NBA Power Rankings: Derrick Rose and 10 Players Who Let Game Do the Talking
In this day and age of the NBA, with gloried million-dollar basketball players, it's hard to find players that just play for the simple love of the game.
But they do exist.
And you can just see it in their play.
They don't trash talk, they don't complain to the refs, they just go out and play.
And they play basketball at its best, and that's for the love of the game.
So I'll go ahead and list 10 guys who I think are the definition of what my title states, in that these players let their game speak for itself rather than speaking for it.
Let's go.
10. Luol Deng
1 of 10
Ever since Luol Deng has come into the league, he's been scrutinized.
He was supposed to be the star of the Chicago Bulls, but never panned out and instead was called a soft, injury-prone and overpaid player.
Did he argue? Did he complain?
Nope.
Sure, he may not be the superstar everyone thought, but Luol Deng is as solid a player as they come.
He's thriving with the Bulls now as their third scoring option, averaging more than 17 points per game and nearly six rebounds.
The Bulls are winning and Deng is playing the best basketball of his career. That's a good formula to quiet your critics rather than arguing with them.
9. Danny Granger
2 of 10
One of the more underrated talents in the league.
Danny Granger has been the one staple for the mediocre Indiana Pacers, and their only constant threat night after night (with all due respect to Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert).
Granger doesn't jack his jaw too much once the ball is throw up. Instead he simply plays his game, and he plays to help his team get the W.
Coming from humble beginnings as a late first-round draft pick (No. 17), Granger has let his numbers speak for themselves by averaging 20.4 points this season, as well as 5.4 boards and 2.6 assists, not to mention nearly one block a game.
He's been an All-Star in this league and continues to be snubbed in talks as being among the best players in the game, let alone one of the better small forwards in the league.
With his game, Granger says "you talk, I'll play."
8. Tim Duncan
3 of 10
The epitome of silence.
Tim Duncan's motto on the court should be "silence is golden."
While I know Timmy has been caught more than a few times talking to the refs about questionable calls, it's pretty much non-existent when you factor in his whole game.
Duncan will never beat you in a trash-talking competition, but give him a basketball and a hoop, and you're asking for it.
Ever since his entrance into the league in '97, Duncan has racked up accolade after accolade to silence his critics, who claim Duncan is not vocal enough to lead a team.
Among his accomplishments include four NBA championships, three NBA Finals MVP awards, two NBA MVP awards, 13 All-Star appearances, Rookie of the Year and numerous All-NBA first team, and All-Defensive first team honors.
Duncan is the standard by which big men are measured, and he's done all he has throughout his career by being relatively quiet and just playing the game of basketball in its beauty, which is at the fundamental level. Hence, Duncan is deserving of the title The Big Fundamental.
7. Joe Johnson
4 of 10
Say what you want about the $120-plus million contract Joe Johnson received from the Hawks, but you can't deny Joe Joe's calm and collected swagger on the court.
He doesn't panic, worry or freak out when he's playing his game. Instead, it's just a smooth ride from the minute the ball is tipped.
Johnson is quiet by nature and realizes that he doesn't need to talk a good game to have a good game.
As the Hawks' franchise player, Johnson continues to amaze with his all-around play, with averages this season of 18.6 points, about five assists and four rebounds.
Johnson has one of the quietest demeanors on the court, and he is one of the few that can excel at it.
6. LaMarcus Aldridge
5 of 10
Aldridge has revitalized himself as a new player this season.
With Brandon Roy's career essentially done, Aldridge is the Blazers' future.
Easily one of the better PFs in the league this season, Aldridge was overlooked when it came down to naming the All-Star power forwards and his selection went toTim Duncan (having one of his worst statistical seasons).
That hasn't phased Aldrige one bit, though, as he continues to produce at a high level and he is having his best year statistically across the board, with averages of 22.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and over a block a game.
And he's doing this all while going under the radar and just playing his game.
5. Steve Nash
6 of 10
One of the few truly skilled players we have in the league.
Steve Nash continues to age like fine wine. Old (in terms of basketball age) but still effective.
The two-time MVP has never been know to talk a good game; instead, he's delivered a good game. Time after time, he has led his team to numerous deep playoff appearances, and while he may not have won a title, we can't say he didn't try.
Steve Nash continues to impress even at this age, and continues to let his game do to the talking.
Currently averaging 15.3 points, 11.4 assists (good for second in the league) a game.
4. Kevin Love
7 of 10
It boggles my mind when guys like Dwight Howard, Amar'e Stoudemire periodically put up monster point-rebounds games such as 30-20, or 32-19, and everybody praises them, but when Kevin Love does it on a nightly basis, it's gone under the radar.
While his historic 30 points/30 rebounds game was noticed extensively, all his numerous other monster double-double games go unnoticed.
You don't think Kevin Love knows? Sure he does.
You think he cares? Not a chance.
Love just does what he's programmed to do since his AAU days, and that's to have the mentality that every rebound is his. He goes out and gives it his all, and never loses his cool and takes it out on the refs or his opponents.
Love just plays the game, and he plays it right.
The one-time All-Star is currently averaging 20.2 points and 15.2 rebounds (first in NBA).
3. Kevin Durant
8 of 10
"Durantala" is one of the humble superstars of the league, and it should come as no surprise that you won't find him at the top of any NBA trash-talkers list.
He's as smooth as his Nike nickname: "Velvet Hoop."
However, don't underestimate Durant's quiet passion for a lack of killer instinct.
Durant is about as clutch as they come, and when the game is on the line, you better believe he'll step up to the challenge and answer the call.
Even with his quiet nature, he's counted upon to be the Thunder's vocal leader, and he's been able to do that. But more importantly, he's become one of the best scorers the league has seen in a while.
Durant has current averages of 27.7 points (first in the NBA), about seven rebounds and nearly three assists.
So when we say let your game do the talking, we mean do what Kevin Durant does.
2. Blake Griffin
9 of 10
If I asked you at the beginning of the season: What do you think Blake Griffin was going to average? And you told me 22 points and 12 rebounds, I would have called you crazy.
However, Griffin has proved to be as good, perhaps even better, than advertised.
He's about as physically gifted as anyone you'll find in the league. And at 6'10" and 260 pounds, you would think Griffin wouldn't be afraid to talk trash on the court, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Griffin is about as quiet as any big man you'll find in the league at his size and star power.
He plays with a reckless abandon and gets pushed, shoved, kicked and pulled, but never do you see Griffin complain about it on the court. Never do you see Griffin argue to the refs about a call.
He knows it won't do him any good and so he moves on and just plays his game.
And that's how it should be.
1. Derrick Rose
10 of 10
The fastest rising superstar in the NBA.
What more can be said about Derrick Rose that hasn't already been said?
He is the player that I truly believe lets his game speak for itself.
Rose is something not a lot of NBA players can say these days, and that's a pure basketball player. That's all Rose knows, and that's all he does. Everything else (the endorsements, commericials, etc...) are just gravy.
Rose has three simple rules on the court:
1. No trash talkin'
2. Don't complain to refs
3. Let your game speak
When you truly watch him play, you will see that he really adheres to these three rules and doesn't break them at any point of the game.
You will never see Derrick Rose trash talking (I'm not sure he knows how to) or fighting, because he knows nothing good can ever come out of it.
More than anything, Rose is just quiet by nature. You can just see it with the way he talks, plays and carries himself. He's a shy kid, but he's got the demeanor of a superstar, and he is absolutely a monster on the court.
The leading candidate for the MVP this season, Rose is averaging 25 points per game, about eight assists and four rebounds a game, while leading the Bulls to the best record in the East.
The following phrase will sum up what I mean by this article.
If you want to let your game speak, watch Derrick Rose play.
He is the true definition of it.
