NBA's 50 Greatest Basketball Players of All-Time: 75th Anniversary Edition

by Johnny Osaki

One of the Most “extensive" books available on all-time greats. This 2022 NBA’s 75th Anniversary Edition book of basketball (“nicely laminated and a little larger" than the paperback making it more appealing) is a great statistical and factual reference with everything you need to know about basketball all in just one book. It was completed at 548 pages and over 275,000 words, more than Bill Simmons’ book of 250,000 words. There are pages and pages of “charts” throughout including a chart with rankings of the greatest players at each position, a 10-page Hall of Fame chart, charts for most 25-point, 30-point, 40-point triple-double games & 25-point, 30-point, and 40-point 15-rebound 15 assist games (Oscar’s chapter), most 30-point, 40-point, 50-point games in the regular season (Kobe’s chapter) and playoffs (LeBron’s chapter), most 10-assist, 15-assist, 20-assist games in the regular season (Stockton’s chapter) and playoffs (Magic’s chapter), and much, much more. The book also has outstanding “quotes” from past and current players on their opinion on the greats of the game, a mini-biography including high school and college stats, and player analysis and descriptions on attributes. Also included are three pages of charts on (over 800 entries) 150 player’s individual scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocked shots titles, key second place finishes, awards and honors. “These three pages alone makes the book a good reference to have.” So if you are a big-time basketball fan and like objective-facts and numbers, this resource is like a mini encyclopedia in the palm of your hand. To get a glimpse of what this book is all about, click on Search Inside this book. So panels of experts on sports talk shows over the years have been giving their selections for Top 3 Greatest Players of All-Time soon after LeBron James publicly announced his about a decade ago. Back then he chose, of course Michael Jordan, and then Dr. J & Larry Bird - followed by Magic Johnson after he was asked to name a fourth. And then more recently, current and past players have been giving their Mount Rushmore picks (Top 4) with assortment of mixed opinions. LeBron gave his in a more serious interview back then and chose Jordan, Magic, Bird, and then Oscar Robertson! Hard to argue with those picks. Well, this is also what this new 2022 release is all about, ranking the greatest players of all-time. LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant would be amazed of what is written about them as a player. In addition, every player has an awesome and unmatched description of his attributes an very own skill set! This book is a must have for all basketball fans. It contains hardcore facts and stats of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players of All-Time (rankings of Magic, Bird, Jordan, LeBron, Kareem, Olajuwon, Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, Durant, Curry, Wilt, Russell, Oscar, West, Baylor and the rest of the greats of the game - find out who's in the top 25?) and players on the NBA’s 75 Anniversary team and beyond. In the player comparisons segments it distinguishes which players are better than others from an objective point of view - which in turn allows you to judge the player rankings for yourselves! For Was Wilt Chamberlain better than Bill Russell or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Is Magic Johnson better than Larry Bird? Was Kobe Bryant better than Jerry West? Was Tim Duncan better than Karl Malone? Was John Stockton better than Isiah Thomas? Is Stephen Curry better than Chris Paul? Also listed is an All-Time NBA First Team, Second Team, and Third Team based on projected rankings. The book is filled with player introductions including a mini-biography, player opinions from past and current great players, player attributes and skill sets, records and individual accolades, award and honors, player rankings and player comparisons throughout, and a player’s chronological history year by year with interceding player evaluations of the NBA’s elite and players outside the top 50.

Paperback

Published November 6, 2022

Reviews

[The Big O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great “statistical and factual” reference on NBA Old-timers and current players. Definite must reads on Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. There are fantastic “quotes” from past and current players on the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All-time. The rankings are in line with recent player rankings from the prominent networks and publications including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, and Slam Magazine. The author does a nice job mixing a players chronological history (including a mini bio) along with statistics and “well described” player comparisons, analysis, and attributes. There are also a lot of statistical charts and quotes by former and current players on their opinions on the greats of the game.