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7th April, 2008 - 7:00 pm
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| Current Features |
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SCOOP DU JOUR: Iverson With The Knicks, Joe Alexander, Lincecum's Cy Young & More
Allen Iverson and the Knicks is a marriage out of necessity, forecasting Joe Alexander's future, why there hasn't been any players compared to Magic or Bird, plus Tim Lincecum's Cy Young and the possibility of Pacquiao/Mayweather at Cowboys Stadium.
TEAM RANKINGS: NBA Power Rankings For The Week Of November 12th
While the Cetlics remain an easy number one in our rankings, Greg Oden and the Blazers have moved up to the second slot, ahead of Dallas, Miami and the Lakers.
MOCK DRAFT: 2009 NBA Mock Draft, Version 11.0 (Draft Day Edition)
How will the 2009 NBA Draft shake out? We're only hours away from finding out.
LOCKER TALK: Nash, Cleveland, & Orlando
Steve Nash could draw trade interest this summer and Cleveland isn’t overlooking Orlando…
PLAYER RANKINGS: The Final NBA Player Rankings For The 2008-09 Season
The 2008-09 season is in the books and how did players rank individually?
CLASSICS: Hakeem Vs. Ewing: Who Was The Better Center?
Born within six months of each other in opposite corners of the world, two seven footers who are finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame this fall are two of the best ever to play the center position.
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By Nick Obergan
Choosing to group some of these middle picks to speed up the process means we will be seeing much deeper lists with more star power. Today is a perfect example: We have two Hall of Famers, and two first ballot future Hall of Famers; oddly enough, the two Hall of Famers sit at 3 and 4 on this list, which goes to show just how deep the talent was at these particular spots.
10. Jalen Rose – No. 13 in 1994
A veteran of 13 seasons and 923 regular season games, Rose sure bounced around the league a lot for a guy with many talents. I think the reason (or problem) was that a few of those teams tried to build a team with Rose as their number 1 guy, when in reality, his best seasons came as option number 2, a great sidekick to the team’s star. In Indiana he had great success playing beside Reggie Miller and even made it to the NBA Finals there, as well as winning the leagues' Most Improved Player Award in 1999-2000. He averaged the most points in his only full year with the Bulls, but they were a terrible team with no chemistry and he was the defacto veteran scorer. When traded to Toronto, he provided clutch scoring and solid veteran leadership, and the fans embraced that leadership because they weren’t seeing it from their departed franchise player. In 2005-06, with his shooting touch diminished (down to 40% on his attempts), he was sent to the bench and took it like a true professional. He was traded to the place many NBA players go to die these days, New York, and then finished as a bench player in Phoenix hoping for a title that never came. He was never much of a defender, either. His career totals (14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists) are brought down by the bench roles as his career started and ended. The six years between the ages of 27-32 show he was a very versatile offensive performer. In those 464 games, he averaged 19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and shot 44% from the field, 36.7% from long range, and 83.5% from the free throw line.
9. Herb Williams – No. 14 in 1981
Herb was drafted by the Pacers, where he had the most success of his career. He played 7 ½ seasons in Indiana and started 496 of the 577 games he appeared in there. In 32 minutes per game, he averaged 14.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game. He finished in the top-10 in the league in blocks per game four times during that span, averaging 2.2 or more three times. At age 30, a midseason trade sent him to Dallas, and he was never the same player as age continued to be a factor. However, Herb did play until he was 40, finishing his career with 6 ½ years with the Knicks where he made it to 2 NBA Finals (losing both) playing behind Patrick Ewing. He averaged double figures in points in 11 of his first 12 seasons and averaged over 7 rebounds in 6 of his first 7 seasons in the league. His best individual season was 1985-86 when he had career highs in points (19.9), rebounds (9.1,) and blocks (2.4). His career stats are largely affected by his final 7 seasons when he never averaged 15 minutes in any of those years, providing solid leadership and depth to contending Knicks' teams. In the end, he played 1102 regular season games and averaged 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 25.8 minutes.
8. Tree Rollins – No. 14 in 1977
Wayne Rollins just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Tree was an appropriate nickname for the 7’1” defensive stalwart. He played 18 seasons and 1156 regular season games in the NBA, and despite averaging just 20.8 minutes over the lifetime of his career, he still averaged 2.2 blocks per game. He averaged no fewer than 2.3 blocks in his first 9 seasons, including swatting 3 or more per game four times, and leading the league in 1982-83 with 4.3 per game. He also averaged 6 or more rebounds per game in his first 11 seasons, grabbing 9 or more twice. I am touting these stats because he was never about offense, averaging 8 points or more only three times, with his career high being 8.9. But for the first 11 years of his career, he averaged at least 22 minutes each season (and then, as age took its toll, he became a role player). He played 814 games in those 11 seasons, started 433, and averaged 6.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 53.2% from the field. He was named to the All-Defensive 1st Team once and 2nd Team once.
7. Peja Stojakovic – No. 14 in 1996
Now that he is finally healthy, 30-year old Peja is a viable weapon as a 2nd or 3rd option on his team’s offense. The last three years have seemed like an eternity in his career, bouncing from Sacremento to Indiana and then signing with the Hornets on a contract most deemed (and likely still deem) well above his worth. Is 2004-05 really that long ago? Seems like it, doesn’t it? That is the season Peja scored over 20 points per game for the fourth time in five years. It seems so hard to remember that he is/was one of the greatest shooters in the last decade. The seasons from 2000-01 to 2005-06 (the season he was traded for Ron Artest) were Peja’s best, taking passes from Chris Webber in the Kings’ high post offense, and carrying the offensive load when Webber was injured. He started all 436 games he played in those 6 seasons and averaged 20.6 points on 46.7% from the field and nearly 41% from downtown (he averaged 2.3 makes per game from three in those years), along with 89.5% from the free throw line (which included 3 straight years shooting over 91%). He also chipped in 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a steal per game. Those numbers saw him make three straight All-Star trips (2002-04). In 2003-04 he earned All-NBA 2nd Team honors after averaging 24.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 92.7% from the free throw line (1st in the league), 48% from the field, 43.3% from downtown, and 40 minutes per night in 81 games. For his career he has averaged 18.2, 5.0, 1.9, 1.0, and 40.6% from three (18th best all-time).
6. Maurice Lucas – No. 14 in 1974
After spending his first two professional seasons in the ABA, Lucas came to the NBA and made an immediate impact starting at power forward for the NBA Champion Portland Trailblazers. In that first championship season, he averaged 20.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, earning his first of 4 All-Star trips (1977-79, 1983). The following season he was named to the All-Defensive 1st Team and All-NBA 2nd Team averaging 16.4, 9.1, 2.5. He was dominant again in his third year, averaging 20.4, 10.4, 3.1 and adding 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks to earn All-Defensive 2nd Team recognition. He would average 13 or more points per game in his first 9 NBA seasons (he played 12 NBA seasons in total), four times averaging double digit in rebounds, two more years with at least 9 rebounds, and 3 more with at least 8 per game in a season. In his first 8 NBA seasons he averaged 16.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 579 games. In 82 playoff games, he averaged 14.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 48.4%.
5. Tim Hardaway – No. 14 in 1989
Hardaway was a 13-year NBA veteran and may very well be considered a top-3 point guard during the 90’s. As a rookie he averaged 14.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 2.1 steals to earn All-Rookie 1st Team honors, missing out on Rookie of the Year because of some guy named David Robinson. Hardaway averaged over 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists (twice averaging over 10) each of the next four seasons, making the All-Star team three years in a row from 1991-93. After being a key member of the Warriors’ “Run TMC” (Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, Chris Mullin), he was sent to Miami where he made 2 more All-Star trips in 1997 and 1998. In the 7 seasons surrounding those 5 All-Star trips (1990-91 season to 1997-98), he played 533 games and averaged 20.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.9 steals, shot 44% from the field and 35.6% from downtown. He averaged double figures in points every year but his final two, when he was a bench player at ages 35 & 36. He made 1 All-NBA 1st Team, 3 All-NBA 2nd Teams and 1 All-NBA 3rd Team. For his career, in 867 career games, he averaged 17.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.6 steals.
4. Hal Greer – No. 13 in 1958
Greer likely isn’t one of the most popular names enshrined in the Hall of Fame, but he was inducted in 1982 after playing 15 seasons and piling up a whole lot of points. For 10 straight years, the 6’2” guard/forward averaged at least 19 points per game, 8 times averaging over 20. In that 10 year period (1960-61 to 1969-70), he was an All-Star 10 times and earned All-NBA 2nd Team recognition 7 times. In those 10 years he averaged 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and shot 45.4% in 784 games. For his regular season career he played 1122 games and averaged 19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He played in 92 playoff games and averaged 20.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists. He was also a driving force behind the 1967 NBA Champion Philadelphia 76ers team, proving to be a fearsome sidekick to Wilt Chamberlain as Greer averaged 27.7, 5.9, 5.3 in those playoffs for his only title.
3. Clyde Drexler – No. 14 in 1983
After 15 seasons, 2 teams, and 1086 regular season games, Clyde the Glide was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2004. I read a book this past year that named him the second best player in the whole league during his prime years behind Michael Jordan. Considering some of the talent in the mid-90’s, that is pretty lofty praise whether you agree or disagree. The fact is, the numbers are there to justify it. He was named to 10 All-Star teams (1986, 1988-94, 1996-97), 1 All-NBA 1st Team (1992), 2 All-NBA 2nd Teams (1988, 1991), and 2 All-NBA 3rd Teams (1990, 1995). He was in the top-10 in points per game 3 times, in assists once, in steals 6 times (he is 7th all-time in steals). Only in two seasons did he average less than 18 points per game, and those were his first two in the league. Even in his final season at age 35, he averaged 18.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.8 steals. He averaged over 20 points 7 times in 8 seasons, three times pouring in 25 or more. In an 11-year period from age 23 to 33, he averaged 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.7 blocks, and shot 47% from the floor. He also made the playoffs in every one of his 15 seasons, totaling 145 extra games. His play was great there as well, averaging 20.4, 6.9, 6.1, 1.9, including three straight years averaging 21, 7, and 7. He led the Trailblazers to 2 Finals appearances, losing to Detroit and Chicago. After being traded to Houston toward the end of his career, he was a member of the 1995 NBA Champion Rockets' team, providing the perfect compliment to Hakeem, as The Glide averaged 20.5, 7.0, 5.0 in those playoffs.
2. Karl Malone – No. 13 in 1985
Throughout his illustrious 19-year career, Malone was the definition of durable. He never missed more than 2 games in a season in any of his first 18 years until he played only 42 in his last attempt at a title with the Lakers in 2003-04. He averaged over 20 points per game for 17 straight seasons (all but his first and last) and 14 straight with at least 9 rebounds, including 9 straight in double digits. He averaged more than 25 points per game 12 times in his career, including three times over 29 (once over 30). He made 14 straight All-Star teams (1988-2002; no game in 1999). He won the MVP twice (1997, 1999) in years that were far from his best statistically, but that is what happens when you have your best years during great seasons from Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, sprinkling in some Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. The stats he put up in those 11 straight All-Star years are ridiculous: 27.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks, and a crazy 53% from the field. He was named to 11 straight All-NBA 1st Teams (1989-99), 2 All-NBA 2nd Teams (1988, 2000), 1 All-NBA 3rd Team (2001), 3 All-Defensive 1st Teams (1997-99), and 1 All-Defensive 2nd Team (1998). He is also 2nd on the all-time points list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabaar. When he becomes eligible, he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and is largely considered one of the top-3 forward forwards of all-time and, unfortunately, the greatest player to never win a championship.
1. Kobe Bryant – No. 13 in 1996
On a personal level, it was really hard to put Kobe ahead of Malone on this list, because truthfully I am not a Kobe fan at all, never have been. But at age 29, he is likely to eclipse Malone as far as awards are concerned and is also garnering mention as the second best shooting guard of all-time behind Jordan. He has already garnered 10 straight All-Star selections (1998, 2000-08; no game in 1999), 5 All-NBA 1st Teams, 2 All-NBA 2nd Teams, 2 All-NBA 3rd Teams, 5 All-Defensive 1st Teams, and 2 All-Defensive 2nd Teams. He has also won 2 NBA scoring titles, netting 35.4 per game in 2005-06 and 31.6 last season. Those totals didn’t come without criticism, though, as he was put under the microscope for doing too much on his own and not making his team better. He answered the call, and with a better supporting cast, is being more of a ‘team player’ that everyone wanted to see in the post-Shaq Laker era, and it has garnered him top-3 MVP consideration this season, one award that has eluded him thus far. He is in his 9th straight season of scoring 20 or more per game, including 7 times over 25, and 3 over 30. He has also averaged over 5 rebounds in 10 straight years and more than 4 assists in 9 straight. He has already played in 131 playoff games, earning 3 straight NBA Championships from 2000-02. In the playoffs he has averaged 23.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists. In 861 regular season games, he has averaged 25.0, 5.3, 4.6 thus far, but it's easy to think that those numbers will steadily improve for at least the next 4-5 seasons as he continues to pad his Hall of Fame resume.
Questions, comments and feedback is always welcome, and always replied to – nickobergan@hotmail.com |
