What makes a star player

[walker834]

Is talent but there are a lot of talented players in the nba.  There are also guys who are scrappy but not that talented.  There are players who are also scrappy and talented but not great. What makes a great player is the want to be great imo.  Rondo had that coming in. He wanted to be the best at his position. jeff green didn't.  He just wanted to keep working. Most great players expect greatness. They expect to be the best player on the floor every time they step out there and expect to win. Sometimes it takes a bit but that is what they expect of themselves.

Every great player down the line from Bird to Russell to Jordan to Kobe etc all expected to be the best.  Even KG. He was unselfish and didn't see himself as the guy, but he hated losing with a passion.

[vgulab]

you need the talent as a base but what makes a star is work and consistency. There have been so many really good players who just had a 2-3 great seasons and that is all. What makes you a star is playing great every night, every game, every season.

Also winning mentality. He may win a lot of regular season games but if he doesn't deliver when the team most need him in the playoff he is not a star.

[Surferdad]

Talent
Athleticism
Physical tools
Hard work
Focus

[walker834]

There's something with inner drive though that separates great players.  I don't think great players always play great.  Every great player has had stinkers and bad games, they just have the drive to redeem themselves.  They don't let those bad games define them.  There's something to be said about a guy who just refuses to accept mediocrity. It's like that saying great shooters never stop shooting.  The accept the fact they are going to miss some sometimes that difficult, but they are always trying to make that big shot.  That's heart imo.

Paul Pierce was a star.  Antoine Walker was a star too imo.  Maybe a flawed one but a star.  He still got his ring. Tom Brady.   Star.

[budMovin]

Being able to stay healthy might be the most overlooked attributes. To be a superstar you need to have good luck with health, or at least be amazing at playing through nagging injuries.

[walker834]

Being able to stay healthy might be the most overlooked attributes. To be a superstar you need to have good luck with health, or at least be amazing at playing through nagging injuries.

Oh for sure.  I think what is defined as a star in the nba is different than life in that a lot of it is luck mixed with talent being in the right place at the right time. There are players in the nba that are stars in other facets that get overlooked.  In life too.  But from a player perspective star players seem to take advantage of their physical talents moreso than other players. Some of them even cheat to do it. Are very goal driven and will take whatever it is to do it. Some aren't so lucky. But star players in general seem to be fortunate or intelligent enough or driven enough to manage to get there.

The NBA is different than life in that these guys win nba titles and make millions of dollars. Where in life some people don't make a dime go through even crazier hardships and are still stars.  I personally think Lebron couldn't carry some peoples jocks in that regard but that's beside the point.

[Csfan1984]

Ah really good play

[Thruthelookingglass]

Talent
Athleticism
Physical tools
Hard work
Focus

and "Star" calls by the refs.  That's a dead giveaway.

[walker834]

Really good play pretty much sums it up.

[Tr1boy]

Can't be guarded.  Clutch. Finds a way to win.
Motivates team. Involves team. Lifts their game.

[GreenWarrior]

clutch, consistency and makes players around him better. raises the level of the team. you won't find carmello Anthony anywhere near this definition.

[GreenWarrior]

this reminds me of that game against the magic on a sun. afternoon. Walker was going to be out, Pierce receiving criticism for not really being a sharer of the basketball, lots of pressure on Pierce, kind of a big game for us at the time. what does Pierce do? goes out reads some book on leadership and has a career high in assists.

star players make it happen regardless of the situation.

[Tr1boy]

clutch, consistency and makes players around him better. raises the level of the team. you won't find carmello Anthony anywhere near this definition.

Knicks are dummies. Pay him like he is a franchise calibre player. Like he will attract marquee players (zero in this department).   

Melo is a #2 scoring weapon.   That's about it

[walker834]

Playing good is what makes a star lol, but that's what i mean is a lot of these players are talented.  They are all in the nba you'd think they'd want to take advantage of it.  Some just don't want to be.   Tom Brady has that speech at michigan where he's talking about how not many people get to play for michigan. I think Brady just knew how lucky he was and he took advantage of his opportunities.  Some players just don't. Don't have the love for the game. Are too stupid or whatever it is. Don't have the intelligence or know how.  Are too depressed, immature, coddled or focused on other things.

People are weird that way.   It's not that difficult to play a certain way  They don't have the mindset or whatever.  Opportunity or whatever.  They get paid and are content sitting on the bench.

Even a lot of stars in the nba don't really play the game the right way.

[walker834]

I can tell  you right now Brady would not be content sitting on the bench.  He would be out there telling Belichick that he is the guy and wants to play and be that guy. The whole put me in coach mentality.  Preparation and all of that.  Brady then expects his teammates to do the same and prepare the same way and do their jobs and its contagious.  There's only room for so many players like that I guess.  Most of these other guys have to be good teammates or whatever.

That's celtic pride too in ways.  Not many people get to play for the celtics and these guys should realize that.