We often hear talk about just who’s the best player in the NBA. Right away people begin throwing out the superstar of their favorite team. Sometimes, people just say whoever is being highly touted in the media. So, just who are the best NBA players out there? I would submit that it’s hard to say, because there are so many variables. Today, I’m going to look at the stats from the 2005-06 NBA season and give you some of my selections for best current players.

First up, I’m going to select three players looking at the following stats:

- Points per game as per MPG
- Assists
- Free Throws made and percentage

I know this criteria favors guards, but I’ll address that later. Here’s my list of top players and why. Keep in mind that I’m looking for players that do well in all three categories. For instance, a player that’s #1 in scoring, but #37 in assists will be ranked lower than a player that’s 2nd in scoring and 8th in assists.

#1: Allen Iverson – In 2005, he was 2nd in scoring with 33 points per game on average. He was 8th in assists with 7.4 per game. Finally, he was 2nd in free throws made. He was actually first in attempts.

#2: Dwayne Wade – Last season he was 5th in scoring with 27.2 points per game. He was 11th in assists and 4th in free throws made. There’s also the intangible emotional lift he brings to the team, which we all saw last season as the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship.

#3: LeBron James – Last season King James helped get his team to the playoffs. He was 3rd in scoring with 21.4 points per game, 12th in assists and 6th in free throws made. James hit 33.5% of his three point baskets last season. He made 127 out of 379.

We will go over the rest of the list tomorrow.