Being a well-liked and respected player by your peers and fans shouldn’t be that difficult, but for a good portion of NBA players, it is. Every team, some more than others, has their villains, but which players are the easiest to cheer for? Here is each NBA team's most likeable player.
Atlanta Hawks - Kyle Korver
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Atlanta Hawks - Kyle Korver
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Korver has just one above average-basketball skill, 3-point shooting, but he does it at an all-time great level. Selected in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft out of Creighton, Korver holds NBA records for most consecutive games with a made 3-pointer with 127, and the highest 3-point percentage in a single season (53.6 percent).
Boston Celtics - Rajon Rondo
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Boston Celtics - Rajon Rondo
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Playing against him is an absolute nightmare, but watching Rajon Rondo and his vast array of creative passes is a joy to watch. Rondo is as unselfish a player as you’ll find in today’s NBA, and makes the art of passing just as exciting as a high-flying dunk.
Brooklyn Nets - Brook Lopez
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Brooklyn Nets - Brook Lopez
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There are not nearly as many offensively-skilled big men in the NBA now as there used to be, but Lopez is an exception. When he’s actually healthy and able to be on the court, few big men in this era have as deft a touch around the rim as the Lopez twin and Stanford alum.
Charlotte Hornets - Kemba Walker
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Charlotte Hornets - Kemba Walker
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America learned of Walker and his cold-blooded abilities in the clutch when he led UConn to a National Championship in 2011. Kemba has brought the late-game excitement and heroics to the otherwise not-too-thrilling Charlotte Hornets.
Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose
USA TODAY Sports - Russ Isabella
Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose
USA TODAY Sports - Russ Isabella
It’s hard to not feel bad for Rose and his injury woes. On the court, the point guard is perhaps the most explosive player in the league and a dominant MVP-level performer for Chicago. Any NBA fan not rooting for Rose to stay healthy simply has no empathy for anything at all, and I question their morals. Sorry ... I'll calm down.
Cleveland Cavaliers - Shawn Marion
USA TODAY Sports - Nelson Chenault
Cleveland Cavaliers - Shawn Marion
USA TODAY Sports - Nelson Chenault
Sorry LeBron, “The Decision” ruffled a few too many feathers. Marion is a 36-year-old 16-year NBA veteran who is certainly on the downside of his career, but he's still playing significant minutes for the Cavaliers. “The Matrix” has never been about his own stats, and has always played with a gritty style, willing to do whatever it takes to get his team the win.
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki
USA TODAY Sports - Kevin Jairaj
Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki
USA TODAY Sports - Kevin Jairaj
Dirk’s been simply incredible since joining the Mavericks as the ninth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. He was one of the first 7-footers to do most of their damage outside the paint, and his unique style of play has led him to become the NBA’s ninth-all time leading scorer. He’s still not done and hopefully we’ll be seeing his one-foot fadeaways dropping in from the ceiling for a few more seasons.
Denver Nuggets - Javale McGee
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Denver Nuggets - Javale McGee
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McGee is likable for reasons different than most players. As a frequent accidental contributor to TNT’s 'Inside The NBA' blooper segment 'Shaqtin’ A Fool,' McGee’s best attribute might be the ability to make fans laugh with his occasional flub on the court.
Detroit Pistons - Andre Drummond
USA TODAY Sports - Raj Mehta
Detroit Pistons - Andre Drummond
USA TODAY Sports - Raj Mehta
The league is starving for talented big men, and the Pistons have found one in Andre Drummond. The Pistons center entered the league at only 19 years of age and has blossomed before our eyes in his two-plus seasons in the league. Drummond has improved drastically in just a couple of years, including averages of 13.5 PPG and 13.2 RPG for the 2013-14 season.
Golden State Warriors - Stephen Curry
USA TODAY Sports - David Manning
Golden State Warriors - Stephen Curry
USA TODAY Sports - David Manning
The sweet-shooting point guard has become one of the most well-liked and popular players in all of the NBA. Curry is on pace to go down as the greatest shooter in the history of the league. Is there anything prettier to see on the basketball court than Curry pulling up for a three on a fast break?
Houston Rockets - James Harden
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Houston Rockets - James Harden
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For whatever reason, there’s something about huge beards that makes players become fan favorites. Besides his beard, Harden has a lot going for him. For one, he’s left-handed, which makes him a little quirky amongst NBA superstars, and he is an elite scorer who can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways.
Indiana Pacers - Paul George
USA TODAY Sports - Brian Spurlock
Indiana Pacers - Paul George
USA TODAY Sports - Brian Spurlock
George was already a popular player before breaking his leg in a Team USA scrimmage this summer. Fans are now pulling harder than ever for “PG-13” in his return. Here’s to hoping he returns to pre-injury form in short order.
Los Angeles Clippers - Chris Paul
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Los Angeles Clippers - Chris Paul
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“CP3” has to be the most frustrating player to match up against in the league. It’s just about impossible to cause a turnover, and you have to pick your poison with the point guard. Do you try to limit his number of assists and let him score, or do you get in his face and force him to pass? Paul seems to always be one step ahead of the defense.
Los Angeles Lakers - Jeremy Lin
USA TODAY Sports - Jayne Kamin-Oncea
Los Angeles Lakers - Jeremy Lin
USA TODAY Sports - Jayne Kamin-Oncea
Sorry Kobe fans. Lin led Palo Alto High School to a state title his senior year, but received very little attention from major college basketball programs and ended up at Harvard. Lin dominated the Ivy League, but still garnered little respect and went undrafted. It’s a testament to his perseverance and work ethic that he’s made it this far, and that’s something a fan of any team can cheer for.
Memphis Grizzlies - Vince Carter
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Memphis Grizzlies - Vince Carter
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Can you believe “Vinsanity” is 37 years old? Vince Carter’s no longer the superstar he once was in Toronto and New Jersey, but he is still worth a highlight-reel dunk or two every now and then. As long as he’s in the league, Vince Carter will be a fan favorite and won’t be forgotten as maybe the best dunker in basketball history.
Miami Heat - Luol Deng
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Miami Heat - Luol Deng
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The Heat forward was born in South Sudan before fleeing the country and moving to the United Kingdom with his family as a child. Deng eventually found his way to Duke University and the NBA, but it’s his work off the court that makes him so likable. He’s involved in a number of charities and has been noted for his work on behalf of the Lost Boys of Sudan.
Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo
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You might not be able to pronounce his name, but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who’s not impressed with Antetokounmpo’s game. Rightfully nicknamed the “Greek Freak,” Giannis is the type of player I personally can’t remember ever watching. He’s a 20-year-old 6-foot-11 shooting guard who still might not be done growing. Placing a ceiling on how good he can be would be foolish.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Andrew Wiggins
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Minnesota Timberwolves – Andrew Wiggins
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Not many first-overall draft picks are traded before they ever step on an NBA court, but that’s what happened with Wiggins. Traded from Cleveland to Minnesota for Kevin Love, the Kansas product is out to prove the Cavaliers made a mistake in trading away the future for the present.
New Orleans Pelicans - Ryan Anderson
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New Orleans Pelicans - Ryan Anderson
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Anderson was already a well-liked player for his sweet shooting stroke from a 6-foot-10 frame before tragedy struck in August 2013. Gia Allemand, Anderson’s model girlfriend, shockingly committed suicide. That terribly sad story is not how you hope to earn the support of a league's fanbase, but it’s hard not to root for the Pelicans forward every time he steps on the hardwood.
New York Knicks - Tim Hardaway Jr.
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New York Knicks - Tim Hardaway Jr.
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The second-year Knicks shooting guard was already a little famous before starring for the University of Michigan basketball team. Hardaway Jr. is the son of the five-time NBA All-Star of the same name. The Knicks are desperate for young talent, and Hardaway’s play so far early in his career has given the organization hope that he can continue to develop into an effective player in the league for the foreseeable future.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant
USA TODAY Sports - Richard Mackson
Durant is on pace for an all-time special type of NBA career. “KD” just turned 26 and is already a five-time All Star, five-time All-NBA First Team selection, and four-time NBA scoring champion. As if he didn’t have enough fans already, his 2014 MVP speech dedicated to his teammates, coaches and especially mother put him over the top as the most beloved NBA player of today.
Orlando Magic - Victor Oladipo
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Orlando Magic - Victor Oladipo
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The Magic have fallen mostly into irrelevance ever since Dwight Howard demanded a trade and got his wish back in 2012. Orlando had the second-overall pick the following year and selected Oladipo out of Indiana University. The second-year player is as much of a team guy as you can find in the NBA today and best known for his suffocating defense.
Philadelphia 76ers - Michael Carter-Williams
USA TODAY Sports - Howard Smith
Philadelphia 76ers - Michael Carter-Williams
USA TODAY Sports - Howard Smith
The poor, poor Philadelphia 76ers. It would be just kicking them while they’re down to really dislike any of their players, which would be tough to do since it’s hard to even name more than a few players on the roster. Carter-Williams is one player who gives the franchise a glimmer of hope, as evidenced by his 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Phoenix Suns - Isaiah Thomas
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Phoenix Suns - Isaiah Thomas
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The 5-foot-9 sixth man for the Phoenix Suns was the last pick in the entire 2011 NBA draft, but has played much more like one of the earliest picks in his three-plus seasons in the league. Thomas was dynamite in 2013, averaging over 20 PPG for the Kings and was rewarded by the Suns with a big contract this offseason. How can you not root for a guy that small who's balling out against guys often over a foot taller?
Portland Trail Blazers - Damian Lillard
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Portland Trail Blazers - Damian Lillard
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Few people had seen much of Damian Lillard when Portland drafted him with the sixth overall pick in 2012. Fans got to know him in a hurry as he immediately averaged 19 PPG and etched his name into the conversation for the best point guards in basketball. Lillard’s energetic style and exciting style of play makes Blazers games must-see TV.
Sacramento Kings - DeMarcus Cousins
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Sacramento Kings - DeMarcus Cousins
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This might surprise some people, but stay with me. Cousins certainly got off on a terrible foot with fans when he entered the league as a teenager. Like most people that age, Cousins was immature on and off the court. However, Cousins has matured and been a dominant force in the paint for the Kings. It’s time to forgive “Boogie” Cousins for his childish ways early in his career.
San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan
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San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan
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I mean, come on, the man can do no wrong. He’s the “Big Fundamental” and one of the greatest players of his generation. You want to teach a kid to play basketball the right way? Start with film of Tim Duncan.
Toronto Raptors - Kyle Lowry
USA TODAY Sports - John E. Sokolowski
Toronto Raptors - Kyle Lowery
USA TODAY Sports - John E. Sokolowski
Lowry burst onto the scene and was incredible for the Raptors in 2013, and somehow he's been even better this season. One of the most underappreciated stars in the NBA, the Toronto point guard is currently averaging over 20 PPG, nearly 7.0 APG and 5.0 RPG for the team north of the border.
Utah Jazz - Gordon Hayward
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Utah Jazz - Gordon Hayward
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The former Butler Bulldog was rewarded for his strong play with a big contract extension this offseason and is clearly the cornerstone of the Jazz franchise. Hayward is an unassuming player willing to do the dirty work and scratch and claw the Jazz to any and every win they can muster.
Washington Wizards - John Wall
USA TODAY Sports - Tommy Gilligan
Washington Wizards - John Wall
USA TODAY Sports - Tommy Gilligan
Another one of the league’s young new stars, John Wall has very recently placed himself on the most beloved list. Just last night, Wall broke down in tears during an emotional post game interview as he talked about a six-year-old girl he had become friends with who passed away from cancer on Monday morning. Showing his human side in addition to his basketball stardom has surely endeared the Wizards point guard to fans around the world.
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