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Page 1 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
12/2/2010http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2010-12/nba-top-50-players
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Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron
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Page 2 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
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Kobe Bryant tops LeBron James in SN's list of top 50 NBA players
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Page 3 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
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Sean Deveney
Sporting News
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was named the best player in the NBA, ahead of Heat forward LeBron James, in Sporting News’ annual survey of current and former players, coaches, general managers and broadcasters.
SN asked 76 NBA types, including Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Mike D’Antoni, Mike Fratello, Daryl Morey, Lenny Wilkens, Doc Rivers and Stan Van Gundy, to list the top 50 players in the league. Bryant received 49 of their first-place votes to maintain his spot atop the list, while James had 22 first-place votes and Magic center Dwight Howard received one.
Bryant and James each had a teammate join them in the top 10, with Heat guard Dwyane Wade at No. 3 and Lakers big man Pau Gasol at No. 10.
It’s clear to most league observers that Bryant and James should occupy the top two spots in any list of the NBA’s best. With Bryant topping our list, we asked those in the know why Kobe’s experience still edges LeBron’s raw talent:
Phil Jackson, Lakers coach: “One of the things that Kobe has always had is the ability to trust his shot, and LeBron, at some points, hasn’t always done that. That makes him more of a driver at times, which at the end of the game can be very difficult. Kobe has been very good at the end of games. ... Kobe rises to big games. His performance always seems to accelerate during the playoffs.”
Ron Artest, Lakers forward: “This game is about team, rather than about individuals. When it comes to Kobe, he has a lot of heart and a lot of game-winners. He loves the moment and is really just a great all-around player. I am glad he is on our team.”
Page 4 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
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Tim Grover, Bryant’s trainer: “Kobe is as hard of a worker as I have worked with. He has always taken great care of his body, but he is never satisfied. He is always looking for ways to get an edge, and that shows up in the playoffs. He has had a lot of wear and tear. For him, the idea was to make the first game of the playoffs feel like Game 1 and not Game 83.”
Rick Barry, Hall of Famer: “It’s all about winning in professional sports, and no one in the game has done that the way Kobe has. I don’t doubt for a second that winning is the most important thing to LeBron, and that’s why he went to Miami even though he will have to sacrifice individually. But he is still trying to figure it out. Kobe has already been there -- and he has a great supporting cast, too. But he is also just not going to let them lose if he can help it.”
Western Conference scout: “Every year, we look for ways that he has lost a step and you look for ways that younger guys like LeBron or Kevin Durant have caught up to him -- and maybe in the middle of January, you can find some of those. But Kobe is always going to make a smart play, he is always going to find a way to get a good shot, no matter what stage of the game or how deep in the playoffs, and I don’t think the younger guys in the league are there yet.”
-- Contributing: Mark Kass
SN’s Top 50 NBA players
(last year’s ranking in parentheses)
1. Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers (1)
2. LeBron James, SF, Heat (2)
3. Dwyane Wade, SG, Heat (3)
4. Kevin Durant, SF, Thunder (21)
5. Dwight Howard, C, Magic (4)
6. Carmelo Anthony, SF, Nuggets (9)
7. Dirk Nowitzki, SF, Mavericks (8)
8. Deron Williams, PG, Jazz (12)
9. Steve Nash, PG, Suns (11)
10. Pau Gasol, PF, Lakers (17)
11. Tim Duncan, PF, Spurs (5)
12. Amare Stoudemire, PF, Knicks (19)
13. Chris Paul, PG, Hornets (6)
14. Paul Pierce, SF, Celtics (10)
15. Chris Bosh, PF, Heat (18)
Page 5 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
12/2/2010http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2010-12/nba-top-50-players
16. Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics (38)
17. Brandon Roy, SG, Trail Blazers (14)
18. Joe Johnson, SG, Hawks (25)
19. Derrick Rose, PG, Bulls (26)
20. Kevin Garnett, PF, Celtics (7)
21. Manu Ginobili, SG, Spurs (22)
22. Andrew Bogut, C, Bucks (NR)
23. Chauncey Billups, PG, Nuggets (20)
24. Tony Parker, PG, Spurs (13)
25. Ray Allen, SG, Celtics (27)
26. Rudy Gay, SF, Grizzlies (41)
27. Danny Granger, SF, Pacers (31)
28. Jason Kidd, PG, Mavericks (23)
29. Zach Randolph, PF, Grizzlies (NR)
30. Russell Westbrook, PG, Thunder (NR)
31. David Lee, PF, Warriors (NR)
32. Joakim Noah, C, Bulls (NR)
33. Al Horford, C, Hawks (35)
34. Stephen Curry, PG, Warriors (NR)
35. Shaquille O’Neal, C, Celtics (16)
36. Carlos Boozer, PF, Bulls (36)
37. Al Jefferson, PF, Jazz (NR)
38. Vince Carter, SG, Magic (30)
39. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Trail Blazers (NR)
40. Brook Lopez, C, Nets (NR)
41. Andrew Bynum, C, Lakers (50)
42. Josh Smith, PF, Hawks (40)
Page 6 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
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43. Gilbert Arenas, PG, Wizards (28)
44. David West, PF, Hornets (NR)
45. Kevin Martin, SG, Rockets (NR)
46. Hedo Turkoglu, SF, Suns (42)
47. Antawn Jamison, SF, Cavaliers (NR)
48. Yao Ming, C, Rockets (15)
49. Gerald Wallace, SF, Bobcats (Nr)
50. John Wall, PG, Wizards (NR)
SN’s panel
Rick Barry, Hall of Famer
Elgin Baylor, Hall of Famer
Butch Beard, Former Nets coach
Walt Bellamy, Hall of Famer
Otis Birdsong, 4-time All-Star G
Bob Boozer, ’68 All-Star F
Allan Bristow, Former Hornets coach
Dee Brown, ’91 dunk contest champ
Herb Brown, Bobcats assistant coach
Don Chaney, 2-time NBA champion
Archie Clark, 2-time All-Star G
Doug Collins, 76ers coach
Bob Cousy, Hall of Famer
Dave Cowens, Hall of Famer
Mike D’Antoni, Knicks coach
Joe Dumars, Hall of Famer
Mike Dunleavy, Coached 4 NBA teams
Craig Ehlo, 14-year G/F
Page 7 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
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Mario Elie, 3-time NBA champion
Bill Fitch, 2-time coach of the year
Gar Forman, Bulls G.M.
Mike Fratello, ’85-86 coach of the year
Armen Gilliam, 13-year F
Manu Ginobili, Spurs G
Gail Goodrich, Hall of Famer
Richie Guerin, 6-time All-Star G
John Hammond, Bucks G.M.
Tim Hardaway, 5-time All-Star G
Al Harrington, Nuggets F
Hersey Hawkins, ’91 All-Star G
Tom Heinsohn, Hall of Famer
Bob Hill, Coached 4 NBA teams
Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies coach
Marc Iavaroni, Clippers assistant coach
Antawn Jamison, Cavaliers F
Avery Johnson, Nets coach
David Kahn, Timberwolves president of basketball operations
Greg Kelser, Pistons analyst
Steve Kerr, All-time 3-point pct. leader
Billy King, Nets G.M.
Frank Layden, Former Jazz coach
Fat Lever, 2-time All-Star G
Earl Lloyd, Hall of Famer
Dan Majerle, 3-time All-Star G/F
Derrick McKey, 15-year F
Page 8 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
12/2/2010http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2010-12/nba-top-50-players
Earl Monroe, Hall of Famer
Daryl Morey, Rockets G.M.
Jeff Mullins, 3-time All-Star G/F
Mike Newlin, 11-year G/F
Jim O’Brien, Pacers coach
Robert Parish, Hall of Famer
Bob Pettit, Hall of Famer
Frank Ramsey, Hall of Famer
Jerry Reynolds, Kings director of player personnel
Arnie Risen, Hall of Famer
Doc Rivers, Celtics coach
David Robinson, Hall of Famer
Dave Robisch, 13-year ABA-NBA F/C
Gene Shue, 5-time All-Star G
Paul Silas, 2-time All-Star F/C
Rory Sparrow, 4,192 career assists
Damon Stoudamire, ’95-96 rookie of the year
Rod Strickland, ’97-98 assists leader
Jason Terry, Mavericks G
Mychal Thompson, 2-time NBA champion
Kelly Tripucka, 2-time All-Star G/F
Jack Twyman, Hall of Famer
Dick Van Arsdale, 3-time All-Star G/F
Tom Van Arsdale, 3-time All-Star G/F
Stan Van Gundy, Magic coach
Slick Watts, ’75-76 assists, steals leader
Jerry West, Hall of Famer
Page 9 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
12/2/2010http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2010-12/nba-top-50-players
Jo Jo White, 7-time All-Star G
Lenny Wilkens, Hall of Famer
Pat Williams, Magic senior VP
For more on this year’s top 50 players, pick up a copy of the Dec. 6 issue of Sporting News magazine, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets. You can also subscribe to the magazine at http://www.sportingnews.com/magazine/subscribe.
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Kobe Bryant tops LeBron James in SN's list of top 50 NBA players
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Page 14 of 18Top 50 NBA players: Kobe tops LeBron - NBA - Sporting News
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