The definitive list of the NBA's 50 greatest players

Sport & Games · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1996, the NBA attempted to codify greatness by selecting its 50 most iconic players. This wasn't just a popularity contest; it was a curated assembly of legends, many of whom were still active on the court when the list was unveiled. Here is how the league defined its history.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the NBA commissioned a panel of 50 experts—including former players, media members, and team executives—to vote on the league's 50 greatest players. The selection process was unique because it was unranked; the goal was to identify the elite regardless of their specific position on the court. At the time of the announcement on October 29, 1996, the list included 11 active players, including icons like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal, all of whom have since retired. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame now includes every individual chosen for that group.

The selection also involved a rigorous look at historical continuity. The 1996 list retained all 11 members of the 35th anniversary team and eight of the ten from the 25th anniversary team. The only omissions from the 25th anniversary group were Bob Davies and Joe Fulks, two players who last played in the 1950s. This suggests a deliberate effort by the league to maintain a lineage of greatness while updating the roster to reflect the evolving era of the 1990s.

Beyond individual players, the anniversary celebration identified the Top 10 Coaches and Top 10 Teams in NBA history. The coaching list featured notable figures like Phil Jackson and Pat Riley, who both achieved the rare feat of being selected for both the players and coaches lists (though Riley's coaching honors were with the Lakers). The team selections were based on single-season performances, with the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls holding the then-record 72 wins. Interestingly, several players achieved 'double' status, appearing on the rosters of two different teams that made the Top 10 list, such as Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.

The announcement took place at the Grand Hyatt New York, the site of the original 1946 NBA charter signing. This event served as the kickoff for a season-long celebration, cementing the status of these 50 athletes as the definitive pillars of the league's first half-century.

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