After the NBA released its 75th-anniversary list of the greatest players ever, we decided to take a deeper look at the players to figure out the answer to one question: Which era had the most stars who made the cut?
As it turns out, and somewhat shockingly, it was the early ’70s who came on top. A bunch of seasons in the ’90s followed and we don’t get one from the 21st century till No. 16 with 19 players and almost 50,000 combined minutes played.
1
1970-71: 21 players
Elgin Baylor (36 years old), Hal Greer (34), Wilt Chamberlain (34), Lenny Wilkens (33), Jerry West (32), Oscar Robertson (32), Jerry Lucas (30), John Havlicek (30), Dave DeBusschere (30), Nate Thurmond (29), Willis Reed (28), Billy Cunningham (27), Dave Bing (27), Earl Monroe (26), Walt Frazier (25), Elvin Hayes (25), Wes Unseld (24), Pete Maravich (23), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23), Dave Cowens (22) and Tiny Archibald (22)
Combined minutes played: 62,598
2
1972-73: 21 players
Hal Greer (36 years old), Wilt Chamberlain (36), Lenny Wilkens (35), Jerry West (34), Oscar Robertson (34), Jerry Lucas (32), Dave DeBusschere (32), John Havlicek (32), Nate Thurmond (31), Willis Reed (30), Dave Bing (29), Earl Monroe (28), Rick Barry (28), Walt Frazier (27), Elvin Hayes (27), Wes Unseld (26), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25), Pete Maravich (25), Tiny Archibald (24), Dave Cowens (24) and Bob McAdoo (21)
Combined minutes played: 60,487
3
1971-72: 21 players
Elgin Baylor (37 years old), Hal Greer (35), Wilt Chamberlain (35), Lenny Wilkens (34), Oscar Robertson (33), Jerry West (33), Jerry Lucas (31), Dave DeBusschere (31), John Havlicek (31), Nate Thurmond (30), Willis Reed (29), Dave Bing (28), Billy Cunningham (28), Earl Monroe (27), Walt Frazier (26), Elvin Hayes (26), Wes Unseld (25), Pete Maravich (24), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24), Tiny Archibald (23) and Dave Cowens (23)
Combined minutes played: 56,169
4
1996-97: 21 players
Robert Parish (43 years old), Dominique Wilkins (37), Dennis Rodman (35), Clyde Drexler (34), Hakeem Olajuwon (34), Patrick Ewing (34), John Stockton (34), Charles Barkley (33), Michael Jordan (33), Karl Malone (33), David Robinson (31), Reggie Miller (31), Scottie Pippen (31), Gary Payton (28), Shaquille O’Neal (24), Jason Kidd (23), Steve Nash (22), Allen Iverson (21), Ray Allen (21), Kevin Garnett (20) and Kobe Bryant (18)
Combined minutes played: 47,004
5
1998-99: 21 players
Dominique Wilkins (39 years old), Dennis Rodman (37), Patrick Ewing (36), Hakeem Olajuwon (36), John Stockton (36), Charles Barkley (35), Karl Malone (35), David Robinson (33), Scottie Pippen (33), Reggie Miller (33), Gary Payton (30), Shaquille O’Neal (26), Jason Kidd (25), Steve Nash (24), Allen Iverson (23), Ray Allen (23), Kevin Garnett (22), Tim Duncan (22), Paul Pierce (21), Dirk Nowitzki (20) and Kobe Bryant (20)
Combined minutes played: 33,096
6
1990-91: 20 players
Robert Parish (37 years old), Moses Malone (35), Larry Bird (34), Kevin McHale (33), Magic Johnson (31), Dominique Wilkins (31), Isiah Thomas (29), James Worthy (29), Dennis Rodman (29), Hakeem Olajuwon (28), Patrick Ewing (28), Clyde Drexler (28), John Stockton (28), Charles Barkley (27), Michael Jordan (27), Karl Malone (27), Scottie Pippen (25), Reggie Miller (25), David Robinson (25) and Gary Payton (22)
Combined minutes played: 53,397
7
1997-98: 20 players
Dennis Rodman (36 years old), Patrick Ewing (35), Hakeem Olajuwon (35), John Stockton (35), Clyde Drexler (35), Charles Barkley (34), Karl Malone (34), Michael Jordan (34), Scottie Pippen (32), David Robinson (32), Reggie Miller (32), Gary Payton (29), Shaquille O’Neal (25), Jason Kidd (24), Steve Nash (23), Allen Iverson (22), Ray Allen (22), Kevin Garnett (21), Tim Duncan (21) and Kobe Bryant (19)
Combined minutes played: 50,051
8
1999-00: 20 players
Dennis Rodman (38 years old), Hakeem Olajuwon (37), Patrick Ewing (37), John Stockton (37), Charles Barkley (36), Karl Malone (36), David Robinson (34), Reggie Miller (34), Scottie Pippen (34), Gary Payton (31), Shaquille O’Neal (27), Jason Kidd (26), Steve Nash (25), Allen Iverson (24), Ray Allen (24), Tim Duncan (23), Kevin Garnett (23), Paul Pierce (22), Kobe Bryant (21) and Dirk Nowitzki (21)
Combined minutes played: 48,582
9
1985-86: 20 players
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38 years old), Julius Erving (35), Bob McAdoo (34), Bill Walton (33), George Gervin (33), Robert Parish (32), Moses Malone (30), Larry Bird (29), Kevin McHale (28), Magic Johnson (26), Dominique Wilkins (26), James Worthy (24), Isiah Thomas (24), Patrick Ewing (23), Hakeem Olajuwon (23), Clyde Drexler (23), John Stockton (23), Michael Jordan (22), Charles Barkley (22) and Karl Malone (22)
Combined minutes played: 45,610
10
1968-69: 19 players
Sam Jones (35 years old), Elgin Baylor (34), Bill Russell (34), Wilt Chamberlain (32), Hal Greer (32), Lenny Wilkens (31), Jerry West (30), Oscar Robertson (30), Dave DeBusschere (28), Jerry Lucas (28), John Havlicek (28), Nate Thurmond (27), Willis Reed (26), Dave Bing (25), Billy Cunningham (25), Earl Monroe (24), Walt Frazier (23), Elvin Hayes (23) and Wes Unseld (22)
Combined minutes played: 59,056
11
1989-90: 19 players
Robert Parish (36 years old), Moses Malone (34), Larry Bird (33), Kevin McHale (32), Magic Johnson (30), Dominique Wilkins (30), James Worthy (28), Isiah Thomas (28), Dennis Rodman (28), Clyde Drexler (27), John Stockton (27), Hakeem Olajuwon (27), Patrick Ewing (27), Charles Barkley (26), Michael Jordan (26), Karl Malone (26), Scottie Pippen (24), Reggie Miller (24) and David Robinson (24)
Combined minutes played: 55,607
12
1988-89: 19 players
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (41 years old), Robert Parish (35), Moses Malone (33), Larry Bird (32), Kevin McHale (31), Magic Johnson (29), Dominique Wilkins (29), Isiah Thomas (27), James Worthy (27), Dennis Rodman (27), Clyde Drexler (26), Patrick Ewing (26), Hakeem Olajuwon (26), John Stockton (26), Charles Barkley (25), Karl Malone (25), Michael Jordan (25), Scottie Pippen (23) and Reggie Miller (23)
Combined minutes played: 51,043
13
1987-88: 19 players
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40 years old), Robert Parish (34), Moses Malone (32), Larry Bird (31), Kevin McHale (30), Magic Johnson (28), Dominique Wilkins (28), James Worthy (26), Isiah Thomas (26), Dennis Rodman (26), Hakeem Olajuwon (25), Clyde Drexler (25), Patrick Ewing (25), John Stockton (25), Charles Barkley (24), Michael Jordan (24), Karl Malone (24), Scottie Pippen (22) and Reggie Miller (22)
Combined minutes played: 50,421
14
1969-70: 19 players
Bob Cousy (41 years old), Elgin Baylor (35), Wilt Chamberlain (33), Hal Greer (33), Lenny Wilkens (32), Oscar Robertson (31), Jerry West (31), Jerry Lucas (29), Dave DeBusschere (29), John Havlicek (29), Nate Thurmond (28), Willis Reed (27), Dave Bing (26), Billy Cunningham (26), Earl Monroe (25), Walt Frazier (24), Elvin Hayes (24), Wes Unseld (23) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)
Combined minutes played: 50,020
15
1991-92: 19 players
Robert Parish (38 years old), Moses Malone (36), Larry Bird (35), Kevin McHale (34), Dominique Wilkins (32), James Worthy (30), Isiah Thomas (30), Dennis Rodman (30), Hakeem Olajuwon (29), Clyde Drexler (29), Patrick Ewing (29), John Stockton (29), Charles Barkley (28), Michael Jordan (28), Karl Malone (28), David Robinson (26), Scottie Pippen (26), Reggie Miller (26) and Gary Payton (23)
Combined minutes played: 49,755
16
2001-02: 19 players
Hakeem Olajuwon (39 years old), Patrick Ewing (39), John Stockton (39), Michael Jordan (38), Karl Malone (38), Scottie Pippen (36), David Robinson (36), Reggie Miller (36), Gary Payton (33), Shaquille O’Neal (29), Jason Kidd (28), Steve Nash (27), Allen Iverson (26), Ray Allen (26), Kevin Garnett (25), Tim Duncan (25), Paul Pierce (24), Dirk Nowitzki (23) and Kobe Bryant (23)
Combined minutes played: 49,699
17
1992-93: 19 players
Robert Parish (39 years old), Moses Malone (37), Kevin McHale (35), Dominique Wilkins (33), Dennis Rodman (31), Isiah Thomas (31), James Worthy (31), Clyde Drexler (30), Patrick Ewing (30), Hakeem Olajuwon (30), John Stockton (30), Charles Barkley (29), Michael Jordan (29), Karl Malone (29), Scottie Pippen (27), Reggie Miller (27), David Robinson (27), Gary Payton (24) and Shaquille O’Neal (20)
Combined minutes played: 48,965
18
1986-87: 19 players
Bill Walton (34 years old), Julius Erving (36), Patrick Ewing (24), Charles Barkley (23), Moses Malone (31), Larry Bird (30), Hakeem Olajuwon (24), Kevin McHale (29), Dennis Rodman (25), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (39), Dominique Wilkins (27), Robert Parish (33), Magic Johnson (27), Isiah Thomas (25), Michael Jordan (23), James Worthy (25), Clyde Drexler (24), John Stockton (24) and Karl Malone (23)
Combined minutes played: 47,696
19
1973-74: 19 players
Lenny Wilkens (36 years old), Jerry West (35), Oscar Robertson (35), Dave DeBusschere (33), Jerry Lucas (33), John Havlicek (33), Nate Thurmond (32), Willis Reed (31), Dave Bing (30), Earl Monroe (29), Rick Barry (29), Walt Frazier (28), Elvin Hayes (28), Wes Unseld (27), Pete Maravich (26), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26), Tiny Archibald (25), Dave Cowens (25) and Bob McAdoo (22)
Combined minutes played: 46,472
20
2012-13: 19 players
Jason Kidd (39 years old), Steve Nash (38), Ray Allen (37), Kevin Garnett (36), Tim Duncan (36), Paul Pierce (35), Dirk Nowitzki (34), Kobe Bryant (34), Dwyane Wade (31), Carmelo Anthony (28), LeBron James (28), Chris Paul (27), Stephen Curry (24), Kevin Durant (24), Russell Westbrook (24), James Harden (23), Damian Lillard (22), Kawhi Leonard (21) and Anthony Davis (19)
Combined minutes played: 45,903
21
2013-14: 19 players
Steve Nash (39 years old), Ray Allen (38), Kevin Garnett (37), Tim Duncan (37), Paul Pierce (36), Kobe Bryant (35), Dirk Nowitzki (35), Dwyane Wade (32), LeBron James (29), Carmelo Anthony (29), Chris Paul (28), Russell Westbrook (25), Stephen Curry (25), Kevin Durant (25), James Harden (24), Damian Lillard (23), Kawhi Leonard (22), Anthony Davis (20), Giannis Antetokounmpo (19)
Combined minutes played: 39,515
22
2000-01: 18 players
Hakeem Olajuwon (38 years old), Patrick Ewing (38), John Stockton (38), Karl Malone (37), Scottie Pippen (35), David Robinson (35), Reggie Miller (35), Gary Payton (32), Shaquille O’Neal (28), Jason Kidd (27), Steve Nash (26), Allen Iverson (25), Ray Allen (25), Kevin Garnett (24), Tim Duncan (24), Paul Pierce (23), Kobe Bryant (22) and Dirk Nowitzki (22)
Combined minutes played: 49,751
23
1984-85: 18 players
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (37 years old), Julius Erving (34), Bob McAdoo (33), Bill Walton (32), George Gervin (32), Robert Parish (31), Moses Malone (29), Larry Bird (28), Kevin McHale (27), Magic Johnson (25), Dominique Wilkins (25), James Worthy (23), Isiah Thomas (23), Clyde Drexler (22), Hakeem Olajuwon (22), John Stockton (22), Michael Jordan (21) and Charles Barkley (21)
Combined minutes played: 45,801
24
2009-10: 18 players
Shaquille O’Neal (37 years old), Jason Kidd (36), Steve Nash (35), Allen Iverson (34), Ray Allen (34), Kevin Garnett (33), Tim Duncan (33), Paul Pierce (32), Kobe Bryant (31), Dirk Nowitzki (31), Dwyane Wade (28), Carmelo Anthony (25), LeBron James (25), Chris Paul (24), Stephen Curry (21), Kevin Durant (21), Russell Westbrook (21) and James Harden (20)
Combined minutes played: 44,039
25
1976-77: 18 players
John Havlicek (36 years old), Nate Thurmond (35), Dave Bing (33), Earl Monroe (32), Rick Barry (32), Walt Frazier (31), Elvin Hayes (31), Wes Unseld (30), Pete Maravich (29), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29), Tiny Archibald (28), Dave Cowens (28), Julius Erving (26), Bob McAdoo (25), Bill Walton (24), George Gervin (24), Robert Parish (23) and Moses Malone (21)
Combined minutes played: 43,744
