Si Players Nba Poll

Who is the most difficult NBA player to guard?

� Kobe Bryant , Lakers G 26%

Shaquille O'Neal , Heat C 14% �

Allen Iverson , Nuggets G 11%

LeBron James , Cavs F 8%

FAST FACTS Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki was fifth (6.5%).... Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas (517) and Heat guard Dwyane Wade (506) lead the league in free throw attempts; they tied for sixth in the poll (4.9%).... More than 37% of centers chose Shaq , the lone center among the top eight in the poll.... Former T-Wolves coach Dwane Casey said last year of Shaq , "He's like the old bull and the young bull—he knows how to get the same thing done with less effort.... He's the hardest man on the planet to guard."

[Based on a survey of 271 NBA players] ? For an expanded version of the poll go to SI.com /players.