Kobe Bryant and the Top All-Around Players in the NBA
The NBA nowadays is a land of specialists. Many have stuck to mastering the three, to becoming a top notch defender, or rebounding like a pro.
All-around players are hard to come by nowadays. What I count as an all-around player is someone who can dribble, shoot, defend, rebound, and make plays. Also, the person who the team can trust to do a little bit of everything extremely good—instead of one thing perfectly.
Here are the top all-around players of the NBA.
Chris Paul
1 of 7Paul is an amazing playmaker and scorer. He also used to lead the league in steals and is a top notch defender.
For his size—he is also a good rebounder.
The most exciting part of Paul's overall game is his premiere passing and ball-handling skills. Paul is regularly in the top three in the league when it comes to assists. He is a daring passer which sometimes results in turnovers, evident by 2.5 per game last season, but when the ball is in your hands most of the time, it's hard not to turn the ball over.
Coming back from a injury filled season will be hard—but do not expect any less than greatness from Paul.
Projected Stats for 2010:
23 PPG
11 APG
6 RPG
2 SPG
Dwayne Wade
2 of 7Wade is a perrenial MVP candidate. He can score, pass, steal, block, come up in the clutch and, above all, he can be a leader.
Wade came back in the 2008-2009 season with a certain flame and flare to his game which helped him explode to become the scoring champion and helped get the Heat back into the playoffs.
Wade is a willing passer, averaging around seven assists per game for his career. He, too, average above two turnovers per game, but again, he has the ball in his hand most of the time.
He is extremely dangerous from mid-range and is almost unstoppable when he drives.
Playing with James and Bosh will lower his all around stats, but don't expect them to fall much, as I think he will have the ball the majority of the time.
Projected Stats for 2010-2011:
24 PPG
8 APG
5 RPG
2 SPG
1 BPG
Brandon Roy
3 of 7Roy has the most time on this list to improve.
In only his fourth season in the NBA, Roy has career averages of over 20 PPG, 5 APG, and 5 RPG.
Outstanding numbers for a fourth year player—especially in a slow pace offense like Portland's.
Roy averages around five APG, but don't let those numbers fool you, he is an amazing playmaker. He differs to his team alot, sometimes even too much, because of his humble nature.
He doesn't need to dominate the ball to alter the course of a game.
He can be a spot up shooter, a slasher, and can create his own shot, and create shots for his teammates. He rebounds well for his size, especially on a team with top rebounders in Camby, Oden, and Pryzbilla.
Roy may also have the prettiest handle of all shooting guards—even at about 6 foot 7.
With Oden back healthy, and Roy and the rest of the team hoping to shake off the injury bug, Portland is very promising.
Projected Stats for 2010:
25 PPG
6-7 APG
6 RPG
1.5 SPG
LeBron James
4 of 7LeBron is maybe the best all around players when it comes to stats.
He rebounds at an amazing rate and is a great floor leader. He can drive or shoot the three, but needs to add a better jumper to his game.
He is also an amazing athlete, having a great vertical, super fast speed, and is strong and built for the NBA.
If James is to win a championship this year—he maybe known as the best player in the league.
He can score at will, create for his team, and also defend, with averages of around 1.5 SPG and 1.5 BPG.
On Miami, James can go crazy and maybe even bring up stats close to those of Oscar Robertson.
These averages are based on if he is given main ball-handling and distributing jobs, and due to Bosh being the only other rebounder on the team, his rebounds can see a crazy jump.
Projected Stats for 2010:
18-19 PPG
9-10 APG
8-9 RPG *
1.5 SPG
1.5 BPG
* Do not be surprised if he can even get to 10 per game and average a triple double.
Kobe Bryant
5 of 7I bet you didn't see this coming. OK, yeah you did, but you know exactly why?
Kobe is as all around efficient as they come.
Kobe is arguably the leagues best scorer and posesses maybe the best mid range shot in the NBA since Michael Jordan. He can also drive and create his own shot.
Many accuse Kobe of hogging the ball, which he does alot. He still is able to pull off five APG because his great accuracy and diligence with the basketball.
He rebounds at a consistent rate at around five RPG, but he can explode, like in Game Seven this year, when he pulled down 15 rebounds.
Kobe can play with the best—actually, he is the best.
There is no knock on Kobe's game, and criticism just fuels his fire.
Expect the Lakers to three-peat this year.
Projected Stats for 2010:
27 PPG
6 APG
5 RPG
1.5 SPG
Just Missed The Cut
6 of 7Kevin Durant- Too much of a pure scorer
Tim Duncan- Can do it all, but age is a virtue he cannot afford anymore
Carmelo- Like Durant, is too much of a scorer
Dwight Howard- Must add an offensive game of not only dunks to his outstanding defensive game.
Thanks For Reading
7 of 7
Thanks for reading.
I still need ideas for a weekly article for when the NBA starts.
Leave suggestions in your comment.
P.S.- This was a list in a random order, and is not in any particular order. This is also based off my opinion and this article is meant to start a heated discussion, but please, no profanity.
