1. LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers- The King has arguably been the best player in the league the past six seasons since his rookie year in 2003. Averaging 27.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 6.7 apg, stats comparable to Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson, nobody in the NBA has stats even close to these. Last season was arguably his best as James put up 28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and 7.2 apg while winning the MVP Award and leading the Cavs to 67 wins, a franchise and NBA best. With his zero rings on his fingers, James’ teammates WILL have to step up this season if GM Danny Ferry wants to keep James around after the 2009-10 season, a season where he is due to become a free agent. James said as of today that he is unlikely to sign an extension with Cleveland until after next season. With all the skills in the world and 12,993 points poured in during his career, James is the clear choice for best player in the East.

2. Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat- Wade is another player from the touted draft class of 2003 which produced James and Carmelo Anthony. Wade is a great shooter that can also drive and throw it down on somebody. Winning a title with Shaquille O’Neal in 2006, Wade has cemented himself as the best player in Heat history. Also due to become a free agent after next season, Pat Riley hopes that he can bring Wade and his 9,992 points back to South Beach for at least a few more years. Being the third best player in the league, D-Wade will likely stay there for quite some time as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant fill the void at first and second. Look for another 30 ppg season from the Marquette alum as he is hungry for a second ring.

3. Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic- The best big man to play for the Magic since Shaq, Dwight Howard is a man among boys in the low post. At 23, and Howard has led the league in double doubles, blocks, points in the paint, and rebounds per game in his young five year career. For Dwight, his work ethic has brought him there as he came into the NBA being a tall, skinny kid wearing braces and all he could do was dunk. Now, the Superman looking center is the most dominant big man in the league and will continue to do so for the next ten to twelve years.

4. Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers-Granger, an alum of New Mexico, is relatively unmentioned in the conversation over the best players in the league. Playing in a small market in Indianapolis, Granger has put up major stats the past two seasons and really broke out in 2008-09, averaging 25.9 points per game. At 6’9″, Granger is one of the most athletic players in the East and should be good for years to come.

5. Paul Pierce, SG, Boston Celtics- Averaging at least 20 points a game for each season, Pierce has shown to be a great leader and be able to make the clutch shot. Also improving on defense each year, Pierce was key to the Celtics championship in 2008. If he can continue to produce, Boston should be just as good with the addition of Rasheed Wallace. Watch out for Pierce to have another strong year as the ball will be spread out and open shots will be on the horizon.

Top 5 First Varsity Seasons At Ohio State (Basketball)

5. Herb Williams- This Buckeye starts the list at #5 due to his dominating presence in the paint, blocking 6 shots or more 5 times during his freshman season in 1977-78. He also set the freshman scoring record of 452, that stood for another 12 years, until the guy who is #4 on the list came along.

4. Jimmy Jackson- At the time, this rising star helped Toledo Macomber High School win its first state title in 1989, and had an immediate impact on the court the following season for Ohio State. Thought of as the best high school player ever in the state, Jackson broke into St John’s Arena and rocked that season, averaging 16.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg, while shooting a scorching 49.9% from the field. He would go on to play two more full seasons with the Bucks, and get his number retired (22) in the rafters.

3. Michael Redd- This home town guy, hailing from West high school, was truly a gift to the 1997-98 Buckeyes. He did not win a state title at West, unlike Jackson, but his freshman season he did light up the scoreboard, averaging 21.9 points per game. The truly great success for Redd at OSU wasn’t until the following season, when he led Ohio State to the Final Four. (shh, the NCAA says I shouldn’t remember that)

2. Greg Oden/Mike Conley Jr.- Well, I guess you have to bunch these two guys together, they were in the same recruiting class of 2006, did go to the same high school (Lawerence North, IN). This duo could probably be considered the best the Buckeyes have ever seen, with Conley driving the lane, dishing it up to Oden with the tip slam on occasion. Together, they combine to own 4 of the records at Ohio State as freshman, with Conley easily having the assists record by a staggering 113 assists, nearly double the second place person in Damon Stringer. Oh, did I forget to mention one fact, that they led the 2006-07 team to the Final Four? They carried that team to Atlanta, on the heels of Oden’s key block against Tennessee in the closing seconds of the Sweet 16. The only reason they did not make it to #1 was because they made it to the Final Four, they didn’t win it.

1. Jerry Lucas- Sorry Mike and Greg, this guy has one up on you. This man was also thought of as the best player to ever play high school basketball in the state of Ohio, at Middletown High School, which he owns many of the OHSAA scoring records, and the 76 consecutive victories by a team is still a record today. By the way this is titled, Lucas can be considered on this list. He did not get to play Varsity basketball at Ohio State in his first season, the NCAA at the time had a ruling that you must sit out your freshman year before you could play Varsity. But in his first Varsity year, Lucas took the once quiet Ohio State basketball program by storm, averaging 26.2 ppg, and shooting a now unthinkable 63% from the field. The reason he tops the list at #1 is because he won the national title in his first Varsity season, leading Ohio State to their only national title in 1960, with a dominating 75-55 victory over Cal.