For the 2024 edition of the 500 greatest players in NBA/ABA history, please follow this link to the dedicated page. It is updated to reflect the results of the ’23-’24 NBA season.

For more information on what the list means and how it’s compiled, please reference our FAQ.

For past editions of the 500 greatest players, please visit our article archive.

For housekeeping and general notes on the 2024 edition, please see below.

Fell from the top 500

The following players were part of our top 500 list in 2023 but fell out of it in 2024.

Ricky Rubio, G, 2011-current

Arguably never lived up to vast expectations after his impressive 2008 Olympics performance but has had a solid career as a steady point guard; has finished in the top 10 in the NBA in assists per game six times, including fourth place in ’13-’14 and ’19-’20; averaged 10+ points and eight-plus assists per game as a rookie in ’11-’12 and has repeated the feat in six other seasons, peaking at 13.1 points per game in ’17-’18 and 9.1 assists per game in ’16-’17; has made just two playoff appearances in 12 seasons, both first round losses with the Jazz in 2018 and 2019; MVP of the 2019 FIBA World Cup as Spain won the gold

Mario Elie, G/F, 1990-2001

Had a long, hard road to the NBA: un-recruited by major colleges, played at Division II American International, third-to-last pick (#160 overall) of the 1985 NBA Draft, waived by the Bucks, spent five years playing in Argentina, Ireland, and Portugal; traded to the Rockets in 1993 and at age 30 started the peak of his career; second man off the bench for the on the ’93-’94 Rockets title team, and started some at small forward for the ’94-’95 title team; often on the court for crunch time, most notably when he hit his “Kiss of Death” game winner against the Suns in the 1995 Conference Semifinals; averaged a career high 11.7 points per game for the Rockets in ’96-’97; won a third championship as the starting shooting guard for the ’98-’99 Spurs

Larry Jones, G, 1964-1974

One of the biggest early stars of the ABA, he was the league’s first player to eclipse 5,000 career points; led the ABA in scoring in ’68-’69 with 28.4 points per game for the Denver Rockets and finished third in MVP voting; 1st-Team All-ABA three times, and an ABA All-Star four consecutive times, three with the Rockets and once with the Miami Floridians; over that four-year prime, averaged 25.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game; started and ended his pro career with brief stops with the 76ers; was the first president of the ABA Players’ Association and fought tirelessly for better pay and conditions

Jeff Green, F, 2007-current

Had his best scoring season for the Celtics in ’13-’14, averaging 16.9 points per game; 1st-Team All-Rookie for the Sonics in ’07-’08, along with teammate Kevin Durant; peaked statistically in his second season, with 16.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in ’08-’09; missed the entire ’11-’12 season due to a heart condition but was able to return after surgery; has played for 11 different teams in 15 seasons, most recently with the Nuggets; backup forward on the ’17-’18 Cavaliers that reached the NBA Finals and had a huge performance in game seven of the Conference Finals, scoring 19 points against his former team, Boston, starting in relief of an injured Kevin Love; won a championship with the Nuggets in 2023

New to the list in 2023

The following players are making their debut in our top 500 list in 2024

Marcus Morris, F, 2011-current (#497)

Spent ’22-’23 with the Clippers, averaging 10+ points and four-plus rebounds per game for the ninth straight season

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, 2018-current (#489)

Made his debut on the All-NBA list and in the All-Star Game, and finished fourth in the NBA in scoring and fifth in MVP voting

Andrew Wiggins, F, 2014-current (#373)

An injury riddled season for the Warriors, but reached the key plateau of 600 career games

Bam Adebayo, C, 2017-current (#365)

Averaged a career high 20.4 points per game, made his second All-Star appearance, and was the second best player on an NBA Finals Heat team for the second time

Jamal Murray, G, 2016-current (#339)

Second in scoring and assists on the ’22-’23 Nuggets that won the championship

Notable active players outside the top 500

The following are notable active players outside our top 500

De’Aaron Fox, G, 2017-current (#509)

Made his All-Star debut in 2023, led the Kings back to the playoffs, and will almost surely join the top 500 list next year

Clint Capela, C, 2014-current (#531)

Has never played on a team that missed the playoffs but has also never reached the NBA Finals, despite three Conference Finals appearances

Deandre Ayton, C, 2018-current (#557)

Has already been the third best player on an NBA Finals, and puts up consistent scoring and rebounding stats

Domantas Sabonis, C, 2016-current (#560)

Along with his dad, Arvydas, he would be part of one of just two father-son duos on our list, alongside Mychal and Klay Thompson

Jaren Jackson, Jr., C, 2018-current (#697)

The 24 previous players to earn Defensive Player of the Year are all on our top 500 list, including ’21-’22 honoree Marcus Smart

Anthony Edwards, G, 2020-current (#740)

Made his All-Star debut in 2023 and was the game’s youngest participant, at age 21

Scottie Barnes, F, 2021-current (#1094)

Rookie of the Year in ’21-’22 but struggled in his sophomore campaign for the rebuilding Raptors

Zion Williamson, F, 2019-current (#1318)

Has flashed some moments of expected brilliance but overall his four seasons have been a huge disappointment, playing just 114 games total and none in the postseason

Paolo Banchero, F, 2022-current (#1722)

The #1 overall pick and reigning Rookie of the Year was also the top rated rookie in our metrics, just edging out Sacramento’s Keegan Murray