| As part of the NBA's celebration of its 50th anniversary during the 1996-1997 season ("The NBA at 50"), the league put together a list it entitled "The 50 Greatest Players in NBA History". Voting was done by a panel of media, former players, current and former executives, coaches and general managers.
Below is the list (in alphabetical order), which was announced on October 29, 1996. There were no rankings of the 50 players; it was just a list of 50. (Some are already noded; I will node the rest at some point...call it the "NBA's 50 greatest project")
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Nate "Tiny" Archibald
Paul Arizin
Charles Barkley
Rick Barry
Elgin Baylor
Dave Bing
Larry Bird
Wilt Chamberlain
Bob Cousy
Dave Cowens
Billy Cunningham
Dave DeBusschere
Clyde Drexler
Julius Erving
Patrick Ewing
Walt Frazier
George Gervin
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Elvin Hayes
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Sam Jones
Michael Jordan
Jerry Lucas
Karl Malone
Moses Malone
Pete Maravich
Kevin McHale
George Mikan
Earl Monroe
Hakeem Olajuwon
Shaquille O'Neal
Robert Parish
Bob Pettit
Scottie Pippen
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
David Robinson
Bill Russell
Dolph Schayes
Bill Sharman
John Stockton
Isiah Thomas
Nate Thurmond
Wes Unseld
Bill Walton
Jerry West
Lenny Wilkens
James Worthy
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