NBA 75 Greatest Players (pt. 4, 40-31)

40. Patrick Ewing
39. Jason Kidd
38. Bob Cousy
37. Chris Paul
36. George Mikan
35. James Harden
34. Bob Pettit
33. Steve Nash
32. Allen Iverson
31. Rick Barry

40. Patrick Ewing- A warrior. The face of the New York Knicks franchise. Great jump shot. Patrick Ewing was the embodiment of the Knicks. Even Michael Jordan said, "When you think about New York, you think about Patrick Ewing". Strong words. However, even some of the today's younger Knicks fans want to penalize a player like Ewing for not delivering a championship to the Big Apple. People look at his 0 Finals MVPs, 0 League MVPs, and 0 DPOYs, and want to dismiss him. Patrick Ewing was among the best of the best. He was a threat on offense, dangerous on the glass, and a great presence under the rim. It is hard to fault Ewing when he played in an extremely stacked era. When you run into the Chicago Bulls juggernaut year in and out, you can't completely hold it against him. Patrick only made one All-NBA 1st Team, because when you play against the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Shaq, you have a mountain to climb. That is how you put Patrick's legacy in perspective. These scenarios make Patrick Ewing's career another one of the great "what if" legacies in NBA history. "What if the Michael Jordan machine never came into the NBA to squash Ewing's hopes of NBA Titles?" "What if Patrick Ewing never played in the same era with Olajuwon, Shaq, and Robinson?" "What if Patrick did not go down with an injury during the 1992 Playoffs?" "What if Ewing played Game 7 of the '93 ECF vs. the Bulls?" That '92 Terminator Knicks squad was a Defensive monster. If they won against the Blazers & Suns, Ewing would have reshaped his legacy. When Jordan was gone, Patrick's greatest chance to do so came as he led the Knicks to the 1994 NBA Finals. Unfortunately, the  Knicks fell to the Rockets in 7 games, because of archrival Hakeem Olajuwon's outstanding play. The other downfall in that series was the way John Starks blatantly shot them out of winning that elusive title. You could also say, "What if Patrick Ewing played in today's watered down era of a poor competition of Centers?" Still, in spite of that, Ewing's career was still Hall of Fame worthy by any means. Ewing's scoring peaked at 28.6 ppg in 1990. That year, he averaged a career high in blocks with 4.0 BPG. In 1993, his rebounding peaked at 12.1 RPG. Ewing's resiliency and longevity through injuries in a large market are admirable. If Patrick's knees were stronger, who knows what else he could have done? Patrick Ewing left an unforgettable mark on the Knicks franchise. He is the club's all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks and games played. Ewing won Rookie of the Year and was an 11-time All-Star. Patrick Ewing was named to the All-NBA 1st Team once, All-NBA 2nd Team six times, and All-Defensive 2nd Team three times. Obviously, when you play in the same era with the likes of Michael Jordan, Hakeem the Dream, Karl Malone, and Charles Barkley to name a few, it is hard to win the MVP. Patrick Ewing is a bonafide Hall of Famer and a legend.

39. Jason Kidd- Jason Kidd is a tremendously versatile point guard, as a playmaker and defender. His ability to run the fast break is among the greatest ever, along with his excellent vision. Out of all of those attributes, his biggest knock would be his shooting. For his career, he shoots 40% (including many seasons in the 30s). His defense is above-average at best. In 2002, Jason Kidd led the New Jersey Nets to their first of 2 straight Finals appearances. Unfortunately, they were swept under by the Lakers in four games. That season, Kidd finished 2nd place to Tim Duncan for the NBA MVP Award. The following season, Kidd and Duncan would meet in the NBA Finals. Duncan's Spurs would ultimately prevail. Jason Kidd would finally taste victory, as the starting point guard for the 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks. Jason Kidd is also a 10-time NBA all-star, 5x All-NBA 1st Team, 4x All-Defensive 1st Team, 5x All-Defensive 2nd Team, 5x assists leader, and the 2012 NBA Sportsmanship Award. Jason Kidd's great open court passing, playmaking, vision, and defensive abilities are what cement him among the greatest point guards of all-time. Jason Kidd is a Basketball Hall of Famer.

38. Bob Cousy- "The Houdini of Hardwood". Bob Cousy was an innovator when it came to bringing in flashy playmaking and ballhandling. Without Bob Cousy, there would be no Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Pistol Pete and others. His style left a major impression on future generations of fans and players. His scoring peaked at 21.7 PPG, his assists at 9.5 APG, and rebounds at 6.9 RPG. The one knock on Cousy would be his shooting percentage (37 FG%), but that was generally the league average at the time for perimeter players. Cousy's contributions were vital for 6 of those Celtics championship teams. Bob Cousy won an NBA MVP Award, he was a 2-time All-Star MVP, 13-time NBA All-Star, 10-time All-NBA 1st Team Selection, and 2-time All-NBA 2nd Team Selection. Mr. Bob Cousy is a trendsetter, Hall of Famer and a Legend.

37. Chris Paul- The most consistent Point Guard of this Generation. CP3 is the quintessential Point Guard as he is the Gold standard by which others are to be measured by. In an era with the likes of Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, and others, Chris Paul has been constant. CP3 led the league in assists for two straight seasons (2007-08, 2008-09) when he averaged a career-high 11.6 APG and 11.0 respectively. In 2009, Paul averaged a career-high 22.8 PPG as he was an MVP Candidate for both of those seasons that he was the Assists Leader. He has also led the NBA in Assists in 2013-14, and 2014-15 with 10.7 and 10.2 APG. Chris Paul was able to raise the game of his teammates as the leader of the New Orleans Hornets for a number of years before joining the Los Angeles Clippers. As a Clipper, Paul elevated the team to a level of relevance that they had never witnessed before in franchise history. Together, he and Blake Griffin formed "Lob City" which draws shades of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp in Seattle. CP3 has also led the League in Steals six times with a Career-High of 2.8 SPG in 2009. Chris Paul is a player that demands the most out of his teammates with his demanding, tough style as a PG. During his time in Houston, Chris has helped the Rockets take the Golden State Warriors to the limit as they reached the Western Conference Finals in 2018. However, Chris Paul's injury would hold back his best chance of reaching the Finals appearance that has eluded him for all of these years. Lately, he has drawn comparisons to Isiah Thomas. Both are known to be wizards with the ball, but Chris would have to compile some hardware to further solidify his place among the greatest PG's of all-time.

36. George Mikan- "Mr. Basketball". If you want to talk about a trendsetter and a foundational block, George Mikan was that guy. Mikan was the NBA's first marquee superstar player. He was the original "dominant big man". George Mikan was the predecessor to Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. George Mikan was originally signed by the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL) after his '45-'46 college season at DePaul University (That is 1945-'46) He was also the leader of the NBA's first Dynasty, the Minneapolis Lakers of the late '40s/early '50s. For those of you much younger fans, George Mikan was the first to win 5 rings LONG before Kobe or Magic. Mikan led the Lakers to championships from '49-'50, and again for three straight in '52-'54 in the BAA and the NBA. No one had ever seen a man with that type of agility at his size at the time. Mikan won three straight scoring titles, from '49-'51. His scoring peaked out at 28.4 ppg, which was exceptional for the time that he played in. His rebounding peaked at 14.4 RPG and passing at 3.0 APG. Mikan's dominance in the NBL, BAA, and NBA would set the standard for greatness for years to come. George Mikan was a 2 time NBL scoring champion and the first 3-time NBA scoring champion. Mr. Mikan was also a 4-time All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, and 6-time All-BAA/NBA 1st Team Selection. Mr. George Mikan is truly an originator in NBA history as the first superstar, and his legacy should be held in great regard. Mr. George Mikan is a Hall of Famer, Pioneer, and true Legend.

35. James Harden- "The Beard" James Harden has one of the most unique Basketball legacies because of the Arc of his Career. Like Kawhi, Harden's trajectory has been a rather unpredictable surprise. After spending three seasons in Oklahoma City as the 6th Man behind other transcendent players (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook), James would get traded to the Houston Rockets along with Daequan Cook, Cole Aldrich and Lazar Hayward for Kelvin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and two first round picks (One of those picks became Steven Adams). On October 31, 2012, Harden signed a 5-year contract extension worth $80 million. Upon his arrival in Houston, James exploded. Harden's first season was the ultimate surprise for me as it also marked his first All-Star appearance. That season, he averaged 25.9 ppg/4.9 rpg/5.8 apg in 78 games as he started all of them. He also became the fifth player in Rockets history to reach 2,000 points in a season. Among his other achievements that season, Harden also surpassed Moses Malone's franchise record for most free throws made in a season (630 FTM in 1981-82) as he made 674 FTM. To this day, they are the only players in Rockets history to make over 600 free throws in a single season. For his efforts, James Harden joined the All-NBA 3rd Team, marking his first All-NBA Team Selection as he became only the seventh player in Rockets History to earn an All-NBA Team selection. In 2013-14, James Harden continued his encore performance with his second straight All-Star selection with averages of 25.4 ppg/4.7 rpg/6.1 apg. In 2014-15, James Harden continued to raise the level of his game with averages of 27.4 ppg/5.7 rpg/7.0 apg as he finished 2nd place in MVP voting behind Stephen Curry. Harden makes his third straight All-Star Game while making All-NBA 1st Team once again. In Game 5 against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs, Harden recorded his first playoffs triple double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Rockets defeated the Clippers to avoid eliminiation. In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals vs the Golden State Warriors, Harden scored a career playoff-high 45 points. However, Game 5 was a complete meltdown as Harden had the most forgettable game of his career with 14 points on an abysmal 2-11 shooting with a playoff record 13 turnovers. In Games 4 & 5, he looked like two completely different players. Talk about bizarro. This series marked the beginning of his reputation as a great regular season player who fell short where it mattered the most. This would be the first of three playoff encounters with the powerhouse Warriors. In 2015-16, Harden's scoring average would continue to rise with 29.0 ppg/6.1 rpg/7.5 apg, which were career marks by that point as he joined LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson as the only players to reach those marks in a season. However, this season would be bittersweet as he also set a new record for turnovers with 374, besting Artis Gilmore's 1977-78 mark of 366. That summer (July 9), Harden would sign a four-year $118.1 million contract extension with the Rockets. That September, Rockets Coach Mike D-Antoni announced that Harden would begin the season playing Point Guard. The impact would be seen in his numbers as he lead the league in assists with a career peak of 11.2 apg along with a rebounding peak of 8.1 rpg to go along with 29.1 ppg. The Rockets would get eliminated by the Spurs, 4-2 in the second round. In 2017-18, James Harden would elevate his game even higher by winning his first of three straight scoring titles with 30.4 ppg/5.4 rpg/8.8 apg. This production would lead to Harden becomning the NBA Most Valuable Player. He was also voted MVP for the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) for the second time. With this MVP, Harden would join Moses Malone (1978-79, 81-82) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94) as the only three players in Rockets history to win the award. However, in spite of his individual excellence, the Rockets would fall to the Warriors 4-3 in the WCF as a result of Chris Paul's Game 6 injury. In 2018-19, James Harden would go on a scoring rampage as his scoring average peaked at 36.1 ppg along with 6.6 rpg, 7.5 apg, along with a career-high 2.0 spg. However, he would finish 2nd place in MVP Voting behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, who would win his first of back to back MVPs. This would also lead to his fifth All-NBA 1st Team selection. Unfortunately, Houston would fall to Golden State 4-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals. This would lead to Harden demanding the Rockets trade Chris Paul to the OKC Thunder for friend & former teammate Russell Westbrook. The reunion turned out to be a bust as the Rockets would lose to the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. So far, James Harden's legacy mirrors that of "Iceman" George Gervin. Both have been prolific scorers who were in an Era with more iconic Players. For Harden, he has LeBron, Durant, Steph and Kawhi. The only difference is that Harden has an MVP. Now, he has the chance to rewrite his legacy in Brooklyn. James Harden is a former 6th Man of the Year, NBA MVP, 3-time Scoring Champion, 9-time All-Star, 6-time All-NBA 1st Team Selection, and 1-time All-NBA 3rd Team Selection. He also finished Top 2 in MVP Voting 4 times, top 3 five times, top 5 six times, and top 10 eight times. James Harden will go down as not only an All-Time Great, but a Hall of Famer.

34. Bob Pettit- A Basketball Pioneer. One of the building blocks of the NBA. Bob Pettit was the blueprint for the quintessential Power Forward. He set the standard for the likes of Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and others to follow when it comes to statistical dominance at that position. Much like Duncan, Pettit's legacy is overlooked but left a mark for years. Consistent resume with 11 Seasons over 20 ppg & 12 rpg. His prime/peak produced amazing numbers. Coming out of LSU, Pettit joined the NBA in 1954 as the 2nd Overall pick for the Hawks. In College, he was a back to the basket Center but adjusted his game to being a face up Power Forward. However, there were many that were skeptical about Bob's transition because of his lack of size (205 lbs). Pettit managed to prove them wrong by winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 1955 (20.4 ppg/13.8 rpg). That season, he also made his first of 11 NBA All-Star Game appearances. In 1955-56, Bob Pettit made history by becoming the first player in NBA History to receive the Most Valuable Player Award. That season, he averaged 25.7 ppg/16.2 rpg/2.6 apg. Pettit's 25.7 ppg was enough for him to win the NBA Scoring Title. By modern standards, that is considered pretty tame but this was a league that shot 40% on a regular basis. Pettit would also win his first of four All-Star Game MVP Awards. You could say that this would be his first flagship season. In 1956-57, Pettit would lead the St. Louis Hawks to their first Finals appearance with a 34-38 record as they would take on the Boston Celtics led by Rookie Superstar, Bill Russell. In Game 1, Pettit scored 37 points at Boston Garden as the Hawks upset the Celtics in double overtime. Ultimately, Boston would win the Finals as this would be the first of 17 in Franchise History. For the Playoffs, Pettit averaged 29.8 ppg/16.8 rpg. Pettit was not finished, as he led the Hawks back to the NBA Finals with a 41-31 record. However, the story would be different this time as Pettit's Hawks upset Russell's Celtics, 4-2. To have that on your Resume speaks volumes. However, the ugly side of that accomplishment is that Pettit is the last player to lead an all-white NBA Team to a Championship. That's not exactly something that you want to be proud of and remembered for when they tell your story. That season, Pettit averaged 24.6 ppg/17.4 rpg while also winning his second All-Star Game MVP with 28 points and 26 rebounds. In 1958-59, Pettit would win his second MVP Award as he led the league in scoring for the second time with 29.2 ppg to go along with 16.4 rpg. The Hawks would return to the Finals for the last time in 1960 and 1961 as Bill Russell would gain his revenge by leading the Celtics to victory over the St. Louis Hawks in back to back victories. In '61, Pettit lead the league in rebounding for the only time in his career as his rebound average peaked at 20.3 rpg. In 1961-62, Pettit's scoring peaked at 31.1 ppg, while his assists peaked at 3.7 apg. This season, he also won his fourth All-Star Game MVP, a record tied with Kobe Bryant. By this point, the game would begin to pass him by with the rise of Wilt Chamberlain as he became Bill Russell's definitive archrival. As a result, Pettit's window for MVP's and Championships would close. Injuries would also slow him down as he retired following the 1964-65 Season. At the end of his Career, Pettit became the first player to score 20k Career (20,880). Since then, Wilt would soon eclipse his records. Pettit's career averages consisted of 26.4 ppg/16.2 rpg/3.0 apg. Bob Pettit's accolades include an NBA Championship (1958), 2-time NBA MVP ('56, '59), Rookie of the Year (ROY), 2-time Scoring Champion ('56, '58), Rebounding Champion ('56), 4-time All-Star Game MVP ('56, '58, '59, '62), 10-time All-NBA 1st Team ('55-'64), All-NBA 2nd Team ('65).

33. Steve Nash- Steve Nash is one of the most precisely accurate shooters in NBA history. Nash is one of the greatest offensive point guards that we have ever seen. He has had five straight seasons of 50/40/90. (50% FG/40% 3PT/90% FT). His career field goal % is 49 percent, his 3 point % is 42 percent, and free throw % is 90 percent. That is what you call absolute precision. Nash is a fantastic playmaker, great three point shooter, attack the rim and can certainly dish out to a teammate with no problem. The highest honors of Steve Nash's career have been his 2 MVP Awards. During those seasons, he set himself far apart as the best point guard in the NBA. In his 2nd straight MVP season ('05-'06), Nash's scoring peaked at 18.8 ppg. The following season, his passing peaked at 11.6 APG. That year, he also led the league in free throw percentage (92%) Steve Nash led the NBA in assists 5 times (he won three straight from '05-'07). This production ranks among the all-time great point guards. The biggest knocks on Steve Nash's game are his lack of defense, and never making a finals appearance. Steve Nash is John Stockton, but without the defensive abilities. He is also a modern Bob Cousy, but with better shooting percentages. However, Nash's quest continues. Steve Nash's impact is an inspiration for younger NBA fans. Steve Nash is a 2x NBA MVP, 5x Assists Leader, 8x NBA All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team, 2x All-NBA 2nd Team, and 2x All-NBA 3rd Team. In the end, Steve Nash is without question a 1st Ballot Basketball Hall of Famer, and an NBA great.

32. Allen Iverson- Allen Iverson's relentless playing style and "never say die" mentality is what has garnered him a wide-range of basketball fans. Iverson was "The Answer" in Philadelphia, as their franchise player in the 2000s. Allen Iverson is tied with George Gervin in third place for most scoring titles in NBA history (4). In 2001, he led a less than stellar Philadelphia 76ers squad to a Finals appearance. That season, Iverson won the NBA MVP Award while leading the league in scoring (31.1 ppg). He also led the league in steals for the first of three straight seasons (2.5 SPG). The Sixers would eventually run into the brick wall of Shaquille O'Neal's Lakers in five games that year. The following season, Iverson averaged a career-high 2.8 SPG. In 2004-05, Iverson's passing peaked at 7.9 APG. In 2006, his scoring peaked at 33.0 ppg. In spite of getting knocked around the court, Allen Iverson also led the league in Minutes per game seven times! Iverson was an extremely fearless player that fans could truly sympathize with, and can relate to. Even in the very comedic "practice" soundbite, Iverson showed his love & passion for the game of basketball. The true knock on Allen Iverson's legacy is his inconsistent sub-par shooting percentage. He has led the league in missed shots 11 times. Inefficient scoring aside, there is no denying the mark that Allen Iverson has left on the game, both on and off the court. Allen Iverson was an NBA MVP, 4x Scoring Champion, 3x Steals Champion, 11-time NBA All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 3x All-NBA 1st Team, 3x All-NBA 2nd Team, and 1x All-NBA 3rd Team. Allen Iverson is a bonafide Hall of Famer and Legend as his legacy has become more cherished by today's NBA.

31.Rick Barry- Rick Barry is one of the most prolific pure scorers of all-time. His shooting ability was deadly from anywhere on the floor. Barry was a force when he came in the league. Rick Barry won the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1965-66, with 25.7 ppg, with a rebounding peak of 10.6 RPG. The following season (1966-67), Barry led the league in scoring with 35.6 ppg, while leading the Warriors to the Finals where they fell short to Wilt Chamberlain's 76ers. After his first two years in the NBA, Rick Barry was one of the first leading superstars to jump from the NBA to the ABA in 1968. He went on to spend 4 years there. In his first year, Barry did not miss a beat. In 1968-69, he averaged 34.0 ppg and shot a career high 51% FG. He also led the ABA in FT shooting (88%). That same season, he won an ABA championship. When Barry made his return to the NBA, he had a bit of a drop-off, but he picked up his pace soon after. In 1974-75, Barry averaged 30.6 ppg. His passing peaked at 6.2 APG, and steals peaked at 2.9 SPG while leading the league in FT shooting (90%). That season, Barry also led the 8th place Warriors to an NBA Championship, sweeping the 1st place Bullets in the Finals. Barry was named Finals MVP (29.5/4.0/5.0). Rick Barry's production was mind-boggling. He has had 4 seasons of 30+ ppg and led the league in free throw percentage 7 times. He was also a great passer, with numerous seasons of at least 6 APG. The seasons after that, Barry had a nose dive statistically. He also destroyed team chemistry. With all of that said, there is no denying how great he was when he was at his best. When you include his ABA numbers, Rick Barry scored over 25,000 points (25,279). Rick Barry won the NBA Finals MVP, All-Star Game MVP, 8 time NBA All-Star, 5-time All-NBA 1st Team Selection, and All-NBA 2nd Team 1 time. He was also named to 4 All-ABA 1st Teams. Rick Barry is a Basketball Hall of Famer and legend.