NBA begins unveiling 75 greatest players in league history with first group of players
The NBA's 75th anniversary season got underway Tuesday night, and the league began its celebrations by unveiling the first names on its all-time team.
The league is naming its 75 greatest players and is revealing the names in three parts. The first 25 names were unveiled as part of the TNT pregame show ahead of Tuesday's opening night games.
Legendary names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, Bob Cousy, Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell and John Stockton highlighted the list. Current stars Kevin Durant and James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, who all played in Tuesday's first game of the season, were also among the names announced.
USA TODAY Sports ranks the NBA's 75 greatest players: 75-51 | 50-26 | 25-1
The next 25 players on the all-time team will be unveiled Wednesday afternoon on ESPN during the "NBA Today" show starting at 3 p.m. ET. The final 25 players will be announced Thursday on TNT during the network's pregame show starting at 6 p.m. ET.
The first 25 players on the NBA's 75th anniversary team unveiled Tuesday:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nate Archibald
Charles Barkley
Bob Cousy
Dave Cowens
Kevin Durant
Julius Erving
George Gervin
Hal Greer
James Harden
Elvin Hayes
Jerry Lucas
Moses Malone
Kevin McHale
George Mikan
Steve Nash
Dirk Nowitzki
Hakeem Olajuwon
Bob Pettit
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
David Robinson
Bill Russell
John Stockton
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA 75 greatest players: League unveils first group of names