The NBA released it’s list of the 75 Greatest Players in NBA history on Thursday, and former coach George Karl took issue with some of the omissions.
Namely, former Nuggets forward Alex English and ex-Bulls center Artis Gilmore.
“Man of class and dignity,” Karl tweeted about English. “Best player in Denver Nuggets history. Leading scoring of the 80s. Not a top 75 NBA player?! Alex is in my book!”
He offered the same praise for Gilmore, who also starred in the old American Basketball Association.
“If you know, you know!” Karl wrote above a picture of Gilmore. “In my Top 75 all day every day.”
There are about 10-15 players minimum I’d take ahead of Dennis Rodman. Otherwise, I’m fairly OK with it I guess. pic.twitter.com/m2YzntNo7j
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) October 21, 2021
The list of 75 created lots of debate, as the NBA expected it would. Other notable omissions included Bernard King, David Thompson, Tracy McGrady, Tony Parker, Bob McAdoo, Joe Dumars, Dan Issel, Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Bob Lanier and Lou Hudson, to name a few.
Karl coached the Spurs, Cavaliers, old Seattle SuperSonics, Bucks, Nuggets and Kings from 1979-2016. He led the Sonics to the Finals in 1995-96 and took a 1984-85 Cavs team that started 2-19 to the playoffs, as I wrote about on Forty Eight Minutes.
The NBA will be celebrating its 75th anniversary for the duration of the season, paying homage to its history in the process.
Man of class and dignity
Best player in Denver Nuggets history
Leading scoring of the 80s
Not a top 75 NBA player?! Alex is in my book! pic.twitter.com/zJzvhVdMsZ
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) October 21, 2021
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