NBA 1v1 Madness: Introduction
NBA 1v1 Madness
a Schwartz and Wayne collaboration
If you are anything like us, the past couple of months without sports have been miserable. We were in the midst of a brilliant NBA season, headed towards a wide-open March Madness tournament, and rolling towards opening day for the MLB. Then, it was all grasped out of thin air by an invisible enemy. We’re not here to muse about the impact of COVID-19 or what the rest of this sports calendar year will look like. We’re here to offer you a few minutes of reprieve in the form of some (hopefully) entertaining sports content. Action Network recently published a 1-16 seeded bracket similar to one for March Madness including individual NBA players set up for a 1v1 tournament. Aside from being a brilliant idea, we felt that their execution was lacking and had several problems with their seeding structure. So we’re stealing the concept for this page and giving it some upgrades. Below is the initial seeding of my top 64 NBA players broken up into 16 groups with 4 players each. A few ground rules for this list:
The order of the players within each seed group means nothing, only the tier breakdown is important.
We positioned players into brackets which benefited them in terms of home-field advantage as best we could, with an additional nod to narrative-based matchups.
We graded players based on their last full relatively healthy season. We will elaborate on any interesting cases of this as we go along, but just know that this is not a future projection but more of a rating based on the player’s recent performance.
We graded players based on how good they are in the NBA, not how good we think they would be in this hypothetical 1v1 tournament. We will undoubtedly see upsets later on based on the change in format, but we wanted an unadulterated look at how good these guys are as NBA players to start things off.
Before we get into the seedings, here's a quick breakdown of the locations we've chosen for each bracket.
West - Venice Beach: There's nothing quite like the beautiful blue basketball courts next to the sands of Venice Beach, California. Home to the Veniceball league, a summer league like no other, the Venice courts are well set up to host this sort of event. We've seen stars like LeBron James, Karl Anthony-Towns, and others play here in the past.
Midwest - Hoosier Gym: Hoosiers is the most iconic sports movie ever made (we may need to have a separate article proving that point at a later date) and Indiana is the country's capital of basketball to many. Beyond being the filming location for Hoosiers, this gym has become a shrine to high school basketball.
East - Rucker Park: The East region will take place in one of the most iconic streetball venues in America, NYC's Rucker Park. Located in Harlem, Manhattan, this classic outdoor court has seen superstars from Wilt and Dr. J to Kyrie and Kemba pass through and hone their skills over the years.
South - Cameron Indoor Gym: Hoosier represents our NBA talents' ties to the high school basketball game and Cameron Indoor becomes the representation of the college ranks. Home to the Duke Blue Devils, who have become one of the most easily recognizable American sports teams, Cameron Indoor has one of the most passionate and authentic basketball atmospheres in the world.
Final Four - Clybourn Park: On the north side of Chicago, Clybourn Park was immortalized in the 1994 movie, "Hoop Dreams". As a centrally located spot in the midwest and one of the iconic streetball venues in the country, Clybourn Park will be the perfect location for our Final Four contestants to face off.
1 seeds:
Kawhi Leonard - West
LeBron James - Midwest
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kevin Durant - South
Analysis: LeBron is the best basketball player of our generation, perhaps even of all time. Kawhi is the reigning Finals MVP and is seen by many as the premier two-way player in all of basketball. Giannis is the reigning regular-season MVP and has put together a historically great season to follow it up. KD was considered by some to be the best player in the world after winning 2 straight finals with the Warriors. He has not played this season due to his unfortunate torn Achilles, but I’m choosing to evaluate KD as the player we saw for the past couple of seasons, not the one we might see when he makes his return, as the latter would be pure speculation; there’s no real way to know what he’s going to be like next year.
2 seeds:
James Harden - South
Steph Curry - East
Anthony Davis - Midwest
Paul George - West
Analysis: Harden is scoring the most points per game in the NBA this season, but his lack of playoff success and poor defense puts him a step below the previous four guys. Steph has similar issues to Harden, but is the best shooter in NBA history and put together another incredible season last year before being injured in the playoffs, while he won’t make too many stops on defense, it’s equally hard to see who could slow him down on the offensive end. Anthony Davis is the best two-way big man in the NBA right now and is the second-best player on a title contender. So is Paul George, who finished 3rd in MVP voting last season and is a lethal two-way wing, as he led the NBA in points per touch last year while also nearly taking home DPOY honors
3 seed:
Luka Doncic - Midwest
Jayson Tatum - South
Damian Lillard - West
Jimmy Butler - East
Analysis: While Luka has certain deficiencies at the defensive end, his unique offensive skill set has elevated him into NBA stardom, and has made him a serious threat to take on anyone in the league. Another young star, Jayson Tatum, has made the jump almost overnight within his third pro season, combining much-improved defense with smarter shot selection and the high-level offensive talent he has always flashed, with effective dribbling, powerful finishing, and a silky-smooth jumper. Damian Lillard has arguably been the best true point guard in basketball this season and while he’s no lock to make any defensive stops in a 1v1 context, he has an ability to take over offensively that few players possess, and is a threat to score on quite literally any or every possession. Plus, it would always be Dame Time in this type of competition.
4 seed:
Pascal Siakam - West
Joel Embiid - Midwest
Nikola Jokic - South
Kyrie Irving - East
Joel Embiid remains perhaps the best true center in the NBA, he’s a stifling defensive force in the paint and a powerful finisher, and stands as extremely likely to win the boards battle in almost any matchup. Pascal Siakam has quickly blossomed into a very well-rounded player on both ends and leads a strong Toronto team in the wake of Kawhi’s departure. Spicy P has the handles and finesse to match his physical profile offensively, and can guard just about anyone. Butler has proven his ability to alienate teammates in Chicago and Minnesota, which won’t keep him from making an impact in this competition. His competitive drive and motor on both ends would make him a tough out for anyone. An entirely different breed of center is exemplified by Nikola Jokic, a Serbian import whose finesse and offensive skills are nearly unmatched by any player of his size. He is perhaps the best passing center the league has ever seen and is a nightly threat to reach a triple-double. Kyrie is another guard who boasts strong shooting and all-time handles, but has serious defensive and mental deficiencies. He’s a horrendous teammate, but thankfully in this tournament that won’t matter at all as Kyrie will be playing by himself and have the ball in his hands at all times - a literal dream for him.
5 seed:
Donovan Mitchell - South
Devin Booker - West
Rudy Gobert - Midwest
Kemba Walker - East
Spida and DBook have quickly evolved into two of the best 2-guards in the NBA, exemplifying elite play at a position that has lacked depth in recent years. They each have pretty different prototypical skills, as Mitchell relies more on his insane motor and driving ability offensively, while Booker is a sniper and a threat to score from anywhere on the court. Gobert is the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and most recently shut down not just one opponent but the entire NBA by not taking coronavirus seriously; his defensive ability alone sets him apart from most of the league. Kemba is playing on a winning team for the first time in his career, but we’ve known since his UConn days about his elite playmaking and shooting, not to mention his cold-blooded clutch instincts.
6 seed:
Karl Anthony-Towns - East
Ben Simmons - West
Russell Westbrook - South
Klay Thompson - Midwest
Karl Anthony-Towns is perhaps the best offensive center in the NBA, making an insane clip of 3-point shots this year that should be reserved for only the very best guards. Ben Simmons can’t boast nearly that level of shooting acumen, but he has been a problem defensively this year for opposing players and is a gifted passer. Westbrook is a pitbull on both ends of the floor and can affect a game in so many different ways. Thompson hasn’t played at all this year, but few players can get hot for long stretches like he can and he had the unique honor of making up ½ of perhaps the best and most accomplished backcourt the NBA has ever seen.
7 seed:
Chris Paul - South
Victor Oladipo - Midwest
Khris Middleton - West
Bradley Beal - East
CP3 is an aging player but has turned back the clock in OKC this season, reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the best point guards of all time with his two-way play. Oladipo hasn’t made a significant impact this year, missing the majority of the season due to a ruptured quad tendon suffered last January. Before that injury, he was making a name for himself as one of the best two-way guards in the league. Middleton is perhaps not the most exciting player, but he has been an elite contributor to Milwaukee’s excellent season and is one of the best shooters in the NBA. Beal has carried an awful Wizards team to a surprisingly good offensive rating this season and made them actually enjoyable to watch most nights.
8 seed:
Kyle Lowry - West
Zion Williamson - South
Brandon Ingram - Midwest
Bam Adebayo - East
Lowry quieted his haters with a transcendent performance in last year’s Finals, helping Toronto earn its first championship. He plays with the same fire that Westbrook does and can help his team win in a variety of ways. Zion is one of the most exciting players in the league at the moment, recently making his professional debut and dunking all over just about everyone. Ingram has transformed into one of the best volume shooters in the league. Adebayo has had a true breakout season, parlaying increased playing time into his first all-star nod. Despite his relatively small stature, he is one of the best defensive big men in the league and is also a skilled offensive threat in the post.
9 seed:
Blake Griffin - South
Jrue Holiday - West
Trae Young - Midwest
Domantas Sabonis - East
Blake may not have played much this season, but last year he pushed the Pistons to a playoff appearance and has transitioned into an elite playmaker and sharpshooter at the power forward position. Jrue Holiday was the Action Network’s dark horse in this tournament, and he brings a ton to the table with his physical defensive activity and varied offensive approaches. Ice Trae is one of the most dynamic young offensive threats in the league and has realized his potential to become an elite passer and shooter. Domas has made Ardyvas proud during this breakout, all-star campaign. His elite screening, passing, and post-play make him a dynamic offensive threat.
10 seed:
DeAaron Fox - East
Ja Morant - Midwest
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - South
Jaylen Brown - West
This is a fun group of young backcourt stars. Fox is perhaps the fastest player in the NBA, and the Swipa can turn a steal into a bucket in transition as fast as anyone. Ja is going to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, and he should be in for a long career as a high-powered dunker, driver, and disher. SGA has realized the potential I saw in him from his first day on the floor for the Clippers, becoming a great two-way presence this season. His length and athleticism make him a handful on both ends of the floor. Jaylen Brown’s career-year has been somewhat overshadowed by the breakout of his teammate Tatum, but he is a monster on both ends and is the perfect complimentary player for the modern NBA.
11 seed:
Zach LaVine - West
Jaren Jackson Jr. - East
Tobias Harris - Midwest
Kristaps Porzingis - South
Zach LaVine was a borderline all-star candidate this year, playing for a crappy Bulls team, but it’s all the same to him. He’s shown dunking ability we haven’t seen since Vince Carter and has become a lethal shooter as of late as well. JJJ is the perfect young big man to play next to Ja, and while he isn’t an elite rebounding presence, his sharpshooting and rim protection make him an exciting player. Speaking of sharpshooting and rim protection, Kristaps has flourished as of late playing next to Luka Doncic and not under the shadow of James Dolan. Harris may not be a household name, but he brings a lot to the table on both ends of the floor.
12 seed:
LaMarcus Aldridge - West
C.J. McCollum - Midwest
Caris LeVert - South
Jamal Murray - East
Aldridge may be a bit past his prime, but he is still an elite scorer from all three levels offensively. McCollum has the benefit of playing next to perhaps the best point guard in the NBA, but he’s a lethal scorer in his own right. Caris, a former Michigan product, has shown a ton of potential and should thrive in the coming years of his career. Murray is still only 23, but the Blue Arrow has thrived in recent playoff appearances and is the type of offensive threat that would really shine in a 1v1 setting.
13 seed:
DeAngelo Russell - South
Danilo Gallinari - West
T.J. Warren - Midwest
DeMar DeRozan - East
DLo was reunited with his buddy KAT in Minnesota after a horrendous season for the Warriors overshadowed how good he had been offensively this year. Gallo, the Italian Stallion, the Rooster - whatever you want to call him, he’s been an underrated offensive threat for years in the NBA. Warren has shined this year playing in, well, not Phoenix. DeRozan is still a solid offensive threat and at least deserves a Ring Pop for the Raptors’ championship last year.
14 seed:
John Collins - Midwest
DeAndre Ayton - West
Kelly Oubre - South
Malcolm Brogdon - East
John Collins has the potential to be a real sleeper as a 14 seed, as he is a powerful force while boasting better shooting than many players with his strength. DeAndre Ayton, a former first overall pick, has the physical ability to allow him to both score and rebound at a high level. Kelly Oubre is frankly extremely handsome. Malcolm Brogdon has enjoyed a really nice season in Indiana as he has come into his own as a passer.
15 seed:
DeVonte Graham - South
Aaron Gordon - West
Julius Randle - East
Myles Turner - Midwest
Graham has taken the title from Kemba Walker as the surprisingly good offensive guard playing for a Charlotte team nobody gives a fuck about. Gordon also plays for a team nobody really cares about, but he provides a presence on both ends of the floor. Randle is the king of the many Knicks' power forwards. Myles Turner led the NBA in blocks last year and is a solid stretch 5.
16 seed:
Boban Marjanovic/Steven Adams - South
Lou Williams/JR Smith - West
Joe Ingles/Alex Caruso - East
Marcus Morris/Markieff Morris - Midwest
We'll see our 16 seeds decided in the First Four, as four play-in games decide the final seeding for the tournament. Boban and Steven Adams are two throwback big men who can rebound and score inside but likely aren't great fits for this tournament. Lou Will is a baller and can score with anyone. J.R. Smith is, well, J.R. Smith. Ingles and Caruso are a pair of guys who look to be in their late 40s but actually aren't. And the Morris duo will be an enticing matchup of brotherly love.
