New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Things ESPN’s Top-74 Players Got Wrong

ESPN recently ranked the top-74 players of all-time, and they got plenty wrong, especially when it comes to the New Orleans Pelicans.

When it comes to All-Time lists, there are always going to be mistakes and people who feel their favorite player didn’t get a fair shake. This was the case when ESPN released its rankings of the top-74 players of all-time, which wasn’t kind to the New Orleans Pelicans.

First off, how is Zion Williamson not #1!!  (I’m kidding)

But the list did leave off young players, as it is not based on potential but what they have accomplished in the league.

There were only two players from the New Orleans Pelicans and one from the New Orleans Jazz, and all three were placed too low on the list.

Let’s take a look at the three players from New Orleans and where they should have been ranked.

#68 Pete Maravich- Atlanta Hawks/Utah Jazz

“Pistol” Pete Maravich was ranked just 68th on the top-74 list, which seems way too low for a guy who is a legend.

Maravich’s uncanny passing ability and insane range would make him one of the few players from a different era who would still thrive in today’s NBA.

Maravich averaged 24.2 points, 5.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds for his career, numbers that are even more impressive when you consider he did it without a 3-point line.

The Pistol once scored 68 points against the Knicks without hitting a single 3-point shot.

Maravich should certainly be higher than Manu Ginobili (#58) who may have had more team success but didn’t have the numbers of Pistol Pete.

Ginobili’s game was largely based on Maravich’s so it’s hard to understand how a bench guy gets a higher slot than the guy he was imitating.

Let’s move on.