On October 29, 1996, the NBA paused its regular season to celebrate something far bigger than a single game; it honored its legacy. At a press luncheon held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced the league’s 50 Greatest Players, a historic list commemorating the NBA’s 50th anniversary.
The venue itself was symbolic: the Grand Hyatt stood on the site of the old Commodore Hotel, where the NBA’s original charter was signed in 1946. Nearly five decades later, the league returned to its birthplace to pay tribute to the icons who built it.
The 50 players were chosen by a “blue-ribbon panel” of media members, former players and coaches, and current and former general managers. The criteria were simple but profound: players had to have competed in the NBA and were selected regardless of position or era. The panelists were not allowed to vote for themselves, ensuring impartiality.
The list included legends from every generation and included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nate 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 Johnson, Sam Jones, Michael Jordan, Jerry Lucas, Karl Malone, Moses Malone, Pete Maravich, Kevin McHale, George Mikan, Earl Monroe, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, 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, and James Worthy.
The celebration continued throughout the 1996–97 season, culminating in a halftime ceremony at the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland, where all 50 players were honored together.
The NBA’s 50 Greatest Players list became a benchmark for excellence and a blueprint for future generations. It inspired the creation of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, which expanded the list to include modern stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
