Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 at 2:18 pm  |  142 responses

Top 50: John Wall, no. 25

The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.

by Abe Schwadron / @abe_squad

Living life as a Washington basketball fan is generally a maddening experience, to put it lightly. More like, eternally frustrating, constantly infuriating or perpetually depressing.

Since swapping “Bullets” for “Wizards,” it’s been one bad move after another. An aging late-‘90s core gave way to the worst No. 1 pick in NBA history, then to history’s best player in his worst condition. And just when things were looking up, with an eccentric star and a stellar supporting cast making multiple Playoff appearances, the crap hit the fan. The star went from funny to foolish, his behavior becoming a league-wide joke and his game going by the wayside.

So us Wiz fans don’t get excited too often. We don’t let our guard down anymore. We refuse to open our hearts for just anyone. We’re the girl who can’t have a relationship without being cheated on, without falling in love only to find out he’s married. To multiple wives.

Enter Prince Charming.

The 2010 NBA Draft Lottery should have been boring. In the middle of a Playoff schedule, it should have been a footnote, and nothing more. No ping-pong balls could be more important than real live hoop. But to Wizards fans, it meant everything.

I would argue that following the ’09-10 season, no NBA team had a worse outlook. Six months after trading away the No. 5 pick in the Draft for a pair of veterans in Mike Miller and Randy Foye—hoping to add the final complimentary pieces to a conference contender—the team was in shambles.

Before season’s end, the Wiz traded away four-fifths of those mid-2000s Playoff teams in Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood. Gilbert Arenas’ monstrous, untradeable contract was still on the books, and without young talent to cultivate in a dead season, the likes of Earl Boykins, Alonzo Gee and Cartier Martin saw increased playing time to wrap up a 26-win season.

On top of that, odds were Washington would land a pick outside the top four in a Draft with only one real franchise player. All of which brought unusual significance to the ‘10 Lottery. I can remember sitting on the edge of my seat, face-in-hands (a body contortion we Wiz fans know well), whispering a silent plea to the basketball gods.

When the Wizards slipped into the top three, my insides tightened. “No way,” I thought, fumbling to reply to the flurry of texts pouring in from fellow DC fans.

Before I had time to think, Adam Silver’s beautiful, bald-headed dome pulled the Nets’ logo, then the Sixers’…

I’ve been to a series-clinching NBA Playoff game (May 6, ’05, Wizards over Bulls), rushed the court at my alma mater’s NCAA arena (January 16, ’10, Northwestern over No. 6 Purdue), coached a youth rec league team to a title (won’t bore you with the details). Not then, not ever, have I made the shrieking noise I made when the ping-pong balls went the way of the Wiz that night.

John Wall was going to be a Washington Wizard.

It was—literally—an answer to a fanbase’s prayers. The sure doom of the decade to come suddenly turned to legitimate promise of a real-live basketball team somewhere in the future. The long nightmare in the nation’s capital was over.

Am I overdoing it? Maybe. But ask any Wizards fan, that’s how it felt. That’s how it still feels.

Fast-forward a year later, and Wall’s doing the damn thing. He finished seventh in the NBA in assists per game (8.3), besting some of the best at his position. Considering the, well, “talent,” around him, that’s a staggering stat. Add 16.4 points, 4.6 boards and 1.8 steals a night, plus an uncanny ability to finish at the rim with either hand, with power or grace, all while battling a lingering foot injury, and there’s no doubt dude’s for real.

How many rooks are asked to learn on the fly while playing 38 minutes a game (11th in the L) surrounded by chaos in the form of raw young players and under-performing veterans?

The sky’s the limit for Wall. It’s not rocket science: the kid has incredible god-given talent and an equally intense will to win.

An All-Star bid and a bump in scoring in year two should be well within his reach, and don’t be surprised to see him take a run at the assist title, too. If he can sustain his improved jumper from summer runs, which looks more confident and more fluid, he’ll be a serious problem for opposing point guards on a nightly basis.

The fact that Wall, admittedly, has plenty left to learn about the game of basketball, is downright scary. Let this serve as your official heads up—when he gets his education up, look out below, because his assault on this list is far from over.

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
39 Joakim Noah Bulls C 3
38 Carlos Boozer Bulls PF 13
37 Kevin Garnett Celtics PF 12
36 Eric Gordon Clippers SG 7
35 Tony Parker Spurs PG 10
34 Andre Iguodala 76ers SG 6
33 Al Jefferson Jazz PF 11
32 Al Horford Hawks C 2
31 Stephen Curry Warriors PG 9
30 Tim Duncan Spurs PF 10
29 Josh Smith Hawks PF 9
28 Manu Ginobili Spurs SG 5
27 Tyreke Evans Kings PG 8
26 Rudy Gay Grizzlies SF 6
25 John Wall Wizards PG 7

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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  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    top 25 in the NBA is not a “great player”. YOu realize Joe Johnson, Monta Ellis are still too come? I would take John Wall over Monta Ellis every day of every week. unless I have a team full of guys who can only defend. Other then that John Wall is a better player.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    In year one Wall and Rose’s scoring numbers were similar. Wall’s rebounding numbers were better and his assist numbers were better.
    For Wall to average 8.3 assists playing for the Wizards as a rookie is impressive as f*ck. He doesn’t have KG, Allen and Pierce on his team like Rondo yet puts up similar assist numbers.
    And Curry over Wall?
    C’mon now!
    First of all, all those damn G State player’s stats are suspect cause it’s Golden State, where they specialize in inflated stat lines.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Derrick Rose rookie stats 16.8PPG 6.3APG 3.9RPG .9SPG 37MPG —
    John Wall rookie stats 16.4PPG 8.3APG 4.6RPG 1.8SPG 37.8MPG —-
    And I said John Wall had a better rookie PG season then the other two. I realize what Reke did, but he did it as a SG who controlled the ball like a PG.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    And do y’all realize that I’m a die-hard Bulls fan who has also been a fan of Derrick Rose since he was a high school sophomore, and thus it’s not easy for me to admit that Wall had a better rookie season than Rose or that I think Wall, and not Rose, wil one day be the league’s best point guard?
    But still, biasness pushed aside, I feel that highly about Wall.

  • ctkennedy

    @nbk that dont make what Reke do less impressive when only Wade,Bron,and Kobe do 20 5 5 on the regular n JoeJohnson had a stretch but THATS IT n he shot 45percentage doin it …dont underrated his rookie season like that

  • seriousblack

    Word. Dude gotta be the truth if Enigmatic places him above Rose long term lol. One thing’s for sure, guards will have the league on lock for a while. There’s a lot of pgs and combos that have only scratched the surface so far.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Tyreke Evans is NOT a PG. Did I say what he did wasn’t impressive? Its going to be easier to win with John Wall then Tyreke Evans. Better defender, much better teammate. Better at running a team. All the things that make a winning PG John Wall has. All the things that make pretty stats Tyreke Evans has. I’ll take the winner. fin

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    I’ll take the winner too.
    Derrick Rose it is! :D

  • ctkennedy

    u dont need a GREAT point guard to win a title n the NBA…but u need the Big n Wing scorer….i would take Evans over Wall to build a team

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Wow… umm gotta agree with ctkennedy on this one. Ya’ll are underrating Reke’s rook season. That ain’t no fluke. He ain’t in G-state or PHX. He put up legitimate great numbers. Not as impressive as the greats but common fellas. Give credit where it is due. Reke’s rook season > Wall, Rose. Now in order who is the best player right now: Rose, Wall, Reke. (Right now)

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    NO you don’t. HAHAHAHAHA what? Tell that too Dallas. And Detroit (for all of their titles). And San Antonio. And LA (showtime lakers). Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant have ROYALLY screwed up peoples perception of what wins in the NBA. ROYALLY

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    nbk, your 5:10 post sounds allot like me when debating LBJ vs KB man… an awful lot. Thought you loved the “pretty stats”?!

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Lakeshow – LeBron is a better defender, rebounder, passer then Kobe. I don’t need stats to say why he’s better. I need stats to fight your ridiculous opinions.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    No. The only thing LeBron is better at is passing. His rebounding is a result of his size and athleticism. He’s a better defender as a result of him having knees and legs that work. Kobe is just as good a rebounder per him not being as tall and athletic and doesn’t play a position where rebounding is a premium. I ain’t tryna convince you anything, but your rediculous for thinking i’m rediculous. It isn’t about stats all the time I agree with you on that. I’m just saying that for the same reason you would take Wall over Reke is the same reason why i’d take KB over LBJ.

  • nbaNw8

    ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? :/

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Lakeshow, you’re ridiculous for the way you spell ridiculous.
    What’s also ridiculous is how this suddenly became a Kobe/LeBron debate.
    Next thing you know we’ll have JTaylor, MUBWAR, The Seed, Kap, even Eboy on here defending their guy….

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Better is better. LeBron is better. The size of their body and the level of athletic ability are apart of their ability to perform skills, you can’t discount a guy because he’s naturally better. Better is better. LeBron is better at everything but scoring 1 on 1 and shooting. You can tell me your opinions all you want.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Would you say Stephen Curry is better then Tyreke Evans Lakeshow? Same dumb concept.

  • dc sham

    Wall played in 69 games, shot 41% from the field and did’nt even sniff the playoffs and people believe he had a better season than Evans(20-5-5) and Rose who led an under achieving team the previous year to a playoff berth and a 7 game series against the Celts? Guys its not just about stats its the impact the players have on winning that truly matters

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Oh, and LeBron’s better.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    No Curry is not. He’s also not a better “scorer” than Reke. Which Kobe is a better scorer than Bron. So no not same dumb concept. Curry is strictly a better shooter than Reke. Everything else Reke is better at. Your also unfairly comparing down hill mid 30′s Kobe to LBJ. Kobe was a better defender than Bron in his prime. Much better. Rebounding and passing LBJ is better at, even if it is because of his natural gifts instead of game IQ. But Kobe is a winner. He know’s what it takes to win. Bron has yet to show us that. I’ll take Kobe over LBJ. Enig, shove it. REDICULOUS is twice the adjective that ridiculous will ever be!!!! (dam, thats why my phone won’t allow me to tell people they are “rediculous”)

  • http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/10/4/2468098/nba-lockout-2011-owners-david-stern-robert-sarver-the-hook Allenp

    You can’t say “He’s only better because of X” like that’s a valid argument.
    It’s not.
    He’s better. The reasons are immaterial.
    LeBron is a better rebounder, passer and defender. It’s not disputable. The reasons why don’t negate the reality of what is true.
    The United STates is a superpower. The reason why we’re a superpower don’t negate the reality that we are a superpower and the Soviet Union is not.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    For one. WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PRIME KOBE FOR? and 2 – all of your points are opinions that cannot be proven, and are easy to argue. And the whole Kobe was a “much better” defender comment, is a glaring example of how overrated Kobe Bryant is in your EXTREMELY biased mind. I am done.

  • http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/10/4/2468098/nba-lockout-2011-owners-david-stern-robert-sarver-the-hook Allenp

    And who cares what Kobe was in his prime. We’re not comparing careers. If you were doing that, Kobe would win hands down and nobody with a brain would ever argue.
    This is about right now.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Ha ha word to Allen’s 6 PM comment.
    That’s like saying “Dania Ramirez is hotter than America Ferrera. But that’s only because Dania has a better face and body!”

  • ctkennedy

    Neither Wall or Evans should be top 30 right now …they both have the talent to be top 10 n the league down the line….the question is will they teams built around them CORRECTLY …they very easily can have a Marbury n VC type careers where they numbers is great but get no Ws

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Excuse me with the “much better.” He was just better not much better. None the less a better defender. You all are delusional if you think otherwise. I give you the better rebounder/passer. Why wouldn’t I argue prime Kobe? Should I say D-Rose is a way better player than Jason Kidd. Look at what Jason Kidd has done. That’s not a smart argument. We don’t know if D-Rose will be good enough to compare him to an all time great like Kidd. Just like you guys are stupidily arguing LbJ a two time Finals loser to an all time great, 5 championship winner like Kobe. Keep on supporting the fake Legacy of “The King.” I am done.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    But Enig, what if America Ferrera is a much, much better wife?? Eh? EH? see? ehhh? ok i’ll stop haha.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    We are looking at the top 50 for next season. not a career accomplishments page. Stop fishing.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Well yes LBJ is the better overall player next year. Hands down. I’d take Kobe though.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    @ ctkennedy – this is a projection of what they will do this season. Wall WILL be a top 25 player and a top 5 PG by the end of this season. Do you even watch basketball? Tyreke may or may not be, but Wall is as close to a sure thing as they come in the NBA.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    and duh. we already know that.

  • http://www.2ksports.com Showtime

    To me reke rookie campaign wasn’t all that special..by the second half of the season, paul was just giving the green light to just stat stuff. Curry had the better season later part on it was clear to see. Also its Wall>Rose>then Reke rookie season

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Yawn!!! Y’all bore me with this Kobe vs Bron nonsense.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    Even tough Tyreke is not a pg, he still had a better rookie year than wall and Rose. sure wall had more steals, rebs. and assist, that does not constitute a better season imo. Rose shot way better than him as a scoring pg and yet people look at him like he is the inefficient one. Rose advandced stats were better than walls in per, eff, win share, and he did this all on a winning team. @enigmatic how are you going to give wall a compliment for getting stats on a horrible team and discredit currys stats because of his team? @nbk how do you know it will be easier to win with wall than with Tyreke? you going off what ifs instead of the evidence, like I stated before in tyreke rookie season he made his team better unlike wall with lesser talent.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    nbk, on a serious note man, in their prime, at the height(maybe we haven’t seen LBJ’s “prime” yet) of their careers, Kobe was a better defender than LBJ. You concur or no? Basically i’m saying Kobe in his prime vs LBJ now defensively. I know LBJ can guard more positions 1-4 as opposed to Kobe’s 1-3. But who guarded who they could guard better iyo? Kobe had a “lock you up” factor that I haven’t seen LbJ do on the regular at all. But throw in the LbJ’s blocks from distance it makes for an interesting debate.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    It’s not about the team being horrible.
    It’s about the Warriors’ playing style that allows Curry to rake up more points and assists than he would on other teams.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    wall rookie season was much better than cp3 rookie season.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    what about walls style though, he is a open court player. I watched plenty of his games last season and as soon as he got the ball he was flying up the court, and I know flip had to encourage those type of play because of his athlecticsm. its no big difference to me.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    You do know that Bron was right up there with Iguodala in terms of defensive rating/win shares among perimeter defenders, right?
    So there goes that notion of Bron’s lack of “lock you up” factor.

  • http://Slamonline.coM nbk

    Who for the Lakers guarded Allen Iverson? Who for the Heat guarded Derrick Rose?

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    I thnk it’s silly to debate anything other than stats and facts for a rookie season. Whomever scored more, assisted more, and rebounded more is the player who had the most successful season. Tyreke had the most successful rookie season. How could it not have been? You guys who are arguing for Wall are crazy. Wall this next year might be better than Reke, but the rookie season is pretty easy and simple to toss to Reke.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    Lebron is a overrated defender period, how did he lock up Rose and not jason terry, because it was more of a team effort on Rose than some can comprehend, they werent worrying about any bulls player creating a shot for himself besides Rose or hitting threes besides korver which allowed more help D, but when he had to play some real D and couldnt get that help because those guys had to stay home on those shooters and penetrators like barea lebron was not nearly as much of a shut down defender and terry exposed him.
    Kobe in his prime is the better defender.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    It’s actually closer than you think. Reke scored more points, took more shots, shot a better % from the field and grabbed more rebounds but Wall had more assists, steals, blocks, shot better from 3 and the FT line. Wall is a PG, so I expect him to take less shots and score less.
    The slight edge goes to Reke but for Wall to rank 7th in steals and assists is downright impressive given dysfunction and lack of talent around him.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    nbk….. Kobe did… sometimes Fisher. And LbJ guarded Rose…. I don’t quite see what I am missing here…

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Agree with you 100% Taylor. I mean I am not saying that Reke destroyed them. It just is obvious that he had a slightly more impressive year. I’d take Wall running my team his Rookie year over Reke, but Reke was the better player.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    It’s much harder to “lockdown” a player that’s always on the move and uses screens like JT does. Anyone who’s ever played basketball should know that.

  • respect

    stephon curry is no where near john walls level and neither is tyreke
    John Wall>Tyreke Evans>Stephon Curry

  • http://Slamonline.coM nbk

    It was tyronne lue.

  • zach

    Even tho Reke is a beast, he’s a shooting guard who masqueraded as a pg. He scored more as a rookie than Wall did. Wall is a legit pg. He ran his team better than Reke, who can be a bit of a ball stopper at times. In terms of a rookie pg, no question Wall had the better season. He ran his team better than Reke, even w/o looking at assist numbers.

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