Top 50 players in the NBA today

[Ridders]

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NBA’s Top 50 Players: All-Star Panel Picks Kobe Bryant No. 1 Over LeBron James

nospam47 Dec 3, 12:17 am EST


Kobe or LeBron? LeBron or Kobe? Trying to settle on the best player in the NBA—Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(notes) or Cavaliers forward LeBron James(notes)—is no easy choice.
But, according to Sporting News’ panel of experts, Bryant is the clear-cut No. 1. Bryant tops SN’s list of the 50 greatest players in the NBA today, as selected by a panel of 107 Hall of Famers, major award winners, executives, current players and coaches and other basketball experts.

Bryant received almost twice as many first-place votes as James, 62 to 34.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade(notes) was third on the list and received 11 first-place votes. Magic center Dwight Howard(notes) was fourth, and Spurs power forward Tim Duncan(notes) fifth.

Rounding out the top 10: Hornets point guard Chris Paul(notes), Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett(notes), Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki(notes), Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony(notes), and Celtics small forward Paul Pierce(notes).

"I think what we’ve seen from Kobe in the last two, three years is that he has become an incredible leader," former Lakers great Magic Johnson said about Bryant. "That was the only thing he had to do that was left on his resume. Before, there was no question that he was the best basketball player in the world, like he is now. He was dominant every night, but he didn’t take on that leadership role. … Now, he is the total package."

SN’s Top 50 breakdown

By team
5: Lakers
4: Celtics, Spurs
3: Hawks, Pistons, Rockets
2: Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nuggets, Raptors, 76ers, Suns
1: Bulls, Bucks, Clippers, Heat, Hornets, Nets, Pacers, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Wizards
0: Bobcats, Kings, Knicks, Timberwolves, Warriors

By position
Point guard: 11
Shooting guard: 12
Small forward: 11
Power forward: 10
Center: 6

SN’s TOP 50 PLAYERS

1. Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers
2. LeBron James, SF, Cavaliers
3. Dwyane Wade, SG, Heat
4. Dwight Howard, C, Magic
5. Tim Duncan, PF, Spurs
6. Chris Paul, PG, Hornets
7. Kevin Garnett, PF, Celtics
8. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks
9. Carmelo Anthony, SF, Nuggets
10. Paul Pierce, SF, Celtics
11. Steve Nash(notes), PG, Suns
12. Deron Williams(notes), PG, Jazz
13. Tony Parker(notes), PG, Spurs
14. Brandon Roy(notes), SG, Trail Blazers
15. Yao Ming(notes), C, Rockets
16. Shaquille O’Neal(notes), C, Cavaliers
17. Pau Gasol(notes), PF, Lakers
18. Chris Bosh(notes), PF, Raptors
19. Amare Stoudemire, PF, Suns
20. Chauncey Billups(notes), PG, Nuggets
21. Kevin Durant(notes), SF, Thunder
22. Manu Ginobili(notes), SG, Spurs
23. Jason Kidd(notes), PG, Mavericks
24. Tracy McGrady(notes), SG, Rockets
25. Joe Johnson(notes), SG, Hawks
26. Derrick Rose(notes), PG, Bulls
27. Ray Allen(notes), SG, Celtics
28. Gilbert Arenas(notes), PG, Wizards
29. Ron Artest(notes), SF, Lakers
30. Vince Carter(notes), SG, Magic
31. Danny Granger(notes), SF, Pacers
32. Baron Davis(notes), PG, Clippers
33. Devin Harris(notes), PG, Nets
34. Ben Gordon(notes), SG, Pistons
35. Al Horford(notes), C, Hawks
36. Carlos Boozer(notes), PF, Jazz
37. Nene, C, Nuggets
38. Rajon Rondo(notes), PG, Celtics
39. Andre Iguodala(notes), SG, 76ers
40. Josh Smith(notes), PF, Hawks
41. Rudy Gay(notes), SF, Grizzlies
42. Hedo Turkoglu(notes), SF, Raptors
43. Lamar Odom(notes), SF, Lakers
44. Shane Battier(notes), SF, Rockets
45. Elton Brand(notes), PF, 76ers
46. Richard Jefferson(notes), SF, Spurs
47. O.J. Mayo(notes), SG, Grizzlies
48. Charlie Villanueva(notes), PF, Pistons
49. Michael Redd(notes), SG, Bucks
50. Andrew Bynum(notes), C, Lakers

List of people who judged on this list is on the link above the article.

 

[Ridders]

I am a bit confused on what the list is using as a barometre. Shaq being so high is a bit off-putting. Can't tell if they are using current abilities as a barometre or past achievements.

 

[Noa]

Redd and Charlie V on the list render it null and void.

 

[McLovin]

Tmac's on the list lol... end credibility...

 

[Ridders]

Wierd thing is that there were plenty of credible people who judged on it.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

devin harris and rudy gay over Al Jefferson :crazy:
al jefferson should ask for a release,as soon he's out of that horrible system rambus is teaching them the better he will be

 

[Ridders]

I think part of Al's problem is that he's coming of major knee surgery, so naturally it was going to take a bit of time to get used to it.

I also think Love coming back will help Jefferson out, as well as guys like Flynn and even Sessions. I've read some stuff that Minny might go to a running style once Love comes back.

It is a bit unusual to play the triangle offense when you have two good pick and role PG's.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

I think part of Al's problem is that he's coming of major knee surgery, so naturally it was going to take a bit of time to get used to it.

I also think Love coming back will help Jefferson out, as well as guys like Flynn and even Sessions. I've read some stuff that Minny might go to a running style once Love comes back.

It is a bit unusual to play the triangle offense when you have two good pick and role PG's.

thats what mchale wanted and i was really hopeing we did
it makes sense if we did considering we are also after rudy gay for next year

 

[Ridders]

Yeah I've heard that Gay rumour and I guess it makes sense give how weak the T-Wolves are at the wing spots in terms of scoring. Gay would kind of be the anti-Brewer as in he's good offensively while plays limited D, while Brewer is a very proficient defender but very poor on offense.

I know I'm stealing McLovin's line here but I'd look forward to a Gay Love experiment.

 

[El Coconuto]

Fully agree with the top nine right down to the order. Everything from there gets a little sketchy.