ESPN caused quite a stir a couple weeks ago when they only rated Kobe Bryant the 40th best baller in the NBA. The worldwide leader's 500 player countdown is now complete and no big surprise it has Lebron James at the top.
Next is Clippers point guard and James's good buddy Chris Paul, followed by Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin.
Golden state sharpshooter Stephen Curry is at six, Kevin Love seven, and Kevin Durant is at eight and would certainly be higher if he wasn't starting the season on the injury list.
The entire top 50 is below:
1. Lebron James 2. Chris Paul 3. Anthony Davis 4. Russell Westbrook 5. Blake Griffin 6. Stephen Curry 7. Kevin Love 8. Kevin Durant 9. James Harden 10. Dwight Howard 11. Carmelo Anthony 12. Joakim Noah 13. LaMarcus Aldridge 14. Marc Gasol 15. Tony Parker 16. Damian Lillard 17. Dirk Nowitzki 18. John Wall 19. DeMarcus Cousins 20. Chris Bosh 21. Tim Duncan 22. Al Jefferson 23. Kyrie Irving 24. Kawhi Leonard 25. Serge Ibaka 26. Al Horford 27. Goran Dragic 28. Derrick Rose 29. Kyle Lowry 30. Andre Drummund 31. Mike Conley 32. Paul Millsap 33. Zach Randolph 34. DeAndre Jordan 35. DeMar DeRozan 36. Dwyane Wade 37. Rajon Rondo 38. Klay Thompson 39. Andre Iguodala 40. Kobe Bryant 41. Eric Bledsoe 42. Kenneth Faried 43. Chandler Parsons 44. Pau Gasol 45. Ty Lawson 46. Roy Hibbart 47. Gordon Hayward 48. Bradley Beal 49. Brook Lopez 50. Lance Stephenson
Do you agree with the rankings?