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

Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 75 – James Worthy

On NBA 50 at 50 List

Career: 1982 – 1994

Achievements: Three-time champion; All-NBA (2x); All-Star (7x); Finals MVP

The final spot on the list goes to James Worthy, a well-known name you may have been surprised didn’t show up on this list earlier. Tony Parker and Sidney Moncrief were the two names to fall below the final cutline, each bringing something unique to the table and each with strong cases for inclusion.

Worthy makes the cut because of his impact on multiple championships, the “story of the league” tiebreaker. He won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, going from role player to offensive leader by the end of their run as Kareem faded. Worthy won Finals MVP in 1988 by posting a monstrous triple-double in Game 7 over the Detroit Pistons, with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists — the only triple-double of his career.

That one game might just be the reason he is on this list – the final title of the Showtime Lakers, the best game of his career coming when it mattered most. “Big Game James” stepped up with one of the greatest performances in NBA Finals history.

This list, and 75 years of NBA basketball, are ultimately all about the Finals, about winning a championship. That’s what basketball is: it’s beautiful, it’s awe-inspiring, it’s exciting, it’s dunks and huge shots and blocks and the final seconds of a close game. It’s players reaching their best and pushing past it when it matters most. It’s about becoming more than yourself as part of a team, working towards a common goal, and for a lucky and dedicated few hoisting the trophy at the end. These 75 players best personify excellence in pursuit of that goal, and I hope you enjoyed the journey. See you at 100.