Is Deron Williams a Superstar?
The other day I was talking to my boy who told me how he just couldn’t wait for Deron Williams, which he pronounced der-ON, to return to the Jazz. My boy knows a ton about basketball and loves Williams’ game. But he had no idea that he butchered D-Will’s name.
As Austin Burton wrote in his May ‘08 (Dime #41) feature, called “The Invisible Man,” “…compared to the others who could be in that discussion - Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, Chauncey Billups, Tony Parker and chief rival Chris Paul among them - Deron is near invisible on the public’s spectrum of NBA superstar status.”
Obviously D-Will has the numbers, the style and even some hardware (gold medal) to prove that he belongs in this group. But on the other hand, Deron returned to action last night after an ankle sprain without a peep from the media. Greg Oden whispered to someone in the Blazers’ facility that he was thinking about playing tonight and ESPN already broke from their regularly scheduled programming to report it.
It’s crazy to think that a guy who could arguably be the best pure passer in the game today isn’t an NBA “superstar,” but it is possible.
Is Deron Williams a superstar?
November 12th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Russ says:
The Knicks need him desperately … he would be a great NY point guard especially for the old school Pat Riley/Jeff Vangundy defense oriented Knicks … huge guard plays great D and get the job done on offense
November 12th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Promoman says:
His game is just about superstar quality, but he doesn’t have the recognition that CP3 & the others have. He really doesn’t have any major flaws in his game. He’s quick, strong, and can shoot.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Big Sia says:
YES
YES
YES
November 12th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
doc says:
Not yet but he will force his way into the superstar stratusphere.He’s just to good.@Russ-He’ll be a great NY point guard-no shit,he’ll be great anywhere in the league.I feel you though maybe Donnie Walsh reads this shit.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Ross says:
No yet, no.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Don Mega says:
He needs a couple crazy dominant games .. 35+ points , 15+ assists , .. and a couple buzzer beaters before he becomes a household name . only then will people start equating him as a superstar .
November 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
justice says:
Ny never had a pg that was anywhere near this guy since frazier matter of fact half the teams in the league havent,stick him on any team in the nba and theyll be happy..
but there is a diffence between star and superstar, if u have to ask if someone is a superstar there probably not, the difference is like Will Smith and Don Cheadle, the skill set is close but the recognition is no where near the same…Matt Damon-Brendan Frasier, Nas-Jay-Z
November 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
justice says:
Jay Z-Nas my fault
November 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
If Chris Paul is, then Deron is.
@Don Mega-He’s had several games like that.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
justice says:
difference..i need to start proof reading
November 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
hahns says:
nope not yet. i wouldnt even say cp3 is a superstar. guys gota be proven over a couple of years to be labled superstars.
id go as far as to say tmac and shaq are still superstars even though cp3 and dwil are clearly better than them. even if youre in decline- superstar is a status, not skill
November 12th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Dagomar says:
He’s not flashy or particularly charismatic and he doesn’t play in one of the traditional big markets, which really holds him back. If I’m not mistaken he hasn’t even been an all-star yet! Amazing. But it’s only a matter of time before he’s generally recognized as one of the game’s best players; with that will come some measure of fame. But he’ll never be a superstar on the calibre of Lebron, Kobe, KG or even Nash.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Sccob says:
True basketball heads know who he is. Besides, he’s in a SLC. All they do out there is ski…
November 12th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Dime Magazine says:
He was on the cover of ESPN The Magazine…. but it was with Chris Paul in front of him.
- AK
November 12th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
KenAdams says:
He is a future superstar… he is a star now.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
del says:
judging whether someone is a superstar or not by using ESPN’s “reporting” methods as a scale is a complete failure.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
heckler...formerly 'yallallreadyknow' says:
deron williams is the best point guard in the nba. read that again if you think its a misprint.
DERON WILLIAMS IS THE BEST POINT GUARD IN THE NBA.
no disrespect to chris paul or anyone else, but deron is the best. he’ll prove it this season.
but deron….good luck trying to make the allstar team:
chris paul, steve nash, jason kidd, tony parker, baron davis, brandon roy, chauncey billups and the likes.
…and thats just PGs! That doesn’t even include SGs….
November 12th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
P_Dizzle says:
Wow, now this is the toughest one you have had so far.
I am going to say not yet (same goes for Paul). He’s knocking on the door though.
Also, it doesn’t help his status playing in Utah. I don’t even think you could have called John Stockton a Superstar back in the day. That’s because they get no pub.
IMO, he’s the best point guard in the game but he’s not yet a superstar.
It’s a tough label to just pin on someone. Give him another year or two and then I think he will be one.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Amar says:
he wasn’t an all-star last year, but he was all-nba. (roy wasn’t, and while he’s a ‘nice player’, he can’t be called BETTER than williams)
he’s had some dominating performances, he is a flashy dibbler who has a list of guys he’s broken down. being in SLC is a hinderance though — the only real games the NBA shows them in are the playoff games. lucky for jazz fans, deron averages 7.5 wins in the playoffs.
his game winning plays extend beyond straight up game winning shots — he’s had those two though, like his 70 foot buzzer beater as a rookie, or his coast to coast layup for the win against LeBron’s cavs last season. mroe often he has the game winning assist. I know it’s hard to understand that — he’s a point guard after all.
He’s not on that elite marketing level though, and probably never will be. that doesn’t make his game any less impressive.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
@Hahns-I agree with you that superstar is a status. That’s why I still say Jason Kidd is a superstar.
@Ian-You’re right, they both need to do it for 3-4 more years to earn the distinction.
November 12th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Banga says:
I would take Jose Calderon over every PG in the L except Chris Paul
November 12th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Max says:
Not yet, but he’s knocking on the door. He’s my favorite PG in the league, now that Nash seems to be breaking down (sadly).
November 12th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Amar says:
@ Ian — sorry dude, I’m sorry if my post came off that way, that wasn’t what I intended. just saying that all-star status is not completely indicative of star status. (usually it is though)
November 12th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Borgs says:
I learnt last season that All-Star status is a reflection of free iPod distribution. Though, no knock on Roy as he’s since proven he deserved the gig.
This distant observer believes Utah can never have a superstar. It seems they only get due recognition from American media when they are one of six remaining teams in the playoffs. Superstardom and marketability are usually quantified in converse proportion, so if no one playing for Utah is duly recognised, then how can Deron be a superstar?
Fact is, he’s THE BEST PG in the NBA, only, nobody knows it.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
ctkennedy says:
based on his game he is a superstar
based on what he is to the market no he went to illnois in college and play in the big ten the worst major conference in college basketball and they was sweatin dee brown then he goes to utah and got no sneakers or nothin so if u not a basketball head u dont even know that he nice
November 12th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Kenny says:
Blame it on the market. There’s no doubt in my mind that Deron Williams is a superstar. No disrespect to Chris Paul, whose game I love, but they are neck-and-neck, so if Paul is going to be called a superstar, Deron Williams should be called one as well. The biggest difference is exposure.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Dave says:
most definitely the best pg in the league. if your measuring by talent, ability, mental capacity to handle pressure situations, ability to handle teammates, and ability to flat out play the game on both ends of the floor, he is in the superstar category. if on the other hand you depend on Stu and the boys coverage, you probably aren’t qualified to give an educated answer anyway.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Mo says:
No he’s not a superstar. The fact that Dime did a piece called “The Invisible Man” proves that. What superstars are invisible? Has Dime ever done a cover on him? Ask yourselves why not? People keep saying “if Paul is, Deron is”. That’s not true though. Paul was runner up MVP. In 2nd place. Was Deron 2nd place runner up too just because Paul was? Was Deron the 1st point guard in 15 years to average 20ppg and 10+apg while leading the league in both assists and steals? Has Deron ever had a PER over let’s say 22? Has Deron recently passed The Big O as the 1st player in 40 years to begin more than 5 games with 20pts and 10asts? I can on with a few more but I’ll stop here. Yes, I know people are going to say “but Deron Williams went to the WC Finals”. Yes, Carlos Boozer was mainly responsible for winning that Rocket series and then they played the Warriors. Matchups played a big part in them getting to the WC Finals so it’s not like only Deron powered that team to the WC Finals. If they had ran into the Spurs, the same team Paul and the Hornets took to 7 games (while Deron and the Jazz were nearly swept 4-1), they may not have made it to the WC Finals. Go ahead and say “but Deron wins the head-to-head matches”. So what. There’s always someone who knows your game really well and you might struggle against. Dumars knew Jordan really well but it sure as heck didn’t mean Dumars was better than Jordan. Deron is a great point guard but a superstar he is not. Maybe he’ll be an All-Star this year, but a superstar….. no.
November 25th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
willstoker says:
D-Will is better shooter and stronger than CP3, and any other point guard in the league so yeah he is a superstar