65–17 (.793) | Pobjeda u NBA finalu 1987. | Magic Johnson,Byron Scott,James Worthy,A. C. Green,Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,Michael Cooper; trener:Pat Riley (izabran u Kuću slavnih kao trener) | 3 (Johnson,Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar) | 3 (Johnson, Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar) |
| 1988/89. Detroit Pistons | 63–19 (.768) | Pobjeda u NBA finalu 1989. | Isiah Thomas,Joe Dumars,Mark Aguirre,Rick Mahorn,Bill Laimbeer,Vinnie Johnson; trener:Chuck Daly (izabran u Kuću slavnih kao trener) | 3 (Thomas,Dumars,Adrian Dantley) | 1 (Thomas) |
| 1991/92. Chicago Bulls | 67–15 (.817) | Pobjeda uNBA finalu 1992. | John Paxson,Michael Jordan,Scottie Pippen,Horace Grant,Bill Cartwright,B. J. Armstrong; trener:Phil Jackson (izabran u Kuću slavnih kao trener) | 1 (Jordan) | 2 (Jordan, Pippen) |
| 1995/96. Chicago Bulls | 72–10 (.878) | Pobjeda uNBA finalu 1996. | Ron Harper,Michael Jordan,Scottie Pippen,Dennis Rodman,Luc Longley,Toni Kukoč; trener:Phil Jackson (izabran u Kuću slavnih kao trener) | 1 (Jordan) | 2 (Jordan, Pippen) |