New SI Poll According To NBA Players *Must Read*

These polls are voted on by NBA Players, Not Fans. Just keep that in mind as you read the polls and see how the players answer. I don't have an agenda here. There are some things I agree with and some I don't but either way it's fascinating to see how the actual professionals see themselves and others as they're the ones who play against each other and probably have the best sense of each others' abilities and characters.

Which player would you least like to have on your team?

Stephon Marbury, Celtics G.....22%
Ron Artest, Rockets F.....9%
Stephen Jackson, Warriors F/G.....5%
Kobe Bryant, Lakers G.....5%
Gilbert Arenas, Wizards G.....5%

[Based on a survey of 190 NBA players]

FAST FACTS: Poll was completed before Boston claimed Marbury on waivers last week.... Tracy McGrady tied for fifth; with him out with a knee injury, the Rockets had gone 8–1 at week's end.... Jackson has been on five teams in his nine-year career.... Arenas hasn't played since signing a six-year, $111 million deal last July (knee surgery); in '06–07 his 1,548 shots were fourth in the NBA.

Who is the worst dribbler in the NBA?

Yao Ming, Rockets C.....11%
Shaquille O'Neal, Suns C.....10%
Greg Oden, Trailblazers C.....6%
Ben Wallace, Cavaliers F.....5%
Hamed Haddadi, Grizzlies C.....4%
Eddie House, Celtics G.....4%

[Based on a survey of 190 NBA players]

FAST FACTS: Of the 26 players to receive more than one vote, House, a reserve who is averaging just over 17 minutes per game, was the only guard.... Yao's 3.2 turnovers per game this season was tied for fifth in the NBA through Sunday and were the most for a post player.

Who is the NBA'S most annoying defensive player?

Bruce Bowen, Spurs F.....45%
Ron Artest, Rockets F.....15%
Raja Bell, Bobcats G.....6%
Reggie Evans, Sixers F.....5%
Shane Battier, Rockets F.....2%

[Based on a survey of 190 NBA players]

FAST FACTS: Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao tied with Battier at 2%.... Bowen has been named to the all-defensive first or second team eight times.... Artest was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2003–04.... The Pacers' Jeff Foster was the only true center to receive multiple votes.

Which NBA player thinks he's a lot better than he really is?

Kendrick Perkins, Celtics C.....8%
DeShawn Stevenson, Wizards G.....8%
Rashad McCants, T-Wolves G.....5%
Dahntay Jones, Nuggets G......5%
Damon Jones, Bucks G.....5%

FAST FACTS: Dahntay Jones (No. 20 pick, Celtics) and Perkins (No. 27, Grizzlies) were drafted in 2003 and immediately traded for each other.... Perkins and Stevenson went from high school to the NBA.... Upon signing with the Cavaliers in '05 Damon Jones said, "I think I'm one of the top five shooters in the world." He averaged 6.6 points over three seasons before being dealt to the Bucks.

With the game on the line, which NBA player would you want to take the last shot?

Kobe Bryant, Lakers G.....76%
Chauncey Billups, Nuggets G.....3%
LeBron James, Cavaliers F.....3%
Paul Pierce, Celtics F.....3%
Dwyane Wade, Heat G.....2%

[Based on a survey of 190 NBA players]

FAST FACTS: Players could not vote for a teammate.... No center received more than one vote.... According to 82games.com Bryant has hit 14 game-winning shots since the start of the 2003–04 season, fourth highest in the league -- but he also leads the NBA with 42 potential game-winners missed in that time.... James is first in game-winners made in that period with 17.

Who is the best all-around athlete in the NBA?

LeBron James, Cavaliers F 66%
Josh Smith, Hawks F 7%
Kobe Bryant, Lakers G 6%
Dwight Howard, Magic C 4%
Amar'e Stoudemire, Suns F-C 3%

FAST FACTS James was especially dominant among Western Conference voters, 74% of whom chose him.... As a sophomore at St. Vincent–St. Mary High in Akron, James was an all-state wide receiver on the football team.... All of these players except Smith were picked to start in next month's All-Star Game; Smith won the NBA's slam dunk contest as a rookie in 2005.

Which is the most overrated team in the NBA?

Dallas Mavericks......11%
Detroit Pistons......11%
Boston Celtics......10%
Houston Rockets......10%
Phoenix Suns......9%

[Based on a survey of 190 NBA players]

FAST FACTS: The Mavs lost in the first round of the past two playoffs, last season with Jason Kidd.... The Pistons went a mediocre 10–11 with Allen Iverson after acquiring him in November, before winning seven in a row through Sunday.... Despite a record of 21–14 through Sunday, the Rockets were seventh in the West.