absentees to play on NBA 2K22

In 1996, the NBA revealed the 50 best players in its history on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. A coherent list dominated by the Divine Jordan, but marked by the absences of Bernard King, David Thompson, Dennis Johnson, Alex English or Joe Dumars. This year, for the 75th anniversary, a festive year where many celebrations and very nice events will take place, the NBA has voted to name the … 75 best players. Simple. And since there were two equals, there are actually 76. Basic.

The voters were players, former or current, men and women, coaches, major league figures and journalists. A shortlist, prestigious, of 88 names, which has generally done things correctly by taking care to make a few exits from the track.

One thing should be noted: the consistency assumed with the previous list. All 50 names on the 1996 list are back. No editing, even if some were probably needed, to have a more fitting list with 75 years of history. A previously written name is not erased. In fact, legends forgotten by the youngest are there, a good opportunity to remind us of them. Even players absent from MyTeam, which nevertheless leaves a lot of room for the old-timers. The remaining 25 (26) places therefore concerned players playing since 1996, and that was a hell of a lot of people! Inevitably, it was necessary to make choices, to cut in the bacon. Some were obvious: Kobe, LeBron, Shaq, Duncan, Olajuwon, Nash. Some, inevitably, were still going to be active on the floors, being retired not being a condition. In fact, we can count 11 players still active in the list of 75 (and 11, that’s a lot).

There, it is said. This may come as a surprise, especially for Carmelo Anthony, who will logically be Hall of Fame, and who is one of the best scorers in the history of the league (with an extended career, we must admit). But the former Nuggets and Knicks star doesn’t have a ring or even an MVP title. He owes his place to longevity and his four Olympic gold medals (won with a selection that rolls very often in the tournament). Harden also has a blank track record and an already loaded record (his weight gain, non-compliance with health protocol, his departure from the Rockets, etc.) which plays against him. Admittedly, he is monstrous but is that enough for him to be part of the party? Okay. Seeing Paul Pierce or Ray Allen there (but it’s damn nice) was not 100% guaranteed and can also be discussed.

If all these names come up more or less often, those of Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard are systematic. Regarding AD, the former Pelicans is a machine, but he arrives too early in this prestigious list. The Brow is only 28 years old, an NBA title, an Olympic gold medal and a world title. It’s already very strong, but he still had time to write other lines on his record before joining the list, thus depriving another retired player of deserved recognition. Especially since he is often injured and he shunned a year at the Pels in a lamentable way.

For Dame DOLLA is a great leader, undeniably, an ultra clutch and therefore spectacular player, a leader (by force of circumstance since he is alone in Portland), a showman. Ok. But he has no NBA title and has never taken his team to a conference final, for example. Two-time Northwest Division champion only. Frankly, it is really on Lillard that the voters cracked. While there are multi-titled guys on the low side. But who are they anyway? Presentation !

It was on the side of San Francisco that the announcement of the list caused the most turmoil. In a message, which we will not offer you here, just so as not to dirty your innocent eyes, Klay Thompson gracefully chained a few tender insults following his absence. He was frankly pained, speaking of “lack of respect”. And he’s right. The back of the Warriors is one of the best and he has a more than solid track record: Olympic champion, world champion, 3 times NBA champion for 5 finals played. His absence during that of 2016 (associated with that of KD) condemned his team against the Raptors. Klay’s problem was that he was, at his prime, in the shadow of the genius Curry, the out-of-control Draymond Green and the superstar Durant. But Klay was able to slam 60 points, to save his team when the other stars were failing. Heavily injured for 2 seasons, he fully deserved this honor, like an outstretched hand to push him a little more towards a return to the courts. His absence is not logical and is reminiscent of that of Joe Dumars, the back of Detroit’s bad boys in the 90s: super player, essential part of a very strong team, but calmer, smarter than the rest of a brawling, brawling and therefore more exposed roster. But let’s remember: in the 1990 playoffs, the favorite Bulls came to nothing against the Detroit Bad Boys because the absolute icon of his time, Michael Jordan, ate a wall throughout the series. Joe Dumars. Jordan will rarely come across such great opposition. Maybe Payton? And even…

Before Klay, there was another very gifted guard at Golden State, Chris Mullin, a member of the famous Dream Team from 1992. A fabulous three-point shooter. In the players of the 1980s-1990s, he is clearly one of the most surprising absentees. The reason is quite simple: he played in a team in the hollow of the wave, far from playing, at that time, the leading roles. The Warriors were rather losers who carried the legacy of Wilt and Barry and who had to stuff themselves with the uncontrollable and brilliant Sprewell. A franchise where very good players passed by. Mullin stayed there. His fame could perhaps have been quite different by going elsewhere.

… Anthony Davis is selected but not Dwight Howard or Dikembe Mutombo. Incredible isn’t it? But still true. This caused a lot of reaction on the web, which notably compared the two current Lakers players, Davis and Howard (when they jostled on the bench in the middle of the match): Dwight, the former Magic, has the best career record and best stats (although many hate it and it is unmanageable). Finally, of the three, it was Mutombo who had to be mentioned first. The Congolese became the embodiment of the Hawks, erasing Bob Pettit. He is considered the best defender of the 90s behind Olajuwon. A tenacious, rough opponent. A symbol of success for an entire continent. A very popular player. A model for many.

For years we have been saying that Derrick Rose could have indelibly marked the prestigious microcosm of NBA leaders, that his injuries ruined everything but that he has a monumental merit to have returned to this level despite everything. , after touching the skies in Chicago. And he’s not in the 75s. Lillard yes. Not Pink. But finally ?! So that the story is even more beautiful, because he fully deserves it, both in attitude and for his talent. D-Rose was the Bulls’ first superstar of the post-Jordan era, something far from easy to accomplish.

For us French, the only absentee who deserves to be mentioned is TP. The former Spurs point guard was snubbed in style, despite his 4 NBA titles (!). We don’t want to insist (especially that we love him) but it’s 4 NBA titles more than Lillard… Especially since Parker was also MVP of the finals in 2007. His absence calls out, and only one reason is given : he is not American.

This is the big complaint about this list. At a time when the NBA is opening up more than ever to the rest of the world and has mega stars who do not play for the star-spangled banner (Jokic, Doncic, Gobert, Giannis, Embiid, Simmons…), the list of 75 looks like an incomprehensible chauvinist retreat. There are indeed only three international players: Giannis, Nowitzki, Nash. Add to that 3 bi-nationals (Olajuwon, Ewing, Duncan). It does little. Especially when you see who’s left with the diamond. In addition to Tony Parker, among the forgotten, we can count Manu Ginobili and Pau Gasol who clearly had their place.