Dwight Howard, Klay Thompson Among NBA Top 75 Anniversary Team Snubs

It's safe to say Klay Thompson will have an even bigger chip on his shoulder when he returns to the court for the Warriors.

As the NBA unveiled its 75th Anniversary team of the league's all-time greatest players, Lakers center Dwight Howard and Warriors guard and forward Klay Thompson were noticeably absent from the list.

Social media discussions centered around Howard being omitted from the list despite his resume. Howard, a 2020 NBA champion with the Lakers, is an eight-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA First team player and one of four players with three or more players NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Dwight Howard not making the NBA Top 75 with this resume is insane pic.twitter.com/kqnLBKT4Kp

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) October 21, 2021

Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is a six-time All-Star, earned All-NBA First Team honors in 2018, four-time All-NBA Second Team honors and the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year. 

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

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 21, 2021

While one half of the Splash Brothers earned a spot on the anniversary team, Thompson felt that he should have been on the list.

"Maybe I'm just naive in my ability to play basketball, but in my head, I'm Top 75 all time," Thompson wrote on Instagram. 

Ahead of the Warriors' home opener against the Clippers on Thursday, head coach Steve Kerr went further to say Thompson and Draymond Green deserved a spot on the anniversary team.

"I definitely think both guys [Thompson and Green] are top 75, just based on winning and two-way basketball and everything that really matters more than statistics and anything related to numbers," Kerr said. "What matters is if you're winning championships, and that's what counts. I would have hoped and thought that both guys would be on there."

Other notable players snubbed from the list include Adrian Dantley, Tracy McGrady, Dikembe Mutombo, Kyrie Irving and Vince Carter.

The list of players for the 75th Anniversary Team was compiled by a panel of current and former players, coaches, general managers, team executives, WNBA legends and sportswriters.