The 100 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time: Nos. 100-76

This article was made after extensive research into 300 candidate's careers. I not only looked at their NBA statistics, but also their ABA statistics if applicable.

I ranked each player based on different stats including but not limited to: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

I also looked at what their career averages in all these stats were as well to try and equal out quantity and quality.

One of the more difficult areas to compare were stats that weren't around for some of the older players. After I ranked all the players based on stats; I then weighted the categories.

For example, a block is probably not as important as a field goal therefore points were valued higher than blocks.

After I averaged all these out, I then took other variables into account such as championships, leadership skills, and in the end my own opinion.

Even though much of this is based on statistical facts, there is also opinion involved so I'm sure not everyone will agree but hopefully you will enjoy and would love to hear your thoughts.

100. Otis Thorpe

Kansas City/Sacramento Kings
Houston Rockets
Portland Trailblazers
Detroit Pistons
Vancouver Grizzlies
Washington Wizards
Miami Heat
Charlotte Hornets

Points: 17,600
Rebounds: 10,370
Blocks: 501

1x NBA Champion

1x All Star

Thorpe was a hardworking player that often got overlooked. He holds the Houston Rockets career field goal percentage record with 55.9 percent. It is also the 14th best field goal percentage in NBA history.

Thorpe was also one of the better rebounders, as he ranks 13th all time in offensive boards.

99. Ron Boone

Dallas Chaparrals
Utah Stars
Spirits of St. Louis
Kansas City Kings
Los Angeles Lakers
Utah Jazz

Points: 17,437
Assists: 3,842
Rebounds: 4,348

1x ABA Champion

4x All Star

Boone was a legend in the ABA and was a very effective player in the NBA as well.

He was known for his consistency and earned the nickname "The Legend." Boone is in the top five in points, games played, and minutes played in ABA history.

98. Randy Smith

Buffalo Braves
San Diego Clippers
Cleveland Cavaliers
New York Knicks
Atlanta Hawks

Points: 16,262
Assists: 4,487
Steals: 1,403

2x All Star

1x All NBA 2nd Team

Smith's fast-paced style helped bring in the popularity of the fast break. Smith was the MVP of the 1978 All Star team, scoring 27 points off the bench.

At one point in his career, Smith played in 906 consecutive games, which was a record at the time.

97. Latrell Sprewell

Golden State Warriors
New York Knicks
Minnesota Timberwolves

Points: 16,712
Rebounds: 3,724
Assists: 3,664

4x All Star

1x All NBA 1st Team

1x All NBA Defensive 2nd Team

All NBA Rookie 2nd Team

Although Sprewell may be better known for the choking incident, there is no doubt that he was a great player.

His intensity on the court made him a dangerous player and helped make several of his teams successful.

In a game in 2003-2004, he set a record for most three pointers without a miss, going 9-for-9.

96. Kevin Johnson

Cleveland Cavaliers
Phoenix Suns

Points: 13,127
Rebounds: 2,404
Assists: 6,711

1989 Most Improved Player

3x All Star

4x All NBA 2nd Team

1x All NBA 3rd Team

K.J. is one of the most underrated point guards of all time. Johnson is one of only three players to average at least 20 points a game and 10 assists a game in three consecutive seasons.

Johnson made the playoffs in every year he played besides his rookie season.

Johnson is the only person to average 20 points, 10 assists, a .500 FG percentage, and two steals in a season. He is the Suns all time leader in assists and free throws made.

95. Connie Hawkins

Pittsburgh/Minnesota Pipers
Phoenix Suns
Los Angeles Lakers
Atlanta Hawks

Points: 11,528
Rebounds: 5,450
Assists: 2,556

1x ABA Champion

1x ABA MVP

5x All Star

2x All ABA 1st Team

1x All NBA 1st Team

1x ABA Playoffs MVP

Hawkins was a force in both the NBA and the ABA, although he struggled with injuries at times and had a short career.

Many recognized his hard work and therefore he was elected to the Hall of Fame.

94. Tom Chambers

San Diego Clippers
Seattle SuperSonics
Phoenix Suns
Utah Jazz
Charlotte Hornets
Philadelphia 76ers

Points: 20,049
Rebounds: 6,703
Assists: 2,283

4x All Star

2x All NBA 2nd Team

Chambers was as consistent as they came especially when he played for the Suns.

Along with Kevin Johnson he formed a deadly duo and helped make the Suns a playoff contender year in and out.

In 1987, he won the All Star Game MVP.

93. Willis Reed

New York Knicks

PPG: 18.7
RPG: 12.9
Rebounds: 8,414

2x NBA Champion

1x NBA MVP

2x NBA Finals MVP

1965 Rookie of the Year

7x All Star

All NBA Rookie 1st Team

1x All NBA 1st Team

4x All NBA 2nd Team

1x NBA All Defensive 1st Team

Reed had a very short career but while he was playing he was as good as any.

Reed was famous for playing in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals with a torn muscle. He was selected as one of the NBA's 50 greatest players.

92. Richie Guerin

New York Knicks
St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks

Points: 14,676
Rebounds: 4,278
Assists: 4,211

6x All Star

3x All NBA 2nd Team

Guerin was a rare all-around talent who could pass, shoot, and rebound with the best of them.

Guerin led the Knicks in assists five consecutive seasons, and scoring three times.

He also set then-records for the New York Knicks with 57 points in one game, and 21 assists in another.

91. Walter Davis

Phoenix Suns
Denver Nuggets
Portland Trail Blazers

Points: 19,521
Assists: 3,878
Steals: 1,280

1978 Rookie of the Year

6x All Star

All NBA Rookie 1st Team

2x All NBA 2nd Team

Davis was a quick player which earned him the nickname "Greyhound."

Many consider him to be the best pure shooter in NBA history. He is the Suns all-time leading scorer.

90. Maurice Lucas

Spirits of St. Louis
Kentucky Colonels
Portland Trail Blazers
New Jersey Nets
New York Knicks
Phoenix Suns
Los Angeles Lakers
Seattle SuperSonics

Points: 14,857
Rebounds: 9,306
RPG: 9.1

1x NBA Champion

5x All Star

1x All NBA 2nd Team

1x NBA All Defensive 1st Team

1x NBA All Defensive 2nd Team

ABA All Rookie 2nd Team

Lucas was another player who performed well in both the ABA and NBA. He was named one of the 30 greatest ABA players of all time.

Lucas formed a strong duo with Bill Walton for Portland and helped them win the 1977 NBA Championship.

89. Mark Aguirre

Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Clippers

Points: 18,458
Rebounds: 4,578
Assists: 2,871

2x NBA Champion

3x All Star

One of the best scorers of the 80's, Aguirre was a star for Dallas and then helped Detroit to back-to-back titles.

While in Dallas, he was the leader of the Mavericks and helped them become a respectable team.

88. Detlef Schrempf

Dallas Mavericks
Indiana Pacers
Seattle SuperSonics
Portland Trailblazers

Points: 15,761
Rebounds: 7,023
Assists: 3,833

2x Sixth Man of the Year

1x All NBA 3rd Team

3x All Star

Schrempf was often overlooked but was a valuable piece to each team he played with.

In the 1992-1993 season, he was the only player to finish in the top 25 in scoring, rebounding, and assists. He is one of only two German-born players to make the NBA Finals.

87. Stephon Marbury

Minnesota Timberwolves
New Jersey Nets
Phoenix Suns
New York Knicks
Boston Celtics

Points: 16,297
Assists: 6,471
Steals: 1,022

NBA All Rookie First Team

2x All NBA Third Team

2x All Star

"Starbury" might not be the most popular player around, but there is no denying his skills. His ability to score and allow others to score makes him one of the best players of this generation.

He helped both Minnesota and Phoenix make it to the playoffs while with the teams and was considered the leader of both.

86. George Mikan

Minneapolis Lakers

Points: 10,156
Rebounds: 4,167
Assists: 1,245

7x NBL/BAA/NBA Champion

4x All Star

6x All BAA/NBA First Team

Mikan was the first star of the NBA. During his short career he won three scoring titles, was a member of the first four All Star games and a member of the first six All-NBA Teams.

Mikan was such a dominant player that they had do make rule changes just because of him. They widened the foul line and introduced the "play clock."

He was named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players in 1996.

85. Earl Monroe

Baltimore Bullets
New York Knicks

Points: 17,454
Assists: 3,594
Free Throw %: 83.0

1x NBA Champion

1968 NBA Rookie of the Year

NBA All Rookie First Team

1x All NBA First Team

4x All Star

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe's career was cut short by injuries, but during his playing time he was one of the smoothest and most effective players around.

Monroe scored 1,000 points in 9 different seasons. He is considered the first player to regularly use the spin move. In 1996, he was named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players.

84. Steve Nash

Dallas Mavericks
Phoenix Suns

2x NBA MVP

3x All NBA First Team

1x All NBA Second Team

2x All NBA Third Team

6x All Star

Many consider Nash the best point guard of the past five years and it's hard to argue against it. In 2006, ESPN named Nash the ninth greatest point guard of all time.

Nash helped lead Dallas to their first playoff appearance in more than a decade. He is the only Canadian to ever win the MVP award.

He has led the NBA in assists for three years, and once in free throw percentage.

83. Terry Cummings

San Diego Clippers
Milwaukee Bucks
San Antonio Spurs
Seattle SuperSonics
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks
Golden State Warriors

Points: 19,460
Rebounds: 8,630
Steals: 1,255

1982-83 NBA Rookie of the Year

1982-83 NBA All Rookie First Team

1x All NBA Second Team

1x All NBA Third Team

2x All Star

Although Cummings best year was probably his rookie year, he still was a player that was consistent throughout his career

While overshadowed by stars, he helped in the success of many teams. He is one of the top 50 scorers of all time.

82. Bob Dandridge

Milwaukee Bucks
Washington Bullets

Points: 15,530
Rebounds: 5,715
Assists: 2,846

2x NBA Champion

1969-70 All NBA Rookie First Team

1x All NBA Defensive First Team

1x All NBA Second Team

4x All Star

Although he was overshadowed by playing with Lew Alcindor and Oscar Robertson, Dandridge was a key part in both Milwaukee and Washington's teams.

He is considered one of the best forwards of the 70's.

81. Paul Arizin

Philadelphia Warriors

Points: 16,266
Rebounds: 6,129
Assists: 1,665

1x NBA Champion

3x All NBA First Team

1x All NBA Second Team

10x All Star

Arizin's stats would have been even better had he not missed time due to military enlistment.

That being said, he was one of the best players of the 50s, as he was the scoring leader on two separate occasions.

His stats were also hindered by the fact that he decided to retire rather than move to California when the Warriors changed cities.

80. Nate Archibald

Cincinnati Royals
Kansas City/Omaha Kings
New York Nets
Boston Celtics
Milwaukee Bucks

Points: 16,481
Assists: 6,476
Rebounds: 2,046

1x NBA Champion

3x All NBA First Team

2x All NBA Second Team

6x All Star

"Tiny" might have been small in statue, but his game was as big as any.

In 1973, he averaged 34 points a game, which at the time was a record for a guard. He also had 910 assists that season which was also a record.

He also was great at the free throw line, leading the league in free throws made twice.

79. LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers

Points: 12,993
Rebounds: 3,307
Assists: 3,159

1x NBA MVP

2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year

2003-04 NBA All Rookie First Team

3x All NBA First Team

2x All NBA Second Team

1x NBA All Defensive First Team

5x All Star

James has only played six years, but he has already established himself as one of the greatest of all time. By the end of his career, it is very possible that he will be considered in the top 10 or even top five.

He has set many youngest player records during his career. He led the Cavs to their only finals appearance in 2007. In his rookie year, he became only the third player to average 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

In 2008, he was the NBA scoring champion.

78. Mitch Richmond

Golden State Warriors
Sacramento Kings
Washington Wizards
Los Angeles Lakers

Points: 20,497
Steals: 1,211
3-Pointers: 1,326

1x NBA Champion

1988-89 NBA Rookie of the Year

1988-89 NBA All Rookie First Team

3x All NBA Second Team

2x All NBA Third Team

6x All Star

Richmond established himself as one of the best scorers of the 90's. He led the Kings in scoring all seven years he was there.

Mitch is only one of seven players to average at least 21 points a game in his first 10 seasons.

Richmond was also a deadly three-point shooter and ranks 13th in most three-pointers made. He is third in Kings scoring history.

77. Antoine Walker

Boston Celtics
Dallas Mavericks
Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat
Minnesota Timberwolves

Points: 15,647
Rebounds: 6,891
Assists: 3,170

1x NBA Champion

1996-97 NBA All Rookie First Team

3x All Star

Walker's career faded suddenly, but during his prime he was easily one of the best around.

Walker was one of the Celtics leaders in some of their worst times, but also helped lead them to their first playoff appearance in seven years.

76. Dennis Johnson

Seattle SuperSonics
Phoenix Suns
Boston Celtics

Points: 15,535
Assists: 5,499
Steals: 1,477

3x NBA Champion

1x NBA Finals MVP

1x All NBA First Team

1x All NBA Second Team

6x NBA All Defensive First Team

3x NBA All Defensive Second Team

5x All Star

"D.J." was one of the best defensive players the game has ever seen.

He is considered by many to be one of the most underrated players of all time, this is probably due to the fact that he was on a team of stars with the Celtics, but it could be argued that he was every bit as valuable.

When Johnson retired, he was only one of 11 players to have 15,000 points and 5,000 assists.