NBA 75 Greatest Players (part 2, 60-51)

60. Dave Cowens 59. Anthony Davis 58. Pau Gasol 57. Tracy McGrady 56. Bill Walton 55. Bob McAdoo 54. Ray Allen 53. Reggie Miller 52. Paul Pierce 51. James Worthy

60. Dave Cowens- A player that defined heart and hustle. What Dave Cowens lacked in skill compared to contemporaries like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, he made up for with rebounding and determination to carry the load for the Celtics in the post-Bill Russell 70s era. 1972-73 was a flagship season for Cowens as he won NBA MVP and All-Star Game MVP as his scoring peaked at 20.5 ppg and rebounding peaked at 16.2 rpg while leading the Celtics to a 68-win season. However, Boston did not win the title. Dave became the first MVP to not make the All-NBA 1st Team. The following season, Cowens and John Havlicek led the Celtics to victory over Kareem and Oscar's Milwaukee Bucks, 4-3 in the NBA Finals. Boston would defeat the Phoenix Suns in the 1976 Finals, 4-2. Dave Cowens was the bridge between two of Boston's greatest eras, from the Bill Russell reign in the 50s/60s to the Larry Bird resurgance of the 80s.

59. Anthony Davis- A tale of two players. On one end, when he is healthy, he is on. On the other hand, he can be more fragile than glass. When Anthony Davis made his name with the New Orleans Pelicans, he carried that franchise on his shoulders. Not only did AD draw comparisons to Kevin Garnett, but people were going as far as to compare him to Tim Duncan himself. Expectations were certainly high after he was drafted 1st Overall in 2012. Those are the highest bars that you could reach as a Power Forward. Even though I would not have gone as far as Duncan, but Davis did shoulder a team with players not of his caliber much like KG in Minnesota. Davis has had a reputation as a premiere shot blocker as his blocks peaked at 2.9 bpg in 2014-15, making his first of four All-NBA 1st Team selections. In 2017, Anthony Davis won All-Star Game MVP in front of his Hometeam crowd in New Orleans as he broke Wilt Chamberlain's ASG scoring record with 52 points. His scoring peaked at 28.1 ppg in 2017-18, as his rebounding peaked at 12.0 rpg in 2018-19. During his time in New Orleans, AD only had two playoff appearances (2015, 2018). After 7 years of frustration and futility, Anthony Davis wanted out as he requested a trade. During the Summer of 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans pulled off a major trade as they sent Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and others. The impact was immediate and needed as the Lakers would overcome a season of adversities (Kobe's death, COVID Pandemic) on their way to winning their 17th Championship in Franchise History, as the Season resumed from July 2020 to October 2020. However, the party would not last as AD has been riddled with multiple injuries throughout 2021 and 2022 as the Lakers would go from a first round exit to missing the playoffs altogether. Davis looked like a significantly different player from his years in New Orleans, but not in a good way. As I have said before, a tale of two players. Overall, Anthony Davis has been an NBA Champion (2020), 8x All-Star (2014-2021), ASG MVP (2017), 4x All-NBA 1st Team (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020), 2x All-Defensive 1st Team (2018, 2020), All-Defensive 2nd Team (2015, 2017), 3x Blocks Leader (2014, 2015, 2018) and a future Hall of Famer. Unfortunately, injuries have deteriorated his resume and have made him even more of a "What if...?" case.

58. Pau Gasol- One of the most productive offensive big men of his era, Pau Gasol was a perennial All-Star as he was the greatest Memphis Grizzly of all-time. After nearly 7 seasons in Memphis, Pau was sent to Hollywood in a trade to join the late great Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Gasol was the perfect fit for what the Lakers needed at that time as they had transitioned to a team more built towards Kobe as the focal point. He was the perfect compliment for Bryant in the post-Shaq era. His lowpost offensive threat and rim protection were the counterpunch that the Lakers needed as they won back-to-back Championships. In an era with the likes of Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki, Gasol was able to make his own contributions as one of the top Power Forwards of his time. During his career, Pau Gasol was not only a 2x NBA Champion, but he was also a 6x All-Star, 2x All-NBA 2nd Team and 2x All-NBA 3rd Team member to go along with his International career from FIBA to the EuroLeague.

57. Tracy McGrady- A spectacular shooting guard that was a walking highlight waiting to happen, Tracy McGrady became one of the most prolific scorers of his era and of all-time. McGrady averaged nearly 20 ppg over the course of his Hall of Fame 15-year NBA Career. Initially, Tracy got his start playing sidekick to his older cousin Vince Carter in Toronto after making the jump from High School. After three seasons, it was time for T-Mac to spread his wings as he made the move to the Orlando Magic during the 2000-01 season. From that point, he became an instant superstar by averaging 26.8 ppg. For his performance, T-Mac earned his first of 7 All-Star appearances and the Most Improved Player Award. In 2001-02, McGrady made the All-NBA 1st Team by averaging 25.6 ppg with a career-high 7.9 rpg. The highlight for me from that season was when he alley-ooped the ball to himself during the 2002 All-Star Game. However, Orlando would suffer from another first round exit. In 2002-03, Tracy's scoring peaked as he won his first of two straight scoring titles with an average of 32.1 ppg. T-Mac would emerge as another dance partner for Kobe Bryant as they battled for the crown of the top wingman in the league. The Magic would suffer a 3-1 collapse at the hands of the Detroit Pistons. Even though McGrady's scoring would slightly drop, he would still be the scoring champion at 28.0 ppg. After four seasons of early playoff exits, Tracy McGrady would get traded to the Houston Rockets. With Houston, T-Mac would not miss a beat as he would not only battle the Lakers regularly, but had a legendary shootout against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. McGrady would also lead the Rockets to a victory over the San Antonio Spurs with a game where he scored 13 points in 35 seconds. He would also become a perennial All-Star in the West. However, the first round exit trend would continue to plague McGrady during his time in Houston as well along with piling injuries. After finishing his career with teams like the Knicks, Pistons and Hawks, Tracy McGrady would call it a career following the 2011-12 season. T-Mac would go into the Hall of Fame in 2017, after a career with 7 All-Star appearances, 2 scoring titles, 2 All-NBA 1st Team, 3 All-NBA 2nd Team and 2 All-NBA 3rd Team appearances. One could only imagine if the cards were in McGrady's favor.

56. Bill Walton- Despite being added to the NBA's Top 50 and 75 all-time list, Bill Walton is one of the NBA's greatest "What if...?" stories of all-time. After a decorated career in UCLA, Bill would get drafted 1st Overall by the Portland Trailblazers to become the flagship star of an expansion team. Walton's greatest claim to fame is the way that he led the Blazers to victory over Dr. J's Philadelphia 76ers in the 1977 NBA Finals while winning Finals MVP. He would also have other flashes of brilliance as Portland would defeat the Lakers led by MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar en route to the Finals. However, Bill's run as a Superstar would not last long. Even though Walton won the MVP in 1978, he struggled with injuries that season. This would become a frequent trend for Bill as he would be sent to the San Diego Clippers after problems with Blazers management. Walton would flounder in futility with the Clippers as they have historically been the red-headed stepchild of the Los Angeles Lakers. A series of foot injuries robbed Walton of a chance of being one of the game's true all-time greats as his stats would be skewed as a result. However, his career would be revived after being traded to the Boston Celtics where he would become a 6th Man during their historic 1986 Championship season. You could say that he was the Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard of his time. WHen they are healthy, they can do great things. However, injuries have caused their placement all-time to take hits. Walton's time on the court in Portland and in Boston are what gives him a place on this list.

55. Bob McAdoo- The NBA's original stretch 4 long before Dirk Nowitzki was even born. Bob McAdoo was one of the deadliest scorers of his time as he led the league in scoring three straight seasons between 1973-74 to 1975-76. In McAdoo's second season (73-74), he was the last player to average exactly 30.0 ppg and 15.0 rpg in the same season as he averaged 30.6 ppg and 15.1 rpg for his first scoring title. 1974-75 turned out to be McAdoo's finest season as he averaged a career-high 34.5 ppg to go along with 14.1 rpg to win his second straight scoring crown along with his first and only NBA MVP Award. He would win his last scoring title the following season with 31.1 ppg. During that three season run, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the only player more valuable than McAdoo. However, his career would lose momentum because of injuries and ill-fated stints with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. McAdoo would get revitalized when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1981-82 as a sixth man. I repeat, a former SCORING CHAMPION and MVP was coming off the bench for a Dynasty in the making. When playing next to Kareem and Magic, you would have no other choice but to take a backseat. As a Laker, McAdoo became a two-time NBA Champion in 1982 and 1985. If not for injuries, Bob McAdoo's numbers would be much greater as he would be even higher on this list.

54. Ray Allen- One of the most dynamic shooters not just of his time, but of all-time. Before Stephen Curry broke his 3-point record, Ray Allen was regarded by many as the smoothest shooter ever. Before he became primarily a 3-point legend, Ray knew how to finish at the rim in his younger days with the Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle Supersonics. Allen was the Bucks franchise player long before Giannis as he led them to a classic battle with 2001 MVP Allen Iverson in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Sixers would advance to the finals. Ray's offensive game exploded when he joined the Sonics as his scoring peaked at 26.4 ppg. Later, he would join the Boston Celtics to famously team up with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to form one of the deadliest Big 3 lineups in NBA History as Boston would defeat their arch rival Los Angeles Lakers to win their 17th Championship. Allen's 3-point specialty was crucial to the team's success. He would later take his talents to Miami and join the Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Ray has a thing for Bi 3 teams and 3-point shots. Allen's legendary 3-point marksmanship came at the perfect time as he made the game tying 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals to force the game to overtime. Miami would go on to win the game before closing the series in Game 7 as the Heat secured back-to-back Finals victories. Ray Allen would finish his career as a 2x NBA Champion, 10x All-Star, 3-point shootout champion and Basketball Hall of Famer.

53. Reggie Miller- The greatest Indiana Pacer of all-time and the original standard of three-point shooters, Reggie Miller lived for the thrill of making clutch shots. Miller's fast release was the stuff of legend, as it was his weapon of choice most famously against teams like the New York Knicks. Patrick Ewing knows from experience. The Pacers also gave the Bulls a run for their money as they took Jordan & co to 7 games in the 1998 ECF. Reggie took great pride in being the face of the franchise as Indiana made it to the Finals for the first time in franchise history before losing in 6 games to the eventual champion Lakers, led by Shaq and Kobe. The biggest drawbacks for Reggie being the franchise player were that he never made an All-NBA 1st Team, he only made 5 All-Star Games and he was not the best defender. A player like Steph took Reggie's game and maximized it to the highest level. Miller's loyalty to his franchise is one of his trademarks along with his legendary shooting.

52. Paul Pierce- One of Boston's greatest players, especially of the modern era. Many of today's fans only know him for his criticism of LeBron James on ESPN NBA Halftime, but it should never be forgotten how great of a player that Paul Pierce was during his time. The Celtics were the biggest mountain that LeBron had to overcome before becoming an NBA Champion. After dropping 40 on the Lakers, Shaq nicknamed him "The Truth". Anytime Diesel gives you a nickname, you know you are something special. Paul's loyaty to the Celtics earned him 10 All-Star selections, a Championship and Finals MVP. Even after leaving Beantown, Pierce showed that he could still knock down some shots. The Celtics would retire his jersey and immortalize him among the game's greats.

51. James Worthy- The personification of excelling as a star in your role. Coming out of North Carolina as the 1st Overall pick in 1982, James Worthy fit into the role that was meant for him. Worthy's athleticism, defense, ability to run the fast break and selflessness enabled the success of the Showtime Lakers playing style. Much like former MVP Bob McAdoo, Worthy knew how to undertand his assignment when playing with two transcendent stars like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. While Kareem and Magic received the lion's share of the credit, Big Game James lived up to his moniker with his clutch Triple Double performance in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals, as the Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons for their 5th Championship of the decade. For his production, Worthy was named Finals MVP. Part of that was probably because voters also had Magic fatigue. The biggest elephant in the room for Worthy's career has always been how his career would've turned out if he and Dominique Wilkins switched places. When you look at how the Lakers were structured, James was the right piece because Kareem, Magic and Riley did not have to look over their shoulder to see if he was going to demand the ball. Nique was a very ball-dominant player and while the fantasy of catching alley-oops from Magic would've been great, it could've stifled the chemistry and direction of the team. Worthy would become a three-time champion under that system and a 7x All-Star. All things work together.