Mahalo!: 12 greatest NBA and ABA players from Hawaii
On America’s 250th anniversary, we honor its 50th state, Hawaii, and the 11 greatest NBA players to emerge from the islands
Locking down, shut out: 25 great NBA defenders who never earned DPOY
Defense can be an essential but thankless job in the NBA as these 25 players can attest. Each of them was renowned for their defensive ability but never enough to earn Defensive Player of the Year.
Invitation declined: 26 notable NBA draftees who never played in the league
Since its 1947 inception, thousands of players have been selected in the NBA Draft and smaller percentage than you think actually play in the league. Here are 26 notable examples of draftees who never took the floor in an NBA game.
Messieurs Irrelevant: 13 notable players selected with the last pick of the NBA Draft
They don’t receive the hype of their NFL equivalents but the last overall picks of the NBA Draft is a colorful cohort with a fascinating history
Going out on top: 17 notable NBA players who retired as champions
Whether they were a franchise legend closing out a storied career or a ring-chasing mercenary earning a title as a role player, these 17 players retired as NBA champions.
So close and yet so far: 26 greatest players who played in an NBA Finals but never won a title
We previously ran down the list of greatest players without an NBA Finals appearance. Now we tackle the players that made it at least once to the deciding series for the Larry O’Brien trophy, but weren’t victorious.
King of the hill, top of the heap: 34 greatest players in Knicks franchise history
One of the three original BAA franchises from the league’s 1946 inception that are still active to this day, the Knicks have just seven NBA Finals appearances and two titles over those 75 years, but have certainly produced numerous memorable players, the 29 greatest of which are counted down here.
Early summer vacation: 25 greatest players without an NBA postseason appearance
Most players just have to hang around a few seasons to make their playoffs debut, but these players never reached the NBA promised land.
Death penalty: 21 notable players who were suspended or banned indefinitely from the NBA
NBA history has always included a dark side of gambling and drug abuse and these 21 players paid the price for their involvement.
Cold comfort: 18 NBA Coach of the Year winners whose team made an early playoff exit
Being named Coach of the Year is one of the premier honors for NBA coaches but doesn’t mean much if it coincides with playoff disappointment
Moral support: 26 notable NBA champions who were not on the playoff roster
Not all of them earned (or accepted) a ring for their efforts, but these 26 players contributed to an eventual champion, though only in the regular season.
Short and sweet: 16 greatest post-merger players whose NBA career lasted 10 seasons or fewer
Injuries, suspensions, late career starts, and sadly tragic deaths played a factor in the shortened careers of these 16 NBA stars
You still work here?: 16 worst NBA players whose career lasted 10 or more seasons
They were never a star and hardly ever a starter, but these players made themselves useful enough to hang around the NBA for 10 or more seasons
![Can’t get in without a ticket [UPDATED]: 27 greatest eligible players not yet in the Naismith Hall of Fame](https://i0.wp.com/basketballlisted.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/amare-stoudemire-wide.png?fit=640%2C425&ssl=1)
Can’t get in without a ticket [UPDATED]: 27 greatest eligible players not yet in the Naismith Hall of Fame
With the 2026 Naismith Hall of Fame class set to be announced in early April, we take a look at the 27 greatest NBA and ABA players who are currently eligible but have yet to be enshrined.
Welcome to the big leagues: Ranking the NBA careers of the 52 Naismith Award winners
Handed out yearly since 1969, the Naismith Award represents the best of college basketball but not always the best pro prospects
Adding insult: 14 NBA players who suffered unusual off-court injuries
Whether is was due to carelessness, recklessness, or just some freak accident, these 14 NBA players missed time for unique reasons
Advanced wizardry: Ranking the pro careers of the 23 NBA players who played at UCLA under John Wooden
The greatest coach in college basketball history, John Wooden guided UCLA to 10 NCAA championships in a 12-year stretch. On the 60th anniversary of his first title, we rank the NBA careers of the 23 players from his program who reached the pro ranks.
Which side are you on?: A history of the NBA in 16 labor disputes
As much so as the games, players, and teams themselves, the history of basketball is a history of American labor politics
Head of the class: 18 greatest Naismith Hall of Fame NBA induction classes
There’s no doubt the 2020 Naismith Hall of Fame class was star studded but does it truly go down as the greatest of all time? We examine that with a ranking of the 16 greatest classes in the institution’s history.
Studying abroad: 24 notable American players with successful careers in Europe
When their time in the NBA was either proving unrealistic or had come to an unceremonious end, these 24 Americans took their talents overseas, finding success in one of the various European leagues.
Separated laundry: 18 NBA players with a jersey retired by multiple franchises
It’s honor enough to have your jersey retired by an NBA franchise but how about two? Or even three? These 18 players have their number hanging in the rafter of multiple arenas.
First quarter check in: 101 greatest NBA players of the 21st century (so far)
We’re already finished with 25% of this century so let’s take stock of the best players to take part in the NBA during this time
In memoriam: 21 prominent basketball people who passed away in 2025
A Bosnian legend, a clown prince of the NBA, a Knicks champion, a former Jazz owner, a basketball “Wizard” and an all-time winningest NBA coach are amongst those we lost in 2025
Player hater’s ball: Eight players who have antagonized an city’s entire fan base
Being beloved by your hometown faithful is the goal of most basketball players, but some took a special pride in the pure hatred they inspired in opposing fan bases.
Dead air: Eight legendary NBA players who struggled as television broadcasters
Playing on television in front of millions is one thing when you’re on the court, but for these eight NBA legends, talking into the camera was the real challenge.
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