NBA 50 Greatest Players

The 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association (NBA) History were named during the 50th anniversary season (1996–1997) of the NBA. NBA Commissioner David Stern announced the players at a press luncheon on October 29, 1996, in New York City. The announcement was made at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, which occupies the site of the former Commodore Hotel, where the original NBA charter was signed on June 6, 1946. The NBA's 50 greatest players were introduced in Cleveland during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend. Panelists were asked to select the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, without regard to position. Voters did not rank their selections and former players were not allowed to vote for themselves. At the start of the 1996-97 season the 50 players had accumulated 107 NBA Finals Championships, 49 NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, 17 NBA Rookie of the Year Awards, 447 NBA All-Star Game selections, 36 NBA scoring titles, 923,791 total points and 410,327 total rebounds.

Notes:

Players who were active in the NBA at the time the team was named are in italics.
The only player deceased at the time the team was announced was Pete Maravich.
As of 2006, Shaquille O'Neal is the only remaining active player from the team.