NBA Top 50 Players - The Sporting News

[Dan's Brain]

The list was voted for by a panel of 107 people: including 28 Hall-of-famers, former major award-winners, executives, current players and coaches and other basketball experts.

And here it be:

1. Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers
2. LeBron James, SF, Cavaliers
3. Dwyane Wade, SG, Heat
4. Dwight Howard, C, Magic
5. Tim Duncan, PF, Spurs
6. Chris Paul, PG, Hornets
7. Kevin Garnett, PF, Celtics
8. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks
9. Carmelo Anthony, SF, Nuggets
10. Paul Pierce, SF, Celtics
11. Steve Nash, PG, Suns
12. Deron Williams, PG, Jazz
13. Tony Parker, PG, Spurs
14. Brandon Roy, SG, Trail Blazers
15. Yao Ming, C, Rockets
16. Shaquille O’Neal, C, Cavaliers
17. Pau Gasol, PF, Lakers
18. Chris Bosh, PF, Raptors
19. Amare Stoudemire, PF, Suns
20. Chauncey Billups, PG, Nuggets
21. Kevin Durant, SF, Thunder
22. Manu Ginobili, SG, Spurs
23. Jason Kidd, PG, Mavericks
24. Tracy McGrady, SG, Rockets
25. Joe Johnson, SG, Hawks
26. Derrick Rose, PG, Bulls
27. Ray Allen, SG, Celtics
28. Gilbert Arenas, PG, Wizards
29. Ron Artest, SF, Lakers
30. Vince Carter, SG, Magic
31. Danny Granger, SF, Pacers
32. Baron Davis, PG, Clippers
33. Devin Harris, PG, Nets
34. Ben Gordon, SG, Pistons
35. Al Horford, C, Hawks
36. Carlos Boozer, PF, Jazz
37. Nene, C, Nuggets
38. Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics
39. Andre Iguodala, SG, 76ers
40. Josh Smith, PF, Hawks
41. Rudy Gay, SF, Grizzlies
42. Hedo Turkoglu, SF, Raptors
43. Lamar Odom, SF, Lakers
44. Shane Battier, SF, Rockets
45. Elton Brand, PF, 76ers
46. Richard Jefferson, SF, Spurs
47. O.J. Mayo, SG, Grizzlies
48. Charlie Villanueva, PF, Pistons
49. Michael Redd, SG, Bucks
50. Andrew Bynum, C, Lakers

5 Lakers make the cut and no players from the Bobcats, Kings, Knicks, Wolves and Warriors.

I'm assuming that this list was compiled prior to the commencement of the season. Otherwise, there's no way that Redd or Baron Davis makes the cut, no way that Shaq is in there above Bynum or Durant, and no way that Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah and Brandon Jennings aren't in there at all.

Anyways, feel free to make your complaints.

For the full article:

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... p_50_list/

[CMJ3]

Looks like Gerald Wallace continues to be underrated i think Monte Ellis would def get in there now somewhere. Interesting how they chose Kobe over 'Bron i guess the championship means more than the MVP.

[benji]

For the actual full article from the original source and not the RealGM cut and paste without ever linking job:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Ba ... bron_james

God, I hate RealGM.

Oh, and stupid list, stupid article, stupid everything. Why would you even bother doing something like this in this way?

Elgin Baylor
Travis Best
Otis Birdsong
Muggsy Bogues
Dee Brown
P.J. Brown
Bill Cartwright
Tyson Chandler
Doug Christie
Jim Cleamons
Mark Eaton
Craig Ehlo
Mario Elie
Mike Gminski
Tim Hardaway
Tim Legler
Donyell Marshall
Rodney McCray
Tracy Murray
Norm Nixon
Will Perdue
Scot Pollard
John Salley
Dick Vitale
Bill Wennington
Brian Winters

Anyway, we know nothing about their methods on this list. Did the "experts" rank a top ten? A top fifty? Nobody can individually rank the top fifty players, so it's probably top ten, top twenty at most. Then Sporting News weighted these in some manner (which they again don't tell us) and then added up the results to get us a top fifty.

A top fifty that means nothing. Why? Let's take Artest, who ranked 29th. And take Josh Smith, 40th. What's the difference between these two? Likely one vote or less. After about 15th place the difference between 16 and 50 is less than two votes I bet.

Not only that, but none of the reasons outside of Magic's are given for any of the rankings. The individual rankings are not given. Nothing is given, but some list culled in an unknown way from 107 voters half of which were chosen for an unknown reason. You can't even comment or complain about the list, why? Because you don't know what it is based on, how it's decided or what relevance any of the positions have to each other. It's also invalidated as to its "expertness" because we don't know if 50 idiots (some of whom are listed above) over powered the 10 "best" experts through sheer numbers.

Garbage in, garbage out.

And print wonders why it's dying and "journalists" wonder why they're looked down upon by the rest of society.

[J@3]

Don't you dare disrespect Tracy Murray like that again.

[Rip32]

Muggsy Bogues voted on this! That makes it 100% legit.

Also, where the hell is Al Jefferson and why the hell is Charlie Villanueva ahead of him?

[J@3]

Bucks had 3 top 50 players last season apparently.

[Martti.]

No Rashard, Jamison or Monta?

[NovU]

What a bullcrap, no Joel Anthony?

...oh, maybe Camelo is a typo.

Don't you dare disrespect Tracy Murray like that again.