I assume this was done before the season started. Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/fee...-sns-list-of-top-50-nba-players#ixzz170LVIOyb [rquoter] Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was named the best player in the NBA, ahead of Heat forward LeBron James, in Sporting News’ annual survey of current and former players, coaches, general managers and broadcasters. SN asked 76 NBA types, including Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Mike D’Antoni, Mike Fratello, Daryl Morey, Lenny Wilkens, Doc Rivers and Stan Van Gundy, to list the top 50 players in the league. Bryant received 49 of their first-place votes to maintain his spot atop the list, while James had 22 first-place votes and Magic center Dwight Howard received one. Bryant and James each had a teammate join them in the top 10, with Heat guard Dwyane Wade at No. 3 and Lakers big man Pau Gasol at No. 10. It’s clear to most league observers that Bryant and James should occupy the top two spots in any list of the NBA’s best. With Bryant topping our list, we asked those in the know why Kobe’s experience still edges LeBron’s raw talent:[/rquoter] Ranking by position: Point Guards: Deron Williams Steve Nash Chris Paul Rajon Rondo Derrick Rose Chauncey Billups Tony Parker Jason Kidd Russell Westbrook Stephen Curry Gilbert Arenas John Wall Wings: Kobe Bryant LeBron James Dwyane Wade Kevin Durant Carmelo Anthony Paul Pierce Brandon Roy Joe Johnson Manu Ginobili Ray Allen Rudy Gay Danny Granger Vince Carter Josh Smith Kevin Martin Hedo Turkoglu Antawn Jamison Gerald Wallace Bigs: Dwight Howard Dirk Nowitzki Pau Gasol Tim Duncan Amare Stoudemire Chris Bosh Kevin Garnett Andrew Bogut Zach Randolph David Lee Joakim Noah Al Horford Shaquille O'Neal Carlos Boozer Al Jefferson David West Yao Ming
list seems to be a bit reputation based. hedo turkoglu certainly wasn't a top 50 player last year, though.
Ray Allen Rudy Gay Danny Granger Vince Carter Josh Smith < Monta Ellis Kevin Martin Hedo Turkoglu Antawn Jamison Gerald Wallace
can't argue that they think kobe is the best b/c he's the best player on the best team, and his team just won back to back rings. his reputation is at an all-time high. it's great to see lebron get the respect though despite having no rings and such a bad publicity stunt this past summer. btw, joe johnson is NOT a top 20 player
Did Phil sleep through Game 7 of the Finals last year or was that just not a big enough game for Kobe to rise to the occasion? Looking through the list, I'm shocked that Durant was only #21 last year. That shows how much these "NBA types" know.
The people they got for this ranking is kind of interesting as well. Elgin Baylor - one of the worst GMs in league history. Joe Dumars - the guy who though Darko over Melo, Wade, or Bosh was a good idea Mike Dunleavy - do I even need to explain? Tom Heinsohn - His list was probably 1) Kobe, 2) Rondo, 3) Pierce, 4) Garnett, 5) Ray Allen David Kahn - the guy who thinks Darko is the next Webber or Divac
list is based on reputation for sure, lotta old ppl in the top 20 that was clearly based on their prime years 5 years ago for some of them. Josh Smith is better than Andrew Bynum and LaMarcus Aldridge, c'mon.
