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What: NBA Top 50 (Cont’d)

Like fast-food commercials starring multimillionaires in $140 shoes and the Toronto Raptors’ uniforms, the NBA’s 50th anniversary all-time team is an annoyance that just won’t go away.

In its February issue, Inside Sports magazine refused to let the dead horse lie by dredging up the NBA’s so-called “50 Greatest Players” and, unlike the NBA, ranking them from one to 50, with appropriate capsule comments.

No. 1? Wilt Chamberlain, Inside Sports decrees. “Most unstoppable player in history”--except at the free-throw line or in any playoff series involving Bill Russell.

Tough to argue with the next six--Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West.

Hakeem Olajuwon (“Most agile big man ever”) checks in at No. 8 and right about here, the questions start firing from all over the perimeter.

Where’s Dr. J?

How about Elgin?

What happened to Russell?

Inside Sports extends the suspense a full 17 pages. Russell (“Ultimate winner, afire with inner rage”) can’t break the top 10, finishing 11th behind Isiah Thomas and Charles Barkley (?)--which probably explains the inner rage. Elgin Baylor (“First master of hang time”) is two notches back at No. 13, behind Rick Barry, first master of the underhanded foul shot. And all the way back at No. 17 is Julius Erving.

Nate Archibald at No. 14--six slots ahead of Earl Monroe and 24 ahead of Walt Frazier? Pete Maravich at 15, strictly on the basis of his NBA career, not his Louisiana State reputation?

After the top 40, things begin to pick up, with rightful slamming and dunking of those marginal selections who grabbed spots that deserved to go to Bob Lanier, Bob McAdoo and Connie Hawkins.

Lenny Wilkens, No. 40, is rated “Somewhere between Dominique and Gerald” Wilkins. Dave Cowens, Sam Jones and Bill Sharman (47 through 49) are dismissed as “Celtics sops Nos. 1, 2 and 3.” And lastly, at magic No. 50, is Dave DeBusschere, accompanied by a one-word critique: “Why?”

On a hoops credibility scale, where would Inside Sports’ rankings rank?

Somewhere between the two Shawns, Kemp and Bradley.