Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 8:00 am  |  79 responses

Top 50: Rashard Lewis, no. 38

The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.

by Chris O’Leary

Next Year.

Often the unofficial mantra of losers, Next Year finds its way onto Rashard Lewisthe lips of athletes and fans alike across the planet. It becomes the band-aid to what ails your team.

Out-rebounded on a nightly basis? Can’t play D? Have locker room issues with teammates? Run out of gas and come up short in the Eastern Conference Finals?

Next Year can fix all of that. Embrace it, let it be your savior.

Rashard Lewis’ pairing with the word is different. This summer, Next Year threw itself at the Orlando Magic swingman like an overeager high school girl at a frat party.

After Dwight Howard, Shard will be the second-most important piece of the puzzle this season for Orlando. Dwight will continue to do his thing, looking like the Incredible Hulk under the basket. Jameer Nelson will play his part, setting the table for everyone. As revitalized as Vince Carter may be this coming season, you can’t help but think that he’s salivating at the prospect of winning while being the third or fourth banana some nights. In many ways, Shard is the glue of this team’s core.

Having just turned 30 (how fast did that happen?), the time is now for Lewis and the Magic. The arrival of Brandon Bass will let Shard play as the consummate three that he’s built to be, knocking down the trey with his robotic form and still capable of slashing to the bucket for the dunk. And to think, he could have been your favorite team’s forward for a meagre $18 million per season.

Actually, Shard will make a little bit more than that this season.

Winning does a funny thing to those inflated numbers though, doesn’t it? That milk-out-the-nose reaction that everyone had to the contract he signed in 2007 isn’t as jarring as it once was. A trip to the Finals (at the expense of the Cavs) tends to force your critics to bite their tongues, at least for the summer months and as long as things stay sunny for the Magic.

Is he overpaid? Definitely. There’s no way he should be Orlando’s top earner through 2013. But at the same time, Orlando is on the cusp of getting to a place it hasn’t legitimately been able to think about about since 1995-96 and they wouldn’t be there without Rashard Lewis.

While other players in the League have made careers out of putting up strong numbers on non-contenders and talking about winning, Shard has gone out and helped lift his team to that next level. When he steps on the court, his heart seems to be in the right place. Maybe it’s because his wallet acts as a stilt to get him there, but regardless, the guy has helped take Orlando into the elite of the NBA.

He seems to enjoy the pressure that comes with pro ball. A second-round pick (32nd overall) by the Sonics in the ’98 draft, Shard was fueled to prove all those other teams wrong for not picking him sooner. Now in Orlando, he’ll have to justify the $213,643.79 he gets paid to play night-in and night-out this year.

As he told everyone’s favorite Twitterer, Russ Bengtson in SLAM 113, a championship was in his sights well before this past season with Orlando.

“Seeing these guys win championships, especially Dwyane Wade and then you have the Spurs that dominate every year, I wanna be in that position to where I’m tryin’ to compete for a ring also,” he said. “And I feel like I can do that in coming to Orlando.”

If the Magic’s success last year is any indication, things are only going to get sunnier in Orlando.

Next Year, Shard. It could be all yours. Well, 10 games into Next Year.

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.

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , ,

  • Dutch Rob Posted: Sep.11 at 8:12 am
    First!

  • James the Balla Posted: Sep.11 at 8:14 am
    Hey B Long … I am beginning to think Bynum is not on this list lol!!

  • James the Balla Posted: Sep.11 at 8:16 am
    O and I do not think lewis is the the second most important piece. Vince is. If Vince doesn’t play well, prlando will be a stepping stone for Cle and Bos.

  • Czar Ruke Posted: Sep.11 at 8:18 am
    wouldn’t have minded to hear a little more about his game and less about his salary.

  • James the Balla Posted: Sep.11 at 8:19 am
    So because of the steroid thing, he basically loses out on 2 million dollars?

  • Dutch Rob Posted: Sep.11 at 8:22 am
    I agree Shard is a good but vince is better and more versatile

  • James the Balla Posted: Sep.11 at 8:28 am
    Okay so my second comment lol … take away one “the”. And Orlando, not prlando.

  • Yesse Posted: Sep.11 at 8:38 am
    Well i agree with this one.

  • Z Posted: Sep.11 at 9:00 am
    ”still capable of slashing to the bucket for the dunk” nope. he’s a very solid third option for a contender. ice in his veins. the out of bounds play orlando ran a couple of times at the end of games to free him up for a turn around 3-pointer… sheesh.

  • James the Balla Posted: Sep.11 at 9:06 am
    I like this because Vince will be ahead of lewis!!

  • LeoneL Posted: Sep.11 at 9:13 am
    What do you mean by “all yours” Chris?

  • jude Posted: Sep.11 at 9:21 am
    i hope Turk doesnt go later than Shard… Shard is obviously the better player… then again, i think Turk will be =/

  • Jeff Fox Posted: Sep.11 at 9:31 am
    Overrated.

  • DP Posted: Sep.11 at 9:33 am
    all i’m saying is david west better not be on this list. play wit it.

  • Simon S.Y Lawy Posted: Sep.11 at 10:03 am
    what about Lamar??? i’ll bet he’s on it …

  • James the Balla Posted: Sep.11 at 10:09 am
    Co Sign DP!!!
    And yes Lamar is on it.

  • Klav Posted: Sep.11 at 10:19 am
    Anton said…”3 pointers get all the ladies.”
    Ima run with that.

  • ENDS Posted: Sep.11 at 10:25 am
    Nicely done Once again. Checks in the Mail

  • Wayno Posted: Sep.11 at 10:29 am
    Never really sold on ‘Shards game, but I think this a solid spot for him to land. I think Orlando is gonna be an absolute beast this year. I honestly wouldn’t be suprised to see them as #1 seed in the east.

  • Leo Posted: Sep.11 at 10:34 am
    I’m skeptical. With Carter in the lineup, does Lewis become the third option? It’s never good when the first thing you think about when you hear a player’s name is his contract.

  • The Real Posted: Sep.11 at 10:48 am
    if he did more steroids he might be higher on the list, hahaha

  • chiqo Posted: Sep.11 at 10:50 am
    so he would have been higher if he were able to play before late november?

  • Klav Posted: Sep.11 at 11:02 am
    @The Real/chiqo – You’re both wrong, he would’ve been higher if he cut his goatee.

  • YKnot Posted: Sep.11 at 11:50 am
    He just be hyperizin while yall be criticizin!

  • Klav Posted: Sep.11 at 12:01 pm
    YKnot wins.

  • Double J Posted: Sep.11 at 12:08 pm
    Sheed smoked too much weed, dunks get the ladies

  • onlyclipfanonslam Posted: Sep.11 at 12:37 pm
    Yknot beat me to it :(

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.11 at 12:59 pm
    @dp and james: Why wouldn’t you want david west to make it? Of course he’s on the list because he deserves to be. The guy has been solid consistent the last couple of seasons. And yes he will do more than lewis this season.

  • chiqo Posted: Sep.11 at 1:08 pm
    sure, he hyperizes while we criticize, but you can make the argument that the only reason he’s able to do his thing like every day is because of the performance enchancers. just sayin.

  • asdf Posted: Sep.11 at 1:11 pm
    I don’t know why anyone doesn’t see it but jameer nelson is the most important piece for this magic squad. I mean he can break you down after the dribble and can score or feed the big 3 the ball. He’s getting overlooked

  • Brad Long Posted: Sep.11 at 1:18 pm
    I’d say this is about right for Rashard, and just to be clear, Lewis was never doing steriods. @James:They may not have put Bynum on the list, which will make him being the starting All-Star Center in the West that much sweeter.

  • UnRel Posted: Sep.11 at 1:25 pm
    turk will be higher than shard.. cause next year.. he’s more valuable to his team that shard is to his.. either way.. shard is just another shooter on a good team.. even though he’s clutch.. i think he’s too mentally fragile to be a second option..

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.11 at 1:26 pm
    @asdf: Cut it with the jameer crap. Jameer is nothing but an average guard who gets abused defensively. Let’s not forget how he ruined their chances in last year’s finals. That guy gets way too much respect than he deserves.

  • J-City Posted: Sep.11 at 1:31 pm
    Agree with cb34. The Magic did just fine with Rafer manning the point. There was not much drop off in how the Magic played after Jameer went down. Hedo initiated most of the plays, and the Magic’s system is one where the PG, whomever that may be just needs to stick the open J due to all the attention D12 gets.

  • James the Balla Posted: Sep.11 at 1:41 pm
    haha @ Brad, I am cool with that. The more Lakers, the better. And I know you are an avid laker fan!!
    @cb34, you like Chris Bosh, end of story… and no West shoould not be in the top 35!!!

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.11 at 1:50 pm
    @james: It’s cb 34 not cb 4. I do not like bosh at all. Cb 34 is barkley.

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.11 at 1:53 pm
    @ james: I do not like chris bosh at all. It’s cb34 and not cb4. It’s paying respect to my guy barkley and west is not flashy but he’s consistent. You know you’re getting 20-10 almost every night.

  • Young C Posted: Sep.11 at 2:04 pm
    This list already sux because it has guys like Kidd and Iverson on it. Although, Iversons ranking isnt so bad now that he actually has a team, but it still doesnt make sense. How could a lottery team like the Grizzlies have 3 of the top 50 players? How can a middle-of-the-pack team like the Mavericks have 3 or 4 players? Meanwhile other teams probably wont even have one player represented. I apprieciate the write-ups on the players but the rankings are really, really bad so far.

  • jdn41 Posted: Sep.11 at 2:06 pm
    the all star games is all about getting good stats and having a winning record bynum can’t be getting monster stats with kobe artest pau and odom on his team

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.11 at 2:11 pm
    @james: It’s cb 34 and not cb 4. I don’t like chris bosh. This is out of respect for my man barkley. West should be on the list. That’s a 20-10 every night!

  • a_whiteman Posted: Sep.11 at 2:22 pm
    @unrel…so those years in seattle with jesus were a fluke?

  • jdn41 Posted: Sep.11 at 2:27 pm
    Young C- this list is pretty bad but as a raptor fan im starting to believe we’ll have our whole starting line up on the list lol

  • Brad Long Posted: Sep.11 at 2:41 pm
    @jdn41:Name one center with better regular season stats that Andrew that will be in the West this year. Al Jefferson is not a center.

  • jdn41 Posted: Sep.11 at 3:01 pm
    al jefferson is center eligible as last all star vote he was on the ballot as a center also duncan was put as a center before sternbot moved him to forward and amare is going to be playing center this year without a doubt and jsut to piss you off kevin love biedrins and kaman will get better numbers than bynum

  • jdn41 Posted: Sep.11 at 3:05 pm
    your banking on a small ten game sample where bynum went nuts for like 16 and 10 with 2 blocks i doubt he will get those numbers with artest odom kobe and gasol around

  • niQ Posted: Sep.11 at 3:13 pm
    jdn41. The Raps don’t really have a sure spot starter for SG yet.

  • jdn41 Posted: Sep.11 at 3:25 pm
    niQ- if you actually toyed with the idea that the raptors could have their whole starting line up as the top 50 players in the nba that jsut shows how flawed this list is LOL

  • Brad Long Posted: Sep.11 at 3:57 pm
    jdn41:Bynum averaged more points than all three of those guys last year and more blocks the only one who had more rebounds was Biedrins and if you don’t think that has something to do with Nellieball your smoking crack. Put Bynum on the T-Wolves and he turns in 25-10- and 2 blocks easy. He shoots 56% from the field. I’ve never seen someone hated on so much for playing on a talented team.

  • Anton Posted: Sep.11 at 4:34 pm
    Is it a coincidence that Rashard gets a horse and a few months later is busted for using PED’s? He and that horse must have done some ungodly things.
    “Me and my horse havin hell fun
    How much fun?
    I said hella fun”

  • Myles Brown Posted: Sep.11 at 4:48 pm
    25 and 10? Easy? Word? Make his Mom the coach, give him three basketballs, a handgun and diplomatic immunity and he still aint putting up 25 & 10.

  • Z Posted: Sep.11 at 5:39 pm
    Thank you, Myles. Other teams were HAPPY last year whhen Bynum was on the floor because it meant that LO was sitting. Pau is much more comfortable with having the low block to himself. The thing that goes a bit under the radar with Bynum is that he has no lift at all (even before the injuries), he’s agile for a center but he can’t just go up with bad intentions like you foul me or I’ll dunk on you. That’s a very valuable asset when you’re a big. I remember a young Shaq not even having to shake his man off and just banging on him. STAT does that every game too.

  • nbk Posted: Sep.11 at 5:43 pm
    Brad idk about what you think is gonna happen but Tim Duncan will be the starting center for the west this year. Amar’e will be the 4

  • nbk Posted: Sep.11 at 6:02 pm
    This years starting all stars for the west (as voted by the fans) Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tim Duncan

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.11 at 6:16 pm
    Andrew Bynum is one of the most overrated players in the league. When he’s healthy he has a pretty high ceiling to reach, but even if he gets voted an All-Star (due to Yao’s injury), he still shouldn’t be top 50 on this list. I’m curious to see what he can do though. Last year he seemed kind of slow, but that’s due to his injury.
    I like how the Lakers + Media were saying how they’d win a championship because Bynum was coming back, but the real reason they won was because of getting Trevor Ariza (I mean new additions).

  • B-Moore Posted: Sep.11 at 7:29 pm
    Well.. While you are all arguing over who will be ballin for the west in the All Star game… I just received word from David Stern that Deron Williams will be playing in his first All Star Game. FTW.

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.11 at 7:47 pm
    David West should be between 37-30. Stop hating.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.11 at 10:13 pm
    Deron Williams being in 0 All-Star games is a travesty to basketball.

  • rainman10 Posted: Sep.11 at 10:42 pm
    What about the big “O” trio having a better shot at the all-star center spot in the west? Okafor, Oden, and Okur? Al Jefferson and maybe even Amare could be listed as centers. How about Nene? I am a big Bynum fan, but I don’t think he is the automatic choice for the western center spot.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.11 at 10:46 pm
    niQ: Yes they do. Demar DeRozan is starting for the Raps.

  • Don Posted: Sep.11 at 11:58 pm
    what? people are still believing bynum can be worth something?

  • Furious Posted: Sep.12 at 12:07 am
    firstly, david west has no business on this list. Also, bynum isn’t getting 25 and 10 on any team because he has no moves. He shoots 56 percent cos he gets open dunks from his teammates.

  • ENDS Posted: Sep.12 at 12:48 am
    Now I see it like this: a team who has had Shaq, Penny, Nick Anderson, Tmac, Darrel Armstrong, Grant Hill, The Franchise, Ben Wallace, Billups, Maggette, D12, Turk, and Premiere Nelson, and the highest Paid player EVER is RaW Lew? Shouldnt be, Right?
    .
    However, if Orlando wouldnt have given it to him Cleveland or Boston Most Certainly would Have. So IIWII

  • ENDS Posted: Sep.12 at 12:49 am
    It is What It Is! my thing no biting

  • Solon Posted: Sep.12 at 1:34 am
    Co-sign Don. Bynum is crap. Whoever thinks he can be the best center in the west in obviously smoking smack. No way he makes the list.
    Also-Rashard Lewis is better then Odom. Should be higher.

  • Seven deuce Posted: Sep.12 at 1:34 am
    David West is top 50, but not over Artest or even Raw Lew. He’s like the only 20ppg scoring forward who is totally dependent on his shot being created for him. He may take two dribbles, but mostly it’s catch, one dribble & shoot. Crazy accurate though. And that inconsistent D….

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.12 at 2:14 am
    Aaron Brooks should be on this list soon. But he’ll probably be shafted for Andrew Bynum. =\.

  • Orlando Magic News & Notes | Howard the Dunk | An Orlando Magic Blog Posted: Sep.12 at 2:16 am
    [...] Magazine is ranking the top 50 players in the NBA. Jameer Nelson already checked in at #48 and now Rashard Lewis comes in at #38. Is he overpaid? Definitely. There’s no way he should be Orlando’s top earner through 2013. But [...]

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.12 at 2:40 am
    Teddy: Aaron Brooks deserves no remote spot on this list. Stop.

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.12 at 2:41 am
    I think Scola has a SHOT to be on this list, because the keys to the team have pretty much been handed to him. But Aaron Brooks is short and has no ceiling and his opponent wont be Derek Fisher everyday. I don’t get what you see in the kid.

  • chiqo Posted: Sep.12 at 3:22 am
    i’d rather see brooks on the list than ariza, who is probably about to make an appearance.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.12 at 3:43 am
    “Aaron Brooks has no ceiling.” That’s why he’s always improving and he’s only a sophomore. Right.

  • Hursty Posted: Sep.12 at 5:02 am
    If Brooks/Scola were going to be on the list, they’d be here by now. Same goes with Bynum.
    Oh, and Brad? Remember there was that arguement about whether Chris Mihm was a top 10 NBA centre 2 years ago? He had almost the same stats that year as Bynum did this year. So pssht to your ‘arguement’ and Myles destroyed you. Besides, Al Jefferson is the T-Wolves centre.

  • Esco Posted: Sep.12 at 8:32 am
    Damn, Myles made BLong disappear. It was mad funny scrolling down to see if he would respond and not finding him anywhere. Funny stuff.

  • Tomas Posted: Sep.12 at 2:22 pm
    hahaha I jsut saw jamison is ahead of rashard this list is such a joke lololol
    fun read tho

  • D.A. Posted: Sep.13 at 8:06 pm
    The highlight of Aaron Brooks’career, will be being asked if he is Chris Rock in the street.

  • D.A. Posted: Sep.13 at 8:08 pm
    Mind you, he is playing in the NBA and I am not. Touche Aaron, Touche.

  • chintao Posted: Sep.14 at 3:47 am
    All of Rashard’s records should have an “*” next to….

  • chintao Posted: Sep.14 at 3:51 am
    Well, I guess SLAM could at least write the heading of this post as: Top 50: Rashard Lewis, no. 38*

  • Blinguo Posted: Sep.14 at 4:08 am
    ENDS new thing reminds me of WW whatever #, Nintendo Wii, Wienerschnietzel’s W logo, and chintao’s Michael Jackson post.
    -
    BTW chintao, think you missed the NY & Michael Jordan piece this weekend. “Hate and Respect”
    One Knicks fan softened completely over the years for MJ’s HOF induction. The last post is a huge F you to New York too and that article does not need to end that way.

Comments




The comments section is a place to further discuss the topics in this post. Commenters who seek to accomplish any of the following may be banned: - Personally attack other commenters. - Make derogatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation or religion. - Troll, or comment with the intention of creating problems. Trolling includes, but isn't limited to, baiting people to flame at you, encouraging people to leave the site, spamming and using alternate IDs.