Bringing you the top 10 list of the NBA’s best players. Just like in 2009 and 2008, we rank the top 10 players in the NBA based on 3 major areas of criteria. These criteria include winning, individual statistics, and the intangible’s like leadership, being clutch, fighting through injuries etc. At the bottom of the list are the “Honorable Mentions” that did not quite make the list of the top 10, but were of course very close. Let’s get right to it!
1. Kobe Bryant
After winning his 4th NBA Title, the guy hasn’t missed a beat. You can say the guy actually got better over the summer, working out with Hakeem Olajuwon and introducing a solid post game to his offensive arsenal. Many people want to crown LeBron James at the top of this list, but it just does not work that way. Kobe is still at the top of his game and he is winning rings, not LeBron! Expect Kobe to win his second MVP in 2010′.
2. LeBron James
LeBron is a beast to say the least. After winning the MVP last season, LeBron has a very good chance of winning it yet again this season. There is nobody else in the world at the same level of Kobe and LeBron. The man get’s better and better every single season. If you would have told me 10 years ago that one day we would see a player with Michael Jordan’s athleticism and the size of Karl Malone, I would have called you crazy. It’s crazy to see what LeBron can do on a basketball court.
3. Dwyane Wade
It’s crazy how this guy is always being overlooked because of Kobe and LeBron. Dwade is flat out a great player. The word Great get’s used in sports far too often. When I say great I say future hall of famer. The big question for Wade will be if he can lead his team to a competitive season and past the first round of the playoffs. If he can do that, Wade will reach a level that LeBron and Kobe have reached with getting the most out of their teammates.
4. Chris Paul
What needs to be said here. CP3 is the best point guard in the world hands down. He’s nasty competitive. He can finish going to the rim like no other point guard in this era. He can pass, shoot, score, defend. The only downside here is the New Orleans Hornets organization lack of willingness to support him by providing him solid players and a coaching staff to work with. Outside of that, Chris Paul is holding his own as the modern day version of Isaiah Thomas.
5. Carmelo Anthony
If Carmelo Anthony can stay healthy, he has a good chance of winning his first MVP award in 2010. I don’t know what Melo is eating for breakfast, but the guy has made himself unstoppable. He’s an offensive scoring machine, and he has stepped up his game defensively to an elite level. Melo proved in last year’s playoff run that he is one of the leagues top 5 players and cannot be stopped by anybody when he has the ball in his hands.
6. Kevin Garnett
People are moving this guy out of their top 10 lists because of his injured Knee and his age. Baloney! The Celtics are one of two dominant teams in the league (the Lakers being the other) and Garnett is by far the cornerstone of the Celtics. Without him they are nothing. Even though Garnett’s offensive numbers are down, his defensive precense is still as frightening to opposing teams as ever. And talking about intangibles, nobody brings more leadership and effort day in and day out than Kevin Garnett. He’s a poor man’s Bill Russell, and that my friends is quite the compliment.
7. Dirk Nowitzki
I don’t know if it’s cause he’s German, or because he’s white, or what exactly it is. But people seem to always sleep on Dirk Nowitzki. But Dirk continues to put up huge numbers since he won his first MVP award a few years back. His team continues to be competitive, and he continues to show more and more toughness each season. Truly one of the most gifted 7 Footers we have ever seen in Basketball. He is a joy to watch!
8. Dwight Howard
Popularity wise Dwight Howard is easily in the top 3 or 4 of this list. But being one of the best players in the NBA has nothing to do with popularity, and everything to do with your game. He’s the strongest guy in the league. And he’s the most dominant player inside 4-5 feet from the rim. Defensively he can change entire playoff seasons with his inside precense. But he won’t move higher up on this list until he can provide leadership to his team, and develop more of an inside post-up offensive game.
9. Deron Williams
The only reason Deron Williams doesn’t get more “pub” as one of the premier players in the NBA today is because of where he plays. That being Utah of course. Combine that with a team full of lazy, unambitious, self-serving players around him and you can see the difficulties he has to deal with. But every year he gets better and better. Scoring, passing, ball-handling, defense etc. The guy can do it all at his position. Throw Chris Paul out of the equation, and Deron is the best point guard in the World.
10. Steve Nash
Steve Nash didn’t make the list in 2009, primarily because the Suns stopped winning and Nash started to look old. This season however is a completely different story. Nash is showing no signs of his age whatsoever, and is leading his Phoenix Suns to a winning season with an under-talented team and an inexperienced head coach. The guy is still one of the funnest players to watch in the game today! Don’t be suprised if this guy pulls a John Stockton on us and plays til’ he’s 40.
Honorable Mentions
- Kevin Durrant
- Brandon Roy
- Pau Gasol
- Tim Duncan
- Paul Pierce
- Joe Johnson
