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| Wednesday, February 7 Users: Iverson, Webber lead the way ESPN.com |
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We asked you to respond to our theme of who the best player in the NBA is, and, boy, did you respond. In the first 24 hours after we posted our Best Player Index page, a mere 4,000 wrote e-mails (or, as we noticed, maybe about 2,000 of you who wrote to us twice). After three days the total was more than 6,500. Not too bad. Obviously, certain guys were favored by you, the users, although below we list three e-mails for each of the 10 players we chose (and one humorous e-mail). In a poll on the NBA page we received more than 65,000 votes (through mid day Wednesday) and no player was getting 20 percent of the vote, proving how wide open this debate is. The leader in the clubhouse was Allen Iverson, followed by Kobe Bryant, Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal, all getting between 11 percent and 20. Tim Duncan, surprisingly to us, was around 8 percent. Then came Vince Carter, and the bottom three of Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and Tracy McGrady were getting very little love. But all these guys can play. Here are 30 e-mails equally divided among the best. Thanks for chiming in.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe is the best in the league, no question. He's 22 years old, and he's already got his first ring. If Shaq can quit his crying, this team will prove in the postseason to be the best there is. Kobe can shoot, drive, pass, defend, steal, and even grab some boards. His attitude is just what this league needs. He is mature at a young age, when most of his competitors are thugs. With Michael gone, the NBA needs a new recognizable "one-name-wonder" that can amaze the fans. In time, Kobe will prove to be one of the top three players of ALL-TIME!! That's right. ALL-TIME! Look at him, he never stops practicing, and never stops getting better. MJ will always be king, but Kobe will be knockin' on the castle's door. Just watch.
I have found it really hard to choose between these great players, but if I were to choose one it would be Kobe Bryant. He has the ability, the look, the marketability, and the pose of a champion. I don't want to say there will ever be another Michael Jordan, but Kobe is the next Jordan. He doesn't have any tattoos, you don't hear about him ignoring the press, or giving coaches grief over a game decision. The only problem is Shaq has to accept the role of Scottie Pippen and follow the lead of Kobe.
Vince Carter
Vince Carter is the best shooter in the league, period. He scores 28-plus on a team with virtually no real second scorer. For him to still have a respectable field goal percentage is impressive. Equally impressive is the 43 percent beyond the arc, unlike many other shoot-first stars (Iverson, Stackhouse, etc.). The best dunker in the league (dare I say ever?), one of the most exciting players to watch, and one of the more pleasant superstars in the NBA (and no rap CD yet!), the ever-smiling Vince Carter has potential to become far and away the best currently in the NBA. Put Kobe on the Raptors and he'd become Jerry Stackhouse -- 30 points in 30 shots; put Vince on the Lakers (or Shaq on the Raptors, like that could happen!) and count the rings ... on both hands!
Undeniably it's Vince Carter. He's Kobe Bryant without the obnoxious attitude. The guy does everything and makes the Raptors competitive with anyone (perhaps the most impressive feat of all). The team collapses without him. He and Kobe are the top, but another distinction is their shooting from behind the arc, where Carter gets the edge.
Tim Duncan
The fact that Tim Duncan is a team player tells me that he's all about winning games instead of winning fame for himself. Being a star is just a byproduct of winning games, and championships. Because of his willingness to be a team player makes me feel that he is the best player out of this group.
How can I not give this to anyone other than Tim Duncan?
He can do it all. His game is so complete and is so
all-around, and he doesn't have a big ego to get in the
way. Now that he is healthy again, you can see how
dominating he is. And like you said, he's a team player.
That's why he stayed in S.A.
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett is the man by far. He may not have all the stats (i.e. Shaq, Kobe, Allen, or VC), but he gets the job done. He can play five positions, and guard them all as well (the point, maybe). He can jump out of the building, shoot all over the court, and dribble like a point. To top it off, I seem to remember a game against a certain youngster named Kobe last year where he completely took it to him offensively AND defensively (Remember that left-handed crossover that left Bryant out to dry?). With team help, and age and maturity, Kevin Garnett will prove to be the best player in the NBA quite soon, and quite reminiscent of Magic, Pip, and maybe even a little Hill.
It is Kevin Garnett without a doubt. I know it seems like I would say him because I am from Minnesota and I am a T-Wolves fan, but tell me another player in the NBA that averages 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists per game AND means everything to his team.
Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson is the best player in the NBA. What he does with his lack of size is truly amazing. At least three or four times a game you find yourself asking "How on earth did he do that?" What's more amazing is that he does this with his complete lack of size. Would Shaq be the same player at 6-feet, 155 pounds? Could Kobe score at will if he was Iverson's height? Nobody in the league has been able to consistently stop Allen. We all remember the crossover move he put on Jordan. Iverson is the only person that has ever managed to put MJ on the loser side of a highlight reel. Iverson is no doubt the league MVP and best player this year!
Allen Iverson is the best player. I know I'm a little biased (okay ... not a little) but in this day and age when players just want more money and more recognition, the pure love of the game suffers. That's where Allen makes a huge difference. He comes in game in and game out will all his injuries and plays his heart out even when his small body gets knocked around a lot (when I say a lot I mean A LOT!). At a time when most of the players would rather join a powerhouse team to gain a shot at a title, Allen sticks with Philly and carries the load all by himself (of course, with some help from his teammates). At a time when teammates fight each other to decide who the "main man" is, Allen Iverson gets excited when Aaron McKie, Theo Ratliff, Tyrone Hill or even Big Todd MacCulloch and Pepe Sanchez makes a good play. He hugs them and celebrates with them. I say, forget the off-court antics (and sometimes on-court). When we start talking about BASKETBALL, Allen is The Answer.
Jason Kidd
Although each of the players "nominated" easily have grounds for having the title of "the best," I'd have to go with the Suns PG, Jason Kidd. His stats may not be as flashy as some of the others, but take a look at his supporting cast! He does an excellent job dividing the workload and making everyone else better -- and it shows -- with five (six including the injured Penny Hardaway) averaging in double figures. Were he to concentrate on rebounds more, he could be the first person in years to nearly average a triple-double. Granted, a feasible argument against my claim could be the lack of playoff success, or even the fact that the Suns aren't leading the tough Pacific, but it must also be considered how the Suns would be if he WEREN'T there! This man, the man with endless energy and a love of his blue-collared job, definitely gets my vote.
NO question, it all starts with who handles the ball and the best at that is Jason Kidd. He's the best passer in the league and his nonstop speed and energy make him impossible to stop. He can make it happen himself with his D or take it to the rim himself. His assist numbers show he's a team player, more concerned with the success of the team than his stats. Not all those on your list fit this description (um-hmm Lakers). For those who think his ppg is too low, look at the assists. He's trying to help others more than himself. You put him with any of the big men on your list and they could just rack up the championship rings. He just needs a little big help and watch out!
Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady is having the best year out of any of the top guys
in the league. He is exciting to watch, and a great team player.
He has accepted his role in Orlando, even though Grant Hill
has been hurt most of the year. He's the best.
I think Tracy McGrady surely deserves the top spot. With Grant Hill being injured, he has carried the Magic in a big way. He's young, seems to be a professional, and has somewhat of a quiet manner about him. And I think he will only get better.
Shaquille O'Neal
Who is the best right now? Shaq, without a doubt. His free throw shooting is the one part of his game that gives critics ammunition. On your list, no player dominates his position like the big fella. The power forward and guard positions are deeper than center, providing choices (Webber vs. Duncan, etc.) There is only one dominant center in the NBA right now. Kobe will end up being the "Greatest" on the list ultimately, but now it's Shaq.
Shaq is the best player in the league. Try to think of the last time you saw a center outplay him. He's the only superstar player in the league that you're content to hold to making 50 percent of his shots. A single-team is unheard of and he can dominate every part of the game except for making foul shots. It might be a down era for centers, even heightened by Zo's absence, but Shaq would stand out in any era.
Gary Payton
Gary Payton is the greatest point guard in the NBA. He is the best defensive guard in the league. GP is a threat to record a triple-double every single night. Compared to the other top point guards in the league, GP stands above the rest; Jason Kidd cannot score, and Allen Iverson doesn't know how to pass. The same can be said about Kobe. Give GP 30 shots per game and he could score like Kobe. Payton is just the most complete player on the list. Gary Payton is the league's best player, even if he isn't the league's most recognized.
Gary Payton has made this franchise here in Seattle and if GM Wally Walker could make some decent deals Gary might just have a ring. There are few players in this league who have the all-around talent that Gary does. He can take anyone to the hoop and will get into any opposing player's head. This future Hall of Famer still has hopefully many years left in the game to help the Sonics. For these reasons I think that he is the best player in the NBA.
Chris Webber
Chris Webber is the best in the league. He can do it all. The best passing big man in the game can run the floor and score at will. He trusts his teammates and, unlike Kobe, is more than willing to share the ball. Webber can dominate with a big bucket, sweet pass or light up the crowd with a thunderous jam. Webber has made the world forget about timeouts and has become the player we all expected him to be. The best in the NBA.
I think that Chris Webber is currently the best player in the NBA. The arguments to anoint him are obvious, and could not have been made clearer than in the ESPN The Magazine article I read yesterday. From multiple national broadcasts each week, to the highest rated fantasy player (purely statistical evaluation), to the leadership and heart that he brings to the NBA's most improved team, Webber undeniably has a special place among the highest echelon of players. I argue that he is the best among those players because the only remaining criteria -- winning an NBA championship -- will come to him as soon as he is on a team with one other of those top players. Jordan needed Scottie, Duncan needs Robinson, Shaq needs Kobe (and vice versa), and when Webber moves on after this season, if he chooses wisely his place in the NBA pantheon will be secured.
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