The NBA has begun its first full season with Michael Jordan on the sidelines, this time for good. Naturally, everyone wants to know who is next in the pro basketball line of succession. Who are the players who will fill the considerable vacuum? Is there a single player who can embody everything Jordan seemed to represent -- splendid player, creative talent, singular work ethic, engaging personality?
The answer, of course, is no. Jordan is a once-in-a-lifetime performer. OK, so then the question becomes: Who can come closest?The battle over who grabs the torch from Jordan should be every bit as compelling as the competition for the NBA title itself. There are many notable names certainly deserving of consideration. Each is judged here in four categories -- production, creativity, go-to ability and personality -- plus an X-factor, which is used to deduct or add points for each player. By the end of the season, expect the Los Angeles Clippers' Lamar Odom, who will be NBA Rookie of the Year, to be added to this list.
10. Jason Williams, Kings: He is Randy Moss' favorite player, not surprising since he has some of Moss' gamesmanship and flair. There are issues, however. One is his unwillingness to understand basketball is not always supposed to be a track meet. Production: 3. Creativity: 5. Go-to ability. 2. Personality: 2.
X-factor: Couldn't guard Minnie Me. Minus 4. Total: 8.
9. Shaquille O'Neal, Lakers: He finally has a coach who is not afraid to challenge him, and the big guy needs it. By all rights, he should be unstoppable, yet he historically has been style over substance on the court. Unable to hit free throws and unwilling to ever show serious interest on the defensive end. Production: 4. Creativity: 2. Go-to ability: 3. Personality: 2.
X-factor: Makes bad rap music. Minus 2. Total: 9.
8. Jason Kidd, Suns: Probably the most unselfish player in basketball and the best pure passer. Unfortunately, the marketing forces dictate that to step up into the Jordan realm, you must be more of a scorer than distributor. Production: 5. Creativity: 4. Go-to ability: 2. Personality: 2.
X-factor: Has he ever had anything interesting to say about anything? Minus 3. Total: 10.
7. Stephon Marbury, Nets: Is this why he wanted to leave Kevin Garnett and Minnesota? To hoist up 28 shots a game in front of a half-empty building off the New Jersey Turnpike, alongside teammates who play less defense than the Washington Generals? What a colossal waste of an opportunity. Together, Garnett and Marbury could have ruled the world. Production: 4. Creativity: 5. Go-to ability: 4. Personality: 2.
X-factor: Toiling at home will play to all his worst instincts. Eventually will demand a trade. Minus 4. Total: 11.
6. Kobe Bryant, Lakers: A remarkable talent, he hasn't figured out what Jordan eventually did -- that he can make himself far more successful if he learns to play off his teammates instead of always trying to dominate the ball. Production: 3. Creativity: 5. Go-to ability: 3. Personality: 3.
X-factor: LA fans, who prefer glitter over grit, play to his worst instincts. Minus 2. Total: 12.
5. Grant Hill, Pistons: He seemed to be the obvious heir apparent, yet his pro coaches have never seemed able to figure out what he should be: scorer or distributor. Production: 5. Creativity: 3. Go-to ability: 3. Personality: 4.
X-factor: Must play with Christian Laettner. Minus 2. Total: 13.
4. Allen Iverson, Sixers: He is the single most energetic player in basketball, even if he still needs to work on his feel for the game. Production: 4. Creativity: 4. Go-to ability: 4. Personality: 2.
X-factor: Has finally figured out that coach Larry Brown has his best interests in mind. Plus 1. Total: 15.
3. Vince Carter, Raptors: Nobody has his explosiveness and creativity around the basket, and if he perfects his jump shot the way Michael did, he will become impossible to defend. Production: 3. Creativity: 5. Go-to ability: 4. Personality: 3.
X-factor: Playing for a team that has a chance to make a serious move in the East. Plus 1. Total: 16.
2. Tim Duncan, Spurs: As a substance player, he is represents the yin to Shaq's yang. Unfortunately, some will penalize, rather than celebrate, Duncan's refusal to care about the thunderous dunks Shaq lives for. Production: 5. Creativity: 2. Go-to ability: 4. Personality: 3.
X-factor: The most fundamentally sound big man since Kevin McHale. Plus 3. Total: 17.
1. Garnett, Wolves: Despite endless hype, Garnett is actually underrated. He scores outside, and more importantly, he scores over the top of people inside, he passes, he rebounds he defends, he blocks shots, and most importantly he's started exhibiting the assassin mentality that elevates historic players from even the very good ones. Production: 5. Creativity: 3. Go-to ability: 3. Personality: 5.
X-factor: Finally starting to figure out how ridiculously good he can be. Plus 3: Total 19.