NBA Draft Steals: The Top 25 Non-Lottery Picks of The Last 10 Years
When it comes to drafting, it's assumed that the higher the pick, the better the player. And while many of the league's stars the past ten years have been lottery picks (LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, just to name a few), just as many top picks have flamed out (Kwame Brown, Yi Jianlin, Acie Law, DeSagana Diop, Darko). ย
But while the focus may be on the top ten picks, many great players can be found later in the first round, or even later in the draft in the second round (you know, the time you leave your television and have moved on with your life).
To qualify as a "steal" for this list, the player must not be a lottery pick. ย So while I claim that Kevin Durant is a "steal"โsince he wasn't taken first overall though clearly being the best player in the draftโhe wouldn't apply. ย So, here's a list of the top 25 steals of the last ten years.
25) Kyle Korver- 2003 Draft: 2nd Round, 51st Pick, New Jersey Nets, Creighton
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The Ashton Kutcher look-a-like is now known for his sweet stroke rather than his sweet 'do. ย In his ninth season in the league, Korver is known as one of the best three-point shooters in the league, with a career 41.1 percent from downtown. ย Last season, Korver set an NBA record for highest three point FG percentage in league history, shooting an incredible 53.6 percent from behind the arc. ย He tied for the league lead in threes (226) during the 2004-2005 season, and led the league in free throw percentage (91.4 percent) during the 2006-2007 season. ย Korver now is suiting it up in his first season with the Bulls, where he'll be an important offensive weapon off the bench for a team that is primed to make a run in the weak Eastern Conference. ย
24) Glen Davis- 2007 Draft: 2nd Round, 35th Pick, Seattle Supersonics, LSU
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"Big Baby" has come under fire for his attitude on-and-off the court a number of times during his brief NBA career, but he's been an undeniably important part during the Celtics run of dominance since entering the league. ย Davis' value is seen more in his playoff stats than his regular season numbers. ย During the 2008-2009 playoffs, Davis started all fourteen playoff games for the Celtics, averaging 15.8 PPG and 5.6 RPG. ย Since entering the league three seasons ago, Davis has already appeared in 55 playoff games, averaging 7.9 PPG and 3.9 RPG in 20.5 MPG. Look for his role only to expand this season as the Celtics look to rest aging veterans Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal and Kevin Garnett.ย
23) Landry Fields- 2010 Draft: 2nd Round, 39th Pick, New York Knicks, Stanford
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Fields is the only player on the list from this year's draft. ย While it's fair to question how he's higher on the list than more established players like Davis and Korver, Fields has excelled as a rookie, and has shown considerable promise to be a solid role player for years. ย He's started all 29 games this season for the surprising Knicks, posting seven double-doubles, including a 21 point, 17 rebound performance on the road against the Denver Nuggets. ย
But so much of what Fields does can't be measured simply in numbers; one of the hardest workers on the court, Fields seems to be in the right place at the right time, whether it be grabbing an offensive rebound or tipping a ball to keep a possession alive. ย He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November, and if not for Blake Griffin would be a favorite to win Rookie of the Year. ย A final stat: Fields' 7.4 RPG leads ALL NBA guards. ย The next closest: Dorrell Wright, with six boards per game. ย It's no wonder why the fans of New York have already taken to him so early on in his career.
22) Marc Gasol- 2007 Draft: 2nd Round, 48th Pick, Los Angeles Lakers, Spain
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Remember when Marc Gasol was only Pau Gasol's slightly less hairier brother? ย Not anymore. ย Marc, who coincidentally was traded to the Grizzlies for his brother Pau, has shown signs of promise in his first few years. ย A member of the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2009. ย Last season, Marc averaged 14.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 1.6 BPG for the surprising Grizz. ย While he's seen a slight dip in his numbers this year, Marc, though not as talented as his brother Pau, has all the makings as one of the better centers in the league. ย As a rookie he shot 53 percent from the field, setting a franchise record for the Grizzlies. ย Whose record did he break? ย You guessed itโhis brother Pau.ย
21) Carl Landry- 2007 Draft: 2nd Round, 31st Pick, Seattle Supersonics, Purdue
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Landry was one of the most valuable pieces for the Houston Rockets the past few seasons, helping to fill in for the oft-injured Yao Ming. ย But just as he seemed to find a home in Houston, he was the centerpiece in a deal that sent Kevin Martin to Houston, and Landry to Sacramento. ย When he arrived in Sac-Town, Landy became a leader for the young Kings, averaging 18.0 PPG and 6.5 RPG in 28 games to finish out last season. ย Landry, like Gasol, has seen a dip in his numbers this season, and is now coming off the bench for the Kings. ย But the hard-working Boilermaker ranks third on the team in points per game, tied for third in rebounds per game, and fourth in blocks per game. ย Only 27 years old, Landry is considered one of the veteran leaders for a Kings team that is still a couple years away from being truly competitive in the daunting Western Conference.ย
20) Roy Hibbert- 2008 NBA Draft: 1st Round, 17th Pick,Toronto Raptors,Georgetown
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I must admit that I didn't really see much of an NBA future for Hibbert. ย I just thought he was too slow for the NBA game, and that he'd be another big guy who just didn't have the athleticism to stay in the league for very long. ย But to his credit, Hibbert has proven me wrong, drastically improving each season. ย While his career FG percentage of 48.2 is very low for a center, Hibbert is posting career highs of 14.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, and 2.0 BPG for the Pacers this season, who now have a solid young nucleus of talent with Hibbert, Danny Granger and Darren Collison (two other players also on this list).
Hibbert has done his damage on some of the best teams in the league, leading the Pacers with 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in a shocking 95-92 road victory against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers last month. ย The Pacers' 13-14 record is currently good enough for seventh in the Eastern Conference, and Hibbert's size (7'2'', 278 pounds) will pose matchup problems for many teams in the playoffs. ย Roy is on the rise.ย
19) Darren Collison- 2009 Draft: 1st Round, 21st Pick, N.O. Hornets, UCLA
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The pick of Darren Collison in the 2009 NBA Draft confused a lot of experts and analysts. ย Not that people doubted Collison's talent. ย It was that the Hornets already had a point guardโChris Paulโwho's arguably the most talented point guard in the league. ย Why stock up when the team had other obvious needs? ย When Paul went down last year in late January with an injury, Collison rewarded the Hornets for their faith. ย Without Paul, Collison showed the league he was one of the best playmakers in the game, going off for 17 points, 18 assists, and six rebounds in his first game starting after Paul's second big injury of the year. ย But that wouldn't even be Collison's biggest game. ย He recorded a triple-double when he went for 18 points, 12 assists and 13 rebounds three weeks later in a win against his current team, the Indiana Pacers. ย With Paul healthy, and grumblings about his happiness with the team, the Hornets decided to move Collison in a deal that netted them Trevor Ariza. ย The Pacers ended up with a young defensive-minded point guard. Collison has struggled at times with the Pacers, but has started all 24 games he's played in and will be a very important piece for the team moving forward.ย
18) Luis Scola- 2002 Draft: 2nd Round, 56th Pick, San Antonio Spurs, Argentina
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The Argentinian-born Scola is one in a long list of foreign-born players drafted by the Spurs. ย But while drafted by the team in 2002, he never played for the Spurs and didn't join the NBA until the 2007-2008 season. ย But since coming over, Scola has been one of the hardest-working big men in the league. ย The 6'9 PF/C has improved markedly every season so far, and is currently averaging 20.2 PPG and 8.9 RPG this season for the Rockets. ย He has shot over 50 percent from the field every year since entering the league, and is consistently ranked as one of the top rebounders in the game. ย Though undersized, Scola bring an element of toughness to the Rockets, as he's not afraid to grind with some of the West's bigger centers. ย As the Rockets have struggled for injuries to stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady the past few seasons, Scola has been a rock of consistency, appearing in every single game since entering the league.ย
17) Mehmet Okur- 2001 Draft: 2nd Round, 38th Pick, Detroit Pistons, Turkey
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Some call him "Memo".ย Others call him "the Turk Dirk".ย And while he may not be as well known as the Mavs shaggy-haired franchise star, Okur has carved a very successful NBA career thus far. ย An All-Star in 2007 and NBA champion with the Pistons in 2004, the sweet-shooting big man has averaged at least 17 PPG three times, and has been one of the top shooting centers in the league since being drafted. ย Before rupturing his Achilles tendon in last season's playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Okur had been one of the most consistent players, appearing in at least 71 games in every season. ย At one point, he had a streak of 233 consecutive games played. ย
Okur's ability to launch the three has really opened up Utah's offense and has worked well with former teammate Carlos Boozer and current teammate Al Jefferson's skill sets. ย Since coming to Utah, he has averaged at least 7.1 RPG every season and at least 13.5 PPG in all but one season (2004-2005 when he averaged 12.9 PPG). ย Okur's return from his injury will be an added boost to an already dangerous Utah Jazz team, poised to make a run at the the Lakers and the rest of the West's top contenders.ย
16) Aaron Brooks- 2007 Draft: 1st Round, 26th Pick, Houston Rockets, Oregon
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Brooks,like Carl Landry and Luis Scola, has helped keep Houston afloat and relevant despite injuries to their main players. ย Last year, Brooks had a break-out season, averaging 19.6 PPG, 5.3 RBG, 2.6 RPG and 2.6 three pointers per game, all while appearing and starting in all 82 games for the first time in his career. ย His 209 three pointers lead the NBA (as did his 525 attempts), and Brooks' long-range game has seen a jump in percentage as well (from 33 percent as a rookie, to 36.6 percent in his second season, to 39.8 percent last season). ย Brooks sprained his ankle on November 6th and was out of action as of December 19th. ย If the Rockets have any shot of being competitive this season, especially with Yao Ming now out for the season, Brooks must remain healthy and build on his stand-out season from last year.ย
15) Wilson Chandler- 2007 Draft: 1st Round, 23rd Pick, New York Knicks, DePaul
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Chandler, like many of the players on this list, has improved each season. ย While his offensive numbers can be somewhat attributed to Knicks' coach Mike D'Antoni's offense, Chandler is one of the Knicks' best rebounders and defenders as well, averaging 6.3 RPG and 1.6 BPG. ย Despite never being known as a three point threat, Chandler has significantly improved his stroke from behind the arc, and is ranked 13th in the league with three pointers made. ย A fan favorite and one of the core players for the Knicks, his name has frequently come up in trade rumors involving Carmelo Anthony. ย But Chandler's spirited play and quiet, team-first demeanor has made him a fan favorite, and an increasingly important component to this suddenly improved Knicks team. ย
14) Kevin Martin- 2004 Draft: 1st Round, 26th Pick, Sacramento Kings, W.Carolina
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That's no error: Kevin Martin is a product of Western Carolina. ย So if you guessed that he'd average over 20 PPG every season since 2006, congrats to you! ย The sharp-shooting Martin was long the lone bright spot for the Sacramento Kings, but was traded last season to help the Rockets make a late season playoff push. ย While the Rockets didn't make the postseason last year, Martin's sweet stroke has helped the Rockets offset the losses of Yao Ming and Aaron Brooks. ย Averaging 23.4 PPG, Martin is currently shooting a career best 43.8 percent from downtown. ย In 2007, Martin finished second to Monta Ellis for Most Improved Player, and in 2009 dropped 50 points on the Golden State Warriors. ย
Martin is one of the rare players who can score while on an off night; he is one of only two players in NBA history (the other being Nate Archibald) to score at least 20 points in a game while hitting only one field goal. ย He accomplished the feat on March 17, 2007 when he went one for eight from the field (hitting a three-pointer), and going 17 for 20 from the line. ย A career 86.2 percent shooter from the free throw line, Martin has shot an out-of-this-world 92 percent from the charity stripe since joining the Rockets last season. ย Look for Martin's game to only improve as the Rockets recently got point guard Aaron Brooks back from injury, which should free up Martin from double-teams and added defensive attention.
13) Mo Williams- 2003 Draft: 2nd Round, 47th Pick, Utah Jazz, Alabama
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Williams, an All-Star in 2009, has caused a lot of debate amongst NBA fans. ย Some believe he was nothing more than a product of LeBron, a player who consistently got open looks as opposing teams focused in on James. ย But the stats would say otherwise. ย Before joining LeBron in Cleveland, Williams had back-to-back seasons of 17+ PPG, 6+ APG, 1 SPG. with the Milwaukee Bucks. ย When he joined Cleveland in 2009, Williams averaged 17.8 PPG, 4.1 APG, .9 SPG. ย He watched his average drop significantly in assists per game, slightly in both rebounds and steals per game, and his scoring increase slightly. ย The biggest difference for Mo was from behind the arc, where he went from a marginal threat with the Bucks to one of the most dangerous shooters in the league with the Cavs. ย
So, what can be attributed to LeBron? ย Statistically speaking, only the three pointers. ย In his two years playing with LeBron, Williams averaged 2.3 three-pointers/game, shooting an incredibly high 43.2 percent from behind the arc. ย This season, he's connecting on only 1.1 three-pointers/game, shooting a poor 28 percent from downtown. ย Williams never averaged more than 1.4 threes/game, or better than 38.5 percent before coming to Cleveland.
Still, Williams talent is undeniable, and his across-the-board stats with the Bucks before joining forces with LeBron show that he's a very successful player. ย Williams' biggest issue has been staying healthy, as he's missed double-digit games in all but two seasons in his career so far. ย Still, if the Cavs want to make any run at a playoff spot in the East, Williams will have to be the catalyst. ย
12) Jameer Nelson- 2004 Draft: 1st Round, 20th Pick, Denver Nuggets, Temple
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Nelson, along with college teammate Delonte West, lead St. Joseph's to the Elite Eight in a magical run in 2004. ย Since joining the NBA, Nelson has been a consistent presence in the backcourt for the Orlando Magic. ย A member of the All-NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2005, and an All-Star in 2009, Nelson is the final piece to a title run for the Magic. ย The problem for Jameer? ย Health. ย Since joining the league, Nelson has never played a full season, and has missed at least thirteen games four times in his career. ย When the Magic made their run to the NBA Finals in 2008, they did it mostly without Nelson, who was nursing a torn labrum in his right shoulder. ย Last season, Nelson shined in the playoffs for the Magic, averaging 19.0 PPG, 4.8 APG, 3.6 RPG and 1.0 SPG. ย
But past the numbers, the effect Nelson has on the offense is obvious. ย Nelson is able to push the offense at a much higher tempo, and with the new acquisitions of Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Gilbert Arenas, the quickened pace will make it very difficult on opponents. ย If Nelson can stay healthy, the Magic will pose a major threat to make another run to the NBA Finals.ย
11) Gerald Wallace- 2001 Draft: 1st Round, 25th Pick, Sacramento Kings, Alabama
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If Gerald Wallace played anywhere else than Charlotte, he'd be one of the most popular players in the league. ย The stat-line stuffer, Wallace, a 6'7'' small forward, averaged 18.2 PPG, 10 RPG and 1.1 BPG, while helping lead the Bobcats to their first playoff berth in franchise history. ย An NBA All-Star and All-Defensive First Team member last season, Wallace is finally receiving credit after years of hard work in anonymity. ย A do-it-all player, Wallace is one of the most exciting players in the league. ย In 2005-2006, Wallace became the third player since 1973 to average at least two blocks and two steals per game, joining David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwonโpretty exclusive company. ย Wallace is a high-energy guy, and his all-out style-of-play has lead to numerous injuries throughout his career. ย But when on the court, Wallace is an absolute menace and arguably one of the most athletic players in the game. ย
10) David Lee- 2005 Draft: 1st Round, 30th Pick, New York Knicks, Florida
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For years, David Lee was the lone bright spot for Knicks fans. ย The rugged, undersized center worked his butt off, night-after-night. ย So how did the Knicks reward him? ย By trading him for Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike this offseason. ย As a Knicks fan, I can say it's our loss.
Lee averaged double-doubles four times with the Knicks, including putting up 20.3 PPG and 11.1 RPG for the team last season. ย For his efforts, he was named to his first All-Star team.
While Lee benefited from Coach D'Antoni's system, his hard work also paid off, as his repertoire has expanded from a rugged, grinder post player, to a power forward with the ability to knock down the 20 foot jumper. ย On April 2nd of last season, Lee became the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to record at least 35 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game. ย Kareem accomplished the feat in 1976.
With Lee, the Warriors have a very strong young core, with the backcourt tandem of Monta Ellis and Steph Curry already one of the most dangerous in the league. ย While the Warriors certainly aren't contenders this season, look for them to make a run in the coming years, as they finally have an established presence in the frontcourt in Lee, who's sure to become a fan favorite with the Warriors.ย
9) Josh Smith- 2004 Draft: 1st Round, 17th Pick, Atlanta Hawks, Oak Hill Academy
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Smith is possibly the most athletic player in the league, but his attitude has always held him back from being one of the league's elite. ย A very similar player to Gerald Wallace, Smith is already in his seventh season, despite being only 25 years old. ย And while he certainly isn't a saint, his attitude has seen a big improvement the last couple of years. ย So has his game.
Smith was an NBA Slam Dunk champ as a rookie, as well as a member of the All-NBA Rookie Second Team. ย He's the youngest player in NBA history to record 900 and 1,000 blocks, and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team last season.
Smith's game is based around his athleticism, as he's not known as a particularly strong shooter. ย With career averages of 14.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG and 2.3 BPG, all to go along with a healthy 46.4 FG percent, Smith is a very consistent player. ย Since he has cut down on his three-point attempts, Smith's field-goal percentage has sky-rocketed, reaching a career-high 50.5 percent last season.
As long as Smith keeps his head on straight, he will be one of the most exciting (and best fantasy) players in the NBA for years to come.
8) Gilbert Arenas-2001 Draft: 2nd Round, 31st Pick,Golden State Warriors,Arizona
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Arenas was one of the toughest players to rank on this list. ย When in his prime, he was one of the top ten players in the league. ย Arenas is a three-time All-Star (2005-2007), was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2003, is a two-time All-NBA Third Team Member (2005-2006) and an All-NBA Second Team Member (2007). ย In 2006, he lead the NBA in minutes played. ย One of the most dangerous shooters in the league, Arenas has scored at least 40 points thirty-one times, at least 50 points three times and hit the 60 point plateau during a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2006-2007 season, becoming one of only twenty players in NBA history to do so. ย During that same game, he set an NBA record for most points in an overtime game (16). ย He also owns the record for most points in under 30 minutes (46) since the creation of the shot clock.
That's the good. ย The bad? ย Since the end of the 2006-2007 season, Arenas has played a combined 70 games, missing large amounts of time due to injuries and a suspension for bringing guns into the locker room last year. ย In the preseason, he faked an injury to sit out a game. ย The Wizards finally had enough of their once-proud franchise star, recently sending him to Orlando. ย
So, which Arenas will the Magic get? ย The one who averaged nearly 30 PPG from 2005-2007, or the one who has struggled on the court since his return? ย There's no denying Arenas' talent. ย Even before being traded, Arenas was putting up numbers, averaging 17.3 PPG, 5.6 APG and 3.3 RPG, while averaging 2.2 three pointers a game, all while splitting time with No. 1 overall pick John Wall and newly acquired Kirk Hinrich. ย With the Magic, he's most likely to come off the bench. ย My bet? ย Look for Arenas to be a serious contender for Sixth Man of the Year, and a guy who may be the missing piece for the Magic's championship run.
7) Zach Randolph- 2001 Draft: 1st Round, 19th Pick, Portland Trailblazers, MSU
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Is Zach Randolph the greatest guy in the world? ย Nope. ย Greatest teammate? ย Nope. ย But the former Michigan State Spartan also is the proud owner of four 20/10 seasons in his career, and is one of the best offensive big men in basketball.
The debate on Randolph revolves around two things: his (lack of) defense and his attitude/off-court issues. ย But let's look at the positives: since 2004, he's only had one season where he's averaged less than 18.0 PPG (17.6 PPG in 2007-2008 with the Knicks). ย He has four straight seasons of at least 10 rebounds per game. ย And last season, his first full year with the Grizzlies, it appeared as if he'd finally stepped up into a leadership role.
The Most Improved Player in 2004, Randolph finally made the All-Star team last season. ย This season, Randolph is averaging 17.8 PPG and 12.4 RPG. ย Randolph forms a powerful frontcourt with Marc Gasol and Rudy Gay for the up-and-coming Grizzlies.
6) David West- 2003 Draft: 1st Round, 18th Pick, New Orleans Hornets, Xavier
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How West slipped all the way to the 18th in the 2003 Draft is mind-boggling. ย He was AP National Player of the Year in 2003, a First-Team All-American by the AP as a senior (2003)ย and a Second-Team All-American by the AP as a junior. ย At Xavier, he was a three time Conference Player of the Year. ย Basically, he dominated in every aspect in college. ย So much so that he was named to SI's All-Decade Team.
Concerns that his game or frame wouldn't fit to the NBA have proven to be way off-base. ย The two-time All-Star has been the perfect complement to All-World point guard Chris Paul. ย West has career averages of 16.2 PPG and 7.2 RPG, and hasn't averaged under 17 PPG since becoming a starter in 2005. ย
One of the best shooting big men in the game (career averages of 49 percent from the field, and 84 percent from the free throw line), Paul and West terrorize opponents night-in and night-out. ย For the Hornets to remain relevant in the stacked Western Conference, they must have Paul and West firing on all cylinders.ย
5) Monta Ellis- 2005 Draft: 2nd Round, 40th Pick, Golden State Warriors, Alabama
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There's something about Alabama basketball players and steals in the draft (Mo Williams and Gerald Wallace). ย The 25 year old combo guard is one of the most dangerous scorers in the league, and is an absolute workhorse, leading the NBA in minutes per game last season.
Last season, he averaged 25.5 PPG, 5.3 APG and 4.3 RPG, as he clearly benefited from the presence of rookie guard Steph Curry. ย This season, Ellis has nearly identical stats: 25.6 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.5 RPG. ย The two big differences? ย Ellis has cut down on his turnovers, and has seen a very nice spike in both his field goal percentage (44.9 percent to 48 percent from the field and 33.8 percent to 36.4 percent from downtown).
Ellis, the NBA's Most-Improved Player in 2006, dropped at least 30 points twenty-four times last season..... in only 64 games. ย He ranked sixth in the league in points per game last season, and currently ranks fourth in the league this season. ย If Ellis continues his play, he will be a perennial All-Star and Golden State will soon return to the playoffs.
4) Danny Granger- 2005 Draft: 1st Round, 17th Pick, Indiana Pacers, New Mexico
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Danny Granger has quietly become one of the best players in the NBA. ย I say that quietly because few know his story. ย Coming out of high school, he was offered a partial scholarship from Yale. ย That's right, Yale. ย He played his first two collegiate seasons for Bradley before transferring to New Mexico. ย If not for the Pacers' ties to New Mexico (Mel Daniels, the Pacers Director of Player Personnel, played for New Mexico, and Larry Bird played college basketball for Bob King, who was known as the "father of Lobo Basketball"), Granger may have slipped even more. ย Luckily for the Pacers, he didn't.
An NBA All-Rookie Second Team member in 2005, Granger was an All-Star in 2009 as well as being named the NBA's Most Improved Player.
In 2008, Granger averaged 25.8 PPG (fifth in the NBA), to go along with 5.1 RPG and 2.7 APG. ย Last season, Granger averaged 24.2 PPG (eighth in the NBA), to go along with 5.5 RPG and 2.8 APG, as well as leading the league in three pointers per game (2.6). ย And with Roy Hibbert and Darren Collison in town, the Pacers have finally surrounded Granger with talent to avoid the constant double-teams and pressure he's faced in years past.
One of the best scorers in the league, Granger has seen mostly losing since coming to Indiana. ย But at 27 years old, right in the prime of his career, Granger is the leader of a team in a good position to make a push to make the playoffs for many consecutive years. ย On a personal level, Granger has a very good chance to be a perennial All-Star if he's able to stay healthy and keep up his gaudy offensive statistics.ย
3) Rajon Rondo- 2006 Draft: 1st Round, 21st Pick, Phoenix Suns, Kentucky
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An NBA Champion? ย Check (2008). ย An NBA All-Star? ย Check (2010). ย All-Defensive Second Team? ย Check (2009). ย All-Defensive First Team? ย Check (2010). ย Most assists and steals in a season in Boston Celtics history? ย Check (2010). ย And all of this accomplished at the age of 24. ย In his third game of the season this year, he became only the second player in NBA history to record a triple-double with at least 24 assists (the other being Isaiah Thomas. ย It was only appropriate that Rondo recorded the feat against the Knicks, Thomas' former employer).
So, what keeps Rondo from being No. 1 on this list? ย A couple things. ย First, look at the guys he plays with. ย You have three future Hall of Famers coming into this season (Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett), and then added a future Hall of Famer (Shaq) and a six time All-Star (Jermaine O'Neal). ย As great as his numbers are, he's had incredible talent around him.
Another reason? ย While he has some of the best court vision in the league (he was fourth in APG last season, and his 13.8 APG lead the NBA by a LARGE amount this season), he isn't much of a scoring threat. ย I know, I'm being picky, but he isn't a very assertive scorer. ย He's a career 25 percent shooter from downtown, and only a 62.3 percent shooter from the free-throw line. ย He has virtually no jump shot, and most of his offensive game his based off his speed. ย Once Pierce, Allen and KG retire, it will be interesting to see how effective he is.
Now, let's look at the positives. ย He may be the best defensive point guard in the league. Last season, he lead the league in total steals and steals per game. ย He may be the fastest point guard in the league. ย He may be the most athletic point guard in the league. ย And while Allen, Pierce and KG are all bigger names, Rondo may be the most important player to the Celtics' title hopes. ย And that's the highest compliment you can give him. ย
During the 2009 playoffs, Rondo AVERAGED 16.9 PPG, 9.8 APG, and 9.7 RPG. ย AVERAGED! ย He's a big game performer, an NBA champion and one of the best steals in the best ten years. Remember, this is only his fifth year in the league, if he keeps these stats and performances up, he can definitely move up the list.ย
2) Carlos Boozer- 2002 Draft: 2nd Round, 35th Pick, Cleveland Cavaliers, Duke
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It was a very close call between Boozer and Rondo for the No. 2 and No. 3 spot. ย I went with Boozer for a couple reasons. ย First of all, he's a more established player in the league, and has been in the league for more seasons. ย Secondly, Boozer was a second round pick, while Rondo, though certainly a steal, was a first-rounder. ย
Boozer, a two-time All-Star, had one of the most prolific college careers of all time at Duke. ย Since coming to the NBA, Boozer has career averages of 17.2 PPG and 10.2 RPG, while shooting 54.1 percent from the field, establishing himself has one of the most dominant power forwards in the game.
A key part of the Utah Jazz's success the past few seasons, Boozer has earned a rep around the league as somewhat of a malcontent, as he frequently complained during his time in Utah. ย However, that did not affect his play, especially during the playoffs. ย In his career, Boozer has played 44 playoff games (all during the past four seasons with the Jazz), and has averaged 20.0 PPG, 12.7 RPG and 2.7 APG.
This offseason, Boozer was dealt to the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade. ย With Boozer, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng in the frontcourt, and Derrick Rose, one of the best point guards in the league, leading the backcourt, the Bulls are in a great position to be a consistent power in the East for years to come. ย Boozer's addition certainly helps now, especially with Noah going down with a right thumb injury that will require surgery and knock him out for 8-10 weeks.
Boozer has also struggled with injuries during his career, missing the first fifteen games of this season with a broken hand. ย He missed 45 games in 2008, 49 games in 2005 and 31 in 2004. ย But when on the court, Boozer is one of the most powerful offensive big men in the league, and a major offensive asset to any team.
1) Tony Parker- 2001 Draft: 1st Round, 28th Pick, San Antonio Spurs, France
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Parker leads the list as he is the perfect combination of both personal success and being a key role in team success. ย He is a three time NBA All-Star, a three time NBA champion and a Finals MVP. ย He has made the playoffs every single year of his career, playing in 132 playoff games.
He has career averages of 16.6 PPG, 5.6 APG and 3.1 RBG, all while shooting 49 percent from the field. ย He is a perfect complement to first-ballot Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, and along with coach Gregg Poppovich and SG/Do-Everything Manu Ginobili, has been a constant in the Spurs' three championships since 2003.
An All-NBA Rookie First Team member in 2002, Parker has enjoyed success since joining the league. ย Initially cast as only a sidekick to Duncan (similar to Rondo with the Big Three), Parker made a name for himself when he won Finals MVP in 2007. ย As Duncan slowly begins to age and inch closer and closer to retirement, it has been Parker who has been the leading offensive force for the Spurs. ย
This season, Parker is averaging 17.7 PPG, 7.1 APG and 3.2 RBG while shooting 51.5 percent from the fieldโnumbers that are across the board better than his career averages. ย Since being drafted, Parker has lead the Spurs in assists every single season, has lead the team in points twice and has been in the top three of scoring every single year with the exception of his rookie year.ย
At only 28 years old, Parker is still in the prime of his career, and is a likely candidate to some day be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. ย But for now, he'll have to settle for being one of the top point guards in the NBA for one of the best teams in the league. ย And for the Spurs, they're more than happy on having to have "settled" for Parker with the 28th pick in the 2001 Draftโthe top steal of the past ten seasons in the NBA. ย
So, what do you think of the list? ย Let me know your thoughts on the rankings in the comment section. ย
Michael Perchick is the writer/editor of TheJockosphere, a sports/Twitter site, reporting the top tweets and news directly from athletes. Follow him on Twitterย @TheREALPerchickย and atย http://thejockosphere.com/.
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