EMag's Top 100 Players
To answer all your questions and make things clear before you scroll down, we ranked the players on more than just stats and team success. So keep in mind that this list may not be too helpful while drafting for your fantasy teams. Player's rankings are determined on how good each player is right now. So just because Shaq is one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players doesn't mean he's one of the Top 50 players right now.
The rankings are based on last season's numbers and projected numbers, defensive presence, age, how the player may or may not recover from an injury and their leadership skills.
And feel free to email us if you agree or disagree with the rankings. We'll post a mailbag in a couple of weeks to answer any questions you may have.
ElevationMag.com's Top 100 Players
1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers - The league's best scorer is unstoppable when he wants to be.
2. Tim Duncan, Spurs - Possibly the best power forward ever has won four NBA championships during his 10-year career.
3. LeBron James, Cavaliers - At only 23 years old, LeBron nearly averaged a triple-double (25, 8, 8) in the 2007 NBA Playoffs.
4. Steve Nash, Suns - His good friend Dirk Nowitzki prevented him from winning his third straight MVP trophy.
5. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks - Named MVP last year after leading the Mavs to a 67-win season but couldn't get past the first round.
6. Yao Ming, Rockets - The best center in the NBA missed 34 games last season with a broken right foot but finished the season averaging 25 points and 10 boards.
7. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets - Scores at will but needs to find a way to lead the Nuggets past the first round.
8. Tracy McGrady, Rockets - Similiar to Melo, McGrady is unstoppable on offense but hasn't found a way to win.
9. Dwyane Wade, Heat - One of the league's most exciting players but needs to stay away from too much contact to keep his All-Star career alive and strong.
10. Amare Stoudemire, Suns - Named to the All-NBA First Team after making a remarkable recovery from microfracture knee surgery.
11. Kevin Garnett, Celtics - A great all-around big man who needs to succeed in Boston to prove he's a winner.
12. Chris Bosh, Raptors - Bosh puts up big scoring and rebounding numbers each night while leading an up-and-coming Raptors squad.
13. Shawn Marion, Suns - A fantasy owners favorite, Marion is good for a double-double every night.
14. Dwight Howard, Magic - A monster on the boards who has shot over 55 percent during his first three seasons.
15. Elton Brand, Clippers - The proven power forward will miss much, if not all, of the regular season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon.
16. Gilbert Arenas, Wizards - Became one of the most clutch players in the league last season before getting injured.
17. Baron Davis, Warriors - Led the eighth-seeded Warriors to a first-round upset over the Mavs.
18. Chauncey Billups, Pistons - A player whose hands you want the ball in when the game is on the line.
19. Paul Pierce, Celtics - A great leader who finally has an opportunity to show what he can do with veteran superstars around him.
20. Tony Parker, Spurs - Made his third Finals appearance last year in only his sixth NBA season.
21. Carlos Boozer, Jazz - The former second-round pick led the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals last season.
22. Jermaine O'Neal, Pacers - An All-Star who needs more weapons around him to get the recognition he deserves.
23. Marcus Camby, Nuggets - The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is a force on the glass and keeps opposing players away from the rim.
24. Vince Carter, Nets - Still one of the league's most exciting players despite not getting past the second round last season in New Jersey.
25. Manu Ginobili, Spurs - An outstanding international player who provided a spark off the bench for the champs.
26. Ray Allen, Celtics - Has the best shooting stroke in the league and will fit in nicely with the Celtics.
27. Deron Williams, Jazz - Emerged as one of the league's top point guards last season after ranking second in assists per game.
28. Jason Kidd, Nets - A triple-double waiting to happen every time he touches the floor.
29. Allen Iverson, Nuggets - The league's top scorer over the past 11 years needs to be a leader in Denver.
30. Michael Redd, Bucks - An underrated deadly three-point shooter.
31. Rashard Lewis, Magic - Needs to prove that he was worth a max deal in Orlando.
32. Pau Gasol, Grizzlies - All-around player who is on the decline due to injuries.
33. Josh Howard, Mavericks - Quietly takes over games while playing in Nowitzki's shadow.
34. Chris Paul, Hornets - Has to prove he's fully recovered from offseason foot surgery before he moves up on the list.
35. Ben Gordon, Bulls - The former super Sixth Man likely won't be coming off the bench until he's an old man like Gary Payton.
36. Joe Johnson, Hawks - The very underrated guard needs to be a leader for another young Hawks team.
37. Tyson Chandler, Hornets - Runs the floor very well for a player his size, grabs a ton of boards and blocks everything that comes his way.
38. Gerald Wallace, Bobcats - Puts up big offensive and defensive numbers each night.
39. Andre Iguodala, Sixers - Helped make Philly fans quickly forget about losing Iverson.
40. Brandon Roy, Blazers - An inside-out player who is already a leader in Portland.
41. Zach Randolph, Knicks - Among the league's best offensive big men who will team up with a similiar player in Eddy Curry next year in New York.
42. Nene, Nuggets - Injuries have and likely will continue to prevent Nene from playing up to his full potential.
43. Andre Miller, Sixers - His jumper is still terrible, but Miller is one of the league's best floor leaders.
44. Stephon Marbury, Knicks - Puts up big scoring and assist numbers each year but will never be recognized as a great player until he wins.
45. Antawn Jamison, Wizards - Averaged 32 and 10 as the Wizards were swept in the first round.
46. Luol Deng, Bulls - The next great swingman in the league averaged 22.2 points in 10 playoff games last season.
47. Richard Hamilton, Pistons - Brought the midrange game back to the league and is one of the toughest players to find and slow down on the defensive end.
48. Ron Artest, Kings - His off-court problems have overshadowed his solid game on both ends of the floor.
49. Mike Miller, Grizzlies - A deadly shooter whose numbers increased last season while Gasol was out.
50. Emeka Okafor, Bobcats - Recorded a career-high 10 blocks against the Knicks in January.
Click here to continue (51-100)
By ElevationMag.com
As the 2007-08 season quickly approaches, it's time to take a look at our rankings for the best 100 players in the league.
To answer all your questions and make things clear before you scroll down, we ranked the players on more than just stats and team success. So keep in mind that this list may not be too helpful while drafting for your fantasy teams. Player's rankings are determined on how good each player is right now. So just because Shaq is one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players doesn't mean he's one of the Top 50 players right now.
The rankings are based on last season's numbers and projected numbers, defensive presence, age, how the player may or may not recover from an injury and their leadership skills.
And feel free to email us if you agree or disagree with the rankings. We'll post a mailbag in a couple of weeks to answer any questions you may have.
ElevationMag.com's Top 100 Players
1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers - The league's best scorer is unstoppable when he wants to be.
2. Tim Duncan, Spurs - Possibly the best power forward ever has won four NBA championships during his 10-year career.
3. LeBron James, Cavaliers - At only 23 years old, LeBron nearly averaged a triple-double (25, 8, 8) in the 2007 NBA Playoffs.
4. Steve Nash, Suns - His good friend Dirk Nowitzki prevented him from winning his third straight MVP trophy.
5. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks - Named MVP last year after leading the Mavs to a 67-win season but couldn't get past the first round.
6. Yao Ming, Rockets - The best center in the NBA missed 34 games last season with a broken right foot but finished the season averaging 25 points and 10 boards.
7. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets - Scores at will but needs to find a way to lead the Nuggets past the first round.
8. Tracy McGrady, Rockets - Similiar to Melo, McGrady is unstoppable on offense but hasn't found a way to win.
9. Dwyane Wade, Heat - One of the league's most exciting players but needs to stay away from too much contact to keep his All-Star career alive and strong.
10. Amare Stoudemire, Suns - Named to the All-NBA First Team after making a remarkable recovery from microfracture knee surgery.
11. Kevin Garnett, Celtics - A great all-around big man who needs to succeed in Boston to prove he's a winner.
12. Chris Bosh, Raptors - Bosh puts up big scoring and rebounding numbers each night while leading an up-and-coming Raptors squad.
13. Shawn Marion, Suns - A fantasy owners favorite, Marion is good for a double-double every night.
14. Dwight Howard, Magic - A monster on the boards who has shot over 55 percent during his first three seasons.
15. Elton Brand, Clippers - The proven power forward will miss much, if not all, of the regular season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon.
16. Gilbert Arenas, Wizards - Became one of the most clutch players in the league last season before getting injured.
17. Baron Davis, Warriors - Led the eighth-seeded Warriors to a first-round upset over the Mavs.
18. Chauncey Billups, Pistons - A player whose hands you want the ball in when the game is on the line.
19. Paul Pierce, Celtics - A great leader who finally has an opportunity to show what he can do with veteran superstars around him.
20. Tony Parker, Spurs - Made his third Finals appearance last year in only his sixth NBA season.
21. Carlos Boozer, Jazz - The former second-round pick led the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals last season.
22. Jermaine O'Neal, Pacers - An All-Star who needs more weapons around him to get the recognition he deserves.
23. Marcus Camby, Nuggets - The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is a force on the glass and keeps opposing players away from the rim.
24. Vince Carter, Nets - Still one of the league's most exciting players despite not getting past the second round last season in New Jersey.
25. Manu Ginobili, Spurs - An outstanding international player who provided a spark off the bench for the champs.
26. Ray Allen, Celtics - Has the best shooting stroke in the league and will fit in nicely with the Celtics.
27. Deron Williams, Jazz - Emerged as one of the league's top point guards last season after ranking second in assists per game.
28. Jason Kidd, Nets - A triple-double waiting to happen every time he touches the floor.
29. Allen Iverson, Nuggets - The league's top scorer over the past 11 years needs to be a leader in Denver.
30. Michael Redd, Bucks - An underrated deadly three-point shooter.
31. Rashard Lewis, Magic - Needs to prove that he was worth a max deal in Orlando.
32. Pau Gasol, Grizzlies - All-around player who is on the decline due to injuries.
33. Josh Howard, Mavericks - Quietly takes over games while playing in Nowitzki's shadow.
34. Chris Paul, Hornets - Has to prove he's fully recovered from offseason foot surgery before he moves up on the list.
35. Ben Gordon, Bulls - The former super Sixth Man likely won't be coming off the bench until he's an old man like Gary Payton.
36. Joe Johnson, Hawks - The very underrated guard needs to be a leader for another young Hawks team.
37. Tyson Chandler, Hornets - Runs the floor very well for a player his size, grabs a ton of boards and blocks everything that comes his way.
38. Gerald Wallace, Bobcats - Puts up big offensive and defensive numbers each night.
39. Andre Iguodala, Sixers - Helped make Philly fans quickly forget about losing Iverson.
40. Brandon Roy, Blazers - An inside-out player who is already a leader in Portland.
41. Zach Randolph, Knicks - Among the league's best offensive big men who will team up with a similiar player in Eddy Curry next year in New York.
42. Nene, Nuggets - Injuries have and likely will continue to prevent Nene from playing up to his full potential.
43. Andre Miller, Sixers - His jumper is still terrible, but Miller is one of the league's best floor leaders.
44. Stephon Marbury, Knicks - Puts up big scoring and assist numbers each year but will never be recognized as a great player until he wins.
45. Antawn Jamison, Wizards - Averaged 32 and 10 as the Wizards were swept in the first round.
46. Luol Deng, Bulls - The next great swingman in the league averaged 22.2 points in 10 playoff games last season.
47. Richard Hamilton, Pistons - Brought the midrange game back to the league and is one of the toughest players to find and slow down on the defensive end.
48. Ron Artest, Kings - His off-court problems have overshadowed his solid game on both ends of the floor.
49. Mike Miller, Grizzlies - A deadly shooter whose numbers increased last season while Gasol was out.
50. Emeka Okafor, Bobcats - Recorded a career-high 10 blocks against the Knicks in January.
Click here to continue (51-100)
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