The NBA revealed a top 75 players in league history list to celebrate its 75th anniversary over the course of three days from Tuesday to Thursday.
"The team is being selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media and current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives," said the NBA in a statement.
Even though a tie in voting forced this list to include 76 players instead of 75, that wasn't enough to suppress fan and player disagreement over some major snubs. Three-time NBA champion Klay Thompson was at the forefront.
The Golden State Warriors guard wasn't on the list, while some fellow contemporaries with arguably lesser resumes such as Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard made the cut
Following the NBA's final release on Thursday, he took to Instagram to let his feelings known. And in typical Thompson fashion, he did it in the calmest way possible.
"Maybe I'm just naive in my ability to play basketball, but in my head I'm TOP 75 all time," read the photo on his post.
With so much greatness through 75 years of NBA basketball, Thompson was hardly the only snub worth arguing for.
Here are some of the best reactions to the list reveal:
So y’all saying @KyrieIrving ain’t top 75? I agree… he top 20 at least…
— andre (@andre) October 21, 2021
Dwight Howard not making the NBA Top 75 with this resume is insane pic.twitter.com/kqnLBKT4Kp
— Ahmed/Ben Simmons tricked me (@big_business_) October 21, 2021
NBA players sound off on #NBA75 snub pic.twitter.com/mdsD1XfrJN
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 22, 2021
“There’s a group of guys that need a lot of recognition.”
The Inside crew reacts to some notable names that didn't make #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/VLfmBO77ZQ— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 21, 2021
There's no argument for Damian Lillard to make that Top 75 list over Dwight Howard pic.twitter.com/2RR1s8V2JH
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) October 21, 2021
Congrats to all the players that made NBA75 Anniversary Tm, but Dwight Howard should’ve made this tm. Media and players former and current might not like him because he joked around a lot. His resume says, he’s one of the 75 best NBA players of all time.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) October 22, 2021
On a more positive note, here are some raw reactions to players learning they made the 75th-anniversary team.
surprised, grateful. never shook lol https://t.co/lUY2mHWYSM
— James Harden (@JHarden13) October 20, 2021
.@ReggieMillerTNT’s reaction to making the #NBA75 team is amazing pic.twitter.com/yscp0ePJqH
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 21, 2021
Thank you to everyone who has ever lifted me up. This one is for us. 75 greatest EVER!!! Wow! Stop playing with me! #mybeliefisstrongerthanyourdoubt https://t.co/CS9uiRBV9t
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) October 21, 2021
Kobe Bryant is selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/s36TmGE9Hi
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2021
"You changed the way the game was being played."@DWilkins21 joins the Inside Crew to talk about being named to #NBA75. pic.twitter.com/zcoOx14jd1
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 21, 2021
People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get.
- James Baldwin
I’m humbled by the names I’m joining on this list. Thank you to the teammates, coaches, and fans along the way who’ve lived this dream with me. #STAYME7O #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/qODlryLsHU— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) October 22, 2021