On Tuesday, HoopsHype posted their list of the 78 greatest players in NBA history. Why 78? That’s how many seasons that the NBA has been around.
While 78 may seem like a lot, that still leaves off plenty of Basketball Hall of Fame talents. Here are ten of the biggest snubs from HoopsHype’s list. Players are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
10 Of The Biggest Snubs From HoopsHype’s 78 Greatest Players
Dave Bing
Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990, Dave Bing was named to seven All-Star teams in his 12 seasons. The six-foot-three guard won a scoring title with the Detroit Pistons in 1967-68.
Adrian Dantley
Only three players have more seasons than Adrian Dantley’s four of averaging at least 30 points according to StatMuse. They are Michael Jordan (8), Wilt Chamberlain (7), and Oscar Robertson (6). Allen Iverson and Jerry West equaled Dantley with four instances. The 1976-77 Rookie of the Year also won two scoring titles with the Utah Jazz.
Luka Doncic
Yes, Luka Doncic has played just 400 regular season games. The guy who finished 77th on the list, Joel Embiid, has played just 34 more. Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks have gone further in the playoffs twice than Embiid ever has thus far. Doncic has finished between third and eighth in MVP voting the last five seasons and has insane career averages of 28.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists.
Manu Ginobili
His stats don’t pop off the page, but anyone who watched the San Antonio Spurs is aware of how integral a piece Manu Ginobili was for four championship teams. He spent the entirety of his 16-year career with the San Antonio Spurs.
Bob Lanier
The first overall pick in 1970, Bob Lanier had a seven-season run from 1971-72 until 1977-78, where he averaged 23.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He averaged more than 20 and 10 in his 959 regular-season games (20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds).
Sidney Moncrief
Sidney Moncrief won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1982-83 and 1983-84 with the Milwaukee Bucks. The six-foot-four guard finished top-eight in MVP voting each season from 1981-82 to 1985-86. He became a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Alonzo Mourning
The back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year in 1998-99 and 1999-00, Alonzo Mourning rejected at least two shots per contest in 13 of his 15 seasons. He came back to play five more seasons after needing a kidney transplant which included winning a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.
Dikembe Mutombo
Known by casual fans for his commercials and finger wags, Dikembe Mutombo blocked 3,289 shots in his career, placing him behind only Hakeem Olajuwon for the most all-time. Mutombo, Ben Wallace, and Rudy Gobert are the only three players to be named Defensive Player of the Year four times.
Klay Thompson
When it comes to the best shooters of all-time, many consider Klay Thompson to be the second-best ever, only behind his longtime teammate Stephen Curry. The 34-year-old has made 2,481 (and counting) three-pointers at a 41.3% clip.
Chris Webber
Yes, Chris Webber never reached the NBA Finals. Many believe his Sacramento Kings were robbed in 2002 though from reaching the finals. The NBA’s leading rebounder in 1998-99 also averaged at least 20 points every season from 1994-95 until 2002-03.
