The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.
by Holly MacKenzie/ @stackmack
On May 3rd, 2009, in the aftermath of a 107-86 blowout win in Game 3, Rajon Rondo crumbled to the floor, unable to take another step, unable to celebrate the W as camera crews s
crambled to catch the action of Bill Walker carrying him into the locker room.
Remember the concern of fans, media and Celtics officials alike, breathing easy only after they heard Rondo’s explanation for the strange drop to the ground?
“It’s not my ankle, the bottom of my feet were just hurting, that’s all.”
Oh, just his feet. Silly Rondo. The quirky little brother.
Of course those feet were tired. Blistered. Cramping. Damn near broken. Remember that adidas spot with Kevin Garnett, where he has the world on his shoulders before the end of the commercial? That was Rondo this past offseason. While the weight became too heavy for KG’s frame in Minny he came to Boston where he could distribute some of the responsibility. When he went down with the knee injury, while Jesus was praying to find his shot again and Pierce was relegated to being the fourth quarter assassin, it was little brother who was there.
Unable to shrug off pressures or breathe easy because his rangy shoulders became the support beams for the Celtics seemingly overnight, Rondo somehow managed to add mind-blowing playoff-performances to his curriculum vitae by the day. it’s a miracle Rondo’s (exaggerated) 171-pound frame was able to carry the weight of a franchise as long as he did before crumbling to the ground in what turned out to be a precursor of the Celtics crumbling as a whole only a few weeks later.
Rookie Bill Walker, beyond being a good teammate, recognized the importance of Rondo to the team’s end goal. With Garnett out, he became their pitbull (just ask Kirk Hinrich), point guard and leader. He had the heart, the grit and the stats as well. Averaging a near triple-double, Rajon Rondo became the pulse of his team without warning, emerging as a leader without explanation or expectation.
A third-year player known more for his ugly shooting percentages outside of the lane, Rondo moved into the fast lane with the blink of an eye. When people were questioning whether he’d be anything without the luxury of playing alongside the big three of Ray, Pierce and Kevin, in the playoffs he flipped the script and they were the ones thankful that they had him running not just the offense but their squad.
While he’s got the support of his teammates and the proof in the box scores, still Rondo has his doubters. The fact remains that the guy doesn’t want to be found on the perimeter with the ball in his hands and the shot clock winding down. Does this matter? For one of the quickest guys in the league, how often does he get stuck outside of the lane? Not often. And when he does, looking to his left is Ray Allen, his right, Paul Pierce. Not bad options to have.
Asking whether his game benefits from the players around him is like asking whether Phil Jackson has helped Kobe Bryant’s career. The question isn’t open for debate. It also doesn’t really matter, because to quote any and every NBA player, it is what it is. And, it is what each has made out of it. Rondo has taken the teasing and chiding of being the little brother. He’s taken the doubts and the challenges Doc Rivers has given him and he’s made it work. He has made it work for his own game, but most importantly he has made it work for this team.
He has made it work for a ring.
In a seven game first-round series with the Bulls that became a battle of the ages, it was the mano a mano battle between Derrick Rose and Rondo that stole that spotlight from the other stars. While Rose drew first blood, Rondo laughed last. He also posted averages of 19.4 points, 11.6 assists and 9.3 rebounds per game, including turning in a turnover-less 19-assist performance in Game 6, tying an NBA postseason record. The last Celtic to record more than one triple-double in a playoff series was Larry Bird in 1986.
1986 was the year that Rondo was born.
Two large “R”s are inked across his back, spanning his frame as if to remind the world who he is as he streaks past on a basketball court. Perhaps he needed an intro and a re-introduction in years past, but not anymore. Anyone who knows the NBA, knows Rajon Rondo. Standing alongside the other superstars suiting up for the Celtics, there isn’t a star that shines brighter (or that has the longevity), than the one illuminating Rondo’s game.
Think about that Celtics team minus Kevin Garnett. We saw how that worked out this past postseason. Now, picture that team also without Rajon Rondo. Or, substitute Garnett’s absence for Rondo’s. Is it so ludicrous to think that the impact would be just as large? Who would have stepped in to save them and fill Rondo’s shoes? Eddie House? There’s that consistency issue and he’s not nearly enough of a passer to keep Paul and Ray happy. Steph? Yeah, he wasn’t going to be anyone’s savior.
Rondo’s presence is as integral to this team’s success as Garnett, Allen, Pierce, Rivers and ubuntu itself. In the past season and postseason he has emerged not only as the final cornerstone of the Celtics “foursome”, but as an All-Star and elite point guard in the NBA.
Slick glides to the basket, the ability to knife through double-teams and defenders and smooth passes that surprise everyone but his coach who knew he had it inside of him defines Rondo’s game. Everything he’s not on a basketball court -read: a proficient shooter- has only aided in making him who he is: a savvy, headstrong point guard who will get into the lane at all costs.
Taking a beating nightly, his bruised body bounces up, ready for more. Wanting another ring, needing to silence his critics and yearning to be named among the top point guards in the league without hesitation.
Rajon Rondo isn’t just ready, he is proven and has arrived. Most importantly, he is here to stay.
Notes
• Rankings are based solely on projected ’09-10 performance.
• Contributors to this list include: Jake Appleman, Brett Ballantini, Russ Bengtson, Toney Blare, Shannon Booher, Myles Brown, Franklyn Calle, Gregory Dole, Emry DowningHall, Jonathan Evans, Adam Fleischer, Jeff Fox, Sherman Johnson, Aaron Kaplowitz, John Krolik, Holly MacKenzie, Ryne Nelson, Chris O’Leary, Ben Osborne, Alan Paul, Susan Price, Sam Rubenstein, Khalid Salaam, Kye Stephenson, Adam Sweeney, Vincent Thomas, Tzvi Twersky, Justin Walsh, Joey Whelan, Eric Woodyard, and Nima Zarrabi.
• Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.
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Lebron
Wade
Kobe
CP3
D.Howard
Durant
Dirk
D.Williams
B.Roy
Anthony
Stoudamire
Duncan
Gasol
Garnett
Parker
Nash
Carter
Pierce
Bosh
Rose
D.Harris
Granger
Billups
J.Johnsen
A.Jefferson
Igoudala
Result:One of the Top 10 worst Knick contracts given by Isiah. (All of them were terrible)
Vandelay-Can’t see him as a top 3 PG in the League though. D. Rose is better now, and will only get better. Plus the Top Two (Paul, Williams), Nash, Chauncey, maybe even Devin Harris. So #6 I think. But PG might be the deepest position in the league, so that’s not bad.
Ie: Shawn Marion,Gerald Wallace,Mo Williams,Jermaine O’neal, Monta Ellis (maybe?)
right, slam…?
I just remembered we hadn’t seen Nash yet.
Man, that’s a little wild.
And weird is a nice way of putting it.
I wonder if Nash beats Chauncey this year.
Bulls v Celts seven game series….
when the Celts won, Rondo: 18.5-9-11 on 42% shooting
When chicago won, Rondo: 21-9-13 on 42%
So, Rondo played better when Chicago won. Go figure. of course, those stats are reversed when they played the Magic, but it’s a BS rule of thumb.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDLZEcw8y-w
Lebron
Wade
CP3
Duncan
Dirk
Garnett
Howard
Amare
Roy
Deron
Peirce
Gasol
Billups
Carmelo
Durant
Nash
Bosh
Granger
Parker
Al Jefferson
Joe Johnson
Iggy
Carter
Rose
Harris/Jose Calderon really dont know which one to exclude
Y’all noticed we haven’t Devin Harris yet? Is Rondo worse than Devin Harris?
Kevin Durant is clearly a beast, but do you have to dock him for the lack of team success, or is he still top ten in the League?
I can never make my mind up about Rondo. It is true he benefits a lot from others…but as mentioned so what?
a 19 assist, 0 turnover performance is absolutely incredible. And in a playoff game no less. He’s probably not as great as some say, but definitely not as bad as some think. He definitely deserves to be on the list, tho maybe not quite this high
I appreciate what he’s done last year, especially in the playoffs.
With that said, my own personal rule: A guy who the other team can and literally does sag 4 feet away from at the free-throw line extended, cannot be the 27th best player in the L.
But, as it’s been stated repeatedly, this list isn’t about the best players. Production wise, with Pierce, KG and Ray still there, it’s hard to argue this placement.
Question: was the final list made by “averaging” all the lists from all the slam writers involved, or was it sort of argued and ironed out?
I’m just asking a question.
(last year)
@Jukai Well, Captain Kirk can also play the 2, maybe not what best suits him but he has done it before. Can you really count on Ben Gordon to guard Paul Pierce when 1) Luol Deng was out and 2) John Salmons is possibly benched? I honestly don’t remember the series to remember how the rotations worked out, but obviously Chicago had nobody better to D up on Pierce, and they were able to afford to put a better defender on Pierce because Allen was being inconsistent. And uhh, Cap’n Kirk got 2 inches and 20 lbs. on Rondo too. Everyone’s got to admit, 20 lbs. makes a difference when defending a dude. It’s quite literally the difference in guarding Tayshaun Prince and Rudy Gay (just as examples for weight).
You’d rather have Harris just for next year, or you’d rather have Harris as the person you build your team around?
Because, Iverson, with a chip on his shoulder and with his health problems behind him seems to be a good bet to explode next year barring injury. Now, three years from now Harris is the better bet, but just for next year, well I like Iverson’s chances. And even if you prefer Harris, you prefer him by nearly 25 spots! wild.
Um, are you serious, Moose? I’m not going to look up stats because I don’t care, but from my naked eye watching these two players play, i’m quite sure Rose could do just as well and quite possibly better with the talent Rondo has around him. If you put Rondo in the Chi, I don’t see the same production out of him.
I have a feeling SLAM is going to rank Rose way too high, and keep in mind I’m a Derrick Rose fan.
For one game, maybe one season Nash is as good, maybe better. But we’ve seen his best. And it still wasn’t enough to win it all, even with a super talented team and a style catered to his skillset. Rondo has already been to the promised land and he is still getting better.
Also, I’d throw out the whole “Nash won in 2006 wah wah wah” rant but why bother, considering you bleed white and black.
@ciolkstar: Im not saying Hinrich can do everything rondo can do, im just saying if i already had Pierce, allen, kg etc i would rather have hinrich running the point. He’s a good enough shooter that nobody would be able to double the superstars, and after watching the playoffs i can honestly say that hinrich is as good a defender as Rondo. he might not get the steals, but he plays as good straight up D. Hinrich running the point and they would’ve repeated.
Nash pretty much singlehandedly ran that series, it’s not even funny. That was vintage Nash. After that, NONE of the Suns, not Marion, Amare, Nash, Bell, or Diaw, they never really played the same.
And Nash’s stats for the series was 21.3/4.2/12.7 on 48% shooting, 52% from the three, and 85% from the line. And this is with a split nose and a referee working for ht emob.
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Rondo was getting to the paint and finishing at a Tony Parker % and rate, check his stats – no dollar sign. Boston can’t replace that with Kirk and better shooting from outside. Helps when some people go down if the point can take advantage of no hand checking and has speed and large hands to finish consistently well at the rim. (The opposite intentions of Nash driving the lane to make plays and open up the court, Rondo is going in there to score) But I respect Kirk’s game. He never meshed well with Gordon and now Rose is there to take the reigns, and his contract is too big now to move him where he can get a bigger role.
Now, I don’t know if Hinrich can really fare better for the C’s if you switched him for Rondo last year. Rondo’s definitely more talented and has greater upside. But I think within the Celtics’ system, the difference between the two players really isn’t that much.
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Talking down to people double time for having a different opinion then telling them they need to GTFO for having one? Dude ain’t as noble as Trey’s dad in Boyz in the Hood for sure.
Yes he has the future HOF’s around him but he’s has proved he can carry the C’z when he has to.
I was just thinkin’ the same thing!
Oh, well. As CWebb would say…”Ra-jonnnnnnnnnnn Ronnnnnnnnnnnnnn-doooooooooooooooo!”
So quick and that dunk vs orlando in the playoffs was just NASTY! RONDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
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