Best of: The Top 100 NBA Players Entering The 2017–18 Season, Part 4: #25–1
In the final section of these rankings, we’ve officially reached star territory, and soon, superstar territory. These are the best of the best. What separates these players from the pack is that they are expected to be able to lead a team to the playoffs, no questions asked. And every experienced player on this list (who hasn’t played for the Sacramento Kings) has done so.
#25: Paul Millsap, PF, Denver Nuggets
Paul Millsap may be the least exciting All-Star of all time. His NBA.com video of his ten best plays has to be the worst top-ten video in the history of sports. However, he is a very good player- none of his skills jump out at you, but does all of the little things well. He’s a top-tier defender, and an under-the-radar passer who can score and rebound effectively as well. He will fit perfectly in Denver next to front-court partner Nikola Jokic, helping out Jokic on the defensive end more than anything else.
#24: Isaiah Thomas, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s crazy to see “Cleveland Cavaliers” next to IT’s name, but here we are. After this week’s shocking Kyrie Irving trade sending Thomas to Cleveland, the Cavs will face another dilemma next summer- assuming LeBron James leaves, should they re-sign Thomas, or attempt to rebuild? Thomas has certainly shown that he can lead a very good team, but the concerns about his ability to take a team to the championship are still apparent. All of these decisions cannot be made, though, until the apparent issues with his physical are resolved.
#23: Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers
Lillard has become a truly elite offensive weapon, who can score in just about any way possible, while also being a guy who steps up in the clutch and hits big shots. However, despite his very good athleticism, he still hasn’t become a good defender yet. If he can’t figure it out on that end soon, he’ll just be a gifted scorer who can’t lead a team to any major success.
#22: Gordon Hayward, SG/SF, Boston Celtics
When Hayward agreed to go to Boston, he didn’t sign up to play for the same team they’ll be putting on the court come October- and that’s not a bad thing. Instead of Isaiah Thomas, he will be playing with Kyrie Irving as his Point Guard. And while Irving is the more gifted offensive player, he is also much more ball-dominant. It will be interesting to see how often Hayward operates with the ball in his hands now that Irving will be on the court as well.
#21: Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
One of the biggest storylines of last season was the development of three young Centers who were tearing apart the competition, each having an elite skill that set them apart. For former second-round pick Nikola Jokic, his gifted passing is what put him on the map. He is one of the best passers in the NBA regardless of position, and is also a fine scorer and very good rebounder. His major weakness, though, is interior defense. The good news is that Millsap will now be on board to help him out.
#20: Karl Anthony-Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
The reining unanimous Rookie of the Year came out with an even stronger season last year, averaging over 25 points and 12 rebounds. His only offensive flaw- shooting- was much improved in year two. But, he has yet to become a viable rim protector. There is no reason to not expect him to do so at some point, but until he can alter shots at the rim with sustained success, he won’t be one of the very best in the game.
#19: Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
He may have only played 31 games, but Joel Embiid’s rookie season was absolutely tremendous. In just 25.4 minutes per game, he averaged over 20 points, nearly 8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks on a nightly basis. He shot much better than expected from deep, with a 37% clip. He did all of this, of course, while protecting the rim at a level so high it was only rivaled by Rudy Gobert. And by the way, he was on a minutes restriction. If the Sixers can keep this guy healthy, he can lead them to a championship in due time. All they have to do is Trust the Process.
#18: Blake Griffin, PF, Los Angeles Clippers
Griffin came into the league as just a super-athlete who could jump out of the gym, but lacked lots of basketball skills. He then added post moves, the learned to handle the ball, and then became a fine shooter- but he’s had a handful of surgeries for various injuries, and he seems to have lost a step athletically. However, the Clips had enough confidence in he and his health to give Griffin a five-year max contract. With Chris Paul now in Houston, their offense is going to be very different- their system will likely be much more reliant on running through Griffin and his solid passing and handling abilities.
#17: Kyrie Irving, PG, Boston Celtics
Now that he has his own team in Boston, it will be very interesting to see how Kyrie Irving fares. What is even more interesting is how Brad Stevens will use him- Kyrie has played his entire career for a terrible organization with bad coaching. When Stevens gets his hands on Kyrie, he’ll likely get his new Point Guard a ton of chances to succeed.
#16: Klay Thompson, SG, Golden State Warriors
Klay Thompson’s importance for the Warriors can not possibly be understated. The threat of his three-point shot prevents teams from double-teaming Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant, and he always takes on the toughest matchup on the perimeter. However, it seems that everyone tries to pry him away from Golden State. One would think that teams understand the fact that he’s untouchable- but, the Warriors have been approached about him many times- the Pacers offered Paul George, the Cavaliers offered Kyrie Irving, and the Celtics have had reported interest for a long time.
#15: DeMarcus Cousins, C, New Orleans Pelicans
DeMarcus Cousins may be having an excellent career in terms of putting up great stats, but it’s been a whirlwind to say the least. He was trapped in the worst franchise in basketball, playing for the Sacramento Kings. They finally set him free when they traded him to New Orleans for much less than what he was worth at the time. Now he enters his contract year, and the pressure is on. If he and Anthony Davis really can’t succeed together, Cousins could be on the move again when the Trade Deadline arrives.
#14: Paul George, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder
When George forced his way out of Indiana, he became one of many superstars to be dealt this summer. And every reporter there is seems certain that his sights are set on Los Angeles to play for the Lakers when his contract expires and he hits the open market next summer. While it seems unlikely that OKC can convince him to stick around, they certainly have a shot. It will be interesting to see if they try to pander to George’s wishes in hopes of getting him to stay- but more importantly, Russell Westbrook has to actually pass him the ball.
#13: Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Speaking of superstars being traded, Jimmy Butler was acquired by Minnesota for a very cheap price at the 2017 NBA Draft. But with his new team, the fit is questionable: Butler’s biggest weakness, three-point shooting, needs to be better for the Timberwolves to succeed. So for Butler, the pressure is now on as he joins a new franchise.
#12: Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert’s rim protection is fantastic- he’s so good when it comes to defending inside and grabbing rebounds that it’s impossible to be a bad team with him inside. That’s why, even without Gordon Hayward, the Jazz will make the playoffs, and do so comfortably. Having Gobert, the best Center in the NBA, manning the middle gives them a great chance to be back in the postseason.
#11: Draymond Green, PF, Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green isn’t the best interior defender in the NBA, and he isn’t the best perimeter defender in the NBA, but he is still the best defender in the NBA. He can guard anybody, from Chris Paul to LeBron James to Anthony Davis. In fact, he is fully capable of guarding all five players at the same time. (Watch this clip from last year’s first round series against Portland. It says it all.)
#10: John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards
Wall signed a supermax extension this summer after seeing the Wizards bring back Otto Porter, Jr., and it’s now official: the Wizards will always be John Wall’s team. If they ever get to (or win) an NBA Finals, it will be because of him. If they fail, the blame will likely fall on his shoulders. As Wall is supposedly entering the prime of his career, and only time will tell if he can become a guy that can lead a team to a title or not.
#9: Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF, Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most valuable asset in the entire NBA. Given the chance to start a franchise with any player, he is the correct choice. Not LeBron James, not Kevin Durant, not Anthony Davis- the answer is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is very close to seven feet tall, has the athleticism of a small guard, and is nearly impossible to defend. The only skill he has yet to unlock is consistent jump-shooting, but once he can develop a solid jumper, he will officially be unguardable.
#8: Anthony Davis, PF, New Orleans Pelicans
Davis is one of the most hyped up prospects in recent years, and the commotion was warranted. In a short time he has become quite easily the best big-man in the entire NBA- once he came into the league, he improved what he was good at, and turned his weaknesses into strengths. He is an elite rebounder and very good rim protector, and he dominates on the offensive end as well. He is a very legitimate contender, along with Antetokounmpo, Embiid, Anthony-Towns, and a few others, to be the NBA’s best player once the LeBron Jameses and Kevin Durants of the world start to decline.
#7: Chris Paul, PG, Houston Rockets
CP3 is about to enter a new phase of his career, as he is now solely focused on trying to win a championship. This will be the first time he isn’t the best player on his own team, and it will also be his first opportunity to play off of the ball aside James Harden. It’s going to be interesting to see how his minutes are handled- Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni knows how to stagger minutes. That’s what he should do here, always have one of Harden and Paul on the court, and they can play together and the beginnings and ends of each half.
#6: Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook is overrated. He was clearly more focused on getting an arbitrary line of double-digit points, rebounds and assists than he was winning basketball games. Despite having the tools to be an elite defender, he’s the opposite, often struggling on that end. He takes awful shots, and even in a season where he averaged 30 points per game, he only shot 44% from the field. But despite his flaws (and there are many), he is still one of the very best players the NBA has to offer.
#5: James Harden, SG, Houston Rockets
James Harden is the best playmaker in the NBA right now. He so calmly and easily manipulates defenses, slowly finding holes and getting the shots he wants and making brilliant passes to give his teammates the best chance to succeed. In his entire tenure as a Houston Rocket, he’s been the only player who can initiate offense- but now, he has Chris Paul on board- it will be very interesting to see how he does as an off-ball guard, playing without the basketball in his hands all of the time.
#4: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Antonio Spurs
Kawhi Leonard is already in the conversation when it comes to the best perimeter defender of all time. And while his defensive production has slightly declined in the last couple of years, he has gone from good on offense to an elite scoring and shooting talent. The problem is, he can’t do it all by himself- and as he is entering his prime, the Spurs are simply failing to surround him with the proper talent. But if they can go back to their old ways and find a way to build a team that is truly dangerous deep into the playoffs, Kawhi Leonard is the right guy to lead them.
#3: Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
#2: Kevin Durant, SF, Golden State Warriors
These two make for the best offensive duo in the history of the NBA. Curry, the best shooter to ever live, and Durant, the best scorer since Michael Jordan, could not fit together more perfectly. They both had an extremely difficult amount of pressure on them this season, and they silenced all of the critics en route to a dominant championship run. Together, they are unstoppable- the presence of one prevents the defense from locking in on the other. And watch out, because it looks like they are going to continue to haunt defenses for many more years to come.
#1: LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers
I don’t think I’m breaking any news here when I say that LeBron James is still the best player on Earth- that was never in question. What is in question, however, is what uniform he will be donning in 12 months from now- it seems inevitable that he will be leaving the Cavaliers, so where will he go? The majority opinion on the matter is that he will likely depart for Los Angeles to play with the Lakers, and team up with fellow free agent-to-be Paul George. But wherever he decides to go next summer, don’t get it twisted: LeBron James has ruled the NBA as basketball’s best player for a decade, and he will go down as the greatest player of all time.
