The NBA 75th Anniversary Team, also referred to as the NBA 75,[1] [2] was chosen in 2021 to honor the 75th anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was the fourth and most recent anniversary team in the league.[3] Similar to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History named in 1996, a panel of reporters, current and former players, coaches, general managers, and team executives selected the greatest players in league history. Tasked with compiling a list of 75 players, the committee named an additional 76th member due to a tie in voting.[4] [5] It was built as part of the league's anniversary celebration during the 2021–22 NBA season.[6] Forty-five of the seventy-six players were later assembled in Cleveland, during the halftime ceremony of the 2022 All-Star Game.
At the time of selection, the players selected combined for 158 NBA championships, 62 Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, 48 Finals MVP awards, and 730 All-Star selections. Of the 76 players, all 50 members of the 50th anniversary team were selected. The other 26 included players from the 1970s to the current era.[7] Two notable omissions from the earlier top 50 selections, Bob McAdoo and Dominique Wilkins, were named to the 75th anniversary list.[8] [9] When the previous 50 players were chosen in 1996–97, Wilkins was the only nine-time All-Star to be excluded, as well as the only six-time All-NBA selection to miss the cut. A two-time NBA champion, McAdoo was the only former league MVP omitted.[10] Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, George Mikan and Bob Pettit are the only players who have been named to all four NBA anniversary teams.[11] Derrick Rose (2011) was the only former league MVP (as of 2020) to not be included on the team.[12]
Eleven players (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, James Harden, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook) were active in the 2021–22 season, when the list was announced.[13] Four of them (Anthony, Davis, James, and Westbrook) were playing for the Los Angeles Lakers on their 2021–22 squad. The Brooklyn Nets, with Durant and Harden on their roster, were the only other team with multiple active players.[14] The Boston Celtics had the most overall players, past and present, on the list with 20. The Lakers were next with 15.[15]
| Italics | Denotes player who was active in the NBA at the time of induction | ||||||
| Bold | Denotes player who was not previously on the 50th Anniversary Team | ||||||
| All-Star | Denotes number of All-Star appearances | ||||||
| All-NBA | Denotes number of All-NBA selections | ||||||
| HoF Year | Denotes year of Basketball Hall of Fame induction | ||||||
| G | Guard | F | Forward | C | Center | ||
| Pos | Position | Pts | Points | Reb | Rebounds | ||
| Ast | Assists | MVP | Most Valuable Player | ||||
Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the, the season last completed before the list was announced.
(†) - Player deceased when selected for the team
| Name | Team(s) played for (years) | Pos | Pts | Reb | Ast | Championships won | MVP won | Finals MVP won | All Star | All-NBA | HoF Year | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks (–) Los Angeles Lakers (–) | C | 38,387 | 17,440 | 5,660 | 6 (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) | 6 | 2 (1971, 1985) | 19 | 15 | 1995 | [16] | ||
| Milwaukee Bucks (–) Seattle SuperSonics (–) Boston Celtics (–) Miami Heat (–) | G | 24,505 | 5,272 | 4,361 | 2 (2008, 2013) | None | None | 10 | 2 | 2018 | [17] | ||
| Milwaukee Bucks (–) | F | 12,319 | 5,371 | 2,632 | 1 (2021) | 2 | 1 (2021) | 5 | 5 | TBD | [18] | ||
| Denver Nuggets (–) New York Knicks (–) Oklahoma City Thunder Houston Rockets Portland Trail Blazers (–) | F | 27,370 | 7,520 | 3,354 | None | None | None | 10 | 6 | TBD | [19] | ||
| Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha / Kansas City Kings (–) New York Nets Boston Celtics (–) Milwaukee Bucks | G | 16,481 | 2,046 | 6,476 | 1 (1981) | None | None | 6 | 5 | 1991 | [20] | ||
| † | Philadelphia Warriors (–, –) | F | 16,266 | 6,129 | 1,665 | 1 (1956) | None | None | 10 | 4 | 1978 | [21] | |
| Philadelphia 76ers (–) Phoenix Suns (–) Houston Rockets (–) | F | 23,757 | 12,546 | 4,215 | None | 1 | None | 11 | 11 | 2006 | [22] | ||
| San Francisco / Golden State Warriors (–, –) Houston Rockets (–) | F | 18,395 | 5,168 | 4,017 | 1 (1975) | None | 1 (1975) | 8 | 6 | 1987 | [23] | ||
| † | Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers (–) | F | 23,149 | 11,463 | 3,650 | None | None | None | 11 | 10 | 1977 | [24] | |
| Detroit Pistons (–) Washington Bullets (–) Boston Celtics | G | 18,327 | 3,420 | 5,397 | None | None | None | 7 | 3 | 1990 | [25] | ||
| Boston Celtics (–) | F | 21,791 | 8,974 | 5,695 | 3 (1981, 1984, 1986) | 3 | 2 (1984, 1986) | 12 | 10 | 1998 | [26] | ||
| † | Los Angeles Lakers (–) | G | 33,643 | 7,047 | 6,306 | 5 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) | 1 | 2 (2009, 2010) | 18 | 15 | 2020 | [27] | |
| † | Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors (–) Philadelphia 76ers (–) Los Angeles Lakers (–) | C | 31,419 | 23,924 | 4,643 | 2 (1967, 1972) | 4 | 1 (1972) | 13 | 10 | 1979 | [28] | |
| Boston Celtics (–) Cincinnati Royals | G | 16,960 | 4,786 | 6,955 | 6 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963) | 1 | None | 13 | 12 | 1971 | [29] | ||
| Boston Celtics (–) Milwaukee Bucks | C | 13,516 | 10,444 | 2,910 | 2 (1974, 1976) | 1 | None | 7 | 3 | 1991 | [30] | ||
| Philadelphia 76ers (–, –) | F | 13,626 | 6,638 | 2,625 | 1 (1967) | None | None | 5 | 4 | 1986 | [31] | ||
| Golden State Warriors (–) | G | 23,668 | 4,509 | 6,119 | 4 (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) | 2 | 1 (2022) | 10 | 10 | TBD | [32] | ||
| New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans (–) Los Angeles Lakers (–) | F/C | 16,988 | 7,420 | 1,732 | 1 (2020) | None | None | 9 | 4 | TBD | [33] | ||
| † | Detroit Pistons (–) New York Knicks (–) | F | 14,053 | 9,618 | 2,497 | 2 (1970, 1973) | None | None | 8 | 1 | 1983 | [34] | |
| Portland Trail Blazers (–) Houston Rockets (–) | G | 22,195 | 6,677 | 6,125 | 1 (1995) | None | None | 10 | 5 | 2004 | [35] | ||
| San Antonio Spurs (–) | F/C | 26,496 | 15,091 | 4,225 | 5 (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) | 2 | 3 (1999, 2003, 2005) | 15 | 15 | 2020 | [36] | ||
| Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder (–) Golden State Warriors (–) Brooklyn Nets (–) Phoenix Suns (–) | F | 28,924 | 7,454 | 4,645 | 2 (2017, 2018) | 1 | 2 (2017, 2018) | 14 | 11 | TBD | [37] | ||
| Philadelphia 76ers (–) | F | 18,364 | 5,601 | 3,224 | 1 (1983) | 1 | None | 11 | 7 | 1993 | [38] | ||
| New York Knicks (–) Seattle SuperSonics Orlando Magic | C | 24,815 | 11,607 | 2,215 | None | None | None | 11 | 7 | 2008 | [39] | ||
| New York Knicks (–) Cleveland Cavaliers (–) | G | 15,581 | 4,830 | 5,040 | 2 (1970, 1973) | None | None | 7 | 6 | 1987 | [40] | ||
| Minnesota Timberwolves (–, –) Boston Celtics (–) Brooklyn Nets (–) | F/C | 26,071 | 14,662 | 5,445 | 1 (2008) | 1 | None | 15 | 9 | 2020 | [41] | ||
| San Antonio Spurs (–) Chicago Bulls | G | 20,708 | 3,607 | 2,214 | None | None | None | 9 | 7 | 1996 | [42] | ||
| † | Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers (–) | G | 21,586 | 5,665 | 4,540 | 1 (1967) | None | None | 10 | 7 | 1982 | [43] | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder (–) Houston Rockets (–) Brooklyn Nets Los Angeles Clippers (2023) | G | 22,045 | 4,794 | 5,730 | None | 1 | None | 9 | 7 | TBD | [44] | ||
| † | Boston Celtics (–) | F/G | 26,395 | 8,007 | 6,114 | 8 (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976) | None | 1 (1974) | 13 | 11 | 1984 | [45] | |
| San Diego / Houston Rockets (–, –) Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets (–) | F/C | 27,313 | 16,279 | 2,398 | 1 (1978) | None | None | 12 | 6 | 1990 | [46] | ||
| Philadelphia 76ers (–,) Denver Nuggets (–) Detroit Pistons Memphis Grizzlies | G | 24,368 | 3,394 | 5,624 | None | 1 | None | 11 | 8 | 2016 | [47] | ||
| Cleveland Cavaliers (–, –) Miami Heat (–) Los Angeles Lakers (–) | F | 40,017 | 10,847 | 11,046 | 4 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020) | 4 | 4 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020) | 20 | 20 | TBD | [48] | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers (–,) | G | 17,707 | 6,559 | 10,141 | 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) | 3 | 3 (1980, 1982, 1987) | 12 | 10 | 2002 | [49] | ||
| Boston Celtics (–) | G | 15,411 | 4,305 | 2,209 | 10 (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) | None | None | 5 | 3 | 1984 | [50] | ||
| Chicago Bulls (–, –) Washington Wizards (–) | G | 32,292 | 6,672 | 5,633 | 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) | 5 | 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) | 14 | 11 | 2009 | [51] | ||
| Dallas Mavericks (–, –) Phoenix Suns (–) New Jersey Nets (–) New York Knicks | G | 17,529 | 8,725 | 12,091 | 1 (2011) | None | None | 10 | 6 | 2018 | [52] | ||
| San Antonio Spurs (–) Toronto Raptors Los Angeles Clippers (–) | F | 11,085 | 3,689 | 1,672 | 2 (2014, 2019) | None | 2 (2014, 2019) | 5 | 5 | TBD | [53] | ||
| Portland Trail Blazers (–) | G | 16,815 | 2,856 | 4,514 | None | None | None | 6 | 6 | TBD | [54] | ||
| Cincinnati Royals (–) San Francisco Warriors (–) New York Knicks (–) | F | 14,053 | 12,942 | 2,732 | 1 (1973) | None | None | 7 | 5 | 1980 | [55] | ||
| Utah Jazz (–) Los Angeles Lakers | F | 36,928 | 14,968 | 5,248 | None | 2 | None | 14 | 14 | 2010 | [56] | ||
| † | Buffalo Braves Houston Rockets (–) Philadelphia 76ers (–,) Washington Bullets (–) Atlanta Hawks (–) Milwaukee Bucks (–) San Antonio Spurs | C | 27,409 | 16,212 | 1,796 | 1 (1983) | 3 | 1 (1983) | 12 | 8 | 2001 | [57] | |
| † | Atlanta Hawks (–) New Orleans / Utah Jazz (–) Boston Celtics | G | 15,948 | 2,747 | 3,563 | None | None | None | 5 | 4 | 1987 | [58] | |
| Buffalo Braves (–) New York Knicks (–) Boston Celtics Detroit Pistons (–) New Jersey Nets Los Angeles Lakers (–) Philadelphia 76ers | F/C | 18,787 | 8,048 | 1,951 | 2 (1982, 1985) | 1 | None | 5 | 2 | 2000 | [59] | ||
| Boston Celtics (–) | F | 17,335 | 7,122 | 1,670 | 3 (1981, 1984, 1986) | None | None | 7 | 1 | 1999 | [60] | ||
| † | Minneapolis Lakers (–,) | C | 10,156 | 4,167 | 1,245 | 5 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) | None | None | 4 | 6 | 1959 | [61] | |
| Indiana Pacers (–) | G | 25,279 | 4,182 | 4,141 | None | None | None | 5 | 3 | 2012 | [62] | ||
| Baltimore Bullets (–) New York Knicks (–) | G | 17,454 | 2,796 | 3,594 | 1 (1973) | None | None | 4 | 1 | 1990 | [63] | ||
| Phoenix Suns (–, –) Dallas Mavericks (–) Los Angeles Lakers (–) | G | 17,387 | 3,642 | 10,335 | None | 2 | None | 8 | 7 | 2018 | [64] | ||
| Dallas Mavericks (–) | F | 31,560 | 11,489 | 3,651 | 1 (2011) | 1 | 1 (2011) | 14 | 12 | 2023 | [65] | ||
| Houston Rockets (–) Toronto Raptors | C | 26,946 | 13,748 | 3,058 | 2 (1994, 1995) | 1 | 2 (1994, 1995) | 12 | 12 | 2008 | [66] | ||
| Orlando Magic (–) Los Angeles Lakers (–) Miami Heat (–) Phoenix Suns (–) Cleveland Cavaliers Boston Celtics | C | 28,596 | 13,099 | 3,026 | 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006) | 1 (2000) | 3 (2000, 2001, 2002) | 15 | 14 | 2016 | [67] | ||
| Golden State Warriors (–) Boston Celtics (–) Charlotte Hornets (–) Chicago Bulls | C | 23,334 | 14,715 | 2,180 | 4 (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997) | None | None | 9 | 2 | 2003 | [68] | ||
| New Orleans Hornets (–) Los Angeles Clippers (–) Houston Rockets (–) Oklahoma City Thunder Phoenix Suns | G | 19,978 | 4,923 | 10,275 | None | None | None | 11 | 10 | TBD | [69] | ||
| Seattle SuperSonics (–) Milwaukee Bucks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Miami Heat (–) | G | 21,813 | 5,269 | 8,966 | 1 (2006) | None | None | 9 | 9 | 2013 | [70] | ||
| Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks (–) | F | 20,880 | 12,849 | 2,369 | 1 (1958) | 2 | None | 11 | 11 | 1971 | [71] | ||
| Boston Celtics (–) Brooklyn Nets Washington Wizards Los Angeles Clippers (–) | F | 26,397 | 7,527 | 4,708 | 1 (2008) | None | 1 (2008) | 10 | 4 | 2021 | [72] | ||
| Chicago Bulls (–,) Houston Rockets Portland Trail Blazers (–) | F | 18,940 | 7,494 | 6,135 | 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) | None | None | 7 | 7 | 2010 | [73] | ||
| New York Knicks (–) | C/F | 12,183 | 8,414 | 1,186 | 2 (1970, 1973) | 1 | 2 (1970, 1973) | 7 | 5 | 1982 | [74] | ||
| Cincinnati Royals (–) Milwaukee Bucks (–) | G | 26,710 | 7,804 | 9,887 | 1 (1971) | 1 | None | 12 | 11 | 1980 | [75] | ||
| San Antonio Spurs (–) | C | 20,790 | 10,497 | 2,441 | 2 (1999, 2003) | 1 | None | 10 | 10 | 2009 | [76] | ||
| Detroit Pistons (–) San Antonio Spurs (–) Chicago Bulls (–) Los Angeles Lakers Dallas Mavericks | F | 6,683 | 11,954 | 1,600 | 5 (1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998) | None | None | 2 | 2 | 2011 | [77] | ||
| Boston Celtics (–) | C | 14,522 | 21,620 | 4,100 | 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) | 5 | None | 12 | 11 | 1975 | [78] | ||
| † | Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers (–) | F | 18,438 | 11,256 | 3,072 | 1 (1955) | None | None | 12 | 12 | 1973 | [79] | |
| † | Washington Capitols Boston Celtics (–) | G | 12,665 | 2,779 | 2,101 | 4 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961) | None | None | 8 | 7 | 1976 | [80] | |
| Utah Jazz (–) | G | 19,711 | 4,051 | 15,806 | None | None | None | 10 | 11 | 2009 | [81] | ||
| Detroit Pistons (–) | G | 18,822 | 3,478 | 9,061 | 2 (1989, 1990) | None | 1 (1990) | 12 | 5 | 2000 | [82] | ||
| † | San Francisco / Golden State Warriors (–) Chicago Bulls (–) Cleveland Cavaliers (–) | C | 14,437 | 14,464 | 2,575 | None | None | None | 7 | 0 | 1985 | [83] | |
| † | Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets (–) | C | 10,624 | 13,769 | 3,822 | 1 (1978) | 1 | 1 (1978) | 5 | 1 | 1988 | [84] | |
| Miami Heat (–, –) Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers | G | 23,165 | 4,933 | 5,701 | 3 (2006, 2012, 2013) | None | 1 (2006) | 13 | 8 | 2023 | [85] | ||
| Portland Trail Blazers (–) San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers (–) Boston Celtics (–) | C | 6,215 | 4,923 | 1,590 | 2 (1977, 1986) | 1 | 1 (1977) | 2 | 2 | 1993 | [86] | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers (–) | G | 25,192 | 5,366 | 6,238 | 1 (1972) | None | 1 (1969) | 14 | 12 | 1980 | [87] | ||
| Oklahoma City Thunder (–) Houston Rockets Washington Wizards | G | 21,857 | 6,961 | 8,061 | None | 1 | None | 9 | 9 | TBD | [88] | ||
| St. Louis Hawks (−) Seattle SuperSonics (–) Cleveland Cavaliers (–) Portland Trail Blazers | G | 17,772 | 5,030 | 7,211 | None | None | None | 9 | 0 | 1989 | [89] | ||
| Atlanta Hawks (–) Los Angeles Clippers Boston Celtics San Antonio Spurs Orlando Magic | F | 26,668 | 7,169 | 2,677 | None | None | None | 9 | 7 | 2006 | |||
| Los Angeles Lakers (–) | F | 16,320 | 4,708 | 2,791 | 3 (1985, 1987, 1988) | None | 1 (1988) | 7 | 2 | 2003 | [90] |
The list was made through voting compiled by a panel of 88 media, current and former players, coaches, general managers, and team executives.[91] [92] The NBA stated the players were "selected for being pioneers that have helped shape, define, and redefine the game."[93] The NBA revealed 25 members of the list the first two days, and 26 the last day from October 19 through October 21, 2021.[6]
It was widely rumored that Kyrie Irving was originally on the list, as his then-team, the Brooklyn Nets, prematurely posted an announcement congratulating him on the achievement, but was later excluded allegedly due to controversy regarding his public image at the time.[94] [95] Former teammate LeBron James later said, "Damn shame he ain’t Top 75!", as did Andre Iguodola, "So y'all saying Kyrie Irving ain't top 75? I agree… he top 20 at least…" in Twitter posts criticizing the snub.[96] [97] Irving himself, sports commentators, and fans criticized the exclusion due to Irving's already illustrious career at the time of the list.[98] [99] [100]
Former NBA coach and television commentator Stan Van Gundy said that it was "absolutely ridiculous" that Dwight Howard was not included on the team. Howard later said, "I knew I wasn't going to be on it". In an Instagram post, Klay Thompson said, "Maybe I’m just naive in my ability to play basketball, but in my head, I’m top 75 all-time." NBA coach and former commentator Steve Kerr said that he had hoped Thompson and Draymond Green "would be on there".
Alongside the selection of the NBA's 75th anniversary team was the selection of the 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History. The list was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by a panel of 43 current and former NBA coaches in collaboration with the National Basketball Coaches Association. Of the 15 coaches, eight members of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History in 1996 were selected; original Top 10 coaches Bill Fitch and John Kundla were excluded from the updated list. Nine of the 15 coaches named were alive at the time of the list's announcement, and four of them—Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich, Doc Rivers, and Erik Spoelstra—were active. Six have died: Red Holzman in 1998,[101] Red Auerbach in 2006,[102] Chuck Daly in 2009,[103] Jack Ramsay in 2014,[104] and K. C. Jones and Jerry Sloan in 2020.[105] [106] Nelson and Sloan were the only members to have never won a championship as a coach; Nelson won five as a player. Wilkens was the only member of the coaches list to have been selected as a member of the players list. Ten of the 15 coaches are also members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with Nelson the most recent inductee in 2012.[107]
| Italics | Denotes coach who was active in the NBA at the time of induction | |||||
| Bold | Denotes coach who was not previously selected among the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History | |||||
Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the, the season last completed before the list was announced.