10 Stars Who Re-Define the NBA's Boundaries
This isn't your grandfather's NBA. Maybe not even your older brother's NBA.
The league is constantly staggering us in new ways, and its current transformation is spearheaded by a group of unmatched stars.
Each of these unforeseen athletes is redefining and reshaping the previously conceived limits of the sport. They're astounding fans and teammates alike with remarkable physical feats and unparalleled skill sets.
While athleticism is a starting point, it takes more than raw explosiveness to crack this list of groundbreaking ballers.
We're looking at players who can do special things with their natural gifts, those who play idiosyncratically and challenge the normal conventions of their positions. Our list also includes ballers who registered a usage percentage of 15 or more in 2013-14 and have earned at least one All-Star or All-Rookie selection.*
Who landed in this exclusive club?
*Except for any 2014-15 rookies
Injury Honorable Mention: Paul George, Indiana Pacers SF
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Greatest Assets: Length, fluid athleticism and two-way instincts
Striking Stats: Top 10 in NBA (in 2013-14) in minutes, points, steals, steal%, usage, free-throws and defensive rating*
Other Positions (besides SF): SG, PG, combo forward; can guard 1-4
Redefining: the ideal two-way perimeter wing
When Paul George broke his leg in gut-wrenching fashion during Team USA festivities this summer, everyone's hearts went out to the Indiana Pacers star.
While we're glad he's recovering smoothly, it's starting to sink in that we'll miss his two-way brilliance for much or all of the 2014-15 season.
George is listed at small forward, and his ranginess and bounce is what defined him early in his career. However, he soon blended that athleticism with outside shooting skills and passing prowess. The 6'9" swingman can potently handle the offensive duties of a 1-, 2- or 3-man.
As a stopper, he's even more versatile. He's become the ideal weapon to use against the league's top guards and wings, as he's laterally speedy and owns a 6'11.25" wingspan. With an 8'11" standing reach, he's tall enough in many cases to guard power forwards.
It's rare to see such a high-octane player bring elite stuff on both ends throughout the season. George's 2013-14 offensive usage percentage (28.3) was one of the highest in the league, yet he delivered intense defense to the tune of 6.4 defensive win shares and a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Team.
*According to Basketball-Reference.com
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder F
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Greatest Assets: Combination of length, fluidity and scoring touch/instincts
Striking Stats: 41 straight games with 25-plus points in 2013-14, 50% FG in 2013-14 while leading NBA in FGA
Other Positions (besides SF): SG, PF, point forward; can guard 2-4
Redefining: the meaning of "unguardable"
It didn't take long for Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant to impress the basketball world in unprecedented ways, and he continues to amaze every year throughout his prime.
We've never seen a scorer quite like him. No one has used such gangly limbs with that kind of fluidity, and no one has put the ball in the hoop with such a variety of methods.
Sure, Durant uses his height to shoot over shorter opponents from three land, but he also takes a lot of difficult in-between shots and tricky tosses in the paint. He can create three-pointers, step-backs, floaters, scoop shots and much more—and convert with a true shooting percentage above 60 percent.
"There's nobody that can guard him one-on-one," LeBron James said of Durant last January (per the SportsCenter Twitter account).
It truly takes a team effort to even slow down the four-time scoring champ, who has unlimited range and ambidextrous slashing abilities. He's simply too rangy and skilled for an individual assignment.
Durant is often compared to George Gervin, but he's a longer, more dynamic version of the Iceman. And he's more unguardable from a versatility standpoint than wings like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
We're not sure where he'll land in the pantheon of all-time scorers, but we're certain he's a singular asset that fans of yesteryear never experienced.
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks PF
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Greatest Assets: Size, shooting touch and feel for the game
Striking Stat: Near-50/40/90 as 35-year-old 7-footer in 2013-14 (.497 FG%, .398 3FG%, .899 FT%)
Other Positions (besides PF): SF, C; can guard 4s and 5s
Redefining: stretch 4 efficiency and functionality
At this stage in Dirk Nowitzki's career, it's a pleasure to watch him push the stretch 4 position to new heights.
He's been a magnificent shooter his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks, which is impressive in itself considering his 7'0" stature. The German star has drilled roughly 1,500 triples in 1,200 games, and he even attained the coveted 50/40/90 triumvirate in 2007.
Nowadays, he continues to floor us by perfecting his one-legged fallaway shot, finding new ways to get to the free-throw line and sharpening his passing skills. Oh, and he nearly eclipsed the 50/40/90 mark again at age 35 in 2013-14.
As the new season unfolds, he remains the centerpiece of one of the best offenses in the league.
He retains this status by doing more than just shooting over challengers. He picks his spots to draw fouls, carves up opponents from the mid-post and makes all the right plays in Rick Carlisle's system.
For many years to come, the best stretch bigs in the game will measure their work against his standard.
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers PF
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Greatest Assets: Combination of power, vertical explosiveness and nimbleness
Striking Stats: 63% EFG on close-range FGA*; earned FTA on 19% of fast breaks
Other Positions (besides PF): Combo forward, C; can guard 3-5
Redefining: opponents' helplessness in open floor
In the NBA, there are a handful of sturdy, strong players who can push around anyone in the paint (think Dwight Howard, David West, etc). And there is also a handful of ridiculously explosive leapers (like Gerald Green, the elite of the elite bouncers).
Very few players, if any, are both strong as freight trains and cat-like leapers simultaneously. Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers is the foremost of this rare stock.
You could argue that he was (and still is) as equally agile and strong as LeBron James, if not more—even before James slimmed down. That's how monstrous Griffin is athletically.
He constantly puts his physical gifts to good use on the glass and during beastly drives to the rim. And don't forget his transition prowess, where opponents often have no choice but to foul him or get out of the way. Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated explains:
"Griffin is a finisher so fearsome that a rotating defender's main objective is to avoid embarrassment. ... Griffin gets to the line on 19 percent of his fast-break possessions, per Synergy Sports, more than LeBron James (13.4 percent), Russell Westbrook (13.5 percent) and even the foul-baiting James Harden (17 percent). It's often all an opponent can do to foul Griffin after he makes a catch in open space, a dilemma that extends into half-court situations off of Griffin's cuts and rolls.
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Rim-rockers like Julius Erving and Dominique Wilkins boasted fearsome combinations of strength and aerial prowess, but Griffin owns an even more prolific blend. NBA defenders have never been so helpless.
*Per 82games.com
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors G
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Greatest Assets: Shooting speed and accuracy, creativity and instincts
Striking Stat: 272 3FG in 2012-13, an NBA record
Other Positions (besides PG): SG, combo guard
Redefining: create-your-own perimeter scoring
Although he's not a revolutionary athlete with a striking physique or notable burst, Stephen Curry is redefining the game's boundaries as a perimeter pioneer.
The Golden State Warriors superstar is most commonly referred to as a point guard, and rightfully so, as he creatively initiates the squad's offense and is the top dime-dropper. But he's also a better shooting guard than the vast majority of 2-guards in the game.
In the NBA GM survey, he earned votes in both the "top point guard" and "top shooting guard" categories, which reflects what a dangerous combo guard he is.
What separates him and makes him a "redefining" player is how he finds, generates and makes shots so quickly and accurately. Whether he's catching off a screen or shaking his man off the bounce, he gets his shots off smoothly and swiftly.
According to 82games.com, 69 percent of his jump shots were unassisted. Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated also points out that 87 percent of his triples were attempted on the move (13 percent were spot-up tries).
Many will debate whether he's the best shooter of all time, but when it comes to conjuring threes craftily and quickly, he's in a class all his own.
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans PF
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Greatest Assets: Length, agility, finishing ability and rim protection
Greatest Stats: 20-plus PPG/10-plus RPG and led NBA in BLK and BLK% in 2013-14* (at age 21)
Other Positions (besides PF): SF, C; can guard 3-5
Redefining: the boundaries of the power forward position
There are traditional power forwards, and there are stretch 4s. And then there's Anthony Davis.
We knew he'd be a special player when he won the NCAA tourney and played on the USA Olympic squad as a teenager in 2012. But we didn't know how rapidly he would scale the NBA food chain and become such a daunting star.
Two years later, he's one of the best two-way studs in the game. He's coming off a 2013-14 season in which he piled up the points, cleaned up the boards and led the Association in blocks. His 26.5 PER is outstanding considering he was the age of a college junior.
Using his long strides and 7'5" wingspan, he gracefully covers tons of space as an offensive weapon and a rim protector. Davis' tremendous length and agility are enhanced by his superb coordination and instincts.
As his jump shot continues to improve and his low-post footwork and positioning get refined, he's going to become ridiculously versatile. He already combines the sprightliness of a small forward with the size of a power forward.
Is he a perfect player? No. Did we set the bar too high for him in 2014-15? Perhaps. But it's hard to resist swooning over such a unique player.
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers F
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Greatest Assets: Versatility; unmatched blend of physical tools, skills and smarts
Striking Stats: 26-plus PPG, 6-plus APG and 6-plus RPG for 10 straight seasons (2005-14)
Other Positions (besides SF): PF, SG, point forward; can guard 1-4
Redefining: the meaning of basketball versatility
LeBron James' entire career has redefined the boundaries of the NBA.
His journey is a story about a supremely gifted athlete who used his physical tools to become dominant in every facet.
The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar employs tremendous speed to overwhelm opponents in the open floor and guard multiple positions. He combines his ball-handling and outstanding upward agility to slash to the rim, and his vision allows him to connect with teammates better than many point guards.
His game isn't predicated on athleticism as much as it was a few years ago, but he's still astonishingly explosive. John Brenkus of Sports Science gave an analogy to Jordan Zirm of Stack.com:
"When James jumps, he can create a peak power output of close to 9,300 watts, according to Brenkus. That means the King creates enough power to light up four lighthouses."
As we mentioned in the intro, being a groundbreaking player is more than just sheer tools: It's about using the tools to do special things. No one is better at that than King James.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks G/F
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Greatest Assets: Ranginess, two-way versatility, passing skills
Striking Stat: MIL was plus-7.1 points per 100 possessions while he was on floor in 2013-14*
Other Positions (besides SF): SG, PF, point forward; can guard 2-5
Redefining: the development of "raw" teenagers
In the spring of 2013, Greek prospect Giannis Antetokounmpo went from unknown player to first-round material in a matter of weeks.
He went from long-term asset to impact player in a hurry, too. Antetokounmpo has put his 7'4" wingspan and antelope-like strides to good use for the Milwaukee Bucks.
He drove end to end in three dribbles with ease, guarded several NBA stars and made a smorgasbord of acrobatic plays. The result was All-Rookie second team honors and strong showings during the FIBA World Cup and Summer League. B/R's Adam Fromal talked about his exponential growth:
"His work this summer—paired with what he did as a rookie—has left little doubt that he's becoming one of the Association's most versatile stars. He's not there yet but he's on a path the league simply hasn't seen. Antetokounmpo has the defensive tools to stick in the NBA for a long time, but he's quickly becoming one of the more intriguing offensive prospects because of his rapidly developing skill set.
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Despite his jaw-dropping physical attributes, such as the long arms and monstrous hands, most of us thought he wouldn't see the floor early in his career.
It's a good thing we were wrong, because the league is much more fun when he's out there.
*Per 82games.com
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls PG
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Greatest Assets: Speed, vertical agility, vision, nose for the rim
Striking Stat: Top 10 in PPG (25.0) and APG (7.7) during 2010-11
Other Positions (besides PG): combo guard; can guard 1s and 2s
Redefining: the explosive point guard
Yes, Derrick Rose has been sidelined for the majority of the past two seasons, and he's played just 51 games for the Chicago Bulls over the last three campaigns.
Why does he deserve to be on this list, then?
Because's he still possesses elite explosiveness, and his preseason and early-season exploits suggest a return to dominance.
When healthy, he's impossible to contain. Defenses can't adequately adjust, as they don't know whether he's going to shoot, drive to the hoop or set up a teammate. Rose's offensive burst flourished with 30 points in 24 minutes in a preseason bout with the Cleveland Cavaliers and again in the regular season with 20 points in 25 minutes.
Defensively, he's grown into an awesome backcourt stopper. A detailed breakdown by Kevin Ferrigan of Blogabull.com shows how Rose's quickness and footwork foiled Kyrie Irving on several occasions: cutting off screens, drawing charges and bolting to recovery in transition.
Speedsters like John Wall and Russell Westbrook own similar physical wares as Rose, but the 2011 NBA MVP does more with his gifts and is the more groundbreaking playmaker.
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs F
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Greatest Assets: Length, athleticism, poise and lockdown defense
Striking Stats: SAS defense yielded 5.9 fewer points per 100 possessions in 2013-14 when he was on floor; career 61% true shooting in playoffs*
Other Positions (besides SF): SG, PF; can guard 1-4
Redefining: how a role player can be a game-changer
The San Antonio Spurs have made an art out of uncovering hidden gems, and Kawhi Leonard is the latest phenomenon to rock the NBA as an integral part of a title team.
He was raw coming out of San Diego State, but he had potential on both ends of the court if he could channel his ranginess into skill.
With the help of Gregg Popovich and shooting coach Chip Engelland, he refined his game. He not only became a lethal one-on-one defender, but a dangerous offensive weapon capable of supplementing San Antonio's big guns.
"Leonard is the reason the Spurs are chasing championships again," said Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. "He changed everything for the Spurs. He gave them size and strength and athleticism to partner with his calculating, cunning basketball mind."
Wojnarowski also referred to Leonard as the "kid responsible for transforming the San Antonio Spurs, delivering a gassed dynasty its second wind."
His ceiling is stardom, but for now let's enjoy how valuable and influential he's been as a role player.
Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves SG/SF
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Greatest Assets: Vertical explosiveness, hang time, lateral quickness
Striking Stat: To be determined!
Other Positions (besides SF): SG; can guard 1-3
Redefining: the "irresistibly athletic" prospect
Although he was less skilled than LeBron James was entering the NBA, Andrew Wiggins was and is a transformative prospect.
The basketball world, including scouts and executives, became so captivated by his athleticism and glimpses of potential that they put him on a pedestal. The dazzling possibilities were too much to ignore.
A freshman as supremely talented as Jabari Parker wound up playing second fiddle to the Canadian youngster, whose leaping ability and foot speed help him do stunning things. He hops as if the hardwood is a trampoline, and his early 2014-15 outings have revealed some of the basis for the predraft excitement.
During NBA Summer League, ESPN's Seerat Sohi talked about how the allure of Wiggins tempted Cleveland to refrain from trading for Kevin Love.
"Wiggins carries unprecedented star power, even for a No. 1 pick. He doesn’t just inspire belief in his future, he inspires us to prioritize it over a sure thing."
He was the first real prize of the viral social media era, and he's ushering in a new crop of hyper-athletic prospects waiting for their chance to shine.
Dan O'Brien covers the NBA and NBA draft for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter: @DanielO_BR
