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Hasn't Kahn gotten the memo? Kobe is the best player in the NBA. Seemingly everyone else says it, therefore it must be true.
Seriously, this is one of the few guys in the media who gets it. Thanks, Mike Kahn.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7392790
Duncan leads list of NBA's top 50
Mike Kahn
The longer you think about it, the tougher it gets.
It's difficult enough to figure out No. 1 but how about No. 37, or No. 23. Yeah, ranking the top 50 players going into the 2007-08 NBA season isn't any easier than last year, or the year before that or the
Well, you get the picture.
Nevertheless, here it is, in all of its argumentative glory. Simply put, the subjective criterion is based on the manner in which an individual player helps his team win and the cir stances that surround it.
In the height of LeBron-mania, it's still impossible not to put Tim Duncan at the top of the charts. Sure, you could argue the Spurs wouldn't have won their third le in five years in 2007 had Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili not continued to raise their level of play. But Duncan has been the most consistently productive winning player in the NBA over the past nine years and he will continue to be in the foreseeable future.
Calm down, fans of the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James is second, and third is Kobe Bryant whether he ends up playing this season with the Lakers or elsewhere, he will be a huge factor this season. The ultimate point guard of this decade, Phoenix's Steve Nash, is fourth, and we had to put Kevin Garnett fifth with the anticipation of what the Big Ticket will do for the Boston Celtics this season.
There are other obvious picks in the top 10: Dirk Nowitzki and Tracy McGrady for two, but it really did get muddled after that, and stayed that way for another, oh, 43 picks or so.
Think about it where do you put Shaquille O'Neal one of the great players of all time at this stage of his career, or Yao Ming for that matter, considering he is the best center in the league, but has yet to prove he can help the Houston Rockets win consistently?
And then there are the injured players. We can't know how Dwyane Wade will respond from shoulder and knee surgeries other than the fact he'll play full blast from the middle of November on. That may be just what the Miami Heat need on the surface, but also exactly what his body is rejecting. But how could he not be in the top 10? He is Dwyane Wade, after all.
Even more difficult to gauge is All-Star forward Elton Brand, who won't be playing for the Los Angeles Clippers for at least a couple of months due to a torn Achilles tendon. Then again, when it came to No. 50 with all the other considerations clearly there we'd still take Brand in February as opposed to the other guys now. But don't get indignant, it's more a reflection of Brand's talent and leadership than an indictment of those left out.
So there you have it, setting everybody up for anger and all. Having said that, on with the top 50 players for the coming season.
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs: All he does is help everybody win rings.
2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers: The challenge heightens this season.
3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: When and where will he go?
4. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns: This could be his last best chance to win.
5. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics: This could be another MVP season.
6. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks: This is the year to get over the hump.
7. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets: He proved there's plenty left in the tank.
8. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat: How will he respond from double-surgery?
9. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets: His talent is obvious, but winning is not.
10. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat: It's hard to figure just where he fits anymore.
11. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns: If knees are sound, he'll keep getting better.
12. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets: Probably the best pure post scorer.
13. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets: Age and knees notwithstanding, he's amazing.
14. Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets: He may be the best little guy to ever play.
15. Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors: His knee is an issue, but he proved a lot last season.
16. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic: Great on offensive glass and running the floor.
17. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs: So quick, it's as if he's playing on roller skates.
18. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers: He needs this season to prove he's still a star.
19. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards: As explosive scoring the ball as anybody.
20. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics: Will his ego get in the way of success for the Celts?
21. Ray Allen: Boston Celtics: The finest pure shooter in the game, but those ankles.
22. Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets: The game is still there in flashes, but for how long?
23. Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns: For all the whining, he should do more in postseason.
24. Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz: He proved last season he was worth all the money.
25. Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: This year is pivotal to prove he is a star.
26. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz: He raced into elite status last season; can he sustain it?
27. Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors: If he's healthy, he's as good as anybody.
28. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs: The wild card who makes the Spurs unbeatable.
29. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons: Mr. Big Shot has to prove he's still got it.
30. Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic: Does he have the head to be the man?
31. Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons: For them to win, he's got to keep his cool.
32. Zach Randolph, New York Knicks: Is there room in the post for him with Curry?
33. Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks: Ranks with his predecessor Allen as pure shooter.
34. Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls: Proved last season he has star qualities in his game.
35. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets: He'll bounce back strong from ankle problem.
36. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks: His talent is undeniable, but can he win here?
37. Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls: Disappointing against Pistons, but he's ascending.
38. Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks: His next step is to shine in postseason.
39. Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons: The roadrunner will get the edge every time.
40. Ben Gordon: Chicago Bulls: His so explosive, but can he be consistent?
41. Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets: A dominant rebounder and shot-blocker.
42. Tyson Chandler, New Orleans Hornets: He came on so strong, can he do it again?
43. Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls: The fade was slight but apparent; what's next?
44. Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers: Repeat of last season and he's way up there.
45. Ron Artest, Sacramento Kings: Unpredictable nightmare at both ends of spectrum.
46. Caron Butler, Washington Wizards: Proving critics wrong his whole life.
47. Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats: Injuries prevent him from being much higher.
48. Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards: Great offensive player, needs to do more.
49. Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies: Has great overall offensive game.
50. Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers: He's out for awhile but too special to overlook.
Hasn't Kahn gotten the memo? Kobe is the best player in the NBA. Seemingly everyone else says it, therefore it must be true.
Seriously, this is one of the few guys in the media who gets it. Thanks, Mike Kahn.
Well, this particular list isn't completely insane, like some you see, but there is plenty to argue about here. For example, Vince Carter probably shouldn't even be on the list, much less the top half.
A local radio host was arguing that LeBron James wasn't a top ten NBA player yesterday.
Neither should Pau "Fanstasy Line" Gasol for anyone that has actually watched a Memphis playoff game. And Stoudemire is certainly not better than Kidd.
LeBron #2? Really?
I can't imagine putting him above Nash, Shaq, Wade, etc...
Man! The media sure needs him to succeed.
J.O. seems too high on this list as well.
But, kudos on Duncan being #1!I'm glad someone remembered him when making up one of these lists.
Yep. I bad-mouth JO so much that I let it slide this time...LeBron #2? Really?
I can't imagine putting him above Nash, Shaq, Wade, etc...
Man! The media sure needs him to succeed.
J.O. seems too high on this list as well.
But, kudos on Duncan being #1!
LBJ may or may not be the second most valuable player in the league (it's arguable, at least), but I wouldn't say he is the second "best" player in terms of accomplishments, skill set, etc.
Duncan being number one on that list is not surprise to us, but will have many fans upset.
Always boils down to flash, or great skill-set players vs. who makes his team a winner, doesn't it. And those points of view are often an hetical and irreconcileable.
Look at all the great players with wonderful skills among the statistical leaders in many categories who never made it to one championship, much less 4 in 9 years: K. Malone, Stockton, Barkley, Dominique, Gervin, etc.
True, but in the case of these players - especially Malone, Stockton, and Barkley - luck plays a role. If I was starting a team and I had access to 22 year old versions of these players, I'd certainly draft them. Just because they didn't win les doesn't mean they were incapable of doing so. , if not for a midseason trade, Clyde Drexler would have 10 bare fingers instead of nine.Look at all the great players with wonderful skills among the statistical leaders in many categories who never made it to one championship, much less 4 in 9 years: K. Malone, Stockton, Barkley, Dominique, Gervin, etc.
Cool!
Since this list if for the "Top 50 players for the coming season", let's just slip Elton Brand out of there and slip Bruce Bowen into his slot at #50, why don't we?
@ Lebron at #2. They played the Wizards without Arenas and Butler and a weak Nets team that had no bench or center and the Pistons series was a fluke I think and more the Pistons losing it than the Cavs winning it.
Ginobili and Billups are way too low as well...how are they below Vince Mr. Choke in big moments Carter? Or even Shawn Marion, Jermaine Oneal, etc?
I started at the bottom of the list and that told me all I needed to know. Elton Brand is pretty much out for the year and this guy still felt the need to put him on the list.
Shaq is no longer a top ten talent. Or more accurately he's able to play as a top ten talent for maybe a quarter of the season.
Carmelo and Kidd could probably stand to move a few slots up, Stoudemire and Jermaine O'Neal a few slots down. Not the worst list ever (because a Spur is at the top) but not without its faults.
The thing I like most about these lists is the conversations they start.
Any list with Duncan at #1 is correct in my book.
No matter what the list is based on.
The rest of the league falls under him. In what order we can debate!
Kahn addresses why he put injured players in.
Duncan #1, nice.
But Dirk not even top 5? He had an MVP year last year, do people think he's going to have a big drop off for some reason? I expect him to be his usual self, so, why not top 5?
And they muddled TMac with the MVP of last season as "obvious" after the top 5? How is TMac more obvious than someone like Wade or even more obvious than his own teamate Yao, who I would rate higher than him?
PS: If you are talking about this coming season, you can forget about putting Melo outside the top 10 looking in. He's in, this year. And it's time to move the big fella outside the top 10 and call Snaq what he is already, not what he used to be.
This list isn't bad. Dirk should be higher, and Shaq should be lower. I have no problem with putting Lebron #2, based on what he has done and his age. I'm not saying that I agree, but I think it is a reasonable argument. If his defense was better, it would be more compelling. Kobe is hard to rate because his skill set is the best of any perimeter player, but his at ude is questionable. If they want to rate Nash at #4, they are looking past his defensive liabilities. It is true that ratings like this are impossible because players are in different team situations, and have different skill sets. How you put it all together is a matter of opinion.
It's cause he's from Fox....Whether it's sports, politics, or entertainment, Fox usually gets their right....With the exception of College Football of course.
There is one obvious name not on the list ....
Kevin Durant.
Manu 28????????????
Carlos Boozer is under rated... he torched Yao in the Utah-Houston series last season and he put up huge numbers against the Spurs... hes a top 15 player... defence doesnt seem to be a criteria any more judging by many lists goin around these days.
KG @ 5. I'm thinking that might actually change this year now that he's got a team behind him.
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