The break between 2008-09 and 2009-10 NBA seasons has seen a large number of transfers between teams, but all the main players are stuck with their old teams.
Here are some faces to watch out for in 2009-10, gone by their glorious performances over the past few seasons.
Carmelo Anthony.
Carmelo Anthony, a small forward for the Denver Nuggets, was recently chosen as one of the starters in the 2010 NBA All-Stars game in February. Partnering beautifully with point guard Chauncey Billups, he has scored 19 points in a single quarter twice this season. In November, he scored more than 50 points in a game where Billups scored 30-giving them the third NBA Duo status to score more than 50 and 30 points in the same game.
Dwayne Wade.
Wade is one of the cornerstones of the Miami Heat team. He, like other big basketball players from this NBA era, is a shooting guard who can also play point guard. Standing at 6 feet 4, he doesn’t let his size stand in his way because he is now one of the fastest players in the NBA, and perhaps the only one that is the most difficult to maintain. With an average of 6.7 assists per game, it shows that Wade’s game is more about teams than individuals.
Kobe Bryant.
One legend from the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant urgently needs an introduction. At 31 years and 151 days, he recently became the youngest player to reach 25,000 career points – a major achievement for someone who is dominated as a shooting guard. One of the biggest goalscorers in the NBA, Kobe can create shots from anywhere – three pointers from twelve, and what you have.
Kevin Durant.
Also small forward-for Oklahoma City Thunder-Kevin Durant is one of the fastest rising talent in the NBA. At almost 22 years old, he is the backbone of the team, with PPG and RPG 29.3 and 7.30 respectively. With only 2 years of professional basketball under his belt, Durant might be worth watching for more than a decade to come.
LeBron James.
Also small going forward, LeBron James is the questionable king of the 2010 basketball season. Playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he has taken them to the top of the Eastern Conference table. With a ranking of 95 players on the NBA website and a nomination for the NBA All-defensive team back in 2008-09, he is often compared to legends such as Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.
There, you have it. With Shaquille O’Neal leaving and Kobe Bryant injured, it seems rather unlikely that the Lakers will wind through this NBA. This season forms an absolute cracker when April arrives!