Top 10 Players in the NBA

             There are two reasons why the stars of today play the game of basketball: championships and to be among the greatest to ever play (OK, and of course for the $$$!) Every player is trying to strive what Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell achieved during their tenures in the NBA. These guys, are who the veteran players of today looked up to when their careers got started. The time has changed and now young kids either in college, high-school, or younger are idolizing the guys who are currently playing in the NBA. There are so many talented players currently in the NBA, and it is going to be tough to pick the top 10 who lace them up on the hardware. Of course, this is not just based off of what has happened in the 2010-11 season, but as what players have achieved as a whole during their NBA careers and are still playing at a high level (Sorry Duncan and KG.) There might be some young guns that have surpassed some of the veterans that have moved up to the top 10! This was definitely a tough list to make up, but it does not get anymore accurate than this. Bill Simmons, Mike Wilbon, Stephen A. Smith, and many other basketball correspondents would be crazy to disagree! Alright so here we go folks, time to get this list crackin'!

1. KOBE BRYANT (15 Years)

Five-time NBA Champion, Two-time NBA Finals MVP, One NBA MVP, (should be more, I mean come on Nash and Lebron have two) 13-time All-Star, Two-time NBA Scoring Champion, Nine-time All-NBA First Team, Nine-time All-NBA Defensive First Team, Four-time All-Star MVP.

This is definitely an outstanding resume to look at, and the scary thing it is only going to get better because Kobe still has at least two good years left in him. It was either Kobe one or Lebron, but I still believe Kobe is the best player in the world and his pedigree does not lie. Kobe Bryant is currently at the six spot on the all-time scoring list with 27,686 points scored (only trailing Shaquille O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.) Not bad company. Bryant averages 25.3 points per game during his 15-year NBA career, but most importantly, I do not believe there is a guy currently in the NBA that has been as clutch as Kobe Bryant. A lot of people will say look at the stats, because if that was the case Carmelo Anthony would be the guy you would want taking the last shot, but if you ask any GM in the NBA, I would bet my life savings that over 85% would say that they want Bryant taking the shot. Kobe Bryant has had a long road to get to were he is right now, and I do not know if any player has ever matured as much as Kobe Bryant. Just read Phil Jackson's book to get a glimpse of what he thought of Kobe Bryant the first time he was with the Lakers. I bet Phil Jackson will be coming out with another book in the next couple of years and it is going to talk about how much Kobe matured during Jackson's second stint as the Lakers coach at some point in the book, but I am really interested to read when he is comparing Kobe and MJ (MJ is the best in NBA history, just had to throw that out there). There is no doubt that Kobe Bryant is still the top guy in the NBA, but there are some young studs gaining on Bryant quickly, and Bryant might not be holding on to the number one spot for much longer.

2. LEBRON JAMES (8 Years)

Two-time NBA MVP, Seven-time All-Star, One NBA Scoring Championship, Five-time All-NBA First Team, Three-time All-NBA Defensive First Team, Rookie of the Year, Two-time All-Star MVP.

There is no way in the world that there is any guy in the NBA that is more athletic than Lebron James (even though Blake Griffin is shaking his head right about now.) Lebron James might be the most athletic athlete in any sport in the world. This guy is 6'8", 240 pounds, and runs like Usain Bolt. The dude is a freak! Also, I do not know if there is a more hated guy than James in the sports world (Terrell Owens is doing a Jersey Shore fist pump right about now!) No one has ever gone from being a hero to a villain as quickly as Lebron James did all because of a show called "The Decision" (you might have heard of it.) All he did was donate two-million dollars to the boys and girls club and said he was going to South Beach, and yet people scrutinized him so much for one decision because why? The dude wants to win championships, and he knew he could not do that in Cleveland. And hey come on now, we all would have loved if Lebron would have said our team's city instead of South Beach. I'll save this for another blog, because there is definitely a lot to discuss when it comes to Lebron James. And hey, the King is trying to do something he has not done yet that would start his legacy and that is win an NBA Championship. The scary thing is, the Miami Heat are going to be 10-times better next year, and maybe the guy was not joking about getting more than 5, 6, or 7 Championships. James has been hated on more than George W. Bush was hated on by liberals, and the guy gets a triple-double in the NBA Finals, but yet he still had a bad game and is not clutch. People just do not realize James would rather distribute the ball down the stretch, and why wouldn't he with Chris Bosh and D' Wade on his team. I understand the criticism after game 4 because he was not playing defense, distributing the ball well, and was very passive, but criticism after game 3 and game 5 are just plain stupid. Lebron James will quickly become the top guy in the NBA, and I think Kobe Bryant might have one more season of being numero uno because James is right there. The King averages 27.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.7 steals in his career, and if he can add some championships he could be considered among the NBA's elite. (Don't worry I am not going to go Scottie Pippen on ya'll just yet.)

3. DWYANE WADE (8 Years)

One NBA Championship, One NBA Finals MVP, Seven-time All-Star, One NBA scoring championship, Two-time All-NBA First Team, One All-Star MVP.

Dwyane Wade has always been one of the top guys in the NBA, and I do not know if there is a more likable guy than Wade. This guy has done so much for the community of Miami and did something that the Miami Heat has ever done: lead his team to an NBA Championship. Wade and James are close to achieving Miami's second NBA Championship, and I have a feeling (if they do beat Dallas) it might not be the only one these two guys win. In Wade's two Finals appearances he is averaging 31.8 points per game and won his first championship in 2006 single handily taking the Championship from Dallas when it was right there in front of them. (Dallas up by 13 points with 6:29 left in the 4th and Wade scored 15 of his 42 points in the 4th.) Wade put up 36 points or better in the final four games of the 2006 Finals and became the fifth youngest Finals MVP in NBA history and his 34.7 points per game is third best in NBA history among guys in their first NBA Finals appearance. Wade always plays his best in the games that matter, and he has shown it once again in these NBA Finals (Dallas is probably the only city in the country that actually hates someone more than Lebron James.) During Wade's career he averages 25.4 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. It is almost not fair that two of the top three players in the world are on the same team, but hey the game has changed and you can't fault the two for wanting to win. Expect more stars to join each other in the near future, especially if Miami can win a championship in their first season together.

4. DWIGHT HOWARD (7 Years)

Five-time All-Star, Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Four-time All-NBA First Team, Three-time All-NBA Defensive First Team.

If it was not Derrick Rose this year, I do not think there was a guy who had a better year in the NBA than Superman (Sorry Shaq, Howard is the real Superman now.) Howard was an absolute monster this year defensively, but his improvements offensively were significantly better than any of his past seasons. Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing have definitely had a serious impact in the improvements in Howard's game, and he is only going to keep getting better. This next season is going to be important for Howard, but even more important for Orlando. If the Magic can not make a deep run into the playoffs do not be shocked to see Howard move cities (Superman II might be starring in Hollywood after next season, if not sooner.) I really believe Howard wants to stay in Orlando and bring them their first championship, but hey Lebron James wanted to do the same for Cleveland until the Celtics kept knocking them around like rag dolls in the playoffs. Dwight Howard had a monster year averaging a career best 22.9 points, a ridiculous 14.1 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks. During Howard's career he has put up 18.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks. If Howard can get more consistent with his free throw stroke he will be putting up 25 points a game easy in the future. The only question with Howard is will he be playing in Orlando next year or is he purple and gold bound!

5. DIRK NOWITZKI (13 Years)

One NBA MVP, 10-time All-Star, Four-time All-NBA First Team.

I do not know if there is a guy who has jumped up in the top 10 among current NBA players than the 7' foot German. This guy had turned himself into a tough-nosed player this year, when everyone thought he was a softie. He outplayed Lebron James with a 101 degree fever and scored almost as much as Lebron James in the fourth quarter in game four (10) as James has in the Finals (11.) Nowitzki has put his team on his back and has carried Dallas to the Finals pretty much by himself.  He had one of the most efficient games in playoff history against the Thunder in game one of the Western Conference Finals when he shot 12-15 from the field, 24-24 from the charity stripe, and scored 48 points on only 15 shots (THAT IS FREAKING CRAZY!!!) Screw it, that is the most efficient game in playoff history! If Nowitzki can win his first NBA Championship this year, his legacy would be solidified, and even if Dallas loses it still might be. Nowitzki is one of four players to average 25 plus points a game and 10 plus rebounds a game in playoff history and the other three are Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Petit, and Elgin Baylor (Baylor is the most underrated player in NBA history.) Nowitzki has been among the league's best when it comes to offensive ability putting up 23 points during his career and also averaging 8.4 rebounds. Nowitzki has been considered to move into the top 20 of all-time in NBA history, I for one disagree, but if he wins his first championship against the most hated team in NBA history, he has a good chance to squeeze into the top 20. But, for now we can all agree that he is the best European player in NBA history, and that was even before his historic playoff run this season.

6. CARMELO ANTHONY (8 Years)

Four-time All-Star, One All-NBA Second Team, Three-time All-NBA Third Team.

Carmelo Anthony is one of the best scorers in the game and does it at ease. He has a smooth jumper and can also finish at the rim. He showed how great of a scorer he was in game two in the first-round of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics when he scored 42 points and kept the Knicks in that game without Amare Stoudemire in the 2nd half. He also snagged a career high 17 rebounds in that game, and it very well could have been his best game ever as an NBA player. Carmelo Anthony is the only player on this list that has a NCAA Championship on his resume, and as a Freshman at Syracuse he lead the Orange to the schools first National Championship and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. During Anthony's eight years he has averaged at least 20 points in every season. During Melo's tenure in the NBA he averages 24.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and shoots 46 % from the floor. In the 2010-11 season Carmelo Anthony had more game winning field goals than Kobe Bryant (1-3 FG), Dwyane Wade (0-4 FG), Lebron James (1-8), and Paul Pierce (1-3) combined. Anthony went 4-6 in crunch time when his team was either trailing or tied with less than 10 seconds left in the game. This dude is money down the stretch and loves taking these type of shots when the game is on the line, and I highly doubt Melo would have the Lebron syndrome in the Finals.

7. DERRICK ROSE (3 Years)

One NBA MVP, Two-time All-Star, One All-NBA First Team, Rookie of the Year.

I understand it is hard to put a guy in the top 10 among current players when he has only played three seasons, but after the MVP season he had this year he is definitely making the cut. The kid was the best player in the NBA this year (sorry Colin Cowherd) and he led his team without another superstar on his team to the most wins in the NBA this season. Also, Rose became the youngest player ever to win the MVP award at age 22, surpassing Wes Unseld who was 23 when he won his in 1969. If it was not for Blake Griffin this year, Derrick Rose was the most exciting player to watch this year. Rose has an Allen Iverson cross-over, the strength of Lebron James, and the vision of Jason Kidd. The scary thing for the NBA is this kid is going to keep getting better and if the Bulls can add a legit two-guard the Bulls are going to be hard to beat in the future. During Rose's three year career he has put up 20.9 points and 6.7 assists per game. Rose is also a very durable player and has only missed six games in his first three seasons. In Rose's MVP season he put up 25 points, 7.7 dimes, and 4.1 rebounds a game, but more importantly he led his team to 62 wins. Only one other Bull did what Derrick Rose accomplished this year and you might have heard of him, some guy named Michael. Derrick Rose did something that Michael Jordan never did in his first three seasons with the Bulls and that was get out of the first round of the playoffs. In the last 30 years, only two other players have accomplished what Derrick Rose did, score at least 2,000 points, and dish out at least 600 assists in a season. The other two players were Michael Jordan and Lebron James, not bad company Mr. Rose!

8. AMARE STOUDEMIRE (9 Years)

Six-time All-Star, One All-NBA First Team, Four-time All-NBA Second Team, Rookie of the Year.

Amare Stoudemire showed the world how good he was last season, and you do not even have to look at what he did with the Knicks but just look at what happened to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns made the Western Conference Finals in the 2009-10 season and this season they had booked their vacation plans before the regular season ended. On the other hand, Amare Stoudemire led the New York Knicks to the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Also, the Knicks recorded their first winning season since the 2000-01 campaign. Stoudemire single handily brought back the life and energy to the Big Apple, and the Knicks can also thank him for making it easier for Anthony to want to play in New York. This last season Stoudemire averaged 24.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. During Stoudemire's nine year career he averages 22.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks per game, and a sexy 54 % from the field. Amare Stoudemire is one of the best players in the NBA in the post, but over the past few seasons he has improved his jump shot tremendously. Stoudemire is one of the most difficult bigs to guard in the NBA, and is probably the second hardest in the NBA (the other is some guy lighting it up in the Finals).

9. KEVIN DURANT (4 Years)

Two-time All-Star, Two-time NBA Scoring Champ, Two-time All-NBA First Team, 2010 FIBA World Championship MVP, Rookie of the Year.

Back to back scoring championships for Kevin Durant in the past two seasons for Mr. Duranchilla. Oh, and did I mention he became the youngest player ever to win a scoring championship at age 21, surpassing the Chicago Stags' Max Zaslofsky who led the NBA in scoring during the 1947-48 season, at age 22. Kevin Durant has been killing it during his whole career playing basketball, especially in his one year at the University of Texas when he was named the 2007 Naismith College Player of the Year (Portland is probably wishing they would have selected Durant number one instead of  Greg Oden, who has played like two games in the NBA.) As a rookie during the 2007-08 season Durant averaged 20 points per game, and since then he has averaged at least 25 points a game in the following three seasons. During Durant's career he averages 25.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. In the two seasons Durant won his scoring championship he averaged 30.1 PPG (2009-10), and 27.7 PPG (last season). The NBA is in excellent hands with young guys like Durant and Derrick Rose because not only are they great players on the court, but they are even better individuals off the court. These two young studs are two of the most humble guys who play the game and I do not know if there are two guys in the NBA who love their mama's more than Rose and Durant. These two guys are the perfect role models for the NBA.

10. STEVE NASH (15 Years)

Two-time NBA MVP, Seven-time All-Star, Three-time All-NBA First Team, Two-time All-NBA Second Team, Two-time All-NBA Third Team.

Steve Nash has had an amazing career in the NBA and still showed us last year he can play at a high level, even though the Suns were not able to re-sign his favorite toy-Amare Stoudemire. Last year, Nash averaged 14.7 points, and led the NBA with his 11.4 assists per game. He averaged 11 assists a game with the likes of Channing Frye, Marcin Gortat, Grant Hill, Jared Dudley, and Vince Carter, if he can lead the NBA in assists with that team then he still has to be considered among the best players in the NBA! I mean come on who misses more shots than Vince Cater! (And I'm a huge Carolina fan and Vince Carter is one of the reasons why, but the dude is so overrated it is not funny). Back to the best Canadian to ever lace them up, Nash has led the NBA in assists five times in his career. He became one of five players to ever have a season in the 40-50-90 club (40 % from 3, 50 % from the field, and 90 % from the free-throw line). And he did it five straight seasons from the 2005-06 season until the 2009-10 season. The only other four guys to do this were Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, Mark Price, and Dirk Nowitzki. Bird was the only one to do it multiple times and he only did it in three seasons. During Steve Nash's back to back MVP seasons he became the ninth player to ever do so winning them back to back, and became only the second point guard in NBA history to win multiple MVP's, the other some guy named Magic! The reason why Steve Nash is considered one of the best point guards in the the NBA is because he makes all four guys around him that much better. During Nash's career he averages 14.6 points, 8.5 assists, and is shooting 49 % from the field, 43 % from 3, and 90 % from the charity stripe. And his assists numbers for his career is a little deceiving because he did not play too much during his first stint in Phoenix averaging only 15 minutes a game in his two years with the Suns. It was between Chris Paul and Steve Nash to grab this last spot but Nash's pedigree is a lot stronger than Paul's.