The NBA recently unveiled their 75th Anniversary Team. Many great players were left on the sidelines, including Adrian Dantley and Pete Maravich.
There were a lot of big snubs from this year’s NBA All-Star team, but some players stand out as being downright unjustifiable. Here are the biggest snubs from last night’s game. 1) Adrian Dantley 2) Pete Maravich 3) Tracy McGrady
Adrian Dantley is an NBA Hall of Famer who was snubbed from the “Biggest snubs from NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team”. Adrian Dantley is one of the most accomplished players in basketball history, but he did not make the cut.
The NBA released its 75th Anniversary Team from October 19 to 21, which included the top-75 players in league history (76 players were named due to a tie).
The NBA had previously released a 50th Anniversary Team 25 years before. The 75th Anniversary Squad had all 50 players from that team.
Of course, like with any list, certain items were left off, causing controversy. Here are 15 of the 75th Anniversary Team’s most egregious omissions.
(With apologies to Paul George, Kevin Love, Jimmy Butler, Chris Webber, Ben Wallace, Grant Hill, Artis Gilmore, Walt Bellamy, and other snubs.)
Old-timers
- Adrian Dantley is a British actor (Buffalo Braves 1976-77, Pacers 1977, Lakers 1977-79, Jazz 1979-86, Pistons 1986-89, Mavericks 1989-90, Bucks 1990-91)
Awards: 1976-77 Rookie of the Year, 1976-77 Rookie of the Year, 1976-77 Rookie of the Year, 1976-77 R Six-time All-Star, two-time NBA All-Star, and two-time scoring champion
According to Stat Muse, only three players have had more seasons of averaging at least 30 points than Dantley: Michael Jordan (8), Wilt Chamberlain (7), and Oscar Robertson (6). (6).
- Alex English is an English speaker (Bucks 1976-78, Pacers 1978-80, Nuggets 1980-90, Mavericks 1990-91)
8-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA, and 1-time scoring champion
From 1981-82 through 1988-89, English averaged at least 25 points per game for eight consecutive seasons. He was also a productive scorer, shooting 51.2 percent from the field throughout that period.
- Bernard King is a well-known author (Nets 1977-79, 92-93, Jazz 1979-80, Warriors 1980-82, Knicks 1983-85, 86-87, Bullets 1987-91)
1 time Comeback Player of the Year, 4 times All-Star, 4 times All-NBA, 1 time scoring champion
While a damaged ACL may have derailed portions of King’s career in his prime (torn ACLs were considerably more difficult to overcome in the 1980s), few players could match his scoring prowess with the Knicks. In the first round of the 1984 playoffs, King averaged 42.6 points per game in a five-game series against the Pistons.
- Bob Lanier is a well-known computer expert (Pistons 1970-80, Bucks 1980-84)
1 time All-Star MVP, 8 times All-Star
Lanier, the first overall choice in 1970, enjoyed a seven-year stretch from 1971-72 through 1977-78, averaging 23.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. In 959 regular-season games, he averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds (20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds).
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Players who are actively involved
- Howard, Dwight (Magic 2004-12, Lakers 2012-13, 19-20, current, Rockets 2013-16, Hawks 2016-17, Hornets 2017-18, Wizards 2018-19, 76ers 2020-21)
1x NBA champion, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, 8x All-Star, 8X All-NBA, 5X All-Defensive, 8X All-Star, 8X All-NBA 5X rebounding, 2X blocks, and 1X field goal percentage leader
Howard, who is still playing, is in the top ten all-time in rebounds (14,277 – 11th) and blocks (2,192 – 13th).
From 2007-08 to 2012-13, he topped the league in rebounds five times in six seasons.
- Irving, Kyrie (Cavaliers 2011-17, Celtics 2017-19, Nets 2019-current)
1x NBA champion, Rookie of the Year in 2011-12, 1 time All-Star MVP, 7 times All-Star, 3 times All-NBA
While much of the current attention on Irving is focused on his refusal to get the COVID vaccination and hence his inability to play for the Nets, many consider him to be the finest ball-handler of all time. For the last two seasons, the lifetime 22.8 point per game scorer has had the greatest two scoring averages (27.4 in 2019-20, 26.9 in 2020-21).
- Nikola Jokic is a Serbian footballer (Nuggets 2015-current)
1 MVP, 3 All-Stars, and 3 All-NBA selections
Despite the fact that Jokic is just in his seventh season, he is the finest passing big man in league history.
He’s already racked up 57 triple-doubles and shown a fine touch from both the perimeter and the charity line.
- Klay Thompson is a basketball player who is known for his (2011-current)
3X NBA champion, 5X All-Star, 2X All-NBA, 1X All-Defensive selection
Thompson hasn’t played since 2019, but he was a three-time champion and one of the league’s best shooters during his time on the court. On a significant number of three-point attempts, he has hit on more than 40% of them (seven attempts per game).
Played after the release of the 50 Greatest Players list.
- Vince Carter is an American singer and songwriter (Raptors 1998-2004, Nets 2004-09, Magic 2009-10, Suns 2010-11, Mavericks 2011-14, Grizzlies 2014-17, Kings 2017-18, Hawks 2019-20)
Rookie of the Year in 1998-99, 8-time All-Star, 2x All-NBA
Carter is the best dunker we’ve ever seen.
He wasn’t a one-trick pony, however, as his 2,290 made threes rank him sixth all-time, and his 25,728 points rank him 19th all-time.
- Gasol, Pau (Grizzlies 2001-08, Lakers 2008-14, Bulls 2014-16, Spurs 2017-19, Bucks 2019)
2x NBA champion, Rookie of the Year in 2001-02, 6x All-Star, 4X All-NBA
Gasol was instrumental in the Lakers’ return to the top after Shaq’s departure, as they reached the finals in each of his first three seasons with the club (won championships the second and third). He ranks 39th in points (20.894), 28th in rebounds (11,305), and 21st in blocks in NBA history (1,941).
- Ginobili Manu Ginobili Manu Ginobili Manu Gin (Spurs 2002-18)
4X NBA champion, 1X Sixth Man of the Year, 2X All-Star, 2X All-NBA selection
His numbers aren’t flashy, but everybody who has seen the Spurs knows how important Ginobili was to four championship teams.
San Antonio was his home for the whole of his 16-year career.
- Tracy McGrady is a professional basketball player (Raptors 1997-2000, Magic 2000-04, Rockets 2004-10, Knicks 2010, Pistons 2010-11, Hawks 2011-12, Spurs 2013)
1 time Most Improved Player, 7 times All-Star, 7 times All-NBA, 2 times scoring champion
There was a period when it wasn’t even debatable whether McGrady and Kobe Bryant belonged in the same sentence. Simply watch his game against the Spurs on December 9, 2004, on YouTube to be blown away by his scoring ability.
- Mourning, Alonzo (Hornets 1992-95, Heat 1995-2002, 05-08, Nets 2003-05)
1 time NBA champion, 2 times Defensive Player of the Year 7-time All-Star, 2-time NBA All-Star, 2-time All-Defensive, 2-time Block Leader
Mourning won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1998-99 and 1999-00, and in 13 of his 15 seasons, he blocked at least two shots in a game.
After requiring a kidney transplant, he returned to play five more seasons, including a title with Miami in 2006.
- Mutombo Dikembe (Nuggets 1991-96, Hawks 1996-2001, 76ers 2001-02, Nets 2002-03, Knicks 2003-04, Rockets 2004-09; Nuggets 1991-96, Hawks 1996-2001, 76ers 2001-02, Nets 2002-03, Knicks 2003-04, Rockets 2004-09)
4X Defensive Player of the Year, 4X Defensive Player of the Year, 4X Defensive Player of the Year, 4X Defensive 8-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA, 6-time All-Defensive selection, 3-time block leader, 2-time rebound leader
Mutombo, who is most known for his commercials and finger wags, blocked 3,289 shots throughout his career, second only to Hakeem Olajuwon for the most all-time. Only he and Ben Wallace have been awarded Defensive Player of the Year four times.
- Tony Parker is a well-known actor (Spurs 2001-18, Hornets 2018-19)
4X NBA champion, 1X Finals MVP, 6X All-Star, 4X All-NBA selection
Parker’s speed, which no one could match, always placed a lot of pressure on the defense. Four times, the four-time NBA champion placed ninth or higher in MVP voting.
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