Top 5 Favorite NBA Players

Over the course of my life, I have rarely obsessed over players or ever had a true “Favorite Player.” If someone were to ask me my favorite athlete of all time, I would have no idea how to answer it. Obviously, guys like Steve McNair, Keith Bulluck, Cliff Lee and Allen Iverson are up there, but no one really jumps out at me. Putting this list together was extremely hard for the NBA because I’m a 76er fan, and although Jrue Holiday has potential to be relatively special, I’m not quite jumping at him yet and therefore don’t have any go to guy’s from my favorite team. That and the fact that I much rather criticize than compliment. When evaluating, I typically look for heart, leadership, guts, toughness, smarts, if he makes his teammates better, and if he appears to be a guy I would like to hang out with.

5. Al Horford

This dude is really, really good. Although a bit undersized, he combines a pretty solid post game with one of the best mid-range games I have seen. He is a fantastic rebounder that competes and mixes it up in the paint. He is one of the best passing big men in the game, averaging around 3 dimes a game with a low turnover rate. He defends well, plays hard and seems to have a decent amount of likability to him. This is a guy I would love to see on a big market team where he would play with a decent point guard. Pretty impressive he has put up the numbers he has with Mike Bibby running the show since he has entered the league. In my eyes, one of the most complete players in the NBA today.

4. Brandon Roy

His knee issues are one of the saddest things that have happened in recent memory. The guy was on the fast track to being a true superstar. He had great leadership skills, played big (Bambi) in big (Brent) games, worked hard, was well spoken, was extremely tough to guard, played hard every night, and from all accounts was loved by fans and his peers. I really hope he will let his knees heel and come back from retirement in a few years with a superior team to make a run because the dude deserves it.

3. Chuck Hayes

Because I’ve always wanted to be one, I automatically love all undersized big men (UBM). There is typically a direct correlation between a UBM and being incredibly strong, being extremely tough and being an overachiever. Chuck Hayes is the latest in that wave. What Hayes does differently than the typical UBM is that he is a phenomenal passer. The guy sets up teammates with hard picks and great vision, along with being an enforcer, a role that has decreased in the NBA the last decade. He is not a great scorer but I think the Kings got what not only was a MUCH NEEDED asset, but an overachiever that is extremely underrated.

2. Tony Allen

This guy is a true enforcer that does not intimidate with size, but straight toughness, anger and unpredictability. I credit him for the Grizzlies turnaround as he instilled a swagger and confidence in that team because they simply felt comfortable knowing because they had Allen, they could win a street fight against any other team. He harnesses his aggression nicely on defense, being physical, smart and skilled to the point that opponents don’t want to try and score on him. Although not very skilled offensively, he can get pretty aggressive attacking the rim so the defense has to account for him. You can’t put a price in what having a guy like Allen does for the morale of his team, and I fully expect whatever team he is on the next four years to be an overachieving contender. I also love that he treated OJ Mayo like his stepchild by beating the hell out of him for being the douche that he is.

1. Chris Paul

There is nothing to not love about this guy. I’m not sure if it will get to the point where he is discussed like Magic, but I think Paul is going to end up being the best point guard of all time. He is perfect. The dude is the smartest player in the NBA, has great control of the tempo at all times, defends, never turns the ball over, can knock down most any shot, and is one of, if not the most competitive guy in the league. He has had an unbelievable career already, despite playing with next to no talent since he has entered the league (Hold my boy David West). I’m 100% confident that watching him play with Blake Griffin and the league’s coolest guy DeAndre Jordan is going to be one of the best combinations the NBA will ever see.

Just missed the cut: Marcus Camby, Eric Gordon, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Jrue Holiday’s clapping form.