UCLA Basketball: Bruins Legend Dissed in New All-Time NBA Player Rankings
The basketball media site HoopsHype decided to rank the 77 best NBA players in the history of the league. This was done to correspond with the start of the 78th all-time NBA season.
Eight HoopsHype staff members came together to compile the list -- which ranks players based on a point system. From there, a set list is created.
UCLA, the most successful college basketball program in the sport, with 11 national championships to its name, is well represented with past players. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is ranked as the No. 3 player all-time by this list. Guard Russell Westbrook checks in at No. 48. Sharpshooter Reggie Miller is slated at No. 54.
Among the many former UCLA alums missing is most notably former NBA MVP Bill Walton.
Players also receiving consideration (per HoopsHype):
Bill Walton, Draymond Green, Lenny Wilkens, Artis Gilmore, Klay Thompson, Adrian Dantley, Nate Thurmond, Chris Webber, Sam Jones, Paul George, Manu Ginobili, Dikembe Mutombo, Jerry Lucas, Dave Bing, Alonzo Mourning, Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, Bill Sharman, Billy Cunningham, Bob Lanier, Bobby Jones, Dave DeBusschere, Dennis Johnson, Jamaal Wilkes, Joe Dumars, Joel Embiid, Robert Horry
Walton had been on the list last year. However, he was taken off this year's installment -- along with Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Lucas, Nate Thurmond, Sam Jones, Bill Sharman, Dave Bing, Dave DeBusschere, and Billy Cunningham.
The younger crowd may know Walton as an eccentric, colorful commentator. However, he was much more than that.
Next to Abdul-Jabbar, Walton is widely considered to be the second-best collegiate player of all time.
While he did suffer from a number of foot issues and other physical problems, he still was a very impressive NBA player. Rarely did you see a guy 7 feet tall possessing his combination of mobility and coordination.
The two-time All-Star won two titles -- one with the Trail Blazers and another with the Celtics. He was the NBA Finals MVP in 1977 with the Blazers and then won the NBA MVP Award the following year.
Towards the end of his career with the Celtics, he won the 1986 Sixth Man Award (after injuries had taken their toll on his body). Not just a scorer, Walton was also a multi-time All-NBA First Team defender -- and he led the league in both rebounds/blocks in 1977.
Knowing Walton's proclivity for voicing his opinion, it wouldn't be a complete shock if he addressed this ranking at some point (even if in a flippant and humorous way).
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