FanHouse's Tom Ziller argues his ranking of the top 50 players in the NBA.
For a Tar Heel, an old college superstar with a made-for-TV game, Antawn Jamison sure doesn't get much pub these days. It's all Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler ... which is understandable; Gil and Caron are more important, younger, a bit more boisterous and quirky. But it relegates 'Tawn outside the mainstream consciousness to an unfair degree, because this dude's a fine, fine player.
Jamison has the sort-of box-score mysticism which should give him basic, eternal Sportscenter dap: the vaunted 20/10 line. Jamison actually went 21/10 (touché) last season in D.C., and only four cats joined 'Tawn in the club last season (Jefferson, Boozer, Yao, Howard). And while -- due to minutes or role -- Jamison hasn't always carried the card, he's had these attributes in spades his whole career.
As a sometimes small forward, he has been among the best positional rebounders. As a power forward, he has been very strong. His shooting isn't quite spectacular, but he gets buckets without destroying many possessions. His best offensive attribute, though, is about the least heralded skill you could find: he never turns the ball over.
Jamison uses a ton of possessions, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for faults. Those faults, with Antawn, never come on turnovers. In each of the past five years, Jamison has finished in the top five in the NBA for turnover ratio, which is a measure of turnovers per possession used. His career rate currently sits sixth of all-time. He does not make mistakes ... which is a bit at odds with the standard stereotype of the explosive New Forward of the past decade.
I'm not sure Jamison is the perfect four for Washington -- the 'Zards desperately need a shot-blocking presence there, and Jamison has never been that. As its best last season, Brendan Haywood filled the void. Maybe that's enough, and Jamison can perform in all his exotic Otherness as an offensive-minded PF. The addition of Gil back into the soup surely matters, making Jamison more effective, as he's one of the best in the league at adapting to team situations. (Witness his year in Dallas.)
There was concern about the length of Jamison's extension this summer; there is always and should always be concern about long-term deals given to players in their 30s, especially athletic types. While the contract will no doubt be painful four years from now, I have no doubt Jamison -- mashed with Arenas, Butler and Haywood -- gives D.C. its best chance to win for the next two years. Championship level? Probably not. Wackier things have happened, though, and with Jamison on board the Wizards are just one player away.
NBA Top 50
No. 50, Andris Biedrins, Warriors
