NBA's Top 20 Players Right Now

[Randolphkeys]

A thread elsewhere got me thinking about this topic. In your father's NBA, all you had to do was look at the regular season stats. These days, players get rested while others don't, players go into regular season chill mode while others don't.

Who do you have in the top 20, in order?

Right now, here's my rough draft:

1-5: LBJ, Durant, Anthony Davis, Westbrook, Kawhi

6-10: Curry, Harden, Kyrie, Greek Freak, Draymond

11-15: Paul George, Cousins, CP3, Love, Lowry

16-20: Lillard, Wall, Mello, Butler, KAT

Bubble: Whiteside, LMA, Griffin, DeRozan, Millsap, Klay... maybe Wade.

...Anyone else care to post their true top 20?

 

[Adam]

A thread elsewhere got me thinking about this topic. In your father's NBA, all you had to do was look at the regular season stats. These days, players get rested while others don't, players go into regular season chill mode while others don't.

Who do you have in the top 20, in order?

Right now, here's my rough draft:

1-5: LBJ, Durant, Anthony Davis, Westbrook, Kawhi

6-10: Curry, Harden, Kyrie, Greek Freak, Draymond

11-15: Paul George, Cousins, CP3, Love, Lowry

16-20: Lillard, Wall, Mello, Butler, KAT

Bubble: Whiteside, LMA, Griffin, DeRozan, Millsap, Klay... maybe Wade.

...Anyone else care to post their true top 20?

Keys....you're missing Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder

 

[Ohio]

Keys....you're missing Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder

Don't forget future DPOTY Marcus Smart

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

LeBron - Davis - Kawhi - Harden - Durant

Westbrook - Kyrie - PG13 - Curry - Cousins

CP3 - KAT - Giannis - Butler - Love

Lillard - Wall - Hayward - Klay - DeRozen

 

[Walter White]

1. LeBron
2. KD
3. Westbrook
4. Harden
5. AD
6. Kawhi
7. Curry
8. Kyrie
9. Cp3
10. Cousins
11. Draymond
12. Lillard
13. Giannis
14. Paul George
15. Derozan
16. Love
17. Klay
18. Wall
19. Butler
20. Melo


Lowry, Griffin, Kemba, and KAT are probably next on the list. It is even arguable that Kemba is better than Lowry, although Lowry is a better defender. I personally think Derozan is the face of that team and he took a big step forward the last 2 years. He could easily be above Paul George, but PG gets the nod for consistency with shooting and being a better two way player.

I'm not sure Melo is top 20 still, but because of his offensive talent, I gave him the respect. Butler gets the nod over him easily imo because he is a two way player.

Klay is a 2 way player and can explode offensively like no other, but he is inconsistent and I don't think he can carry a team like everyone above him. It is arguable he can be better than Demar, PG, or Giannis, but how would he look if he was the #1 option and didn't play with Steph? Maybe he would still look good, I don't know. I just don't know if he could carry a team day in and day out when his focus waivers.

It was hard to rank Kyrie and Love without some bias. Love has been terrific this year and has been better than Kyrie half the time, so I don't know if I rank him too high or low. I put Kyrie pretty high, but it is because of how well he performs in the playoffs. Love could be ranked as high as 12 or 13 I think, but the players I put over him have to carry a team.

The 2 through 4 spot is almost interchangeable. KD has the efficiency, but could he carry a team by himself like Westbrook or Harden? KD is still a match up nightmare either way with stats not relevant. Between Westbrook and Harden, I give Harden the slight nod because of better efficiency and production when it comes to winning games. Westbrook's usage is insane and stats are incredible, but he is a bit too reckless and doesn't have the record like Harden. Either could be 2nd best in the league at this point in time.

The 2-7 spot is almost interchangeable as any could emerge to be 2nd best. Curry's drop off is still kind of crazy to me with how much he dominated the last 2 years. He has the potential to jump up with his talent, but we have seen him fall short in the playoffs regardless so I think his spot is warranted for now.

 

[Cratylus]

1. LeBron James
2. Russell Westbrook
3. Anthony Davis
4. James Harden
5. Kawhi Leonard
6. Kyrie Irving
7. Paul George
8. Damian Lillard
9. DeMarcus Cousins
10. Jimmy Butler
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo
12. Chris Paul
13. Kevin Love
14. John Wall
15. Demar Derozan
16. Karl Anthony Towns
17. Carmelo Anthony
18. Dwyane Wade
19. Blake Griffin
20. LaMarcus Aldridge

Because FUCK THE WARRIORS.

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

How is Green a top 20 player?

He is shooting 42% from the field, 34% from 3PT, 65% from the FT, While being completely ignored on offense while being dared to shoot.

Yes he's their glue guy, Yes he plays good defense, I will forever consider him a great system player, Put him on any other team other than the Warriors and ask him to carry them, he ain't even remotely that guy, top 20 players are guys who are carrying the load in my opinion.

The only reason he is effective is because he plays with great shooters around him and he is being asked to do all the small things, thats not a top 20 player.

6-10: Curry, Harden, Kyrie, Greek Freak, Draymond

11-15: Paul George, Cousins, CP3, Love, Lowry

So Draymond Green is a better player than Paul George, Cousins (29-10-3 btw), CP3, Lowry, Lillard? that's just insane why is Green so overrated?

 

[gourimoko]

How is Green a top 20 player?

Emperor's Clothes...

He's a great system player, as is Curry.

Take them out of their system and watch them collapse. Put others in their situation and watch them exceed all expectations.

 

[godfather]

Emperor's Clothes...

He's a great system player, as is Curry.

Take them out of their system and watch them collapse. Put others in their situation and watch them exceed all expectations.

Now that they have one of their best screen setters no longer there, in Bogut, Curry's three point shot has taken a massive drive. I'm not saying he can't shoot, or play, but I think it's pretty obvious by now he benefit so much from the system there.

 

[Jstock12]

Any list that doesn't have Giannis in the top10 is simply incorrect. And it's not a matter of opinion.

 

[Lee]

Keys....you're missing Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder

Sorry, I updated Avery Bradley to Marcus Smart, clearly you dont read the Kyrie Irving thread.

 

[Lee]

Don't forget future DPOTY Marcus Smart

Someone reads my jokes, I feel vindicated again.

 

[godfather]

1.) LeBron James
2.) Durant
3.) Westbrook
4.) Anthony Davis
5.) Leonard
6.) Greek Freak
7.) Curry
8.) Paul
9.) Harden
10.) Kyrie Irving
11.) Damian Lillard
12.) Jimmy Butler
13.) DeRozan
14.) Kevin Love
15.) Karl Anthony Towns
16.) Paul George
17.) LaMarcus Aldridge
18.) Blake Griffin
19.) Kyle Lowry
20.) DeMarcus Cousins

 

[Randolphkeys]

I should probably move DeRozan up. In the past, I've been accused of overvaluing DeRozan because he doesn't space the floor and his defense is average. I do believe his shot creation for others has taken a step up, and his old man scoring with old fashion three point plays should bump him into the 10-20 range. Lowry could take a bump down.

Hayward is a name I thought about. I held injuries against him, but he is young and the real #1 for a solid Utah team. Griffin I don't like as much as others because his defense has a lot to be desired. Same for Lillard, eventhough Lillard is just about even with Kyrie on the offensive side.

I really struggled with putting Green at #10. Honestly, I had him 10 at the highest, 20 at the lowest. His defense and ability to switch should keep him in that range, but I agree his scoring has seriously regressed now that he has to be the dirty work guy. I should bump him into that 15 - 20 range, but I don't want to jinx us before the Christmas showdown.

If you ask DubNation fans, they will claim the Warriors have 4 top 10 players without a second thought. Swear to God, that's what I deal with everyday.

 

[godfather]

It's tough making a top-20. Obviously it's subjective and opinions vary. I think Kyrie is a top-10 player, maybe I'm bias. But I put Harden, Curry, and Paul ahead of him. A lot of people probably would object if I didn't, but I think Harden is barely better honestly.

Lillard is just a notch below Kyrie to me overall. But he is pretty good. I've said in the past I don't think Curry is a top-5 player, and I'm sticking with that.

I think the only outrageous thing would be if LeBron is not number 1. He's clearly the best there is in this game. I don't think anyone has ever rivaled him. Maybe Kobe at one point, but not anymore. LeBron is this era's Michael Jordan.

I still think Durant is the second best player. I know a lot of people hate the Warriors and will want to go with Westbrook, but I still think Durant is the better of the two.

The rest is where it gets a bit more tricky. The Greek Freak actually might be better than Leonard but the sample size is too small thus far. That guy is a monster though.