The 2023-24 regular season is the NBA’s 78th overall, which means 77 seasons are in the books.
With that in mind, our friends at HoopsHype recently compiled an updated list of the NBA’s best 77 players of all time, complete with statistics and information through the 2022-23 campaign.
Buy Rockets TicketsAs one might expect, the Rockets are well represented. Along with many All-Stars over the years, they had three Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winners: Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone and James Harden. Historically, Houston is among the league’s top franchises.
Granted, the Rockets haven’t won a championship since Olajuwon led them to their only two in the 1994 and 1995 NBA Finals. But the hope is that could change in the years ahead. If it does, perhaps a rising star such Jalen Green, Amen Thompson or Jabari Smith Jr. might crack an updated version of this list in a decade or so.
For now, with the start of 2023-24 training camp only days away, here’s a look back at where legacy Rockets stand on HoopsHype’s updated list of the 77 greatest players in NBA history.
Voting criteria
We held a team vote with the opinions of eight HoopsHype staff members, removed the highest and lowest rank for each and awarded points 77-1 for the rest.
🚨 Our updated all-time ranking is out 🚨
Stephen Curry moves up a bit, Nikola Jokic moves up A TON… and Kyrie Irving cracks the list for the first time at No. 76.
Enjoy:https://t.co/L25A6aihRL
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) September 25, 2023
No. 11: Hakeem Olajuwon
Top accolades: Two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, 12 All-Stars, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, five All-Defensive first-team selections
NBA rank: 1st in blocks, 10th in steals, 12th in points, 14th in rebounds, 220th in assists
Share of the vote: 87.71% of the maximum amount possible
The first international player on the list, Hakeem Olajuwon was one of the greatest big men ever, and he competed and produced at an elite level on both ends of the floor with outstanding low-post moves and defensive skills to match. Olajuwon ranks first in blocks on record, though there’s a bit of an asterisk on that because they didn’t keep track of those before 1973-74. Also, he is the only player to rank Top 14 in four different major statistical categories: points, rebounds, blocks and steals.
No. 16: Moses Malone
Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, three MVPs, eight All-NBA selections, 12 All-Stars, two All-Defensive Team selections
NBA rank: 5th in rebounds, 10th in scoring, 27th in blocks, 135th in steals
Share of the vote: 79.58% of the maximum amount possible
Perhaps the most underappreciated superstar ever, Moses Malone was as dominant as it gets at the center spot with physical toughness as a rebounder, leading the league in nightly boards an astounding six times, including once at 17.6 rebounds per game. Malone was also a monster scorer in the paint, using his brute strength to batter smaller foes down low. Many consider Malone the greatest offensive rebounder the league has ever seen, as his timing and instincts to chase boards on offense were second to none.
No. 25: Charles Barkley
Top accolades: One MVP, 11 All-NBA selections, 11 All-Stars
NBA rank: 19th in rebounds, 27th in steals, 29th in scoring, 106th in assists, 127th in blocks
Share of the vote: 67.08% of the maximum amount possible
The Round Mound of Rebound, Charles Barkley was unique not just for his outspoken personality but for his dominance down low despite being generously listed at 6-foot-6. He was a beast on the glass and as a scorer thanks to his absurd strength and explosiveness in his prime. Barkley never won the ever-elusive ring, but he’s still one of the all-time greats at power forward thanks to his dominant face-up and post-up games, along with his monstrous abilities on the glass.
No. 27: Scottie Pippen
Top accolades: Six NBA titles, seven All-NBA selections, seven All-Stars, eight All-Defensive Teams
NBA rank: 7th in steals, 35th in assists, 65th in scoring, 91st in rebounds, 110th in blocks
Share of the vote: 64.79% of the maximum amount possible
Arguably the greatest Robin in league history, Scottie Pippen was a fierce defender with freakish physical attributes, including long arms and extremely quick feet, who would absolutely stifle opposing stars. Pippen was at his best as a slasher and transition scorer but could also create for teammates at a high level, making him a point forward ahead of his time.
No. 28: Chris Paul
Top accolades: 11 All-NBA selections, 12 All-Stars, seven All-Defensive 1st Team selections
NBA rank: 3rd in assists and steals, 37th in scoring, 232nd in rebounds
Share of the vote: 63.54% of the maximum amount possible
The Point God, Chris Paul is one of the steadiest floor generals in NBA history, capable of acting as a head coach on the floor, getting teammates into the right spots, destroying opponents out of the pick-and-roll and scoring at a high level when needed thanks to his unreal touch as an off-the-dribble scorer in the midrange.
The only thing still missing from his legacy is a ring, but he’s a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer with or without one. Could that championship come in a secondary role for Paul now that he’s slated to basically be Curry’s backup with the Warriors? And how much will that affect his legacy if he wins a ring as a role player off the bench?
We might only have to wait a year to find out.
No. 36: Rick Barry
Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, five All-NBA 1st Team selections, eight All-Stars
NBA rank: 73rd in scoring, 120th in assists, 130th in steals
Share of the vote: 55.42% of the maximum amount possible
An excellent scorer on the wing, Rick Barry may be best remembered these days for his granny-style free-throw shooting, but he was so much more than that, as he could handle the ball at 6-foot-7, shoot off the dribble or around the rim and do a bit of everything else well, including rebound and create for others. One of the first do-everything wings the NBA ever saw, Barry would rank even higher statistically in league history if he didn’t go to the ABA for four seasons in his prime.
No. 39: James Harden
Top accolades: One MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, 10 All-Stars, one Sixth Man of the Year award
NBA rank: 20th in assists, 25th in scoring, 47th in steals. 215th in rebounds
Share of the vote: 54.17% of the maximum amount possible
James Harden already has a Hall-of-Fame resume thanks to his unreal scoring ability and playmaking. His crossover and stepback jumper have made him impossible to slow down when he gets going, as does his strong shoulder on drives to the rim. He has a chance to add to his legacy in a major way over the coming years, though time is starting to run out, as Harden might no longer be in his prime.
Believe it or not, Harden is now higher on the all-time assists list than he is on the scoring list, which speaks to his genius as a playmaker to go with his historical scoring skills. But he continues to fall short in the playoffs, which might just be a part of his legacy.
No. 40: Elvin Hayes
Top accolades: One NBA title, six All-NBA selections, 12 All-Stars, two All-Defensive 2nd Team selections
NBA rank: 4th in rebounds, 11th in scoring, 24th in blocks
Share of the vote: 53.96% of the maximum amount possible
An old-fashioned big man who was really strong and aggressive, especially on defense. Elvin Hayes also had a masterful post game with a trademark turnaround jumper that he’d go to when he was defended by taller players. Hayes was called the Bionic Man because he was relentless, rarely missing a game until he was 38.
No. 45: Clyde Drexler
Top accolades: One NBA title, five All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars
NBA rank: 8th in steals, 34th in scoring, 36th in assists, 135th in rebounds, 177th in blocks
Share of the vote: 46.25% of the maximum amount possible
One of the best 2-guards ever, Clyde Drexler was a fantastic scorer, rebounder and playmaker for his position, while also using his athleticism well defensively. Drexler even won a championship in his career, arguably the toughest in NBA history, at that, playing a fantastic second fiddle to Olajuwon and turning the Rockets that year from a borderline playoff team into a championship repeater.
No. 48: Russell Westbrook
Top accolades: One MVP, nine All-NBA selections, nine All-Stars
NBA rank: 9th in assists, 19th in steals, 27th in scoring, 77th in rebounds
Share of the vote: 39.79% of the maximum amount possible
One of the most energetic players the NBA has ever seen, Russell Westbrook is absolutely tenacious every minute he’s on the floor, often fighting off bigger opponents for rebounds and flying down the floor in transition to throw down monstrous dunks. Of course, as is the case with basically every player, age is starting to affect the former triple-double machine, and that athleticism and energy level are starting to dwindle as Westbrook’s effectiveness pales in comparison to what it used to be.
Still, Westbrook is undoubtedly one of the NBA’s best players ever, a literal cheat code statistically in his prime, and his career will be looked at even more fondly once it’s over.
No. 50: Carmelo Anthony
Top accolades: Six All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars
NBA rank: 9th in scoring, 79th in rebounds, 91st in steals, 176th in assists, 201st in blocks
Share of the vote: 35.42% of the maximum amount possible
One of the smoothest scorers in the wing the league has ever seen, Carmelo Anthony became renowned for his jab step in the mid-range, but he had many more moves than that. Anthony also liked to bully smaller defenders and hit them with turnaround fadeaways, putting up a historic amount of points thanks to his well-rounded ways of scoring.
There were times in his prime when it felt like once Anthony would get it going, he was impossible to defend. The numbers reflect that, too — after all, ranking in the top nine in scoring is almost hard to fathom. It’s unfortunate Anthony wasn’t able to have more team success in his career, which would have helped him move up this list.
No. 62: Dwight Howard
Top accolades: One NBA title, five All-NBA first-team selections, eight All-Stars, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, four All-Defensive first-team selections
NBA rank: 10th in rebounds, 13th in blocks, 55th in scoring, 142nd in steals
Share of the vote: 21.67% of the maximum amount possible
At one time, Dwight Howard was the best big man in the NBA, an era that lasted for multiple seasons during his time with the Magic. Howard was an awe-inspiring athlete for his size, who would often sky for rebounds, block shots or finish alley-oops. Like Gasol, Howard was another glaring omission from the NBA75 list despite being a Top 10 rebounder ever, ranking 13th all-time in blocks and having three Defensive Player of the Year awards. But that might have to do with him not being that well-liked by coaches and teammates during his time in the league.
Howard was also a huge playoff performer, coming up big both when he was a star with the Magic (he impressively led them to the Finals in 2008-09) and as a role player with the Lakers, finally winning a title in 2019-20.
No. 75: Tracy McGrady
Top accolades: Seven All-NBA selections, seven All-Stars, one Most Improved Player award
NBA rank: 74th in scoring, 113th in assists, 148th in blocks, 246th in rebounds
Share of the vote: 9.79% of the maximum amount possible
A more impressive playoff career (he never made it out of the first round in his prime) could have greatly changed where Tracy McGrady finished in this ranking, as could have more longevity. But at his peak, McGrady was one of the most explosive and productive do-everything wings in basketball, one who would have dominated in the modern NBA.
