NBA 2015-16 ‘All-Entertainment’ Teams: A Look At The League’s Flashiest Players
By Jon Shames
Third Team:
Rajon Rondo, Sacramento Kings
Rajon Rondo is back to his old ways. He’s been on an absolute tear this season, making an All-Star case behind averages of 12.5 points, 11.0 assists, and 6.8 rebounds per game. He’s a walking triple-double machine, and has already posted four this season, the most of any player thus far.
As a true pass-first point guard who has the handles and vision to be effective in such a role, Rondo creates most of his highlight plays with jaw-dropping dimes, rather than poster dunks or ankle-breaking crossovers. Still, he’s a threat for all three:
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Harden has garnered a good deal of criticism this season for his shooting inefficiency and lack of defense, but The Beard is still a dynamic offensive player who can score — nearly at will.
He’s averaging 29.0 points per game this year, and while his shooting percentages have dropped off a bit (now .406/.313/.871), Harden has started to bounce back recently, and has upped his field goal percentage to .442 in his last 10 contests.
Harden is another threat for a triple-double on any given night, and for the season, sports averages of 6.9 assists and 6.5 rebounds. He needs to cut back on his turnovers (4.8 per game), but Harden remains one of the most skilled and effective offensive players in the NBA.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
As someone who just turned 21 years old six days ago, the so-called Greek Freak is still developing his game. Still, he has certainly given the city of Milwaukee something to be excited about. Antetokounmpo is averaging 16 points to go along with his 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 dimes per game, but those numbers don’t tell the full story.
Giannis stands at a lengthy 6-foot-11, with some of the longest limbs and largest hands you’ll ever see on a human being, and boy does he take advantage of his athletic tools. On top of his size, he’s lightning quick, has excellent footwork already, and can jump out of the gym.
He’s starting to come into his own as an all-around scorer, but for now, we can still appreciate his awe-inspiring athleticism for what it is.
Dirk Nowiztki, Dallas Mavericks
If you don’t find Dirk Nowitzki — the timeless great who makes up for his fading athleticism with his perfect shooting stroke (a thing of unprecedented beauty), you don’t like good basketball.
The 37-year-old Dirk is having an outstanding season, once again, with a Dallas Mavericks team that has been surprisingly great this year. In just 30.2 minutes per game, everyone’s favorite German is putting up 17.6 points per game on a slash line of .488/.407/.890.
He has conceded some of the offensive duties to Wesley Matthews, who has started to heat up recently, and Chandler Parsons, who is working back from injury, but the future Hall-of-Famer is still doing his thing.
Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat
Hassan Whiteside’s ascent to kind-of-stardom came suddenly and unexpectedly, but it was no fluke. The 26-year-old is in his second consecutive season of averaging a double-double, and he has solidified himself as a full-time starter for a Miami Heat team that is currently sixth in the East after missing out on the playoffs entirely last season.
Physically speaking, Whiteside’s athleticism makes him nothing short of dominant. He is shooting 61.6 percent from the field while averaging 12.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, but his presence on defense is what really makes him so indispensable.
Through 20 games, the big man is averaging an absurd 4.4 blocks per game, a mark that leads the NBA and would actually place him at seventh on the all-time leader list for blocks per game in a single season, assuming he keeps it up. What’s scary is that Whiteside is still on the rise, too.
Next: Second Team