Post by HyperYellow on Jul 30, 2014 16:12:55 GMT
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
In a league half way through it's 13th season, let's have a look at some players that have been around since it's inception in 2003 - cast your mind back to NBAD - Stockon and Malone were coming to the end of their careers and Vladimir Stepania was making a name for himself. Damon Stoudamire was earning over $13 mill scoring 6ppg and "The Greatest Show on Court" was dazzling the fans in Sacramento. Teams have been blown up and careers defined as the tides of changed have swept the league. But there are some players that found their niche, perhaps earlier in their career as all-stars, and now just role players, some that took a while to bloom and provide on court leadership to this day. Here is the starting 5 of players "Still Standing".
Your starting Centre:
Tyson Chandler (Houston)
Career year: 2011 Portland - 24.7ppg, 12.5rpg, 2.5bpg.
Career accolades:
2010 - All-Star Game Participant
2010 - All-League Second Team
2011 - All-Star Game Participant
2011 - All-League First Team
2012 - All-Star Game Participant
2012 - All-League Third Team
2013 - All-Star Game Participant
2013 - All-League First Team
2013 - All-Defensive Team
2014 - All-Star Game Participant
2014 - All-League First Team
2015 - All-Star Game Participant
2015 - All-League First Team
The first half of the young beast front-line that Chicago had coming into this league, Chandler didn't his straps for another 7 seasons. But once he did, his numbers have been consistently high enough to earn 6 mentions in all first, second or third teams. No rings yet, but you'd think he has enough fuel in the tank to go around another one or two times. Career Grade: 7/10
Chandler's partner in the paint:
Nene (Utah)
Career year: 2008 Charlotte - 22.5 ppg, 10.0rpg, 3.5apg. 2.0bpg
Career accolades:
2003 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2006 - All-Defensive Second Team
2008 - All-League Third Team
2008 - All-Defensive Team
Nene likes to put down roots. Apart from his one season in Toronto he has never played less than two seasons in a row with the one team. One let down though was Nene record of only one season in which he averaged a double-double. 2008 was also a season of personal note for Nene in that he won all-defensive team immediately following the removal of a testicle. Career Grade: 6/10
Rounding out your front-court at small forward:
LeBron James (New York)
Career year: 2008 Cavaliers - 31.3ppg, 6.9rpg, 4.5apg.
Career accolades:
2003 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2003 - All-Rookie Second Team
2004 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2005 - All-Star Game Participant
2006 - All-Star Game Participant
2006 - All-League First Team
2007 - All-Star Game Participant
2007 - All-League First Team
2007 - All-Defensive Second Team
2008 - All-Star Game Participant
2008 - All-League First Team
2009 - All-Star Game Participant
2009 - All-League Second Team
2010 - All-League Second Team
2010 - All-Defensive Second Team
2011 - Slam-Dunk Contest Champion
2011 - All-Star Game Participant
2011 - All-League Second Team
2012 - All-Star Game Participant
2012 - All-League First Team
2012 - All-Defensive Second Team
2013 - All-Star Game Participant
2013 - All-League Second Team
2014 - All-Star Game Participant
2014 - All-League Second Team
2014 - All-Defensive Team
2014 - Playoff MVP
2015 - All-Star Game Participant
2015 - All-League First Team
2015 - All-Defensive Team
You could almost excuse entrapy for thinking The King had peaked in 2008, and forgive him for shipping him out after 2009 to Chicago, but you could almost make a case for this year being his best ever. Career averages of 27.4ppg, 7.2rpg, 4.6apg and 2.0spg would surely be the foundation for a good case of GOAT, but only one ring? Please! Career Grade: 9/10
In the back-court, at shooting guard we have:
Dwayne Wade (Orlando)
Career year: 2012 Grizzlies - 28.6ppg, 5.5rpg, 4.7apg.
Career accolades:
2003 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2003 - Rookie of the Year
2003 - All-Rookie Team
2004 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2005 - All-Defensive Second Team
2009 - All-Star Game Participant
2009 - All-League First Team
2011 - All-Star Game Participant
2012 - Slam-Dunk Contest Champion
2012 - All-Star Game Participant
2012 - All-League First Team
2012 - All-Defensive Second Team
2013 - All-Star Game Participant
2013 - All-Star Game MVP
2013 - All-League Third Team
2014 - All-Star Game Participant
2014 - All-League Second Team
Closely mirroring James' numbers and accolades are Dwayne Wade's. Habitual all-star and all-league rep. Dunk champ, ASG MVP. You name it, D-Wade has done it. Good thing players can't collude in FBB because partnering James would mean rings. That's where LeBron pips Wade, cos he has none. Career Grade: 8/10
And rounding out your starting five at point guard:
Tony Parker (San Antonio)
Career year: 2009 Pacers - 27.3ppg, 8.8apg.
Career accolades:
2007 - All-Star Game Participant
2007 - All-League Second Team
2009 - All-Star Game Participant
2009 - Most Valuable Player
2009 - All-League First Team
2013 - 3-Point Shootout Champion
2014 - 3-Point Shootout Champion
2015 - 3-Point Shootout Champion
2015 - All-League Third Team
Parker has come almost the full circle in his career, starting off in San Antonio, winning an MVP in Indiana and finding himself back in San Antonio again now. That's not to say he's coming to the end... yet, as he is still using his quickness and out of his arse 3p shooting to the tune of 15.4ppg. Still ringless though, and on an expiring contract? Go again Tony.. Career Grade: 8/10
