In honor of the upcoming NBA season, we're turning the PLAY blog into something of a sounding board for today's best ballers. Below, you'll find some of the finest players in the league -- including the Gilbert Arenas, Josh Smith, Michael Redd and Caron Butler -- talking about their favorite songs. Enjoy, and see you at tip-off.
Position: Point Guard
Born: June 26, 1984 in Marion, SC
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 198 lbs
College: University of North Carolina
Drafted: 2003, Round 1, Pick 5
Other: Two-time Mr. Basketball of South Carolina led UNC to a national championship as a junior in 2005
Position: Center
Born: January 22, 1988 in Buffalo, NY
Height: 7'0"
Weight: 257 lbs
College: Ohio State
Drafted: 2007, Round 1, Pick 1
Other: The number one pick in the draft has been compared to Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson
Position: Power Forward
Born: December 19, 1982 in Jackson, MS
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 190 lbs
College: Alabama
Drafted: 2003, Round 2, Pick 18
Other: The Cavaliers hope that the 2000-2001 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year will become the dependable second scoring option Lebron James has lacked since coming into the NBA
Team: New Orleans Hornets
Position: Power Forward
Born: August 29, 1980 in Teaneck, NJ
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 240 lbs
College: Xavier University
Drafted: 2001, Round 1, Pick 18
Other: One-time all-star plays the tuba and was named by Sports Illustrated to the NCAA All-Decade Team
Position: Small Forward
Born: March 13, 1980 in Racine, WI
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 228 lbs
College: University of Connecticut
Drafted: 2001, Round 1, Pick 10
Other: One-time all-star appeared on the Oprah to discuss the impact basketball had on helping him overcome his difficult childhood
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Position: Guard
Born: April 13, 1979 in Los Angeles, CA
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 215 lbs
College: University of California, Los Angeles
Drafted: 1999, Round 1, Pick 3
Other: Two-time all-star is also the godfather of The Game’s son
Position: Guard
Born: December 5, 1985 in College Park, GA
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 225 lbs
High School: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA)
Drafted: 2004, Round 1, Pick 17
Other: He won NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2005
Position: Forward
Born: December 30, 1977 in Saginaw, MI
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 240 lbs
College: Cincinnati
Drafted: 2000, Round 1, Pick 1
Other: An NBA all-star in 2004, he was also named the consensus National Player of the Year as a college senior.
Position: Guard
Born: August 24, 1979 in Columbus, Ohio
Height: 6-6
Weight: 215 lbs
College: Ohio State
Drafted: 2000, Round 2, Pick 14
Other: An NBA all-star in 2004, he is one of the NBA’s best three-point shooters, once hitting a record eight in one quarter
