NBA Power Rankings: Kobe Bryant and the 10 Most Creative Scorers in the NBA

The ability to create your own shot is a huge advantage in the NBA. Players that create shots for themselves essentially give their team a one-man advantage as they command double-teams.

The better they are at it, the more respect they demand. 

Following is a list of the 10 best players at doing that, or at least the 10 who do it the most often. In ascending order, these are the top 10 players in unassisted field goals per game, along with a little video sampling of their creative abilities. 

10. Amar'e Stoudemire, 4.64

Some classify Stoudemire as a "low-post scorer," but the fact is that only 35 percent of his field goals are inside the paint. The other 65 percent are from his jump shot, where he has a great ability to create points.

There are some who questioned whether he'd be able to score without Nash to create for him, but by adding more of a jump shot to his game, he has cut down his assisted percentage from 61 percent to 53 percent.  

9. Carmelo Anthony, 4.71

Carmelo has an array of moves to get to the rim, but none are as devastating as his spin move (as portrayed in the video above).

He and Amar'e are two of the most offensively talented players in the NBA, and sooner or later, they're going to learn to play together.

If they can do that and commit to defense, the Knicks will be a perennial contender. 

8. Steve Nash, 4.96

Only 13.7 percent of Steve Nash's field goals are assisted. Talk about a guy that gives more than he gets!

His ability to generate offense for himself and for others is truly rare. It's my belief that Steve Nash exists today to make up for those of who never got to see Pete Maravich play. 

7. Tyreke Evans, 4.96

Tyreke Evans' electric moves and all-around game make him another name to add to the conversation for the incredible golden age of point guards.

With DeMarcus Cousins in the fold and the incredible way Marcus Thornton has been playing since coming over via trade, the Kings look like they have a promising future. 

All of this, combined with the remarkable young talent being assembled by the Clippers, leads one to wonder, is it possible that in three years the Lakers will be the third-best team in SoCal?

6. Tony Parker, 5.17

Here's a non-controversial statement: Tony Parker is the greatest French point guard in NBA history.

Am I the only one that thinks that Parker may very well be the most underrated player in terms of career accomplishments of all time?

How many players have three rings, a finals MVP and three All-Star games? Yet if you were to ask most people the 10 greatest players playing right now, I'm not sure Parker is even on most lists. 

5: Monta Ellis, 5.41

Monta Ellis is in the perfect situation for his talents. I would like to see him learn to play a little more consistent defense, but wow does he have moves.

With him and Steph Curry in the backcourt, it makes me wonder how that compares to the Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe backcourt of the championship Knicks during the early 70s. 

If these two learn to really play off one another the way that Frazier and Monroe did, then the Warriors could be one of the teams to contend for the next six to seven years. 

4. Kobe Bryant, 5.62

Remember, this is ordered by the actual number of unassisted field goals made per game, so Kobe is fourth because of that.

Bryant's ability to make points for himself is unparalleled. No one in the game today can kill you in more ways.

The thing I want to know is this: How do you score it? Does he get two points, a rebound and an assist? 

3. Russell Westbrook, 6.24

Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose are sometimes criticized for not being "pure" point guards. That criticism would probably carry more weight if their respective teams weren't two of the best in the league.

It's hard to criticize what works. 

Westbrook, Durant and the Thunder are the team of the future in the Western Conference. As the other elite teams, the Lakers, Mavericks and Spurs, are all aging, the Thunder are maturing. I can see the Thunder getting to the Western Conference finals and playing the Lakers tough—even going seven.

I'm not convinced they're going to the finals, though. 

After this year though, I see Oklahoma City being on top of the West for the next half decade. 

2. LeBron James, 6.38

LeBron James is a point guard in a power forward's body, and that's why he plays small forward.

Is he the most gifted athlete to ever play the game of basketball?

If he ever fully develops, he'll be the greatest player in the game.

1. Derrick Rose, 6.45

The problem with trying to measure Derrick Rose by PER or WS is that those stats don't take into account what Rose does best and does better than anyone in the NBA, which is to create shots for himself.

No one makes more unassisted field goals per game.

The amazing thing about Rose, though, is that he translates that ability into not only being able to create shots for himself, but into creating them for his teammates, too