In case you haven’t heard, ESPN recently ranked the top 500 NBA players.
Derrick Rose was ranked eighth overall.
The top ten were:
1. LeBron James
2. Dwight Howard
3. Dwyane Wade
4. Chris Paul
5. Dirk Nowitzki
6. Kevin Durant
7. Kobe Bryant
8. Derrick Rose
9. Deron Williams
10. Blake Griffin
Obviously, these rankings have generated a lot of discussion, which has been hard to come by during this lockout. In particular, there has been some outcry about how Griffin could already be ranked ahead of Carmelo Anthony (who was ranked 12th). TrueHoop’s Kevin Arnovitz has already covered that one.
As for the league’s reigning MVP being ranked behind seven other players? Well, remember, these rankings are based on a composite score culled from a 91-person ESPN panel. Those folks put a lot of careful consideration into their rankings. And some the composite scores are very, very close.
Regarding Rose’s ranking, I would have put him ahead of Kobe (who’s I think we can all agree is still a great player but on the downside of his career) and Paul (mostly because his assist totals are inflated at home and he seemed to wear down last season while Rose was getting better, opinions shared by ESPN’s John Hollinger). I’d also have him neck-and-neck with Durant. I have no problem with the rest of the players ranked ahead of him. For now. I have a feeling that, over the next few years, Rose has a good chance of leapfrogging some of them.
Assuming the lockout ever ends.
Here’s where the rest of the Bulls ranked:
29. Joakim Noah
46. Luol Deng
50. Carlos Boozer
103. Taj Gibson
154. Ronnie Brewer
156. Omer Asik
192. Kyle Korver
254. Kurt Thomas
255. Keith Bogans
258. C.J. Watson
335. Rasual Butler
345. Jannero Pargo
444. John Lucas III
449. Brian Scalabrine
I think we’re all a little surprised that Scalabrine ranked in the top 500.
In other Rose-related news, ESPNChicago’s Nick Friedell writes:
“Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose will headline an upcoming USO tour in Hawaii, the organization announced Tuesday. The NBA’s reigning MVP will be joined by Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson, Hawks forward Al Horford, Charlotte Bobcats guard D.J. Augustin, Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans, New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez, Phoenix Suns center Robin Lopez, Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee and Miami Heat guard Mike Miller as part of the ‘Hoops for Troops’ program. The group will take part in different events, including conducting clinics and visiting military bases.”
Hey, if Derrick can’t play NBA basketball right now, this is a great way to spend his spare time.
Said Rose (via a USO press release): “I am honored to take part in a USO tour and greatly appreciate the USO’sefforts in organizing this trip. I am so thankful for the great sacrifices the service members and their families make for our country and it is a truly special opportunity to give back by sharing our love of basketball with them.”
Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald writes about the mega-launch of Derrick’s new signature shoe adiZeroRose 2 and how it’s competing with the Michael Jordan brand. And while we can all agree that the associated commerical is pretty darn cool, it’s hard to imagine Adidas breaking the stranglehold Nike has on the basketball shoe market, even with Rose’s help.
But we’ll see.
I think Derrick should be placed at 1 or 2. He is the MVP of the NBA, and there for he is the best of the best.
I think it is very hard to rank the top 20 players in the NBA. I think more needs to be put into how a player reacts in cruch time. Who carried their team the most when the chips were on the table. Lebron is great but ranking him #1 after his sub par performances at the end of the year is a little stretch for me. Dirk probably should have ranked somewhere in the top 3. He will not slow down this year.
Jason Williams- Radii Shoes
Until the owners will get real and end this f###ing lockout you watch my fan tribute to Chicago’s hero. I call it – Derrick Rose and my boobs
http://youtu.be/GuihZlgP52o