Best Young NBA Star

When the question of best basketball player in the world arises most fans immediately think of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.  Many of today’s great NBA players jumped directly from high school to pros.  So, while best player is always an enticing debate, lets tackle a lesser argued question of who is the best young NBA star to attend college? 

For some time, Dwyane Wade from Marquette was the hands down answer to this question.  However, recently Chris Paul and Kevin Durant have developed into household names and are both making convincing cases to be included in the debate.

After a dominating career at Wake Forest, where he was perceived to be a small point guard playing for a small school, Paul was out to prove critics wrong upon arriving to the NBA.  His underdog psyche and perception of himself was further strengthened when he was passed up on by the Milwaukee Bucks (Andrew Bogut), Atlanta Hawks (Marvin Williams), and Utah Jazz (Deron Williams) in the draft.  Finally, the undersized guard who had just led Wake Forest to a successful season, was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets.

Chris Paul on Draft Day

Since his selection, the talented point guard has impressed fans, players, coaches, and executives.  In his rookie campaign, Paul averaged 16.1 ppg, 7.8 apg, and 2.24 spg leading all rookies. Those numbers earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year (ROY) award and a unanimous selection to the All-Rookie First Team.  Additionally, he received Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors six times, becoming only the fifth player in history to accomplish that feat along with Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson.

In his second season he scored and assisted at higher and higher rates.  His development led to his naming on the sophomore squad for the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge.  During the game, Paul recorded 16 points, 17 assists (a game record), and 9 rebounds.  A December contest against the Dallas Mavericks highlighted Paul’s sophomore campaign when he tallied 25 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high 18 assists (his third career triple-double).

Paul driving past Dirk

During his third season, Paul kept establishing himself as a rising star in the league.  He showed his Western Conference foes why the Hornets, under his leadership, would be a contender for years to come.  Statistically, Paul’s third season was his breakout year, setting career highs in every category.  His outstanding season averages read like this 21.1 ppg, 11.6 apg, and 2.7 spg.  His phenomenal play was rewarded with a mid-season selection to the All-Star Game; there he recorded 16 points and 14 assists, becoming only the fourth player in All-Star Game history to reach 14+ points and assists.  Moreover, Paul ended the season ranked first in the league in assists and steals, becoming the first person since John Stockton to do so.

Chris Paul and John Stockton: Two Future Hall of Famers?

During his next season, Paul provided nightly highlights for hometown fans to awe at.  His development as a dazzling ball handler and precise passer was amazing.  He was not only gaining hometown recognition, but he was beginning to be appreciated on a national stage.  Again, he led the league in assists and steals, becoming the only player to do so in consecutive seasons; while also becoming the second fastest player to reach 2,500 career assists, only trailing the great, Oscar Robertson.  After slipping slightly in his fifth professional season, due primarily to injury, Paul looks to continue his tear this season as one of the best point guards and young talents in the game.

Similarly to Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder’s lanky swingman has continued to impress since joining the league. After being snubbed by the Trail Blazers, who selected Greg Oden 1^st overall, the Seattle Supersonics quickly grabbed the Texas star with the 2^nd overall selection.

Peace Oden! I think we all know who was the better pick.

Durant obviously did not appreciate being passed over because he came out on his rookie campaign on a mission. Evidently, his mission was to make sure the Trail Blazers understood they had made a mistake.  Seattle welcomed Durant’s efforts and he quickly established himself as a fan favorite and the face of the franchise.  After posting 20.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, and 2.2 apg, his rookie campaign ended with ROY honors.

Is that Durant lurking in Kobe's shadow?  How long till he takes over?  I'm sure Seattle fans are kicking themselves!

In his sophomore season, Durant continued to assert himself as a force to be reckoned with.  His status has a top young gun was strengthened at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game during the Rookie-Sophomore Game.  He carried his sophomore team to victory while breaking the games scoring record with 46 points. This performance all came while the Seattle Supersonics were relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City.

Good Bye Seattle, hello Oklahoma City!

After two years of steady improvements, nobody knew just how much to expect from the talented Durant as he began his third NBA season.  After two successful seasons, he didn't disappoint in his third.  He earned the privilege in playing for the West in his first NBA All-Star Game.  While playing in the All-Star Game is impressive, he became the youngest player (21 years-old) to win the scoring title with 30.1 ppg. 

In addition to his individual accolades, more impressively Durant led his young Thunder team to an unexpected playoff berth after finishing with 50 wins.  After only winning 23 games the previous year, the Thunders 27 game improvement was the league’s sixth biggest turnaround.  In the playoffs, Durant’s team made their series against the Los Angeles Lakers exciting.  After extending the series to 6 games, the Thunder lost on a buzzer-beating tip in by Pau Gasol.  At season’s end, Durant finished second in the MVP voting behind LeBron James and received a spot on the 2010 All-NBA First Team, which included LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade.

Yes, D-Wade has more experience but do either Chris Paul or Kevin Durant have a shot at stealing his title as the best young NBA star to attend college?

What do you think?


Here is a list of accomplishments for each player to help you make up your own mind.


Dwyane Wade:

28 Years Old

College: Marquette University

Drafted 5^th Overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat

NBA All-Rookie First Team (2004)

6-Time NBA All-Star (2005-2010)

NBA All-Star MVP (2010)

NBA Champion & NBA Finals MVP (2006)

NBA Scoring Champion (2009)

2-Time All-NBA 1^st Team (2009, 2010)

2-Time All-NBA 2^nd Team (2005, 2006)

1-Time All-NBA 3^rd Team (2007)

3-Time All-Defensive 2^nd Team (2005, 2009, 2010)

Olympic Gold Medalist with Team USA (2008 Summer Olympic Games)

ESPY Award: Best Breakthrough Athlete (2005)

Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2006)

ESPY Award: Best NBA Player (2006)

Miami Heat All-Time Scoring and Assists Leader

Chris Paul:

25 Years Old

College: Wake Forest University

Drafted 4^th Overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets

NBA Rookie of the Year (2006)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team (2006)

1-Time All-NBA 1^st Team (2008)

1-Time All-NBA 2^nd Team (2009)

1-Time All-Defensive 1^st Team (2009)

1-Time All-Defensive 2^nd Team (2008)

3-Time NBA All-Star (2008, 2009, 2010)

Olympic Gold Medalist with Team USA (2008 Summer Olympic Games)

ESPY Award Winner: Best Breakthrough Athlete (2006)

NBA records:

Consecutive games with a steal: 108 consecutive games with a steal

Most games with a least one steal, season: 80 (steal in every game played)

Kevin Durant:

22 Years Old

College: University of Texas

Drafted 2^nd Overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics

NBA Rookie of the Year (2008)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team (2008)

NBA Rookie Challenge MVP (2009)

1-Time NBA All-Star (2010)

NBA Scoring Champion (2010)

All-NBA First Team (2010)

FIBA World Championship MVP (2010)