I know, weird title right? This phrase was first asked to me about 8 years ago by my old high school friend Jack. It was so random and so sincere, that at the time my other friend Matt and I couldn't control our laughter. Seriously, who wants to kn0w who your favorite wizard is? But since then, I use it as my default query that I would ask anyone if just given one question.In this case, though, it actually has an answer: Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards. It also got me thinking who my other favorite players are. Here goes:
MY FAVE FIVE (but probably not Barkley's...)
5. David Lee - New York Knicks. I love the way this guy plays the game, all out hustle, scrappiness, combined with considerable skill. If given regular minutes, he'd average 17 and 12 on the daily. Plus, he’s the only NBA player to ever have J. Peterman threaten to slap him. Also, he's got a great head of hair. Curls rule!4. Steve Nash - Phoenix Suns. I've got a full-blown man-crush on the two-time MVP after I was able to see him play up close while covering a preseason game last year. He truly is the last great fundamental basketball player left. It's a pleasure to watch him. He further added to my adoration by granting me an exclusive interview after said game, where we talked about soccer of all things, which I was able to turn into my greatest portfolio clip to date. He's a true ambassador for the game, the kind of person you want your kids to admire. He's got a great head of hair too!
3. Chauncey Billups - Detroit Pistons. Aside from being the best player in the history of the state of Colorado, Chauncey also bagged an NBA Finals MVP Award in 2004. He's a true professional, a great practice player, a terrific shooter and heady playmaker. And he's the only NBA player that I've seen play live in both high school and college. The Centennial State's Finest has worked hard after bouncing around his first few years to become one of the league's best all-around guards. No great head of hair though, sadly.2. Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards. Hibachi! As the league’s resident clown prince, it’s easy to dismiss Agent Zero as nothing more than a mouth. First of all, his blog is hilarious. It’s refreshing to see a professional athlete who is ultra-competitive, but still doesn’t take the game too seriously. But don’t get it twisted; the guy is a serious ballplayer. He is one of the league’s most explosive scorers, and out dueled scoring champ Kobe Bryant in a December game last year, dropping 60 on the Lakers. When Bryant stayed classy and called Gil’s performance “lucky” and said that he “took terrible shots,” Gilbert responded by shouting “Quality Shots” whenever he stroked a jumper in the rest of his games. When he poured in 54 on the Suns a week later, he deadpanned after the game, saying, “I guess we took quality shots tonight. It’s good to get the win.”
After Arenas was cut from the USA Men’s National Team last summer by Duke's anti-Christ head coach Mike Kzshyaszwi=qys’ckeyshQE*#Q#ski, said he’d love to play against the Blue Devils (obviously an impossibility) and vowed that he’d score 84 or 85 against them. He even gives his jersey away to a fan after every game. Seriously, how can you not love this guy?
1. Raymond Felton – Charlotte Bobcats. Two instances stick out in my mind. March 2003. Duke at North Carolina. After Felton, a freshman, was elbowed in the face by Duke’s Dahntay Jones, the teams and coaches had a shouting and shoving altercation. Several players including Felton had to be restrained. After the melee cooled down, on the very next possession, a snarling, bloodied Felton pulls up and drains a 25-foot three-pointer. Staring daggers at Jones on the way back down court, he then sarcastically pounds the floor with his palms, Duke’s infamous signal to lock down on D. Sugar Ray finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in Carolina’s upset of the Top 10-ranked Blue Devils.April 5, 2005. Carolina is facing the three-headed All-American guard monster that is Illinois’ Deron Williams, Dee Brown and Luther Head – the consensus No. 1 team in the country – in the 2005 National Championship Final. In a game full of superstars, and big time performances, Felton makes the game’s biggest play. With the Heels up by two with 30 seconds left, he chooses to not help on Head, who has beaten his man into the lane, instead laying off in the passing lane and deftly swiping Head's kick out to Deron Williams. Felton calmly bangs in two free throws after he’s fouled. Carolina up 4. Game over. National championship for the Tar Heels. Party on Franklin Street.
Nowadays, he’s not the best point guard in the league. Not the best shooter. Not the best passer. Not the best defender. But I would take him over anyone else. He’s a winner, plain and simple.
