Superstars in the NBA
I would say that the worst superstar in the league now is Melo. I consider him a "star," but not a superstar. A superstar to me has to be someone who can take over a game and lead his team to victory on any given night, but also someone who makes his teammates better, which Melo doesn't do.
I think Melo is a great player, and one of the most clutch players in the league, but he's not a superstar. The thing that gives him "superstar" status right now is his populartity. He's someone who will get voted to the allstar game even if he doesn't deserve to be in it, i.e. this year.
There are only two superstars at his position and they are Lebron and Durant. Some may argue with me but, a superstar will have his team in contention for a title every year, which Melo hasn't done.
Blake Griffin. His great athleticism and ridiculous dunks made him into a 'superstar.' But he doesn't do anything that well outside of catching and finishing, and rebounding. He has an average post game, average free throw shooter, average face up game, average defense.
Superstars: Kobe, cp3, dirk, durant, rose, melo, lebron, wade, Howard.
Toughest guy to leave off for me is dwill but he's right there so kinda a toss up.
Guys that are right in the verge to become superstars: Bynum, rondo, Westbrook, love, griffin, Parker
Wade is not even close to the best player on his team? Gasol probably a little better than Kobe but it is close. Duncan is the best player on the Spurs although not the best offensive player but he is and will always be better than Tony Parker.
Westbrook isn't better than Melo? unreal
Wade is playing with lebron, that can't be ur argument against him really?
If I'm playing the spurs and I have my option of subtracting either Duncan or Parker, I'm subtracting Parker. His ability to get into the lane is what allows all those spot up shooters to get looks and leaves defenses scrambling. Duncan is still a great player, but his superstar days are over.
And u can argue westbrook over melo as melo is the worst of the list. But I'll give the edge to melo. He takes too much blame for his teams lack of success. He can be the best player on a contender, I'm not ready to say that about Westbrook because hes still too inconsistent and will shoot his team out of about 2 games every series which is fine if u have other dominant scorers like durant but not so fine if you are the main guy.
@UconnMonster711
LeBron's Cavs teams were depleted with injuries?
The Cavs didn't have any big names, but I think the roster was somewhat similar to the Bulls now. Just bunch of role players who played their roles great and defended, rebounded, etc. Nothing special, but good team defense and chemistry.
Even LeBron would have a difficult time leading this Nets team to wins with Brook Lopez's broken foot and the lack of quality players on this roster. They'd be in competition for a low seed, but LeBron would have to play amazing every single game and do everything just for this team to have a chance at a low seed. Other than LeBron, there's probably no other player in the NBA that could even get this team close to a playoff spot.
Point is, we shouldn't knock D-Will for this. He's still a superstar in my opinion. He certainly hasn't gotten worse as a player.
Parker is basically the only PG on the roster after Ford's injury. And Splitter and Bonner are good players so Parker is arguably more valuable, but Duncan is better.
It is kind of like Tom Brady and Gronkowski. Gronkowski is a much better player but Brady is more valuable because they have no replacement.
Look, lebron is great, but the whole he led an average team to the finals thing is overestimated. The east was junk that year. The cavs beat 2 complete scrub teams in the first 2 rounds then ran into an aging Detroit team that choked. The cavs were the easiest team the spurs played in the entire playoffs that year and it was an easy sweep.
"Even LeBron would have a difficult time leading this Nets team to wins with Brook Lopez's broken foot and the lack of quality players on this roster. They'd be in competition for a low seed, but LeBron would have to play amazing every single game and do everything just for this team to have a chance at a low seed."
I absolutely think LeBron would've gotten them into the playoffs, probably a top 6 seed too. LeBron pretty much guarantee's 40 wins by himself. In Cleveland he pretty much played amazing every game so it's not like he couldn't do it again. I don't think there is a team in the NBA LeBron couldn't get 45 wins out of to be honest.
I know MJ was a superstar,Larry Legend was a superstar, Magic Johnson Was one also.
Big Men: Hakeem aand Shaq to name a few.
What separate these players from the mob?.
Leadership (impact beyond stats and powerful team motivators)
High BKB IQ- Most superstars are/were excellent playmakers. ( Shaq and Hakeem were incredible post passers)
Shaq was also the most imposing physical presence ever known in BKB
Clutch ( they are not afraid to be responsible for their failures or successes at the end of a game)
That being said, i consider superstars Kobe, Lebron, Duncan and KG (old days) Paul, Durant, Wade, Dwight (for his overall impact on the game)
LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki.
Those are the group of guys I can honestly say are superstars without a doubt.
Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony are superstars as well in my opinion, but I can see the doubt.
@Y2G
LeBron is probably THE only player that could... That's the reason he left Cleveland though... He was tired of carrying such a heavy burden. And with the Nets, he'd have a much smaller margin of error every night than he did with the Cavs.
Point is, that team is garbage and we shouldn't hold it against D-Will.
When I think of a superstar I think of the all time great hall of fame players. I don't think of consistent all stars or even borderline hall of famers. I personally think 6,7 or 8 is just way too high. Kobe and lebron are definitely superstars. I think you could definitely make a case for durant and maybe rose but they are still young and growing. If you don't think another player is on the same level as Kobe or lebron then how can you consider them superstars too? Like Dwight or dirk or cp3 or especially melo. Those guys are stars no doubt and they will all have at least a good chance of making the hall of fame depending on how they finish their careers. But I consider lebron and Kobe true superstars who are two of the greatest to ever play the game. Maybe that's just me though
Whether or not LeBron could get horrible teams like the Nets, Bobcats, etc into the playoffs boils down to opinion because LeBron will never play for them, meaning we'll never know.
D-Will made a comment that the only thing that's changed for him since the Jazz is now 3-4 defenders are defending him now instead of 1-2.
He scored 57 points during a game this season and this team barely won the game.
Westbrook could be an all-star by the end of the year. He had a great year and a championship would really help him out.
My superstar point guards are CP3 and Derrick Rose. Westbrook is on the cusp. D Will is borderline but he lacks Paul's intangibles.
Rajon Rondo is close too.
Rose having an MVP helps his superstar case, but he struggled through an injury-riddled season this year. I can see Westbrook passing Rose next year if RW keeps improving and if Rose has to change his game due to his injury.
Superstars in my opinion are franchise caliber plays that u usually can count on to make big plays. Current superstars are Lebron wade melo Kobe durant rose Dwight cp3 dirk Westbrook and rondo. Dwill used to b a superstar but his cast with nets has made him fall of some. I have rondo as a superstar bcuz he's a flat out baller and effects both ends of the floor better then any other pg. Bynum Rudy and Blake are all starts that I have on the edge of being superstars plus u could also consider pierce as a superstar cuz he is one of the most clutch players in the league.
Superstars in my opinion are franchise caliber plays that u usually can count on to make big plays. Current superstars are Lebron wade melo Kobe durant rose Dwight cp3 dirk Westbrook and rondo. Dwill used to b a superstar but his cast with nets has made him fall of some. I have rondo as a superstar bcuz he's a flat out baller and effects both ends of the floor better then any other pg. Bynum Rudy and Blake are all starts that I have on the edge of being superstars plus u could also consider pierce as a superstar cuz he is one of the most clutch players in the league.
Seems there are different interpretations of superstar.
In my opinion a superstar has a lot to do with things off the court and often has more to do with the team they're on and marketability. Although D-Will is an elite player I wouldn't call him a superstar. Whereas Blake is a superstar because of the highlight dunks yet there are better overall players than him who are not.
I think its also interesting to see young players who perpetuate this kind of superstar status (Dwight?) and those who seem content with on court success (Rose, Durant?).
D Rose has Deng, and Noah. Lebron basically had Antawn Jamison and then a few good role players, not much else
Are you watching the playoffs? Is this really the best timing you got for a "Derrick Rose has a lot of help and isn't the reason Chicago is good" argument?
If you tune in or by tickets just to watch him, he's probably a superstar
Rose-pg
CP3-pg
Kobe-sg
Wade-sg
James -sf
Durant-sf
Dirk-pf
Howard -C
Stars not yet superstarts/not superstars anymore
pg- Rondo, Westbrook, Williams
sf- Melo
pf - Griffin, Love, Aldridge
C - Bynum
DWill is my favorite player. But he is NOT a superstar. A superstar is someone who is contantly in the spotlight and has the media just as involved in their life as they are in their game. Deron Williams no doubt has elite ball playing skills but he hasnt become a media favorite. DRose who is reluctant to be called a superstar can be called a superstar nonetheless because of people's wanting to like him. for those of you saying DWill has fallen off thats ignorant. you havent seen his games or his supporting cast. Dwill is that same player he was on the Jazz without as good teammates. Im just glad he has freedom to run an offense his way now instead of the system in Utah. Sure he single handedly wins games for them sometimes like when he ended Linsanity or dropped 57 against Charlotte but no player in my opinion can help that sinking ship in New Jersey.
FvuckSwagg the Bulls were in great shape in that series until Noah got hurt, Rose has a lot of help though take the best player off any team and they are notgoing to contend for a win a title, except maybe the Spurs their success is mind boggling
@IknoBall12
Based on your logic, Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow are superstars.
I was reading the topic about Rudy Gay ever being a superstar(he won't) and was thinking what the definition of superstar was. Everyone has a different one.
But an easier question is who is the "worst" superstar in the league right now(what player is the benchmark for being considered a superstar)?