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Ben Taylor
Ben Taylor

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NBA 75 team predictions

From the latest podcast, here's the list of NBA at 75 predictions by draft class. Looking at 5-year periods since the beginning of the league, the breakdown is as follows:

One of the reasons I think Carter (or perhaps McGrady) are on the bubble is because of how many players from that late '90s period are locks. I don't expect many voters (or any voters) to reach a quote by era, it's just harder to stand out across different criteria in a crowded era: There's only so many rings, so many All-NBA spots, etc. 

Indirectly, this might be why Wilkins didn't make the NBA at 50 team. Both the early '80s (McHale, Isiah, Drexler, Stockton, Barkley, Hakeem, Jordan) and late '90s (Garnett, Kobe, Nash, Iverson, Duncan, Dirk) have a ton of locks from those stacked draft classes.

The full list in order of debut year:

Comments

I know Embiid hasn’t played enough, but the the level he’s reached as a player has to draw some consideration imo

Sahar224

How about Rondo and Lowry? Both are like mentors now, speaking of modern biases. They had some good years and champions.

Just want to throw out a few additional thoughts after reading feedback: If I had to make a few more cuts based on modern biases, I think Hal Greer is in real trouble. (Sam Jones possibly as well.) If McGrady and Parker miss the cut from the modern players we discussed, I’d pick Carter, Dame, Grant Hill, Mutombo or Ben Wallace to replace them.

Klay was on my "list of guys I deliberated but we didn't have time to discuss." I agree with all your points, so much so that I think we should have discussed him as having a really good chance given that Curry and Durant would be the only Warriors.

Part 1 is on Spotify!

Where can that podcast episode be found?

Really enjoyed the podcast! I think you discounted just how much love Klay Thompson will get, though -- key part of one of the greatest teams in history, helped revolutionize how the game is played, has a recognizable elite skill and some immediately memorable historical moments (37 point quarter, Game 6 vs. OKC). I think he's likely to get in and also should be in (although I personally lean much more towards "these are the people who tell the story of the NBA" in these sorts of lists).


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