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Who are the top NBA players of the 1950s? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Larry Foust: a consistent big man who put up 14+ points and 10+ rebounds per game, Foust was an 8x All-Star and 2x All-NBA selection for the decade.
9. Harry Gallatin: with averages of more than 13 points and 11 rebounds per game, Gallatin made seven All-Star and two All-NBA teams for the decade and won a rebounding crown with a career-best 15.3 rebounds per game in 1953-1954.
8. Ed Macauley: in addition to leading the St. Louis Hawks to the 1957-1958 title, Macauley averaged 17+ points and 7+ rebounds per game for the decade to make seven All-Star and four All-NBA teams.
7. Bill Sharman: a 7x All-Star and 6x All-NBA selection in the 1950s, Sharman was Bill Cousy’s longtime running mate in the Boston Celtics’ backcourt – he averaged 17+ points, 4+ rebounds, and 3+ assists per game for the decade while leading the league in free throw shooting 6x and winning two titles.
6. Neil Johnston: with three straight scoring titles and a rebounding crown in the 1950s, Johnston was one of the decade’s elite big men – he was a 6x All-Star and 5x All-NBA pick who also won the 1955-1956 title with the Philadelphia Warriors.
5. Paul Arizin: despite missing two full seasons for military service, Arizin began his career as Rookie of the Year in 1950-1951 and averaged 23+ points and 8+ rebounds per game for the decade to make seven All-Star and four All-NBA teams, lead the league in scoring twice, and win the 1955-1956 title with the Warriors.
4. Dolph Schayes: a dominant NBA big man, Schayes was a 9x All-Star and 10x All-NBA selection during the decade and put up averages of 19+ points and 13+ rebounds per game (1x rebounding crown) en route to the 1954-1955 title with the Syracuse Nationals.
3. Bob Cousy: one of the first great floor generals in NBA history, Cousy was the first point guard to win MVP (1956-1957); he made nine All-Star and eight All-NBA teams during the 1950s with seven assist titles and led the Celtics to a pair of NBA titles while posting more than 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists per game.
2. George Mikan: the league’s first great big man, Mikan won back-to-back scoring titles and averaged 22+ points and 13+ rebounds per game in the 1950s while earning four All-Star and five All-NBA selections, and leading the Minneapolis Lakers to four titles.
1. Bob Pettit: the very first MVP in NBA history (2x overall) and also a 2x scoring champion, Pettit was one of the league’s first superstars – beginning with his 1954-1955 Rookie of the Year season, he was an All-Star and All-NBA selection every year and averaged more than 23 points and 15 rebounds per game, in the process winning the 1957-1958 title with the Hawks.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 85: Top 10 MLB Players of the 1950s
