The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.
by Franklyn Calle
The time has come! The guy you all love to hate has finally appeared on the rankings. If you’ve been following our Top 50 list as of late, then you already know that DRose has been me
ntioned in the comments section more than the featured player. And for the most part, the comments haven’t been too positive.
Many of you feel Rose is too high. Maybe he is, maybe not.
There is no point for me to sit here and try to convince those who aren’t happy with where is ranked or even those who don’t like his game. An article will not all of the sudden change your perspective on him. Instead I will evaluate his rookie season, what can be expected from him next season, and what could have led to him landing at No. 18.
***
We all witnessed history on April 18, when DRose had a historic playoff performance against the defending champions – the Boston Celtics – finishing with 36 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds, while shooting 63 percent from the floor. His 36 points tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points ever scored by a rookie in his playoff debut. I should note that Abdul-Jabbar was 22 years old at the time and Rose was only 20. And…. 10 inches of height makes a difference. Rose also became only the second player in NBA history to finish with more than 35 points and 10 assists in his playoff debut (regardless of years in the League).
So let’s see, how did the Chicago native’s first year numbers rank with those of Chris Paul, Allen Iverson, Deron Williams, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, Tony Parker and Devin Harris? If we were to compare Rose’s rookie season to those of the League’s premiere point guards, it is evident that he is on his way to be a very special one.
Compared to the point guards who were just mentioned, Rose’s regular season rookie stats showed he may very well be the real deal. Only Iverson averaged more points than Rose as a rookie. What about field goals? His 47.5 percent from the floor was higher than any of the aforementioned guards. Only Paul, Iverson and Kidd averaged more assists then Rose as a rookie, and that difference was by less than 1.5 assists.
Rose is the only one who led his team to the Playoffs as a rookie. I emphasize ‘LED‘ because although Nash, Parker and Harris made the Playoffs as rookies, all three teams had other guys they depended on to lead the way. We all can agree that Rose was a huge factor in the Bulls making the Playoffs after Chicago’s absence the previous year. He shot 80 percent from the free throw line in the Playoffs, better than any of the other guards when they played in the Playoffs for the first time – and keep in mind most of them dudes didn’t even make the Playoffs until their third year in the League.
With Ben Gordon leaving to the Pistons, you can expect for Rose’s stats to increase by a good amount. A 22-point, 8-assist, and 6-rebound season is very well possible.
Now I’ve noticed some people argued that Rose only shot 22 percent from behind the arc. Well, he proved in his playoff debut that he can easily drop 36 points without ever having to hit a single three-pointer. It won’t be too long before the same applies for 40-point performances. And let’s be real, his three-point percentage will improve with experience and years.
Another argument against Rose seems to be his defense. My question is how many 20-year-olds do you guys remember coming into the League and straight up locking down guys? Name the point guards! You won’t find many… if any! In fact you have grown-ass men in their 30s in the League who still don’t seem to have learned the fundamentals of defense.
So if we’re going by statistics, then it’s fair to say Rose is well ahead enough to being one of the NBA’s premier guards. If we are going by talent and court presence, even better. I don’t know how many point guards in the League are as athletic, agile and explosive as he is. Again, if any.
Now how did he end up at the 18 slot? Well as you may see at the bottom of the page, “rankings are based solely on projected ’09-10 performances.” This hints that it has nothing to do with what a player has done in his career, and more so with what it is expected of him this season. It is obvious by where he is ranked that expectations are higher for Rose than, say, Billups and all the other guards who have already appeared in the Top 50 list.
Coincidentally enough, Rose celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday.
Say what you like, but if last year was any indication, Rose is on his way to either being your favorite point guard, or your favorite point guard to hate. But either way, he’ll have you talking for years to come.
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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T-Money my thoughts EXACTLY!
The top 20 should be dedicated for all-star players ONLY; he is on the “cusp,” but not quite there yet! No hate at all… Love D-Rose’s game…. but too much hype too soon may spell DISASTER!
Too many holes just yet. Plus, though his debut was sweet, there were a lot of negatives in that series too
i dont agree with him being this high but top 25 at least. kid deserves his props
But, the idea that everybody was ranked based on their projected individual performance is ludicrous. That didn’t happen. Some folks were ranked like that, others were ranked based on other stuff.
Admit it, Derrick Rose, good as he is, is not better than Chauncey Billups right now. Nor will he have a better season than Billups in 2009/2010. To believe in the previous notion is not tantamount to “hating” Rose. It is merely being realistic in evaluating current NBA productivity. If this were a list for 2010/2011 or 2011/2012, I’d be higher on Rose. It isn’t. This list isn’t about multiple seasons… It’s about… his jersey number says it all: Only 1: 2009/2010. And Rose is too high.
y’all that hate are ignorant.
he’s getting his minutes for sure and when he does, you all are gonna eat your words.
not too high, not in the slightest.
DROSE 4 MVP ahhah, hate on that for a bit.
“If I’m going for a player who will provide Playoff composure and leadership, I’d be comfortable with Rose (as opposed to say… Billups). Rose doesn’t seem to ever get flustered, as evidenced by his play in the NCAA Tournament and as a huge underdog against the Celtics
WTH
Now, I think Chauncey’s “Mr. Big Shot” rep is a tad inflated, but come on now. Are you seriously saying that you think Derrick Rose is more poised and a better leader than Billups in the post season? Based on what? What possible criteria supports that?
Chauncey was the undisputed leader of a team that went to six Eastern conference finals and two Finals, and got one ring. He is credited for changing the entire team culture in Denver. Chauncey gave the best point guard in the NBA the freaking BUSINESS in the first round of the playoffs last year.
Derrick Rose’s first playoff game was freaking amazing, but for the rest of the season he was just pretty good, while he got torched by a cat who averaged a triple double. Rose is SPECTACULAR and he might have a better regular season than Billups, but in the playoffs Billups is still the better bet.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Rose made it in the East. Not at all. But he’s not a lock. Fan voting has been the cause of some shady selections over the years, but if Wade and Joe Johnson are the starters, well, then that’s what I would “project” at this point in time (I realize that Joe is not a PG, just saying). As for the reserves, Rose has some pretty tough competition at the guard spot: Rondo, Harris, Jameer Nelson. And that’s not taking into consideration if Gilbert Arenas makes a resurgence. So, my point is: Rose could very well be an all-star next season, but he ain’t a lock. Joe Johnson is a lock.
I think Durant is on a different level.
Co-sign.
My bad, he missed one free throw against Kansas.
My point is that Rose is not the 18th-best player in the league right now, nor do I project him to be the 18th-best player in the league this season. The 18th-best player is someone like a Chauncey or a Joe Johnson. Joe Johnson is, barring injury, a LOCK for the all-star team. Derrick Rose has a good shot of making it, but he’s not a lock. It’s just one way of saying he should be a bit lower, like 22-24. That’s where you get the types of players who, like Rose, are knocking on the fringes of the all-star team and may consider “snubs” if they don’t make it. That’s why I brought up the all-star team.
I think Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups and Steve Nash would like a word with you.
Shaq? Really?
I don’t think Steve Nash and Derrick Rose should be in the same sentence, ever. Last time it generated 200 comments. SMH. And I like them both, but I would rather have DRose, somebody who is more committed to playing defense – thereby justifying a good but not great offensive showing. So yeah I agree that Rose is top 5 already.
You just said he’s a Top-5 PG. Easily.
Nash is definitely a defensive liability, which is why I was so down on him during the infamous SLAM Top 50 of ALL-TIME debacle. That being said, a rookie who averaged 16 and 6 is not better than Steve fuc*ing Nash. Sorry. P.S.
Rose is not exactly Gary Payton.
That’s like saying once Lebron gets slow, he’s done.
Or that once Derrick Rose loses his speed, he’s done.
Or Iverson
Or 90 percent of the cats who dominate on a nightly basis. Most cats in the League dominate becuase they are not only skilled, but have good to great athleticism.
As a rookie, nah, Tony Parker couldn’t do what Derrick Rose did.
Right now?
I think Tony Parker could have done the exact same thing, and he MIGHT have beaten Boston with KG.
I like Parker’s chances with Derrick Rose’s teammates.
FIBA.
That’s my retort. Tony Parker KILLS everybody in FIBA. With Ronny Turiaf as his second best player.
I think given the talent on the Bulls, given his court saavy, Parker beats Boston.
You are underrating what Parker does. Yes, Duncan is a huge crutch, but I’ve seen Tony destroy enough cats with Duncan out or on the bench that I KNOW that he would have had a field day with the Bulls.
He would averaged 22-23 easily, and given you about 7-8 assists.
You are undervaluing Parker’s court sense for real. Dude knows the game, his jumper is wetter than Rose’s and he finishes just as well if not as spectacularly.
Rose is the better player if you compare them as rookies, but not now. Not at all.
Next thing you’ll be trying to convince cats that LeBron is better than Caron Butler.
What do Nash’s rookie numbers have to do with anything??
P.S.
Say hi to DRose’s cousin Greg for me.
… ur shut the duhhh up, he isnt the 18th best in the L MORONS, they are PROJECTING THIS SEASONS STATS. AND ON A BULLS TEAM WITHOUT GORDON AND DENG POSSIBLY NOT RETURNING TO HIS OLD FORM FOR MONTHS, ROSE IS GONNA BE IN THE LEAGUE LEADERS FOR POINTS AND ASSISTS. ROLL WITH IT
@ Garett: Couldn’t agree more.
Nah, you’re wrong. They aren’t predicting stats. If they were “predicting stats” Iverson wouldn’t have been 50 and Josh Smith wouldn’t have been 40. If they were predicting stats, OJ Mayo would have been higher.
They are predicting who is going to be…Hell, I don’t really know..
Lang said in his Ivey piece that there is NO WAY Iverson is the 50th best player in the NBA next season.
NONE.
But, he’s ranked in that position because that’s how people perceive his worth. It ain’t about stats, if it was about stats Igoudala wouldn’t have been number 26.
It’s about some nebulous concept of who is the “better player in an NBA system according to what NBA teams are looking for.”
It is what it is, but people have questioned the system and I think rightfully so. Calling people stupid is counterproductive especically when you aren’t making a coherent argument.
Bryan
I think Tony’s fundamentals as a shooter have improved greatly, and are no worse than Rose’s. I think his court sense and saavy are lightyears ahead of Roses, as they should be given his time in the league. Rose is obviously an athletic freak, but I think Parker’s all around game is better than Roses and I expect it to be better next year. I also think that given Parker’s all around game, he would have put up better numbers and had comparable team success playing point for the Bulls last year.
I haven’t really seen where you’ve explained why you think Parker’s game is so different from Rose’s that he wouldn’t have put up the same 16 and 6 on 47 percent shooting.
@TADOne. He’ll most likely be top 10 at this rate.
You are way too level-headed for this site. Bryan made a very compelling argument for why Tony Parker couldn’t do what Derrick Rose did: “Bryan is from Chicago and is from the same neighborhood as DRose.” How can you argue with that? That’s about as iron-clad as you can get.
You should stop. Really. People remember what you write on here.
maybe take rose in 3 years
Yeah. 5 spots makes a difference. So you can say, for example, that Deron Williams may be a Top 10 player in the NBA but there’s no way he’s a Top 5 player. Something like that.
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