The 75 greatest players in NBA history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)

52.    Pau Gasol-21.37

NBA great Pau Gasol was one of the more skilled big men in the league during the 2000s and 2010s, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers, thanks to his well-rounded game. He was an efficient offensive player who could score in the post, hit midrange jumpers, and actually hit his free throws—something that is a rarity among big men.

He was also a strong rebounder and passer and while he wasn't a strong defender, his length allowed him to rack up blocks. All of that contributes to his rating highly in PER, which values all of those things. Better still, Gasol had great longevity, allowing him to play well into his mid-30s, even making an all-star team at the age of 35.

Part of his late-career success had to do with Gasol stepping out and beginning to knock down threes as a member of the Chicago Bulls and later the San Antonio Spurs. In fact, he led the league in 3-point percentage during the 2016–17 season. Had he done that sooner, he could have been an even more potent player and rank ever higher on this list but it's hard to argue too much about his placement.