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

Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 61 – Paul Arizin

On NBA 50 at 50 List

Career: 1950 – 1962

Achievements: 1956 NBA Champion; All-NBA (4x); All-Star (10x); two-time scoring champion

In the early days of the NBA players shot by holding the ball in both hands, planting their feet on the court and flinging the ball towards the hoop. Paul Arizin was one of the first players to introduce the concept of jump-shooting into the league, and his wild success at the move made it mainstream throughout the league.

Arizin was a member of the Philadelphia Warriors for his entire career, a career interrupted for two seasons by military service. He came back and didn’t miss a beat, continuing a streak of averaging at least 20 points per game in nine straight seasons. Twice he led the league in scoring, and his ability to get to the line as a small forward was elite for his time.

In 10 years in the league, he made 10 All-Star teams, and he led the Warriors to the playoffs eight times. The pinnacle of their postseason success came in 1956 when he and Neil Johnston led the Warriors to the title.