Highlighting NBA's Best Locker-Room Leaders

In a league with an endless supply of talent and some of the world's most skilled athletes, the difference between winning and losing in the NBA has a lot to do with intangibles.

What's said before games, between timeouts and in the locker room at halftime can be decisive.

After the coaches have done their parts, it's a team's leader that finishes the job—inspiring his men, holding them accountable and setting an example. Here are a few of the leaders who have defined the art of locker-room leadership in today's game.

5. Tyson Chandler: C, New York Knicks

The New York Knicks didn't decide to spend big money on Tyson Chandler just because the guy can grab a few rebounds and defend the post area.

The 7'1" center was the heart and soul of the Dallas Mavericks' title run and has engineered something of a defensive revival in just one season with New York. He's a fiery competitor and the consummate teammate, something the Knicks have needed for a long time.

There's still plenty of work for Chandler to do with his new team. It takes some time to give a team's culture a total facelift. But, there's no question Chandler has become the perfect veteran to do just that.

4. Gerald Wallace: SF, Brooklyn Nets

Gerald Wallace is the quintessential hustle guy. He may not have the gravitas of a superstar, but he's got more than enough credibility to earn a club's respect.

Few guys work as hard as Wallace. He's a tireless defender, a much better rebounder than a small forward should be and a tough guy to stop when he builds a head of steam. By all accounts, he's also a leader off the court, modeling the kind of effort younger players should emulate.

The Brooklyn Nets acquired Wallace in a midseason trade no doubt in an effort to give the young team some added grit. It'll take some time before we see any dividends, but bringing Wallace in was a step in the right direction.

3. Chris Paul: PG, Los Angeles Clippers

We're all well aware of the difference Chris Paul makes on the court, but he does just as much for his team as a leader and teacher. No one spends more time communicating with this team.

That made Paul the perfect addition for a team built around the young Blake Griffin.

The Clippers have undergone a significant turnaround under Paul's leadership, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals after years of irrelevance. Yes, Paul's MVP-like skills have been central to the turnaround, but so too has his ability to put his team on his back. He has a winner's mentality that is apparently quite contagious.

2. Kevin Garnett: F/C, Boston Celtics

Kevin Garnett isn't just a teammate; he's a fellow soldier. When he sets foot on the hardwood, make no mistake about the fact that he's at war.

While that's made him more than a few enemies around the league, that's all the more reason you want to be on his side. Garnett is as vocal and demonstrative as they come, and his intensity has fueled the resurgence of a franchise.

It also helps that the 35-year-old has a wealth of experience to share with his teammates. For all his production and timely plays, it's the intangible work he's done in Boston's locker room that may be most responsible for the club's success.

1. Tim Duncan: F/C, San Antonio Spurs

The most effective leaders aren't always the loudest voices. Tim Duncan has never been especially vocal—in fact, his demeanor is nothing short of stoic in all, but his most emotionally intense moments. Then and only then, you might just get a facial expression out of him.

The level-headed approach has been a perfect fit for the San Antonio Spurs.

No matter what's happening on the floor, this team never gets too high or too low. It's as if Duncan's teammates borrow his personality and professionalism just long enough to get their jobs done and go home. Duncan's workman-like attitude has helped cultivate a roster of focused role players, guys who deserve a fair share of the credit for the Spurs' recent dominance.