The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.
by Sean Ceglinsky / @seanceglinsky
From California straight to the League.
From the perceived easy-going beach life, with palm trees as far as the eye can see in the oftentimes scenic backdrop, straight to the grind and rigors of battling down underneath the basket with fellow post players for boards and buckets in the NBA.
It’s a path some individuals only dream about.
It’s a path successfully navigated by Brook Lopez.
At least, it appears as if he has been successful.
Entering his fourth season in the League, provided the pending lockout doesn’t spoil things this time around, Lopez is poised to take yet another step in his overall development and rightfully add his name to the mix among the upper echelon of centers.
His potential has never been questioned. Accordingly, his selection at this position in the SLAMonline Top 50 countdown is worthy, by most standards.
Not too shabby for a dude whose family has roots out in the San Fernando Valley, less than 30 minutes from the California coastline. High school followed in centrally-located Fresno. A short jaunt up North to Stanford for college was the next order of business.
He’s a Golden State product through and through.
Lopez was on the fast track right from the start. In fact, last year, he checked in at No. 33 in this poll. All signs pointed to big-time breakout effort from him.
At first glance, his averages of more than 20 points per game and 6 rebounds for the Nets a season ago were respectable numbers. Throw in a 79 percent clip from the free-throw line and 49 percent shooting from the field, and you have the makings of a star.
Nevertheless, some thought he fell off ever so slightly.
Perhaps playing in New Jersey has something to do with the lack of recognition. Whoever has a say in this matter, by the way, better have their head checked.
Nonetheless, the bar has been set high for Lopez.
In his first three years in the NBA, he has career averages of 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Come on people, that’s about as consistent as it gets.
For the all of the doubters, the naysayers, it’s all good.
Haters beware, the negativity serves as motivation.
Lopez, most likely, would like nothing more than to silence all of his critics. An uptick in his numbers across the board would do wonders for his image.
Rest assured, fantasy basketball aficionados are well aware of the upside he possesses. Lopez figures to fly off the board in drafts all over the country.
Who knows, this time next year, Lopez could be on the verge of climbing up the charts. Maybe even jump into the top 25 in these very same rankings.
If anyone can do it, the California kid is the man.
| SLAMonline Top 50 Players 2011 | ||||
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Pos. Rank |
| 50 | Luol Deng | Bulls | SF | 8 |
| 49 | Andrew Bogut | Bucks | C | 7 |
| 48 | Ray Allen | Celtics | SG | 9 |
| 47 | Marc Gasol | Grizzlies | C | 6 |
| 46 | David West | Hornets | PF | 15 |
| 45 | Kevin Martin | Rockets | SG | 8 |
| 44 | Andrew Bynum | Lakers | C | 5 |
| 43 | Brandon Jennings | Bucks | PG | 11 |
| 42 | Lamar Odom | Lakers | PF | 14 |
| 41 | Gerald Wallace | Blazers | SF | 7 |
| 40 | Brook Lopez | Nets | C | 4 |
Notes
• Rankings are based solely on projected ’11-12 performance.
• Contributors to this list include: Maurice Bobb, Shannon Booher, David Cassilo, Bryan Crawford, Sandy Dover, Adam Figman, Jon Jaques, Eldon Khorshidi, Ryne Nelson, Doobie Okon, Ben Osborne, Quinn Peterson, Dave Schnur, Abe Schwadron, Dan Shapiro, Irv Soonachan, Todd Spehr, Tzvi Twersky, Yaron Weitzman, DeMarco Williams and Ben York.
• Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.
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The 20 points, sure. But Brook Lopez is a legit seven feet, the six boards per is unexcusable.
Dude has all the gifts, at this point, it’s a mental thing.
He belongs on this list, but proves again that Boguts number shouldn’t have been called this early.
I know Horford’s a better scorer, and has made the all-star team.
But I think Noah just does more for a team when healthy.
In either case though, I don’t think Noah OR Horford deserve to be placed higher than Bogut or Bynum, and certainly Brook Lopez doesn’t deserve to be higher than them either.
Also, if Bargnani makes this list I will seriously consider boycotting this website until the top 50 has concluded.
Nah, not really, but I’ll be p*ssed.
Can someone explain to me how Lopez is regarded as a better center than Bogut, the same cat that’s a perennial double-double threat and the best shot-blocker in the L?
As for the fact that he scores quite a lot… well… what other choice does NJ have? Maybe with D-Will on the side he will prove to be better than I think but right now he doesn’t deserve his spot on that list.
Deng & Odom & Gasol should be top 40 or 30, Jennings & Lopez out of top 50.
you can bet that brook ain’t gonna average 10 if kris is there
9 boards a game is excusable–even 8. 7 is low; 6 is like… wtf?!
Mbenga better be on this list too.
David West is a better play than Brook. Put him on New Jersey and he will give you 20 and 8 with 50% shooting and 80% free throw shooting. Its not like Brook is an active defender, so you won’t lose much on that side either.
Just Bogut’s.
He’s the turd in the punch bowl right now, and it’s screwing everything else up.
No way should he be the lowest ranked center on the list, particularly since his elbow is going to be improved from last year, and Jennings should make some improvement. I’m cool with where Deng and Ray were, just not with all the players ahead of them.
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