Ogden’s Opus: What Does It Mean to Be Elite in the NBA?
Some have been great. Plenty have achieved stardom. What exactly does it mean to rank amongst the NBA’s elite?
With each and every passing NBA season, new players enter the rare territory of the Association’s elite. Some complete the process, but a vast majority of those on the cusp of glory fail to achieve it.
That’s why the term, “Elite,” exists: to separate the best of the best from the stars and household names.
To be elite, a player must measure up to seemingly unattainable standards set by the legends of the past. That cannot be simplified to just one trait, but instead measured in a number of different ways.
The question is, what are the factors being weighed?
There’s no concrete answer to this question, but every man and woman has an opinion. The best one can do is combine the theories presented, formulate an opinion of their own, and attempt to provide a response to the question of the hour.
That process begins by acknowledging how much more goes into a player being, “Elite,” than just numbers.
It’s Bigger Than Numbers
Throughout NBA history, there has been a statistical standard set for players in the conversation for being one of the league’s elite. Figures such as 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists are often thrown around as statistical bare minimum’s for the best of the best.
As has been established an infinite number of times before, the statistics only tell a part of the story.
Elite players generally adhere to these standards, but not all measure up statistically. Their role within an offense may differ from their contemporaries, thus creating a narrative that far exceeds the statistics.
A prime example of this truth is San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker.
Despite a statistical output that paled in comparison to the traditional standard, Parker was long recognized as an elite point guard. With five NBA championship rings, a Finals MVP award, and four All-NBA honors, the proof was in the accolades.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, players have posted elite numbers without qualifying for the label. Said athletes had the statistics, but as will soon be discussed, lacked the necessary additions to their resume.
If those elite numbers are being produced on a team that is irrelevant come the postseason, however, it’s hard to call them anything but empty.
It’s Not Just Talent
Statistics are a telling sign of whether or not a player deserves to be recognized as, “Elite.” More goes into it, of course, but there’s no denying how important it is for a player to maintain a certain level of production in order to be regarded as one of the NBA’s best.
Beyond the numbers is an evaluation of whether or not a player can positively contribute in multiple phases of the game.
Being an elite player doesn’t require a player to be elite in every single area of basketball; few, if any, ever have been. What is required is an undeniable ability to provide a determining impact on the outcome of a game.
If a player has a weakness that severely hinders their team, the elite label would be tough to defend.
There may be weaker areas of a player’s game, but the truly elite address and make up for their flaws. Even with a complete arsenal of skills and talents, a player doesn’t necessarily qualify as one of the NBA’s elite.
Simply put, it goes beyond individual ability and output.
The Postseason Standard
Many have tallied numbers that rival or exceed those achieved by the NBA’s elite. Even more have the talent and upside to be compared to those in the upper echelon.
The phrase that separates the elite from the gifted is as follows: no matter which team they’re on, an elite player will get them to the playoffs.
That may seem unfathomable, but the standard has been established by a number of elite players who exceeded all expectations. To suggest that the bar should be lowered for contemporary players is to water down the term unto itself.
Over the past 15 years, a number of players have lived up to the hype en route to an elite distinction.
In 2001-02, Jason Kidd took the New Jersey Nets from 26-56 to 52-30 and an NBA Finals appearance—and not much else changed aside from his arrival. A season later, Tracy McGrady led the Orlando Magic to the postseason despite playing large portions of the season without the likes of Gordan Giricek, Grant Hill, and Mike Miller.
Kobe Bryant in 2005-06, Dwyane Wade in 2008-09, and a vast majority of LeBron James‘ first Cleveland Cavaliers tenure all fall in line with this standard. The key for every one of these players is that they never relented; instead, the postseason became an expectation, no matter their surroundings.
It’s an unfairly high standard, but it’s the standard that’s been set by the elite players of the past.
In a title-hungry NBA, the standard continues to be raised. Not only must a team reach the playoffs, but there is a general expectation for a player to help their team win their once they arrive.
Those who achieve championship success are most often held in a class of their own.
The Bottom Line
Whether fair or foul, elite players are held to the standards set by the legends of yesteryear. It may seem unjust, but if a player is to be recognized as one of the NBA’s best players, the bar cannot be lowered.
Elite players are few and far between, and that’s exactly how it should be.
Regardless of how they do it, an elite player must have an overwhelming impact on every game they play. Rather than simply padding the stat sheet, said contributors are those who influence the outcome of a game in unparalleled ways.
With a powerful combination of production, well-rounded ability, postseason success, and outcome influence, the NBA’s elite are tough to find and easy to identify.
It’s fair and understandable to rush into conversations about which players qualify as the NBA’s elite. There are a number of close candidates, but being exciting, explosive, or productive isn’t quite enough.
To be one of the NBA’s elite, a player must be one of the unquestioned best in the world. No exceptions.
Stat of the Week: 14.2
Regardless of what the standings say, no team has been more dominant than the San Antonio Spurs. The No. 2 team in the Western Conference has jumped out to a record of 36-6 through 42 games, which is second to just the 38-4 Golden State Warriors.
The area in which the Spurs are second to none is point differential.
For those unfamiliar, point differential weighs the margin of a team’s victories against the margin of its losses. This creates a number that accurately depicts how well or poorly a team has been playing in a given season.
San Antonio is No. 1 in the NBA in this category, and it isn’t very close. While the Warriors have an outstanding point differential of plus-11.7, the Spurs are a distant plus-14.2.
That’s on pace to be the highest point differential in NBA history.
Under the Radar: Louis Williams, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s hard to call the reigning Sixth Man of the Year an under-the-radar player, but that’s exactly what Louis Williams has become. Playing for the 9-34 Los Angeles Lakers, it was bound to happen.
Poor as the team’s record may be, it’s impossible to ignore how brilliant Williams has been during the month of January.
Williams has scored at least 20 points in seven of his 10 January appearances. That includes a 44-point eruption against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and a cool 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting against the Phoenix Suns.
Williams isn’t a perfect player, but he’s one of the NBA’s more dangerous scorers when given the green light. In Los Angeles, Byron Scott has provided the 29-year-old with quite the vote of confidence.
Williams may not be playing for a contender, but he’s been tremendous over the past month.
NBA Draft Stud: Kahlil Felder, Oakland Golden Bears
The prototypical point guard has more than just skill; he has a unique combination of size, speed, and explosiveness. Unfortunately for the undersized playmakers, that often leads to their being overlooked in NBA Draft circles.
As illustrated by the likes of Nate Robinson and Isaiah Thomas, that doesn’t mean 5’9″ point guards can’t thrive in the NBA.
Kahlil Felder is doing his best to follow in Robinson and Thomas’ footsteps as a 5’9″ playmaker who stands out in the Association. He’s No. 4 in the country in scoring average and No. 1 in assists per game.
Beyond the numbers, Felder is a fearless player who dropped 37 points on the Michigan State Spartans and 30 on the Virginia Cavaliers—a pair of Top 15 teams. He has elite court vision, boasts deep 3-point range, excels at drawing contact and getting to the free throw line, and has improved tremendously as a defensive playmaker.
Felder will slip into the second round because of his size, but he has the traits to be an NBA player.
Team to Watch: Milwaukee Bucks
Whether fair or foul, a legion of NBA fans heralded the Milwaukee Bucks as potential championship contenders entering 2015-16. After going 41-41 in 2014-15, Milwaukee’s addition of free agent Greg Monroe, as well as the return of injured forward Jabari Parker, had many pondering how much better it would be a season later.
After opening the season at 12-21, the Bucks have begun to show signs of life.
Milwaukee is 7-4 over its past 11 games, including a three-game winning streak with victories over postseason contenders. It defeated the Atlanta Hawks 108-101 in overtime, the Charlotte Hornets 105-92 on the road, and the Miami Heat 91-79 at American Airlines Arena.
Those are three impressive wins by a team that has the talent to compete. It may not cure all of Milwaukee’s woes, but Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Monroe are playing at star-caliber levels, and Parker is getting his legs back under him.
More hoops habit: Greg Monroe is rumored to be a potential trade piece. Where should he end up?
If Michael Carter-Williams can shoot with any measure of consistency, this Bucks team may be a contender after all.