50 najboljih igrača u historiji NBA

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 godina NBA-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. u New Yorku objavio povjerenik NBA-lige David Stern. U vrijeme objave samo 10 igrača bilo je aktivno; posljedni aktivni igrač s ovog spiska bio je Shaquille O'Neal, koji se povukao na kraju sezone 2010/11.

Izabrani igrači

Proces odabiranja

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 u NBA
	Igrači koji su izabrani u Kuću slavnih
G	Bek	F	Krilo	C	Centar

Ime	Ekipe	Pozicija	Poeni	Skokovi	Asistencije	Osvojene titule prvaka	Osvojene nagrade za najkorisnijeg 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)	–

Najvećih 10 trenera

Odmah uz odabir najvećih igrača izabrani su i najveći treneri. U vrijeme objave spiska samo su četverica bila aktivna.

	Treneri koji su još aktivni u NBA
	Treneri koji su izabrani u Kuću slavnih
	Aktivni treneri koji su izabrani u Kuću slavnih
(zagrade)	Godina ulaska u Kuću slavnih

Trener	Ekipa	Postotak pobjeda	Osvojene titule (kao trener)	Osvojene nagrade za trenera godine	Ref.
Red Auerbach* (1969)	Washington Capitols (1946–1949) Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1950) Boston Celtics (1951–1966)	938–479 (.662)	9 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)	1 (1965)	[1]
Chuck Daly* (1994)	Cleveland Cavaliers (1982) Detroit Pistons (1984–1992) New Jersey Nets (1993–1994) Orlando Magic (1998–1999)	605–420 (.590) 638–437 (.593)[2].	2 (1989, 1990)	nema	[3]
Bill Fitch	Cleveland Cavaliers (1971–1979) Boston Celtics (1980–1983) Houston Rockets (1984–1988) New Jersey Nets (1990–1992) Los Angeles Clippers (1994–1998)	944–1106 (.460)	1 (1981)	2 (1976, 1980)	[4]
Red Holzman* (1986)	Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks (1954–1956) New York Knicks (1967–1982)	696–604 (.535)	2 (1970, 1973)	1 (1970)	[5]
Phil Jackson* (2007)	Chicago Bulls (1989–1998) Los Angeles Lakers (2000–2004, 2006–2011)	545–193 (.738) 1155–485 (.704)[2]	11 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)	1 (1996)	[6]
John Kundla* (1995)	Minneapolis Lakers (1949–1959)	423–302 (.583)	5 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954)	nema	[7]
Don Nelson* (2012)	Milwaukee Bucks (1976–1987) Golden State Warriors (1988–1994, 2006–2010) New York Knicks (1996) Dallas Mavericks (1998–2005)	867–679 (.575) 1335–1063 (.557)[2]	nema	3 (1983, 1985, 1992)	[8]
Jack Ramsay* (1992)	Philadelphia 76ers (1969–1972) Buffalo Braves (1972–1976) Portland Trail Blazers (1976–1986) Indiana Pacers (1986–1988)	864–783 (.525)	1 (1977)	nema	[9]
Pat Riley* (2008)	Los Angeles Lakers (1981–1990) New York Knicks (1991–1995) Miami Heat (1995–2003, 2005–2008)	914–387 (.703) 1151–589 (.661)[2]	5 (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2006)	3 (1990, 1993, 1997)	[10]
Lenny Wilkens* (1998)	Seattle SuperSonics (1969–1972, 1977–1985) Portland Trail Blazers (1975–1976) Cleveland Cavaliers (1987–1993) Atlanta Hawks (1993–1999) Toronto Raptors (2001–2003) New York Knicks (2004–2005)	1120–908 (.526) 1332–1155 (.536)[2]	1 (1979)	1 (1994)	[11]

Izabrane ekipe

Nakon igrača i trenera odabrano je 10 najboljih ekipa koje su ostvarile najbolje rezultate u jednoj sezoni, a prosjek ekipe je da su osvojile NBA-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 u NBA 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 u NBA 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)

Napomene

• ^[a] omjer pobjeda i poraza nakon objave spiska