30. Tracy McGrady – 2 time 1st team All-NBA, 3 time 2nd team All-NBA, 2 time 3rd team All-NBA, 2 time scoring leader
29. Dominique Wilkins – 1 MVP Runner Up, 1 time 1st team All-NBA, 4 time 2nd team All-NBA, 2 time 3rd team All-NBA, 1 time scoring leader
These two were lethal offensive players who each led the league in scoring and put multiple opponents on posters. But both also never reached the finals, which I’m sorry to say does count for something. What gives Dominique the edge for me is the fact that he was one of the best and most powerful in-game dunkers of all time which brought an excitement to the league that McGrady couldn’t quite match. He also had a defining playoff moment in ’88, albeit in a loss, where he went toe to toe with Bird in an epic duel that lives on in NBA lore. Even though the Hawks lost, it is moments like that where you put up 47 against one of the greatest players and teams of all time in a game 7 that make it so that you are never forgotten as a player. I realize that he may have peaked in the 80’s, but take a look at his early 90’s stats and you will see why he still manages to make this list.
McGrady had himself a defining clutch performance as well when he lost his mind and scored 13 points in 35 seconds to beat the Spurs, but unfortunately that occurred in a meaningless game in December and doesn’t quite have the cache that the Wilkins game does. McGrady is, however, one of only ten players in NBA history to have a 30+ PER season, which goes to show that at his peak he was as spectacular of a player as we have seen in quite some time. He had the talent of guys much higher on the list, but I have to dock him a little for the fact that he never made it past the first round as an impact player on a team and looked like he was either sleeping or high most of the time he was on the court.
28. Reggie Miller – 3 time 3rd team All-NBA
27. Ray Allen – 1 time 2nd team All-NBA, 1 time 3rd team All-NBA, 3 time champion
26. Clyde Drexler – 1 MVP Runner Up, 1 time 1st team All-NBA, 2 time 2nd team All-NBA, 2 time 3rd team All-NBA, 1 time champion
These are three hall of fame shooting guards who were never the best shooting guards in the league, thanks to Jordan and Kobe. Drexler was the second-best shooting guard for most of his career, but when the greatest player of all time is the only one ahead of you, that’s not too shabby.
Reggie and Ray don’t have the career accolades that other players on this list (including Drexler) have, but they have something rarer, the propensity to come up big when the stakes are the highest. I have already mentioned that I value finals MVP awards very highly. Something else I value very highly is iconic playoff moments, and both these guys have moments that come to mind whenever great playoff performances are mentioned. Reggie’s duels with the Knicks are legendary, and his 8 points in 9 seconds in the ’95 playoffs were on every NBA highlight video compilation I watched as a kid and continue to be so to this day. Ray may not have had his moment until near the end of his career, but his corner three against the Spurs in game 6 of the 2013 finals may be the single greatest shot in NBA history. These moments are what create legends, and as Babe Ruth’s ghost in the Sandlot says, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” Thanks for the words of wisdom Babe.
25. Jason Kidd – 5 time 1st team All-NBA, 1 time 2nd team All-NBA, 1 time champion, 5 time assist leader
24. Gary Payton – 2 time 1st team All-NBA, 5 time 2nd team All-NBA, 2 time 3rd team All-NBA, 1 time champion, 1 time DPOY
23. Patrick Ewing – 1 time 1st team All-NBA, 6 time 2nd team All-NBA
22. Russell Westbrook – 1 MVP, 2 time 1st team All-NBA, 4 time 2nd team All-NBA, 2 time scoring leader
Jason Kidd and Gary Payton were both great point guards that led teams to the finals in their primes and were finally able to get a ring later in their career as role players on title teams (Kidd with the Mavs and Payton with the Heat). I give Payton the edge on Kidd mainly because of his defense and the fact that I simply liked him better as a player with his trash talking and patented lobs to Kemp.
Ewing was a consistently great center in an era full of great centers. He gave the Knicks their only real chance at a title since the 70s and in my opinion provided the greatest challenge to Jordan and the Bulls during their title run. He never could quite get over the hump though as even when Jordan left for baseball, he came across a dominant Hakeem in the finals to block his path once again. Ewing had some tough luck in his career which is evidenced by the fact that three of his most remembered moments are his missing a game winning layup against the Pacers in game 7 during the ’95 playoffs and being on the wrong end of two of the most disrespectful dunks in NBA history courtesy of Jordan and Pippen.
Westbrook is the new Mr. Triple Double and may be the most exciting player to watch in the game today. He brought home his first MVP award last season and shined in his role as go-to-guy on the Thunder. Yes, he may hold the ball too much and doesn’t always trust his teammates, but his competitiveness and hunger to win cannot be argued as he goes balls to the wall at all times and has no other speed but Holy Shit.
The Jello's Jiggling 