The 75 greatest players in NBA history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
By Cal Durrett
![Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3000,h_1687,x_0,y_37/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/307/01hrmvznbykwtch1qr9g.jpg)
55. Clyde Drexler-21.07
NBA legend Clyde Drexler often doesn't get the credit he deserves when it comes to all-time rankings. Some of that may be due to him spending the majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers or playing in the shadow of Michael Jordan. Jordan and Drexler would have been teammates had the Blazers opted to select him over Sam Bowie in 1984 and likely still regret it, even with Drexler proving to be a great player in his own right.
He averaged 20 points per game over a six-year span and was one of the first high-scoring wings to shoot threes at high volume and percentage. That, combined with his elite athleticism, including terrific hang time, made him a nightmare to guard. So much so that he led the Blazers to two NBA Finals and a third Western Conference Finals appearance.
Had it not been for Jordan, Portland might have had a dynasty of its own. Drexler would later be traded to the Houston Rockets, where he won a championship with Hakeem Olajuwon, but his prime years are why he ranks 55th in PER. That is probably too high in terms of general consensus but efficient scoring, good rebounding and assist numbers, as well as racking up plenty of steals, are the reasons why he's this high.