When the NBA released its Top 75 list in 2021, Dwight Howard’s omission was jarring. Almost five years in, Dwight, Shaq, Gilbert Arenas, and most of the NBA community isn’t over it. But what about the names that were included? Rarely is it discussed that this or that player shouldn’t have been in there. Sam Smith, one of the panelists who compiled this list, had a confession about that.

Smith collaborated with former Bulls and Lakers coach, Phil Jackson for his newest book, Masters of the Game: A Conversational History of the NBA in 75 Legendary Players. The book contains their stories on the NBA Top 75 players. While talking to Dan Patrick about it, Smith admitted not getting to include Dwight Howard in it stung.

“We used the NBA’s top 75 and, you know, no offense, but I thought the

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