Monta Ellis SG/PG, Golden State Warriors
Age: 21
Height: 6-3
Weight: 177
If everything goes right he could be the next… Allen Iverson
Favorite shot at the bar... Apple Juice
Upon entering the league
Entering the draft straight out of high school, Monta Ellis was the top scoring high school player since Dujuan Wagner, who was selected in the top 10 and had a very similar game to his while in high school.
While this might seem like a good thing on paper, the colossal bust that Wagner turned out to be sure didn't help his standings. Monta fell all the way to the 10th pick of the second round as scouts were concerned about a minor knee injury, questions about whether his frail frame was tough enough for the grinding schedule of the NBA and whether he'd be tall enough to play the 2 guard at the NBA level.
Why he's so good
Monta Ellis is one of the NBA's quickest and most athletic players. Ellis scores a lot of buckets during fast break opportunities. This along with a sweet shooting stroke, are the reasons that Ellis shot such a high percentage this year.
Playing in Don Nelson's up-tempo system is gold for Ellis' style of play. Nelson's addition as coach was a huge reason for his Most Improved Player Award.
Why he'll get even better
His defense is brutal. At below average defensive player on the perimeter (which should change due to his above average lateral quickness) his low body strength makes him a non-factor defending the low-post.
Ellis's assist-to-turnover ratio could use a lot of work. Seeing he is only 6'3, he could be a defensive liability to a lot of large NBA shooting guards. Improving his playmaking skills and court vision are essential elements to his improvement as a player.
Overall: Monta Ellis had a spectacular season but his disappearance in the playoffs last year is really concerning. Most of the attributes that make Ellis effective are ones that tend to dissipate with age, so rounding out the edges in his game are a must for him to continue to be effective. From all accounts he seems to have a good work ethic so don't be surprised if Monta Ellis is playing at a high level for the next decade.
Deron Williams PG, Utah Jazz
Age: 23
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
If everything goes right he could be the next… Jason Kidd
Upon entering the league
It came as a shock to many when Deron Williams was selected by the Utah Jazz in front of the highly regarded Chris Paul in the 2005 NBA Draft. The scrutiny over that selection intensified as Paul had the best rookie season by a point guard in a decade while Williams struggled to find minutes and was frequently benched by Utah coach Jerry Sloan. Deron started to show signs that he would be something special as he learned Sloan's system and gained his trust.
Out of the 125 sportswriters who voted for the rookie of the year award, only one voted for Deron. It was Ron Boone who has worked as the Jazz' primary broadcast analyst for more than a decade. No one accused Boone of homerism more than I, but it turns out he might have actually made the right call after all.
Why he's so good
He's as clutch as it gets. If you look at his first playoff run of his career from the past year you would notice that he increased his production with every passing series, culminating at the Western Conference Finals against San Antonio where he dominated the San Antonio Spurs' championship quality defense and eventual finals MVP Tony Parker to the tune of 26 points per game and 8 assists.
His defense is superb. Deron has the quickness to keep up with the speediest in the league (like the aforementioned Parker) while also having the bulk and strength to deal with the bigger points in the league like Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups. Offensively he's a complete player as well. Deron has range out to the three point line, the ability to drive the lane and exceptional court vision. Not only does he possess all of these traits but also the knowledge on when to do what. Jerry Sloan has taught him well.
Overall: Deron's versatility on both offense and defense put him into his own class among young point guards, he has the skills and physical advantages needed to be the best point guard in the league someday.
Chris Paul PG, New Orleans Hornets
Age: 23
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
If everything goes right he could be the next… Isiah Thomas
Breakfast equivalent Eggo Pancakes
Upon entering the league Throughout his final NCAA season, many experts were projecting Chris Paul not only to be the biggest contributor immediately upon entering the NBA but also the player with the greatest upside. So far, they've been at least half right. Despite the evidence that he was the most talented player available in the draft, Paul fell all the way to 4th on draft day in 2005. With the exception of Deron Williams at number three, I'm sure both Milwaukee (Andrew Bogut) and Atlanta (Marvin ‘Afterthought' Williams) are kicking themselves for overlooking the talented point guard.
Why he's so good: Even at 22, Paul is one of the most complete guards in the NBA. Not only that, but by all accounts Chris Paul is one class act. Reminiscent of the late, great Ray Charles.
Why he'll get even better: The biggest knock on Paul during his rookie year was the lack of range on his jumpshot and this was never more noticeable than during international competition last summer.
Team USA's mantra was to field a younger roster with the theory of building team chemistry for future tournaments and thus Chris Paul was named the starting point guard at only 22 years old. However, most teams in the tournament would lay-off Paul, play zone and clog the lane for possibly passing lanes and dare him to take long range jumpshots which he would typically miss. Eventually the bulk of the playing time went to Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls.
Paul's work ethic is respected and it's evident by the improvement of his three point this season shooting a respectable 35 percent. With all the talk that fellow 2005 draft alum Deron Williams has received concerning his improvement this year, Paul actually improved in nearly every statistical category as well.
Overall: Paul has all the tools (quickness, court awareness, defense) to eventually be the best point guard in the world and the future might be sooner than we think.
T.J. Ford PG, Toronto Raptors
Age: 25
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
If everything goes right he could be the next… Tiny Archibald
Back in the day his initials stood for... Terrible Jumpshot
Upon entering the league TJ Ford had as spectacular of a college career as a player could have, winning the Naismith and Wooden awards as the collegiate player of the year. Unfortunately he came out in the 2003 NBA Draft, possibly the deepest draft in NBA history, and slipped all the way to the 8th selection and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Why he's so good: It's debatable whether he, Devin Harris, Tony Parker or Rasho Nesterovic is the quickest player in the NBA. Ford uses this speed well to wear out his opposing defenders, break his man off the dribble to both finish at the rim and dish off to open teammates.
Ford has proven throughout his career that he's a clutch player. He averaged 14 points and 9 assists in eight NCAA tournament games and he shot nearly fifty percent from the field during the 2007 NBA Playoffs, which is great seeing shooting is probably his greatest weakness.
A major concern for Ford is his spine. He's missed entire seasons with spinal injuries and hopefully that's all behind him now.
Why he'll get even better: Joining a new team with eight other new arrivals is not an easy task for any player, let alone the starting point guard. The experience of playing with the same group of guys should help TJ's assists go up and reduce his turnovers.
Ford's injury history is not as much of an issue playing for Toronto as it would be if he played for the majority of other NBA franchises. Jose Calderon is possibly the top backup point in the league so Ford doesn't have to play extended minutes. He actually averaged less than thirty minutes a game last season, which makes his averages of 14 and 8 even more impressive.
His shooting has improved each year. There are times when Ford tries to do too much or move too quickly down the court, learning how to shift gears when Ford has an overdrive that few can match would make him deadly.
Overall: If Ford can stay healthy he could develop into a top five NBA point guard. As of right now, he's still one of the league's top ten lead guards.
Leandro Barbosa SG/PG, Phoenix Suns
Age: 24
Height: 6-3
Weight: 188
If everything goes right he could be the next… Eddie Johnson
Favorite gesture of endearment... A single gentle head-butt to the forehead
Upon entering the league
Leandro Barbosa broke a lot of ground when he entered the NBA. When the Phoenix Suns traded for the San Antonio Spurs' 29th pick in the 2003 entry draft to select the Brazilian blur, it was very unusual at that point for an international guard to be taken in the first round, let alone one from Brazil. Despite his world class speed, many general managers overlooked Barbosa due to his lack of genuine competition in Brazilian basketball. They were also worried about the funky release on his jumpshot.
Why he's so good
Well the release on his jumpshot might be funky but it sure is effective. LB was one of the league's most accurate marksmen (at least in the regular season) last season. Nearly all of those attempts were unguarded as Barbosa's true standout characteristic, his speed, allowed him to get down the court quickly for transition threes while his quickness forced defenders to lay off his shot somewhat, fearful of his driving skills.
Barbosa is an offensive dynamo. His passing improves with each season while his frequent forays into the paint allows him to showcase his excellent finish around the basket.
Why he'll get even better
Leandro displays a lot of the attributes needed to improve as a player. Dan D'Antoni's favorite player is a humble and hard working individual who is very coachable. The combination of that, his insane speed and his consistent jumper gives Barbosa the potential to be scary good.
His defense is probably the aspect of his game that needs the most work. His long arms and quickness should mean that he's an effective defender. Unfortunately, the defensive side of the game doesn't come as naturally to LB as the offensive portion does.
Overall: Steve Nash's successor doesn't play a lot like him, he's much more of a scorer than a playmaker, but he's got game. He was shunted down a couple notches on this list after his limp playoff performance.
Out of the few I named, I feel right now the best PG under the age of 25 is Deron Williams. Now I know CP3 put on a great year, but he hasnt been the West Finals like Deron Williams was last year, and Williams plays in a system where he gets held back more than does Paul. I feel if Jerry Sloan ever let Williams have complete reign of the calls that he be one of the bets PG in the game today. He has strength and size over other point guards and he can pass and shot with the best. He more solid player than CP3 in the regard as Paul has a mid range game but not a real outside threat like Williams is. But i think when its all said and done CP3 will be the better player though Utah has the better supporting cast as of right now.
Who you think is the best PG under the age of 25?
Age: 21
Height: 6-3
Weight: 177
If everything goes right he could be the next… Allen Iverson
Favorite shot at the bar... Apple Juice
Upon entering the league
Entering the draft straight out of high school, Monta Ellis was the top scoring high school player since Dujuan Wagner, who was selected in the top 10 and had a very similar game to his while in high school.
While this might seem like a good thing on paper, the colossal bust that Wagner turned out to be sure didn't help his standings. Monta fell all the way to the 10th pick of the second round as scouts were concerned about a minor knee injury, questions about whether his frail frame was tough enough for the grinding schedule of the NBA and whether he'd be tall enough to play the 2 guard at the NBA level.
Why he's so good
Monta Ellis is one of the NBA's quickest and most athletic players. Ellis scores a lot of buckets during fast break opportunities. This along with a sweet shooting stroke, are the reasons that Ellis shot such a high percentage this year.
Playing in Don Nelson's up-tempo system is gold for Ellis' style of play. Nelson's addition as coach was a huge reason for his Most Improved Player Award.
Why he'll get even better
His defense is brutal. At below average defensive player on the perimeter (which should change due to his above average lateral quickness) his low body strength makes him a non-factor defending the low-post.
Ellis's assist-to-turnover ratio could use a lot of work. Seeing he is only 6'3, he could be a defensive liability to a lot of large NBA shooting guards. Improving his playmaking skills and court vision are essential elements to his improvement as a player.
Overall: Monta Ellis had a spectacular season but his disappearance in the playoffs last year is really concerning. Most of the attributes that make Ellis effective are ones that tend to dissipate with age, so rounding out the edges in his game are a must for him to continue to be effective. From all accounts he seems to have a good work ethic so don't be surprised if Monta Ellis is playing at a high level for the next decade.
Deron Williams PG, Utah Jazz
Age: 23
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
If everything goes right he could be the next… Jason Kidd
Upon entering the league
It came as a shock to many when Deron Williams was selected by the Utah Jazz in front of the highly regarded Chris Paul in the 2005 NBA Draft. The scrutiny over that selection intensified as Paul had the best rookie season by a point guard in a decade while Williams struggled to find minutes and was frequently benched by Utah coach Jerry Sloan. Deron started to show signs that he would be something special as he learned Sloan's system and gained his trust.
Out of the 125 sportswriters who voted for the rookie of the year award, only one voted for Deron. It was Ron Boone who has worked as the Jazz' primary broadcast analyst for more than a decade. No one accused Boone of homerism more than I, but it turns out he might have actually made the right call after all.
Why he's so good
He's as clutch as it gets. If you look at his first playoff run of his career from the past year you would notice that he increased his production with every passing series, culminating at the Western Conference Finals against San Antonio where he dominated the San Antonio Spurs' championship quality defense and eventual finals MVP Tony Parker to the tune of 26 points per game and 8 assists.
His defense is superb. Deron has the quickness to keep up with the speediest in the league (like the aforementioned Parker) while also having the bulk and strength to deal with the bigger points in the league like Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups. Offensively he's a complete player as well. Deron has range out to the three point line, the ability to drive the lane and exceptional court vision. Not only does he possess all of these traits but also the knowledge on when to do what. Jerry Sloan has taught him well.
Overall: Deron's versatility on both offense and defense put him into his own class among young point guards, he has the skills and physical advantages needed to be the best point guard in the league someday.
Chris Paul PG, New Orleans Hornets
Age: 23
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
If everything goes right he could be the next… Isiah Thomas
Breakfast equivalent Eggo Pancakes
Upon entering the league Throughout his final NCAA season, many experts were projecting Chris Paul not only to be the biggest contributor immediately upon entering the NBA but also the player with the greatest upside. So far, they've been at least half right. Despite the evidence that he was the most talented player available in the draft, Paul fell all the way to 4th on draft day in 2005. With the exception of Deron Williams at number three, I'm sure both Milwaukee (Andrew Bogut) and Atlanta (Marvin ‘Afterthought' Williams) are kicking themselves for overlooking the talented point guard.
Why he's so good: Even at 22, Paul is one of the most complete guards in the NBA. Not only that, but by all accounts Chris Paul is one class act. Reminiscent of the late, great Ray Charles.
Why he'll get even better: The biggest knock on Paul during his rookie year was the lack of range on his jumpshot and this was never more noticeable than during international competition last summer.
Team USA's mantra was to field a younger roster with the theory of building team chemistry for future tournaments and thus Chris Paul was named the starting point guard at only 22 years old. However, most teams in the tournament would lay-off Paul, play zone and clog the lane for possibly passing lanes and dare him to take long range jumpshots which he would typically miss. Eventually the bulk of the playing time went to Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls.
Paul's work ethic is respected and it's evident by the improvement of his three point this season shooting a respectable 35 percent. With all the talk that fellow 2005 draft alum Deron Williams has received concerning his improvement this year, Paul actually improved in nearly every statistical category as well.
Overall: Paul has all the tools (quickness, court awareness, defense) to eventually be the best point guard in the world and the future might be sooner than we think.
T.J. Ford PG, Toronto Raptors
Age: 25
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
If everything goes right he could be the next… Tiny Archibald
Back in the day his initials stood for... Terrible Jumpshot
Upon entering the league TJ Ford had as spectacular of a college career as a player could have, winning the Naismith and Wooden awards as the collegiate player of the year. Unfortunately he came out in the 2003 NBA Draft, possibly the deepest draft in NBA history, and slipped all the way to the 8th selection and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Why he's so good: It's debatable whether he, Devin Harris, Tony Parker or Rasho Nesterovic is the quickest player in the NBA. Ford uses this speed well to wear out his opposing defenders, break his man off the dribble to both finish at the rim and dish off to open teammates.
Ford has proven throughout his career that he's a clutch player. He averaged 14 points and 9 assists in eight NCAA tournament games and he shot nearly fifty percent from the field during the 2007 NBA Playoffs, which is great seeing shooting is probably his greatest weakness.
A major concern for Ford is his spine. He's missed entire seasons with spinal injuries and hopefully that's all behind him now.
Why he'll get even better: Joining a new team with eight other new arrivals is not an easy task for any player, let alone the starting point guard. The experience of playing with the same group of guys should help TJ's assists go up and reduce his turnovers.
Ford's injury history is not as much of an issue playing for Toronto as it would be if he played for the majority of other NBA franchises. Jose Calderon is possibly the top backup point in the league so Ford doesn't have to play extended minutes. He actually averaged less than thirty minutes a game last season, which makes his averages of 14 and 8 even more impressive.
His shooting has improved each year. There are times when Ford tries to do too much or move too quickly down the court, learning how to shift gears when Ford has an overdrive that few can match would make him deadly.
Overall: If Ford can stay healthy he could develop into a top five NBA point guard. As of right now, he's still one of the league's top ten lead guards.
Leandro Barbosa SG/PG, Phoenix Suns
Age: 24
Height: 6-3
Weight: 188
If everything goes right he could be the next… Eddie Johnson
Favorite gesture of endearment... A single gentle head-butt to the forehead
Upon entering the league
Leandro Barbosa broke a lot of ground when he entered the NBA. When the Phoenix Suns traded for the San Antonio Spurs' 29th pick in the 2003 entry draft to select the Brazilian blur, it was very unusual at that point for an international guard to be taken in the first round, let alone one from Brazil. Despite his world class speed, many general managers overlooked Barbosa due to his lack of genuine competition in Brazilian basketball. They were also worried about the funky release on his jumpshot.
Why he's so good
Well the release on his jumpshot might be funky but it sure is effective. LB was one of the league's most accurate marksmen (at least in the regular season) last season. Nearly all of those attempts were unguarded as Barbosa's true standout characteristic, his speed, allowed him to get down the court quickly for transition threes while his quickness forced defenders to lay off his shot somewhat, fearful of his driving skills.
Barbosa is an offensive dynamo. His passing improves with each season while his frequent forays into the paint allows him to showcase his excellent finish around the basket.
Why he'll get even better
Leandro displays a lot of the attributes needed to improve as a player. Dan D'Antoni's favorite player is a humble and hard working individual who is very coachable. The combination of that, his insane speed and his consistent jumper gives Barbosa the potential to be scary good.
His defense is probably the aspect of his game that needs the most work. His long arms and quickness should mean that he's an effective defender. Unfortunately, the defensive side of the game doesn't come as naturally to LB as the offensive portion does.
Overall: Steve Nash's successor doesn't play a lot like him, he's much more of a scorer than a playmaker, but he's got game. He was shunted down a couple notches on this list after his limp playoff performance.
Out of the few I named, I feel right now the best PG under the age of 25 is Deron Williams. Now I know CP3 put on a great year, but he hasnt been the West Finals like Deron Williams was last year, and Williams plays in a system where he gets held back more than does Paul. I feel if Jerry Sloan ever let Williams have complete reign of the calls that he be one of the bets PG in the game today. He has strength and size over other point guards and he can pass and shot with the best. He more solid player than CP3 in the regard as Paul has a mid range game but not a real outside threat like Williams is. But i think when its all said and done CP3 will be the better player though Utah has the better supporting cast as of right now.
Who you think is the best PG under the age of 25?