The NBA will celebrate its 75th anniversary during the 2021-2022 season and as part of the festivities, the association will name the 75 greatest players in the league’s history. Fans can expect to see their favorite players, past and present, included on the list.Â
This season isn’t the first time the NBA has compiled a greatest players of all-time list. It did the same thing when it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1997, announcing the 50 greatest players in NBA history during the All-Star weekend in Cleveland. Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Hakeem Olajuwon were a few superstars named on the list. Magic Johnson’s former team, the Lakers, are still one of the NBA’s top teams. With their acquisition of Russell Westbrook, they might just top NBA betting odds during the upcoming season.Â
Fans are in for a treat during the upcoming season as Cleveland once again hosts the NBA All-Star Game as the league marks its 75th anniversary. The NBA has dubbed its 75th anniversary year “NBA75” as it prepares to add 25 superstars to its list of the greatest players in league history.Â
The NBA will announce its list in October, so we won’t have to wait for the all-star game this time around. The league has enlisted a blue-ribbon panel of experts to help select the players that will be added to the list. The panel includes media, current and former players, coaches, general managers, and team executives.Â
We don’t know much about who will make the NBA’s expanded greatest players list, but we can certainly speculate. There are some outstanding young players in the league, such as Dallas Maverick guard Luka Doncic who recently made history as the first player eligible for a supermax rookie extension.
However, we don’t expect Luka or any of the league’s youngest players to make the list this time around. They simply haven’t paid their dues or proven themselves over enough seasons in the league.Â
Instead, we can expect to see experienced players that have proven themselves season after season to be added to the exclusive list. Of course, the league boasts the best players in the world, making it hard to narrow down the list. But a few names that come to mind are Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Lebron James, Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, and Dwane Wade. Â
Besides adding 25 more players to the greatest players of all-time list, the NBA will celebrate its 75th anniversary with various events throughout the season and a commemorative logo featuring a diamond. Merchandise marking the anniversary will be available throughout the upcoming season.