Kahn's Top 50

Top 50

1. Shaquille O'Neal (1), Los Angeles Lakers: The most dominant player in the game remains the same. There are physical problems and weight gain mounting, but he is phenomenal and becoming one of the best ever.

2. Tim Duncan (2), San Antonio Spurs: He's the picture-perfect post player from any era and still getting better at 26, but needs more help if they plan on contending for a title.

3. Kobe Bryant (5), Los Angeles Lakers: The best open-floor player in the game, and anybody who hasn't noticed how he gets more like M.J. every year isn't paying attention.

4. Tracy McGrady (7), Orlando Magic: He's right there with Kobe, but injuries are already taking a toll on his body. That's the only issue that will prevent him from being an all-time great.

5. Allen Iverson (3), Philadelphia 76ers: Nobody has more issues than A.I.; then again, nobody has more game either. Maybe his latest off-court episode will help him mature into a better leader.

6. Kevin Garnett (4), Minnesota Timberwolves: The heat is getting turned up on him with his huge contract and an inability to bring the T-Wolves deep into the playoffs, but he's still incredible at both ends of the floor.

7. Gary Payton (11), Seattle SuperSonics: At 34, G.P. is nearly as good as he was at 28, has changed his attitude for the better and led a young team back to the playoffs. But contract acrimony could be a problem this season.

8. Jason Kidd (13), New Jersey Nets: The best complimentary player in the game, he willed the Nets to a new level. Now he has to prove he can grow as a clutch scorer as well.

9. Chris Webber (6), Sacramento Kings: Perhaps the best passing power forward ever, Webber continues to show how much game he has, but still tends to wilt down the stretch of big games that may be the key to them winning a title.

10. Paul Pierce (18), Boston Celtics: No player took bigger strides last season at becoming a superstar, as he scored the most points of any player last season and also led all scorers in the fourth quarter ... which speaks volumes.

11. Dirk Nowitzki (24), Dallas Mavericks: Nipping at Pierce's heels as a budding superstar, Nowitzki has developed a stunning offensive game as a 7-footer, playing inside and out. Next on the agenda is passing out of double teams.

12. Ben Wallace (48), Detroit Pistons: The defense and rebounding have blossomed out of nothing more than stone cold work ethic and attitude. Too many talented players don't produce what this guy does on a nightly basis.

13. Steve Francis (47), Houston Rockets: Injuries and migraine headaches hurt his overall stats, but Francis is already a star and getting better all the time. If he stays healthy this season, the Rockets are playoff contenders.

14. Rasheed Wallace (21), Portland Trail Blazers: 'Sheed cut down on the technical fouls, fit in well with new coach Maurice Cheeks' concepts and continued to be a popular teammate. His pure talent is top 10.

15. Vince Carter (8), Toronto Raptors: Tough year for Vince in the wake of knee surgery and the team turning things around after he went down. But he's still enormously talented and is expected to be 100 percent.

16. Ray Allen (15), Milwaukee Bucks: Knee problems and the Bucks' stunning collapse also dulled Allen's season. But this is a class guy who says he has worked out the tendinitis problems.

17. Baron Davis (36), New Orleans Hornets: He became a true star during the playoffs last season and one more growth year will put him among the dominant players in the game, regardless of position.

18. Michael Finley (20), Dallas Mavericks: For the first time in his career, Finley suffered from injury woes and it caused some people to forget what an exceptional player he is.

19. Antonio McDyess (14), New York Knicks: Another star who enters the new season under tremendous scrutiny after surgery on both knees after playing 10 games in '01-02, he has the added pressure of coming to New York in a trade.

20. Antoine Walker (37), Boston Celtics: Along with Pierce, Walker grew tremendously, particularly when it came to leadership and making his teammates better. He still has a long way to go, but the talent and desire are there.

21. Karl Malone (9), Utah Jazz: Contrary to a growing belief, he's still not mailing it in -- only age has slowed him down. But he still has great hands, touch and a will to win that pervades the team.

22. Jermaine O'Neal (44), Indiana Pacers: A rising star, we'll see how O'Neal responds from his fast fade in the playoffs last spring. The growth was strong all season, though, and he should continue on the star track.

23. Elton Brand (23), Los Angeles Clippers: His presence changed the whole veneer of a team that sorely needed leadership and commitment. Now we'll see if he is capable of leading them into the playoffs.

24. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (22), Atlanta Hawks: One of the most talented yet relatively anonymous players, Abdur-Rahim made the transition home to Atlanta from Vancouver seamlessly. Now we'll see if he can help them win.

25. Stephon Marbury (19), Phoenix Suns: It was a tough transition for Marbury, watching the Nets get to the Finals, while the Suns fell out of the playoffs for the first time since 1988. We'll learn a lot about him this season.

26. Alonzo Mourning (16), Miami Heat: The amazing story continues as 'Zo battles kidney disease. He's not as dominant as he was, but he's still better than most inside players in the Eastern Conference.

27. Mike Bibby (NA), Sacramento Kings: After a stunning performance in the playoffs, we'll see if Bibby is ready to become an elite player. He has the tools, so we'll see if he has the drive to get there.

28. Shawn Marion (45), Phoenix Suns: 'The Matrix' is one of the most exciting players to watch, and he should only get better, with Marbury and young Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson as his partners.

29. Jerry Stackhouse (25), Detroit Pistons: Stack showed an unselfish side last season, helping the Pistons win the division and move into the second round. He also seemed to peak early and falter badly as playoffs progressed.

30. Dikembe Mutombo (12), Philadelphia 76ers: Still a dominant defensive player, Mutombo can rebound and block shots with the best of them, but he is becoming more of an offensive liability as time passes. It makes the choices interesting.

31. Peja Stojakovic (50), Sacramento Kings: Peja became a star last season and it was a shame he sprained his ankle badly early in the second round because he was virtually useless in the conference finals. This year should be even better.

32. Jamal Mashburn (26), New Orleans Hornets: Another player whose season had one problem after another, from an abdominal injury to a mysterious virus in the playoffs, Mash never got it going last season. Will he bounce back?

33. Steve Nash (NA), Dallas Mavericks: He became an All-Star with an insatiable will, the ability to get his own shot and shots for others. He needs to defend better, but so does everybody else if they want to win it.

34. Andre Miller (NA), Cleveland Cavaliers: He won the assist title, had a bagful of triple doubles, and became the most talked about point guard around. Now the Clippers and Knicks are trying to get him.

35. Antonio Davis (42), Toronto Raptors: In his best season, Davis was the unequivocal leader of the Raptors once Carter proved to be Vince-ible. Rebounding, scoring, blocking shots, he's often a man among children.

36. Eddie Jones (33), Miami Heat: After the horrid start by the Heat -- Jones included -- he bounced back to have a decent year. While he is certainly a very good player, he is not the "A" player they believed him to be.

37. Grant Hill (17), Orlando Magic: We can only hope after playing just 18 games the past two seasons that Hill's ankle problems are history and he's ready for a full season. He can't be explosive, but he's still smart and gifted.

38. Kenyon Martin (NA), New Jersey Nets: Fierce and relentless, Martin grew as the season and the playoffs progressed. The flagrant foul syndrome is troublesome, but he is becoming a star and that should pass as he matures.

39. John Stockton (30), Utah Jazz: Unless he surprises everybody by retiring, it is logical to have him here. He's still controlling the tempo of the game, sinking key shots and splitting hairs with passes at 40.

40. Jalen Rose (31), Chicago Bulls: Tough season for Rose going from the contending Pacers to the bottom-feeder Bulls, but he's also the leader of the youngsters and might just learn something in the process about his own growth.

41. Latrell Sprewell (28), New York Knicks: Rough season for Spree and the Knicks, with his name sprinkled all over the map in trade scenarios. Still one of the more explosive guards around, but how strong is his desire these days?

42. Allan Houston (40), New York Knicks: Like Sprewell, he suffered the consequences of coach Jeff Van Gundy quitting, and never got into his shooting rhythm all season. But he's still a premier pure shooter.

43. Bonzi Wells (NA), Portland Trail Blazers: The prototype Blazer player -- up, down, all over the map. But among the young shooting guards in the league, he can post up and shoot 3s as well as anyone else.

44. Rashard Lewis (NA), Seattle SuperSonics: A gifted pure shooter from any angle and distance with natural jumping ability, the 6-foot-10 forward added some post play and took defenders off the dribble, but not enough.

45. Glenn Robinson (41), Milwaukee Bucks: Still a great scorer, but he never has added much to his game, and that has detracted from his overall respect and from the Bucks in general. It's why he has been shopped all summer.

46. Sam Cassell (34), Milwaukee Bucks: Always unpredictable, he led the Bucks to near greatness then ran them out of the playoffs the past two seasons. It's why there always are widely divergent opinions about him.

47. Lamar Odom (29), Los Angeles Clippers: He went from star to major questions last season due to injuries and a suspension for mar1juana abuse. The talent is unmistakable, but the head needs to get straight.

48. Antawn Jamison (46), Golden State Warriors: After an explosive second season and a maximum extension, he loathed playing small forward next to Danny Fortson. Now he'll move back to the post opposite Mike Dunleavy. Could be a big year.

49. Vlade Divac (NA), Sacramento Kings: More than a flopper, he was the leader of the team all the way to Game 7 of the West finals. He's smart and versatile, and still a key piece to the puzzle that may stop the Lakers.

50. Pau Gasol (NA), Memphis Grizzlies: The rookie of the year has nothing but greatness ahead. Long, lean and smooth, he can shoot from the perimeter, drive and dunk, block shots and rebound. Now he needs some weight.

 

13. Francis
44. Lewis

Mobley should definitely be on this list. They have 2 guards on this list that are not as good as him. Nevermind the other positions.