Who are the top 25(10) players in the NBA?
This post is in response to a very intriguing article I read recently. In this article Brandon Anderson and a panel discussed and voted on their pick of players that would virtually make the top 25 players in the league IN ORDER. Their premise was if the league were to stop and then start again, these players would be drafted 1–25. In this post I will answer and discuss some of their points on the top 10 of their top 25 players.
The first two can kind of go without argument: Lebron James and Kevin Durant come in at 1 and 2. Lebron James in his 18 season just had one of the best statistical seasons of his career with the climax coming when he averaged a triple double in his 7 straight finals. Of course KD also did his damage in the finals averaging 35 and also winning his first chip(if you didn’t know). All that talk about KD is now better than Lebron already is kind of non-sense in my eyes. My logic? Well put Lebron on the Warriors and KD on the Cavs. Is there even a debate in which player is better at that point? Exactly.
Next in order goes Step Curry and Kawhi Leonard. This is where we first disagree Brandon. No I don’t disagree that these are the next two best players in the NBA, I just disagree in their order. Steph is literally unguardable, there is no defense past or future that will hold up if it has to extend up to 30 feet like what Steph forces you to do. That being said the Claw plain out is just a better player. Better defender(clearly), taller, more athletic, younger, arguably the more efficient offensive player, he is the focal point of his offense while also guarding the other teams best defender every game, he also does more with less in regard to the pure talent the Warriors have VS the Spurs. Steph may be simply ridiculous offensively, but if I was a GM starting a franchise I am picking Kawhi over Steph everyday of the week(he is also my MVP pick this year).
Next come
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
6. James Harden
7. Anthony Davis
8. Russell Westbrook
Again our list does not vary much here just the order that they are in. When healthy Anthony Davis is a legit MVP candidate if not runner up. If AD can stay on the floor and improve some of his decision making and playmaking skills, in a couple years he will be the best player in the world. And it won’t be close. The only person that would have anything to say about that would be Giannis Antetokounmpo. Right now he is well behind Anthony Davis in multiples aspects of the game on both sides of the ball. BUT, whats scary is that he is running off full God given athletic ability. Imagine when he gets some real skill! If that happens it’s all over. My list here would be:
5. Anthony Davis
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo
7. James Harden
8. Russle Westbrook.
To round out the top 10 was Jimmy Butler and Paul George. Two great all around two way players. Love both of their games, but I don’t think either of them are good enough to be the best player on a championship team. That lowers both of them to the bottom of the top 10, but 9 and 10 are very respectable as far this list goes.