Ranking the top 20 players in the NBA that can impact the game in non-scoring roles
In the NBA era of 3-point shooting, fastbreaks and scores that make an old school fan fill there is no defense played, there are still players who contribute to their team’s success without averaging 30 points per game.
One of my friends who is a casual NBA watcher complained that players shouldn’t be in the NBA who can’t score. My argument to him was what about Dennis Rodman? He was a player that chose not to score but couldn’t be stopped from going after a rebound when he wanted to get it.
He knew I was right, but said there weren’t a lot of players left in the NBA like that. I found over 40, and while some of these players are great scorers, if they are having an off shooting night they can control the game with their defense, rebounding, passing and pace.
I decided to rank my top 20 players in the NBA who can affect a game without having to score.
20. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
I’m not sure if Miami knew what they had when they drafted Bam Adebayo in the first round with the 14th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. His stats have gone up every season all across the board. He has turned into a great ball-handler, who the Heat can run the offense though at times.
Although he is 6-foot-9, he is a willing passer who knows how to make the right play. In the tradition of Heat big men, he is a solid shot-blocker, averaging 1.2 blocks per contest and his 10.4 rebounds per game puts him 9th in the NBA. In the Heat’s first game after the Aall-Star break against the Hawks Adebayo had an impressive game putting up 28 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block showing all the ways he can impact a game.
This season he was a first-time All-Star, but with his ability to contribute in so many ways he will be a player who will have a chance to make multiple All-Star games.