The NBA's 2011 Ultimate Player
NBA franchises long to have that perfect player. That Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, or that Larry Bird-type player (to name a few), which an organization can build around to produce champions.
Although that “perfect” player has never and will never step on the court to play for 48 minutes per outing, there have been many who were close like the players mentioned.
However, to imagine what the ultimate player would look and be like is just a thought to run with. Since the perfect player will never be manifested, let us compose the ultimate baller from the players around the Association.
Based off the current NBA stars, the ultimate player can be formed by his physical stature, intangibles and mental capacity.
So, let’s construct the NBA’s 2010-11 ultimate player from some of today’s brightest ballers, with touch of a surprise, starting with the ideal height of 6'8", not too big and not too small.
The Body
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The Body:
The structured frame of the player.
Consist of the legs, torso, arms and hands.
The Legs of New York Knicks Forward Carmelo Anthony
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Anthony’s legs are not too bulky, but just right in length. The Knicks’ forward probably has the best jab step in the league as he can create the space he needs to get his shot off or drive to the hoop with ease.
Anthony, along with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, is perhaps the best player in the NBA at scoring, as his efforts appears to be smooth and his legs helps make it happen.
The Torso of Thunder Center Kendrick Perkins
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Perkins’ wide torso and body is perhaps his biggest asset as he takes up a lot of space in the paint. Not as wide as Boston Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal, but as effective, as Perkins is difficult to move and move around.
Perkins is not afraid to throw his torso around, as he helps create problems for players who need to be in the paint to score in order to be effective.
The Arms of Detroit Pistons Forward Tayshaun Prince
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Forever arms are probably the best way to describe Prince’s length in his arms. Prince is not as physical person in the NBA, but his arm length gives him the ability to guard his opponents from a distance without gathering many fouls.
Whether he fronts his opponents or blocks their shots from behind without touching them, Prince has frustrated NBA players for years—just ask Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller, who experienced this firsthand in the 2004 NBA playoffs during the Pistons’ championship run.
The Left Hand of San Antonio Spurs Guard Manu Ginobili
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Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph is one of the best lefties in the NBA today, along with Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh. However, Ginobili has been a solid star in the NBA for years, with titles to follow.
The electric dynamo from Argentina could easily be a MVP candidate year in and year out, however Ginobili has chosen to win, as he became the second option to forward Tim Duncan.
Most NBA players are right-handed with the ability to play opponents to their left, which is second nature, but defending lefties is challenging, especially a highly skilled athlete like Ginobili, who is so quick that opposing players don’t see him coming, as he led the NBA in steals at 2.60 per outing.
Ginobili has been difficult to defend throughout his career, but unfortunately, he cannot escape the injury-bug, which has haunted him for the past couple of years. However, when healthy, Ginobili is a left-handed nightmare.
The Right Hand of Thunder Forward Kevin Durant
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It is the NBA, and majority of the league’s players are right-handed, so nearly anyone will do. However, Durant makes scoring look easy. With the flick of the wrist from his right, Durant has one of the quickest releases on the planet.
From putting on scoring shows in high school to the University of Texas to the NBA and to the Goodman League at Barry’s Farms in Southeast Washington D.C. during the summer, Durant has made scoring a visual art.
The back-to-back NBA scoring champion led the way again this season, finishing at 28.9 points per game and this right-handed wonder will have a long, great NBA career.
Intangibles
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Incapable of being defined, intangibles are skills that cannot be taught, and it is the willingness of the individual to be better than the rest.
Consists of power, speed, handles, jumping, shooting, vision and defense.
The Power of Miami Heat Guard/Forward LeBron James
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Look, James is a monster—in a good way. James approaches the game with such fury and power. Standing at 6'8", 250 lbs, James runs like a deer and as he attacks the basket at top speed, just watch out.
James’ thunderous dunks echo throughout the arena, and when he chooses to not be stopped, one can only hope to contain him. The two-time league MVP continues to develop his game, but due to his strength, his ability to overpower his opponents is sometimes unfair.
The Speed of Chicago Bulls Guard Derrick Rose
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Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis is probably the quickest NBA player with the ball, along with Rose, but the league’s MVP is a better finisher and can get to the basket quicker through traffic than the Warriors’ captain.
Rose’s blinding speed to the cup has baffled his opponents all season—better yet, his whole career. Similar to a contortionist, Rose’s ability to effortlessly twist and bend his way around the paint towards the basket makes him nearly unstoppable to get to the rim.
Rose has been able to display his power to rim, backed by his speed from the start.
The Shooting of Dallas Maverick Forward/Center Dirk Nowitzki
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Nowitzki, the stoker, has one of the quickest releases in the league. Standing 7'0", Nowitzki was labeled as being “soft” due to his unwillingness to play in the paint early in his career.
Unfortunately, the jumpshot is a lost art among American basketball players, while non-American ballers practice all the fundamentals of basketball no matter how tall or short they are, especially the jumpshot.
Nowitzki, who averaged 26.5 points per game this season, may go down as the NBA’s greatest non-American basketball player when he complete his Hall of Fame career, and he did it his own way.
The most disappointing thing about Nowitzki is that he made other players who are 6'10" and up believe they can be a shooter—uh, no.
When he was a young player in Germany, Nowitzki’s coach said to him that in order to stand out among other seven-footers, he had to learn how to shoot the three. With the ball in Nowitzki’s hand, consider his shot the money ball.
The Handles of Denver Nuggets Guard Ty Lawson
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Being flashy can help a guard to make a lot of money because it builds excitement. On the flip side, flashiness does not always produce wins.
Lawson took over the reigns as the starting point guard for Denver after guard Chauncey Billups was packaged with Anthony in the trade to the Knicks before the NBA trade deadline in February.
Lawson is becoming one of the league’s best facilitators without a lot of flash, but by just getting the job done as a leader on the floor.
In the 31 games as a starter, Lawson took care of the ball with great ball handling skills, as he averaged only 1.7 turnovers per game, while finding the right player by setting them up for easy baskets. Lawson is a pure point guard, with the best yet to come.
The Jumping Ability of Los Angeles Clippers Forward Blake Griffin
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Not quite Vince Carter ups, but Griffin is close enough as he made countless highlights on SportsCenter for his slams and was the winner of the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Griffin bounced back in a great way after sitting out for the 2009 season due to an injury.
The Clippers may not be ready to be a playoff threat in the Western Conference yet, but Griffin, with leaping ability to throw down power jams, will help to keep his Los Angeles team relevant for years to come.
Griffin towering over the Knicks and other grounded victims and a car may appear to be a sign that he will be one of the game’s greatest leapers of all time.
The Vision of New Orleans Hornets Guard Chris Paul
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Paul is a flashier version of Hall of Fame guard John Stockton, who holds the NBA record for the most assists of all-time at 15,806.
Paul’s vision to the see the court has enabled him to set his teammates up for countless easy baskets. A highly skilled guard like Paul can create successful careers for other NBA players who are not as talented or gifted.
Paul led the NBA in assists at 11.5 per game during the season and slightly put a scare in the Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Getting the ball to the bigs in the paint through traffic and placing the ball in the right place in tight lanes, where most point guards are either afraid or unsure of themselves to make the play, is a skill in and of itself that many ball handlers don’t possess.
If Paul can stay healthy, he will challenge Stockton’s all-time assist record due to his court awareness and of course, his vision.
The Defense of Orlando Magic Center Dwight Howard
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The three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is a menace on the court. When a player thinks he is past Howard for an easy bucket, it is blocked, and if a player challenges him, Howard will send the ball to the stands.
In addition, if the ball is shot high in the air, the ball probably is not high enough, as Howard would go up, up and away to get it.
Howard did not lead the NBA in block shots, as he finished with 2.4 blocks per game during the regular season, but he led in rebounds with 14.1 per game.
Most of the rebounds Howard grabbed were all from long missed jump shots, but the intimidation factor set by the 6'11" Howard causes penetrators to think twice, sending clanks off the rim into Superman’s hands.
Standing at 6'11", 265 lbs with ridiculous arm length combined with great athleticism and speed, Howard is the perfect defensive weapon.
Psychology
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The state or quality of mental or intellectual ability; a complex mental state involving beliefs, feelings, values, and dispositions to act in certain ways (to win).
Consist of Heart, intensity and I.Q.
The Heart of Heat Guard Dwyane Wade
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The heart of Wade should never be questioned. Standing at 6'4", he performs likes a seven-footer.
Wade attacks the rim with such aggressiveness and is not intimidated by any opponents’ big man. Whether he may be rejected or not, Wade will challenge any defender no matter how big or small his next highlight reel victim will be.
Wade has had his share of physical contact during his great seven-year (and counting) career, as he absorbed several injuries due to his passion to win from attacking. 6'4" elite players could burn themselves out quicker during their career if they have to carry their team on nightly bases.
Thanks to the arrival of James and Bosh, Wade (before he is physically unable to play above the rim) probably can be the aggressor a year or two longer because he does not have to carry the Heat by himself anymore.
Never afraid to take the critical shot, Wade displays the heart of a champion year in and year out.
The Intensity of Memphis Grizzlies Guard Tony Allen
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Allen is not a superstar in the NBA, but his talent and high motor intensity finally took center stage during the Grizzlies’ 2010-11 playoff run.
His attitude fueled the Grizzlies this season after not being taken seriously by the Celtics. The Chicago native has brought his fiery, competitive nature to Memphis, and those who are not familiar with Allen would mistake him for being angry all the time.
Whether offensively or defensively, Allen is intense all the time, even as he itches from the bench for his next opportunity to get on the floor.
Allen is a decent NBA player, but his intensity may set him apart from his colleagues for years to come.
The Basketball I.Q. of Los Angeles Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant
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Thanks to Joe “Jelly Bean” Bryant (Kobe’s father), Kobe (the five-time NBA champion) was instilled with not just the knowledge of basketball, but also the knowledge of the NBA game for nearly his entire childhood.
As his father, who played in the NBA and overseas professionally, taught and talked, Bryant absorbed his father’s teachings and skills to enhance his abilities to become one of the game’s best basketball minds.
Bryant has matured since his early days as a NBA star, but he is not as athletic as he once was. However, his knowledge for the game of knowing his spots, setting up his teammates and his leadership ability will help sustain his NBA career longer, which is great for a player who once played above the rim.
The Face of the Ultimate Player
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No frame of a body is complete without a head, the face. Moreover, this person will become one of the most influential personalities for the game of basketball for years to come.
Me
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Who did you think it was? I did not play in the NBA, but I play ball. Look at these teeth.
