NBA Power Rankings: Blake Griffin and the 10 Biggest Stars in the NBA Right Now
The 2010-2011 NBA season is chalk full of stars. The talent level is as high as ever in the league and it has been one heck of a season.
Stars rule the association and some shine brighter than others.
What constitutes a star?
Ability, personality, visibility and achievements.
The Tim Duncans and Dirk Nowitzkis of the world are all top talents—but in 2011 they aren't the biggest stars.
There are 10 players that meet all of the above qualifications and then some. Here is a rundown of the 10 biggest stars in the NBA as we speak.
10. Chris Paul
1 of 10
His star may have diminished a bit since suffering a knee injury a year ago. Any player that misses over half a season will have that.
But Paul is back and better than ever.
He is third in assists at 9.6 and leads the league in steals with 2.6 a game. He does all this while shooting 47 percent from behind the arc and almost 90 percent from the free throw line.
He is the main reason the Hornets are 30-16 overall with an incredible 19-5 record at home. He is the leader of New Orleans and the point guard kids have been trying to replicate for the past five years.
The beauty of Paul?
He is still only 25 years old. Proving that his knee injury is behind him, he is once again leading the PG race with Deron Williams.
9. Blake Griffin
2 of 10
The Blake Griffin show is sweeping the nation and he has revitalized a dying fan base.
The amount of absurdly difficult dunks and alley-oops Griffin has pulled off in half a season has been incredible.
Griffin is a nightly candidate for a Sportscenter Top 10 highlight.
He is scoring 22.8 points a game and is fourth in the NBA with 12.9 rebounds a game. The No. 1 pick overall a season ago, missed his entire first season with a knee injury that made the buzz on Griffin cold.
But a year later, Griffin is far-and-away the rookie of the year and is now one of the premier players in the NBA.
And Griffin is only 21!
8. Derrick Rose
3 of 10
Here is a guy that wouldn’t have been on the list last year.
But Rose has been playing at an All Star level all season and has emerged as the leader of one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Being selected No. 1 by your hometown brings heavy expectations, but Rose has somehow managed to shatter them.
Rose is seventh in the league in scoring (24.6) and 10th in assists (8.1). He hit an amazing buzzer beater last month and is the crunch time scorer for one of the top teams in the East.
His leadership has taken a giant step forward this season and he has brought Championship dreams back to Chicago. This will be the first time his team will be expected to win a series in the playoffs and it’s up to Rose to once again meet the Windy City’s high expectations.
Oh and did I mention he is only 22 years old?
7. Amar'e Stoudemire
4 of 10
I would say you were crazy to put Stoudemire in the top 10 a year ago, but nobody has experienced a bigger jump in stardom than Amar'e this season.
He was the first big name free agent to commit this summer; and it looks as if going to the New York Knicks may have been the best move by a team in the entire league.
He instantly became the superstar the Knicks so desperately craved. He spent the whole offseason gushing about the franchise and how much it meant for him to play in Madison Square Garden.
On the court he has played at an All-NBA level since Game one. He is second in the league with a 26.1 points a game scoring average and is grabbing nine boards a game while swatting away 2.3 shots a game—almost an entire block better than his career average.
His thunderous dunks and ferocious intensity on defense has lit a fuse under his team and the Knicks are poised to make their first playoff appearance since seemingly forever.
Amar'e helped saved basketball in NYC.
6. Carmelo Anthony
5 of 10
The constant updates on ‘Melo trade rumors is proof enough. Carmelo Anthony moving teams is a seismic change in the NBA landscape.
He was drafted in the same class as LeBron and D-Wade and the three have taken the NBA by storm ever since.
The Nuggets are No. 1 in the NBA in offense, averaging 107.7 a game and has been this way for Denver ever since ‘Melo stepped foot onto the Pepsi Center.
This season, amid the distraction of trade rumors and the tragic death of his sister, ‘Melo is still ninth in the league—averaging 23.8 points a game.
The most surprising stat is his up tick in rebounds. He is grabbing eight a game, almost two above his career average.
His silky smooth play is what fans love. ‘Melo makes the game look easy. He has been a star since taking Syracuse to a National Championship in his only season in college and has been a household name ever since.
The fan base of the team that acquires him will be dancing in the streets in celebration.
5. Dwight Howard
6 of 10
One of the best personalities in the league, “Superman” can make even the harshest critic crack a smile. His charisma steals the spotlight and it can be argued that Dwight Howard is the funniest player in the league.
He won the 2008 dunk contest with his costumes, personality and intense throw-downs.
On the court he is one of the meanest. His ridiculous body frame can plow through the strongest opposing players. Howard would have made a great defensive-end in the NFL.
The only thing you can call weak about Howard is his free throw percentage (59 percent). He averages over 22 a game, ranks second in rebounds with 13.3 and makes 2.2 blocks a contest.
Howard is the top center in the game today.
4. Dwyane Wade
7 of 10
He won a title in only his third season in the league and was named MVP of the Finals. His star has been burning bright ever since.
Wade is the best player in the league at getting to the rim and drawing a foul. He is slowly adjusting to playing with LeBron and Bosh, but is still sixth in the league with 25.1 points a game. He shoots almost 50 percent from the field and hauls in 6.5 boards a game.
He is the face of Converse and has been on the memorable T-Mobile commercials with Charles Barkley. D-Wade is one of the leaders in promotions and advertising in the league.
Even with LeBron in town—D-Wade is still one of the top “must see” players in the league.
3. Kobe Bryant
8 of 10
Koooooooobe!
Bryant has been one of the biggest stars in the NBA for the past decade. That’s what happens when you win three straight titles in your early 20s and you play for the league’s premier franchise.
He gained even higher popularity after his messy divorce with Shaq. Kobe knew he could do it on his own and the Lakers have now won two straight rings.
He is sixth in the NBA in scoring (24.9), which is actually less than his 14-year career average!
Kobe continues to climb up the list of all time greats in his quest to catch M.J.
While he may never reach “his airness” status, Bryant is far and away the player of the past half-decade.
2. Kevin Durant
9 of 10
Durant has become the good guy in the NBA with his easy going demeanor and calm personality. He announced his extension with the Thunder via Twitter—not an hour long T.V. show.
It’s his humility that has won him many fans outside of Oklahoma, but don’t underestimate the guy’s killer instinct.
He is a fearless player that will shatter the hopes of your team, as evident by this shot against the Knicks earlier this week.
He his the leader of the youngest team in the NBA that is making significant strides in the all-mighty Western Conference. Durant and is averaging 28.1 points a game which is two points better than the second highest scoring average in the league.
He also pulls down over six boards and just under three assists every night.
Durant has increased his star power every season he has been in the league and there is no reason to think it wont get even higher.
1. LeBron James
10 of 10
He may be a villain to most NBA fans after his wild ride of a summer, but there is no denying the sheer star power that LeBron brings to the table.
He has been in every kind of commercial imaginable for Nike. He has his own flavor of gum and his own cartoon.
On the court, we all know he has as many rings as you and me.
But check his numbers this year: 25.9 PPG (third in NBA), 7.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. His scoring numbers are down almost two a game of his career average.
He has been a star since the day he was drafted No. 1 and has provided endless amounts of jaw dropping slams and alley-oops.
On any given night…LeBron James is the most exciting—and most recognizable player in the NBA.
