The Melo Backpedal

Now that the second half of the NBA season is well underway and we’ve had a chance to evaluate the talent in the league, we figured its about time we take another look at the top youngsters in the NBA with our most recent version of the Top 24 Under 24. This gives us a chance to recognize the select few who have taken the next step toward superstardom and those who are most likely to be the leagues next generation of All-Stars.

We’re basing our evaluation on what each player has contributed to their team this season, in addition to which players have taken the biggest strides during the course of their careers.

#1) LeBron James, 6’8” 240 (age 23) 29.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 7.3 APG, 2 SPG, 1.1 BPG (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Easily one of the top 5 players in the league, a top three MVP candidate this year and will be an All-Star for the next decade. Kobe’s the youngest player ever to eclipse 20,000 career points, but that record will be broken in about five years.

#2) Dwight Howard, 6’11” 265 (22) 21.9 PPG, 14.9 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.6 BPG, .596 FG% (Orlando Magic)

You’d have to be absolutely crazy to dispute Howard is the best young big man in the league and, with all due respect to The Diesel, he’s putting up even better numbers than Shaq did at the same age. He’s had ten 20/20 games this season alone. Now if he could just improve his free throw shooting (.606).

#3) Chris Bosh, 6’10” 230 (23) 22.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.1 BPG, .849 FT% (Toronto Raptors)

Bosh was my East MVP last season and hasn’t disappointed this year, so he has to be in the top five. Despite playing north of the boarder, his impressive all-around game and acting skills should make him one of the leagues most recognizable face for years to come. He may not be the scorer Carmelo is, but he probably brings more to the table each night.

#4) Carmelo Anthony, 6’8” 235 (23) 26.2 PPG, 7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.3 SPG (Denver Nuggets)

Despite being capable of dropping 40 on any given night, perhaps the most impressive thing about ‘Melo’s game is how he was able to handle coexisting with another big-time scorer in Allen Iverson. His fan appeal has actually improved dramatically since last season.

#5) Chris Paul, 6’0” 175 (22) 20.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 10.5 APG, 2.6 SPG, .888 FT% (New Orleans Hornets)

Despite our unfailing support of Deron Williams, Paul is having a better season and his team is more than exceeding expectations, so he gets the nod here. He’s putting together an MVP type of season and is on pace to be the first player to ever average 20 PPG, 10 APG, and 2.5 SPG for an entire season.

#6) Deron Williams, 6’3” 210 (23) 19.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 9.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, .511 FG% (Utah Jazz)

Williams has quietly had a very productive season for the Jazz, though he’ll have to wait until next year to be an All-Star. At the same time, experts have showered him with praise as already being one of the top three or four point guards in the league and his team’s success is largely a result of his production.

#7) Brandon Roy, 6’6” 225 (23) 19.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1 SPG (Portland Trailblazers)

Roy was the top rookie in the league last year by a wide margin, and this year he’s been the best player on the leagues most overachieving team — which led to an All-Star selection for him. Expect even more from Roy once he gets Greg Oden, and perhaps a franchise point guard, on the court to play along side him.

# Josh Smith, 6’9” 235 (22) 17.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.9 SPG, 3.5 BPG (Atlanta Hawks)

Smith just may be the most underrated player in the league. Despite his age, he already has a superior all-around game, and once he improves his 3-point shooting (.247), he’ll have the complete package. Believe it or not, he’s already one of the five best defenders in the game.

#9) Al Jefferson, 6’10” 255 (23) 21.1 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 1 SPG, 1.4 BPG (Minnesota Timberwolves)

As stated several times before, the Timberwolves made the right move to exchange KG for a group of young players, and Jefferson is the main reason why. The Wolves aren’t pretty to watch this year, but Jefferson is playing like a beast. Seventeen times this season he’s gone for at least 20 and 15.

#10) Andrew Bynum, 7’0” 275 (20) 13.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.1 BPG, .636 FG% (Los Angeles Lakers)

Some people gave up on Bynum after last season, which was obviously premature, and those same people are his biggest supporters now. Though Jason Kidd could have helped the Lakers past the first round last season, it’s clear that holding onto Bynum was the right choice.

#11) Monta Ellis, 6’3” 180 (22) 18.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, .529 FG% (Golden State Warriors)

Ellis may have been the leagues Most Improved player last season, but he’s playing even better this season for a Warriors team poised to make the playoffs again. A 2nd round pick in 2005, Ellis has become a starter and lethal offensive weapon under Don Nelson in Golden State.

#12) Kevin Durant, 6’9” 215 (19) 19.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1 SPG, .870 FT% (Seattle Sonics)

It’s a safe bet that KD will be top five on this list at this time next year once a few of the twenty-three year olds have another birthday. He’s having a very solid rookie season and will only get better with a full off-season to train and further develop his game. Some feel he’s a once in a generation type of player.

#13) Rudy Gay, 6’9” 220 (21) 19.6 PPG, 6 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1 BPG (Memphis Grizzlies)

It’s amazing that it’s taken Gay less than two full season to become the player most envisioned during his two seasons at Connecticut. He’s certainly among the next generation of All-Stars in this league and it’s even more amazing that he lasted until the 8th pick of the 2006 draft.

#14) LaMarcus Aldridge, 6′11″ 240 (22) 16.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.4 BPG (Portland Trailblazers)

Though still developing his game, Aldridge is easily one of the top young big men in the game. With a healthy Greg Oden next season, the Blazers will have their own big three with Oden, Aldridge, and Roy. The fact that all three are under the age of 24 is a pretty scary thought.

#15) Luol Deng, 6’9” 225 (22) 17.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, .400 3-PT% (Chicago Bulls)

Most people would have had Deng much higher on this list last season, but the struggles the Bulls have faced this year have overshadowed the fact that he’s quietly having a fairly productive year. He obviously still has a chance to be a special player.

#16) Marvin Williams, 6’9” 235 (21) 16.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG, .804 FT% (Atlanta Hawks)

A few experts thought that Williams would actually have a better career than Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Although that’s not going to happen, he’s still young and is starting to show folks what the Hawks saw in him when they drafted him ahead of those two other guys.

#17) Andrew Bogut, 7’0” 245 (23) 13.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 BPG (Milwaukee Bucks)

It appears that the top overall selection in 2005 believes in New Year’s resolutions, as his numbers in 2008 have improved to 16.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 3.4 APG. He’s certainly capable of being a top tier NBA center, but it’s doubtful he’ll ever be a huge star in the league.

#1 Ronnie Brewer, 6’7” 225 (22) 11.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, .534 FG% (Utah Jazz)

Though Kyle Korver is getting a lot of praise because of his shooting from the two guard position, its Brewer’s defense, athleticism, and ability to put the ball on the deck and take it to the tin that makes him arguably the best two guard the Jazz have drafted since Darrell Griffith.

#19) J.R. Smith, 6’6” 220 (22) 10.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, .403 3-PT% (Denver Nuggets)

Despite the recent 43-point outing Smith had against the Bulls, he’s been floating under the radar and his name has been involved heavily in trade talks all year. He still has loads of talent, but needs to grow and mature off the court before he can begin to live up to the enormous potential he has.

#20) Raymond Felton, 6’1” 198 (23) 13.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.2 SPG (Charlotte Bobcats)

Felton is yet another solid point guard from the class of 2005, and probably would get more attention if he played for a high profile organization, but isn’t yet the player that Chris Paul or Deron Williams has become. Still, Felton is young enough that the future is still very bright.

#21) Andris Biedrins, 6’11” 235 (21) 10.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.2 BPG, .622 FG% (Golden State Warriors)

Though his numbers are nearly identical from last season, Biedrins is a double-double threat who, in his fourth year, has been the perfect big man in Golden States up-tempo style. He may never be an All-Star caliber player, but he’s a valuable front court player with the ability to do multiple things on the court.

#22) Daniel Gibson, 6′2″ 195 (22) 11.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1 SPG, .476 3-PT% (Cleveland Cavaliers)

It’s hard to believe Gibson will ever be a pure point man, but his shooting ability from the perimeter has helped disprove the notion that you need to be 6′5″ to play two-guard. It’s players like Gibson who’ve proved that its more valuable to have a guy who plan play both backcourt positions.

#23) Rajon Rondo, 6′1″ 170 (22) 10.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.7 SPG (Boston Celtics)

Some players are ruined by having to start their careers without talent around them, like Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but the opposite will likely happen with Rondo. He’s played fantastic this season, mainly because the pressure hasn’t been on him like it has been on KG, Allen and Pierce.

#24) Rashad McCants, 6′4″ 225 (23) 14.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, .407 3-PT% (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Though we’re not convinced McCants has superstar written all over him, he’s had a very productive year while primarily coming off the bench for the Wolves. McCants is a player that we envision having a long career in the NBA, but will probably be an energetic sixth man rather than a consistent guy who gets 35 MPG.