Every team had at least one representative except the Memphis Grizzlies, who would have obviously had Pau Gasol on the list, but he didn't make the criterion of having played at least 75 percent of the games. The defending champion Detroit Pistons have four on the list, while the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns each have three.
So without further ado, our top 50 players this season:
1. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat
The indomitable one impacts the flow of the game more than anyone, and has made this team title contenders.
2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
The most fundamentally sound big man since Bill Walton. He could meet Shaq in the Finals.
3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Astonishingly, he has proven to be even better than anticipated. At 19, he'll only get better.
4. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
A sore knee and bad team chemistry are killing him, but for an unprecedented sixth straight year ... 20-10-5.
5. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
This 7-footer never ceases to be amazing as he hits the boards, handles the ball, runs and shoots from anywhere. Really amazing.
6. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
An ankle sprain disrupted his season, but more importantly he still hasn't made his teammates better despite his vast talent.
7. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
Fearless Fly continues to lead the league in scoring, is pushing for another steals title and has raised his assist total.
8. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
He has a shot at winning the Most Valuable Player award the way he transformed this team into a contender.
9. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers
It's been a tough year for J-O and the Pacers, and figures to get even tougher during the stretch run.
10. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
It required three months, but finally Tracy McGrady has meshed with Jeff Van Gundy's system and Yao Ming.
11. Ray Allen, Seattle SuperSonics
His fourth quarter heroics and consistent leadership have catapulted the surprising Sonics into contention.
12. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
He's already proving to be a more amenable sidekick for Shaq than Bryant, but can they win titles too?
13. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
The addition of Nash has turned Stoudemire into an All-Star with his unerring drive to attack the basket.
14. Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets
All it required was a trade to alter Carter from a dormant state into the exciting All-Star of three years ago.
15. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
He's bounced back from a bad year and the return of his buddy Antoine Walker should help him even more.
16. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Not the dominant player as predicted, but he is 7-6 and very skilled. Any more questions?
17. Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks
Despite the woeful Bucks, he has become one of the top shooting guards — inside and outside — anywhere.
18. Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
He's undersized, but he carries his lunch pail to work and remains the most menacing defensive presence in the game.
19. Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns
Unorthodox and essentially out of position play at power forward, he's still putting up great numbers.
20. Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
A relentless runner, great mid-range shooter and now becoming a playmaker. He's improved every year.
21. Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers
Lost with the overlooked Clippers, Brand is a special power forward and an even better person off the court.
22. Chris Webber, Philadelphia 76ers
Only time will tell the effect of being traded from Sacramento, but knee surgery robbed him of his explosiveness. What's left?
23. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
One of the game’s rising stars, he's an impact player in all phases of the game, although occasionally out of control.
24. Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards
One of the great moves of the offseason, he brought leadership, skill and direction to an aimless team.
25. Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons
He's one of those guys whose numbers never reflect how much better he makes a team on at both ends.
So without further ado, our top 50 players this season:
1. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat
The indomitable one impacts the flow of the game more than anyone, and has made this team title contenders.
2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
The most fundamentally sound big man since Bill Walton. He could meet Shaq in the Finals.
3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Astonishingly, he has proven to be even better than anticipated. At 19, he'll only get better.
4. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
A sore knee and bad team chemistry are killing him, but for an unprecedented sixth straight year ... 20-10-5.
5. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
This 7-footer never ceases to be amazing as he hits the boards, handles the ball, runs and shoots from anywhere. Really amazing.
6. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
An ankle sprain disrupted his season, but more importantly he still hasn't made his teammates better despite his vast talent.
7. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
Fearless Fly continues to lead the league in scoring, is pushing for another steals title and has raised his assist total.
8. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
He has a shot at winning the Most Valuable Player award the way he transformed this team into a contender.
9. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers
It's been a tough year for J-O and the Pacers, and figures to get even tougher during the stretch run.
10. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
It required three months, but finally Tracy McGrady has meshed with Jeff Van Gundy's system and Yao Ming.
11. Ray Allen, Seattle SuperSonics
His fourth quarter heroics and consistent leadership have catapulted the surprising Sonics into contention.
12. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
He's already proving to be a more amenable sidekick for Shaq than Bryant, but can they win titles too?
13. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
The addition of Nash has turned Stoudemire into an All-Star with his unerring drive to attack the basket.
14. Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets
All it required was a trade to alter Carter from a dormant state into the exciting All-Star of three years ago.
15. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
He's bounced back from a bad year and the return of his buddy Antoine Walker should help him even more.
16. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Not the dominant player as predicted, but he is 7-6 and very skilled. Any more questions?
17. Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks
Despite the woeful Bucks, he has become one of the top shooting guards — inside and outside — anywhere.
18. Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
He's undersized, but he carries his lunch pail to work and remains the most menacing defensive presence in the game.
19. Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns
Unorthodox and essentially out of position play at power forward, he's still putting up great numbers.
20. Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
A relentless runner, great mid-range shooter and now becoming a playmaker. He's improved every year.
21. Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers
Lost with the overlooked Clippers, Brand is a special power forward and an even better person off the court.
22. Chris Webber, Philadelphia 76ers
Only time will tell the effect of being traded from Sacramento, but knee surgery robbed him of his explosiveness. What's left?
23. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
One of the game’s rising stars, he's an impact player in all phases of the game, although occasionally out of control.
24. Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards
One of the great moves of the offseason, he brought leadership, skill and direction to an aimless team.
25. Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons
He's one of those guys whose numbers never reflect how much better he makes a team on at both ends.
