Melbourne Tigers greats Andrew Gaze and Mark Bradtke remain fan favourites as they headline the NBL's 40th anniversary team.
The NBL released team on Thursday night following a fan-voting process throughout the league's heritage month in January.
Gaze and Bradtke along with import superstars Leroy Loggins (Brisbane Bullets), James Crawford and Ricky Grace (both Perth Wildcats) made the starting five.
Victorian greats Daryl McDonald and Chris Anstey made the second five alongside Rob Rose, Shane Heal and Mark Davis.
The first five all made the NBL’s 25th anniversary side and all except Grace, who was still playing, also featured in the 20th anniversary team.
The NBL ran the voting process on its website after compiling a shortlist of 40 players.
All 10 players featured during the 1990s when the NBL first caught national attention although several of those stars played into the 2000s. Anstey, who retired following the 2009-2010 season, is the most recent player.
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Gaze, a seven-time NBL MVP and two-time championship winner, said he was honoured to make the team.
“To think the fans think of me that way is very humbling and I’m extremely grateful,” Gaze said.
“Those other players are just fantastic players and the contribution they’ve made is as significant as anything I’ve done.”
Among the notable stars to miss out were father-son pair Cal and CJ Bruton, who had major impacts on their respective eras in the 1980s and 2000s. Cal was one of the league's first showman while also playing and coaching championship teams while the younger CJ won six titles across 512 games.
While there were no present-day players in the two sides New Zealand Breakers captain Mika Vukona (five championships and over 450 games) and Perth Wildcats guards Damian Martin (five-time defensive player of the year and four championships) were also unlucky to miss selection considering their success in the modern NBL which has less teams and a higher concentration of talent.
NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger said the selection of anniversary teams created plenty of debate.
“After previously selecting 20th and 25th anniversary teams, we thought this was a great opportunity celebrate our 40th season as a league by asking fans to nominate their best ever team,” Loeliger said.
“All these players have been great champions of the NBL and richly deserve their place in the team. Equally there are many players who are unlucky to miss out and these teams will always be debated.
“But there is no doubt the line-up of talent reflects the quality of the NBL over four decades and is further proof the competition is among the best in the world.”
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