Post by Tigertecz on Oct 20, 2009 12:07:31 GMT -5
Firstly, I'd like to say that this article took hours to write and is nearly 6000 words in length, so I honestly think it should be credited as two articles, or worthy of two lots of article points. I could've split this into two articles anyway, but wanted to keep it all together. Ashes, it's your call I guess.
OK, so like I said in kobe24’s article, I was about to do a similar sort of thing, but once his article came out, I had to change it up a bit. What I’ve done is decided to make a “Top __ Players” article a little more unique and different, but ranking them in teams and commenting on them. I initially had a top 15 and then a list of honourable mentions, but decided to just go for my own take on the 3 All League Teams and what is essentially a Top 15 list of players by position. I then expanded it to consider the others I had in my "honourable mention" list to round off a top 30. This list takes into consideration many factors for each player, but current form is the main one. It’s not the traditional All League Team collection though because that ONLY takes current numbers into consideration.
Anyway… here it is! I hope you enjoy the read…
The Diesel is having a fantastic season this year, taking on more of the scoring load of his team as age begins to take its toll on his frontcourt partner, David Robinson. This is backed up by his career year in PPG (good for 6th in the league at the moment), and he has sights on a fourth consecutive UOSLR Finals trip. As one of only two players in the league to have two A+ ratings, he is without a doubt the most dominant big man in the league, and is far from being a one-trick pony. He’s 7th in the league in rebounds and is putting up the best passing numbers in the league for a PF/C. Any PF/C that puts up over 3apg is very useful to have, but over 4apg, and you’re in elite territory here. Shaq can do it all and at 29 is in his prime. He has never averaged below 20ppg and will go on to be a UOSLR Hall of Famer when his career is done. Who knows how many years he’ll stay in the league? If he continues to be as effective as he has been, maybe he’ll stay on for another decade. He has shown year after year that he can lead his team to success, regardless of whether or not he is the main focus of attack, or as a sidekick as he has been to the Admiral. He has one ring to go with 5 time All League 1st Team selections and one All Defensive Team selection. He is also won two All Star Game MVP awards in his 6 All Star appearances. Unquestionably the best big man of this generation.
Last season saw CDUBBZ win his second All League First team selection and he put up an amazing 30.1ppg, 12.5rpg, 4.8apg, 1.0spg, 2.4bpg with the Bullets. He may be having a modest season by his standards on the scoring front, but he’s currently on course for career highs in RPG (which leads the league right now) and SPG. If you thought Shaq could do it all as a big man, note that Webber has a career high of 5.5apg and is only 0.1apg shy of Shaq’s current APG figure. He has led his Bullets team in many categories in the 7 years he was there, but now is finding a new challenge out West in Dallas. He will be hoping for a deep Playoff run this season as the Mavs have some decent roleplaying talent around him, and if he can stay healthy I see no reason why they wouldn’t be able to push for at least a Conference Finals spot. He certainly deserves one. He is a 6-time All Star and has multiple All League (three 3rd, one 2nd, two 1st) and All Defense Team (three 2nd, one 1st) selections. A ring may not be out of his reach in the near future. It’s debatable as to whether or not he is past his peak, but let’s just hope he still has enough to get at least one ring before his career is over. He is the only player in this team to not have a ring, but he certainly deserves one.
Etienne Preira is the best player in UOSLR right now, and is quite possibly the best player we have and will ever see in this league. He could’ve been listed in this team as a PG where he is preferred to play, but he has played a lot of SF in the past, and this season too. My reasoning for putting him here at SF is because there are clear cut “best pure point and shooting guards” in the league I can think of, but no clear cut best pure SF. That’s just my opinion. The reigning and 4-time MVP has led the Bulls to great success and is literally able to play all 5 positions on the court. When called upon to play as a big as Mutombo went out with a long term injury two seasons ago, Preira’s bpg soared to 2.6bpg and he captured the DPOY award. He can literally do everything and already has the most triple doubles of any player in UOSLR history (currently 41, not counting playoff triple doubles as FBB tends to omit them for some odd reason). He has 5 All League First Team selections along with 2 Finals MVP awards and is a 6-time All Star. Other than ROY and All Rookie First Team, the only league award he has not won is All Star MVP. His award list is ridiculous and the only area in which he doesn’t have a career high in double figures is steals… his career high currently stands at 9, but despite this he leads the league in steals anyway with 2.8spg. He is currently having a career season in PPG and SPG, but is above his career average in every single category. It’s scary how good he is and he’s currently in his prime, looking for his 4th consecutive Finals trip and a 3rd ring. Etienne is the most complete player in UOSLR history, and is arguably the greatest too. I doubt we’ll ever see a better player in this league.
Before Etienne Preira came along, Michael Jordan was without doubt, the greatest player in UOSLR history. He is the best pure SG this league has ever seen, and at 38 years of age seems to want to play forever. Having spent the majority of his career in Toronto, that was where he had the most success. He won MVP awards there, and also added a Finals MVP award when he won his only ring. He averaged 10 consecutive 30+ppg seasons and has won 6 All League First Team selections to go with 8 All Star appearances. His numbers and awards are unreal, and the former Slam Dunk Champion can also boast a top class defensive game making 7 All Defensive First and Second Teams. This season he is still producing great numbers, even though he’s been forced to play the point. His 9.4apg is a career high, but he is also turning the ball over more times than ever and he’s averaging a career low PPG. Despite this, there is no other SG in the league that should really take his spot in this All UOSLR First Team, not even Kobe. With 17 years of experience under his belt, I doubt he’ll be playing for much longer, but he is still the greatest pure SG this league has ever seen. Kobe is 16 years younger so will have plenty of opportunities to take this spot in the future. If MJ was played at SG this season, I think he’s PPG would be higher. And if he didn’t have to share the ball with LJ, maybe MJ would be able to average his magical 30ppg again. One thing’s for sure, this man is legendary.
Jason Kidd is head and shoulders above the other PG’s in UOSLR. He leads the league in assists with the only other A+ ball handler in the league, Steve Nash, 2nd at 10.8apg. That’s insane, and Allan Houston thanks him. His backcourt partner in Minnesota has exploded this season to average a league leading 36.2ppg (6 points more than Etienne Preira) and this certainly has to be partly down to Kidd’s playmaking abilities. Having said that, J-Kidd can also create his own shots too, as his 20.4ppg shows. This is the first year he has broken the 20ppg mark, but he’s never really been a poor offensive player, as his career low is a respectable 14.6ppg. The former Rookie of the Year boasts a Finals MVP award to go with the ring he won with the Timberwolves, but he has now found himself back with Sacramento, the team he first entered UOSLR with. He is a 4-time All Star and has 4 All League selections (two 2nd, two 3rd) but missed 22 games last season due to injury. He also made the All Defensive Team and has only ever averaged less than 2spg once, which was last year when he averaged 1.9spg. His career numbers are just as impressive, as he is the only player in the league to average over 10apg for his career. The former Rookie of the Year is playing some fantastic ball and is having a career season in PPG, APG, SPG, BPG and a career low in TPG. The Kings have done well as they let him go after the first season as a Kidd, and brought him back as a man (sorry… I couldn’t help myself).
This Cleveland Cavalier must be frustrated. His team has always had enough talent to go far in the postseason, but have constantly found themselves suffering early exits. The team has definitely not fulfilled their potential and did not capitalise on Nick Anderson’s form in his prime a few seasons ago. Despite this, Duncan has quietly gone about his business and played as well as he has been asked to do. His offensive numbers are solid for a team which has focused on 3 point shooting, but would obviously be better in an inside offense. Despite this, maybe his rebounding numbers have been so good because of the outside shooting, as he grabs boards off missed threes. Last season’s 14.5rpg he averaged was amazing, and that has only ever been beaten by Dennis Rodman’s 14.6rpg. He is also a beast defensively, and his 3.2bpg last season was good enough for All Defense Second Team honours. He’s currently having a career season in PPG and APG, and is locked up in Cleveland for as long as possible. Let’s see if the Cavs can maximise his potential and bring some success to the franchise.
KG had a somewhat slow start to his career, and made a huge mistake by not declaring for the draft when he should have done, because it meant that the Bulls ended up having to pick Rasheed Wallace #1 instead! (Not that I’m bitter or anything… KG + Preira OH MY!)… Anyway, Garnett now seems to be playing to his ratings in Portland, averaging career highes in PPG, APG and BPG. Like Tim Duncan he is only 25 though, and may get even better in the next couple of seasons. Portland needs to act fast though to capitalise on his form, as his frontcourt partner Alonzo Mourning is not getting any younger. Despite this they have one of the best frontcourts in the league at the moment. Garnett can do it all but this is the first season he’s really begun to show this. And again, like Duncan, this is the first season he’s broken the 20ppg mark. The best PF in the league right now is Chris Webber, but it’s easy to see a lot of Webber’s game in Garnett. If KG’s progress continues, he will certainly have a good chance at pushing for that accolade himself.
At 32 years of age, Larry Johnson is not getting any younger, but there is no doubting his offensive abilities. He currently averages a whopping 29.7ppg, and has only ever averaged better than that once (two seasons ago with 30.3ppg). He spent last year with the Clippers, but found that to be a relatively unsuccessful experiment, and has since returned to the team that made him famous. He is one of the few players in the league to have won 2 rings and has an impressive resume. This 7-time All Star has made the All League First team 4 times, All League Second team 3 times, and also made the All League Third Team in his Rookie Season. Not many players in this league can boast such consistently high standards since entering the league, and if it weren’t for his somewhat average defensive game, he’d push for many more accolades. He is well deserving of this selection and only time will tell if he can find that elusive third ring he so desperately desires. Teaming up with a fellow superstar veteran in Charlotte hasn’t been successful so far, but it’s still early days yet. The Hornets GM may make more moves to try and push the team that little bit further.
Coming straight out of High School to enter the league, Kobe has slowly but surely developed his game every year, and has already found success. In only his second year in the league he won his first ring and is on the hunt for more. Back then he wasn’t the focus of the team as Karl Malone led the way, but it hasn’t stopped his hunger to get back to being a winner. Last year saw Kobe break out to complete his first 20+ppg season and he subsequently made the All League First Team (listed at SF). He may already be a top class SG in UOSLR, but we cannot ignore the future, because what lies ahead of him is scary for the rest of the league. He is getting better and better each season, and at 22 years of age with an A potential rating, he shows no signs of slowing down his improvement. The future is bright for Bryant, and he seems set to be a perennial MVP candidate and will fight to be the best player in the league. Miami will be happy to have him locked up for as long as possible, and he may never leave the franchise. As long as he gets some good support around him in the future, the Heat could be set for some real deep Playoff action, and it’s not out of place to say that they may even go far this season. It’s crazy that Kobe currently averages 28.1ppg at his age, and yet has such a long way to go before he reaches his peak. Who knows what kind of numbers he’ll put up when he reaches his prime? Only time will tell…
Steve Nash has always been at the heart of Seattle’s regular season success. He has improved every season since he entered the league and it’s crazy that he’s still improving so much that he’s having a career season in FG%, 3PT%, PPG, APG, SPG and even BPG. Last season’s All League First Team selection is the highlight of his career so far, and he’s battling for another All League Team selection this year. J-Kidd is ahead of him at the moment, but it’s still early days in the season. Despite the fact he clearly has defensive weaknesses, one cannot ignore his passing and ability to make those around him even better. The Sonics have managed to achieve great regular season records with their run and gun style, which is exactly how Nash likes to play. He is lethal on offense and puts up some fantastic percentages to go with a league’s 8th best 26.6ppg. Without him, the Sonics wouldn’t be the team they are, and it’s a shame he’s never managed to increase that defensive rating to a B- at least. Having said that, it is a testament to his ability that many GM’s regard him as one of the most valuable players in the league, regardless of his defensive flaws. The rest of his game is just that good.
Zo’s best days are definitely behind him, but he’s still playing top class ball. Last season he managed a career high 13.3rpg, but has hasn’t been at his best for a few seasons now, truth be told. He was an integral part of the Championship winning Hornets teams but Charlotte decided to trade him when his value was at its highest. After winning back to back rings alongside Larry Johnson and averaging a career high 4.4bpg, he found himself in Portland where he has been ever since. He’s had 6 All Defensive 1st and 2nd team selections to go with 6 All League Team selections (two 2nd, four 3rd) and is a 7-time All Star. Alongside KG he is part of one of the most feared frontcourts in the league, and is still looking for that third ring like LJ. He has been a force to be reckoned with for many seasons, this one being no exception. Defensively he has always been a monster, and holds the record for the most blocks in a single game in UOSLR – 16 for the Hornets in 1993. When he retires there should be a place for him in the Hall of Fame.
Dirk came into the league with a lot of promise, but left the Clippers in FA to join the Sacramento Kings. He’s subsequently having a breakout season, having a career year in PPG, RPG, APG, SPG, BPG… pretty much every category, but is also turning the ball over more than he has ever done. Now that Jason Kidd has arrived in Sacramento too, his number should be even better. This 23 year old has a lot of potential still left to improve his already stellar offensive game, but he needs more work on his defensive game, which although isn’t bad, could certainly be better. He looks like the next coming of Larry Johnson, and we know how successful he’s been in his career. Dirk’s bigger than LJ, and already has a better passing game and defensive game than LJ ever had, so if he keeps improving, he may be even better than LJ ever was too. That would be some achievement, but who would bet against it?
Vince Carter is one of the most explosive scorers in the league right now and has led his Rockets to the top of the Western Conference. That’s impressive with the likes of Seattle and Vancouver hot on their heels. The back-to-back Dunk Champion and former Rookie of the Year is looking to break into the All Star Game for the first time, and his numbers this year are good argument for it. He’s still very young and improving at a very fast rate. If he is surrounded by the right talent there’s no reason why he can’t push his Rockets far in the postseason. The only area of his game he really needs to work on right now is his defense. If he manages to get his defensive rating up to an A-, and is able to break into the 2spg group of players, he’ll be right up there with the best swingmen in the league.
OK, so his ratings aren’t that pretty, and his defense isn’t going amaze anyone… but who cares when he’s averaging 36.2ppg?! That’s insane. He leads the league in PPG by a whole 6ppg! His numbers are out of this world, and he doesn’t turn the ball over much at all. He’s a 5-time All Star and even has an All Star MVP award to his name, along with an All League Second Team selection last season and an All League Third Team selection the season before. He’s an out and out gunner and has been doing this for years, but this season he’s been better than ever. In fact, if you look at his numbers, he’s increased his PPG every single year for 8 years. That’s crazy. If he had a better defensive game he would’ve had more awards and possibly made my All UOSLR Second Team ahead of Kobe, but right now, he’ll have to settle for being the best scorer in the league.
The one time All Star is putting up ridiculous numbers at the moment and is having a career year in PPG, RPG and APG. He has always been a good scorer, but despite taking a slight hit to his offensive ratings this season, he seems to be even better at scoring. Weird, but true. Maybe it’s due to the fact that he is no longer sharing the ball with Danilovic and he’s the main offensive option in Indiana, but regardless, he is the league’s 4th best scorer at the moment and is 9th in the league for assists. He also rebounds well for a point guard and deserves this spot in m my opinion. The only other player that I considered for this spot was Chauncey Billups, but he has only played 3 games this season and despite being a more traditional PG than Miner, is unlikely to be able to match Miner’s production on the offensive end. Having said that, to be completely honest, I could have just as easily put Billups here. His injury though makes me think that it would be unfair to leave Miner off the team for him.
Honourable Mentions List:
Centers:
Alejandro Camby C 30 6'11'' 251 B+ C- C- B A- D
19.4ppg, 12.8rpg, 2.1bpg, 0.8tpg
- Camby has always produced above his ratings and is one of the very few players in the league to have 3 rings. Last season he was also rewarded with an All League Second Team selection, as well being named to the All Star Team for the first time. Few can produce his sort of numbers, especially as he has spent a lot of his time in Chicago as a non offensive option. He is an integral part of Chicago’s success and according to last season’s awards, was the second best C in the league. Obviously it’s not so clear cut, hence why he is on my honourable mentions list.
Luc Longley C 32 7'2'' 271 B+ C- D A- A- D
19.7ppg, 12.2rpg, 1.6bpg
- Often underrated I think, Longley has had a successful career making his one and only appearance in the All Star Game a couple of seasons ago when he also was selected to the All Leage Second Team. He’s currently having a career year in PPG and turns the ball over less than he ever has. If he had better defensive numbers he might have won more accolades than he has done. He’s certainly a top class center though, and is still balling well at 32.
Dikembe Mutombo C 34 7'2'' 249 B D+ C- A+ A- C
8.5ppg, 10.2rpg, 3.3bpg
- OK so Deke doesn’t put up the biggest numbers for a center, and he isn’t the offensive powerhouse you’d love him to be, but he is without a doubt a game changer. As soon as he arrived in Chicago he’s helped to win games with his incredible defense, and he’s played his part in winning 2 rings against Shaq and D-Rob. He’s been voted the DPOY in 3 of the last 4 seasons (the one he missed was due to injury that kept him out for half the season). Top that with 6 All Defensive Team selections (three 1st, three 2nd) and he is one of the best defensive players in UOSLR history, still playing at that level. Previously he was overshadowed by the great Hakeem Olajuwon who won every DPOY before Deke, which goes to show how good you need to be to win DPOY.
Power Forwards:
Jermaine O'Neal PF 22 6'11'' 225 B+ C- C A- A- C
19.0ppg, 12.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.8bpg
- JO is still young and will probably still improve despite that C potential rating. He has to be regarded as a top PF when he has led his team to the top of the highly competitive Eastern Conference. His numbers are far from mind-blowing but he deserves his recognition. I can’t wait to see him in his prime because I believe that’s when his individual numbers really will be impressive.
David Robinson PF 36 7'1'' 235 A- C D- A- B C
24.1ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.6bpg
- The Finals MVP from two seasons ago is one of the most decorated players in UOSLR history. He has two rings, one All League First Team selection, 6 All League Second Team selections, one All League Third Team selection, 9 All Star Game appearances including one All Star Game MVP, while he holds the record for the most points ever scored in a UOSLR game – 71pts for the 76ers in 1995. Past his best maybe, but the best post scorer in the history of the league is still playing at a top level, and along with his frontcourt partner Shaq, will battle for a fourth consecutive Finals appearance for sure.
Shawn Kemp PF 31 6'10'' 230 A- D+ C A A- C
17.0ppg, 13.2rpg, 4.1apg, 1.9bpg
- Long touted as one of the most disappointing players in the league, when you take a close look at his numbers, his last four seasons were mediocre, but the rest of his career he has actually been a top class PF. The former Dunk Champ has regained his good form in Utah, and is having a career year in RPG, APG and BPG. At 31 that’s an incredible feat and has also previously made the All Defensive Second Team 4 times to back up his defensive presence. He is definitely deserving of this mention on current form and I’m glad to have him in this list.
Small Forwards:
Grant Hill SF 28 6'8'' 225 A- B C+ A- B C
23.3ppg, 8.3rpg, 3.9apg, 1.5spg, 1.6tpg
- The top two teams in the East have no representatives in my three All UOSLR Teams, but if any player of the two teams is close to being a superstar, it’s Grant Hill. He has consistently played at a high level, although not quite high enough to knock off any of the three named previously. I had to include him here though because like JO, he needs recognition for the success of his team. He’s having a career year in PPG, RPG and BPG, and looks set to elevate the young Bucks team to the level it should always have been playing at with the talent available. They have a very good core of team players, but maybe Hill needs to step it up to the next level to break through as an elite Playoff team too.
Lamar Odom SF 21 6'11'' 231 B+ B B B B B
22.0ppg, 8.9rpg, 4.8apg, 1.1spg
- Can Lamar Odom play 5 positions? Yes, I’d argue he most certainly could, and do so pretty damn well too. In fact, that’s what he’s doing for the Suns, backing up every position on the court. Last year’s 6MOY had a great post season averaging incredible numbers, and by the looks of his ratings, he looks on the cusp of greatness. Not the finished article yet, but at 21 years of age, he has plenty of time to get there. He may be one of the top players in the league in his prime but for now, he deserves recognition for his current production as it is.
Shawn Marion SF 23 6'7'' 230 B+ B- C+ A- B- B
23.5ppg, 8.1rpg, 5.2apg, 1.5spg
- At 23 years of age, the Matrix will improve immensely, but right now, he’s putting up fantastic numbers for the Knicks and has helped to propel them into the Playoff positions. He’s a versatile forward that can play both the 3 and 4 well, and with his passing ability would also be able to play guard imo. I love his game and I think that he deserves much praise for producing these numbers so early on in his career. Along with Lamar Odom I think these two will dominate the league’s SF positions over the next decade if their potential continues to see them improve.
Shooting Guards:
Predrag Danilovic PG 31 6'5'' 200 B- A B+ B C C
26.2ppg, 7.5rpg, 3.8apg, 1.8spg, 1.6tpg
- His contract sucks, yes, get over it, because he has launched the Rockets (excuse the pun) right to the top of the Western Conference along with Bibby and VC. It’s no surprise though because he has always had a complete game able to play both guard positions equally well. He has made All League teams three times (once each to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Team) and is currently having a career year in PPG, RPG and SPG. It’s hard to argue with numbers like that, regardless of his contract, and he’s one of the best combo guards in the league.
Stephen Jackson SG 23 6'8'' 218 B A C+ A- C B
22.7ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg
- The Sixers deserve more credit for their team’s success, and as a result I have to rank S-Jax right up there with the very best SG’s in the league. He hasn’t produced numbers that are out of this world but he’s certainly solid in each facet of his game, and is improving his defense year on year. He’s currently having a career year in SPG to prove that, and at 23 years of age, I see him improving more in the next few years. If his offense reaches the 25+ppg mark, there’s no reason to stop him being a top tier SG in this league.
Brent Barry SG 29 6'6'' 195 B+ A- A- B- C C
24.4ppg, 5.3rpg, 4.3apg, 2.1spg
- This cat can do it all and is one of the premier combo guards in the league. He has averaged 11.3apg at the point before, but since he’s had to play with Nash in Seattle, he’s been moved to the 2 where he has been more effective on offense too. Despite his B- defensive rating which may scare people, he actually has averaged over 2spg for 6 seasons of the 8 he has played in, one being 1.9spg, and the other being his Rookie year where he averaged 1.4spg, and he has even made the All Defensive Second Team. So I think he’s been somewhat underrated and I leave him as an honourable mention above Ray Allen who only narrowly misses out. I must say though, if we were to rank pure SG’s separately from combo guards like Miner, Barry, Danilovic et al, then Ray Allen would be a top 5 pure SG.
Point Guards:
Chauncey Billups PG 24 6'3'' 214 C+ A- A- A C B
22.3ppg, 6.7rpg, 10.0apg, 1.0spg
- Narrowly missed out to Miner due to his injury, but I actually class him as the 3rd best PG in the league behind Kidd and Nash, 4th if you count Preira. I love his game and how he leads his team to so many more wins than they would normally be capable of, but his injury and lack of numbers for me to use made me put Miner ahead of him.
Mike Bibby PG 22 6'1'' 195 C A- A A- C- B
19.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 9.7apg, 2.0spg
- Great young PG and at only 22 years of age can only get better. I expect him to be pushing the likes of Billups in the near future to be a legitimate top 5 PG in the league. He is riding a great season at the moment atop the Western Conference with Houston and looks set to for a good postseason run.
Sam Cassell PG 30 6'3'' 199 B- B B+ A- C- C
22.4ppg, 4.5rpg, 8.8apg, 2.2spg
- ET has recently returned to his beloved Atlanta Hawks team having spend the last two seasons in San Antonio. He’s certainly past his best but still produces great numbers for a PG and is in good form. He is a 4-time All Star and has made the All League First Team twice, with one appearance on the Second and Third Team too. He’s creepy but good.
OK, so like I said in kobe24’s article, I was about to do a similar sort of thing, but once his article came out, I had to change it up a bit. What I’ve done is decided to make a “Top __ Players” article a little more unique and different, but ranking them in teams and commenting on them. I initially had a top 15 and then a list of honourable mentions, but decided to just go for my own take on the 3 All League Teams and what is essentially a Top 15 list of players by position. I then expanded it to consider the others I had in my "honourable mention" list to round off a top 30. This list takes into consideration many factors for each player, but current form is the main one. It’s not the traditional All League Team collection though because that ONLY takes current numbers into consideration.
Anyway… here it is! I hope you enjoy the read…
All UOSLR First Team
Jason Kidd – Michael Jordan – Etienne Preira – Chris Webber – Shaquille O’Neal
Jason Kidd – Michael Jordan – Etienne Preira – Chris Webber – Shaquille O’Neal
Center: Shaquille O'Neal C 29 7'1'' 320 A+ D+ C+ A+ A C
28.0ppg, 12.6rpg, 4.8apg, 2.3bpg, 53.7% FG%
28.0ppg, 12.6rpg, 4.8apg, 2.3bpg, 53.7% FG%
The Diesel is having a fantastic season this year, taking on more of the scoring load of his team as age begins to take its toll on his frontcourt partner, David Robinson. This is backed up by his career year in PPG (good for 6th in the league at the moment), and he has sights on a fourth consecutive UOSLR Finals trip. As one of only two players in the league to have two A+ ratings, he is without a doubt the most dominant big man in the league, and is far from being a one-trick pony. He’s 7th in the league in rebounds and is putting up the best passing numbers in the league for a PF/C. Any PF/C that puts up over 3apg is very useful to have, but over 4apg, and you’re in elite territory here. Shaq can do it all and at 29 is in his prime. He has never averaged below 20ppg and will go on to be a UOSLR Hall of Famer when his career is done. Who knows how many years he’ll stay in the league? If he continues to be as effective as he has been, maybe he’ll stay on for another decade. He has shown year after year that he can lead his team to success, regardless of whether or not he is the main focus of attack, or as a sidekick as he has been to the Admiral. He has one ring to go with 5 time All League 1st Team selections and one All Defensive Team selection. He is also won two All Star Game MVP awards in his 6 All Star appearances. Unquestionably the best big man of this generation.
Power Forward: Chris Webber PF 28 6'10'' 262 A C- B- A- A- C
22.7ppg, 13.3rpg, 4.7apg, 1.4spg, 2.1bpg
22.7ppg, 13.3rpg, 4.7apg, 1.4spg, 2.1bpg
Last season saw CDUBBZ win his second All League First team selection and he put up an amazing 30.1ppg, 12.5rpg, 4.8apg, 1.0spg, 2.4bpg with the Bullets. He may be having a modest season by his standards on the scoring front, but he’s currently on course for career highs in RPG (which leads the league right now) and SPG. If you thought Shaq could do it all as a big man, note that Webber has a career high of 5.5apg and is only 0.1apg shy of Shaq’s current APG figure. He has led his Bullets team in many categories in the 7 years he was there, but now is finding a new challenge out West in Dallas. He will be hoping for a deep Playoff run this season as the Mavs have some decent roleplaying talent around him, and if he can stay healthy I see no reason why they wouldn’t be able to push for at least a Conference Finals spot. He certainly deserves one. He is a 6-time All Star and has multiple All League (three 3rd, one 2nd, two 1st) and All Defense Team (three 2nd, one 1st) selections. A ring may not be out of his reach in the near future. It’s debatable as to whether or not he is past his peak, but let’s just hope he still has enough to get at least one ring before his career is over. He is the only player in this team to not have a ring, but he certainly deserves one.
Small Forward: Etienne Preira SG 28 6'7'' 216 B A A A C+ C
30.2ppg, 7.9rpg, 8.8apg, 2.8spg, 1.9bpg, 1.4tpg
30.2ppg, 7.9rpg, 8.8apg, 2.8spg, 1.9bpg, 1.4tpg
Etienne Preira is the best player in UOSLR right now, and is quite possibly the best player we have and will ever see in this league. He could’ve been listed in this team as a PG where he is preferred to play, but he has played a lot of SF in the past, and this season too. My reasoning for putting him here at SF is because there are clear cut “best pure point and shooting guards” in the league I can think of, but no clear cut best pure SF. That’s just my opinion. The reigning and 4-time MVP has led the Bulls to great success and is literally able to play all 5 positions on the court. When called upon to play as a big as Mutombo went out with a long term injury two seasons ago, Preira’s bpg soared to 2.6bpg and he captured the DPOY award. He can literally do everything and already has the most triple doubles of any player in UOSLR history (currently 41, not counting playoff triple doubles as FBB tends to omit them for some odd reason). He has 5 All League First Team selections along with 2 Finals MVP awards and is a 6-time All Star. Other than ROY and All Rookie First Team, the only league award he has not won is All Star MVP. His award list is ridiculous and the only area in which he doesn’t have a career high in double figures is steals… his career high currently stands at 9, but despite this he leads the league in steals anyway with 2.8spg. He is currently having a career season in PPG and SPG, but is above his career average in every single category. It’s scary how good he is and he’s currently in his prime, looking for his 4th consecutive Finals trip and a 3rd ring. Etienne is the most complete player in UOSLR history, and is arguably the greatest too. I doubt we’ll ever see a better player in this league.
Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan SG 38 6'6'' 195 A- A- B+ A+ C- D
23.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 9.4apg, 2.1spg
23.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 9.4apg, 2.1spg
Before Etienne Preira came along, Michael Jordan was without doubt, the greatest player in UOSLR history. He is the best pure SG this league has ever seen, and at 38 years of age seems to want to play forever. Having spent the majority of his career in Toronto, that was where he had the most success. He won MVP awards there, and also added a Finals MVP award when he won his only ring. He averaged 10 consecutive 30+ppg seasons and has won 6 All League First Team selections to go with 8 All Star appearances. His numbers and awards are unreal, and the former Slam Dunk Champion can also boast a top class defensive game making 7 All Defensive First and Second Teams. This season he is still producing great numbers, even though he’s been forced to play the point. His 9.4apg is a career high, but he is also turning the ball over more times than ever and he’s averaging a career low PPG. Despite this, there is no other SG in the league that should really take his spot in this All UOSLR First Team, not even Kobe. With 17 years of experience under his belt, I doubt he’ll be playing for much longer, but he is still the greatest pure SG this league has ever seen. Kobe is 16 years younger so will have plenty of opportunities to take this spot in the future. If MJ was played at SG this season, I think he’s PPG would be higher. And if he didn’t have to share the ball with LJ, maybe MJ would be able to average his magical 30ppg again. One thing’s for sure, this man is legendary.
Point Guard: Jason Kidd PG 28 6'4'' 209 B B+ A+ A C C
20.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 13.3apg, 2.4spg
20.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 13.3apg, 2.4spg
Jason Kidd is head and shoulders above the other PG’s in UOSLR. He leads the league in assists with the only other A+ ball handler in the league, Steve Nash, 2nd at 10.8apg. That’s insane, and Allan Houston thanks him. His backcourt partner in Minnesota has exploded this season to average a league leading 36.2ppg (6 points more than Etienne Preira) and this certainly has to be partly down to Kidd’s playmaking abilities. Having said that, J-Kidd can also create his own shots too, as his 20.4ppg shows. This is the first year he has broken the 20ppg mark, but he’s never really been a poor offensive player, as his career low is a respectable 14.6ppg. The former Rookie of the Year boasts a Finals MVP award to go with the ring he won with the Timberwolves, but he has now found himself back with Sacramento, the team he first entered UOSLR with. He is a 4-time All Star and has 4 All League selections (two 2nd, two 3rd) but missed 22 games last season due to injury. He also made the All Defensive Team and has only ever averaged less than 2spg once, which was last year when he averaged 1.9spg. His career numbers are just as impressive, as he is the only player in the league to average over 10apg for his career. The former Rookie of the Year is playing some fantastic ball and is having a career season in PPG, APG, SPG, BPG and a career low in TPG. The Kings have done well as they let him go after the first season as a Kidd, and brought him back as a man (sorry… I couldn’t help myself).
All UOSLR Second Team
Steve Nash – Kobe Bryant – Larry Johnson – Kevin Garnett – Tim Duncan
Steve Nash – Kobe Bryant – Larry Johnson – Kevin Garnett – Tim Duncan
Center: Tim Duncan C 25 7'0'' 248 A- C- C A A B
20.8ppg, 13.1rpg, 3.3apg, 2.6bpg
20.8ppg, 13.1rpg, 3.3apg, 2.6bpg
This Cleveland Cavalier must be frustrated. His team has always had enough talent to go far in the postseason, but have constantly found themselves suffering early exits. The team has definitely not fulfilled their potential and did not capitalise on Nick Anderson’s form in his prime a few seasons ago. Despite this, Duncan has quietly gone about his business and played as well as he has been asked to do. His offensive numbers are solid for a team which has focused on 3 point shooting, but would obviously be better in an inside offense. Despite this, maybe his rebounding numbers have been so good because of the outside shooting, as he grabs boards off missed threes. Last season’s 14.5rpg he averaged was amazing, and that has only ever been beaten by Dennis Rodman’s 14.6rpg. He is also a beast defensively, and his 3.2bpg last season was good enough for All Defense Second Team honours. He’s currently having a career season in PPG and APG, and is locked up in Cleveland for as long as possible. Let’s see if the Cavs can maximise his potential and bring some success to the franchise.
Power Forward: Kevin Garnett PF 25 6'11'' 230 B+ C+ C+ A A- C
25.5ppg, 12.0rpg, 4.2apg, 1.6bpg
25.5ppg, 12.0rpg, 4.2apg, 1.6bpg
KG had a somewhat slow start to his career, and made a huge mistake by not declaring for the draft when he should have done, because it meant that the Bulls ended up having to pick Rasheed Wallace #1 instead! (Not that I’m bitter or anything… KG + Preira OH MY!)… Anyway, Garnett now seems to be playing to his ratings in Portland, averaging career highes in PPG, APG and BPG. Like Tim Duncan he is only 25 though, and may get even better in the next couple of seasons. Portland needs to act fast though to capitalise on his form, as his frontcourt partner Alonzo Mourning is not getting any younger. Despite this they have one of the best frontcourts in the league at the moment. Garnett can do it all but this is the first season he’s really begun to show this. And again, like Duncan, this is the first season he’s broken the 20ppg mark. The best PF in the league right now is Chris Webber, but it’s easy to see a lot of Webber’s game in Garnett. If KG’s progress continues, he will certainly have a good chance at pushing for that accolade himself.
Small Forward: Larry Johnson SF 32 6'7'' 264 B A C B B+ D
29.7ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, 90.5% FT%
29.7ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, 90.5% FT%
At 32 years of age, Larry Johnson is not getting any younger, but there is no doubting his offensive abilities. He currently averages a whopping 29.7ppg, and has only ever averaged better than that once (two seasons ago with 30.3ppg). He spent last year with the Clippers, but found that to be a relatively unsuccessful experiment, and has since returned to the team that made him famous. He is one of the few players in the league to have won 2 rings and has an impressive resume. This 7-time All Star has made the All League First team 4 times, All League Second team 3 times, and also made the All League Third Team in his Rookie Season. Not many players in this league can boast such consistently high standards since entering the league, and if it weren’t for his somewhat average defensive game, he’d push for many more accolades. He is well deserving of this selection and only time will tell if he can find that elusive third ring he so desperately desires. Teaming up with a fellow superstar veteran in Charlotte hasn’t been successful so far, but it’s still early days yet. The Hornets GM may make more moves to try and push the team that little bit further.
Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant SG 22 6'6'' 192 B+ A B- A- C A
28.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 4.3apg, 1.7spg, 50.4% FG%
28.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 4.3apg, 1.7spg, 50.4% FG%
Coming straight out of High School to enter the league, Kobe has slowly but surely developed his game every year, and has already found success. In only his second year in the league he won his first ring and is on the hunt for more. Back then he wasn’t the focus of the team as Karl Malone led the way, but it hasn’t stopped his hunger to get back to being a winner. Last year saw Kobe break out to complete his first 20+ppg season and he subsequently made the All League First Team (listed at SF). He may already be a top class SG in UOSLR, but we cannot ignore the future, because what lies ahead of him is scary for the rest of the league. He is getting better and better each season, and at 22 years of age with an A potential rating, he shows no signs of slowing down his improvement. The future is bright for Bryant, and he seems set to be a perennial MVP candidate and will fight to be the best player in the league. Miami will be happy to have him locked up for as long as possible, and he may never leave the franchise. As long as he gets some good support around him in the future, the Heat could be set for some real deep Playoff action, and it’s not out of place to say that they may even go far this season. It’s crazy that Kobe currently averages 28.1ppg at his age, and yet has such a long way to go before he reaches his peak. Who knows what kind of numbers he’ll put up when he reaches his prime? Only time will tell…
Point Guard: Steve Nash PG 27 6'3'' 195 C A+ A+ C D+ B
26.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 10.8apg, 1.9spg, 52.4% FG%, 92% FT%, 49.3% 3PT%
26.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 10.8apg, 1.9spg, 52.4% FG%, 92% FT%, 49.3% 3PT%
Steve Nash has always been at the heart of Seattle’s regular season success. He has improved every season since he entered the league and it’s crazy that he’s still improving so much that he’s having a career season in FG%, 3PT%, PPG, APG, SPG and even BPG. Last season’s All League First Team selection is the highlight of his career so far, and he’s battling for another All League Team selection this year. J-Kidd is ahead of him at the moment, but it’s still early days in the season. Despite the fact he clearly has defensive weaknesses, one cannot ignore his passing and ability to make those around him even better. The Sonics have managed to achieve great regular season records with their run and gun style, which is exactly how Nash likes to play. He is lethal on offense and puts up some fantastic percentages to go with a league’s 8th best 26.6ppg. Without him, the Sonics wouldn’t be the team they are, and it’s a shame he’s never managed to increase that defensive rating to a B- at least. Having said that, it is a testament to his ability that many GM’s regard him as one of the most valuable players in the league, regardless of his defensive flaws. The rest of his game is just that good.
All UOSLR Third Team
Harold Miner – Allan Houston – Vince Carter – Dirk Nowitzki – Alonzo Mourning
Harold Miner – Allan Houston – Vince Carter – Dirk Nowitzki – Alonzo Mourning
Center: Alonzo Mourning PF 31 6'10'' 256 A- C- C A A D
25.5ppg, 12.6rpg, 2.6apg, 2.3bpg
25.5ppg, 12.6rpg, 2.6apg, 2.3bpg
Zo’s best days are definitely behind him, but he’s still playing top class ball. Last season he managed a career high 13.3rpg, but has hasn’t been at his best for a few seasons now, truth be told. He was an integral part of the Championship winning Hornets teams but Charlotte decided to trade him when his value was at its highest. After winning back to back rings alongside Larry Johnson and averaging a career high 4.4bpg, he found himself in Portland where he has been ever since. He’s had 6 All Defensive 1st and 2nd team selections to go with 6 All League Team selections (two 2nd, four 3rd) and is a 7-time All Star. Alongside KG he is part of one of the most feared frontcourts in the league, and is still looking for that third ring like LJ. He has been a force to be reckoned with for many seasons, this one being no exception. Defensively he has always been a monster, and holds the record for the most blocks in a single game in UOSLR – 16 for the Hornets in 1993. When he retires there should be a place for him in the Hall of Fame.
Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki PF 23 7'0'' 249 B- B+ C+ B+ A- A
25.7ppg, 11.3rpg, 3.9apg
25.7ppg, 11.3rpg, 3.9apg
Dirk came into the league with a lot of promise, but left the Clippers in FA to join the Sacramento Kings. He’s subsequently having a breakout season, having a career year in PPG, RPG, APG, SPG, BPG… pretty much every category, but is also turning the ball over more than he has ever done. Now that Jason Kidd has arrived in Sacramento too, his number should be even better. This 23 year old has a lot of potential still left to improve his already stellar offensive game, but he needs more work on his defensive game, which although isn’t bad, could certainly be better. He looks like the next coming of Larry Johnson, and we know how successful he’s been in his career. Dirk’s bigger than LJ, and already has a better passing game and defensive game than LJ ever had, so if he keeps improving, he may be even better than LJ ever was too. That would be some achievement, but who would bet against it?
Small Forward: Vince Carter SF 24 6'7'' 215 A- A- C B C B
27.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.7apg
27.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.7apg
Vince Carter is one of the most explosive scorers in the league right now and has led his Rockets to the top of the Western Conference. That’s impressive with the likes of Seattle and Vancouver hot on their heels. The back-to-back Dunk Champion and former Rookie of the Year is looking to break into the All Star Game for the first time, and his numbers this year are good argument for it. He’s still very young and improving at a very fast rate. If he is surrounded by the right talent there’s no reason why he can’t push his Rockets far in the postseason. The only area of his game he really needs to work on right now is his defense. If he manages to get his defensive rating up to an A-, and is able to break into the 2spg group of players, he’ll be right up there with the best swingmen in the league.
Shooting Guard: Allan Houston SG 30 6'6'' 212 B- A+ C B- C C
36.2ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.6apg, 1.6spg, 1.6tpg, 91.8% FT%
36.2ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.6apg, 1.6spg, 1.6tpg, 91.8% FT%
OK, so his ratings aren’t that pretty, and his defense isn’t going amaze anyone… but who cares when he’s averaging 36.2ppg?! That’s insane. He leads the league in PPG by a whole 6ppg! His numbers are out of this world, and he doesn’t turn the ball over much at all. He’s a 5-time All Star and even has an All Star MVP award to his name, along with an All League Second Team selection last season and an All League Third Team selection the season before. He’s an out and out gunner and has been doing this for years, but this season he’s been better than ever. In fact, if you look at his numbers, he’s increased his PPG every single year for 8 years. That’s crazy. If he had a better defensive game he would’ve had more awards and possibly made my All UOSLR Second Team ahead of Kobe, but right now, he’ll have to settle for being the best scorer in the league.
Point Guard: Harold Miner PG 30 6'5'' 218 B+ B+ C+ B C C
28.6ppg, 6.4rpg, 8.9apg, 1.4spg
28.6ppg, 6.4rpg, 8.9apg, 1.4spg
The one time All Star is putting up ridiculous numbers at the moment and is having a career year in PPG, RPG and APG. He has always been a good scorer, but despite taking a slight hit to his offensive ratings this season, he seems to be even better at scoring. Weird, but true. Maybe it’s due to the fact that he is no longer sharing the ball with Danilovic and he’s the main offensive option in Indiana, but regardless, he is the league’s 4th best scorer at the moment and is 9th in the league for assists. He also rebounds well for a point guard and deserves this spot in m my opinion. The only other player that I considered for this spot was Chauncey Billups, but he has only played 3 games this season and despite being a more traditional PG than Miner, is unlikely to be able to match Miner’s production on the offensive end. Having said that, to be completely honest, I could have just as easily put Billups here. His injury though makes me think that it would be unfair to leave Miner off the team for him.
Honourable Mentions List:
Centers:
Alejandro Camby C 30 6'11'' 251 B+ C- C- B A- D
19.4ppg, 12.8rpg, 2.1bpg, 0.8tpg
- Camby has always produced above his ratings and is one of the very few players in the league to have 3 rings. Last season he was also rewarded with an All League Second Team selection, as well being named to the All Star Team for the first time. Few can produce his sort of numbers, especially as he has spent a lot of his time in Chicago as a non offensive option. He is an integral part of Chicago’s success and according to last season’s awards, was the second best C in the league. Obviously it’s not so clear cut, hence why he is on my honourable mentions list.
Luc Longley C 32 7'2'' 271 B+ C- D A- A- D
19.7ppg, 12.2rpg, 1.6bpg
- Often underrated I think, Longley has had a successful career making his one and only appearance in the All Star Game a couple of seasons ago when he also was selected to the All Leage Second Team. He’s currently having a career year in PPG and turns the ball over less than he ever has. If he had better defensive numbers he might have won more accolades than he has done. He’s certainly a top class center though, and is still balling well at 32.
Dikembe Mutombo C 34 7'2'' 249 B D+ C- A+ A- C
8.5ppg, 10.2rpg, 3.3bpg
- OK so Deke doesn’t put up the biggest numbers for a center, and he isn’t the offensive powerhouse you’d love him to be, but he is without a doubt a game changer. As soon as he arrived in Chicago he’s helped to win games with his incredible defense, and he’s played his part in winning 2 rings against Shaq and D-Rob. He’s been voted the DPOY in 3 of the last 4 seasons (the one he missed was due to injury that kept him out for half the season). Top that with 6 All Defensive Team selections (three 1st, three 2nd) and he is one of the best defensive players in UOSLR history, still playing at that level. Previously he was overshadowed by the great Hakeem Olajuwon who won every DPOY before Deke, which goes to show how good you need to be to win DPOY.
Power Forwards:
Jermaine O'Neal PF 22 6'11'' 225 B+ C- C A- A- C
19.0ppg, 12.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.8bpg
- JO is still young and will probably still improve despite that C potential rating. He has to be regarded as a top PF when he has led his team to the top of the highly competitive Eastern Conference. His numbers are far from mind-blowing but he deserves his recognition. I can’t wait to see him in his prime because I believe that’s when his individual numbers really will be impressive.
David Robinson PF 36 7'1'' 235 A- C D- A- B C
24.1ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.6bpg
- The Finals MVP from two seasons ago is one of the most decorated players in UOSLR history. He has two rings, one All League First Team selection, 6 All League Second Team selections, one All League Third Team selection, 9 All Star Game appearances including one All Star Game MVP, while he holds the record for the most points ever scored in a UOSLR game – 71pts for the 76ers in 1995. Past his best maybe, but the best post scorer in the history of the league is still playing at a top level, and along with his frontcourt partner Shaq, will battle for a fourth consecutive Finals appearance for sure.
Shawn Kemp PF 31 6'10'' 230 A- D+ C A A- C
17.0ppg, 13.2rpg, 4.1apg, 1.9bpg
- Long touted as one of the most disappointing players in the league, when you take a close look at his numbers, his last four seasons were mediocre, but the rest of his career he has actually been a top class PF. The former Dunk Champ has regained his good form in Utah, and is having a career year in RPG, APG and BPG. At 31 that’s an incredible feat and has also previously made the All Defensive Second Team 4 times to back up his defensive presence. He is definitely deserving of this mention on current form and I’m glad to have him in this list.
Small Forwards:
Grant Hill SF 28 6'8'' 225 A- B C+ A- B C
23.3ppg, 8.3rpg, 3.9apg, 1.5spg, 1.6tpg
- The top two teams in the East have no representatives in my three All UOSLR Teams, but if any player of the two teams is close to being a superstar, it’s Grant Hill. He has consistently played at a high level, although not quite high enough to knock off any of the three named previously. I had to include him here though because like JO, he needs recognition for the success of his team. He’s having a career year in PPG, RPG and BPG, and looks set to elevate the young Bucks team to the level it should always have been playing at with the talent available. They have a very good core of team players, but maybe Hill needs to step it up to the next level to break through as an elite Playoff team too.
Lamar Odom SF 21 6'11'' 231 B+ B B B B B
22.0ppg, 8.9rpg, 4.8apg, 1.1spg
- Can Lamar Odom play 5 positions? Yes, I’d argue he most certainly could, and do so pretty damn well too. In fact, that’s what he’s doing for the Suns, backing up every position on the court. Last year’s 6MOY had a great post season averaging incredible numbers, and by the looks of his ratings, he looks on the cusp of greatness. Not the finished article yet, but at 21 years of age, he has plenty of time to get there. He may be one of the top players in the league in his prime but for now, he deserves recognition for his current production as it is.
Shawn Marion SF 23 6'7'' 230 B+ B- C+ A- B- B
23.5ppg, 8.1rpg, 5.2apg, 1.5spg
- At 23 years of age, the Matrix will improve immensely, but right now, he’s putting up fantastic numbers for the Knicks and has helped to propel them into the Playoff positions. He’s a versatile forward that can play both the 3 and 4 well, and with his passing ability would also be able to play guard imo. I love his game and I think that he deserves much praise for producing these numbers so early on in his career. Along with Lamar Odom I think these two will dominate the league’s SF positions over the next decade if their potential continues to see them improve.
Shooting Guards:
Predrag Danilovic PG 31 6'5'' 200 B- A B+ B C C
26.2ppg, 7.5rpg, 3.8apg, 1.8spg, 1.6tpg
- His contract sucks, yes, get over it, because he has launched the Rockets (excuse the pun) right to the top of the Western Conference along with Bibby and VC. It’s no surprise though because he has always had a complete game able to play both guard positions equally well. He has made All League teams three times (once each to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Team) and is currently having a career year in PPG, RPG and SPG. It’s hard to argue with numbers like that, regardless of his contract, and he’s one of the best combo guards in the league.
Stephen Jackson SG 23 6'8'' 218 B A C+ A- C B
22.7ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg
- The Sixers deserve more credit for their team’s success, and as a result I have to rank S-Jax right up there with the very best SG’s in the league. He hasn’t produced numbers that are out of this world but he’s certainly solid in each facet of his game, and is improving his defense year on year. He’s currently having a career year in SPG to prove that, and at 23 years of age, I see him improving more in the next few years. If his offense reaches the 25+ppg mark, there’s no reason to stop him being a top tier SG in this league.
Brent Barry SG 29 6'6'' 195 B+ A- A- B- C C
24.4ppg, 5.3rpg, 4.3apg, 2.1spg
- This cat can do it all and is one of the premier combo guards in the league. He has averaged 11.3apg at the point before, but since he’s had to play with Nash in Seattle, he’s been moved to the 2 where he has been more effective on offense too. Despite his B- defensive rating which may scare people, he actually has averaged over 2spg for 6 seasons of the 8 he has played in, one being 1.9spg, and the other being his Rookie year where he averaged 1.4spg, and he has even made the All Defensive Second Team. So I think he’s been somewhat underrated and I leave him as an honourable mention above Ray Allen who only narrowly misses out. I must say though, if we were to rank pure SG’s separately from combo guards like Miner, Barry, Danilovic et al, then Ray Allen would be a top 5 pure SG.
Point Guards:
Chauncey Billups PG 24 6'3'' 214 C+ A- A- A C B
22.3ppg, 6.7rpg, 10.0apg, 1.0spg
- Narrowly missed out to Miner due to his injury, but I actually class him as the 3rd best PG in the league behind Kidd and Nash, 4th if you count Preira. I love his game and how he leads his team to so many more wins than they would normally be capable of, but his injury and lack of numbers for me to use made me put Miner ahead of him.
Mike Bibby PG 22 6'1'' 195 C A- A A- C- B
19.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 9.7apg, 2.0spg
- Great young PG and at only 22 years of age can only get better. I expect him to be pushing the likes of Billups in the near future to be a legitimate top 5 PG in the league. He is riding a great season at the moment atop the Western Conference with Houston and looks set to for a good postseason run.
Sam Cassell PG 30 6'3'' 199 B- B B+ A- C- C
22.4ppg, 4.5rpg, 8.8apg, 2.2spg
- ET has recently returned to his beloved Atlanta Hawks team having spend the last two seasons in San Antonio. He’s certainly past his best but still produces great numbers for a PG and is in good form. He is a 4-time All Star and has made the All League First Team twice, with one appearance on the Second and Third Team too. He’s creepy but good.
