Black History Month : Top Athletes Of Today, Part II

In honor of Black History Month, the follow-up to Black History Month : Top Athletes Of Today, here’s a look at the top 10 African-American Athletes of today, part two.

Much like part one, many of the athletes featured have one championships, or are newly-minted champions, others are on the rise in their respective field and will most likely be debated and questioned.

Much like the athletes featured in the first Top Black Athletes of Today, these top ten African-American athletes are at the top of their respective game.

• 10. Indiana Pacers SF/SG Paul George – One of the rising stars in the NBA, thanks to an epic seven-game series against MVP LeBron James, explosive athletes and the ability to lockdown on defense, Paul George is one of the NBA’s newest superstars to watch.
• 9. San Antonio Spurs PG Tony Parker –  A three-time NBA champion and a NBA Finals MVP, Paris-born point guard Tony Parker is one of the fastest and most electrifying to play the game. Swift, deadly and lethal from three-point range, Park is a proverbial blur in transition and a decisive playmaker on the open floor.
• 8. San Antonio Spurs PF/C Tim Duncan – Perhaps the best power forward to ever play the game, the man known as “The Big Fundamental”, Tim Duncan, is as solid and polished a basketball player that has ever played. A four-time champion, three-time NBA Finals MVP and two-time NBA MVP, Duncan may not be as flashy as his contemporaries, but when the going gets tough, Duncan always comes thru in the clutch.
• 7. San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick – A former second-round draft pick out of Nevada, Colin Kaepernick went from Alex Smith’s backup to near Super Bowl hero. Tall, strong and athletic, Kaepernick set an NFL single-game record for a quarterback in a game (181) in a 28-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons, before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.  Thanks to a burgeoning rivalry with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Kaepernick will be one of the future cornerstones of the NFL going forward.
• 6. Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III – The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner and 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Robert Griffin III took the NFL by storm in 2012-13. the former Baylor Bear quarterback threw for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns and rushed for 815 yards and seven touchdowns.  While taking a step back in 2013-14 by throwing for 3,203 yards, 16 touchdowns and 489 yards rushing and zero touchdowns, thanks to new head coach, Jay Gruden, look for Griffin III to bounce back strong in 2014-15.
• 5. Venus Williams – While not as fierce as her younger sister, Serena, the elder Williams sister is just as formidable in winning 44 career singles titles, four olympic medals and 22 grand Slam singles titles—good for 12th all-time—and 14 doubles titles.  The first African-American woman to ever be ranked No.1, she is often considered the best grass court player of her time and one of the all-time greats.
• 4.) New York Knicks SF Carmelo Anthony – A freshman champion at Syracuse, and one of the most heralded high school prospects—alongside LeBron James—to come out in a long time, Carmelo Anthony is one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA.  Currently averaging 27.3 points for the Knicks, Anthony is having one of his best seasons yet, and could very well make a case of winning his first-ever MVP award.
• 3.) Los Angeles Clippers PG Chris Paul – Perhaps the best pure point guard in the NA today, the former Wake Forest product, Chris Paul is a walking assist highlight-reel machine.  One of the top leaders in the NBA in assists, Paul has averaged close to ten assists a season at 9.9, and for the 2013-14 season is averaging 11.1
• 2.)  UFC Middleweight Champion – Anderson Silva – Known as “The Spider” to mixed martial arts fans, Brazilian fighter, Anderson Silva is one of the all-time greats.  A record holder of the longest title defense streak with 16 straight wins, Silva would see his title run end in 2013 with a TKO loss to Chris Weidman.
• 1.) Miami Heat SG Dwyane Wade – Smooth, deadly and deadly, three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade is as smooth on the court as he is off of it. A 2006 NBA Finals MVP, Wade helped in orchestrated the formation of Miami’s “Big Three” of James and Chris Bosh.  Dealing with nagging knee injuries and now at the age of 32, Wade is averaging a career-low in points (18.4), but is still one of the game’s most deadly assassins in the clutch.