Basketball IQ: LeBron James- Potentially the best passing "big man" since Magic Johnson. With over 6,000 assists and counting, LeBron could end up in the top ten all-time when he is done. Very few players in the NBA have the vision of James; it's like he sees the play happening before he crosses half court. (As I'm writing this LeBron throws a beautiful alley-oop to Tristian Thompson). He always has his head up ready to make that pass for a better shot. It's one part of his game that never be overlooked.
Heart: Chris Paul/Kobe Bryant- I couldn't pick just one for this category. The heart is the most important organ in the body so why not have two players who have the biggest hearts in the NBA. Chris Paul is definitely not the biggest player in the NBA but you can't tell anyone who has had the task of playing against him that he doesn't give 100% every single play. Kobe is much the same. Even in his later years he's been the guy who puts in the work year after year after year to be considered one of the greatest of all-time. We've heard the stories of Kobe never leaving the gym and that has shown over his 19-year NBA career.
Shooting: Steph Curry- This one is fairly easy. Curry is shooting the ball like no one we have ever seen before. He might already be the best shooter of all time and he's only 27. It doesn't matter if someone is so close to his face that he's looking them right in the eye, he's going to make the shot. He has got the handles to create space and when he curls off a screen and rises to shoot, you know it's going in. You just know. Oh, by the way, Curry has shot better than 42% every year he's been in the league.
Handles: Kyrie Irving- This one can go a couple different ways but Kyrie will out-handle the rest of the NBA if he had to. When you watch him bring the ball down and work his way to the rim by going behind the back, cross someone over, and go up and under for a layup you can't help but see the likes of Allen Iverson. His handles are crazy sometimes that he shakes himself and loses the ball.
Rebounding: Andre Drummond- The best young big man in the league perhaps, Drummond is averaging just under 15 rebounds a game this season for the Pistons including 5 offensive rebounds which might be the more impressive number. The 22-year old center, who stands 6'10", 280 pounds has the lower-body strength to box out anyone and the upper-body strength to grab any rebound. His numbers will only continue to get better has he grows more into a pure dominant center.
Open Court: Russell Westbrook- It's simple, Westbrook is the most aggressive player in the NBA. He attacks the game with a ferocity like no one else. After a miss and a rebound by Westbrook he takes off and is at the other end before the other team can even think about setting their defense. He also dunks the ball harder than one, it's like he's mad at the rim and purposely tries to break it. LeBron is also someone who is nearly impossible to guard in the open court. The only thing you can do to stop these two is to foul them but even that doesn't work sometimes.
Defense: Kawhi Leonard- Leonard is slowing starting to become an elite on ball defender. I never thought I'd see someone who could really slow down LeBron James but in the 2014 NBA Finals Kawhi did all he could and he did it very well. Another young player who is only getting better and will grow into an all-around player and will be on this list for years to come.
Post Moves: LaMarcus Aldridge- Aldridge might be one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Playing out in Portland really hid him from the NBA universe and hid his mid-range jump and his turn around jumper, which might be the best in the league. He's now in San Antonio where he is learning from another great player with a great turn around and mid-range shot in Tim Duncan. Look for his game to expand and he'll also be another player who will be on this list down the road.
Stephen Springer, Follow him on Twitter
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