Presenting Volume IV of Basketball, Listed: Diamond Jubilee, our dedication to the 75th anniversary of the NBA and the players, teams, games, and moments that have made it special. Chapters were published throughout the ’21-’22 NBA league season.
All previous volumes can be found on our Basketball, Listed Reader, while chapters across all volumes are collected in our full archive.
Dream interpretations: Debunking 19 myths about the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team
It’s the 30th anniversary of their triumphant gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the Dream Team continues to fascinate basketball fans of all ages. This includes plenty of enduring conspiracies, mistruths, and half-truths, 19 of which are debunked here.
Fixer-uppers: Seven notably inadequate arenas that have hosted NBA teams
Whether they were too cramped, too spacious, too old, too new, or just plan too crappy, these seven arenas served as mediocre temporary sites for NBA teams that were in between permanent homes.
Class consciousness: Nine greatest NBA Draft classes of the lottery era (since 1985)
Not all draft classes are created equal and these are the nine greatest since the lottery began in 1985, based on the career output of the players drafted (un-drafted free agents were not considered).
New look, same result: Five players who won back-to-back championships with a different team each year
Winning back-to-back titles as an NBA player is rare enough but how about doing it with two different teams? Only five players in league history have pulled off such a feat and we present them here.
No one believed in us: 14 biggest upsets in NBA Finals history
NBA playoff tradition is that the better team typically wins, but in these 14 NBA Finals series, the lesser team on paper managed to pull off a stunner.
Those who can’t do, teach: Nine non-star players who became legendary coaches
We previously listed great players who were less than stellar as coaches. This is a compilation of players whose careers ranged from average to slightly above average, but went on to become legendary coaches.
Lowered from the rafters: Seven retired NBA jerseys that were later “un-retired”
195 jerseys have been retired by an NBA franchise, ostensibly to take that number out of rotation for the rest of the team’s history. But in these seven cases, the jersey was subsequently “un-retired” for various reasons.
Pressure valves: 23 NBA rookies who made a major impact in the postseason
Some were superstars just continuing their domination while others were unheralded players stepping up at just the right time but either way, when the lights were turned up high and the pressure was cranked up, these NBA rookies came through in the playoffs.
Black excellence: 16 greatest players who reached the NBA from an Historically Black College and University (HBCU)
There are over 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) still operating in the United States today. Notable alumni include Martin Luther King, Jr., Toni Morrison, Booker T. Washington, Thurgood Marshall, Althea Gibson and the 16 NBA stars listed below.
Started at the top, now we’re here: Nine worst players who won the NBA Rookie of the Year award
Previously we explored the worst players to be named to the NBA All-Rookie team, now we take a look at the Rookie of the Year award winners who went on to the least impressive further careers.
![Can’t get in without a ticket [UPDATED]: 27 greatest eligible players not yet in the Naismith Hall of Fame](https://basketballlisted.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/110.png?w=640)
Can’t get in without a ticket [UPDATED]: 27 greatest eligible players not yet in the Naismith Hall of Fame
With the 2022 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.
Who did that?: 12 worst players to lead the NBA in a major statistical category
The NBA annually sees its biggest stars atop the league leader board when the season ends, but here’s the worst players ever to break into that fraternity.
One shining moment: 70 greatest NCAA Tournament first round upsets
March Madness is back again, so we take a look back at the 70 greatest examples of a phenomenon that has defined the tournament over the years, the first round upset.
Stilt to last: Ranking Wilt Chamberlain’s 11 most unbreakable records
Wilt Chamberlain set so many records that his list of statistical accomplishments has its own Wikipedia page. On the 60th anniversary of his 100 point game, we honor him with a list of his records that are least likely to ever be broken.
Dance card unpunched: 24 notable programs without an NCAA Tournament appearance in the modern era
Hartford and Grand Canyon made their NCAA Tournament debuts in 2021. Will any of these 24 programs join them in 2022 as first time dancers?
A supposedly fun thing I’ll never do again: 28 notable players with just one NBA All-Star appearance
Almost 3,000 NBA players have had their careers come and go without an All-Star appearance. That’s some solace for these 28 who were named to the yearly roster only once, for reasons ranging from injuries to unlucky trades to suspensions to even untimely death.
Swapping with the enemy: Three times the Celtics and Lakers have traded players to each other
Normally these two long-time rivals would never dream of exchanging players, but in three rare cases they came together to make a deal.
Instant gratification: Eight teams that ended playoff droughts with NBA Finals appearances
As the Bulls, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, and Hornets deign to end postseason droughts in the ’21-’22 season, we aim big with these eight teams that not only broke a playoff-less streak but ended it with an immediate run to the NBA Finals.
Cleveland’s rocks: Ranking the 23 greatest players in Cavaliers franchise history
Dating back to 1970 as an expansion team, the Cleveland Cavaliers have had some ups and downs over the decades since. Ok, mostly downs. But also five NBA Finals appearances and a 2016 championship thanks to the guy who’s obviously #1 on this list.
In memoriam: 19 prominent basketball people who passed away in 2021
In 2021, we lost a Lakers legend and a Celtics legend who squared off multiple times in unforgettable NBA Finals, as well as the captain of the groundbreaking 1963 Loyola championship team, a shot blocking great, the first Rockets All-Star, a founder of the ABA, a Suns Hall of Famer, and multiple titans of coaching in the college ranks, amongst many others in the basketball community.
Highlight package: Nine most significant games of Kobe Bryant’s NBA career
In honor of the late, great Kobe Bryant, we pay tribute with a spotlight on his nine most memorable games.
Give the Blue Devil his due: 13 greatest NBA players who played under Coach K at Duke
While we’ve previously detailed the worst NBA players to emerge from the Duke program, with Coach Mike Krzyzewski retiring at the conclusion of the ’21-’22 season, we’ll now take a look at the 14 most successful pro stars to reach the NBA from Duke since the venerable coach took the reigns in 1980.
The ultimate standings: Power ranking the 45 NBA franchises by their all-time results
From its humble beginnings as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946 to its current status as a worldwide phenomenon, the NBA has had 45 franchises in 75 years, some more successful than others. We rank all 45 here, based on the following criteria: winning percentage, playoff appearances, titles and Finals appearances, and player accolades.
Extracurricular activities: 75 off-court moments that shaped the NBA
Going back to the invention of the game in 1891, we take a look at the 75 innovations, signings, mergers, rule changes, lawsuits, agreements, disagreements, trades, hirings, draft picks, and other off-court events that shaped the course of NBA history.
Squad goals: 75 greatest NBA teams
There’s been many great teams in NBA history, but these are the 75 that stand out above the rest, based on an objective ranking system of statistics, accomplishments, opponent strength, and individual components.
Noms de plume: 75 greatest NBA and ABA player nicknames
From the iconic to the cool to the slightly derisive, we count down the 75 greatest player nicknames in NBA history.
Instant classics: 75 greatest games in NBA history
All the ultimate barn burners, buzzer beaters, back-and-forth battles, incredible moments, and individual dominance are present in this list of the 75 greatest games in NBA history.
Founding ballers: 75 greatest players who participated in the inaugural NBA season (’46-’47)
Before it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949 and officially formed the NBA, we had three seasons of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which the NBA officially sanctions. These are the 75 greatest players that were active in its inaugural ’46-’47 season.
Listed legends: 75 players to track for the NBA 75th anniversary team
The NBA is about to announce its list of 75 Greatest Players, as voted on by players, coaches, executives, and members of the media. This is a follow-up to its list of the 50 Greatest Players that was released in 1996. Today, we go through the players whose names are the most intriguing to keep in mind for the new list.
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