Clyde Drexler

Clyde Drexler was the archetype of the complete wing — a player who could score from the perimeter, finish above the rim, defend the opposing team's best perimeter option, and push tempo in transition without making mistakes. His position on the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary teams places him among the most recognized players from his era, a recognition that his statistical record and competitive achievements fully justify.

Drexler's 1991-92 season with Portland — 25.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game — represented the full expression of his game, and his placement in that year's Finals against the Chicago Bulls gave him a stage that matched his ability. He is seventh on the all-time steals list with 2,207, a total that reflects how actively he engaged defensively over a 15-year career rather than waiting for the ball to come to him.

He won his championship with Houston in 1995, reuniting with college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon to give the Rockets a second consecutive title. The manner of that championship — a mid-season trade to a team already considered the best in basketball — confirmed that Drexler's skill set could function at the level of the sport's highest competition rather than requiring a specific environment to thrive.

Drexler attended Houston, where Olajuwon was also a teammate — a connection that bookended his career with the championship he won 12 years into the league. He was selected 14th overall by Portland in 1983 and became the face of a franchise that twice came close to a title before he finally got one.