Top 5 NBA Players in 2011

Top 5 NBA players in 2011? Some may say that the Miami Heat have three of the top five for any list. I disagree. In fact, only one of the Miami Heat big three is on my list of the greatest players in 2011. So who makes my list and why? Here are my top 5 current NBA players in no particular order and my reasons why.

1) Dwight Howard/Orlando Magic
How can you deny a man who can alter the game from a defensive standpoint. In fact, if I were compiling a list specific to centers Dwight Howard would easily be number one. Howard, according to stats on ESPN.com, is a top five shot blocker, rebounder, field goal percentage shooter and top 15 in scoring. But it isn't just the stats that make this guy impressive. It's his ability to deny opponents the opportunity to score an inside basket. The threat of Dwight Howard being in the lane on any drive is enough of a deterrence to make his opponents think about other options.

2) Kevin Durant/Oklahoma City Thunder
Durant doesn't just lead the NBA in scoring this season-he is putting up MVP type numbers in his 3rd season with the Thunder. Is he a top 5 NBA player for the next ten years? Maybe not-but he'll certainly be a huge factor over the next five years barring injury. Durant could land two or three Most Valuable Player awards if he continues at this pace. Unlike some of the other guys on this list, Durant is a legitimate 30 point scorer on any given night. He has the capability of carrying the rest of his team when he needs to.

3) Kobe Bryant/Los Angeles Lakers
Bryant has been a no-brainer on this list for nearly the past decade. Bryant still has plenty of game and plenty of rings to back it up. If there were ever any doubts that Kobe could be a perennial champ-those have certainly been erased now. Most general managers in the NBA would give their left pinky to have a guy of this caliber on their team-even now that Kobe is approaching 33 years old. Kobe might get knocked off this type of Top 5 NBA player list over the next several years--but don't bet on it. It may take retirement for that to happen.

4) LeBron James/Miami Heat
It's hard to ignore the game line stats that a guy like LeBron James can throw up. While Dwyane Wade is a strong scorer, LeBron James rounds out the Heat by being extremely versatile every single night. Not only does his effort end up with a triple double type stat column each game, but he makes the players around him a bit better. LeBron James still needs some hardware to back it up that he belongs on a Top 5 NBA player list--but that could happen soon if the Heat continues to rise.

5) Derrick Rose/Chicago Bulls
Some will argue that Derrick Rose doesn't belong on a top 5 NBA player list just yet. My only rebuttal is just to watch the guy play. In my opinion, Rose hustles more than any other single player in the NBA on both sides of the ball. The guy is a relentless defender with a very strong ability to score in a variety of ways. There will be critics who disagree that Rose shouldn't be considered a top 5 NBA player. But I think this guy belongs in an elite crowd for his overall effort night in and night out. While Rose certainly won't ever make Chicago fans forget Michael Jordan, he'll most likely be extremely reminiscent on a constant basis.

Other top players in the NBA in 2011 that just missed the list?
I think Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Blake Griffin are all playing at extremely high levels and would be possibilities for this list if it weren't so loaded with incredible talents. I look for Griffin to rise onto the list to take the spot of Bryant over the next few years if continues to add to his game.

That's it for my list of top 5 NBA players for the 2010-2011 season. This would obviously make one heck of an Olympic Dream Team starting five if all were available for the games. Can you imagine Rose, James, Bryant, Durant and Howard on the floor at the same time? Good luck handling that amount of talent.