The definitive ranking of the best players in the NBA today…
It’s monumentally hard, but a good player can still exist beneath the glow of today’s hyperactive, 24/7, if I don’t get the scoop first I might just make it up media coverage. David West is not a star, even though most people who watch basketball know his name.
At Xavier (OH) University he was a First-Team All-American in 2003 and named by the Associated Press as the National Player of The Year. Because Xavier plays in the underappreciated Atlantic 10, people shrugged their shoulders at him and his accomplishments. In ’03 Xavier finished in the Top 10 and earned a no. 3 seed in that year’s March Madness tourney. He wasn’t drafted high (although 18th is certainly respectable), but according to “experts” (I’m making a point here with the quotation marks by the way. Point being in this business you have a lot of writers who consider themselves experts on basketball but in actuality struggle to grasp the nuances of the game and players motivations for anything nevermind playing in ball. Sorry to tell you this but it’s true), West should have been picked lower than no. 18.
Drafts are built on potential and jaw-dropping obvious ability. West doesn’t look the way the scouts want power forwards to look. He’s not cut up or super aggressive, though he can be at times. Dude plays power forward, but isn’t exactly the prototype. He’s listed at 6’9”, 240 but is surely smaller (I don’t care about that by the way, just making the point). And yeah physical attributes matter but so do desire and intelligence. Early on though, he made the scouts look smart for passing him up.
He never showed he would be a starter or an All-Star – as his appearance in last year’s All-Star Game affirms. In his rookie season he only averaged 3.8 points a game and only slightly bettered that the next season with 6.2. He basically was invisible. Additionally he never had any baby mama drama, never was accused of burning a chick, hasn’t caught a gun charge or done anything “typical” for the tabloids to eat up. He was easy to miss and was on the road to bustville. Then the lights came on suddenly with numbers of 17 and 7, as he narrowly lost the Most Improved Player Award to Boris Diaw in the 05-06 season. Still, nobody acknowledged him until he made his first All-Star Game last year by showing off not only a nice mid-range jumper but also post moves and a knack for scoring. By knack I mean, he seems to score by using positioning, timing, quickness and accuracy. He can’t jump over defenders or put a shoulder in a guy’s chest and blow him off the box. He’s not an overly athletic dude but doesn’t let that impede his progress. Besides, with a guy like Tyson Chandler on the roster (a true freak athletic wonder) West’s lack of athleticism doesn’t hurt him at all.
Look, I’ll be the first to admit that playing alongside all-world point guard Chris Paul (I can say all-world now after Beijing) supremely improves his game. CP took West and that entire team to another level. But, as he showed in the second half of the season and in the playoffs, DWest can make plays for himself and is a very vital cog in what challenges to be a elite team for the immediate future. Is he a top-tier forward? At this point I would say no, but he’s chilling on that second-tier no doubt, and I expect to see him in more All-Star games. He also gets point from me for not just pulling up Dirk’s Nowitzki’s skirt in last year’s Dallas and New Orleans first round playoff match-up but for taking it off. It happened after Dirk tried to physically impose upon him and West walked over to Mr. Wurzburg and tapped him on the face like he was a boy. Completely emasculating Dirk and rendering him a non-factor in the eyes of anyone who values courage, strength and honor. Truth be told if somehow we found out that Dirk now takes a wiz sitting down I wouldn’t be surprised. (Inspired by West, I tried tapping my girlfriend on the face and talking slick to her as well, but unlike Dirk she actually fought back. Suffice it to say I don’t do that anymore).
You can surely make a case for West having a higher place on this list but I feel his name is still so unknown that even basketball writers underestimate him. But now that the Hornets are on the upsurge his name, face and game will start to resonate lot more.
Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.
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@TAD: This was the criteria, more or less…
* 50 best players in the NBA today, right now
* Guys who provide the most value to their teams
* Completely, utterly your opinion
@Lz- Boozer is a jerk. Fu(king Judas….
Boozer makes my top 5 most hated list in the NBA. Obviously.
Ty might pop up between 43-40, but after the 40s you can be pretty sure he won’t make the list.
he complements the team perfectly, it’s sick how well the Hornets are put together
seriously though, he’s like a lesser version of the Big Fundamental (whom i’m a big fan of), as witness by that dunk/block sequence on duncan in last year’s playoff. he’s the quiet assassin type. he doesn’t have the all-star look but he certainly has all-star game. (i’d still say he got picked last year coz the game was in N.O., just like sean elliot was an all-star when the game was in S.A.)
that was “a beauty”. loved. i’m still laughin here.
i think west and the hornets are gonna be really tough to beat this season. they got rid of MoPete, didn’t they?
with david west#44, a lot of people has to be left off…
and please, DON’T include rookies. the rule #1 should be, minimum 10 games or being Greg Oden.
(and yes Horry putting that back pick on West was badass, that’s how you go at someone. Keep it within the context of the game)
(and yes Horry putting that back pick on West was badass, that’s how you go at someone. Keep it within the context of the game)
@ everyone who responded to Chandlers defense- thanks for your replies, but, like many people I didnt get to watch ANY Hornets games this year. I wasnt questioning his defensive ability, just asking what that meant for his defense as a whole. I just expected that for all his athletic abilities he would have more than one block a game.
50. Kevin Durant
49. Kevin Martin
48. Marcus Camby
47. Josh Smith
46. Monta Ellis
45. Tayshaun Prince
44. David West
writing about David West and still hating on Dirk in about a third of the write-up???
Did Dirk get together one too many times with your girl or what?
Your hate on this man is beyond ridicolous. I see some reasons why one would say, Dirk is soft, not clutch, not a Superstar, etc. But I saw him more than enough to know he is not.
If Dirk would be as tough as the Oaktree, Clutch as Larry Legend and could defend like KG than we would talk about the second greatest player ever (MJ still first).
Some could write about David West being a great Ball Player without personal hate getting in their way.
Slam is so great, but why is this guy called Khalid on your payroll???
is shaq included?!?!?! just askin cause i finished mine and saw her name left off… it was kinda of weird but, truth.
who would believe that?
anyway, @scott, i know, but, isn’t it a little bit weird when you saw him dominating for so long?
i’m not even a shaq lover, one of those who calls him the biggest center of all time or anything like this, but, when you are making a list and you just passes his name by and and think, no, i would rather go now with Al Jefferson, Camby, whatever… it was just a weird click for me.
david west was #37 on mine. with josh smith at#40.
i thought i would rank Josh better, but i think i was influenced by the Slam ranking
[:P]
another question for whoever made a list too. who would you guys pick 1st from the pistons?
1. Gilbert Arenas
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Carlos Boozer
4. Chris Bosh
5. Elton Brand
6. Kobe Bryant
7. Chauncey Billups
8. Caron Butler
9. Marcus Camby
10. Vince Carter
11. Jose Calderon
12. Baron Davis
13. Tim Duncan
14. Monta Ellis
15. Kevin Garnett
16. Danny Granger
17. Rudy Gay
18. Pau Gasol
19. Manu Ginobili
20. Dwight Howard
21. Allen Iverson
22. Andre Iquodala
23. LeBron James
24. Al Jefferson
25. Joe Johnson
26. Antawn Jamison
27. Jason Kidd
28. Rashard Lewis
29. Shawn Marion
30. Kevin Martin
31. Tracy McGrady
32. Steve Nash
33. Dirk Nowitzki
34. Chris Paul
35. Paul Pierce
36. Jason Richardson
37. Amare Stoudemire
38. Josh Smith
39. Hedo Turkoglu
40. Dwyane Wade
41. Deron Williams
42. David West
43. Yao Ming
the list goes on….
the pistons have been such a disappointing team…
and it surprised me when i finished, or almost finished the list and chauncey is at #25. i think its too low.
kidd is definitly out. i apologize to him, but have to left him out.
i hope next season, i can include randy foye on my list… i like this kids game.
#50 – DeShawn Stevenson…. hahahahahaha
lol just kiddin… i’m out. see you guys tomorrow.
You Khalid are a class-less coward.
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