Many experts suggest that the talent pool in the NBA is dwindling. A recent influx of outstanding stars disputes this. Suite101 evaluates the top 5 young NBA Players.
NBA Players: Top 5 Young Guns
- Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic – Defying the odds, Dwight Howard skipped a college basketball career and headed straight for the NBA. Unless you’re LeBron James, this is usually a bad idea. Howard, however, has proven that King James isn’t the only NBA player capable of making an impact straight from high school. Howard averaged a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds) in his rookie season. In just his third year, Howard leads the NBA in rebounding and is a low-post force. Many criticized Orlando for passing on Emeka Okafor, in favor of Howard. No doubt, these critics have changed their minds.
- Deron Williams, Utah Jazz – When Deron Williams was a senior at Illinois, he was a true star. There were a bevy of questions, though, about Williams’ NBA status. Could he pass as well as he did in college? Would he make shots against bigger, faster defenders? Could he handle the basketball against NBA-caliber guards? Williams has offered a resounding Yes to all of these queries. In his second year, leading a suddenly good Utah Jazz team, Williams is averaging 17 points and 9 assists per game. His 45% field goal shooting is unspectacular but certainly acceptable, when the rest of his statistics are considered. Williams is already one of the premier point guards in the NBA and a top young NBA player.
- Chris Paul, NO/Oklahoma City Hornets – The 2005-2006 NBA Rookie of the Year has not suffered from a sophomore slump. Chris Paul has only improved on his rookie campaign and is proving to be one of the top young NBA players. Paul dishes out better than 9 assists per game, while pouring in 18 points. His 2.19 steals per night rank third in the NBA. Best of all, Paul is turning a supposedly-weak Hornets team into an NBA upstart.
- Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats – An absolute beast for Connecticut’s 2004 NCAA championship team, Emeka Okafor seemed a shoo-in for NBA stardom. After a solid rookie season, Okafor’s numbers fell off slightly in his sophomore NBA season. Now, in his third year, Okafor is emerging as a dominant low-post player. At nearly 17 points, 11 rebounds and a league-leading 3.12 blocks per game, Okafor is making the Bobcats a respectable NBA team, and he has earned respect as one of the top young NBA players.
- Kevin Martin, Sacramento Kings – When Kevin Martin was selected with the 26th pick in the first round in 2004, the expectations weren’t too high. After all, Martin played at Western Carolina and was not a household name. Martin didn’t shock anyone when he played in just 45 games and averaged 3 points per outing as a rookie. His 11 points per game in 2005-06 was a pleasant surprise for Kings fans, but even they couldn’t have known what Martin had in store for Sacramento and the NBA in 2006-07. Martin has upped his numbers to 23 points, 4.5 boards, 1.5 steals and 54% shooting. The slender 6-7 shooting guard has opened eyes around the league as a young gun and one of the top NBA players.
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