[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Like Iggy9, here are my top 50 players right now.

NBA Top 50 rankings

1. LeBron James
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Dwyane Wade
4. Kevin Durant
5. Chris Paul
6. Dwight Howard
7. Carmelo Anthony
8. Deron Williams
9. Pau Gasol
10. Dirk Nowitzki

11. Chris Bosh
12. Steve Nash
13. Brandon Roy
14. Amare Stoudemire
15. Yao Ming
16. Tim Duncan
17. Derrick Rose
18. Rajon Rondo
19. Al Jefferson
20. Paul Pierce

21. Andrew Bogut
22. Danny Granger
23. Joe Johnson
24. Kevin Garnett
25. Chancey Billups
26. Tony Parker
27. Tyreke Evans
28. Andre Iguodala
29. Manu Ginobili
30. Josh Smith

31. Rudy Gay
32. Carlos Boozer
33. Kevin Love
34. Gilbert Arenas
35. Andrew Bynum
36. Monta Ellis
37. Brandon Jennings
38. Stephen Curry
39. Gerald Wallace
40. Zach Randolph

41. Stephen Jackson
42. LaMarcus Aldridge
43. O.J. Mayo
44. Russell Westbrook
45. Brook Lopez
46. Al Horford
47. Vince Carter
48. Marc Gasol
49. Jason Kidd
50. David Lee

[WrecklessParticipant]

Lebron over Kobe?
Nah, fuck that.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

You put LeBron over Kobe?! What is wrong with people these days.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

You put LeBron over Kobe?! What is wrong with people these days.

[Demarcus OnealParticipant]

Im guessing you only watched the regular season

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Just by looking at the first name of the list, you know the list is bad. That screwed up the whole list.

[cidjulianParticipant]

i dont know how this can be called “top 50 players right now” considering yao didnt even play this entire past season but is still ranked number 15!! plus marc gasol over odom and lee?!? billups isnt top 20?!? josh smith and bogut over boozer?!? lebron over kobe?!?

[nateoak10Participant]

LBJ over Kobe is a good choice, seriously just cuz you ppl dont like him doesnt mean kobe is better. only thing kobe is better at game wise is…ummm.. nothing

lbj is the better passer, scorer, ball handler, rebounder, defender and now arguable jump shooter while being bigger stronger and faster

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Hey, I didn’t say perfect rankings lol.

Lebron is the best player right now. He would win titles too on Los Angles.

Gasol is a stud, you either haven’t watched him play or don’t like him. I think he’s underrated due to the fact he plays next to Randolph

Also, Billups is good but not top 20 good IMO There is no player in the top 20 that shouldn’t be there.

I think Evans is right there. I think 27 was a little too high but I wouldn’t move him out that bracket. Maybe drop him to 30.

[cidjulianParticipant]

“on the court” isnt the same as “in the statbook” so it depends on what we are talking about … kobe is no doubt the best in the league when it comes to getting out on the court!! the shots dude constantly hits, his competiveness/leadership and his IQ are far beyond Lebron … i will admit that in a fantasy league, i’ll draft Lebron number 1 over everybody in the league but if i am building a franchise for 82 games plus the post season – kobe hands down … also i dont think the cavs roster this past season would beat the nuggets in a best of 7 series, billups is a bad dude and once again may not be as nice in fantasy leagues but in 48 minutes of hooping, it doesnt get much better and thats real!!

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

nateoak10, What the hell are you talking about? Kobe is way better than LeBron and I hate both players like there’s no tomorrow. The only reason LeBron averages more points, rebounds and blocks is because he’s super athletic. Kobe is the better basketball player but LeBron is more athletic, which allows him to get better stats, which is why people think LeBron is better than Kobe.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

It’s not that I don’t like LeBron, it’s just that Kobe is better, plain and simple. Kobe has 5 rings, LeBron has 0. And Kobe wants to win more. Of course LeBron wants to win a championship, but if he doesn’t it’s not the end of the world for him. He wants to win a championship, but he doesn’t want it as much as Kobe. I think LeBron cares more about being a global icon than winning a championship. There was a point in time during the season where Kobe was getting injured a lot and Phil Jackson wanted him to sit out some games but he chose not to because he said “The fans paid good money to see me play, and I’m not going to disappoint them.” LeBron chose to sit out those final regular season games. And y’all remember the game when Chris Rock was talking to Kobe and he made no reaction, I bet if that was LeBron, he would be laughing his tail off. LeBron doesn’t have the same drive and is not as clutch as Kobe is.

And LeBron doesn’t work on his game that. much. I mean, at that size, he should have some kind of post game. Kobe wasn’t blessed and doesn’t have the same body that LeBron does, but he works o his game. He even has a post when when he’s smaller then LeBron. Kobe works so hard, and that’s why he’s so good.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

That’s fine. You can take Kobe.

I know LeBron is a beast in the regular season and playoffs. I’m so glad you brought up his numbers. You made my arguement for me.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html

Um….He almost put up a 30-10-8 overall in the playoffs. He isin’t a slouch. Had he had a Pau Gasol ( Legit #2 option) next to him? The King would be rocking a ring right now.

Hell, put Kobe on Cleveland and James on LA…LA doesn’t win a title?

[WizardofOzParticipant]

You said that if he was on the Lakers, he would have won a ring. So by saying that, you are saying the Lakers have a better supporting cast. If the Lakers really have a better supporting cast than the Cavs, then how come the Cavs had the best record in the regular season 2 years in a row. 65 and 61 wins are a lot of wins. LeBron can’t win that many games by himself.

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

And Kobe is the better passer, shooter, ball-handler and defender. You must be out of your mind to think LeBron is the better jump shooter.

[JNixonParticipant]

Let him have his own rankings…..I think y’all should try and make y’all own rankings. It’s easy to criticize something like this without actually doing it. Let him have an opinion, instead of going crazy lol

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

Lebron’s athleticism is part of what makes him a great basketball player. You can’t just complete negate athleticism when determining who is better overall player.

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

Mr.Knick 32, I guess LeBron didn’t have 3 all-stars in Jamison, Mo, and Shaq with him.

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

JNixon-Iggy9, I already made my rankings on your Forum topic.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

Shaq and Jamison are over the hill. Mo Williams is vasty overrated. None of those players are even close to the level of Gasol.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Iggy, thanks man

“Mr.Knick 32, I guess LeBron didn’t have 3 all-stars in Jamison, Mo, and Shaq with him.”

LOL, let’s debunk this myth

Jamison is good. He’s not a number 2 option. He’s a good player as a PF against softer post players. He never played good defense ( never had to played his prime in GSW) and it’s showed.

Mo Williams is a scrub. He was a 22th alternate for the ASG. He was at best a #3 option. I been saying that since he got his butt whipped by RAFER ALSTON in Game 3 vs Orlando in 2009

Shaq is old as hell, he cant play more then 25mpg on some nights. If you thought he would be a legit player for Cleveland…GTFO

There you go. Mythbuster-NBA edition.

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

Im Your Father and Mr. Knick, I know none of them are better than Gasol, but all 3 of them together are.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

WizardofOz

You must not have watched the regular season. Not every team plays 100 percent every night. Some teams even ( Gasp!) coast a little bit for resting players or getting higher draft picks. See in case- Boston last year dropping to 4th seed because they didn’t play as hard.

Gotta watch more of the NBA man.

[the barronParticipant]

Your list is all right. A couple of things stood out to me though.

1. David Lee is among the top 25-35 players in the league not #50. Definitely better than Kevin Love

2. Yao shouldn’t have been on the list. He didn’t play this year and may never be the same player again.

3. Durant should be ahead of D-Wade and D-Will over CP3.

Once again though everybody has their list and nobody will ever agree on one.

[Bryant24Participant]

How many rings does kobe have to get to show u guys he is the best player the most clutch somebody not to mess with come playoff yime

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

He’s great and it’s arguable to say Kobe #1

But LeBron is number 1 IMO. I think if you switched the two…whole different story.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Kevin Love is better then David Lee IMO.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Of course it’d be a different story if you switched LeBron and Kobe places.

Kobe wouldn’t be able to do a whole lot with LeBron’s supporting cast because it was built for LeBron. That team, like them or not, was built based on LeBron’s limited ball dominant skill set. Role/hustle players who rebound/defend/don’t need the ball and three-point shooters for LeBron to kick out to. That’s not Kobe’s game.

Kobe’s game has more room to be surrounded with other great players who need their own space to operate. LeBron’s doesn’t.

Even if LeBron was on the Lakers, they’d still lack a closer. And who knows if LeBron would get the max out of his teammates like Kobe does. Kobe’s a cut throat leader who doesn’t care if you like him or not. LeBron wants to be liked and yuck it up on the sidelines as he celebrates during the regular season. LeBron would be like Pippen, not Jordan/Kobe, in the triangle.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

But then I could argue Kobe didn’t close 2 big games in the playoffs this year

Game 5 vs Phoenix…Artest finished that.

Game 7 vs Boston….Gasol and Artest did the big work.

It’s all about opinion.

[Bryant24Participant]

But how many times have kobe been the closer this year for the lakers how many game winner he hit this year and he scored 10 key points on game 7 and had a big double without that would the lakers won? hmmm

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@Mr.Knick 32

It’s a reality that you can’t be the hero every game. Let’s not forget the fact that Kobe played on a bum knee and with an arthritic finger on his shooting hand the entire playoffs.

I think we all know that Kobe is a cut throat closer, despite the few games he missed shots or didn’t deliver.

[cap777Participant]

I would take off

Yao Ming
Paul Pierce
Kevin Garnett
Tony Parker
Manu Ginobili
Andrew Bynum
Brandon Jennings
O.J. Mayo
Vince Carter
Marc Gasol
Jason Kidd

and add

David West
Chris Kaman
Antawn Jamison
Corey Maggette
Aaron Brooks
Luol Deng
Troy Murphy
Luis Scola
Baron Davis
Devin Harris
Kevin Martin

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

10 key points on game 7 and had a big double without that would the lakers won? hmmm

I think it’s Arguable they would have won. The Lakers would have won IMO. I seen the 4th quarter of that Game 7 like 4 times now…The Celtics wasn’t hitting too many shots nor getting Big Rebounds ( Gasol did well on the boards).

Your a Kobe fan, I support Lebron. To be honest- This is going nowhere amigo. Let’s agree to disagree.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

I gotta brb so I’ll make this quick

David West- Maybe
Chris Kaman- No
Antawn Jamison- Hell no
Corey Maggette- Hell no
Aaron Brooks- Maybe…I almost put him at 42
Luol Deng- Hell no
Troy Murphy- No
Luis Scola- No Way
Baron Davis- Arguable
Devin Harris- Arguable
Kevin Martin- Just missed my cut. He was in my 51-55 group

[Toronto16Participant]

As soon as I saw Lebron as #1, I stopped reading.

[dipt1982Participant]

If you paid attention to the playoffs and watched the Lakers, you would realize the “little things” Kobe did and the shots in CRITICAL situations that he made. Artest made a shot to win the game, true, but Kobe hit shot after clutch shot to have them IN that game in the first place down the stretch. And Kobe had a horrible shooting night in game 7, but he went to the line a ton in the fourth quarter when it COUNTED the most, and he is so clutch it’s not even funny…

LeBron has shown he doesn’t step up in big situations time and time again, so it’s unfair to hand LeBron a title based on if he was with the Lakers. And to answer your question, NO I don’t think he would win if they switched places. Kobe has turned into a complete player during the late stages of his career, more often than not making his teammates better. I’m not so sure LeBron could effectively integrate the rest of the Lakers if he was in Kobe’s shoes…

Bottom line is, until LeBron makes it to the Finals and proves himself, he can’t be handed the reigns as the best player in the league IMO. If it was a fantasy team, LeBron would be 1st all day due to stats, but in this case, STATS LIE…

It’s a good argument, those are just my feelings on it…

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

As soon as I saw Lebron as #1, I stopped reading.

No problem

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Like I said, the LeBron- Bryant argument is flippable.

I take LeBron. He provide TOO many things on the court for me to not take him at #1.

[dipt1982Participant]

^^^ Everything but a ring, LOL…just messing with you, I can’t hate on your opinion…

[gregoden08Participant]

OVer Roy? Are you freaking kidding me? B-Roy is a top-10 player…

[fastforward322Participant]

Mr. Knick is right, LeBron is who I would definitely pick first if I had a choice because he does everything on the floor. Kobe is by far the best offensive player in the league, hands down. But Kobe shoots a lower percentage and takes more shots. Sometimes he tries to do too much on his own instead of fully trusting his teammates.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

I don’t think Roy is a top 10 guy. He’ a 2nd tier guy.

[JNixonParticipant]

I agree. Roy is a top 15 player, he’s not quite top 10 IMO either.

[gregoden08Participant]

Roy has never been 2nd tier. Watch the 4th quarter once in a while of a Blazer game. That is why he is a top-10 player.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Listen, I understand your standing up for your player and all.

But Roy is not that guy in my eyes. He’s a fantastic player but I feel Roy is just outside the top 10. Telling me to watch a 4th quarter means nothing in my eyes. He’s a really clutch player there….that’s good.

Maybe next season, he will be in my top 10.

[JNixonParticipant]

Jamal Crawford excels in the 4th quarter of games as well….I know that’s not solely or seriously what you’re basing how good a player he is.

Roy hasn’t been past the 1st round of the playoffs. He HAS to do that AND possibly get past the 2nd round at least 1 time and play well before he can be considered a top 10 player IMO. Top 10 is the best of the best, Roy doesn’t seem like a 1st option on a title contender unless they have the same type of (2nd level) players to surround him with

[gregoden08Participant]

Stephen Curry at 38? If you didn’t notice, he put up good stats on a piece of crap team….Just like what everyone does on GS. You can’t put him over guys like LA, Wallace, Lee and even West.

[gregoden08Participant]

I respect that Iggy and Knicksboy, but at the same time…You can’t possibly have Bosh over Roy. Bosh hasn’t done anything to prove he’s a better player than Roy. And yes, Roy hasn’t made it out of the first round, but lets be real…Blazers have had tons of injuries the last 2 years.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Stephen Curry at 38

Yes. Go Watch the 2nd half of season when he got more PT…He flat dominated. He got rebounds and assits at a amazing rate. He’s someone who will produce in any system.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Roy hasn’t done anything dominant to make me say he’s better then Chris Bosh.

[llperez]

i would defnietly put roy ahead of bosh. He’s right in the mix with dirk and nash.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

LL….

You would. I wouldn’t.

[llperez]

very observant of you

[JNixonParticipant]

Roy and Bosh are like the exact same level player. Neither has gotten past the 1st round, and neither is a superstar who can carry a team, so I won’t put either in my top 10. But I do think that Bosh gets the slight edge. Bosh has a chance to prove he’s the best PF in the game if he has a stronger season and outplays Gasol when they match up head-to-head.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Thanks Iggy9 man

At least some people are a little realistic here.

[gregoden08Participant]

How can you say that Roy can’t carry a team? He’s been in the playoffs twice, and in one of them he was injured.

[llperez]

am i not being realistic, or are you tlking about other people?

[gregoden08Participant]

How am I not being realistic? Look at your **** list and tell me THAT’S realistic. Your list sucks.

[JNixonParticipant]

If you can’t get past the 1st round of the playoffs, you can’t carry a team. I feel like if you switched Brandon Roy on the Raptors, they would either just miss the playoffs or they wouldn’t advantage past the 1st round. The same thing happened with Bosh. Therefore, they are the same level player and can’t be depended on to truly carry a team.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

You call it a bad list because your player isn’t ranked to where you want him. Grow some balls and move on.

L, not you. Just some past comments- We need some more realistic people commenting.

[gregoden08Participant]

No, I already said fair enough with the Roy thing. I’m saying, generally…your list is terrible.

[llperez]

portalnd has been a walking mash unit. Every week someone is going on the injury list. Hard to really judge roy trying to get out of a very tough west with the injuries to both himself and the team. I truly do believe he could be the best player on a title team. He would need a lot of help, but he impacts the game in so many ways and gets into the paint and sets up his teammates. Bosh is a very good player, but i have never in 7 years of wathicng him play thought "uh oh, dont let bosh get the ball hes gonna give it to us tonight." He’s just not a reliable go to player who makes his whole team better.

[gregoden08Participant]

Again, he’s played in what…2 playoffs appearances? So I guess Durant can’t carry a team either, right? LOL.

[Michael.S.Participant]

I think Dirk and Nash are better than Roy because in my opinion they have a greater impact on the game. Roy is a great player it’s just that I think his game has some limitations. He just doesn’t have the starpower and potential to get to the level of the best players in the league.

Hope my post was a little realistic.

[gregoden08Participant]

What limitations exactly? Also, those two players you have named have been in the league for much longer and have both proven that they can’t carry a team. So I don’t get your point.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

“I’m saying, generally…your list is terrible”

Tell me where I guaranteed a good list? It was a list built on the spot to be honest. But you kknow what? You can build your list where Roy is #1, Aldridge is #2 and Camby is #3. It’s a opinions list. It’s my opinion.

Roy is a good player I don’t doubt that but Bosh is better. I doubt Roy will be too much better then OJ Mayo next season.

Also, go look at the teams Bosh went to the playoffs with. Those teams were pure bullshit.

[JNixonParticipant]

I’d personally take Bosh over Roy. It’s extremely close as I said, but Bosh is a threat. YOU may not have that “Bosh was gonna kill someone tonight”, but Bosh is a player coaches have to heavily game-plan for, and he still gets you 20 and 10 on a borderline playoff team. Not many can say that. No doubt he’s a top 15 player. Roy is no doubt a fantastic player, but if you have to have a true 2nd option for him to be a title contending piece. They had injuries, but I don’t think Roy can be a top 10 player in the NBA. Over who exactly?

[JNixonParticipant]

Kevin Durant led the NBA in scoring and he’s 21. He’s better than Brandon Roy. He didn’t get OKC past the 1st round (AGAINST THE NBA CHAMPIONS), but I’m willing to bet OKC makes it past the 1st round in his 2nd try. Roy didn’t make it in either of his 1st 2 tries. And he was a middle seeded playoff team.

[llperez]

i didnt say top 10, just one guy on knicksboy list i would put him ahead of would be bosh. Im just not that high on bosh. Roy has the ability to takeover games and i dont think bosh does. And i dont mean that just from a stats standpoint. Also, roy hasnt been in the league as long so we will have to wait a little bit before we can really say what he can or cant do in the playoffs. 4years, and when you are in the west and dealing with multiple injuries, is too early for me to hold playoff succes or lack there of to a real high standard.

[gregoden08Participant]

” Roy is no doubt a fantastic player, but if you have to have a true 2nd option for him to be a title contending piece”

So Bosh can carry a team better? Because he’s clearly shown he can’t. I agree, it’s close, but I don’t see how you can’t give the edge to Roy. And to answer over who, it’s tough to say. Sometimes I always flip flop between Roy and Williams, Melo.

I just think it’s hard to say that Roy can’t carry a team. He’s been in the playoffs twice and in one of them he just came off surgery. Give him 2 more playoff appearances to say that he can’t carry a team in the playoffs because he’s shown that he can carry a team through the regular season.

[gregoden08Participant]

Iggy, KD is obviously better. Just saying that KD hasn’t gotten past the first round either.

[nateoak10Participant]

Or Pau instead of Z

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Eh,

Still not convinced how Roy is better then Bosh. There is no glaring difference in thier resumes..

[JNixonParticipant]

……Now you know Brandon Roy isn’t better than Deron Williams or Carmelo Anthony. Come one man.

I haven’t said 1 time that Bosh has carried a team. In fact, I said the opposite of that (“Neither has gotten past the 1st round, and neither is a superstar who can carry a team, so I won’t put either in my top 10.”). All good players can carry a team throughout the regular season well, but to me Roy isn’t a top 10 player untill he shows he can advance Portland past the 1st round and show strong in the 2nd round before I make him a top 10 player. He’s a top 15 player until then.

[Michael.S.Participant]

Many limitations. Both of those players are proven. I think Nowitzki is slightly better because he is just unstoppable because of his versatility. Nash is alot better though. He makes his teammates soo much better and he just does things very few people can do.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

And to answer over who, it’s tough to say. Sometimes I always flip flop between Roy and Williams, Melo.

LOL, your CLEARLY a fan who overrates his team’s players.

[billykParticipant]

Bosh and Roy are pretty close, it could go either way…. Personally, I would take Roy for two reason because he is a BETTER defender at his position and he has the ability to CLOSE a game out..

[gregoden08Participant]

Knick, shut up please. Your a knicks fan. Nuff said.

And Iggy, I NEVER SAID they were better. But there are times where I feel Roy brings more to the table. That’s all.

[gregoden08Participant]

You overrate your whole team. So don’t come at me…You thought LBJ was going to the Knicks. Nope. You think there’s always a chance that some superstar wants to play for your team (no, Amare is not a superstar)…

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Knick, shut up please. Your a knicks fan. Nuff said.

OUCH!!!!!! Damn. If it makes this riff better between us: Portland has had overrated talent, made the wrong choice on Oden and will not win a title in the near future.

Hope we could be cool 🙂

[gregoden08Participant]

“OUCH!!!!!! Damn. If it makes this riff better between us: Portland has had overrated talent, made the wrong choice on Oden and will not win a title in the near future.

Hope we could be cool :)”

Lol we can be cool. Just not on this topic. And, to be honest, yes…There are times where I have overvalued my team/players, but who hasn’t? I’m sure there are plenty of times where you have done the same thing. Really didn’t want to come at you like that.

Truce?

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

You overrate your whole team. So don’t come at me…You thought LBJ was going to the Knicks. Nope. You think there’s always a chance that some superstar wants to play for your team (no, Amare is not a superstar)

Damn…your just wrong this night? Pretty sure I named the players connected to NY ( Melo, James and Paul were all connected with NY). Yep, I wasn’t alone with ppl who thought LBJ was NY bound.

You should just logout now before you pass on that case of stupidity that you have on to other forum members.

[gregoden08Participant]

Damn…your just wrong this night? Pretty sure I named the players connected to NY ( Melo, James and Paul were all connected with NY). Yep, I wasn’t alone with ppl who thought LBJ was NY bound.

You should just logout now before you pass on that case of stupidity that you have on to other forum members.

Well, you DID say that the Knicks were quietely the favorites when nobody really did (generally speaking). Of course some people agreed with you, but I’d say over 50% of those people were Knicks fans.

[Afactor4Participant]

How do you have Marc Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Kevin Love in there and not Chris Kaman? And all over David Lee too.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Brandon Roy > Chris Bosh

Neither player is a superstar, but they’re both elite players at their positions.

I’d take Roy. He hasn’t led his team past the first round yet, but he’s only been to the playoffs twice. The Blazers are still very young. They lost to a tough Rockets team in the first round in 2009. They lost to a very good Suns squad this year, while also being obliterated by injuries. Roy wasn’t even close to being healthy either.

It’s close, but I’d take Roy. I think he’s a better closer and all-around player.

[Author]

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