Sunday, October 17th, 2010 at 8:00 am  |  106 responses

Top 50: Chris Paul, no. 7

The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.

by Myles Brown / @mdotbrown

It’s only right, I suppose. The two of them, one right after the other.

Nah. Fuck that. This is wrong.

Point guards are a largely slept upon bunch, mostly due to our own misplaced values. They don’t score or rebound at the rate of post or swingmen and they’re a comparatively less intimidating defensive presence. With only three or so exceptions, point guards don’t win MVP and they don’t winChris Paul championships.

Due to such thinking-logical as it may be-floor generals have practically been relegated to a subspecies, left only to argue amongst themselves as to who is best since they can’t be considered alongside their contemporaries.

Which is why were constantly quibbling about whether Chris Paul is the best point guard in the NBA rather than the best player, period.

When such debate arises, the question of who’s the leagues best playmaker is routinely answered with another. ‘How can Chris Paul be the best point guard when Deron Williams dominates him in head to head matchups?’ Well, the same way The Wire can be the best show on TV yet have no ratings or Emmys to show for it. The game is rigged. Right, Bodie?

Deron Williams should get the best of any head to head matchup. He’s bigger, stronger and has better teammates. But in comparing overall ability and production, Paul can hold his own with anyone in the league, not just Williams.

Besides LeBron James, is there anyone more dangerous in the open court than Chris Paul? Including LeBron James-and Steve Nash, for that matter-is there a better passer in the NBA? Vision, timing, accuracy, discernment and at such a breakneck speed? Methinks not.

Are there more clutch players? Better leaders? Stronger competitors? More efficient players? More talented players? More valuable players? Maybe, but six still seems like three too many.

And when considering those three, consider the excuses we afforded them in their claims for supremacy. ‘He’s stuck under bad management!’ ‘He doesn’t have a good coach!’ ‘He doesn’t have any teammates!’ Well now they have everything they need. Now it’s Chris Paul’s turn.

The other name consistently coupled with Chris Paul-the one I’m more inclined to mention-is Isiah Thomas, one of the three aforementioned exceptions. Obviously not as a competitor, like Williams, just as a reference point. But because the name Isiah Thomas draws little more than laughter in many circles, such a reference is lost. To those I say, that guy with the pills, the guy who called that gal a bitch, the guy who killed the CBA, the Knicks and possibly your pet turtle? He was a bad motherfucker. So no, you shut your mouth.

He has no gold medal and only one Finals MVP to show for it, but let it be said loudly and often that Isiah Thomas won back to back titles when Jordan, Magic and Bird were at or near their prime. Think about it. While that and a dollar still won’t get you a coffee at Starbucks, it will get you the eternal respect of your peers, even if it is begrudging. And maybe a lapdance on Thursdays when Cinnamon is working.

Anyway, as I was saying. Same uncontainable speed, quickness, ball handling, heart and desire. Same strength of leadership. And Chris Paul could do the same thing: beat the unbeatable. Twice even.

You don’t believe me? I’ll prove it you. Just help me get him the hell out of New Orleans.

Then we can talk about these other six guys in front of him again. But please, no more about Deron Williams. It’s just getting silly.

SLAMonline TOP 50 PLAYERS OVERALL RANK POSITION RANK
Player Team Position 2010 2009 2010 2009
Ray Allen Celtics SG 50 36 10 9
Gilbert Arenas Wizards SG 49 34 9 8
Lamar Odom Lakers PF 48 33 14 10
John Wall Wizards PG 47 NR 13 NR
OJ Mayo Grizzlies SG 46 46 8 12
Al Horford Hawks C 45 NR 6 NR
Jason Kidd Mavs PG 44 45 12 10
Joakim Noah Bulls C 43 NR 5 NR
LaMarcus Aldridge Blazers PF 42 39 13 12
David West Hornets PF 41 31 12 8
Monta Ellis Warriors SG 40 NR 7 NR
Andrew Bogut Bucks C 39 NR 4 NR
Yao Ming Rockets C 38 NR 3 NR
Brandon Jennings Bucks PG 37 NR 11 NR
Zach Randolph Grizzlies PF 36 NR 11 NR
Stephen Curry Warriors PG 35 NR 10 NR
David Lee Warriors PF 34 NR 10 NR
Brook Lopez Nets C 33 NR 2 NR
Gerald Wallace Bobcats SF 32 NR 7 NR
Manu Ginobili Spurs SG 31 29 6 7
Tony Parker Spurs PG 30 15 9 3
Kevin Garnett Celtics PF 29 13 9 3
Rudy Gay Grizzlies SF 28 44 6 9
Josh Smith Hawks PF 27 40 8 13
Andre Iguodala 76ers SG 26 26 5 6
Al Jefferson Jazz PF 25 23 7 7
Russell Westbrook Thunder PG 24 NR 8 NR
Chauncey Billups Nuggets PG 23 19 7 5
Tyreke Evans Kings PG 22 NR 6 NR
Danny Granger Pacers SF 21 21 5 5
Carlos Boozer Bulls PF 20 32 6 9
Paul Pierce Celtics SF 19 17 4 4
Joe Johnson Hawks SG 18 20 4 4
Rajon Rondo Celtics PG 17 27 5 8
Amar’e Stoudemire Knicks PF 16 16 5 6
Steve Nash Suns PG 15 22 4 6
Tim Duncan Spurs PF 14 6 4 1
Chris Bosh Heat PF 13 13 3 4
Derrick Rose Bulls PG 12 18 3 4
Brandon Roy Blazers SG 11 10 3 3
Pau Gasol Lakers PF 10 14 2 5
Dirk Nowiztki Mavs PF 9 9 1 2
Deron Williams Jazz PG 8 11 2 2
Chris Paul Hornets PG 7 4 1 1

Notes
• Rankings are based solely on projected ’10-11 performance.
• Contributors to this list include: Jeremy Bauman, Maurice Bobb, Erildas Budraitis, Sean Ceglinsky, Ben Collins, Bryan Crawford, Sandy Dover, Adam Figman, Manny Maduakolam, Eddie Maisonet, Ryne Nelson, Doobie Okon, Ben Osborne, Charles Peach, Branden Peters, Quinn Peterson, David Schnur, Todd Spehr, Kyle Stack, Adam Sweeney, Dennis Tarwood, Tracy Weissenberg, Lang Whitaker, Eric Woodyard, and Nima Zarrabi.
• Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.

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  • http://bugmarley.com LeoneL

    “With only three or so exceptions, point guards don’t win MVP and they don’t win championships.” Well, I think every team that won a chip had a point guard.

  • chexiaobei

    Yo,Myles Brown,Joe Dumars was inducted into Hall of Fame as Player in 2006

  • http://bugmarley.com LeoneL

    Oh Myles, please stop with the whole getting Chris Paul out of New Orleans thing. It’s just getting silly.

  • h smo

    Tight I agree get him out of N.O.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the Balla

    Melo must be having a beast year lol!

  • tavoris

    Isiah had two current HOF players (Dumars and Dantley), as well as one that should be (Rodman). In addition to Chuck Daly.
    Zeke was a baaaaaad man, but u can do a lil better than that, Myles.

  • Ganchan

    It’s hilarious to me that people think D Howard is better than Chris Paul at basketball. I realize they play different positions but if Chris Paul was on Orlando it would be his team.

  • VisionofGreatness

    I’d say Chris Paul is an intimidating defensive presence. After he picks your pocket and intercepts passes in the passing lane, I’d say one needs to watch out for him while playing against him. Chris Paul intimidates his opponents on both sides of the ball, period. D-Will and CP3 will be compared for their whole careers because they came in together. Watch them both play. They do what they want on the court without anyone being able to stop them. Ask the Atlanta Hawks about how much a great point guard is needed unless you run a triangle offense or have LeBron James (who is a point guard in a power forward’s body). And CP3 doesn’t have to leave New Orleans to win. Some people just aren’t going to win lol. Sometimes, teams are just better than you. He and Melo could go to New York or New Jersey..the Magic, Celtics and Heat will still be better. Sometimes, a player just comes at the wrong time. Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Charles Barkley weren’t going to win because of Jordan and the Bulls. Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and D-Rose will have to battle the Heat. That’s just how it is sometimes.

  • thegfunk

    Little man doin big things in the BIG EASY!

  • http://www.slamonline.com J

    Love this baller.

  • Justin

    Love Chris Paul, but he is not a better passer than Steve Nash

  • http://www.slamonline.com J

    ^agreed.

  • EJ

    Better than Dwight and Melo. It’s just cause he was injured.
    6. Melo
    5. D12
    4. Wade
    3. Bron
    2. KB
    1. KD

  • http://itsahardwoodlife.blogspot.com omphalos

    The Hornets ARE Chris Paul; underrated team that gets it done with heart and passion. Strength through adversity. They might be slow to figure it out in the pre-season but don’t be surprised if a healthy Paul can will the Hornets to the 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs. A lost season will stoke that competitive fire, don’t you doubt.

  • VisionofGreatness

    His Hornets teams remind me of AI’s Sixers. One player whose talent is so far above and beyond the rest of his teammates to the point where he has to carry them with his talent, heart and passion. The Sixers are just starting to recover from the first time AI was traded…the Hornets would take a while to recover in the same way.

  • hammer

    Question is can paul stay healthy. That’s what irked me bout paul during the summer. Asking the team what they were gonna do 2 improve the team when his @ss couldn’t stay healthy n order 4 the hornets 2 have some success. Look n the mirror paul. Yes its tru hornets haven’t done enuff 2 improve the team. But chris just needed 2 shut the f**k up,which I’m glad he did

  • http://itsahardwoodlife.blogspot.com omphalos

    The one concern for me is coaching; Monty is a rookie coach, not quite the guy you want at the helm during the most critical period of your franchise’s hopes for the future. I wish they had hired Avery Johnson instead.

  • KB8toSG8

    I’m just not feeling it. D-Will still is the dream PG.

  • Justin

    ^^^ I thought it was Magic? lol

  • KB8toSG8

    @Justin…….present PGs……Magic is still at the top lol. No-one can outdo him on the fast break.

  • JTaylor21

    I love the NO but Zeke reincarnated needs to get the hell out of there. The hornets are wasting his talent with the likes of the highly overrated DWest, a glorified oop-catcher in Okafor, and a I’m only great in my own mind Ariza. CP3 take your a** to NY with Amare and D’Antoni, you might not win a chip but just imagine the kind of numbers you could put up and the Big Apple will once again become the mecca of basketball.

  • logues

    melo is overrated

  • KB8toSG8

    @JT21…..you haven’t learnt anything seeing the Suns under D’Antoni have you? Ridiculous…..

  • http://www.twitter.com/gerardhimself Gerard Himself

    Myles, like people have said: how could you forget about Joe Dumars? Not to take away from Zeke, but come on man…

  • burnt_chicken

    JOE DUMARS. As in: HOF’er JOE DUMARS. As in: money J, cold-as-ice, in-your-jock-D consummate professional JOE DUMARS. To forget about JOE DUMARS is not just ignorant, it’s really really dumb for anyone professing to have more than pedestrian knowledge of the game. Like a sports journalist might, for example.

  • burnt_chicken

    …I couldn’t even mention WORM and AD because I was so shocked to see the omission of JOE freakin’ DUMARS. Myles better never crow over the professionalism of Durantula and his ilk if he can’t remember the gold standard of the last generation: JOE DUMARS.

  • burnt_chicken

    Also, I think Bill Laimbeer’s elbows are kept in a max security glass case at the HOF. No nomination needed.

  • burnt_chicken

    and those ’88 and ’89 Pistons squads went, what, a legitimate 10 deep? Those were strong squads, not Zeke’s ball boys. Thomas has slight shoulders, Myles. Try not to overload them.

  • Mo

    You bastards hating on Paul in NOLA better sit back and enjoy him in the Big Easy for at least another season. It ain’t guaranteed that he’d go anywhere else and win a championship.

  • Michael Whyte

    LOVED the wire reference. ‘hey yo, listen here bey. you come at the king you best not miss

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ Myles Brown

    Was Dumars a first ballot entry? I didn’t think he was since it took him so long to get in, but either way, sorry. I was in a hurry. Point is still the same though. CP could win a title with a similar collection of talent.

  • tictac

    Chris Paul is a top 5 player in this league. The only reason people keep trying to tie Deron Williams to him is because they came into the league at the same time, play the same position, selected 1 pick apart and Deron and the Jazz win the head to head matchups. Yes, I included the Jazz because people try hard to brush off that the Jazz has always been a better team than the Hornets. TEAM. All the way from the coach to the bench. Deron Williams would never, I repeat NEVER, take Chris Paul’s 07-08
    supporting cast to 56 wins. Heck he probably
    wouldn’t take the 08-09 cast to 49 wins either.
    Deron has yet to carry the load Chris Paul has had
    to carry. I haven’t even seen Deron make teammates
    look better than they actually are.

    Kevin Durant will probably be top 3 but right now, this guy isn’t even a complete player. He’s a HIGH VOLUME SCORER.

  • The Philosopher

    Paul is a purer point guard version of Tim Bug.

  • http://sdklff.com Jukai

    Myles: quickly get the webstaff to scribble in “first ballot” infront of HOF and everything’s cool buddy.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ Myles Brown

    Fixed. Again, sorry. Carry on….

  • http://sdklff.com Jukai

    And Chris Paul IS top five next to Kobe, Lebron, Wade, and Durant.
    When he’s healthy.
    Which is beginning to become a prevalent question.

  • Mo

    Before trying to hustle down a David West football pass Chris Paul averaged 75 games per season. Going into this season Deron Williams has only played about 41 games more than Paul. People act like Paul misses 45 games every season.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the Balla

    Is anyone else trying to buy tickets on Ron Artest’s ring? I am trying to, but cannot find it on his websites, can anyone help a brother out?

  • tavoris

    not to be nitpicky, but does the “at or near their prime” argument even hold validity? How many years after the Piston’s Back-to-Back did Bird and Magic play? 3? Both guys were clearly at the Paul Pierce stage-as opposed to the Lebron stage of their careers.

  • bashmo

    come ON…I wish this dude wasnt injured this season. Couldve done dirt, but oh well. He gon come bak strong this season, best believe. CP3 best PG in BASKETBALL

  • http://nicekicks.com meloman2.0

    for those saying Melo is overatted… i think you should remember that Melo led his Nuggets over the Hornets in convincing fashion in the playoffs two years ago, AND finished them off by 59 points in their last game. And since then, Melo has done a lot more than Cp has.

  • Elvis Freshly

    @Logues Melos is overrated? you must not watch how he dominates on the offensive end. The man can score the ball at will, I’d even take him before KD just because he’s more clutch and more efficient.

    and yes… CP3 is the BEST pg in the L… then RONDOOOOOOOOOOOOOO [Charles voice/]

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ Myles Brown

    In those years that Isiah went back to back, Magic was back to back MVP. He lost to the Pistons in their first matchup and went back two years later to face Michael. Is that prime enough for you?

  • abaci

    For some reason cp rubs me the wrong way. that being said i enjoyed the piece. good job Myles

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Good write-up, Myles.
    However, The Wire comparison is kind of iffy… Because while The Wire IS the best show ever, Chris Paul isn’t CLEARLY the best point guard ever. A logical argument can be made that Deron Williams is a better point guard–whereas, trying to argue that The Wire isn’t the best show ever is almost impossible to do once someone has actually seen it.

  • tavoris

    not when both he and Bird were both retired within 3 years. I won’t dispute ur Zeke-love tho. If he wasn’t such an insufferable prick, he’d be held in higher regard.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Paul and Williams should both be ahead of Carmelo Anthony, imo.

  • http://www.slamonline.com AllDayEveryDay

    CP3 is not only the 4th best player in the NBA, but since the criteria is PROJECTED PRODUCTION, he could arguably be ahead of lebron and wade. He’s healthy, how is Mr 21/11/5/2.5 gonna produce less than melo or durant? Even in skill and as an overall player CP3 is only behind the big 3, kobe/wade/bron… CP3 and DWill > Melo and Durant

  • JTaylor21

    Zeke is the BEST PG of all-time (sorry Philo) the same way CP is the best PG today. I much rather watch a game of one-on-one between Zeke and CP than Kobe/MJ, Magic/Bron, Bird/Dirk, Wilt/Shaq.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Magic Johnson is the best PG of all time.

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