This question popped into my mind when I was discussing the big Miami Heat trade (specifically Jason Williams): which players currently in the NBA have/had the most natural basketball talent, whether they harnessed and used it effectively or not? (I don't want to get into talking about Wilt/Russell/Magic/Bird/Jordan/Oscar/etc., so just current). I certainly do think Jason Williams is one of the top few. Very few. This isn't even close to an exhaustive list, they're just the ones that immediately come to mind. In no particular order: Haves: Lebron James: There's not much to say. This guy is something else. He sees the floor almost as well as a certain former Lakers point guard. He rebounds, he defends, and he can be your whole offense. Tracy McGrady: He does everything. WELL. Jason Williams: He handles and passes better than anyone in the league today, when he cares enough. He can actually play some choking defense, too, but only when he's pissed or has something to prove. Hads: Chris Webber: Has there ever been a better passing 4? Heck, he was one block and one assist away from a quad-double once. You don't really need to say much else. Antoine Walker: He passed like a point guard (but only when he wanted to), he was a top rebounder (when he wanted to be), he's a great shooter (when he didn't force things), and he used to be able to guard a lot more than a cardboard cutout. A Few Notables I'm Leaving Off Kobe Bryant: I feel like his ceiling is lower than McGrady and Lebron. I feel like they're all at about the same place right now... the difference is Bryant is there already, and T-Mac and Lebron are still going. Kevin Garnett: Very talented, no doubt, but too much of what he does depends on his hustle and his size. Dirk Nowitzki: Doesn't have great court vision, and his defense is only decent because of size and athleticism. Most unguardable player in the league? You could argue that. But not most talented.
Are you talking physical gifts? Shaq? Who else has been given what he has to work with in terms of pure physical talents? Add that to his brain type which is the same as all time greats like Hakeem, Jordan, Moses, Bird and many others.
I think Amare should be in that list, because he came from high school and he was very good in his first season, and is still a great player.
No, not just physical gifts. What I mean is more like basketball sense and skills that you can't necessarily teach. Could you teach Francis to see the floor like Lebron or Magic? Could you show Mo Taylor how to rebound like Rodman? If you drilled Jerome Moiso enough, could you make him pass like Webber? That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. Notice I penalized Garnett for relying too much on his size and hustle (physical gifts and work ethic). I realize work ethic has a huge effect on developing the skills I'm talking about... but some guys just don't learn those skills as well as others. Does anyone see what I'm getting at, or am I just talking crazyspeak? Shaq? Not a great ballhandler or visionary passer like Webber or Walker. Really a good but not great rebounder, too, but his size and athleticism get him numbers. Amare would be a good proposition, except that he's a pitiful passer, IMO.
Odom, nice! Can't believe I forgot about him. Defnitely agree wholeheartedly. Miles I'm pretty close to agreeing on, though from what I've seen, he lacks rebounding instincts. Artest? He seems like just an okay ball handler and passer to me. Yeah, I'd probably say yes to Iverson too... I guess he's starting to fly under the radar for me, with the Sixers doing nothing... Of course, these are all just my personal, extremely subjective judgements... BTW, no one disagrees with anyone I listed in the first post yet? I'm kinda surprised.
I would put Garnett on that list. Every time i see him play i'm just amazed, there are 2 other players were i get the same feeling with: t-Mac and Lebron. Garnett is amazing, ofcourse he depents on his height. But it is unbelievable how atletic he is with that size. I saw some game where he just grabed a rebound over someone with one hand(ok i cannot do justice to that play with descriping it). He can also pass dribble(i remember when he just played pointguard because hudson wasn't any good at it), the only thing i hold against him is that he defers to much to his teammates he should be more selfish. my list Haves: Garnett. T-Mac Lebron. hads: Webber. Shaq (he is getting old, but he was unbelievable, and he could have been a much better rebounder, if he cared).
i've been seeing some high praises for darius miles lately on this board. did i miss something before the season ended?
Miles may have the physical gifts, but he still sucks ass...He's never even attempted to develop a halfway decent jumper
Oh yeah, I agree that McGrady is unguardable as well, but when Dirk's on, what're you gonna do about a 7-foot jumpshooter? I'm 6-0, and I know how it feels to guard a 6-6 pure shooter. You feel pretty stupid, because really, you can't do much when they start draining 3s.
I think what he meant was that T-Mac proved in the playoffs that Dirk is guardable. We lost b/c of the backcourt, not Dirk.
i'd actually question his physical gifts. basically all he is is some tall gangly guy. and whatever advantages he has is offset by his attitude and mental weakness.
