and for added measure, who do you think the top 5 players are currently? Main reason I'm curious to see where everyone stands is because of a discussion I got into with my brother and a few of his friends. They all feel that Kobe is a unanimous #1 and I just can't agree. Their main argument was dealing with how many rings Kobe has, but I don't feel that should have any baring on how he's performing this season. Personally, he's top 5 for me, but right now...if I really had to pick any order, I'd have to say... LeBron, Durant, Chris Paul, Kobe and Wade.
Right now, who do you think is the best player in the NBA?
- Thread starter Incognegro
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Kobe is just a killer who knows how to win. He's not an MJ-level killer, but he's next best. If LeBron ever gets half of the will to win that Kobe has, he'll put the league to sleep for a few titles in a row. Still, LeBron is the best player, I just don't see how that even still gets debated.
Top 5: LeBron, Durant, Kobe, Paul, Dirk. Dirk won't be on many lists anymore and he hasn't been top 5 in this regular season, but he was the NBA's best player during the 2011 playoffs and won the title, so I think he still belongs.
Top 5: LeBron, Durant, Kobe, Paul, Dirk. Dirk won't be on many lists anymore and he hasn't been top 5 in this regular season, but he was the NBA's best player during the 2011 playoffs and won the title, so I think he still belongs.
I think the best player is Kobe, but that's because he has that killer instinct and thrives on big moments. I hate the Lakers and I can't stand Kobe, but if I have to win 1 game and I get to pick a guy to help my team win it...I'm going Kobe.
As for the top 5. I don't watch a lot of NBA, but just to give it a shot I will go...
Kobe
Lebron
Durant
Rose
Wade (only because he does all of the little things too, and plays good defense which is a lost art in the NBA)
Monta Ellis is a guy that should get way more publicity, and would if he was traded to a better team. And I'm not just saying that because he's a Mississippi guy, I think he is incredibly underrated.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>
As for the top 5. I don't watch a lot of NBA, but just to give it a shot I will go...
Kobe
Lebron
Durant
Rose
Wade (only because he does all of the little things too, and plays good defense which is a lost art in the NBA)
Monta Ellis is a guy that should get way more publicity, and would if he was traded to a better team. And I'm not just saying that because he's a Mississippi guy, I think he is incredibly underrated.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>
and it's not even close. Kobe is one of the best scorers to ever play but you asked who is the best player and that is LeBron. He rebounds, passes, gets steals and defends on top of scoring around 30. LeBron is so fast and big and explosive. He has to be the best all-time on the fast break. Get him in a half-court slowed down pace and his ability to score is not as good as Kobe but he always is a better passer, rebounder and defender. #2 Durant #3 Howard #4 Rose #5 Love. Take away scoring and you'll see why Kobe doesn't make my top 5.
but I don't think it's by such a wide margin that most people like to think. I really think that he and Durant are right there neck and neck especially if you look at the numbers, what their current teams are doing and the supporting casts around them.<div>
</div><div>To take things a bit further (this time in Kobe's defense), using those same numbers... you can see that he's right there with Durant and LeBron. I pulled these numbers when discussing with my brother and his friends:</div><div>
</div><div>Kobe PPG 28.9 APG 4.8 RPG 5.8 BLK 0.3 STL 1.3 TO 3.9</div><div>Durant PPG 28.2 APG 3.3 RPG 7.8 BLK 1.2 STL 1.4 TO 3.6</div><div>LeBron PPG 27.8 APG 6.8 RPG 8.4 BLK 0.8 STL 1.8 TO 3.4</div><div>
</div><div>Even though Kobe is getting older and playing with like 10 different injuries... he's still putting up numbers that directly rival his younger counterparts. Not to mention he's been selected for the All defensive team 9 times. It's hard for me to knock the man's defense like that.</div><div>
</div><div>The main thing that you said that I failed to consider was Howard. Considering how big of a presence he has defensively, I should have given him more respect and should have put him in over Wade and possibly Kobe.</div>
</div><div>To take things a bit further (this time in Kobe's defense), using those same numbers... you can see that he's right there with Durant and LeBron. I pulled these numbers when discussing with my brother and his friends:</div><div>
</div><div>Kobe PPG 28.9 APG 4.8 RPG 5.8 BLK 0.3 STL 1.3 TO 3.9</div><div>Durant PPG 28.2 APG 3.3 RPG 7.8 BLK 1.2 STL 1.4 TO 3.6</div><div>LeBron PPG 27.8 APG 6.8 RPG 8.4 BLK 0.8 STL 1.8 TO 3.4</div><div>
</div><div>Even though Kobe is getting older and playing with like 10 different injuries... he's still putting up numbers that directly rival his younger counterparts. Not to mention he's been selected for the All defensive team 9 times. It's hard for me to knock the man's defense like that.</div><div>
</div><div>The main thing that you said that I failed to consider was Howard. Considering how big of a presence he has defensively, I should have given him more respect and should have put him in over Wade and possibly Kobe.</div>
... it depends on how you define it...
i don't go along with anything that says lebron is the best. he isn't even the best on his own team. who will take the last shot of the game for the heat - d. wade. i think the miami heat is one of the better situations for lebron to be in because of dwayne wade... he covers up the weakness of lebron which is ability to lead.
kobe bryant, kevin durant are both above lebron in my eyes.
i don't go along with anything that says lebron is the best. he isn't even the best on his own team. who will take the last shot of the game for the heat - d. wade. i think the miami heat is one of the better situations for lebron to be in because of dwayne wade... he covers up the weakness of lebron which is ability to lead.
kobe bryant, kevin durant are both above lebron in my eyes.
It's gotta be (as bad as I hate to say it) it's gotta be LeBron. But if I were in a must win playoff game you'd have to take Kobe. LeBron is probably the most physically gifted athelete possibly EVER! What I saw yesterday was pretty awesome from LeBron. Yeah they lost to the venomous black mamba, but I saw LeBron defending Pau on the block & actually pushing him around? I know Pau is a euro-big but after seeing that why the hell did Spo not make him defend Dirk in the finals? Dirk's as big (probably shorter) as Pau. Why did he not d-up Dirk? I think MJ's the best player EVER. But even he couldn't defend ALL 5 POSITIONS. That's just freaking impeessive! My top 5 are:
1.) LeBron
2.) Kobe
3.) KD3
4.) Derek Rose
5.) D-Wade
But like Sesh just said Rondo balled his *** off! And he MIGHT wind up having more triple doubles than ANYBODY in the history of the NBA. That guy was the best player in the leauge yesterday! Period!
1.) LeBron
2.) Kobe
3.) KD3
4.) Derek Rose
5.) D-Wade
But like Sesh just said Rondo balled his *** off! And he MIGHT wind up having more triple doubles than ANYBODY in the history of the NBA. That guy was the best player in the leauge yesterday! Period!
DAWG61 said:
Take away scoring? That is a pretty big freaking stat to just throw out. Kobe's role as a shooting guardis to score. If he wanted to lead the league in assists he could probably do it. Using that logic you could throw out Michal Jordan and Jerry Westtoo.
Like Kobe showed yesterday against the Heat, when the lights are bright and the pressure is on he is still the best in the league. On a night to night basis, LeBron is easily the best but when it really counts .......it is still Kobe.
That wasthe 17th of his career, regular season & playoffs.
http://www.sportscity.com/nba/nba-all-time-triple-doubles-181/
http://www.sportscity.com/nba/nba-all-time-triple-doubles-181/
He has missed 10 gamed this year and already has more than anybody. That's pretty damned impressive. And as far as taking "scoring out of it". Jordan was one of the best on ball defenders in the HISTORY of the game. I like Kobe, but his defensive skills are FAR from what Jordan's were. If anything MJ's defensive skills were similar to Lebron's. Only (like I said) he couldn't guard all 5 positions like Lebron. Alot of that has to do with Lebron's strength & height. Jordan could guard 1-3 but not 1-5. Lebron is the best player in the NBA. It's just i'll pull against him whoever they play. I hate Miami, always have always will.
And it seems that whenever he plays New York, he has a great shot at getting 20+ assists. He's had 20+ assists 4 times (unless I'm reading this wrong) and 3 of those 4 came from New York. The other time was from San Antonio.