NBA Top 15 Lists

It’s that time of year: as you walk down the halls or sit in the library, you may hear “LeBron is the best player in the league right now,” and in fiery response, “What are you talking about? Dude it’s easily Chef Curry.” Everyone has an opinion, and the most heated discussions are usually between friends. Here are Vaynu and Isaiah’s two cents about who really is the best of the best in the NBA.

By Vaynu Kadiyali

 

1. LeBron James (SF): LeBron’s utter domination in the NBA finals, including terrific defensive moments, carrying the Cavs offensively, a respectable 37-percent three-point percentage and a 30 ppg (points per game) average show that when the King puts his mind to it, he’s the league’s best.
2. Kawhi Leonard (SF): In addition to being one of the league’s best-ever perimeter defenders, Kawhi is also a shrewd offensive player, taking few shots but maximizing efficiency.
3. Stephen Curry (PG): Curry’s offensive game is the best in the league, but after not concluding his amazing season with a Finals win, his status as the league’s best has been revoked.

4. Russell Westbrook (PG): He’s been the most athletic player in the league for quite some time now, and his lockdown defensive mentality leads him to be an elite well-rounded player.

5. Anthony Davis (PF): Davis combines the best of a big man’s attributes with the ability to run a team’s offense of a point guard. That and his top-five defensive game will make him a formidable opponent and an invaluable teammate.

6. Kevin Durant (SF): Durant can’t crack the top five because he has shown that he can’t win, but he is a phenomenal scorer who was at one time the league’s best.

7. Chris Paul (PG): His playmaking, perimeter defense, and well-developed offensive game give him among the league’s best skillsets.  

8. Draymond Green (PF): Green is probably the second-best defender in the league. Offensively, he is shooting 50 percent from the field, and he can grab rebounds over larger players to increase offensive possessions.  

9. Demarcus Cousins (C): Despite the mediocrity of the Sacramento Kings, Cousins is undoubtedly the best center in the league. He is the best scoring center, and has even developed a perimeter shot, making him almost unstoppable.

10. James Harden (SG): Despite some horrendous defensive moments, Harden is going to have quite the season, probably getting double-digit assist figures by facilitating the Houston offense for the first time. Also, his status as the league’s best offensive player will be solidified this season.

11. Paul George (SF): Paul George is a beast; he can shoot from anywhere, making both halfcourt shots and ferocious dunks in the paint. Add that to his intensity while defending at the perimeter, and George has elevated himself to a top-league talent.

12. Kyle Lowry (PG): Lowry was arguably the East’s best guard. He led the Raptors to a franchise-high wins record, and was the Raptors’ best offensive and defensive player.

13. Hassan Whiteside (C): He’s the league’s statistical best shot-blocker and post defender, and his offense, while limited to the paint, will be a menace to every team he plays.  

14. Kemba Walker (PG): After significant adjustments to Walker’s shooting style in the last preseason, he’s become a top-five point guard who can shoot well from all areas of the floor and smartly facilitate offense for the Hornets.

15. Andre Drummond (C): In addition to increasing the Pistons’ offensive possessions by grabbing a ludicrously high amount of rebounds, Drummond has elevated himself to a top-league talent through developing excellent post scoring and defense.

 

By Isaiah Gutman

 

1. Stephen Curry (PG): Curry has proven himself again and again to be far and away the best offensive player in the NBA. It would be unwise to forget that he also led the association in steals last season and that he grabs five rebounds per game.
2. LeBron James (SF): LeBron has some of the greatest seasons in NBA history, and while some say he does not perform to the best of his abilities in the regular season, his playoff performances are some of the greatest displays of skill in history.

3. Kawhi Leonard (SF): Kawhi is only 25, but he has both a ring and two defensive player awards to his name. However, he has never played without Duncan, so watch out for a difference in his performance this year, be it good or bad.

4. Russell Westbrook (PG): Westbrook is a rare example of the quintessential triple double player. He scores over 23 points a game while not only averaging a double-double but also grabbing nearly eight rebounds a game.

5. Chris Paul (PG): He may have inferior athleticism, but he is both the best playmaker and (arguably) the best shooter at point guard in the league besides—and has defense to top it off.

6. Anthony Davis (PF): The youngest player on the list, Davis is a monster on defense in the paint and on the perimeter, and can score and rebound with the best. He had a slow year, but watch for him to bounce back in a big way this season.

7. Kevin Durant (SF): Although he has shown that he cannot win without (and even with) Westbrook, KD still remains one of the top three scorers in the NBA. He also has begun to better utilize his incredible length on defense.

8. James Harden (SG): He may have a sore lack of transition defense, but he makes up for it in sheer offensive prowess. He was the second-highest scorer last year and also gets six rebounds and 7.5 assists per game.

9. Kyle Lowry (PG): He does not get as much recognition as the rest, but Lowry places in the top 10 of almost every statistical measure of overall performance. Plus, he has led multiple teams to success in recent years.

10. Paul George (SF): His leg injury is what keeps him from placing higher on this list, as he has not yet returned to pre-injury form. However, he is still one of the best two-way players in the NBA.

11. Draymond Green (PF): Unquestionably one of the best defenders in the NBA, Green is also a skilled point forward, getting more assists than Curry and nearly 10 rebounds per game last year.

12. DeAndre Jordan (C): Jordan has been one of the best paint defenders in the NBA for years now, and is improving rapidly on offense in his few shots per game. Add in his complete domination of the boards and you clearly have the best center in the league.

13. Hassan Whiteside (C): Whiteside is arguably the best paint defender and gets an insane amount of rebounds. Look for him to perform well on offense sans Wade and Bosh.

14. Paul Millsap (PF): Millsap has exploded on the scene in the last few years with incredible defensive performance and steady offense to match. He led the Hawks to a second-place finish in the East a few years ago, and has improved greatly in the past few seasons since then.

15. Kemba Walker (PG): Walker has shined as the leader of a scrappy Hornets team that has made the playoffs twice in the last three years, as he scored 21 points and dished out five assists per game last year.