Who's the smartest player in the NBA?

[Patrick Chewing]

Here are my Top 5:

1. Jason Kidd
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Steve Nash
4. Tim Duncan
5. Lebron James

[Mr. Jabbar]

Lebron is not remotely close to smart. Skilled and gifted perhaps. But not smart.

[kNicKz]

rondo should be in the rankings, not top 5 because smart players dont attack other players but top 10 for his court vision

[Meticode]

Not sure about the top five, but I know who rounds up the bottom...

Last: JaValle McGee

[no pun intended]

Jason Kidd is an excellent choice for the smartest player in the NBA. Has mad brains for the game on both the offensive and defensive end.

[Kobe 4 The Win]

Hard to measure but Kobe and Nash are at the top of my list. Maybe Duncan and CP3.

[ClutchOver9000]

http://www.nba.com/media/act_jason_kidd.jpg

[Rekindled]

1. Nash
2. Kidd
3. CP3
4. Parker
5. Ginobili

[red1]

battier, nash, okafor, david west, duncan. some shit like that, we have no way of knowing for sure

[red1]

basketball IQ-wise your top is solid

[DuMa]

CP3
Kidd
Nash
Lebron

[Whoah10115]

Jason Kidd is the smartest. Marc Gasol, Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo would probably round out the top 6 (no real order, past maybe the top 3).

[d.bball.guy]

Not sure about the top five, but I know who rounds up the bottom...

Last: JaValle McGee
:lol

[selrahc]

lin is asian so he should be up there

and lebron is definitely not smart... if he were smart he would be the GOAT... he is just an athletic freak with basketball talent

[kmartshopper]

granger Lin Lopez bros battier Duncan

[1987_Lakers]

lol @ people saying LeBron isn't smart. He has come to a point where he can dominate the game physically and mentally.

[BuffaloBill]

Here are my Top 5:

1. Jason Kidd
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Steve Nash
4. Tim Duncan
5. Lebron James



I would just switch out Lebron with CP3. Lebron doesn't belong on that list.

[Patrick Chewing]

lin is asian so he should be up there




I love Lin, but he is a turnover machine.


I truly think Kidd has the best court smarts and then it's really not even close after that.

[supe12sta12z]

When you say smart, Are you talking about Book smart? Street Smarts? or Basketball IQ?

[Patrick Chewing]

When you say smart, Are you talking about Book smart? Street Smarts? or Basketball IQ?


Basketball IQ, son.

[gigantes]

2011-12 NBA.com GM Survey Results

Which player has the best basketball IQ?

1. Steve Nash, Phoenix -- 28.6%
2. Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers -- 21.4%
3. Jason Kidd, Dallas -- 17.9%
T4. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers -- 7.1%
T4. Tim Duncan, San Antonio -- 7.1%
T4. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio -- 7.1%

http://www.nba.com/news/features/2012-gm-survey/index.html
seems legit.

[maybeshewill13]

Non basketball IQ taken into account, I'm taking the asian guy with the Harvard degree.

[alleykat]

Lebron is not remotely close to smart. Skilled and gifted perhaps. But not smart.

Remotely? Lol his court vision is tremendous. Nah remote on that list is Kobe. Probably the most skilled player on that list, but furthest from being smart on the court

[Pointguard]

Basketball IQ would be manifest by consistent judgement, decision making, superior anticipation, ability to improve themselves in different ways, willingness to learn different systems/people, knowing when to assert oneself, knowing how to get more out of others and understanding game situations while mitigating mistakes. Add creativity and versatility to the mix.

Kidd is a great choice in all regards.

Chris Paul - is baby Kidd.

Nash can suck you into his world and make the opposition play his game. His awareness and decision making is impeccable. Can make something out of nothing because of great patience and know how.

Lebron - exercises the best judgement and decision making of big time scorers in the game. Look at his assist and assist to turnover ratio. While people are saying he isn't a shooter it wouldn't surprise anyone if he had a season where he is connecting like Dirk's best years from the 3pt line; because he has great judgment as to when to shoot vs. pass. Can play different positions and guard a wide range of players because of study and application skills.

Kevin Garnett also has to get high praise. Coaches talk about KG knowing their playbook. He developed more aspects of his game as much as anybody ever in the game. Could do it all because he has great application skills. Played intense and smart his whole career - its hard to do that in anything that has a lot of flow.

[Floppy]

The guy who dribbles the ball at the 3pt line for 20 sec while waving his arms around and then takes a step back fade away three.

Insane bball IQ.

[scott0326]

Andray Blatche, Javale McGee, Nick Young, Jordan Crawford, Josh Smith, Lamar Odom, J.R. Smith, Tyrus Thomas or Michael Beasley

[Mr Clutch Melo]

How can anyone claim that Kobe is a smart player ? His shot selection and choices (when to pass and when to shoot) are not exactly what I define smart.

[jdm_dc_fan]

Kobe
Duncan
Garnett
Shaq
Nash
Rondo
Kidd
Battier

Imagine Kobe and Rondo on the same team. Literally yin and yang, peanut butter and jelly, black and white, pass and score.

[Djahjaga]

lin is asian so he should be up there

and lebron is definitely not smart... if he were smart he would be the GOAT... he is just an athletic freak with basketball talent


Peers often describe James as "a beast," and even though they mean to flatter him, the label dismisses the depths to which he comprehends the game. He can deconstruct the top eight players on every NBA team and many college teams. He can run every set in the Heat playbook from all five positions. In film sessions he sometimes completes Spoelstra's sentences, and at the Olympics, many of Team USA's defensive strategies were suggestions from James in practice. "He's not smart," says Krzyzewski. "He's brilliant. And I don't like to use that word."

In Cleveland, James would crack jokes during meetings because he already knew what the coaches were trying to teach. "It was like the kid in school who can doodle and throw spitballs but still get A's," Jent says. Because James was the Cavaliers' best player, others followed his example, though they did not grasp the material as easily. James couldn't understand, when games began, why they kept blowing assignments. "I expect everyone to be on the same wavelength, and that's a problem I'm still working on," he says. "If I see something and it doesn't happen the way I envision, I can get frustrated."

When James is grabbing a rare rest on the Heat bench, he usually sits next to second-year guard Terrel Harris, narrating the action so a young player can see the game through his eyes. During a mid-November- game in Denver, Ray Allen was dribbling upcourt and Rashard Lewis was streaking down the left side. James inched forward in his seat and started yelling, "Rashard, it's coming to you! Get ready to shoot!" Allen raced around a pick-and-roll with Bosh and threw the ball to the corner, where an expectant Lewis caught it and drilled the three-pointer. "How did you know that was going to happen?" Harris asked.

The standard scouting report given to Heat players before games is two pages. The one James receives is four, filled with the kind of advanced stats reserved for coaches, bloggers and Shane Battier. "I want to know that this guy drives left 70% of the time, or pulls up when he drives right, or likes to cross over after two dribbles," James says. Even when he is with friends, he'll geek out in the middle of casual conversation: "Remember when I drove and kicked to Ray at the four-minute mark in the second quarter. If he'd have drifted into the corner, we'd have had a better shot." Then, after a pause: "So what are you guys getting into tonight?"

"He'll be talking about a player and tell you, 'If you post up on the left side and drive middle, he'll foul you every time,'" Carter says. "Everybody sees the dunks and the 35 points, but it's no accident. Carmelo Anthony is the same size. J.R. Smith can jump just as high. Dwight Howard is as good an athlete. It's his thought process that separates him."


Sick of the notion that Lebron is just playing on talent. That doesn't suffice at the highest level of competition.

[Lebron23]

Sick of the notion that Lebron is just playing on talent. That doesn't suffice at the highest level of competition.


This

His basketball IQ hovers at genius level.

[andremiller07]

All the best/smart places can always see 1 step ahead imo right now no one is better at being 1 step ahead than Paul and Lebron. I would throw Boris Diaw into the mix to but hes not a superstar like the others.

[TaLvsCuaL]

Marc Gasol deserves a mention.

[Nero Tulip]

:facepalm people answering Bryant...

[pauk]

There are alot of guys who have great basketball IQ like Lebron, Kobe, Tim Duncan, Steve nash, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd etc.... but you also have to have the tools (talent/skill) to implement that IQ.... and today the best at that is somebody like Lebron and Kobe...

[chips93]

but you also have to have the tools (talent/skill) to implement that IQ.... and today the best at that is somebody like Lebron and Kobe...


thats not what we are discussing though. we are discussing who has the best bball iq, not who utilises it best.

[alleykat]

thats not what we are discussing though. we are discussing who has the best bball iq, not who utilises it best.

What is the point of having IQ if ur not gonna use it. If ur not going to apply it then how do u know that ur a smart player?

If that's the case u might as well be a coach and not play

[pauk]

What is the point of having IQ if ur not gonna use it. If ur not going to apply it then how do u know that ur a smart player?

If that's the case u might as well be a coach and not play

This.

[Burgz V2]

Duncan
Nash
Kidd
Hill (for his actual IQ not his bbIQ)
Kobe

Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee for being just that dumb, dont know if ive ever seen anyone on shaqtin a fool as much as him

[chips93]

What is the point of having IQ if ur not gonna use it. If ur not going to apply it then how do u know that ur a smart player?

If that's the case u might as well be a coach and not play

but that is beside the fact. its not what we are discussing.

the thread isnt 'who is the smartest player, who is also a super talented, and can thus use his basketball iq'

its just 'who is the smartest player?'




its like me making a thread 'who is the tallest player in the league?', and somebody else saying, 'sure thabeet is tall, but he sucks, and isnt skilled/talented enough to use it', that doesnt take away from the fact that he is the tallest.

[Lebron23]

If an NBA player frequently attempts a stupid ill advised shots as a 10 + plus years veteran. I don't consider you as a very smart NBA player. A smart basketball players always make a good decision that will benefit his team. He knows how to get his teammates involve on their offense.

[jstern]

Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo. Really point guards are the smartest. I don't know if Kobe belongs in that list, since he takes way too many questionable shots rather than pass it to a wide open teammates, though I think he's somewhat smart as a person, compared to the average person. Lebron has great awareness, in a Jason Kidd sense. I can't remember the play during a free throw that I want to use as an example.

[KungFuJoe]

but that is beside the fact. its not what we are discussing.

the thread isnt 'who is the smartest player, who is also a super talented, and can thus use his basketball iq'

its just 'who is the smartest player?'




its like me making a thread 'who is the tallest player in the league?', and somebody else saying, 'sure thabeet is tall, but he sucks, and isnt skilled/talented enough to use it', that doesnt take away from the fact that he is the tallest.

Holy shit you make no sense whatsoever.

If you are the op, then this is one ironic thread.

If you're not then you just have no idea what this thread is about.

Like others already said...unless you know the player personally, how the hell do you know he has basketball smarts if you don't witness it?

[midatlantic09]

granger Lin Lopez bros battier Duncan

Going to a top school as a scholarship athlete does not automatically mean that one is smart; the entry standards for athletes are often lower than for the general student body.

[KungFuJoe]

Going to a top school as a scholarship athlete does not automatically mean that one is smart; the entry standards for athletes are often lower than for the general student body.

Ivy League schools don't offer athletic scholarships. Lin had a 4.2 GPA in high school. To add perspective, straight As (without the benefit of HP or AP classes) for all four years will get you a 4.0. He got a 4.2.

[chips93]

If you're not then you just have no idea what this thread is about


Who's the smartest player in the NBA?

there isnt much ambiguity there. its who is the smartest, not who is best at applying their bball iq.


how the hell do you know he has basketball smarts if you don't witness it


by watching games? role players can make smart plays too.

[Thechosen1]

Chris Paul

[ZaaaaaH]

BBall IQ

Kidd,Nash,Kobe,KG,TD,CP3,LeBron,Rondo,Billups

Battier,Andre,Dirk,TP,Pau,Manu,Irving,Pierce,Wade,

Blake,Love,Varejao,Harden,Rubio,Jack,Marc


If I had to pick one player Kidd has been surprising me ever since Mavs.

HM - Chandler has improved a lot, Stackhouse and Fish for the Vets.

[Patrick Chewing]

I dislike Lebron as much as the next guy, but to deny his on-court abilities is foolish. His eyes on the court for those great passes = Great IQ. At some times he can be one-dimensional, but he is efficient. He is not a chucker and knows how to draw the foul.


Honorable mentions also go to Manu and Parker

[clayton]

I can't believe someone mentioned Kobe...
http://nbcsportsmedia2.msnbc.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/spt-111225-lakers-bulls513.nbcsports-story-612.jpg

[NumberSix]

Dwight Howard.

[EnoughSaid]

How the hell can you guys sit here and say LeBron isn't smart? :wtf: Dude has INSANE court vision, knows what to do at every moment while he's on the floor, and is constantly trying to make the right play. He definitely has more bball IQ than Kobe.

[Jolokia]

Jlin

[NBASTATMAN]

Here are my Top 5:

1. Jason Kidd
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Steve Nash
4. Tim Duncan
5. Lebron James


TRUE LIST GOES LIKE

1. Jason Kidd
2. Nash
3. Pau Gasol
4. Duncan
5. Lebron

rondo, gino, Dirk, kobe,

:rockon:

[NBASTATMAN]

I can't believe someone mentioned Kobe...
http://nbcsportsmedia2.msnbc.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/spt-111225-lakers-bulls513.nbcsports-story-612.jpg


:applause:

[fos]

Could have just asked who is the whitest player in the NBA. Now that Scal is out, I just don't know...

[TaLvsCuaL]

Could have just asked who is the whitest player in the NBA. Now that Scal is out, I just don't know...
Battier obviously

[ScalabrineStan]

I'd say its in tiers


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