Every NBA Team's Most Motivated Player

On every team, regardless of sport, there is always one player who seems to be more motivated than the others.

In the NBA, some of these players are A-listers while some come off the bench and fly under the radar. Some of these men show their motivation by taking control of a tight game late in the last quarter while others just refuse to back down in the face of adversity, even if the game is out of reach for their team.

Perhaps the most motivated player in the NBA is Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (pictured), who has become known for putting the team on his back and constantly having a win-or-go-home attitude.

That being said, let's look at each NBA team and pick out the most motivated players from each.

Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford

The third overall pick in the 2007 draft, Al Horford is definitely one of the more talented centers in the league. At 6'10" and 245 pounds, he comes to work every game and has bumped and ground his way to a career average of 9.6 rebounds per game. Were it not for his limited offensive repertoire, he would easily be considered one of the top big men in the league.

This is where Horford's motivation is found. Each of his four years with the Atlanta Hawks, his scoring has gone up and his overall game has improved. He wants to be a top center and works harder and harder to achieve that goal.

Thus far, Horford's efforts appear to be working, as the Hawks signed him to a five-year contract extension worth $60 million. Perhaps in the middle of that contract, he will finally become an A-list center.

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo

I can tell just from watching Rajon Rondo that he is super motivated and plays with a chip on his shoulder. 

In fact, the 6'1", 175-pound guard's attitude and devotion remind me a lot of my grandparents' old Cocker Spaniel, Ginger. She was a smaller dog, but never backed down when it came to barking at and roughhousing with the much larger Doberman Pinscher that lived down the street.

Rondo's approach to the game is just like that because he plays with the tenacity and drive that one would expect from a much larger player. He chases after balls, crashes the boards for rebounds and can dunk the rock with authority.

Yet, as is the case with Horford, Rondo's fairly average offensive game keeps him out of the league of point guards that features the Chris Paul's and Steve Nash's. The former Kentucky Wildcat has only averaged 10.7 points per game for his career, and both his three-point and free-throw shooting are below average for a guard.

Still, Rondo and his bulldog mentality make him more and more fun to watch each year. Thus, despite his slow offensive game, his drive and determination make him one of the NBA's most motivated players.

Charlotte Bobcats: Tyrus Thomas

On a young team in need of a strong presence, Tyrus Thomas is the most blue-collar of the bunch.  Injuries limited him to 41 games last year, but he made the most of it, as he showed signs of improvement in his recently raw offensive game. He averaged 10.2 points while also pulling in 5.5 rebounds to go with 1.6 blocks.

The 6'10" forward's best qualities are his tough defense and strong dunking abilities, and while his stats may not be what one would expect from a player who was drafted fourth overall, the 25-year-old is surely working on them so his team may win.

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose

At first, I was going to have Taj Gibson and his rough-and-tumble defense represent the Chicago Bulls.  Then I realized that to do so would be silly, because the most determined player on this team is none other than reigning MVP, Derrick Rose.

This hometown hero has seen his scoring go from 16.8 to 20.8 to 25 points per game in just three NBA seasons, and his growth as a leader has just been outstanding. Keep in mind the Bulls were the No. 8 seed in the playoffs two years ago and entered the postseason with a 41-41 record.

This season, with a little help from the acquisition of Carlos Boozer, Rose put the team on his back and helped Chicago finish with not just the best record in the East but in the entire NBA. In the playoffs, the Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to Rose's 27.1 points and 7.7 assists.

If that kind of improvement doesn't scream determination, then I don't know what does.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Anderson Varejao

After LeBron James said, "See ya later," to the Cleveland Cavaliers, next on the totem pole in terms of who had been there the longest was Brazilian forward Anderson Varejao. Besides being the team's defensive mastermind, Varejao is also their toughest and most determined now that James is gone.

Varejao was limited to just 31 games last year due to an ankle injury, but it should be noted that he started every one of those contests after spending the first six years of his career coming off the bench, for the most part. In his brief time as a starter, the 6'11", 260-pound forward averaged 9.1 points and 9.7 rebounds, as well as 1.2 blocks—all career-highs.

It's as though Varejao realized he needed to step up and be a leader now that the man who was his team's best player was now on a new squad and though his stats from last season don't seem like much, they show true determination and the heart of a player looking to get better.

Here's hoping Varejao returns to the starting lineup this season and uses his tough work ethic to post even better numbers.

Dallas Mavericks: Jason Terry

While he probably plays harder than any other bench player I've seen, Jason Terry is the Dallas Mavericks' most determined player for a reason that did not occur on the court. 

Last year, before the season even started, Terry had the Larry O'Brien trophy tattooed onto his right bicep.

Sure enough, his teammates rallied behind it and used that tattoo as the symbol of that they wanted most: an NBA championship. Given how the NBA Finals played out, it looks as though Terry getting that tattoo was a good idea. 

Perhaps next year, he will have the same trophy tattooed on his other arm as Dallas looks to defend its title.

Denver Nuggets: Ty Lawson

It's obvious that at 5'11", Ty Lawson is not one of the bigger guys in the NBA.

Yet, he uses that as his driving force. 

Used primarily as a shooter off the bench and backup point guard in his rookie year, Lawson stepped it up last season following the Carmelo Anthony trade. His reason: being made the starting point guard.

On paper, Lawson's 11.7 points and 4.7 assists last year seem average despite being an improvement from his rookie postings of 8.3 points and 3.1 assists. Yet, he has a great coach in George Karl, who will help him improve. Keep in mind, Lawson was the starting point guard and team leader of the North Carolina Tar Heels team that won a National Championship in 2009.

With his winning mindset and ability to be coached, just watch this season as Lawson plays hard and finishes with a career season.

Detroit Pistons: Greg Monroe

Given how much of a mess the Detroit Pistons have been for the past two seasons, it's hard to find any player on the team who can be called determined. 

Yet, one man stood out in Greg Monroe. The former Georgetown Hoya still has a lot to learn, but still posted respectable averages of 9.4 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Monroe's determination comes from the fact that he wants to be an NBA star and is willing to do anything to make that dream come true. He even left Georgetown after just two years there, a move highly uncommon for players who have recently come out of that program.

He has a new coach to work with next season in Lawrence Frank, one who is all about stability and actually has experience working with a young team. This man will fuel Monroe's competitive fire and up his work ethic a tad so he can go from being an inexperienced rookie to being a regular All-Star.

Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis

For the past two seasons, Monta Ellis has been the face of the Golden State Warriors. Besides that, he has been the man on the court who gives 110 percent game after game.

For the past two years, he has averaged an incredible 40.8 minutes per game. That's more than 75 percent of each game.

While the amount of minutes can be partially attributed to the Warriors having zero bench presence, the fact that Ellis lets himself be pushed that hard is commendable. Too many players today are used to 30-35 minutes per game, then watch the remaining 13-18 minutes from the bench.

Whether he stays in Northern California or is traded, Ellis' "don't bench me" attitude is something that is rarely seen in basketball anymore and should be applauded.

Houston Rockets: Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry is the type of player who needs to play extended minutes in order to be effective. 

For the first four seasons of his career, he labored coming off the bench and posted mediocre-to-average stats in about 22.2 minutes per game. He was just waiting for the chance to be made a starter so he could go from being a bench caterpillar to a starting lineup butterfly.

This past season, Lowry got his chance, and while the results may not have been glorious, they were still a great improvement over what he had done coming off the bench. Lowry started 71 of 75 games played and averaged 34.2 minutes to the tune of 13.5 points, 6.7 assists and 1.4 steals—all career-highs.

I know it's just one year, but the fact that Lowry was able to take that big a step forward in the transition is commendable. Here is a player who clearly wants to do well in the NBA, and now that he's paid his dues, it is time.

Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger

Danny Granger's determination comes from the fact that he is on a young team, and if he doesn't take control, there isn't really anyone else on the squad who could produce on the same level as he does. 

Last year, in 35 minutes a game, he averaged 20.5 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Still, Granger's taking control is not a bad thing at all. His Indiana Pacers are a young team that need a leader for the younger players to look up to, and his strong work ethic makes him perfect for that role.  With the team looking to make it back to the playoffs, Granger's teammates should look to him and follow his example so they can go from being young and inexperienced to a well-oiled machine.

Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Kaman

Last year, Chris Kaman only appeared in 32 games (15 starts) due to lingering injuries. In his absence, DeAndre Jordan stepped in and soon became one of the most dominant shot-blockers of the season. 

One would think a veteran like Kaman would be discouraged at having someone else star at his position while he recovered from injury and it would affect his play upon return. 

Rather, the exact opposite happened.

In the 32 games in which he did play, Kaman averaged 12.4 points, seven rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Instead of getting moody about Jordan's breakout year, he just showed up to work each game and worked hard like the team expected him to do. 

If anything, Kaman was showing why he should remain the starting center going into next season and that Jordan, a restricted free agent, should be allowed to play for another team.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is the Lakers' most determined player in that he feels the needs to finish every game. 

Last season, he led the team with an average of 20 field goals attempted per game while Pau Gasol finished second with 13.7 attempts. 

Sure enough, one can see how Bryant's approach is both a blessing and a curse.

Still, one cannot deny that he is the best player on the team and, as the leader, feels it is his responsibility to put the team on his back in crunch time. 

I mean, come on—do you really think he got his five championship rings just hanging out in the background? He got them by demanding the ball and having a desire to win that borders on the obsessive.

Next year, with the Lakers looking to rebound from a disappointing second-round playoff exit, watch for Bryant to take control from the fourth quarter on in close games.

Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley

Ever since being drafted out of Ohio State with the fourth pick in 2007, Mike Conley has done nothing but improve as a point guard. Year after year, both his scoring and passing numbers have slowly gone up, and his defense has been excellent as well. 

Sure enough, with the Memphis Grizzlies facing the dangerous top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs last season, Conley refused to let nerves and fear take over as he worked to confuse the defense and find openings so his team could emerge victorious. 

Sure enough, the Grizzlies won the series in six games.

The fact that a young point guard like Conley was able to work with his teammates on that level against a much better and more playoff-experienced team is unbelievable. Only a player absolutely committed to winning and doing his best would actually learn how to adjust his own game to the opposition's defense so his team could be made better. Others might just hope the other team has a bad day.

The even crazier part is Conley did this all without star forward Rudy Gay, who was out with a shoulder injury. With Gay coming back, Conley's determination should shift into second gear as the Grizzlies look to make it further in the postseason.

Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade

The best way to explain Dwyane Wade's level of determination is to look at his performance in last year's NBA Finals. 

While his teammate LeBron James was just standing around in the second half and not doing much to truly demand the ball, Wade was chasing the rock all over the place. He was going in for tough rebounds, trying to steal the ball and taking shots just so Miami could be kept in the game.

As much as I may hate the Miami Heat, I can't help but have a great amount of respect for the way Wade played in this circumstance. Here was a situation where every single game counted for something, and instead of taking his teammate's approach in shutting down out of fear of failure, Wade put his team on his shoulders and did everything he possibly could to give them a win.

Even though Miami ended up losing, the fact that Wade was willing to go that extra mile in the series is just incredible.

Some of his jumpers may showboat and his dunks could be considered overly flashy, but the fact that Wade plays that way just to keep his team's momentum going is beyond admirable.

Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings

Last year, Brandon Jennings was not the electrifying scorer he was his rookie season, even though he averaged more points per game. 

Still, he was not satisfied with his role and yearned to be more of a go-to-guy.

The fact that Jennings wants to be more involved in the offense on a team that is young and in need of a leader is something head coach Scott Skiles should take into a consideration. Sure, the Bucks have Stephen Jackson coming in, but his volatile attitude will just bring the team down as he throws up shot after shot.

Instead, Jennings should be allowed a little more free reign with the ball so he doesn't have to force his shots so much and can rather take them when he wants to while also being an effective passer.  Someone with that type of desire is rare in today's NBA, and thus Skiles should take full advantage of it.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love

Easily the best player on the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love is also the team's most determined player. In spite of the fact that they only won 32 games over the last two seasons and were without a veteran leader, Love still showed up every game and did his best even in the face of defeat. Last season, Love averaged 20.2 points and a league-leading 15.2 rebounds per game.

The former UCLA Bruin's efforts were enough to win him the Most Improved Player award, and now that the team has a legitimate head coach in Rick Adelman, it is time for Love to take his determination to the next level and become a leader so his teammates may rally behind him. 

Only when this happens will Minnesota see playoff basketball again.

New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams

Once Deron Williams was traded to the New Jersey Nets last season, it was as though he became a completely different player. Instead of trying to be the point guard who scored a lot of points and passed effectively, he seemed to focus more on distributing the ball to a young Nets team looking to work its way back up the Eastern Conference food chain.

Look at it this way: In just 12 games with the Nets, Williams averaged 15 points and 12.8 assists, compared to 21.3 points and 9.7 assists in 53 games with his old team, the Utah Jazz.

Given how the Nets are one of the NBA's worst teams and won just 24 games last year, Williams appears determined to get the team back to the winning ways it knew during the Jason Kidd years of the early 2000s. If he can continue to build relationships with his teammates, then the Nets could slowly become contenders as they make the move from New Jersey to Brooklyn.

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul

At this point, the New Orleans Hornets do not have much to smile about. They are a small market team currently owned by the NBA and in danger of folding. 

To add insult to injury, they will almost definitely lose their most determined player, Chris Paul, in the next year via a trade or free agency.

Simply put, Paul is the lone bright spot on a team riddled with young role-players and not much else. He can score effectively, is a great passer and plays incredible defense for someone just 6'0" and 175 pounds.

On top of that, Paul is the type of player who just wants to win, so much that when he demanded a trade in the summer of 2010, he actually provided a list of teams to which he would approve a trade. 

Sure enough, the teams on this list were all contenders.

With a strong work ethic and desire to win, win and win some more, Paul is, no question, the most determined Hornet.

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony

Last postseason, the New York Knicks were trailing the Boston Celtics two games to none. With Chauncey Billups and Amar'e Stoudemire slowed by injuries—and Billups even unable to play—forward Carmelo Anthony knew most of the load was on his shoulders.

Yet, prior to Game 3, Anthony mentioned that while the game was a must-win, he would need help. 

In fact, he flat-out said he couldn't do it alone.

While his honesty could be interpreted as a bit harsh, I actually admire what Anthony did. Basketball is a team game, and the team that relies solely on one player to do it all rarely ever goes far. The fact that he called out his teammates to rally behind him and do their parts in the face of adversity is simply admirable.

Sure, the Knicks got swept by Boston, but this attitude will be positive moving forward as the Knicks look to go further in the playoffs.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant

The Oklahoma City Thunder have come a long way since moving from Seattle, and much of their success is thanks to the ever-improving Kevin Durant. The team took him with the second overall pick in the 2007 draft and, since then, he has become one of the game's best forwards.

He can shoot, rebound and is a great leader whom his teammates can rally behind. The fact that the Thunder were able to go from the No. 8 seed two years ago to the No. 4 seed this past season with basically the same roster is phenomenal. In both of those seasons, Durant led the NBA in scoring.

Simply put, Durant has the charisma and determination his teammates can rally behind. The fact that Russell Westbrook has improved so greatly each of his three years in the league can surely be attributed to having a positive presence like Durant on the court with him.

Just watch next year as the Thunder make that extra push and perhaps make it all the way to the NBA Finals.

Orlando Magic: Ryan Anderson

Though he was primarily a bench player last season, Ryan Anderson's toughness whenever he is on the floor is something for which he should win a medal. He cares not about significant minutes or scoring the most points—he just wants to win.

Last year, Anderson averaged 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds off the bench as the tough power forward to help Dwight Howard out on the inside. His game still needs a lot of work, but the fact that he comes out just wanting to win and help the team is admirable.

Philadelphia 76ers: Jrue Holiday

As a rookie, Jrue Holiday started 51 of 73 games, and his flaws at point guard were clear as he averaged just eight points, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals. 

After watching him this season, it's clear that the former UCLA Bruin is determined to be a top NBA point man.

As his Sixers worked hard throughout the season to get back to the playoffs, Holiday started all 82 games and averaged 14 points, 6.5 assists and 1.5 steals, a great improvement over his rookie campaign. In the playoffs, he averaged 5.6 assists and two steals.

That being said, I think it's fairly certain that Holiday has continued to work out this offseason so his third NBA season can be his best yet. He has a goal in mind and will let nothing stand in his way—not even a team that is young and inexperienced.

Holiday realizes that, in improving his own game, he can improve his teammates' contributions as a whole.

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash

Steve Nash is a point guard who is an amazing long-range shooter, having made 43 percent of all his three-pointers throughout his career.

Based on that, he could easily be the type of point guard who, like Rodney Stuckey, scores a great amount of points per game.

Yet, Nash chooses not to take that approach because he is so determined to win that he puts his own offensive stats aside and uses a pass-first approach so he can make his team better.

This is the type of determination that can only help a team.

Ever since returning to the Phoenix Suns in 2004, Nash has averaged 11 assists per game and, as a result, has been to the Conference Finals twice.

As I said before, Nash is a team-first player who just wants to win. Given how he is still at the top of his game at age 37, his determination will only help his team in the future.

Portland Trail Blazers: Gerald Wallace

Gerald Wallace is like Rajon Rondo in that he plays much bigger than he actually is. At 6'7" and 220 pounds, one would expect him to be a small forward who scores a decent amount of points and plays acceptable defense. 

Rather, Wallace is determined to both score points and be an absolute monster on the defensive side of the court. In his time with the Charlotte Bobcats, Wallace established himself as a forward adept at both rebounding and stealing the ball. It's no surprise that his work ethic played a large role in the Bobcats making their first trip to the playoffs in 2010.

That blue-collar approach followed Wallace when he was traded to Portland in February of last season, as he averaged 7.6 rebounds and two steals a game in the Pacific Northwest. He is under contract for another year, and with Portland having some younger players in Nolan Smith and Raymond Felton join the team, watch for Wallace to rally the troops and hopefully bring Portland back to the glory days last seen during the Mike Dunleavy era.

Sacramento Kings: John Salmons

John Salmons is in a great situation now that he is back in Sacramento. Here is a man who has played for four different teams in nine years, but has established himself as one of the top shooters in the league in that time.

More importantly, he has a positive attitude and desire to win that will only help a young team like the Sacramento Kings. His presence on this young squad is the perfect opportunity for him to step up and be a leader, not to mention a mentor to young players like rookie Jimmer Fredette and second-year center DeMarcus Cousins. 

More importantly, Salmons' determination and attitude will do wonders for locker room chemistry.

San Antonio Spurs: Manu Ginobili

In an article I wrote earlier this week, I mentioned how Manu Ginobili is the biggest pest on the San Antonio Spurs. While some may find his tendency to flop annoying, Ginobili only does so because he is determined to help his team win.

The fact that he continues to play at this level despite already having three championship rings is even more reason to respect his drive. The man refuses to give anything but his best game night after night, even if it means faking being fouled or playing a little dirty.

Love him or hate him, one thing is for certain: You have to respect Ginobili's dedication.

Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan

Two seasons ago, DeMar DeRozan's performance on the court as a rookie was average, at best. Despite showing promise as a dunker, he averaged just 8.6 points in 77 games. 

Then, last season, it was as though DeRozan was a new man.

The former USC Trojan upped his scoring average to 17.2 points per game, continued to improve his dunking ability and showed flashes of good defense as well. It's obvious he wants to be the alpha dog of the Raptors and help them get back to the playoffs now that Chris Bosh is in Miami.

With his good work ethic, not to mention skills that bring back memories of Vince Carter, something tells me DeRozan will only continue to get better and help his team improve as well.

Utah Jazz: C.J. Miles

In each of his six years with the Utah Jazz, 24-year-old C.J. Miles has accumulated more and more minutes. Last year, he averaged a career-high 12.8 points per game and even got the chance to start when Andrei Kirilenko was hurt. Over the last two months of the season, he averaged 13.5 points per game after paying his dues for so long.

More importantly, Miles played with the determination of a superstar. He knew that being a starter was a privilege and, thus, did not take advantage of it. Now that Kirilenko appears to have gone back to Russia for good, the starting small forward spot is Miles' to lose.

Given how well he performed in the starting lineup last season and how his blue-collar approach is something needed in that young starting lineup, I'm anticipating that fans will be seeing a lot more of him come next year.

Washington Wizards: John Wall

John Wall had a good rookie season in which he averaged 16.4 points and 8.3 assists, but he'll tell you that he still isn't satisfied. 

In an interview with Bleacher Report two weeks ago, Wall stated, "I still have a lot left to prove to people."

The man wants to be the best, but understands that he has a long way to go before reaching that goal.  To see such humility and determination from someone who was a college superstar at Kentucky and then the first overall pick in the 2010 draft is, to be honest, a breath of fresh air. 

Wall knows his talent, but doesn't rub it in people's faces. He doesn't need to brag, as his actions will do the talking on the court. With that work ethic, don't be surprised to see the rest of the young Wizards squad rally behind Wall and make that slow climb out of the Eastern Conference doldrums.