The Top 50

#3 - Chris Paul

Four summers ago, I walked into my neighborhood Mickey D's shortly after doming a huge joint. Very hazy and disoriented, I thought I was just seeing things; that the dude in front of me in line wasn't then-Wake Forest standout point god Chris Paul. I was confused because this guy wasn't much bigger than I was, yet dominated a game full of the tallest athletes alive. As he stood around tossing dice with the rest of the USA Squad - in town for a FIBA tournament - he looked like a child amongst men, and I was dumbfounded as to how he could overcome such physical slighting; how a player so small could do such big things.

Well there's little bewilderment anymore; CP3's game is a once-in-a-generation thing, the type of player whose talent far eclipses any height issues. Paul exploded onto the NBA scene the next year, came a vote shy of sweeping the ROY race and immediately entered the league's best quarterback debate. Last season, he ended any argument with an MVP-calibre assault on the league that saw him score or assist half the Hornet's field goals and lead them to the 2nd seed in the uber-tough West. He basically powered the glaring spotlight on a city that's desperately needed a team to cheer for.

Chris Paul does so many things well on the basketball court. He's the league's best playmaker by a wide margin; his handle and passing ability are beyond adjectives, and his fearless takes to the hoop (see photo above) attract defenders from all angles for his teammates to punish. His shooting percentages are all far above-average (especially for a 6-foot guard), and he never forces shots, playing the most controlled game in the L. He also rocks a 4 1/2:1 assist/turnover ratio, not exactly Calderon but given how much Paul's relied on to produce, his efficiency's even more impressive. As though killing everyone who tried to guard him wasn't enough, he easily led the league hawking almost 3 balls a night, and not the kind of steals the come from dangerous gambling, but perfect timing.

The praise almost gets redundant this high on the list; there's not too many bad things to be said about the guys who form the NBA's elite ranks. But Paul, even if he's only clocking at #3, might be the most impressive player on this list, simply because no one in the league is doing so much with so little. His game is so pure and flawless that only the most discerning cynic could be critical of him. His skills are othworldly, his character commendable; he's among the game's best leaders at just 23. If he continues improving as he's been - or if such a thing is even possible - he'll simply be the game' best.