The newest Los Angeles Laker is the best player on the team, according to ESPN.
ESPN is nearing the end of its NBA player rankings and coming in at third is the team’s starting center, Dwight Howard. Howard missed the end of last season and will be sidelined for some of the 2012-13 campaign due to injury, but he was still named a top three NBA player.
The leader of the Lakers, Kobe Bryant, came in at the sixth position, Pau Gasol was 15 and Steve Nash was placed at 19. Although ESPN has not released the top two positions yet, Kevin Durant and LeBron James will be the only two players ahead of the Lakers center. Howard beat out Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose who came in at fifth and Los Angeles Clipper Chris Paul who was placed at the fourth spot.
Howard is no doubt the best center in the NBA and even though his offensive game is not as polished as Andrew Bynum’s, Howard does give it all he has in every game. Howard’s defensive prowess is what separates him from the pack also; there is no other center in the league that can do the things Howard does on the defensive end.
The combination of Howard’s length and athleticism instils fear in opponents who attack the basket and the three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner is one who enjoys thwarting any penetration. In the 2011-12 season, Howard averaged 20.6 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, numbers Lakers fans hope will increase in this upcoming season.
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In case you missed it – Lakers Locker Room Talk chats about Lakers/Clippers and the battle for L.A.
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