Room For Improvement

Michigan State (MSU) starting point Keith Appling led his team in both points and assists during his junior campaign last season. For most, this seems like quite an accomplished feat worth noting. For Appling, however, this is far from enough. For Michigan State to be a serious contender and make a run at the 2014 Final Four in Arlington (TX), Appling, I believe, needs to carry his game to the next level more than any other senior basketball player in the BIG Conference.

Spartan head coach Tom Izzo has made a living assisting decent point guards in becoming MSU legends as well as fan favorites. During the 2012-2013 season, Appling averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest while serving as Izzo's point guard. These are very respectable numbers, and there is a greater number out there who would love to be able to put up such statistics on a division one college basketball team. But for the (co-) captain of the Spartans, these numbers represent mediocrity at best. If he wants to be compared to the likes of his predeccesors before him, he must learn to do what it takes to lead his team to a final four just as Mateen Cleaves, Drew Neitzel, and Kalin Lucas each did. If next season's Appling-led Spartans fail to reach Arlington, the 6'1, 190 pound point guard will be the first four-year player ever under head coach Tom Izzo to not reach a final four. One major factor separating Appling from the likes of the point guards who came before him is that he, unlike Cleaves, Neitzel, and Lucas, often fades in big-game situations.

With the exception of an early victory over Kansas and a double digit win over barely ranked Wisconsin, Appling was not at his best when his best was needed against top competition last season. Even when Sparty mopped inner-state rival Michigan off court with a 75-52 win at the Breslin in February, Appling still only scored 11 points on 14 shots and dished out only one assist. He shot a distressed 28.6% from the field, 16.% from three point rage, and 40% from the charity stripe. The Izzone, MSU's highly touted student section, clearly paid more attention to the score than Appling's numbers as they controversially shouted in unison, "Appling's better!" This bold yet mindless statement referred to the on-going comparisons between Appling and last season's Naismith Award winner and current member of the Utah Jazz, Trey Burke. Though I too was cheering for the Spartan guard in that game, I am not willing to lose my credibility by blindly deeming Appling the better of the two floor generals.

Burke usually showed up when it mattered, as evident by the distinct reality that he took his team to the NCAA championship. Appling can't say the same. In two games against the BIG champion Indiana Hoosiers (IU), he scored only nine points and nearly matched that number with six turnovers. After struggling against IU, Appling then scored only three points and had one lone assist against the always tough Ohio State Buckeyes. Later in the rematch against the Wolverines, he scored in single digits yet again with 9 points and was pick-pocketed ( in the final seconds of the game) by Burke, who managed to score the winning layup for Michigan as he stole not only the ball but also the game for the maize and blue. This play, I believe, solidified Burke's superiority over Appling. Unforuntately for Spartan fans, it got worse.

MSU basketball fans also know March Madness as the month of Tom Izzo. Izzo consistently has his guys ready come tournament time. For some reason, that was not the case for Appling who scored only two points in 28 minutes in the team's second round victory over Memphis, and had not a single assist in the sweet 16 loss to a better, more disciplined Duke Blue Devils team. He is the starting point guard. He is the captain. For a team's leader and point guard to not manage a single assist against the Blue Devils in a win-or-go-home situation is completely unacceptable for Spartan Nation.

The fact of the matter is Appling has been a good point thus far in his three seasons played under coach Izzo. Good, however, does not suffice for a program with championship level aspirations. In comparison to the guys who came before him, Appling has been mediocre at best. When Appling scored 49 points in the high school basketball state championship game to conclude his junior season at Detroit Pershing High School in 2009, the bar was immediately set higher than most can reach. Expectations sky-rocketed following that performance, and many thought Appling would be among the nation's top PG's.

Inconsistent shooting and turnovers remain Appling's achilles heel, however, and have hindered him from being honored among the game's elite. His turnover average has not declined at all since his sophomore season. Appling's assist to turnover ratio from the past two seasons is at 3.6 assists to 2.3 turnovers a game, which is hardly impressive given the expectations that dawn on him. Equally unimpressive was his 41% shooting from the field last season, and his 28.5% from three point range over the last two seasons. Appling's free throw percentage from last season (74.9%) also warrants public criticism.

If next season is to be the year of the Sparty, such numbers will have to climb. In fact, everything about Appling's game will have to trend in an uphill manner. With Derrick Nix now gone, Appling has to make his presence felt as the leader. His shooting needs to improve, but there will surely be games where he struggles from outside. It will be in those games that his legacy will be unfolded, revealed. It will be then that Spartan fans either celebrate or scrutinize, and find out if their man is capable of carrying the torch. It will be then that Appling's intangibles, leadership, and grit must emerge. It will be then, in the big games, when his shot might feel rusty, that Keith Appling must find a way to get it done.

94 Feet

     I don't know a single basketball player who doesn't like to put the ball in the hoop. Everyone likes to score. People will sprint the floor if they know they'll get an open dunk or layup as a result of doing so. What I find telling about a person's game is if that same player will sprint the floor in order to stop an opposing player's attempt at a finish in transition. While the majority of basketball players love to score, the minority, I believe, truly love to defend.

     An official basketball court is 94 feet long. You can tell who loves to defend by who uses all 94 feet of the court. There's something honorable, in my opinion, about a player who uses the entire court on both sides of the ball. A player who mans up chest to chest with the offensive player before the ball is even inbounded is the player I want on my team. He is the player who will sprint the floor on both ends of the court. He is the player who will dedicate his body and his intentions to being not only a ferocious defender, but a selfless teammate as well.

     There is something beautiful about a defense-first mentality. They say defense wins championships, so why not direct every ounce of your energy to locking up on that end of the court? Well, many players choose not to because the glory doesn't lie on D. More recognition comes with "getting buckets" or "dropping dimes." Some players are smart enough to know they won't be in the newspaper for making an extra and necessary rotation on defense, or for applying ball pressure that didn't result in a steal (but might have worn down the ball handler). These same players, unfortunately, are also dumb enough to care about how best to get recognized. Others simply choose not to defend because they decide to succumb to their fatigue. They lack the necessary will power to ignore their heavy breathing. These are the selfish  players. Fortunately for the game of basketball, not every one is like this.

     When a player dedicates his efforts to do everything in his power not to let the other team score, his mind is in the right place. The best teammates are the ones who find the beauty in getting nasty on D. These are the ones who sacrifice their bodies for the good of the team, because picking up full court man to man and applying relentless ball pressure on each possession is a tiring process. To put it short, it's one heck of a workout, both physically and mentally. The toughest players don't relent, don't stop, but continue to pressure play after play. They have the strongest will power because they continuously overcome the mental facade that their body needs to rest. They believe being tired is simply a choice they do not partake in. They believe they can draw a ten (or eight) second violation all on their own, because the offensive player doesn't need the luxury of having room to breathe. The best examples of NBA talent exhibiting such a mindset are former Detroit Piston Lindsey Hunter and Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton, who is better known as "The Glove." Former Hawk Mookie Blaylock, current Houston Rocket back-up point guard Patrick Beverly, and current Boston Celtic Avery Bradley also come to mind. Because they were so dedicated to playing both ends of the court, getting low in a defensive stance was instinctual, or second nature for these guys. These five are the guys I study most when attempting to pick up defensive habits for my own game. Fortunately for me, I've had the privilege of playing with great defenders, though less well-known than these pros, in person for quite some time.


     Growing up in Rockford, Michigan, I played at a school that brainwashed us with a defensive mentality. Former Rockford High School head coach Steve Majerle and current Rockford High assistant Ryan DeKuiper instilled in me (along with many of their past and present players) an attitude that deemed defense the perfect time to get nasty and go all out. While offense should be smooth like Alicia Keys's voice, Coach Majerle would say, defense is scream-o, its heavy metal, its Metallica. I not only got to pick their brains about this mindset, but I also got to watch and learn from some of Rockford's best. I credit much of my desire to play great defense to two former Rockford point guards. Jarad Smith and my big brother, Nathan Van Pelt, are without a doubt a pair of the best on-the-ball defenders the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) have ever seen. Unfortunately for point guards in the OK-Red conference, they played on the same team. I still credit Nathan for introducing the one-handed face guard to high school basketball in Michigan, and Jarad for the most intense, active hands I've ever witnessed from a basketball player. Each of these guys did not wait for their man to get to half court before they hounded the ball, but they picked up immediately. They used all 94 feet of the court. In other words, they got nasty.

     Like Nathan and Jarad, I too have a passion for picking up opposing ball handlers before they even turn around to see the court. I've been recognized by my previous coaches as an above average defender. However, I must admit I don't think I've ever even been the best defender on my own team.

     Throughout my high school years I was fortunate to team up with two other guards very similar to myself. Though we all have much different skillsets, we were all small, quick guards. Gabe Vanderjagt, Brogan Bibler, and I, as a result of our speed, made a living running various presses designed by our coaches, Majerle and DeKuiper, who are two great basketball minds. Brogan Bibler, or "Bibby" as I call him, I also must admit, was a better defender than I. Playing alongside him was a pleasure because he had a lock-down mentality like no other. Whether he was checking former University of Michigan speedster Kelvin Grady or simply guarding the tough guards of the OK-Red, Bibby did his thing. In college he pursued football at Grand Valley University where he also played on the defensive side of the ball. But had he wanted to, Brogan could have played small college basketball because of his unyielding ability to shut down opposing team's stars. I always thought of myself as a good defender, but in hind sight, I must say Bibby was the best of the best. While we were very similar in our mindset and our ability to pressure the ball, he was a little faster, a little stronger, and a little bigger than I was. That put him over the top.

     Much like my high school coaches stressed defense, my college coaches also believed that defense was one thing that could and should always remain consistent. You can shoot lights out one night, and go cold another night. Individuals and teams alike can have off-days on the offensive end of the court. But, defense, moreover, is something that can be brought day in and day out, as my coaches would constantly preach to me and my teammates at Spring Arbor University (SAU). I was a defense-first guy in college too, but stand by my opinion that there were guys better than I. Willie Pickvet might be the best defensive player SAU has ever seen, with his length, athleticism, and ability to guard multiple positions. He, however, did not consistently pick up full court because he was a big man. He, instead, dominated the paint. There were others, however, who I feel could defend the perimeter better than myself.

     While I was able, for the most part, to apply pressure, stay in front of my man, and occasionally draw five-second violations, I only led the SAU Cougars in steals my freshman season. During my sophomore, junior, and senior campaigns, my fellow classmate and back-court mate Chris Bellamy led the team in that category. He even finished 8th in the nation this past season with 2.4 steals per contest. He was not only better than I in the passing lanes, but Bellamy guarded four different positions while I usually checked opposing point and shooting guards. Bellamy had the ability to pressure guards as well as block shots and pull down boards (as evident by the fact that he is a member of the 600 rebound club at SAU). Every SAU follower knows he can score, but Bellamy also has a better feel for the game than anyone I've ever played with, which is precisely why I deem him an underrated and better defender than myself.

     I have a great deal of appreciation for great defenders, which guides my intentions in writing this short piece. I am very passionate about defending, doing the little things, and getting "dirty", as well as playing with players who don't make boosting their offensive stats their top priority. As a result, I'd like to thank all of the guys who "got nasty" and locked up with me during my high school and collegiate years. I also owe a great deal of thanks to the guys who went before me and set that foundation. That foundation has programmed in me a defense-first mindset in which I am extremely enthusiastic about. I call that foundation the "94-feet mentality." It's my favorite part about the game of basketball.


    

All-Star Snub

     If you have been following the world of sports lately, you probably know all about Dwight Howard's move to Houston, Aaron Hernandez's situation with the law, and Andy Murray's dominant performance in his own country at Wimbledon. If you watch SportsCenter much, baseball fan or not, you've probably also heard the name Yasiel Puig.
     Puig is a 22-year old Cuban right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's been in the news as of late not just because he is a 6'3, 245 pound machine, but because his potential position on the National League's (NL) All-Star roster has been highly debated. He is now in my news because his name is not on that roster, and it's quite a shame.
     I have heard multiple arguments as to why #66 for the Dodgers doesn't belong in the "Midsummer Classic." Not one of them convinces me that Puig should not be playing under the lights of Citi Field next Tuesday night.
     The man has quickly built himself a resume proving his worth as one of Major League Baseball's rising stars and best players. Puig is the complete package with a wide range of impressive skills that should rank him among the game's elite. His batting average (just less than .400) has caught the attention of baseball followers around the world. In fact, it belittles what all-star starter Bryce Harper has done this season. Harper, who will be starting in the all-star game for the first time in his career, has hit for .274 in 55 games. After seeing such numbers, I assumed Harper's power must have propelled him to earn him a starting spot. That, however, is not the case since he has only hit for 13 home runs, which is pretty comparable to the 8 home runs Puig hit in the highly scrutinized amount of games he has played in (36).
     Puig's critiques continue to point to the number 36. He's only played in 36 games, they keep repeating. Well, in those 36 games he's shown what he can do. In those 36 games he's made a name for himself and become one of baseball's most popular players. In those 36 games he's put up league-leading numbers that cannot be ignored. 36 games is enough to recognize if a player can play or not. And there is no arguing he can play with the best of the best.
     I have also heard that he might have fallen into a slump and gone cold from the plate had he played more games. I don't think any person in the world can refute that. He MIGHT have. A lot of things MIGHT happen. Last I checked, there is no all-star committee that analyzes a series of "what-ifs." The fact of the matter is he hasn't hit a slump. Even if he does experience a hitting drought, which is very possible because hitting .400 is a rare feat, it doesn't change the great things he's done thus far. He's been consistent ever since day one. He's been consistently electrifying, and has brought hype and attention to a sport that lacks the ratings of the NBA or NFL. He's only been in the league since June 3rd, and he already has a top ten selling jersey in the league.
     The fans appreciate him, and the MLB should too. He is living in the city of angels, which draws the second highest amount of television ratings in the nation. He not only has baseball fans captivated, but non-baseball fans have also been drawn to the sport through their intrigue of the Cuban superstar (but not all-star). 

     Many fans love him, and many opposing players hate him. He's already been labeled arrogant by the opposition because of his business-like mentality. Puig, not used to the media and bright lights when he first arrived, would refuse to speak to media. He doesn't want the attention. This is something I admire. While some view this as cocky and dismissive, I read into it differently. I see a humble kid who doesn't want glory, but just wants to play baseball at a high level. He has a get-down-to-business mentality which seems to work nicely for him on the field.
    Puig is not only an excellent hitter, but he has speed around the bases on offense, and has shown flashes of his potential to become one of baseball's best defenders in the outfield. He covers ground while chasing down fly balls and has a potent arm just waiting to rack up assists. His skillset and passion have energized the city of L.A. and the Dodgers fans who have often given him standing ovations and requested curtain calls. More importantly, his team is now winning. The Dodgers were 23-32 when Puig arrived, and are now trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks by only a 1 1/2 games with a winning record of 46-45.
     The numbers don't lie. Yasiel Puig can do it all. He can hit, he can defend, he can create a spark, and he can lead his team to wins. He has not played as many games as the other outfielders on the N.L. All-Star team, but he is certainly just as talented and successful, and consequently, just as worthy of a roster spot. Baseball's 2013 All-Star game will be missing the most exciting player the sport has to offer. If that's not a snub, I don't know what is.

Hewitt No Longer A Star

     At age 20, Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt was the youngest male ever to be ranked number one in the world. That was twelve years ago. Now, the 32-year old native of Adelaide, South Australia, currently ranked 70th, is beginning to reveal his aging limitations.
     Though he once owned his sport, his reign among the big dogs is coming to a screeching halt. There was a time when Hewitt dominated his opposition, and especially his rivals. He once held a win-loss record of 7-2 against arch rival and current star Roger Federer, and led Andy Roddick 6 games to 1 in their first seven head to head matches. However, father time has gotten the best of Hewitt, as have many tennis professionals. Federer has now won 16 of his last 17 against Hewitt, and American Andy Roddick
took six of the last seven against the Australian.
    His fans hoped 2013 would serve him well, but those hopes have been destroyed to some extent. In Hewitt's first tournament of the year he lost in Brisbane in straight sets to Denis Istomin, a 26-year old Russian unknown by most casual sports fans. In late May, he was once again ousted by Gilles Simon in the first round of this year's French Open. Wimbledon, Hewitt presumed, would finally be his opportunity to turn it around.
    Hewitt surprised his doubters by showing up big in round one of the prestigious tournament. He put on a spirited performance flashing signs of his old self defeating Stanislas Warinka of Switzerland in straight sets. This match, which was very encouraging to the prideful sports fans of Australia, was a teaser. Round 2 of Wimbledon would go differently.
    Hewitt fell to journeyman Dustin Brown in five sets. While he put on a respectable performance nearly going the distance against a younger, more versatile competitor, in the end, it was not enough. Hewitt is widely regarded as a defensive counter-puncher who prefers to stay back near the baseline during a rally. This style of play hurt him at times against Brown, who has a massive serve, ample athleticism, and an unpredictable style of play. Hewitt said Brown's craftiness and style of play was tough to block out, and he admitted to losing his way during the match.
     The up-and-coming Brown humbled Hewitt and his fans. While flashes of his past were occasionally put on display, Hewitt no longer possesses the ability to dominate tennis consistently. His prime is far behind him. He is still a good player, but can no longer be labeled great, or elite. Unfortunately for his fans, we have already seen Hewitt at his best.

The Wrong Right Pick

Entering this year's NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons badly needed a shooting guard, or just a shooter in general. The only two-guards on their roster were Rodney Stuckey (who doesn't quite fit at shooting guard or point guard) and Kim English (who belongs in the D-League). Thus, it seems logical that Detroit selected Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a shooting guard out of Georgia, with the eighth pick of the draft. The 6'5 guard has both athleticism and a shot that are difficult to overlook. Obviously, he was not overlooked by Detroit. They needed a shooting guard. So Dumars made the correct pick given the team's needs, right? Wrong. Dumars made the right pick for the roster, but the wrong pick for the organization and future of the Detroit Pistons.

Dumars missed out on a real game changer, the national college player of the year, and a Kyrie Irving-like talent when he selected Caldwell-Pope. With all due respect to the former Bulldog, the Pistons were just as foolish as the seven teams who drafted before them and failed to select this draft's best player, Trey Burke. It's one thing to draft the position of need, but its another (tragic) thing to surpass the draft's best player, especially when he has slipped several spots to your team. Former Michigan Wolverine Trey Burke is not only one of the prospects with the most potential in the 2013 NBA Draft, but he is also the player most NBA ready. Though he stands at only 6'0 tall, he is without a doubt the most skilled player who will enter the NBA in 2013. As just a sophomore at the University of Michigan, Burke not only won the Cousy Award which goes to the nation's top point guard, but he also claimed the Wooden and Naismith Award's which recognize college basketball's best player. His accolades speak for themselves.

Perhaps Dumars deems awards and accolades as overrated. Well, Burke didn't just win awards, he won games too (and he put up numbers while doing it). The point guard led his team to the NCAA National Championship against Louisville, and finished his sophomore campaign tallying 18.6 points per game and dishing out 6.7 assists per game. I get that Detroit is currently home to Jose Calderon, Andrew Bynum, Brandon Knight, and Rodney Stuckey, who can all play point guard. Burke, moreover, would surprise me if he's not better than all four of the aforementioned guards. I also get that Dumars wanted a shooter. While Caldwell-Pope might be able to fill that void, Burke is actually the better shooter. Caldwell-Pope shot 33.9% from beyond the arc in his career at Georgia, while Burke shot 36.7% from three point range in that same two-year span. As sad as this is to think about, had Detroit taken Burke with the 8th pick in the draft, he could have very well been their best player from day one. Unfortunately, for Pistons fans, we will never know if such a statement reigns true. Dumars, furthermore, has had a history of regret come draft time. Perhaps the year 2003 rings a bell?







***As a die-hard Michigan State fan, it pained me to write an article praising a former Wolverine.

NBA Coaching: A Transient Occupation

     The crazy carousel that is coaching in the National Basketball Association (NBA) never fails to amaze. Once again, following the completion of the 2013 NBA season, the world of head coaching began it's continental shift. Coaches are being fired, hired, and retired. One leader (Doc Rivers) even got traded (essentially).

     The Los Angeles Clippers, an organization that just fired the coach who brought them their most successful season in franchise history, gave up a 2015 first-round draft pick in order to get Boston to release their coach and rejuvenate his career with a plane ticket to lob city. Apparently, flipping a franchise (that started from the bottom *cue Drake*) in a 180 degree turn for the better was not enough for former Clipper lead man Vinny Del Negro. This, my fellow basketball fans, is why there is no occupation with worse job security than that of an NBA head coach. After one firing and one hiring, Clipper fans don't even know if they have a coach. The Doc Rivers deal was on, and then off, and then on, and then off. Then it was official. Then the language in the contract had to be sorted out. I guess we'll never truly know when it's safe to say Doc runs the show in L.A. When the is ball tossed up for the opening tip to commence the Clippers 2013-2014 regular season, perhaps he will be safe. Or perhaps not. Coaches get fired all the time mid-way through the season.

     Avery Johnson of the Nets, Scott Skiles of the Bucks, and Alvin Gentry of the Suns all got fired mid-season. Their respective replacements, P.J. Carlesimo, Jim Boylan, and Lindsey Hunter all too are being let go. On top of that, 13 teams have made NBA coaching changes this season. In a league consisting of 30 teams, that means nearly half of the organizations will be experiencing a change in culture. Second to only Greg Popovich, baby-faced Erik Spoelstra, who has spent five seasons at the helm in Miami, is the second longest tenured coach in basketball's most prominent league. And it seems like he just got the job. So why all the changes? Why do so many coaches keep losing their jobs?

     It appears each franchise is no longer satisfied with home runs. They want grand slams. Each team wants the biggest name and the most recognized face to be in charge. This is the reason the Detroit Pistons fired Rick Carlisle back in 2003 before they won their championship under Carlisle's replacement, the legendary NBA and NCAA champion Larry Brown. This might also be the reason Cleveland fired Mike Brown (who is now back with the Cavaliers) in 2010 after he won NBA Coach of the Year following his team's 66-win season. Similarly, the Nuggets might have been thinking the same thing when they just recently let go of this year's NBA Coach of the Year and proven winner, George Karl. Or perhaps not, since the Nuggets did not end up with a man with a proven tract record. Instead, they got Brian Shaw, who seems like he's been a head coaching candidate (but was never offered a job) for the past eight to ten years now. I thought the Grizzlies and Nets would at least bring in a bigger name. The Grizzlies fired Lionel Hollins, who also had his team finish with their best win-loss record in franchise history. He was replaced by someone under him. Yes, an assistant. His own assistant. An assistant I have never heard of. Dave Joerger is the name. I wonder how many months he'll last as coach. Like I previously stated, the Nets got rid of their interim coach. Not for Stan or Jeff Van Gundy. But for Jason Kidd. Yes, the same man who was just playing point guard in this season's playoffs and has zero coaching experience. Don't get me wrong, I believe Kidd to be one of the all-time greats and anticipate him thriving as a coach down the line, but not immediately. I don't see him as a grand slam head coach. What I find most fascinating about all of this is that the two most successful franchises in NBA history are getting the raw end of all the chaos.

     The Lakers, after firing Brown, appeared to be in prime position to hire Phil Jackson, the Zen Master who doesn't even have enough fingers for all his Championship rings. Instead, they made one of the worst decisions in franchise history and hired Mike D'Antoni, a man who preaches a style completely opposite to what the Lakers need to be playing. D'Antoni inherited an old, injured team, and expected them to run, gun, and play little defense. Even Phil was surprised when he didn't get another shot at incorporating the triangle offense back into Lakerland. As for the purple and gold's greatest rival, the Celtics find themselves coachless. The franchise with more NBA titles than any other doesn't even have a coach. This, to me, sums up how overwhelming the world of coaching can be.

     If there is one thing to learn from all of this madness, it's that it is madness. The NBA coaching world is a transient job for most. Coaches are shipped from team to team, year after year, regardless of if they win or not. There is little to no job security (except for Greg Popovich). In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Coach Spoelstra get fired following the Heat's Championship. Now that might be a stretch but the fact of the matter is that coaching in the NBA is a thankless job. Since the Heat won, Lebron is the man. But if the Heat would have lost, Spoelstra would have been crucified for not being able to win with a team full of superstars. Neverthless, for the time being, he is safe. Most coaches in the NBA, however, are not. The market for NBA coaches is ever-changing and ever-busy. The next change will probably be made within hours of me writing this.
   

The Greatest of the Greats

     Ranking the greatest basketball players to ever play the game is an incredibly difficult task. I was given twenty players (already selected) to do just that. Putting them in order was no easy task. While opinions on this matter vary incredibly worldwide among"experts" as well as casual sports fans, I confidently stand by my rankings of each player. Below is my thought out top 20:

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kobe Bryant
3. LeBron James
4. Oscar Robertson
5. Magic Johnson
6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
7. Bill Russell
8. Wilt Chamberlain
9. Shaquille O'Neal
10. Larry Bird
11. Hakeem Olajuwan
12. Tim Duncan
13. Julius Erving
14. Jerry West
15. John Stockton
16. Isiah Thomas
17. Moses Malone
18. Dirk Nowitzki
19. Charles Barkley
20. Karl Malone

**The list of 20 players was already given to me. Had I created my own list, I would have substituted Charles Barkley and Karl Malone for Bob Cousy and Dwyane Wade.

- Why Michael tops the list needs no explanation. Air Jordan's game has and will continue to withstand the test of time. He has done more for the game of basketball than anyone has come close to. Yes, his shoes will probably still be the greatest for decades to come.











From the Top to the Bottom:




- Being recognized as the 20th best player ever to play the game is nothing to be ashamed of. Why, however, is Karl Malone at the bottom of my list? Well, there are two reasons for that. First, he, like Barley, lacks the bling bling. He is ringless. Second, short-shorted Stockton made him. I believe he needed the simple but still great point guard to turn him into what he became, which was an excellent professional basketball player.





From Mike to the mailman, this list of players will forever be remembered by the basketball Gods. If you'd like to contest with the order of my list, or inquire as to why each player is where they are, I would be more than happy to respond to any questions or comments.