2)  and Dwyane Wade (see No. Piece by: Noel Guerra An NBA superstar is the highest praise you can receive from the masses. Derrick Rose stood out as the top overall pick for the Chicago Bulls, but many pundits believed OJ Mayo was good enough to go first. James made that "DECISION" to be a No. There are only a few true superstars in pro sports, Bryant, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady and Albert Pujols come to mind. LeBron James, in full LeBron Raymone James, byname King James, (born December 30, 1984, Akron, Ohio, U.S.), American professional basketball player who is widely considered one of the greatest all-around players of all time and who won National Basketball Association (NBA) championships with the Miami Heat (2012 and 2013), the Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), and the Los Angeles Lakers (2020). Kevin Durant When did players like Blake Griffin and Paul George have this term attributed to them? He almost brought the Spurs to their fifth championship since 1999, but Heat were able to sneak past them in the final two games. At 35 years though, Kobe’s age may have caught up to him. He hasn’t won a championship or even made it to the conference finals, but he is still universally accepted as a superstar. A perfect example of that was this year's All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Although he has yet to win a title, he still is arguably the second best player in the league. The Potential List It's all of the above and more if you ask me. He’s one of the most unguardable players in the world. 2 to No. So the next time we hear "he's a superstar" or "we'll see him in the (insert sports) Hall of Fame" really think about it and ask yourself, "is he a true superstar? I was fishing for five superteams from my list (GSW-17, MIA-11, BOS-08, HOU-97, PHI-83). A few bad turnovers and the Lakers proved victorious. Instead of lashing out at people and reminding them that they don't make as much money as you or have a lesser lifestyle then you, look in the mirror, Mr. James. Now that we know what a superstar is, there should be some players mentioned that weren’t quite fortunate to make the list. What is a supermax contract? forward is what Charles Barkley calls the best scorer in the NBA. The NBA is a superstar-driven league and it is always a safe bet to make that if a superstar-player doesn’t want a coach around, they won’t be. Look at the past, he did it in Cleveland and he did it in Miami in these Finals. He began this decade as a 25-year-old NBA superstar with one Finals appearance and zero championships. In fact, during his 10-year career, he has only brought his team out of the first round twice. Here are the superstars of the NBA, who of no coincidence are the seven best players in the league. A superteam in the National Basketball Association is a franchise whose roster typically has three or more Hall of Fame caliber players that are in their prime. Just ask Kidd, he’s been burned by CP3 a time or two. Like other people I did wake up with the same problems I went to bed with, and deal with the same issues daily. Greatness drives them, as well as their refusal to lose, and they won't let anyone or anything stand in their way to accomplish their desired goal. With Tim Duncan playing limited minutes and Manu Ginobili having his worst season yet, Parker kicked it into another gear, carrying the team into the finals. 2 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. The great players that settle on being great & will rely on their talent to win games, but lack the killer instinct or that "it" factor. The media and fan-made superstar. NO PLAYER is on Kobe's level when it comes to hunger for titles. ‘Melo has never won a championship, nor has he ever stepped foot on the court during the NBA Finals. 13 NBA Player of the Month. 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Kong,’ ‘Cruella,’ And More Spring Blockbusters We Can’t Wait To Watch, All The Best New Indie Music From This Week, All The Best New Pop Music From This Week, All The Best New Music From This Week That You Need To Hear. Is it their "brand" and marketing ability? A 14-time All-Star who is wearing four rings, three in which he brought home the Finals MVP. Everyone feared him. Durant has won the scoring title three times in his short career, averaging over 25 PPG in all but one season. )LeBron has been compared to Kobe a lot in the past and present, but I don't get, and never got, why. This Ferrari happens to be a recent $330k purchase—no big deal when you're balling and have been getting that NBA money for over a decade! No surprise here. But even before winning a championship in 2012, he has had plenty of superstar moments in the playoffs, ncluding finally overthrowing the Celtics. That is a fact no one can argue. But Carmelo is a lethal offensive player. He is an 11-time All-Star with four All-NBA First Team selections. Dwight Howard may be one of the most loathed players in the NBA today. Share. — N'Gai Croal et al. Since he joined the league in 96′ the Lakers have only finished under .500 once. ", Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce and Bill Russell (as a coach) headline 14 finalists this year , Heat center used an anti-Semitic slur while streaming Call of Duty on Twitch. He also snatched up the first scoring title of his career last season. The Injury List I told my father-in-law that same statement when he signed with Miami and that it is Wade's team and James needs to accept the role a the No. Tony Parker Tweet. He plays like a point guard but is physically superior to anyone who has ever performed at that position.The word superstar was created for players like LeBron, but with the way he’s been playing lately maybe there needs to be a different tier for the best player in the game today. At the end of 2011-2012 season, ‘Melo lit up so many defenses, including a jaw-dropping comeback against the Bulls on Easter. This superstar will not be underrated this year as he still holds the title for second best The Thunder looked like they were afraid of him and the Heat’s newly formed Big 3, couldn’t stop him. 2. By definition, every NBA superstar excels in multiple areas on the basketball court.. Each can score effectively, relative to the position they play. But leading the league in blocks twice, rebounds five times, and being the all-time scorer for the Orlando Magic quickly silences those negatives. The creation of the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) in 1996 was a savvy marketing move that kick-started the explosion in women’s support for the NBA in general. Here's a quick primer with everything you need to know about the NBA's most lucrative player deals. The TRUE superstar. This player will step over anyone or kill for a win or for titles and want their legacy defined by what they did on the court and in the amount of titles they have won. NBA All-Star Games are supposed to be fun until the fourth quarter, but not to Bryant. Look at the "superstar" or "king" who has no rings. Let's be very clear, James is the most talented player in the NBA, but if I were the GM of an expansion team and had to choose one player to build around long term, I would take Durrant and Rose over him because they have that desire to be defined by titles and that killer instinct. The term “superstar” is one of the most misused words in the NBA. He’s turned around the Thunder (formerly the Supersonics) and made them into serious title contenders, including a NBA Finals appearance in 2012. He is powerful and has such a graceful shot that he leaves defenders confused on how to even attempt to defend him. Is it their overall game on the court? 25 NBA Player of the Week. Shaq debates with Chuck and Kenny about the difference between All-Stars and Superstars before they check out the All-Star jerseys. At 6-9, he shoots the ball like a guard and troubles opposing offensive players with his lanky arms. Superstar players with a desire to be great. A superstar is someone who can have a team built around him. The great players that settle on being great & will rely on their talent to win games, but lack the killer instinct or that "it" factor. Continue Reading. The 2008 NBA Draft class featured a few potential superstars. Is it their will to win and refusal to lose? Become a fan of Dime Magazine on Facebook HERE. In an interview with NBA.com, the new Knicks point guard alluded to the idea of there being two "super-teams" in the NBA. Too bad for the haters, because Dwight is primed to have another superstar caliber season again this year. But before I can get to who they are, I have to establish what makes a player a superstar. Bryant at one point in the third quarter stole the ball from and dunked over James. He boasted a 23.1 PER last season and was in talks for a potential MVP win, but was derailed because of an injury. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are the two best examples of this.In the NBA Finals this past year, the Heat had one of each in Chris Bosh (see No. Lonzo Ball. Paul even yelled, “He can’t guard me,” during a 2008 game after icing Kidd on a few plays, letting the world know he had arrived as the top point guard in the league. He is averaging 20.9 points, 9.5 assists and 2.2 steals a contest. Carmelo put a New York Knick team on his back and made them relevant again. LeBron’s career has been nothing short of spectacular, despite all the criticism he’s received for jumping ship to the Heat in 2010. He was battling injuries last season and still turned out terrific numbers. Later, Bryant was seen jawing at James. 1 All-Rookie Team. 1 : a star (as in sports or the movies) who is considered extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary But last year, when people started posting hits from superstars like Madonna and Puff Daddy on the Web, where anyone could download them for free, the record companies went ballistic. And if that isn’t enough, he has two regular-season MVP trophies and many deem him the best power forward of all-time. He will end it as a 35-year-old global icon … Shaq debates with Chuck and Kenny about the difference between All-Stars and Superstars before they check out the All-Star jerseys. Winning the scoring title twice and averaging over 25 points for 17 years proves that Kobe is unstoppable. Kobe Bryant Howard is a 7-time All-Star and 3-time Defensive Player of the Year. 2 NBA All-Star Most Valuable Player. Four-time regular season MVP, 2-time Finals MVP, 9-time All-Star and he’s only been in the league for 10 years, so I’m sure all of those numbers will grow every year. He is often ridiculed for his defensive play; although, it has improved since coming to the Knicks and working with coach Mike Woodson. 1 NBA Most Valuable Player. group full of NBA careers that have been ruined by injuries. Check the video below and watch his nasty NBA playoff debut. Everyone has their own definition of what is an NBA superstar. Only … The ABA fielded 11 teams in its first season and quickly earned a loyal following with its wide-open style of play. Hell, they didn't have that same question with Shaq when he was in his prime (as far as desire to win and coming up big). Gregg Popovich limited his minutes a lot last season and even kept him out of the final seconds of regulation during game 6 of the Finals. 3). He has such good control over his body that defenders struggle to anticipate his moves. Dwight Howard This 6-8 and 235 lb. The sharpshooters down in Houston will open up the paint for Dwight this year, and he will prove once again why he is a superstar. 1. It is the main event of the NBA All-Star Weekend.Originally, the All-Star Game featured a conference-based format, featuring a team composed of all of the top ranked basketball players in the Eastern Conference and another team of all-stars from the Western Conference. Bryant has been selected to the All-NBA Defensive First Team NINE times! The league introduced a number of… If a player is truly deemed a superstar, then he should keep this status for more than a couple of years, barring injury. They lost the Finals but it was much closer than usually indicated after losing to Kobe’s Lakers in five games. It seems that he doesn't work at his game as hard as others in the off season and relies on his God-given ability to get by. He is able to control a team better than anyone today. Super team does not have to be good in game, they have to be good on paper. Incredible. He’s 6-11 and has the athleticism of a small forward. (Order of the list is arbitrary). But you better believe his time is coming soon. Look for him to take the new-look Clippers deeper into the playoffs than years past. Averaging 27.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.9 assists for his career puts him among the greatest to ever play the game. This 6-time All-Star can definitely bring a championship to a team as their best player, which is why he is one of the few superstars in the league. Follow the action on NBA scores, schedules, stats, news, Team and Player news. Every NBA player in the league, sortable by conference and position, and organized alphabetically for optimal searching. 3 to me with his recent playoff performance).For what ever reason LeBron is not mentally tough. The Black Mamba is still the most feared player in the league. Bottom line, LeBron, as great as his talents (in South Beach) may be, as rich and famous as he is he is NOT a lead dog on a team. He may end up being the greatest player of all time. Let's take a look at the three types of superstars in pro sports. (For the record, Dirk Nowitzki elevated from a No. Click page 4 to find out who else makes the list as an NBA superstar…. He’s been selected to three All-NBA First Team squads and three All-Defensive First Team squads. You either have it in you or you don't, and that will be his legacy forever, and he decided that this past off season. He never has been and never will be. He is not the most talented anymore, nor the most athletic, but what keeps him at superstar status is his attitude. After 17 seasons in the NBA he is still the face of the Los Angeles Lakers. note: thogh he did make the All-NBA First Team last season). LeBron James These are the players that have either once graced the short list of superstars or will soon, but have been derailed due to injury: Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade , Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love. 1), James (see No. They finished second in the Eastern Conference standings last year, and no one could deny that the Knicks arrived. Elite on both ends of the ball, ‘Bron overpowers players offensively and defensively. Why is this? No more waiting. The only reason he is left off the list is because his time is almost finished, and he can’t produce at high level every night like he used to (Ed. ‎What makes a superstar in pro sports? He brought a below-average Cavs team to the NBA Finals and two years later carried them to the best record in the league. But he also has to remember he has to go to bed and wake up knowing that he has let two different organizations down in the Finals, and will forever have the reputation of a player that hides and  tucks his tail in big games. In fact, Kobe is the closest player to Jordan on the court and with his desire to win at all costs. Definition of superstar. At least one well-known individual who is a superstar in name only, these days, is guaranteed to either feature for a new franchise before the turn of the new year or enter retirement. Superstars are the face of the franchise, and you would be lucky if your team had more than one in a decade (unless you’re the Lakers…they always seem to have one). A superstar is someone who can have a team built around him. Anthony has been a very reliable player; he just needs the right pieces around him to excel on the highest stage. His resume and talent speak for themselves, but if you need a … They were bounced out of the playoffs in the second round, but that wasn’t on Anthony. At times, "star" and "superstar" are used interchangeably, or avoided altogether if there's the slightest hint of ambiguity. 2 guy. Is it their ability to dominate or take over a game with their God-given ability? If the rumors are true about Rashard Lewis sleeping with his fiance, I can understand being distracted, but in the same breath, the Heat and the Heat fans are paying him tons of money to win titles. In order to attain superstar status, a player should be judged for his play on the court and not his life off of it. LeBron was right. Carmelo Anthony Tim Duncan But this doesn’t take away from what he has accomplished. As a defensive player, there is no one who can touch him at the center position. Some people put statistical benchmarks in place, believing a player has to score a … Paul isn’t physically superior to anyone at his position, which makes his play that much more intriguing. Let’s define it, then sort who fits into — what should be — the narrowest of designations. Everybody has distractions (see Kobe in Colorado). He should be able to take them deep into the playoffs and be that guy you can depend on in the closing minutes. He’s finished second in the MVP race three times, and the only reason he hasn’t won the award yet is because LeBron keeps hogging them all. However, in today’s landscape, that label is handed out … The team struggled to provide any offensive help. 1" by default. At 6-0 and 175 lbs., he is able to drive in the lane and score at the rim or put the defender on skates at the top of the key. Only the true greats should be able to garner such acclaim. Just a few years ago he did this: Chris Paul He has a killer instinct that hasn’t been seen since the days of Michael Jordan. He set up excellent plays for his teammates to excel, and was the clear cut best player on the Spurs. Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving or even Carmelo Anthony … Building a team around Paul is an easy choice. Parker went from being shopped around by the Spurs to becoming the new leader of San Antonio. As the consensus best point guard in the NBA, it is easy to put Chris Paul on the list of superstars. Scottie Pippen and Pau Gasol are two good examples here, as well as Amarè Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. This means they have sustained streak of greatness over more than just a couple of years. They have game, no doubt, but also have more hype as well. Paul gets his teammates great looks throughout the game and if it’s close at the end he will go into another gear and completely take over. He’s only 235 lbs., but he can go head-to-head with anyone. This is the player that has been really good for a team and everyone loves so they get more love then their game dictates. Kobe came out to win from the tip-off, while other players took it lightly, including James. He's the greatest player of his time. 3. That's "Jordanesqe". His tenure in the NBA has brought him five championships, two Finals MVPs, and a regular season MVP. But with Kobe’s uncanny ability to overcome injuries and vicious attitude there aren’t many doubting that he will be able to play at his superstar level when he returns next season. I will use the NBA and LeBron James as my examples for this article, since much has been made of James' play in the NBA Finals.The three types of superstars in pro sports: 1. Kobe is a different breed and player. We agreed to see what would happen during the season, and James played like, well, LeBron James in big games. With the recent thread asking if Paul George was a superstar or not, I'd like to get the board's opinion on who they think the superstars are in the NBA and what qualifications does a player have to meet to be considered a superstar. Watch highlights from Inside the NBA with Shaq, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson and more! Barkley, Ewing and the Miami Dolphins' own Dan Marino never won rings, but their will to win was never never question. The reason he’s off the list is due to injuries and diminished play over the last couple seasons. The main complaints with Dwight are that he shoots poorly from the charity stripe, and his post moves are limited. His playoff play has probably been the most outstanding thing on his resume. NBA execs say Houston is set to make major moves at the trade deadline. You know that Dwayne Wade is a superstar by every definition. A plethora of NBA superstars could find themselves playing for new teams at different points between the 2018 holiday season and the fall of 2019.
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