I considered a lot of guys while forming this list. This is one of the deepest positions in the league so inevitably some excellent players were left out. One of the guys that I had a hard time leaving out was Ben Gordon. There are two words to sum up why he was even considered. Crunch Time. There is no one in the NBA who steps up in big moments like Gordon. All of the Kobe fans out there may beg to differ, but the percentages don’t lie. He has been consistently clutch throughout his career, but the 08-09 Playoffs was his coming out party. He made more big shots than Tiger Woods at the Masters. The only issue is what he does when the game isn’t on the line. Andre Iguodala is another player who is extremely gifted, but didn’t quite crack the top ten. He’s obviously talented, but there is something missing. On top of that with a shoot first point guard in Louis Williams and a healthy Elton Brand there may be a power struggle for shot attempts on the Sixers. An unsatisfied player is usually an unproductive player. Many other good players were left out, but I’m satisfied with the ten I decided to go with. These guys may not have the best skills or the best numbers, but they are the best nonetheless.
10.) Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin doesn’t get a lot of love because he doesn’t play in a big market. It doesn’t help that his team has been consistently awful since the departure of Chris Webber either. Martin is the only thing that Kings fans have had to look forward to on the way to the arena. He has been a twenty a night guy over the past three years. The only thing holding him back is the fact that he can’t stay off of the training table. If he stays healthy he has the potential to lead the league in scoring some day.
9.) Jamal Crawford
Most people look at Jamal Crawford as a playground baller, but there is a lot more substance to his game than that. They think he’s all about the oohs and ahhs. While he is capable of making defenders look sillier than Mark Madsen in the Lakers championship parade he has great court vision and a smooth jump shot. He showed glimpses of what he could do while starting in the backcourt for my beloved Knicks. He’s a little inconsistent, but when he is on, he is virtually unguardable.
8.) Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady is one of the most versatile players in the NBA. The guy is a beast. There isn’t much else to say. He would be even higher on the list if he didn’t take an extended vacation on the bench in his street clothes every year.
7.) Ray Allen & Michael Redd
This one may be a bit of a cop-out. I was torn between two guys so I decided to just group them. It’s kind of appropriate because both of these players have made millions of dollars doing the same thing. Catching the ball and letting it fly. Ray Allen and Michael Redd are possibly the best riflemen in the NBA. Off the dribble, fading away, contested, off of a screen, from out of bounds, eyes closed. It doesn’t matter. They can just flat out shoot the rock.
6.) Vince Carter
At 157 years old Vince Carter will still be jumping out of the gym. He has lost a little bit (a very little bit) of explosion, but there is still no one who comes close to Vince Carter when it comes to dunking a basketball in-game. VC is the most electrifying player I have ever watched and I’ve been watching since a guy named Michael Jordan was playing. He is the only player that I’ve ever watched who has made me feel what he was doing. When he throws down a windmill, Joe Schmo in the fifth row gets chills. When he jumps over 7 footers the whole world goes crazy. When he stares down a guy who he just dunked on my heart is beating as fast as his. When he does a celebratory And 1 dance the fans can feel that. They feel like they are a part of the game and that’s what the NBA is all about. On top of that he has a sweet stroke from long range. His nickname sums him up perfectly. Half Man Half Amazing.
5.) Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson is a silent assassin. He isn’t going to cross anybody or throw it down in traffic. He isn’t going to wow the crowd with his speed. You’ll never see him partying with A-List celebrities. I’ve never even heard the guy talk. Quite frankly he’s pretty boring. Even his name is boring. He is still one of the most lethal scorers in the league despite his lack of charisma. Johnson has helped lead the once abysmal Atlanta Hawks back to being a perennial playoff team. His consistency and leadership make up for his shortcomings in the entertainment department.
4.) Brandon Roy
From the time Brandon Roy stepped onto a NBA floor, it was evident that he would be a force for years to come. He doesn’t really have any glaring holes in his game. He’s just solid across the board. I personally did not think he would amount to much coming out of Washington, but I was way off base. He made an immediate impact and has been Portland’s go-to-guy from day one. The crazy part is that he is only twenty three years old. It’s scary to think about how good he’ll be when it’s all said and done.
3.) Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is a lanky swingman who has never seen a shot that he didn‘t like. His skill set is outrageous for his size. There aren’t many guys who have a mismatch night in and night out, but Durant is one of them. He’s too big for 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s to guard. He’s too fast for 4’s and 5’s. The players who are big enough and fast enough simply aren’t good enough. The only problem is that his team is nothing more than a glorified D-League team.
2.) Dwayne Wade
Dwayne Wade is probably the most explosive player in the NBA today. He has a lethal combination of speed and strength. Those two attributes make it just about impossible to stay in front of him. I like to think of D-Wade as the Manny Ramirez of basketball (minus the lackluster effort on defense). Similar to Ramirez, Wade loves the spotlight and he knows how to treat the big moment. His theatrics after sinking one of his patented circus shots are as entertaining as the shots themselves. His swagger along with his skill makes him the ideal franchise player. That is exactly why he’ll be one of the most sought after free agents in the illustrious 2010 class.
1.) Kobe Bryant
No surprise here. It pains me to say it, but Kobe is the best in the business. I am not a Kobe fan by any stretch of the imagination. He shows up his teammates on a regular basis. He is capable of shooting his team out of the game. He cries about every call. I’ve never met him, but he seems like an asshole. That is a part of his persona. There isn’t much grey area with Bryant. Either you love him or you hate him. Whether you like him or not you have to respect what he is capable of. After getting that forth ring last year, I think that he has to be considered one of the top ten players to ever play this game.