When John Stockton was in his prime I was only four years old, so I'm not going to lie and say I've seen him play a lot. But his legendary status is unquestionable. A humble Spokane native, Stockton attended both Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga in Spokane. He is by far the best player that hails from the state of Washington.
In his 13 seasons with the Utah Jazz he set NBA career records for steals and assists. He is the definition of a point guard. The chemistry in that beautiful pick-n-roll with his legendary teammate, Karl Malone, is the best combination of all-time. It's a bummer he never ended up winning a ring, (blame M.J).
What now? John Stockton is likely to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with Michael Jordan, David Robinson, and Jerry Sloan this year. He is also the current head coach of one of his daughters' AAU team.
2. Brandon Roy:
Some might say number two is way too high for a player in only his 3rd season in the NBA. However, Brandon Roy has emerged as a superstar. Opposing teams face the task of guarding a player that is so good at so many things making it practically impossible to shut him down.
He can shoot well from the perimeter, blow pass his man with his dribble moves and crossovers, draw contact and get to the free throw line, and drop dimes to any of his teammates. Ever since his days at UW, you could tell he is always one of the most unselfish players on the court. He always wants to see his teammates succeed as much as he wants himself to succeed.
I knew he was destined for great things after witnessing all of the UW 2005-06 season. The one particular game that stands out to me is a game in which the Huskies lost, but one in which Roy made two buzzer beaters to keep the game alive for the Dawgs against Arizona. The Huskies could have gone to the final four that year if they were able to beat UConn in the Sweet 16.
Who knew that this Garfield graduate would go on to become on of the NBA's elite players? He has a bright future ahead, and might one day pass John Stockton on this list.
What now?
Brandon Roy will look to be competing in his 2nd straight all-star game, but more importantly is looking to lead the Blazers into this years' playoffs. With Roy playing along with Steve Blake, Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez, and LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers have a shot to not only make this year's playoffs, but go deep and compete for a spot in the NBA finals.
3. Detlef Schrempf:
Wait, he's from Germany, how does he qualify to be on this list? If you didn't know, Schrempf attended Centralia High School in Centralia. In his senior year he led the Centralia Tigers to a high school state championship in 1981. After his playing days at Centralia, Schrempf stayed home and became a legend at the University of Washington.
Like Stockton, Schrempf had his glory years also in the 90's. Most will remember him for his role in the Sonics' 1996 NBA Championship run. Perhaps his best strength was his three point shooting. He became the first German-born American player to play in the NBA finals.
What now? I recently saw Detlef up close in-person, damn he's tall! He seems to have settled down in Seattle and has a son currently attending Bellevue High, who actually made our player power rankings a while back.
4. Jason Terry:
Jason Terry is straight tearing up the NBA right now. With his signature long socks and headband, he is averaging a little over 20 points a game for the Dallas Mavericks. Terry has not forgotten his roots as he has the area code 206 tattooed across his chest.
His number, 31, is retired at Franklin High School. Whenever Terry is in the game it seems that the energy level of his team goes up, he is one of my favorite players just because of his consistency.
What now?
It looks like he'll end his career as a Maverick, as he is signed through 2012 with Dallas. When he retires will he return to his hometown of Seattle? Time will tell, who knows, maybe he could become a successful coach at Franklin.
5. Jamal Crawford:
Although he's not necessarily a super star, the legacy Jamal Crawford has left at Rainier Beach has inspired years and years of success for the local high school basketball powerhouse. Crawford has paved the way for the likes of Nate Robinson, Terrence Williams, and many others to follow.
The greatest aspect of Jamal Crawford is off the court, as he has not forgotten where he came from. Crawford funded a brand new basketball gym for Rainier Beach and the school properly named the court, "Crawford Court". After playing for the Knicks for four seasons, Crawford now plays for the Warriors.
What now? Crawford is starting to peak; he still does not have a defined position on the court. He can play both the one and the two guard. Will he permanently move to the two guard position and become a consistent scoring threat for the Warriors?
Other Notables: James Edwards, Byron Beck, Doug Christies, Luke Ridnour, and Steve Hawes
photo source: [itusozluk] [foundtrack] [nba]
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