The NBA's Top 20 Players: #20 - David Lee

2009-10 NBA season key stats:

20.2 PPG, with a FG% of .545
11.7 RPG, of which 2.8 were offensive
3.6 APG and a FT percentage of 81%, both near tops for the league's bigmen.

I know, you're thinking that nobody on the New York Knicks' roster is worthy of top-20 player status in the NBA.

David Lee, the most consistent offensive bigman in the NBA, begs to differ. Despite the lack of team defense, David finished 3rd in player efficiency rating. You know, that stat that everyone (ahem, "experts") thinks defines the best players in the league?

Mr. Lee is pretty much a lock for 20 points and 10 rebounds everytime he suits up in the blue, white, and orange.

He has an uncanny knack for grabbing boards seemingly out of his area, especially on the offensive end. He is one of few players who can stake a claim to being the best on the offensive boards, in the entire NBA.

He adjusts to contact when finishing inside better than most, and his mid-range jumpshot is ever-improving, and his motor never, ever stops.

The best thing about David's game? In high-school, he broke his left arm, practiced every day he could with his right arm, and is now essentially ambidextrous, (able to use both hands effectively) and this is evident with his offensive game, and ability to finish right-handed.

He may be on the Knicks and some will say he has inflated stats, but this dude is a flat-out baller, and this is why he is #20 on my list of the NBA's top 20 players.

Honorable mention (in no order): Chauncey Billups, Josh Smith, Carlos Boozer, Al Jefferson, Andre Iguodala, Danny Granger, Gerald Wallace, Andrew Bogut, Tyreke Evans, Manu Ginobili.

These guys would have been included if the list was made of 30 players.

Stay tuned for the top 20!