Since ’94, tons of of NBA gamers have come by means of the Prime 100 Camp. This yr’s occasion is about to happen on the ESPN Extensive World of Sports activities Complicated on the Walt Disney World Resort close to Orlando, FL, from June 8-13. However first, to have fun 30 unbelievable years, we’re trying again on the high 30 NBPA members who’ve hit the courtroom on the Prime 100 Camp.
Try the highest 30-21 gamers right here and 20-11 right here.
10. Klay Thompson
“Buckets and Chill.” The duvet line from SLAM 215—featured under an iconic picture of Klay Thompson rocking sun shades and lounging in a seashore chair—just about sums it up. Laid-back off the courtroom, Thompson has all the time been an murderer on it. He’s received 4 championships, made 5 All-Star groups and scored over 15,500 factors with the Golden State Warriors. When Klay (also called “Recreation 6 Klay”) had the new hand, it was a wrap for whoever was on the opposite facet. In 2015, he set the NBA report for factors in 1 / 4 with 37.
9. Devin Booker
If we’re speaking pure bucket-getters, Devin Booker’s identify must be talked about. The dynamic guard from Grand Rapids, MI, has developed a whole offensive recreation. He can assault the basket and end across the rim; his mid-range arsenal is elite; and he’s a severe menace from behind the arc. Simply go watch the highlights from his 70-point masterpiece in 2017 or his 59-point gem in 2019 or his 62-point outburst this previous season. At 27 years outdated, E book is a 4x All-Star with much more room to enhance. Relaxation assured, there are loads extra buckets to come back.
8. Derrick Rose
D-Rose graced the quilt of SLAM whereas he was a freshman at Memphis in 2007-08. The duvet line learn: “Recent to Demise. Derrick Rose is the NBA’s subsequent large star.” In truth, that prediction might have been made even earlier, when the explosive guard was lighting up the courtroom at Simeon Profession Academy (IL) and made his look on the Prime 100 Camp. In 2011, on the age of twenty-two, Rose grew to become the youngest MVP in NBA historical past. His profession has been full of adversity as a consequence of quite a few accidents, however the 3x All-Star has persevered by means of all of it to go away a serious imprint on the sport.
7. Anthony Davis
From Views Constitution (IL) to the College of Kentucky to the NBA, Anthony Davis has greater than lived as much as the hype. It began when the child from Chicago hit a serious progress spurt in highschool, sustaining his guard expertise whereas adjusting to a brand new big-man body. Davis went on to win the Naismith Award, Wood Award and an NCAA championship in his sole season at Kentucky earlier than getting drafted with the primary general decide by New Orleans. He’s been hampered by accidents all through his 12 years within the League, however Davis has nonetheless achieved mainly every part there’s to perform on the highest stage, together with getting a hoop in 2020.
6. Kyrie Irving
The person with arguably the best handles of all time attended the Prime 100 Camp again when he was a highschool sensation in New Jersey. Irving spent one yr at Duke earlier than getting into the 2011 NBA Draft, the place he was picked first by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s been an All-Star eight occasions and sunk one of many largest pictures in NBA historical past in 2016, serving to the Cavs full their epic 3-1 comeback to win the title. With that shot and numerous ankle breakers, mind-boggling layups and cold-blooded game-winners, Irving’s spotlight reel is a must-watch. Actually, it’s the work of a basketball genius.
5. Dwight Howard
Not too way back, when the position of middle was considered very in a different way, Dwight Howard was maybe probably the most highly effective and unstoppable power in basketball. A younger celebrity at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (GA), Howard received Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the 12 months after which was chosen with the primary general decide within the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. He bounced round fairly a bit after leaving Orlando in 2012, which led many to neglect what he did throughout these early years within the League, together with making 5 consecutive All-NBA First Staff appearances and successful three consecutive Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards. Take into account this your reminder.
4. James Harden
From Artesia Excessive College in Lakewood, CA, the place he received two state championships and was a McDonald’s All-American in 2007, to now, James Harden has carved out an unbelievable profession that ceaselessly will get ignored. This can be a man who averaged 31.7 factors, 8.5 assists and 6.6 rebounds (!) over a five-season span from 2015-20—a stretch that included an MVP award in 2018. He was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Staff in 2021, and deservedly so.
3. Kevin Durant
Popping out of the DMV, Kevin Durant was some of the hyped prospects within the nation. And since then, effectively, he hasn’t dissatisfied one bit. The long run Corridor of Famer has mentioned that he most likely would have gone straight to the NBA from highschool if the one-and-done rule didn’t exist. As a substitute, he starred at Texas for one season after which bought scooped with the second general decide by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007. Durant is undoubtedly one of many biggest offensive skills in NBA historical past, successful the League’s scoring title 4 occasions. When he has it going—which, over the previous 17 years, has been a very frequent prevalence—there’s actually nothing anybody can do to cease him.
2. Stephen Curry
A slept-on prospect from Charlotte Christian College named Stephen Curry attended the Prime 100 Camp earlier than going to Davidson, the place he grew to become a 2x consensus All-American and led the Wildcats to the 2008 Elite Eight. The thin child with a child face from North Carolina was nonetheless considerably slept on, falling to seventh within the 2009 NBA Draft. However even those that foresaw greatness in Curry couldn’t have predicted this: 10x All-Star and All-NBA, 2x MVP, 4x Champion and the all-time chief in three-pointers made. Oh yeah, and he utterly modified the best way the sport is performed.
1. Kobe Bryant
It was clear when he was dominating at Decrease Merion Excessive College in Pennsylvania that Kobe Bean Bryant was particular. He was one of many first future stars to attend the Prime 100 Camp, leaping straight to the NBA in 1996. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than he was dominating at that stage, too. The résumé is plain—18x All-Star, 15x All-NBA, 12x All-Protection, 5x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 2008 MVP, the listing goes on—however Bryant was most outlined by his relentless work ethic, exceptional dedication and absurd competitiveness. The Mamba Mentality, as his method to the sport and different endeavors got here to be known as, continues to encourage individuals in every single place.
