Los Angeles Lakers: Did ESPN’s all-time NBA ranking get it right?
By Amaar Burton
Bob McAdoo
ESPN rank: 59
When the NBA put together its own list — not a ranking, since it wasn’t in order — of the top 50 players of all time for the league’s 50th anniversary in 1996-97, one of the most notable snubs was Bob McAdoo.
The 1974-75 league MVP, McAdoo led the NBA in scoring three times with the Buffalo Braves and later won two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. That part of McAdoo’s career looks a lot like Kevin Durant‘s career: An MVP and four scoring titles with the Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by two championships with the Golden State Warriors.
If Durant is ranked No. 14 by ESPN, shouldn’t McAdoo at least be inside the top 50?
The answer there is yes, however, McAdoo doesn’t need to be very close to KD’s spot.
McAdoo didn’t win any Finals MVPs like Durant; he was a role player by the time he won his rings with the Lakers. And as great as he was with the Braves and New York Knicks, he never led a team to any significant postseason success.
When the NBA does its “75 Greatest” list next year, McAdoo should be included. While the league most likely won’t make it a ranking, McAdoo’s supporters can use their imaginations to have it make up for the snub 25 years ago.