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In celebration of the NBA'S 75 year anniversary, the league recently released a "Top 75 list" where they chose their 75 greatest ever players. Of course, with any list of this nature, there were some high-profile snubs.
Looking through the list, it's hard not to perceive a bias towards players who entered the league pre-2000's. Very few on the list are what we might consider "modern greats," but hey, the list was primarily designed to celebrate the league's history, so who are we to judge?
But judge, we will! And with that, here are five players who have every right to feel aggrieved at missing out on a place within the league's Top 75
#5 Vince Carter
The first name on our list is a head-scratcher. Not only did Vince Carter help carry the league once Michael Jordan retired (the second time), he also drew in new fans the world over with his fearsome dunks and breathtaking athleticism.
Carter had a 22 year NBA career that spanned eight teams, with 2020-21 being the first season without Half-Man/Half-Amazing since he was drafted in 1998. Furthermore, Carter never bought into the super team era, instead, he opted to play for teams where he would have a significant role. He then later moved into more of a mentorship position towards the end of the bench.
Carter, an eight-time All-Star, never did win an NBA championship, but his impact on the game was felt the world over and the memories of his amazing dunk contests will fill highlight reels for decades to come.
#4 Tracy McGrady
T-Mac was one of the league's premier scorers for 15 years, and blended a silky handle with fearsome finishing skills around the rim. Multiple players who currently reside in the NBA have been known to work out with Tracy McGrady during the off-season as they try to improve their scoring off the dribble and/or drive.
McGrady finished his career as a two-time scoring champion, seven-time All-Star, and seven-time All-NBA selection - two of them coming with the All-NBA first team. Simply put, McGrady was box-office whenever he took to the floor, and his scoring ability will live in infamy throughout NBA circles.
Finally, McGrady was known for his three-point volume long before the league embraced the analytics era and went three-point crazy, which should display his commitment to playing the game and being ahead of the curve.
#3 Klay Thompson
The second splash brother and a focal point of the Golden State Warriors offense - arguably the most dominant offense to ever grace an NBA floor. Thompson's two-way ability was an anchor point to the Warriors success in the late 2010's, while also being one of the league's best shooters, both off the catch and off movement.
Sure, Klay Thompson has missed almost 900 days of basketball due to injury. However, his impact on the game and on the Warriors franchise itself cannot and should not go unnoticed. They don't call them the splash brothers because Steph Curry is so elusive, no. Thompson has earned his position within that duo and should share a spot with his teammate on this all-time list.
#2 Chris Webber
Chris "C-Webb" Webber was a dominant big in the NBA from the early 1990s to the late 2000s where he suited up for five teams over 17 seasons. Webber ended his career just 0.2 rebounds per game shy of a career double-double average.That is crazy considering he was the 1999 NBA rebound leader and contended for the title on numerous other occasions to boot.
Despite never lifting an NBA championship, Webber was a force on the low-block during one of the more physical eras in the league. His footwork and low-post scoring ability were a joy to behold, while his rebounding skills were among the best the NBA has seen.
#1 Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard's omission from the NBA's Top 75 is nothing short of sacrilegious. The big man was nothing short of spellbinding during his prime with the Orlando Magic as he single-handedly dragged the team into multiple deep playoff runs.
Howard has since gone on to win an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has provided reliable back-up to multiple contending teams as his skillset has slowly become outdated in the modern game.
This is the same Dwight Howard who is a two-time NBA block leader, four-time All-NBA Defensive first-team selection, three-time defensive player of the year, and eight-time All-Star. If that doesn't scream Top 75 then I don't know what to tell you.
Of course, each of these players who are considered snubs would have to replace a player who already resides on the list. At that point we would be saying they got snubbed, so it's fair to assume the list is subjective. And that should be the biggest takeaway from this list, it's not that players were overlooked. It's just that we've been fortunate enough to be treated to so many amazing basketball players over the first 75 years of the NBA existence, and for that, we should be grateful.
