Post by HyperYellow on May 6, 2014 15:13:24 GMT
In this modern world where money talks and bollocks walks, it isn’t often that a player of any calibre remains loyal to his origins. Whether they have been used as trade-bait for upgrades on contenders, or for picks when a GM decides it is time to rebuild, the life of the NBADSL veteran is one of constant motion. And it isn’t only a GM that can decide a player’s next destination, an expired contract and greed could see a player testing the free agent market, and the hard cap can be hard to manage when you have team of stars.
But this is not always the case. In this league that has seen just over 7 years, there are players that have had their loyalty matched by their team’s owner. It is this premise that I base this article on, and present to you the NBADSL All-Stayer Team. No doubt their General Manager has had them on the block at some stage, and the player may not have offered to re-sign before free agency. But through one situation or another, they’re all still on the same team they started out with.
Your All-Stayer Team:
The Grizzlies have had several owners since the league inception, but the one constant has been Paul Gasol manning the paint. Just as constant has been his output. Gasol’s season averages have barely deviated from his career averages of 21.7ppg and 11.1 rpg. It is that sort of output that leaves little doubt as to why Paul Gasol is on the way to being a Grizzly for life.
Pau Gasol (He used to shave)
Chris Bosh (Enjoying his best season ever)
In comparison to Chris Bosh, Carmelo’s impact on the league was almost immediate. All-Rookie team honours were followed by All-Star accolades every year after that. All-League 3rd team honours in 2007 have been followed by taking it to the next level in subsequent years, with 1st team honours finally bestowed on him in 2009. Carmelo is still pushing the boundary of SF dominance, this year again averaging almost 30ppg. Only an MVP and a championship elude this perennial star.
Carmelo Anthony (Not much space left on his trophy shelf)
No homer, honestly. Bonzi Wells, at 34 is the elder statesman of the All-Stayer team. Never averaging more than 15.1 ppg, never gracing the court on All-Star Weekend, Wells continues to be the starting SG of choice in Portland. He is certainly a step or two slower than his 2005 incarnation when he swiped 2.3 spg, and 5.8 rpg, but he still manages to make life difficult for the whipper-snapper SGs that run around today, both at the offensive end were he still picks up 2.0 spg, and the defensive end where his FG% of 50.6% is behind only O.J Mayo among SGs.
Bonzi Wells (Puts his hand up for another season in Rip City)
Barbosa has had probably the slowest increase in production among your All-Stayer team, and like his back court running mate hasn’t received the accolades that Gasol, Bosh and Anthony have, but his ability to consistently improve and work up through the team’s rotation is highly commendable. It is in fact that improvement while playing out of position no less that shows how valuable a player he is. Just keep Walkering.
Leandro Barbosa (So who's for a Brazilian?)
But this is not always the case. In this league that has seen just over 7 years, there are players that have had their loyalty matched by their team’s owner. It is this premise that I base this article on, and present to you the NBADSL All-Stayer Team. No doubt their General Manager has had them on the block at some stage, and the player may not have offered to re-sign before free agency. But through one situation or another, they’re all still on the same team they started out with.
Your All-Stayer Team:
Centre: Paul Gasol. Memphis.
The Grizzlies have had several owners since the league inception, but the one constant has been Paul Gasol manning the paint. Just as constant has been his output. Gasol’s season averages have barely deviated from his career averages of 21.7ppg and 11.1 rpg. It is that sort of output that leaves little doubt as to why Paul Gasol is on the way to being a Grizzly for life.
Pau Gasol (He used to shave)
Power Forward: Chris Bosh. Seattle.
There are man-crushes in the world, and let’s be honest, it’s no secret that Chris Bosh was the object of former Seattle BoshtrichBurger ‘s SERIOUS man-crush. Was it his good looks? Or a decent contract? No, it was potential. It took four years and Chris Webber’s retirement for Chris Bosh to make the graduation from All-Star rookie game in 2004 to All-Star game participant in 2008, and this is reflected in the steady increase in his numbers from a contributory 13.8ppg and 6.8 rpg, to his currently dominant figures of 29.0ppg and 10.7rpg. Chris Bosh (Enjoying his best season ever)
Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony. Denver
In comparison to Chris Bosh, Carmelo’s impact on the league was almost immediate. All-Rookie team honours were followed by All-Star accolades every year after that. All-League 3rd team honours in 2007 have been followed by taking it to the next level in subsequent years, with 1st team honours finally bestowed on him in 2009. Carmelo is still pushing the boundary of SF dominance, this year again averaging almost 30ppg. Only an MVP and a championship elude this perennial star.
Carmelo Anthony (Not much space left on his trophy shelf)
Shooting Guard: Bonzi Wells. Portland
No homer, honestly. Bonzi Wells, at 34 is the elder statesman of the All-Stayer team. Never averaging more than 15.1 ppg, never gracing the court on All-Star Weekend, Wells continues to be the starting SG of choice in Portland. He is certainly a step or two slower than his 2005 incarnation when he swiped 2.3 spg, and 5.8 rpg, but he still manages to make life difficult for the whipper-snapper SGs that run around today, both at the offensive end were he still picks up 2.0 spg, and the defensive end where his FG% of 50.6% is behind only O.J Mayo among SGs.
Bonzi Wells (Puts his hand up for another season in Rip City)
Point Guard: Leandro Barbosa. Phoenix
Barbosa has had probably the slowest increase in production among your All-Stayer team, and like his back court running mate hasn’t received the accolades that Gasol, Bosh and Anthony have, but his ability to consistently improve and work up through the team’s rotation is highly commendable. It is in fact that improvement while playing out of position no less that shows how valuable a player he is. Just keep Walkering.
Leandro Barbosa (So who's for a Brazilian?)
