List 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. Two notable omissions from the earlier top 50 selections,
Bob McAdoo and
Dominique Wilkins, were named to the 75th anniversary list. 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.
Bill Russell,
Bob Cousy,
George Mikan and
Bob Pettit are the only players who have been named to all four
NBA anniversary teams.
Derrick Rose (2011) was the only former league MVP (as of 2020) not to be included on the team. 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. Four of them (Anthony, Davis, James, and Westbrook) were playing for the
Los Angeles Lakers, on
their 2022 squad, Despite that, the Lakers missed the playoffs. The
Brooklyn Nets, with Durant and Harden on
their roster, were the only other team with multiple active players. The
Boston Celtics had the most overall players, past and present, on the list with 20. The Lakers were next with 15.
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
Selection process The list was made through voting compiled by a panel of 88 media, current and former players, coaches, general managers, and team executives. The NBA stated the players were "selected for being pioneers that have helped shape, define, and redefine the game." The NBA revealed 25 members of the list the first two days, and 26 the last day from October 19 through October 21, 2021. Former teammate LeBron James later said, "Damn shame he ain’t Top 75!", as did
Andre Iguodala, "So y'all saying Kyrie Irving ain't top 75? I agree… he top 20 at least…" in Twitter posts criticizing the snub. Irving himself, sports commentators, and fans criticized the exclusion due to Irving's already illustrious career at the time of the list. 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". == 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History==