ESPN ranks LeBron, Wade among top three players in NBA http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-10-18/sports/sfl-espn-lebron-james-dwyane-wade-heat-1018_1_nba-mvp-lebron-james-dwyane-wade ESPN ranks LeBron, Wade among top three players in NBA Heat superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade ranked number 1 and number 3 best players in NBA October 18, 2011|From the web Miami Heat superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade placed first and third in ESPN.com's ranking of every player in the NBA. ESPN had 91 NBA experts "rate each player on a 0-to-10 scale, in terms of the current quality of each player." Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard was second. New Orleans point guard Chris Paul and Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki rounded out the top five. Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was seventh. James and the Heat lost to the Nowitzki and the Mavericks in the NBA Finals with the James struggling in the fourth quarter of the six-game series. It was James' second trip to the NBA Finals. He and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the San Antonio Spurs in 2007. LeBron, a two-time NBA MVP, averaged 27.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.0 assist per game in the 2010-11 season. Wade averaged 25.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assist last season.
