20. Amar'e Stoudemire (New York Knicks)
If there was any doubt about what type of player Stoudamire was he quickly answered them in his first season with the Knicks, so many of his critics said his success was a byproduct of having a great point guard in Steve Nash, and not of his own doing. But Stoudamire proved all the experts wrong putting up MVP type numbers much of his first season in New York, he is an excellent low post player, and has solid range.
19. John Wall (Washington Wizards)
The best word to describe John Wall is explosive. This guy has unbelievable speed, and has the ability to go coast to coast quicker than anybody else I've seen in the NBA. That combined with a solid scoring ability, and good court vision make him fun to watch, but after just one season in the NBA and the Wizards building their franchise around him, makes you wonder just how much better will this kid get.
18. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
No player had a more obvious turn around this past season than Russell Westbrook, he firmly became the number 2 option to Kevin Durant, and made his first All-Star Game, and 2nd Team All-NBA. With a great overall game, passing, scoring, rebounding, Westbrook is a triple-double threat every time he steps on the floor. He has the ability to be what ever his team needs from him on any given night, a pass first point guard or a shoot first guard. Westbrook would be a no-doubt 1st option on most teams, it just tells you how good the Thunder's first option is.
17. Zach Randolph (Memphis Grizzlies)
I'm still not sure how a guy who consistently averages a double-double year after year can "fly under the radar" but Z-Bo found a way. Some blame his poor attitude, but whatever the case, Z-Bo came into his own this season with the injury of Grizzles star Rudy Gay, and put his team on his back carrying them all the way to Game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. The playoffs were a showcase for his skills, a dominate low-post scorer, a very solid outside shooter, a clutch performer, and a tenacious rebounder.
16. Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)
The cool thing to me about Kevin Love is he reminds me of some of my favorite power forwards growing up, like Charles Oakley or Anthony Mason, there is nothing pretty about Love's game, he grabs rebounds and scores from in close, which is pretty much the definition of what a Power Forward is supposed to do.
15. Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
And then there's Tim Duncan, the man who along with Kevin Garnett changed what the Power Forward position could be, taking mid-range jumpers, relying on his Center to be the physical presence in the low post, playing "soft" which really never happened at that position before. Duncan however is a gifted scored, he pretty much has the patent on the Bank Shot, and can score at ease. He is a brilliant passer as well, as well a solid rebounder. His game may not always be "sexy" but its hard to argue that there has been a better Power Forward over the last 10 years.
14. Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
There is nothing "soft" at all about the game of Dwight Howard, by far the best defensive player in the NBA, by far the best shot blocker, by far one of the best low post scorers in the game. Howard plays stellar ball at both ends of the floor, and has the ability to go for 50 on any given night. As a player that sees a lot of double teams, he is a brilliant passer. The scary thing is he hasn't even reached his peak yet, Dwight Howard is going to be a force for years to come.
13. Carlos Boozer (Chicago Bulls)
I've always been a huge fan of the under-sized "Big Man" and Carlos Boozer is that. What he lacks in height he makes up with scrappy tenacity, going after every loose ball as if his life depended on it. A solid inside scorer, and I think even better when he shoots from mid-range, Boozer plays the way you wish every "Big Man" would play, very though, very physical.
12. Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets)
Deron Williams is maybe the perfect point guard for any team. He can score, has a great jump-shot, he is arguably the best passer in the game, has blazing fast speed, and can run a offense in the fast break or half court.
11.Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings)
The shooting guard position was made for guys like Evans, he has great scoring abilities, and can score in any way, inside, outside, and he has the courage where he feels like no shot is out side of his range. For such a young player, just 2 years in the NBA, Evans has already proven he has a great "clutch jean" and is a gifted closer for an up and coming Kings team.
9. Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors)
I truly believe if any current NBA player could break Wilt Chamberlin's record of 100 points in a single game, its Monta Ellis. Ellis is an explosive scorer, while its not uncommon for him to have a 12 point game on 2 for 20 shooting, he is just as capable of scoring 60 points the very next night. He has the right amount of selfishness and the right amount of skill were its not hard to imagine him going off one night and breaking Wilt's record. And with a little bit of consistency Ellis will emerge as an Elite NBA talent.
8. LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers)
I really enjoy the game of LaMarcus Aldridge, he plays one of the best low-post games in the game today. My favorite thing about his game, is that he is aware of what his game is, too often players play outside of themselves, Aldridge does not have that problem, he is a low-post scorer and plays as such, he is a great low-post scorer and a very good offensive and defensive rebounder. I think he is poised to become the leader of his Blazers team with Brandon Roy still a mystery, and the sky is the only limit for him.
7. Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)
There are a lot of gifted scorers in the NBA, there are great shooters, and within reason you can teach a player how to score, or how to shoot. One thing you can't teach is How to Be Clutch, Melo is Clutch, he is fearless and has no problem taking the final shot of the game, he is confident with every final shot that it will go in. That combined with being one of the very best scorers in the game and one of the most entertaining players running the fast-break makes him a must-wash, its a good think that he's in New York now, where everyone will be watching for years to come.
6. Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)
Chris Paul is the best "true" point guard in the NBA, he is what a point guard should be, pass first, shoot second type of PG. He is more concerned with getting the other players on his team to score than he is with getting his own shot. When you combine that with his speed, his passing which is best in the game as far as I'm concerned, and the fact that this guy can actually shoot, you've got one of the best players in the game.
5. Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
I do not like the Miami Heat, I've never liked the Heat, and since the "Big Three" has come together its even easier to Hate the Heat. The thing is thought, Wade can flat out play, he can score any which way, inside, outside, drive to the hole, from the free throw line, there are any number of ways Wade can score on you. He is also to me atleast "King of the Impossible Shot" I have seen this guy make more shots he has no business even taking, let alone making.
4. Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
Like his commercial said "Fast Don't Lie" and one thing Rose knows about is Fast. There is no limit to how many ways Rose can score on an opponent, he can easily blow by almost every defender to get to the cup, and has improved his range so much this season that he is an excellent 3 Point Shooter, which would be enough, but he is a great passer, a solid defender, and excels in running the Bulls offense, and oh yeah, he is very, very quick.
3. Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics)
Rajon Rondo is not the best Point Guard in the NBA, with the talent at that position right now he probably doesn't even rank in the Top 5. So why is he my 3rd favorite player to watch? I've never seen a player like him, while most Celtics fans would cringe hearing this, he is the Derek Jeter of the NBA, Captain Intangibles, he can and does do everything his team needs from him, he is an excellent passer, at 6'1 he is the best rebounder on his team, he can blow by defenders and drive to the rim at ease, almost anytime he wants it seems. He can give his team whatever they are lacking on any given night...except for free-throw shooting.
2. Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the NBA, he can come at you in many different ways, he can make 3's he can post-up, he can drive the line, he can just score, and he is great at it. Two NBA Scoring Titles prove that. The thing about KD is he almost makes it look to easy, so easy in fact, that he is impossible to defend, if you put someone that can actually match up with his 6'10 size, he'll fly by them, if you put a smaller but quicker defender on him, he'll shoot over them all day. This guy can beat you in so many ways, you are looking at a future NBA Champ, and a Future MVP.
1. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
There is no question Kobe Bryant is my favorite player in the NBA, and as much as I like KD or Rondo, or D. Rose...its not even close, Kobe to me is "The Great One". Kobe is an amazing scorer, we all know that, in recent years he has become a great team player, leading the Lakers in assists that past couple of years. He is an excellent rebounder, a lock-down defender, and the best closer in the NBA, you could make the argument, and I will, he is the best closer of all-time. He also has more drive, more passion for the game than any player in the game, he takes every lose like he just lost Game 7 of the Finals. He has the ability to play through great pain, and not just play, but play outstanding ball. Kobe unlike Lebron never claimed to be the next Jordan, he is very content with being Kobe Bryant, and with 5 NBA championships, 2 Finals MVPs, a regular season MVP, and numerous other awards, he should be.
Rose should at least b numba 3 but otha din dat I so agree wit everyone else
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