Maravich, Wade, Lillard Named To 75th Anniversary Team

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Jazz legend “Pistol” Pete Maravich, current team part-owner Dwyane Wade, and Weber State star Damian Lillard have been named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team.

The NBA has been releasing 25 names per day over the last three days to reveal their list of the 75 best players to ever don an NBA uniform.

On Tuesday, the first batch of 25 players was released which included Jazz legend John Stockton. On Wednesday, two-time MVP Karl Malone was named to the list. Both players, along with Maravich were also members of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary team released in 1996.

Maravich Named To 75th Anniversary Team

Maravich is considered one of the greatest shooters, scorers, and showmen to ever play in the NBA. After a record-breaking career at LSU, the guard was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the third pick of the 1970 NBA Draft.

“Pistol” Pete Maravich makes the NBA 75th Anniversary team.#TakeNote | @KSLSports https://t.co/mhglZDbnYs

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 21, 2021

In order to draw an audience to New Orleans Jazz games, the team traded two players and five future draft picks to Atlanta for Maravich just four seasons into his career.

Maravich played five and a half seasons with the Jazz, including 17 games in Utah after the team changed ownership in 1979. “The Pistol” retired with averages of 24.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 rebounds in 658 career games.

Wade Named To 75th Anniversary Team

Though he never played for the Jazz, Dwyane Wade has become a fan favorite after buying a minority share in the team in April.

The superstar guard is a regular at games sitting courtside with owner Ryan Smith and has been instrumental in the Utah community in his short time with the organization.

Former Heat guard and current @UtahJazz part-owner Dwyane Wade also named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. #TakeNote | @kslsports https://t.co/Mcwfp0empX

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 21, 2021

During his 16 year NBA career, Wade was named to 13 All-Star teams, eight All-NBA teams, three All-Defensive teams, won three NBA titles, and was a Finals MVP.

Wade retired with career averages of 22 points, 5.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 1,047 games.

Lillard Named To 75th Anniversary Team

The final player with local ties to be named to the NBA 75th Anniversary team is former Weber State guard Damian Lillard.

Lillard attended Weber State for four years and after his redshirt junior season in which he averaged 18.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, and declared for the NBA Draft.

Former @WeberStateMBB superstar Damian Lillard has been named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. https://t.co/821KpSDJaw

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 21, 2021

The guard was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers and has gone on to average 24.7 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while being named to six All-NBA teams in his first nine seasons.

Lillard is one of just 10 active players to be named to the list.

The Full NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In addition to Stockton, Malone, Maravich, Wade, and Lillard here are the other 70 NBA legends that were named to the 75th Anniversary team.

The first 25 names released Tuesday included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nate Archibald, Charles Barkley, Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Julius Erving, George Gervin, Hal Greer, Elvin Hayes, Jerry Lucas, Moses Malone, Kevin McHale, Gerges Mikan, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Pettit, Willis Reed, Oscar Robertson, David Robinson, and Bill Russell.

The complete NBA 75th Anniversary Team ⬇️ #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/v8Tz5ixaab

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 21, 2021

On Wednesday, Paul Arizin, Rick Barry, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, Allen Iverson, Magic Johnson, Sam Jones, Robert Parish, Chris Paul, Scottie Pippen, Nate Thurmond, Wes Unseld, Bill Walton, Wilt Chamberlain, Clyde Drexler, Kevin Garnett, John Havlicek, Michael Jordan, Bill Sharman, Isiah Thomas, Jerry West, and James Worthy were added.

Finally, Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing, Kobe Bryant, Billy Cunningham, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Dave DeBusschere, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Kawhi Leonard, Bob McAdoo, Reggie Miller, Earl Monroe, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, Paul Pierce, Dennis Rodman, Dolph Schayes, Russell Westbrook, Lenny Wilkens, and Dominique Wilkins were named Thursday.