Ogden’s Opus: The Puzzling Standard of Modern NBA Stardom
What exactly does it mean to be an NBA star? That and more on this week’s Ogden’s Opus.
One can readily identify the life that a star leads, but establishing what specifically elevates a player to such a prestigious status is a far more tedious task. More often than not, it’s a combination of skill, impact, and accolades.
As the NBA evolves, however, so too must the standard for stardom.
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The Association is currently in a period during which the two-way star has become an almost distant memory. Most players who receive recognition as such are solid defensively and at least close to elite on the offensive end.
But what happens when it’s the other way around?
Big men have received recognition in such instances, both in the present day and the past. The extent of the acclaim has varied, but All-Star Game appearances have been handed out to defensive-minded big men with limited offensive arsenals.
Those players have included the likes of Tyson Chandler, Dikembe Mutombo, Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace.
Perimeter players haven’t been quite as lucky as their interior counterparts.
The NBA has long rewarded players who can score, regardless of how well they perform in other areas.
The NBA has long rewarded players who can score, regardless of how well they perform in other areas…Elite perimeter defenders who falter in the offensive department fail to receive that same level of forgiveness.
Too many contemporary stars thrive offensively, only to match that greatness with a putrid level of defensive efficiency.
Elite perimeter defenders who falter in the offensive department fail to receive that same level of forgiveness.
On the surface, that’s a sensible theory. It’s easy to forgive a player who performs poorly on defense when they average upwards of 20 points per game, as opposed to a player occasionally faltering defensively and being unable to match the opposition’s scoring numbers.
That’s something that simply cannot be overlooked.
Defense Wins Championships, But Not Our Admiration
In a league where defense wins championships, it’s confusing to see how little recognition goes to the game’s elite defenders. This isn’t to say that every competent defender deserves recognition.
Instead, it’s a belief that the truly dominant perimeter forces do.
Every NBA champion since the 2006 Miami Heat has ranked in the Top 10 in defensive efficiency. Four straight title winners have sent a perimeter player be one of the All-Defensive Teams.
Since 2007, all but two championship-winners have featured a perimeter player on one of the two All-Defensive Teams.
If the end goal is to win, and consistency on defense is the key to doing so, then defensive game-changers should be valued at a similar, if not higher, level than scorers who fail to provide anything but personal points on the board.
Yet, players such as Tony Allen, Michael Cooper and Kawhi Leonard—both of whom offer more on offense than Allen, but the point remains—have a combined zero career All-Star Game appearances.
One Way or Another
That is where the issue exists.
Just one season ago, Kyle Korver made the All-Star Game on the strength of his elite 3-point shooting and, quite literally, nothing else. In 2014, DeMar DeRozan was selected as an All-Star for his slashing and, once again, nothing else.
James Harden has been an MVP candidate, Damian Lillard has been named All-NBA, and Carmelo Anthony is on his way to the Hall of Fame—all of which has transpired with well-documented inefficiency on defense.
This isn’t to say that the likes of Anthony, DeRozan, Harden, Korver or Lillard are undeserving of their recognition; all five players, and countless others, have earned their respective spots in NBA history.
What’s confusing is that Allen has never even been in the discussion for an All-Star team.
That’s a puzzling truth considering he was voted as the best perimeter defender in the NBA by general managers in 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14—three consecutive seasons during LeBron James‘ prime..
Being the very best at a vital aspect of the game generally warrants significant accolades. For Allen, it’s been nothing beyond All-Defense.
Fix the Double Standard or Change the Standard
Allen played in a deep Western Conference during those three seasons, where guard play has been so tremendous that it leaves at least one genuine star snubbed on a yearly basis. He’s also an example, and not the only player who could be referenced.
Leonard has been regarded as an elite defender for three consecutive seasons, but hasn’t received an ounce of All-Star hype until the development of his offensive game.
Another who comes to mind is eight-time All-Defensive Team honoree Bruce Bowen, who helped the San Antonio Spurs win three NBA championships with his lockdown defense. He, like Allen, Cooper and Leonard, never once made an All-Star Game appearance.
The question is, should these all-defense, no-offense players receive All-Star nods if thriving in an inverse manner results in such an honor?
Changing the Outcome
Scoring is the easiest way to achieve statistic appeal, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing worth evaluating. Scorers are going to score, as the old saying goes, but the efficiency and difficulty with which they do so often dictates the outcome of a game.
If a team has a player who can consistently limit an elite scorer’s impact on a game, they deserve to be recognized with more than just an All-Defensive Team nod. They deserve to be called the same thing as high-caliber scorers with limitations on defense: stars.
A star, at its very core, is a player who significantly alters the result of a game. If one area of limitation is to be ignored, then that standard should be maintained until our expectations reach a more well-rounded point.
Genuinely elite perimeter defenders who struggle offensively deserve the same star label as scorers who fail to thrive in other capacities.
It’s About the Elite, Not the Very Good
Of course, the ideal player is one who does more than just one thing; that goes for stars and those of a lesser stature. It’s also understandable that a rim protector will receive All-Star hype before a perimeter defender, who’s often assigned to one player at a time.
Much as cornerbacks are in the NFL, however, dominant perimeter defenders deserve to be recognized amongst the elite of the NBA.
Football and basketball are inherently different sports, but the same principles apply to this conversation. The likes of contemporary star Darrelle Revis and the legendary Charles Woodson made their name as defensive weapons who could shut down any caliber of opponent.
To have that type of asset in the NBA is nothing short of invaluable.
Allen and Leonard are essentially basketball’s Revis and Woodson. They’ve made casualties out of just about everyone they’ve faced, including Kevin Durant and LeBron James in high-profile postseason series.
Recently, that’s changed something of a change in the manner we honors defenders—but is it enough?
Leonard’s rise to superstardom is being completed by the development of his offensive game. It’d simply be foolish to ignore the fact that he became a genuine NBA star on the strength of his defense—a tool that Gregg Popovich relied upon heavily during the championship run in 2014.
Some may argue that Leonard won Finals MVP via his offense, but he won the prestigious award via his defense on King James.
Recognized as Champions, but Not as Stars?
A season later, Andre Iguodala won Finals MVP. He was an offensive catalyst, but he took home that award for the same reason: he made life incredibly difficult for the best player in the world.
If elite defense is to be recognized at the highest level, why shouldn’t the same be done during the regular season?
Whether they place a higher emphasis on offense or defense, teams still need to put points on the board. Thus, it’s understandable for an emphasis to be placed upon a player’s offensive dependability.
When it comes to choosing one over the other, however, teams generally win more with lockdown defenders than they do scorers who offer little else.
It’s entirely rational to deduce that the real focus of an NBA player must be to eradicate their flaws and become threats on both ends of the floor. After all, that’s the only truly logical approach to the game.
In an era where it seems to be one end or the other, however, the perimeter defensive aces deserve just as much respect as the scorers and shooters.
Quote: Rondo’s Redemption
"“I think it made me hungrier,” [Rajon] Rondo told ESPN.com after scoring 21 points and dishing out five assists during Monday’s 112-98 win over the Mavericks, the first time he faced Dallas since his departure. “I never started doubting myself. It made me work a little bit harder. I think I worked the hardest I ever worked in the NBA this summer.“I’m a competitor. I never doubted myself. All these people have counted me out since I got in the league, so it never made me any difference. I kept myself around positive people, got a great support system and just kept at it.”"
That gem of a quote was provided by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas. It was issued on the heels of Rajon Rondo dropping 21 points on his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, thus capping off one of his personal best months since tearing his ACL in 2013.
Rondo finished November with averages of 12.4 points, 11.4 assists, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 0.9 3-point field goals made per game. He recorded four triple-doubles and eight double-doubles in those 16 appearances, including a 20-assist outing against the Charlotte Hornets.
How hungry is Rondo, exactly? Statistically, he leads the league in both assists per game and triple-doubles.
Sounds like the old Rondo is back.
Under the Radar: Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers
After failing to win a single game during the months of October and November, the Philadelphia 76ers won on the very first day of December. Leading the charge was unsung hero Robert Covington.
Covington, 24, recorded 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and five 3-point field goals made in 34 minutes of court time. He helped the Sixers break their losing streak with a 103-91 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
If you’re surprised by the player who stepped up for Philadelphia, don’t be; Covington is averaging 18.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.8 steals over the past five games. That includes outings with six, seven and eight steals, respectively.
No, those are not typos.
NBA Draft Stud: Ben Simmons
If the 2016 NBA Draft were held today, the working theory is that a vast majority of teams would take LSU Tigers star Ben Simmons. He has competition for the No. 1 spot, but Simmons has drawn comparisons to everyone from LeBron James to Lamar Odom.
A 6’10” and 240-pound hybrid forward who can handle the ball, facilitate, score, and rebound at an elite level, Simmons is special. The question, of course, is whether or not he can thrive as a full-time small forward at the next level.
If Simmons can develop something of a consistent outside shot—he has has one 3-point field goal made in six games played—he could silence his critics. If he happens to destined to play power forward, then his early season production suggests he’s up to task.
Simmons is currently averaging 16.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
Team to Watch: Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are showing all of the signs of a rising force. Utah’s defense is rounding into form, its offense is showing signs of being able to flourish behind rising stars Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward, and its record accurately depicts the growing process: 8-8.
Utah is playing .500 basketball—no more, no less—but the upside is legitimate.
Most recently, the Jazz took the Golden State Warriors to the limit before ultimately falling 106-103 to the defending NBA champions. Utah nearly upset the undefeated Warriors, which is reason enough to be intrigued.
The Jazz still have an abundance of questions to answer, but with Rudy Gobert in the middle and a cast of players simultaneously coming into their own under Quin Snyder, Utah appears to be building something special.