Yes! To drive the point home, here are the most recent 39th picks in reverse chronological order:
Jonas Jerebko - Promising Swede saddled by injuries and being on the Detroit Pistons
Sonny Weems - Threw a great dunk contest lob from the seats to JR Smith
Stanko Barac - Fitting name
David Noel - Almost Gary Neal but not quite
Von Wafer - The Dutch Cookie, fought Delonte West once
Albert Miralles - Involved in the blockbuster trade for Pape Sow
Slavko Vranes - Bitter rival of Stanko Barac
Juan Carlos Navarro - Wishes he was Ricky Rubio
Earl Watson - Has never been seen in the same room as CJ Watson
Lavor Postell - Teammate of Ron Artest at St. John's, weird make up pick for the Knicks after passing on Ron Ron
A. J. Bramlett - Legend in Latvia
Rafer Alston - Skip to my Lou never lived up to his streetball promise, still Landry's biggest competition
Anthony Johnson - Solid backup for many years, nothing funny can possibly be said about him
Russ Millard - Poor man's Jess Settles
Donny Marshall - Poor man's Donyell Marshall
Anthony Miller - Was in the movie "Space Jam"
Thomas Hill - This fucking guy:
Literrial Green - Literally sucked
Jimmy Oliver - Was on the scab 1998 FIBA national team
Steve Scheffler - Notable for this great passage from David Shields' Black Planet
Ed Horton - Teammate of Ralph Hramden
Tito Horford - Al's dad, 1st Dominican to ever play in the NBA
Vincent Askew - Back to back CBA MVP
Rafael Addison - Jersey City's finest
George Montgomery - Javale McGee's dad! Another 39th pick dynasty.
Danny Young - Forgettable Blazers reserve
Granville Waiters - I would say this is the best name on the list if it wasn't for...
Kevin Magee - Wait for it...
Harvey Knuckles - Best name! Too bad he never played a game in the NBA. Was inducted into some sort of Hall of Fame in 1993
I'm not going to bother with the 70s and earlier so if Jerry West was the 39th pick, sue me.
Official Top 10 Authoritative Power Rankings (of Injured Players)
Because half of the league seems to be injured right now, I've got to be thinking: who are the best ones who are fucked up right now in some way? Anyway, here's our attempt at staying relevant in this list-obsessed sports blogging universe, the first ever (and probably last ever) "Negative Dunkalectics Power Rankings (of Injured Players)":
10. Andre Iguodala / sore Achilles tendon
Iggy might be struggling this year, but his position in the first ever Negative Dunkalectics Power Rankings of Injured Players speaks volumes. Not only is he just out for a while with a mere sore tendon (that's not even a bone broken from somebody smashing it to pieces), but he's not even considered the best player on his team anymore. He's not even being considered a franchise player anymore. What is Iguodala? The winner of the #10 spot on our Rankings.
9. Michael Redd / knee surgery
This once incredible and versatile athlete of the mid-oughts has been reduced to a miserable fate: the rumor of trade topics involving Daryl Morey and living in Wisconsin. Why would you want to live in a Wisconsin where Russ Feingold gets defeated in a Senate bid? Dude has been one of the most steady voices for progressivism in Washington for like a decade. Fuck Milwaukee, even if they voted for him.
8. Danilo Gallinari / sprained knee
Who are any of those people? I think the Knicks are going to be okay without Danilo for a little while. This awkward little dude was doing fine, but considering they beat the Spurs the other night without him, it just shows that the wacky Italian voice announcing Gallo's name was only hurting the team.
7 (tie). Yao Ming / Greg Oden / tall man leg problem
It would be a kind God that would allow these two giant men on the court for any longer than one game. They could be playing against each other for years, but instead, this will probably be the only photograph ever taken of these two greats performing their skilled craft. Shitty.
6. Kevin Garnett / vague right leg injury
Unlike Gallinari, whose team appears to be functioning without him, the Celtics are just a mess without Garnett right now. And look, I know their record doesn't indicate it, but their rotations are bullshit. This isn't really all Garnett, but really a matter of Jermaine O'Neal getting minutes out of this. If you've watched any possession - offense or defense - involving O'Neal, you understand exactly why people were shaking their heads when the Celtics signed him to any deal at all. Oh wait, most people weren't? Just me? Okay.
5. Joakim Noah / right thumb surgery
Even with all of the changes to Chicago's roster that should have reigned in his potential a little more (like say, Carlos Boozer taking half of his rebounds), Noah was having a breakout season when he went down a month ago. His defense has improved to the point where he should be battling for an All-Star bench slot in the next month, but instead (being injured forever), he might have to sit it out. I think all of my friends hate this dude, which is too bad because he's really one of the most well-rounded centers in the league.
4. Dirk Nowitzki / sore right knee
Seeing Dirk on the sideline for last night's game against the Thunder while his team struggled (and eventually lost even though Kevin Durant threw the fucking ball to Rick Carlisle, allowing a random three) has been one of the larger bummers of this year so far. Well, discounting all of the other weird bummers. I guess this is a pretty minor issue with his knee (unlike the next entry on the Official Authoritative Power Rankings) and he'll be back soon, but dude, it's Dirk.
3. Caron Butler / fucked up knee
This photo kinda sez it all, don't it? Pretty good player in the past, definitely coming into his own under Carlisle's system, and shooting pretty significant numbers for the last month. Butler might've slowed as the season went by (age and everything), but he'd probably be a significant part of the Mavericks' run into the playoffs. I bet he can't wait to get traded to Milwaukee for Michael Redd!
2. Brandon Jennings / broken foot
Unlike everybody else on this list, the Milwaukee Bucks didn't really have a backup plan in case their franchise guard got hurt, which in this unique situation has led to a combination of Earl Boykins and Keyon Dooling playing heavy minutes at the point since his departure from this earth. Jennings was proving to be a streaky shooter like last year, but the team's struggles have really shown how large of a part of the Bucks' identity that he actually was. I can't believe teams passed on a pretty solid guy like Delonte West (nevermind his own injury) when dudes could go down like this.
1. Brandon Roy / destroyed leg
Former pro basketball franchise player, current patient for experimental surgeries. Roy was never a very exciting player to watch, and this year his "evolving game" (not trying to fuck himself up) reminded me of Paul Pierce, and not in a good way. Dude dragged ass up and down the court, but I guess that's what happens when you don't have any cartilage in your knees. The tragedy of Brandon Roy might be one of the largest bummers of this decade, considering his promise and potential a couple of years ago.
And on that cheerful note, the first Official Top 10 Authoritative Power Rankings (of Injured Players) has been completed. Hopefully all of these dudes get healthy (even Michael Redd), to make more money in a year than most Americans will make in their lifetimes.
10. Andre Iguodala / sore Achilles tendon
Iggy might be struggling this year, but his position in the first ever Negative Dunkalectics Power Rankings of Injured Players speaks volumes. Not only is he just out for a while with a mere sore tendon (that's not even a bone broken from somebody smashing it to pieces), but he's not even considered the best player on his team anymore. He's not even being considered a franchise player anymore. What is Iguodala? The winner of the #10 spot on our Rankings.
9. Michael Redd / knee surgery
This once incredible and versatile athlete of the mid-oughts has been reduced to a miserable fate: the rumor of trade topics involving Daryl Morey and living in Wisconsin. Why would you want to live in a Wisconsin where Russ Feingold gets defeated in a Senate bid? Dude has been one of the most steady voices for progressivism in Washington for like a decade. Fuck Milwaukee, even if they voted for him.
8. Danilo Gallinari / sprained knee
Who are any of those people? I think the Knicks are going to be okay without Danilo for a little while. This awkward little dude was doing fine, but considering they beat the Spurs the other night without him, it just shows that the wacky Italian voice announcing Gallo's name was only hurting the team.
7 (tie). Yao Ming / Greg Oden / tall man leg problem
It would be a kind God that would allow these two giant men on the court for any longer than one game. They could be playing against each other for years, but instead, this will probably be the only photograph ever taken of these two greats performing their skilled craft. Shitty.
6. Kevin Garnett / vague right leg injury
Unlike Gallinari, whose team appears to be functioning without him, the Celtics are just a mess without Garnett right now. And look, I know their record doesn't indicate it, but their rotations are bullshit. This isn't really all Garnett, but really a matter of Jermaine O'Neal getting minutes out of this. If you've watched any possession - offense or defense - involving O'Neal, you understand exactly why people were shaking their heads when the Celtics signed him to any deal at all. Oh wait, most people weren't? Just me? Okay.
5. Joakim Noah / right thumb surgery
Even with all of the changes to Chicago's roster that should have reigned in his potential a little more (like say, Carlos Boozer taking half of his rebounds), Noah was having a breakout season when he went down a month ago. His defense has improved to the point where he should be battling for an All-Star bench slot in the next month, but instead (being injured forever), he might have to sit it out. I think all of my friends hate this dude, which is too bad because he's really one of the most well-rounded centers in the league.
4. Dirk Nowitzki / sore right knee
Seeing Dirk on the sideline for last night's game against the Thunder while his team struggled (and eventually lost even though Kevin Durant threw the fucking ball to Rick Carlisle, allowing a random three) has been one of the larger bummers of this year so far. Well, discounting all of the other weird bummers. I guess this is a pretty minor issue with his knee (unlike the next entry on the Official Authoritative Power Rankings) and he'll be back soon, but dude, it's Dirk.
3. Caron Butler / fucked up knee
This photo kinda sez it all, don't it? Pretty good player in the past, definitely coming into his own under Carlisle's system, and shooting pretty significant numbers for the last month. Butler might've slowed as the season went by (age and everything), but he'd probably be a significant part of the Mavericks' run into the playoffs. I bet he can't wait to get traded to Milwaukee for Michael Redd!
2. Brandon Jennings / broken foot
Unlike everybody else on this list, the Milwaukee Bucks didn't really have a backup plan in case their franchise guard got hurt, which in this unique situation has led to a combination of Earl Boykins and Keyon Dooling playing heavy minutes at the point since his departure from this earth. Jennings was proving to be a streaky shooter like last year, but the team's struggles have really shown how large of a part of the Bucks' identity that he actually was. I can't believe teams passed on a pretty solid guy like Delonte West (nevermind his own injury) when dudes could go down like this.
1. Brandon Roy / destroyed leg
Former pro basketball franchise player, current patient for experimental surgeries. Roy was never a very exciting player to watch, and this year his "evolving game" (not trying to fuck himself up) reminded me of Paul Pierce, and not in a good way. Dude dragged ass up and down the court, but I guess that's what happens when you don't have any cartilage in your knees. The tragedy of Brandon Roy might be one of the largest bummers of this decade, considering his promise and potential a couple of years ago.
And on that cheerful note, the first Official Top 10 Authoritative Power Rankings (of Injured Players) has been completed. Hopefully all of these dudes get healthy (even Michael Redd), to make more money in a year than most Americans will make in their lifetimes.
