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35. Bill Walton – Tim Duncan

Both these guys have two things in common – heart and leadership. Though each expresses their leadership in different ways. Duncan is a leader by example. Day-in-and-out, he does what is necessary for the team. Walton, on the other hand, is the vocal type. But both big men are franchise guys who can lift their team by sheer hard work and determination.

34. Horace Grant – Udonis Haslem

They are undersized big men who can shoot that perimeter shot with consistency. They are underrated players who defend well and get tons of rebounds for you, especially on the offensive end. The 90’s Chicago Bulls and the 2006 Miami Heat would have had hard time winning those titles without them.

33. John Paxson – Jason Williams

In Williams’ early years with the Sacramento Kings, he has been compared to Pete Maravich. It was his fanciness, the passing ability and the show time skills that made him the next Maravich. But with the Miami Heat and under Pat Riley, Jason has defined his role, and altogether abandoned his fancy plays. He hits big time jumpers for Miami, under pressure, just as Paxson did for the Bulls.

32. Pete Maravich – Manu Ginobili

Manu is more of a Maravich than Williams. Ginobili executes those fancy passes, and makes those improbable dunks. This guy is extremely athletic, and he is doing it under a disciplinarian in Greg Popovich. The Spurs are known for their slow-down half-court game, precision passes and no-fancy plays. San Antonio is home to “boring” basketball. Then came the second round pick from Argentina, and the Spurs have become fun to watch. As Pop aptly said, “That’s just the way Manu plays, seemingly out-of-control.” But Manu knows what he is doing, and we fans will be continuously delighted by his daredevil drives and acts.

31. Joe Dumars – Chauncey Billups

The great leaders of the Detroit Piston team they are. They play tough defense, and hit clutch jumpers. If Isiah Thomas and Rip Hamilton are the heart of Pistons then and now, Dumars and Billups are definitely the soul!

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