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)
73. Manu Ginóbili-20.22
NBA legend Manu Ginobili was one of the best and most influential players of his era. He helped popularize the euro step in the NBA and his slithery drives to the paint and fearless bombing from outside served as the archetype for stars like James Harden. He virtually never took midrange jumpers, either shots in the paint or from outside, and he excelled as a finisher and a 3-point shooter while also frequently getting to the line at his peak thanks to selling contact.
As a result, he was a highly efficient scorer throughout his 17-year career and was also a terrific passer, a solid rebounder, and was able to come up with steals and the occasional block. All of which certainly helps him rank in the top 75 in PER.
Although Ginobili spent some of his prime years coming off the bench, PER takes into account things like minutes and pace and adjusts it accordingly. That keeps him from being undervalued in these all-time rankings like he was for most of his career.
Despite being one of the best players in the NBA, he made just two all-star teams and somehow won only one Sixth Man of the Year despite carrying San Antonio's bench to success. Fortunately, he was recognized by being inducted into the Hall of Fame.