Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was named the best player in the NBA, ahead of Heat forward LeBron James, in Sporting Newsâ€™ annual survey of current and former players, coaches, general managers and broadcasters.

SN asked 76 NBA types, including Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Mike Dâ€™Antoni, Mike Fratello, Daryl Morey, Lenny Wilkens, Doc Rivers and Stan Van Gundy, to list the top 50 players in the league. Bryant received 49 of their first-place votes to maintain his spot atop the list, while James had 22 first-place votes and Magic center Dwight Howard received one.

Bryant and James each had a teammate join them in the top 10, with Heat guard Dwyane Wade at No. 3 and Lakers big man Pau Gasol at No. 10.

Itâ€™s clear to most league observers that Bryant and James should occupy the top two spots in any list of the NBAâ€™s best. With Bryant topping our list, we asked those in the know why Kobeâ€™s experience still edges LeBronâ€™s raw talent:

Phil Jackson, Lakers coach: â€œOne of the things that Kobe has always had is the ability to trust his shot, and LeBron, at some points, hasnâ€™t always done that. That makes him more of a driver at times, which at the end of the game can be very difficult. Kobe has been very good at the end of games. ... Kobe rises to big games. His performance always seems to accelerate during the playoffs.â€

Ron Artest, Lakers forward: â€œThis game is about team, rather than about individuals. When it comes to Kobe, he has a lot of heart and a lot of game-winners. He loves the moment and is really just a great all-around player. I am glad he is on our team.â€

Tim Grover, Bryantâ€™s trainer: â€œKobe is as hard of a worker as I have worked with. He has always taken great care of his body, but he is never satisfied. He is always looking for ways to get an edge, and that shows up in the playoffs. He has had a lot of wear and tear. For him, the idea was to make the first game of the playoffs feel like Game 1 and not Game 83.â€

Rick Barry, Hall of Famer: â€œItâ€™s all about winning in professional sports, and no one in the game has done that the way Kobe has. I donâ€™t doubt for a second that winning is the most important thing to LeBron, and thatâ€™s why he went to Miami even though he will have to sacrifice individually. But he is still trying to figure it out. Kobe has already been there -- and he has a great supporting cast, too. But he is also just not going to let them lose if he can help it.â€

Western Conference scout: â€œEvery year, we look for ways that he has lost a step and you look for ways that younger guys like LeBron or Kevin Durant have caught up to him -- and maybe in the middle of January, you can find some of those. But Kobe is always going to make a smart play, he is always going to find a way to get a good shot, no matter what stage of the game or how deep in the playoffs, and I donâ€™t think the younger guys in the league are there yet.â€

-- Contributing: Mark Kass

SNâ€™s Top 50 NBA players

(last yearâ€™s ranking in parentheses)

1. Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers (1)

2. LeBron James, SF, Heat (2)

3. Dwyane Wade, SG, Heat (3)

4. Kevin Durant, SF, Thunder (21)

5. Dwight Howard, C, Magic (4)

6. Carmelo Anthony, SF, Nuggets (9)

7. Dirk Nowitzki, SF, Mavericks (8)

8. Deron Williams, PG, Jazz (12)

9. Steve Nash, PG, Suns (11)

10. Pau Gasol, PF, Lakers (17)

11. Tim Duncan, PF, Spurs (5)

12. Amare Stoudemire, PF, Knicks (19)

13. Chris Paul, PG, Hornets (6)

14. Paul Pierce, SF, Celtics (10)

15. Chris Bosh, PF, Heat (18)

16. Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics (38)

17. Brandon Roy, SG, Trail Blazers (14)

18. Joe Johnson, SG, Hawks (25)

19. Derrick Rose, PG, Bulls (26)

20. Kevin Garnett, PF, Celtics (7)

21. Manu Ginobili, SG, Spurs (22)

22. Andrew Bogut, C, Bucks (NR)

23. Chauncey Billups, PG, Nuggets (20)

24. Tony Parker, PG, Spurs (13)

25. Ray Allen, SG, Celtics (27)

26. Rudy Gay, SF, Grizzlies (41)

27. Danny Granger, SF, Pacers (31)

28. Jason Kidd, PG, Mavericks (23)

29. Zach Randolph, PF, Grizzlies (NR)

30. Russell Westbrook, PG, Thunder (NR)

31. David Lee, PF, Warriors (NR)

32. Joakim Noah, C, Bulls (NR)

33. Al Horford, C, Hawks (35)

34. Stephen Curry, PG, Warriors (NR)

35. Shaquille Oâ€™Neal, C, Celtics (16)

36. Carlos Boozer, PF, Bulls (36)

37. Al Jefferson, PF, Jazz (NR)

38. Vince Carter, SG, Magic (30)

39. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Trail Blazers (NR)

40. Brook Lopez, C, Nets (NR)

41. Andrew Bynum, C, Lakers (50)

42. Josh Smith, PF, Hawks (40)

43. Gilbert Arenas, PG, Wizards (28)

44. David West, PF, Hornets (NR)

45. Kevin Martin, SG, Rockets (NR)

46. Hedo Turkoglu, SF, Suns (42)

47. Antawn Jamison, SF, Cavaliers (NR)

48. Yao Ming, C, Rockets (15)

49. Gerald Wallace, SF, Bobcats (Nr)

50. John Wall, PG, Wizards (NR)

SNâ€™s panel

Rick Barry, Hall of Famer

Elgin Baylor, Hall of Famer

Butch Beard, Former Nets coach

Walt Bellamy, Hall of Famer

Otis Birdsong, 4-time All-Star G

Bob Boozer, â€™68 All-Star F

Allan Bristow, Former Hornets coach

Dee Brown, â€™91 dunk contest champ

Herb Brown, Bobcats assistant coach

Don Chaney, 2-time NBA champion

Archie Clark, 2-time All-Star G

Doug Collins, 76ers coach

Bob Cousy, Hall of Famer

Dave Cowens, Hall of Famer

Mike Dâ€™Antoni, Knicks coach

Joe Dumars, Hall of Famer

Mike Dunleavy, Coached 4 NBA teams

Craig Ehlo, 14-year G/F

Mario Elie, 3-time NBA champion

Bill Fitch, 2-time coach of the year

Gar Forman, Bulls G.M.

Mike Fratello, â€™85-86 coach of the year

Armen Gilliam, 13-year F

Manu Ginobili, Spurs G

Gail Goodrich, Hall of Famer

Richie Guerin, 6-time All-Star G

John Hammond, Bucks G.M.

Tim Hardaway, 5-time All-Star G

Al Harrington, Nuggets F

Hersey Hawkins, â€™91 All-Star G

Tom Heinsohn, Hall of Famer

Bob Hill, Coached 4 NBA teams

Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies coach

Marc Iavaroni, Clippers assistant coach

Antawn Jamison, Cavaliers F

Avery Johnson, Nets coach

David Kahn, Timberwolves president of basketball operations

Greg Kelser, Pistons analyst

Steve Kerr, All-time 3-point pct. leader

Billy King, Nets G.M.

Frank Layden, Former Jazz coach

Fat Lever, 2-time All-Star G

Earl Lloyd, Hall of Famer

Dan Majerle, 3-time All-Star G/F

Derrick McKey, 15-year F

Earl Monroe, Hall of Famer

Daryl Morey, Rockets G.M.

Jeff Mullins, 3-time All-Star G/F

Mike Newlin, 11-year G/F

Jim Oâ€™Brien, Pacers coach

Robert Parish, Hall of Famer

Bob Pettit, Hall of Famer

Frank Ramsey, Hall of Famer

Jerry Reynolds, Kings director of player personnel

Arnie Risen, Hall of Famer

Doc Rivers, Celtics coach

David Robinson, Hall of Famer

Dave Robisch, 13-year ABA-NBA F/C

Gene Shue, 5-time All-Star G

Paul Silas, 2-time All-Star F/C

Rory Sparrow, 4,192 career assists

Damon Stoudamire, â€™95-96 rookie of the year

Rod Strickland, â€™97-98 assists leader

Jason Terry, Mavericks G

Mychal Thompson, 2-time NBA champion

Kelly Tripucka, 2-time All-Star G/F

Jack Twyman, Hall of Famer

Dick Van Arsdale, 3-time All-Star G/F

Tom Van Arsdale, 3-time All-Star G/F

Stan Van Gundy, Magic coach

Slick Watts, â€™75-76 assists, steals leader

Jerry West, Hall of Famer

Jo Jo White, 7-time All-Star G

Lenny Wilkens, Hall of Famer

Pat Williams, Magic senior VP

For more on this yearâ€™s top 50 players, pick up a copy of the Dec. 6 issue of Sporting News magazine, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets. You can also subscribe to the magazine at http://www.sportingnews.com/magazine/subscribe.