Friday, August 29th, 2008 at 8:00 am  |  149 responses

SLAMonline Top 50: Kevin Durant, no. 50

The definitive ranking of the best players in the NBA today…

by Lang Whitaker

Two summers back, Sam and I had the brilliant idea of ranking the 50 best players in the NBA. Full disclosure: We were at lunch at Outback Steakhouse at the time, and I really think this idea was birthed by too much Bloomin’ Onion. Well, it was either the onion or the reality that we had a long summer ahead of us and we needed to figure out an interesting way to pass the time on SLAMonline.

We grabbed a notepad and started making a list of the best players, then started ranking them. We didn’t run this by anyone else, we just made our list and then got writers from around the Internets to tackle each player. We posted them each here on the site, with the thought being that if nothing else our list would probably generate conversation.

Did it ever. By the time we got to the top five, our comments section was buzzing like never before. And when we announced Kobe as the best player in the NBA, we got over 300 comments, a record at the time.

Then, on July 17 of this year, Myles and Russ sent out an email with their own Top 50 list, which they were planning to run down on their blogs. Of course, everyone on their email started arguing with each other, and before long all your favorite SLAM writers weren’t speaking. (OK, it wasn’t that bad, but it was close.) Ryne had just started a week or two before, so he gamely waded in and, a couple of thousand emails later, we had a ranking that we all (more or less) co-signed.

Over the next few weeks, SLAMonline is going to roll out our new ranking of the 50 Best Players in the NBA. A huge thanks go out to Russ and Myles for getting this whole thing off the ground. (And if you disagree with any of the rankings, blame Russ and Myles.)

Oh, and at number 50? Kevin Durant. Discuss.

This is going to be a wild ride…

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  • steve

    DAMN that is WAY HARDER than it looks…….. look at the ones left out! Vince Carter(WOW…), Beasley, Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon, Devin Harris, JRich, Gerald Wallace, Okafor, Bogut, Okur, Kirilenko, Granger, Odom, Peja, OJ Mayo, J Oneal, TJ Ford, Bibby, Hinrich, Andre Miller(Damn I feel foolish for leaving him off), Greg Oden, Andrew Bynum, Travis Outlaw, Brad Miller, Mike Miller, Shaq, Barbosa, G-Hill, JKidd, Jason Terry, JR Smith, Felton, Mike Conley, Chris Kaman(o my god!), Al Thornton, Marvin Williams, Hedo Turkoglu(WHAT??!!), Rashard Lewis(damn), Mo Williams(double-damn), Big Z, Stuckey, Battier, Rondo, Gibson, Louis Williams, Thad Young, Childress, Dunleavy, Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson(WOWEEEE!), the list goes on and on………..

  • steve

    Ginobili and Monta were left out due to injury. Otherwise both would be top 30.
    …………………….
    Guys that haven’t played a game yt like Oden, Mayo, Beasley and Rose were left out too… kinda easy excuse to make the list easier to make.

  • Mike

    ALLEN IVERSON BETTER BE IN THE TOP 12

  • Teriy

    Steve your top 50 real messed up hows Duncan 6th? and Kobes first by the way. Paul Pierce 11th? more like 20th and Arenas and Melo should be ranked in the top 15 and I agree with Mike Iverson should be in the top 12 or 15 players in the league. He was 6th last time and looks to me he got better not all the way down to 24th?! .

  • Andrew

    Gosh. I guess I know what I’m doing this afternoon after I finish work. I’ve never made a list like this before, not even for favourite bands or records. Or sneakers. This oughtta be rad.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Um, thanks Russ. It’s just that there’s a lot of gray areas when we look at ranking teams, players, MVPs, etc. that it’s hard not to get too hypothetical. Not that we’ll ever stop, nor that it’ll ever get less fun to debate over these things. What a number 50 though, really wonder who 49 is gonna be… Looking forward to it, Ryne.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Guys who need to be on the list: Gerald Wallace, Ron Artest, Manu Ginobli, Chris Kaman and yes, Dirk needs to be on the list somewhere. Also, will the list for the top 5 be changed because we’ll be that much closer to the season starting and things will have developed. Also, Caron Butler and Jamison HAVE to be around somewhere.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Joe Johnson!

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    Howard at #7? not with his offense

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    as for Wade, any list should read : Wade (if healthy and with a shaven dome)…apparently he grew his hair back out after the olympics, which of course means he won’t be as aerodynamic and should be a tad slower.

  • tealish

    Steve: Calderon is the 46th best player in the NBA? Really? And also, no one with an offensive skill set like Dwight Howard’s can ever be put in the top 10 regardless of brilliance elsewhere.
    One more thing, you guys should really consider dishing out these rankings 3 or 5 at a time so there’s legit discussion to be had.

  • luke

    wow its tough to remember everyone, im sure i forgot a bunch of guys

    1 bron
    2 kobe
    3 dwade
    4 dwight
    5 cp3
    6 deron
    7 amare
    8 KG
    9 duncan
    10 dirk
    11 boozer
    12 pierce
    13 carmelo
    14 vince
    15 yao
    16 AI
    17 nash
    18 EB
    19 roy
    20 joe johnson
    21 ginobili
    22 tmac
    23 billups
    24 bosh
    25 agent zero
    26 josh smith
    27 bdiddy
    28 d west
    29 kidd
    30 redd
    31 kevin martin
    32 al jefferson
    33 antawn jamison
    34 monta ellis
    35 sugar ray
    36 kaman
    37 andre iguodala
    38 mr.longoria
    39 caron butler
    40 artest
    41 sheed
    42 rudy gay
    43 pau
    44 josh howard
    45 matrix
    46 camby
    47 zach randolph
    48 hedo turkoglu
    49 captian jack
    50 richard jefferson

    notable exclusions: kd, calderon, danny granger, lamarcus aldridge, lamar odom, deng, gordon, chandler, tayshaun, rip hamilton, big z, emeka okafor

  • luke

    dwight is the best center in the nba, doesnt matter if its through skill or physical dominance, its a fact. hes gotta be top 10

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    So why isn’t Dwight no. 10 then? I cant believe that you have Vince and Boozer so high but whatever. Hard to have everyone on the list that nobody is going to rip on and I appreciate the effort Luke. But have enough pride to capitalise your name. Jermaine O’Neal? Gerald Wallace? J-Rich?

  • archie

    I am going to pick one guy a day.

    #50 Luis Scola

    A great international player. 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting. Spurs really should have done a better job at keeping him. Basically he was traded for a second round pick. Crafty under the basket and a hustle guy. Nice pick up for Houston last year.

    Houston best in the NBA, on paper?

  • http://slamonline.com RolleZed

    I didn’t put rookies on my list because they haven’t played yet in the NBA (including Oden and Fernandez)
    So here’s my list:

    1.kobe
    2.lebron
    3.wade
    4.cp3
    5.dwight
    6.garnett
    7.duncan
    8.dirk
    9.iverson
    10.amare
    11.melo
    12.nash
    13.pierce
    14.d-will
    15.bosh
    16.arenas
    17.tony parker
    18.yao
    19.manu
    20.b diddy
    21.elton brand
    22.mcgrady
    23.caron butler
    24.carter
    25.joe johnson
    26.michael redd
    27.hedo
    28.jason kidd
    29.iguodala
    30.stephen jackson
    31.pau
    32.andre miller
    33.rip hamilton
    34.jermaine o’neal
    35.billups
    36.brandon roy
    37.rudy gay
    38.lamar odom
    39.shawn marion
    40.josh smith
    41.r lewis
    42.richard jefferson
    43.david west
    44.ray allen
    45.monta ellis
    46.antawn jamison
    47.josh howard
    48.ron artest
    49.chris kaman
    50.al jefferson

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    Luke, dwight IS NOT the best center in the league. Period. He wasn’t even the best center on the USA team. Yao’s the best center in the league right now, but not by a large margin, so the fact that you put those two 11 spots apart tells me you’re not thinking clearly. Boozer and vince better than Yao? nash and tmac only 4 spots apart? Kaman at 36?? Matrix at 46 with randolph and Camby? Put down the alcohol, please.

  • http://www.freewebs.com/betcats BETCATS

    Players Wallace is better than: Lamar Odom- If the Lakers had G-Force instead of Odom they would be NBA champs right now Shawn Marion- If Gerald was in Phoneix he would fit like a glove and not be a little cry baby b!tch about being the 3rd bannana. Plus they have about the same number but Marion had Nash throwing him the ball and Wallace has Raymond Felton? Josh Howard- Until he proves me wrong, Wallace is the better overall player, but offensive wise Josh has a edge. Richard Jefferson- Not a complete player, all offence, not to good at that. Gerald Wallace- Gerald is better than himself because if he were in a bigger market, he would be a constant all-star and his jeresy would be on your back, he would be on the cover of SLAM, DIME, NBA HOOPS, NBA INSIDE STUFF, ESPN, and SPORTING NEWS at least once a year. But he is on the Bobcats (we get ZERO nationally telvised games!!!!!!!) so no matter what he and Jason Richardson do they will never be all-stars as long as the name on the front of the jersey says Charolette

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    They still print Inside Stuff magazine?

  • http://www.freewebs.com/betcats BETCATS

    i think so

  • http://www.nba.com/celtics/ Moose

    @ BETCATS and RV: yeah, they do. http://static.netmagazines.com/nbainsidestuff/

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Im not going to criticise Lukes list simply because I can’t be bothered to put in the effort for my own list and because his list is stupid.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    The fact that the cover has Kidd in a Nets jersey and mentions Webber doesn’t really convince me its still in existance. I use to love the tv show when it actually WAS instide stuff, and not just game highlights and interviews previously aired.

  • John

    Gonna wait for the writeup on this.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Keep waiting then John.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Neither Carmelo Anthony OR Allen Iverson are top 10 players in the NBA right now. In previous and future years they will/have been. But not right now. So just stop that.

  • http://www.freewebs.com/betcats BETCATS

    all i am saying is that Gerald needs to be on this list, or at least J-Rich (even though he is G-Force’s 2nd in command)

  • http://www.nrl.com.au Money Bill Williams

    If KD is 50 then Gerald Wallace deserves a 37 to 43 spot on this list

  • scott

    Pineapple Express

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com DP

    Wallace should be top 35. I don’t give a what.

  • scott

    Hursty should quit being a mean jerk and making fun of other people’s list.

  • http://www.allballsdontbounce.com thatguysweets

    I likr Durrant at 50, still has more to prove. Really looking forward to the rest of this list!

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    @ luke: No, Dwight Howard is NOT the best center in the NBA. Yao Ming is the best center in the NBA.

    And @ RolleZed: How the f*ck do you put Dirk, Melo, and Bosh ahead of Yao. You guys underrate the hell out of him.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    @ Hursty: Melo was never a top 10 player, plus he’s not even past his prime yet. And at one point in time Iverson was the BEST player in the league.

  • NZ Baller

    Could you please include each player’s ranking from last year also?

    Thanks.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    @ BETCATS: Maybe the Bobcats aren’t nationally televised because they suck. Just a hint?

  • Teri Mah

    1. Kobe
    2. Lebron
    3. Healthy Wade
    4. CP3
    5. KG
    6. HealthyGilbert Arenas (most underrated player ever)
    7. Deron Williams
    8. Allen Iverson (2000-2005 Possibly number 1)
    9. Yao
    10. Amare
    11. Melo
    12. Pierce
    13. Boozer
    14. T Mac
    15. Duncan (Hes Aging)
    16. Baron Davis
    17. Nash
    18. Ray Allen
    19. Tony Parker
    20. Chris Bosh
    21. Brandon Roy
    22. Chauncey Billups
    23. Elton Brand
    24. Stephen Jackson
    25. Joe Johnson
    26. Michael Redd
    27. Turkuglo
    28. Caron Butler
    29. Jose Calderon
    30. Antwan Jamison
    31. Jason Kidd
    32. Rasheed Wallace
    33. Rip Hamilton
    34. Manu Ginobli
    35. Pau Gasol
    36. Lamar Odom
    37. Jermaine O’neal
    38. Rashard Lewis
    39. Vince Carter
    40. Kevin Durant
    41. Andre Igoudala
    42. David West
    43. Al Jefferson
    44. Rudy Gay
    45. Monta Ellis
    46. Luis Scola
    47. LeMarcus Aldrige
    48. Andre Miller
    49. Jason Richardson
    50. Rodney Stuckey

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Yo Teddy as a rockets fan I totally agree with you. As an NBA fan I STILL totally agree with you. I also said that at previous times AI was a top 10 player and Melo will be at some stage further into his career. Did I not include a word that makes my comments clear? I thought they made sense but apparently not ( Scott).

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    I think the problem with lists is that they’ll change depending on criteria. For instance on Teri Mah’s last Chris Bosh is 20 but he is more important to Toronto’s success than Boozer for Utah or Melo for Denver because of the team depth and strength of surrounding players on the team. Therefore he should be rated higher right? He is more skillful than Boozer and contributes more intangibles and plays better defence. But Rodney Stuckey? um… no he’s not top 50. Turkoglu? not 27th. Its hard because criteria is different. Thats why Im not willing to throw in my chips just yet.

  • underdog

    I guess Dirk won’t be in the top 5 this year…

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    He’ll be top 25 though underdog, probably lower. B*tch or not he’s still a top 15 player in the League but there are other players more valuable to their teams and he has Kidd and Howard and good role players to pick up the slack.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Hey SLAM, can you let us know around what time each no. is going to be posted? That’d be much appreciated. Thanks.

  • http://youtube.com/jlam88x Joe

    KD, the rookie, a top 50 player? Get outta hereeee.

  • Ross

    he should be ranked far higher for two reasons: 1) his rapid development in his rookie season, showing an ability to adapt and progress at a rapid rate. 2) By April he was averaging (try and keep up) .. 40 min./ 46%fg/ 36% 3pt/ 84%ft/ 24pts/ 6.5reb/ 4ast/ 1stl/ 1blk. — Just imagine the next step he takes, I expect an increase across the board.

  • jason

    Top PG (Off+ Def+ leadership)
    1.D.Williams
    2.Tony Parker
    3.Chris Paul
    4.G.Arena
    5.Bullips
    6.Steve Nash
    7.B.Davis
    8.Jose Calderon
    9.Andrew Miller
    10.Allen Iverson
    11.M.Ellis
    12.Mike Bibby
    13.R.Felton
    14.Devin Harris
    15.Randy FOye
    16.Barbosa
    17.TJ Ford

  • jason

    greatest player in the league
    1.Kobe
    2.LB James
    3.Tim Duncan(4 champions)
    4.Kevin Gannet
    5.A.Stomaire
    6.D.Wade (1 champion)
    7.Shaq O’Neal (4 champions)
    8.Dirk Noviski
    9.Chris Paul
    10.Chris Bosh
    11.D.Howard
    12.Steve Nash
    13.C.Bullips
    14.Jason Kidd
    15.D.Williams
    16.T-mac
    17.Paul Pierce
    18.Vince Carter
    19.E.Brand
    20.Jermain O’Neal(healthy)
    21.B.Davis
    22.G.Arena
    23.R.wallace
    24.Ray Allen
    25.M.Ginobile
    26.M.Redd
    27.R.Hamilton
    28.R.Jefferson
    29.Yao Ming
    30.C.Anthony
    31.Josh Howard
    32.Paul Gasol
    33.L.Odom
    34.S.Marion
    35.R.Artest
    36.Z.Ralpho
    37.L.Deng
    38.Carlos Boozer
    39.A.Jamison
    40.Corey Maggette
    41.Joe Smith
    42.Joe Johnson
    43.Al Jefferson
    44.David West
    45.P.Stovjakic
    46.C.Butler
    47.Jamal Crawford
    48.R.Lewis
    49.B.ROy
    50.Ben Gooden

  • jason

    Power ranking 2008-2009 (remember it,see if I am right)
    West:
    1.LAL
    2.HOU
    3.POR
    4.PHX
    5.SAS
    6.NOH
    7.UTH
    8.GSW
    9.LAC
    10.SAC
    11.DAL (time to break down, cuba lose interest)
    12.DEN (AI too old, lose Camby, left Anthony)
    13.MEM
    14.MIN
    15.OKC (rebuilding, need a first pick big man)

    East
    1.BOS
    2.PHI
    3.DET
    4.CLE
    5.TOR
    6.WAS
    7.ORL
    8.CHA
    9.CHI
    10.MIA
    11.IND
    12.ATL
    13.NYK (not enough offense to run the floor)
    14.MIL
    15.NJN

  • anonymous

    If you were making a team for next season (forget about the future) would you really take KD1 after marcus camby and jermaine o’neal? dont think so

  • R2J

    Durant will be the best basketball player 2
    years from now.Watch your back Kobe and Lebron!

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