The 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History (also referred to as NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team or NBA's Top 50) were chosen in 1996 to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). These fifty players were selected through a vote by a panel of media members, former players and coaches, and current and former general managers. In addition, the top ten head coaches and top ten single-season teams in NBA history were selected by media members as part of the celebration.[1] The fifty players had to have played at least a portion of their careers in the NBA and were selected irrespective of position played. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Greatest_Players_in_NBA_History Clyde Drexler was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, if a new list was made today is he still on it? If not who do you replace him with? Kobe? Lebron? Wade? CP3?
So we agree, Drexler would no longer be a top 50 player and Kobe would be the one to replace him. They also did the Top 10 coaches of all time, does Pops replace Don Nelson or Lenny Wilkins?
According to ESPN, Drexler is the 36th best player of all-time, easily cementing himself as a Top 50 player.
Even when he played, I thought Worthy was overrated (because he was in the NBA media center). Actually, I thought Magic Johnson was, too. Abdul-Jabbar was the invisible engine that made that team work. Similarly...don't judge Bill Walton by his stats.
Watching the All-Star Game, they hadn't announced (as far as I know; there was no internet) that the 50 greatest players would march out on a stage at halftime. It was shocking and amazing to see. Pure pleasure, and I'll never forget it. Nowadays, we almost expect a surprise singer at All-Star game halftime, but we didn't expect surprises then. 49 of the 50 were there. Mikan hobbled out and his successor as the top Center, Bill Russell, helped him step up, trying not to look condescending. (Russell was a little rough, trying not to appear too helpful.) The list hadn't been preannounced, so viewers argued with their TV sets over surprising choices. Too many former Celtics, like Bill Sharman.
