Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history for 75th anniversary

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(L-R) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dominique Wilkins. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) /

Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 50 – George Gervin

On NBA 50 at 50 List

Career: 1976 – 1986

Achievements: All-NBA/ABA (9x); All-Star (12x); All-Time ABA Team; four-time scoring champion; 17th in all-time scoring

One of the smoothest scorers in NBA history, George Gervin was called “The Iceman” for how cool the blood running through his veins was. He joined the San Antonio Spurs in the ABA and stuck with them as they merged into the NBA, playing 12 seasons for the franchise and making the All-Star team in all 12.

Gervin could score on anyone, hitting shots from every angle. He loved to uncork his bank shot to embarrass defenders, and if they shaded towards the baseline to prevent that he leaped to the rim for his patented finger roll. Four times he led the league in scoring, and despite playing just over a thousand games he ranks 17th all-time in career points.

The Spurs were a perennial playoff team with Gervin as their leading scorer, but in a league dominated by the Lakers and Rockets during his prime he never broke through to the NBA Finals. He was a truly special scorer, and along with players like Julius Erving and David Thompson paved the way for a new generation of offensive players like Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins.