Packin' Heat: The Top 10 Current Players with the Most Complete Offensive Games

The NBA is all about scoring. Scorers sell jerseys. Scorers make highlight reels. Scorers fill arenas. Of course, there are dozens of other factors that determine whether a team is successful or not (the New York Knicks, for example, will only go so far playing just one end of the floor), but at the end of the day, you need to simply score more points than the other guy. 

This slideshow pays homage not to the most effective or efficient scorers (one can simply check NBA.com for the ranking of this past seasons scoring leaders for that) but to the players with the most complete offensive repertoires. To make this list, a player must have exemplified this past season that he has the ability to score in the most possible ways. 

For example, some scoring techniques might include: shooting off-the-dribble, catch-and-shoot scoring, three-point range, mid-range ability, attacking the basket, drawing contact, free-throw shooting, low-post scoring, high-post scoring, etc. 

Let me re-emphasize: THIS IS NOT A LIST OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE OR EFFICIENT SCORERS!

10. Danny Granger

The star of the Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger finished 17th last year in ppg with 20.5. He shot 43 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point territory and 85 percent from the charity stripe, with five FTs made per game. 

Granger is a pure scorer—beside his ability to put the ball in the basket; he is quite a mediocre player at best (boasting a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio and a pedestrian 5.4 rebounds per game).

But, while facing the basket, he is a threat to score from any place on the court. He has the ability to create off the dribble and make tough, off-balance shots. He can pull up for a more than capable mid-range jumper or camp outside the arc and make slow-rotating defenses pay about two times per game.

Granger, despite not having the quickest first step, can drive the lane and finish at the basket or draw contact and capitalize with few mistakes from the free-throw line. He has also demonstrated that he can come through for his team in the clutch.

That being said, Granger is strictly a face-up player with very little to show with his back to the basket. Occasionally, he will put his back to the basket when he has a clear size advantage, but it is clear, to anyone watching, that he is out of his comfort zone.

He has yet to master a turn-around jumper from the post or react to double teams very well. In addition, while five made free throws per game is not terribly bad, it seems quite ordinary when compared to some of the other players on this list.

9. Lebron James

Before I begin to critique LeBron's offensive game, let me start by stating, unequivocally, he is the best all-around player in the league today.

The "King," in his first season with the Miami Heat, averaged 26.7 ppg, good enough for second in the league, shot 51 percent from the field, 33 percent from deep and 76 percent from the charity stripe, with 6.4 FTs made per game.

LeBron earned many of his points, as he has done throughout most of his career, by putting his head down and barreling toward the basket, absorbing contact and finishing above the rim. His unbelievable strength and quickness makes him one of the best drivers in the league today.

Though it is definitely not as consistent as it could be, LeBron has shown he can connect from mid-range, as well as from deep when in rhythm. And, in the last few years, he has shown some attention to using his massive frame in the post.

Finally, now more than even with Wade as his running mate, LeBron is as deadly as ever in transition as he possesses unparalleled athleticism, finishing ability and court vision. 

Now for the criticism. There is a reason the best player on the planet only cracks No. 9 on this list. First and foremost, LeBron's mid-range game and ability to hit the three-ball is very inconsistent.

Many defenses can get away with playing off LeBron and clogging up the paint, forcing James to take jump shots that he really is not comfortable with. In order to keep defenses honest, LeBron needs to shore up his outside game in order to open up his inside game.

Also, despite an increasing attention to his post game, James is still not very comfortable with his back to the basket. He has not been able to open up passing lanes for his teammates very well from the post and really only looks to post up when he has a clear size advantage (i.e. JJ Barea).

His fade away from the post is rarely seen and even more rarely goes in. Posting up is supposed to get you higher percentage looks, but for James, it still seems as though his post game renders him less effective. Finally, James's free-throw percentage, while not terrible, is nothing to be proud of either.

8. Stephen Jackson

Capt. Jack of the Charlotte Bobcats (now for the Milwaukee Bucks), finished 30th in scoring last season with 18.5 ppg while shooting 41 percent from the field, 34 percent from three-point territory and 82 percent from the charity stripe with almost four made per game. 

Jackson better than LeBron?! Yeah right!

Let me reiterate that this is not a list of the most efficient or effective scorers; if it were, Jackson would not even be on this list. However, this is a list of the players with the most complete offensive games.

Jackson has the ability to hit the three-ball, pull up for the mid-range jumper, create for himself off the dribble and drive the lane amidst contact. He is more comfortable than James is scoring off the ball as James is more of a facilitator than a beneficiary.

Jackson is more comfortable than James is in the post as his superior shooting touch grants him the ability to hit the fade away with greater consistency. Jackson also shoots respectably well from the free-throw line. Finally, Jackson has the ability to perform offensively in the clutch.

Jackson's all-around scoring ability is not without weak areas though. He has a noticeably slow release on his shot for one, which gives defenses more time to contest his shot which results in a lower shooting percentage. Also, Jackson isn't spectacularly fast and agile and does not get to the line nearly as much as some of the other players on this list.

7. Dwyane Wade

"Flash" finished fourth in the league in scoring last season with the Big Three in Miami with 25.5 ppg, while shooting 50 percent from the field, 30 percent from behind the arc and 76 percent from the free-throw line with 6.5 FTs made per game.

Simply put, Dwyane Wade is one of the most athletic players on the planet today and is hands down the best slasher-scorer in the league (sorry Derrick Rose). Wade's uncanny quickness, agility and finishing ability allows him to relentlessly attack the basket with a high rate of success. He finishes unbelievable shots despite contact on a regular basis.

However, since his rookie season, Wade has vastly improved other parts of his offensive game. Much like LeBron, Wade has shown the ability to hit from mid-range as well as from deep, though, with consistency issues. However, Wade is ranked higher than James for a few reasons.

Firstly, Wade's offensive game with his back to the basket is much more developed than James's. While his turn-around jumper is not terribly effective, Wade makes very good use of his size and speed to blow by or power through defenders from the post.

He has developed a floater and runner as well that he can drop in after elevating above bigger defenders. Also, Wade is significantly ahead of James when it comes to baiting defenders into contact and getting to the free throw line.

Despite all this, I cannot move Wade any higher with his spotty mid-range game and poor three-point percentage. Like LeBron, he must shore-up his outside game and free-throw shooting to become a true all-around offensive weapon.

6. Kevin Durant

Expecting to see the Durantula later in this slideshow? Think again!

OKC's franchise player won the NBA scoring title for the second year in a row finishing with 27.7 ppg while shooting 46 percent from the field, 35 percent from deep and 88 percent from the charity stripe, knocking down 7.6 FTs per game.

Without question, Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the league. Period. The sky is the limit for the 22-year-old, and I predict quite a few more scoring titles in his very bright future. Nonetheless, there is a reason the best scorer is only sixth on this list.

We all know Durant is deadly creating for himself behind the arc and from mid-range. We all know he is deadly coming off off-ball screens and has the ability to catch and shoot from anywhere on the floor. We all know he has unlimited range and can drive the lane with the best of them with his long arms. We all know he is near infallible from the free-throw line and can make big shots in big moments.

He has shown improvement year after year (such as his newfound ability to rip through his defenders arms and draw contact) and will only continue to improve. He knows his strengths and uses them well.

But he does have his weaknesses.

For one, Durant's post game is almost non-existent. He is reluctant to put himself in a non-triple-threat position where he doesn't have the ability to pull up and fire whenever he pleases. Also, partly due to his height, Durant is not the best ball-handler.

While he definitely can create for himself off the dribble, his moves are almost always quick and concise ones with only a couple dribbles at most. While some may not classify this as a weakness it is still something that is missing from Durant's arsenal that other players possess. 

5. Joe Johnson

Johnson finished 32nd in the league in scoring last season with the Atlanta Hawks with 18.2 ppg while shooting 44 percent from the field, 30 percent from three-point territory and 80 percent from the charity stripe, connecting on 2.7 FTs per game.

Despite being the least productive scorer on this list, Johnson possesses one of the most complete offensive repertoires of anyone in the entire league. Much of this is made possible by Johnson's considerable size and strength at the shooting guard position (6'7", 240 lbs).

Although his shooting percentages were nothing special last season, make no mistake that Johnson is always a threat to score from anywhere on the court in an array of ways.

Johnson has the ability to space the floor and knock down the three-ball off of the pass or from triple-threat position. He moves well off the ball and can also hit the mid-range pull up or fade away coming off screens. Most of all, Johnson can size up almost any defender from anywhere on the perimeter and score off of the dribble.

In addition, Johnson is comfortable posting up most other shooting guards and powering through them, drawing contact or fading away. Finally, Johnson has the ball-handling ability to run the fast break and weave throughout both zone and man defenses en route to the basket. To top all of that off, Joe is also a clutch player that often requires a double team to shut down.

Even though Johnson can score in a multitude of ways, he often gets far too caught up with his one-on-one game. He settles too many times for outside shots, though he possesses the body and ability to drive in for higher percentage looks. As a result, his free-throw made per game are simply abysmal for someone with his scoring ability. Still, Johnson's all-around offensive ability (not necessarily production over this last season) earns him the fifth spot.

4. Dirk Nowitzki

This year's final's MVP Dirk Nowitzki finished 10th in the league in scoring with 23.0 ppg while shooting an outstanding 52 percent from the field, 40 percent from deep and 90 percent from the charity stripe, connecting on 5.4 FTs per game. 

Dirk possesses one of the most unstoppable, albeit unorthodox, offensive games in NBA history. His uncanny shooting touch coupled with his height make his patented fade away almost unblockable. As demonstrated this past year though, Dirk is much more than that.

Dirk spreads the floor better than anyone else his size, as exemplified by his great shooting percentage from behind the arc. He is always a threat to score, especially while trailing and pulling up at the top of the arc. He is unreadable while in his triple-threat stance and can pull up at any second or put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket.

He often incorporates multiple-shot fakes and draws contact very easily while still managing to get off a more than decent look at the basket. And, from the foul line, he is nearly infallible.

However, as an opposing coach, it would be hard to say if you would rather have Dirk facing your defense or posting up, as he is equally, if not more deadly, with his back to the basket. Dirk's fade away, in my opinion, is the hardest shot to defend since Kareem's heartbreaking sky-hook. On top of all this, Dirk is a clutch, efficient, high IQ offensive player who has recently been able to read double teams much better. 

There are very few holes in Dirk's offensive game. If I were to name one, it would be his mediocre ball-handling skills. Much like Durant, Dirk likes to keep his moves short and concise due to his height. As a result, he is not able to weave through double teams or collapsing zone defenses like, for example, Dwyane Wade or Derrick Rose. 

3. Paul Pierce

Putting Paul Pierce above Nowitzki was a tough one, but in the end, it had to be done. The "Truth" finished 24th in the league in scoring last season with 18.9 ppg while shooting 50 percent from the field, 37 percent from behind the arc and 86 percent from the foul line, connecting on 4.8 FTs per game. 

While there is no doubt that Pierce is slowing down, he is still one of the most consummate offensive players in the league today. Despite a somewhat arthritic release, Pierce's shot is still as reliable as ever. He possesses unlimited range and can be productive with the ball in his hand and off the ball as well.

Pierce can size up just about anyone in the league from triple-threat position and can: pull up for the jumper, take one dribble either way and pull up for the mid-range shot, hit the step back jumper, blow by slower or bigger defenders, bait those players that are still wet behind the ears into leaving their feet and drawing the foul and so on and so forth.

The point is that Pierce has an unlimited number of ways he can score. He is comfortable with his back to the basket and one of the most clutch players in the entire league. For me, what put him one small step ahead of Dirk is his creativity, and most of all, his craftiness.

You would be hard pressed to find a player as productive as Pierce that moves at his sluggish speed. He finds ways time and time again to dupe the best defenders into fouls that make them look plain silly.

2. Carmelo Anthony

Oh this one was tight. Melo finished third in the league in scoring last season with 25.6 ppg while shooting 46 percent from the field, 38 percent from deep and 84 percent from the free-throw line, connecting on 6.6 FTs per game. 

With a quick and deadly release, Carmelo Anthony is one of the best offensive weapons in the league right now and is my prediction for NBA scoring champion for the next season (whenever that may be).

Melo has one of the best, if not the best, mid-range games in the league, the strength, body control and ball-handling ability to drive the lane and finish despite contact, a full array of moves to create space between himself and the defender (that quick spin is an absolute joy to watch) and is one of the most clutch players in the league.

Also, during the half season he spent with the Knicks last season, he has shown an improvement in his comfort beyond the arc as well as in accuracy (42.4 percent). With another year under his belt in D'Antoni's system, his offensive numbers will only go up. 

In addition, Carmelo has the best post game of anyone at his position in the entire league. His strength allows him to bully past those smaller than him, and his deadly touch allows him to fade away out of reach of larger defenders. What is important to note is that Carmelo is very comfortable with his post game (much more than James or Wade for example) and looks to implement it very often during games.

To top all of that off, Melo is also one of the more creative players in the league, always finding a way to score no matter what the defense throws at him.

1. Kobe Bryant

The Black Mamba. 

Despite all the talk about Kobe slowing down and the Lakers being over the hill after being ousted by Dallas, Kobe Bryant still has not only the most complete offensive games in the league, but also one of the most complete offensive games in NBA history.

Kobe finished fifth in the league in scoring last year with 25.3 ppg while shooting 45 percent from the field, 32 percent from behind the arc and 83 percent from the charity stripe, averaging 5.9 FTs per game. However, his stats don't do his offensive game justice.

Even though Kobe's efficiency is declining, his offensive repertoire is more full than anyone else in the league. Kobe is still a constant threat from anywhere on the court, possesses unlimited range and possesses a killer instinct.

His mid-range game is only rivaled by that of Carmelo Anthony and has a turnaround unlike any other guard. His touch within the paint is a step ahead of Melo though, who has not developed the soft touch on floaters and runners that Kobe has. 

Put simply, there is no way that Kobe can't score: he can go glass, he can drive the lane, he capitalizes at the free-throw line. Along with Paul Pierce, he is one of the best at drawing fouls, he can size up and blow by larger defenders...the list goes on and on.

What really separates Kobe from players like Wade, Ellis, Ginobili or Allen, is his consummate post game. No other guard can do what Kobe can with their back to the basket—not even close. His unlimited array of moves, as well as his confidence, allows Kobe to score on players much bigger and stronger than he is while in the low or high post. 

Kobe's game doesn't even end there. He has proven time and time again, that he will find a way to put the ball in the hoop no matter what the obstacle. Broken finger? Kobe changed his shooting stroke and won the finals MVP. Aging body? Kobe has gone to new lengths in creativity to will his team to victory (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL56vSuRF14), need I say more?