Ranking: The seasons with the most Top 75 NBA players
After the NBA released their officially 75th-anniversary list of the greatest players ever, we decided to take a deeper look at the list to figure out the answer to one question: Which decade had the most stars who made the illustrious list?
As it turns out, and somewhat shockingly, it was the ’70s that led the way with three different seasons that had the most active players who wound up making the NBA75 list. That’s even despite the league showing the Finals on tape delay at the end of that decade.
The ’90s, meanwhile, with Michael Jordan’s Bulls, the tail end of the Magic Johnson-led Showtime Lakers and the birth of Shaq & Kobe, as well as Tim Duncan‘s Spurs, has the No. 4 and No. 5 seasons on this list with the most players who made the NBA75.
Also, the first season from the 21st century ranks No. 10 with 19 players (No. 19 in combined minutes played).
Check out the top 25 seasons with the most active NBA75 players below.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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