With all the talk recently about how the Lakers would have two of the top five players in the NBA with LeBron and AD and our debate over how adding Westbrook to Harden would work in Houston, it got me thinking who actually are the top five or ten or twelve players in the NBA, other than those playing for the Blazers. Because the more I thought about it, I didn't have a very hard time thinking of five players I thought were better than Anthony Davis. I'm just looking at what I would expect for their ability on a generic team, who I'd rather not be facing. I'm presuming they are healthy, although consistent health might figure into my consideration. Anyway, here was my top 12 in order. I'd be interested to read other forum members' rankings. Kevin Durant Kawhi Leonard LeBron James James Harden Giannis Antetokounmpo Joel Embiid Steph Curry Russell Westbrook Anthony Davis Paul George Kyrie Irving Andre Drummond
I went back and forth a bit on the second spot, but I think Kawhi is rising where LeBron's on the downturn, and, if I were building a team, I might even take Kawhi over KD. I had a lot of trouble with the 12th spot, but I eventually went with Drummond just because he's such a beast on the boards. Kind of came down to him, Gobert and Jokic for me. I put Harden above Giannis because Harden is probably as hard to defend as any guard I've ever seen, and Giannis still has to improve certain areas of his game. By the end of this season or next, though, I expect Giannis to rise in my rankings.
Actually, more I think about it, I might be tempted to go Oladipo in the 12th spot, in hindsight. I thought about KAT there, too.
Yep. I think the OP was kind of self-explanatory. Those are my rankings. Instead of criticizing my evaluation skills, maybe you'd like to take a stab at posting your own rankings. It actually was kind of fun.
The one thing ... for me, at least, it was really hard to argue with myself that AD was in the top five, or six, or seven.
My rankings considering KD's injury are: 1)Kawhi 2)KD 3)Giannis 4)LeBron 5)Curry 6)Harden 7)Embiid 8)Davis 9)Lillard 10)George 11)Jokic 12)Irving
1. Kawhi 2. Legroin 3. Giannis 4. Curry 5. Davis 6. Embiid 7. George 8. Jockitch 9. Westbrook 10. Irving 11. Lamucus 12. Harden I did not put KD in there because he will not play next year but he would fall 1 or 2. Lamucus probably should not be in there but I think he is better then Gobert. Harden is an anomaly he gets ranked because he gets the calls he does not go out there to score points he goes out there to get fouls. He cant play defense. When you start taking his foul shots away he whines and it disrupts his game. If Jockitch learns not to foul without the ref's help the NBA needs to watch out.
1. Lebron 2. Leonard 3. Paul George 4. Durant 5. Giannis 5. Davis 6. Jokic 7. Curry 8. Harden 9. Lillard 10. Embiid 11. Thompson 12. Luka - WTH why not