Power Rankings

     After a 4.5 month long pause, the NBA is finally set to restart and complete it's 2019-20 season in the happiest place on earth, barring any major developments in the pandemic of course. To recap, any team who was within 6 games of 8th place in their conference received an invitation to Orlando. This resulted in 22 teams travelling to the Orlando bubble and the remaining 8 abruptly ending their seasons. Therefore instead of doing a power ranking of all 30, we will do the 22 still in contention with a glossed over section briefly mentioning the 8 who will be staying home and preparing for next season.

     To recap the format of the restart: each team will play 8 regular season games to determine seeding and the 16 playoff teams with one slight exception. If the 9th place team in a conference is within 4 games of the 8th place team, there will be a small play-in tournament for 8th place. In this scenario, the #8 team just has to win once to advance, while the #9 team would need to beat the #8 team twice in a row to take their place. From there the format is the same as it always is, 4 rounds of best-of-7 series with the East on one side of the bracket and the West on the other and the winner of each conference meeting in the NBA Finals.

     As we all continue to keep our fingers tightly crossed that everything goes according to plan and that an NBA champion is eventually crowned, let's examine how these teams stack up heading into the Disney bubble. 

Tier 1: Better Luck Next Year

#23-30 in order: Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks

The Warriors are by far the best team on this list when healthy, but losing Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to injuries after losing Kevin Durant in the offseason left the Warriors without the bulk of their offensive production and pretty hopeless. Expect them to bounce back in 2020.

The Hawks have a potential young superstar they can build around in point guard Trae Young. The 21 year old is 3rd in the NBA in points per game with 29.6 and 2nd in the NBA in assists per game with 9.3. They've complimented him with some nice young pieces in the past few drafts as well such as John Collins, Cam Reddish, and DeAndre Hunter. Trading for Clint Capella at the trade deadline adds another solid big man to the core.

Minnesota has 2 young all-stars in big man Karl-Anthony Towns and DeAngelo Russell, but Russel was not acquired until the trade deadline when Minnesota was already too far out of playoff contention and Towns missed time earlier in the season with injuries. The Timberwolves also added Malik Beasley via trade who can be a legit 3rd scoring option. All 3 of these players are 24 or younger, and the bulk of the roster is in their low to mid 20's.

The Bulls have a decent young roster headlined by Zach LaVine who averages 25.5 ppg and center Lauri Markannen who averaged 14.7 ppg. If recent draft picks like Coby White and Wendell Carter can develop as well the Bulls will improve.

There's not much nice I can say about the Pistons, Cavs, Hornets, and Knicks. The Knicks are a poorly run franchise that continues to whiff on draft picks and finish in the bottom 5-10 teams every season. The Hornets lost all-star Kemba Walker in free agency to the Celtics last summer, which was the only thing keeping their team towards the middle of the pack. Cleveland has been irrelevant since LeBron left. Detroit has players like Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose who were once great but appear to be past their primes.


Tier 2: Most likely not making the Playoffs

#22. Washington Wizards

24-40; 9th in East

Despite being 16 games under .500, the Wizards find themselves only 5.5 games behind Brooklyn and Orlando, who hold 7th and 8th place respectively. They have one of the NBA's best scorers, Bradley Beal. Beal is currently 2nd in scoring and was red-hot in February averaging 36 points per game for the month. But unfortunately, the team has decided Beal will not travel to Orlando as he is still recovering from an injury to his right rotator cuff. With Beal sidelined, the rest of the roster leaves much to be desired and it's unlikely the Wizards will make the playoffs, let alone even force a play-in tournament. However there's optimism for next year when the Wizards will get Beal and fellow all-star John Wall back from injuries.

#21. Phoenix Suns

26-39; 13th in West

The Suns barely squeaked into Disney, finishing exactly 6 games behind Memphis for 8th in the West. Devin Booker (23 years old) is a special player who averages 27 ppg, 6 assists per game, and shoots over 50% from the field. This has only been accomplished by Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Larry Bird, and Oscar Robertson, all of whom are top 25 players of all time. Like Trae Young, Booker is an excellent 3 point shooter and prolific scorer. The Suns 2nd best player is the #1 overall pick from 2 years ago, big man DeAndre Ayton. Ayton is a double-double machine who averages 19 ppg and 12 rpg, but was suspended for 25 games when the season began for violating the league's drug policy. Had Ayton been available for that stretch to take the load off of Booker, Phoenix would likely be more in contention for a playoff spot. But the odds of them gaining two games on Memphis while simultaneously leap frogging New Orleans, Portland, Sacramento, and San Antonio with only 8 games to play is just too unlikely. But they're a team to watch out for next season.

#20. San Antonio Spurs
27-36; 12th in West

 The Spurs are hanging around in the playoff race as they always do, currently 4 games behind Memphis, but don't look like a legitimate threat to make a push for the 8 seed on paper. They are bottom 5 in defense and have had key players miss time with injuries & soreness down the stretch. Most notably LaMarcus Aldridge, either their best or 2nd best player, will be out for the remainder of the season. However, the Spurs have made the playoffs 22 straight years, the longest active streak in professional sports. They also have the league's best coach, Greg Poppovich, who has won 5 championships. This is an organization used to winning and greatness and they aren't going to let that streak end without a fight. However without Aldridge this incredibly impressive streak of consecutive playoff appearances may be finally comin to an end.

Tier 3: Competing for a Playoff Birth

#19. Brooklyn Nets

30-34; 7th in East

Brooklyn's eyes were always on next season, when they will get newly acquired Kevin Durant back from the torn achilles he suffered in last year's NBA Finals. Durant is a top 5 player when healthy and a 2-time champion and Finals MVP. The Nets also acquired all-star Kyrie Irving, probably a top15-top20 player who started the season on the roster but was shut down in February to have season-ending shoulder surgery. Neither will be returning in time for the restart. Even without it's 2 studs, the Nets have a chance to make the playoffs and give its role players some invaluable playoff experience, albeit it will likely be short-lived. But when Durant and Irving return that will be enough to make Brooklyn a legitimate championship contender. For this year, the Nets priority needs to be edging out the Orlando Magic for 7th place, because this allows to avoid both the play-in tournament (if necessary), as well as a first round match up with Milwaukee.

#18. Orlando Magic
30-35; 8th in East

The East as a whole is a weaker conference than the west, and because of that the Magic and Nets are currently playoff teams despite their poor records. With the Nets' injuries piling up, the odds are in the Magic's favor to move up to 7th and thus avoid the play-in tournament and a first round date with Milwuakee. The Magic have a balanced roster and find ways to compete, but probably lack the star power to go any further than the first round of the playoffs. Offense has been a struggle for them as they play slow-paced and lack elite scorers, so when they fall behind in games it is difficult for them to recover.

#17. Sacramento Kings
28-36; T-9th in West

The Kings have not made the playoffs since 2006, but after winning 7 of their last 11 they find themselves only 4 games behind Memphis for 8th place. The Kings lack star power, but have a deep roster of B-list players who work well as a unit. Their best player is De'Aaron Fox, who averages 20 points and 7 assists and was an all-star in 2019 but spent part of 2020 injured. The Kings also get last year's #2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III back from injury. Also working in Sacramento's favor, they were gifted the 3rd easiest schedule of the 22 remaining teams. It will still be an uphill battle to secure 9th in the race against all the other Western teams but the Kings could be a sleeper.

#16. Portland Trailblazers
29-37; T-9th in West

Portland has a top 10 player and prolific scorer in Damian Lillard (29 ppg, 8 apg), and a second good scorer in CJ McCollum (23 ppg). Unfortunately the rest of the roster leaves much to be desired and hasn't helped the scoring duo much this season, although getting their duo of big men healthy again in Jursuf Nurkic and Zach Collins well help. Portland sits 3.5 games behind Memphis, in a 3 way tie with New Orleans and Sacramento for 9th and half a game ahead of San Antonio who remains in the mix as well. Of all teams in the running for 8th in the West, Lillard is the best player by a country mile and will have his opportunity to lead Portland into the playoffs. Lillard is known to be a clutch player, twice in his career he has hit a buzzer beater to win a playoff series, and he helped lead Portland all the way to the Western Conference Finals last season.


#15. New Orleans Pelicans
28-36; T-9th in West

The Pelicans may have dug themselves in a hole too deep to climb out of when they got off to an abysmal 6-22 start to their season. A damn shame because they are 20-14 since, which would have put them on pace for 48 wins and a playoff spot if they played that well from the beginning. This can largely be attributed to rookie phenom Zion Williamson being sidelined until late January with a knee injury. Williamson has taken the league by storm since returning, averaging 24 points and 7 rebounds. Brandon Ingram was also an all star (25 ppg and 6 rpg) and is only 22. Lonzo Ball, also 22, is an excellent passer and facilitator who is improving as a 3 point shooter as well. Throw in stingy veterans like Jrue Holiday (19 ppg and an elite defender), and JJ Reddick (3rd in 3-point percentage) and the slew of first round picks they own from trading Anthony Davis to the Lakers and the Pelicans are in great shape to be a playoff team, possibly more, for years to come. Personally I believe part of the reason the NBA opted for the format that they went with was to give Zion and the Pelicans a realistic chance of playing their way into the playoffs and setting up a juicy first round match up with LeBron and the Lakers, which would also mean pitting Anthony Davis against his former team. And the NBA knows this would draw much higher TV ratings than Memphis as well. The Pelicans have a deep talented roster and will make some noise in Disney.

#14. Memphis Grizzlies
32-33; 8th in West

The Grizzlies sit at an (almost) even 32-33 heading into the Disney bubble. The Grizzlies had the #2 pick in last year's draft and selected Ja Morant, who has exceeded expectations in ten-fold and is going to win rookie of the year (both because he played amazing but also because Zion missed so much time, which would otherwise make this an intriguing and debatable race). The 20 year old is a terrific athlete and passer who will be a future all-star in this league. But the Grizzlies got the short end of the stick in this new format, as they will almost assuredly have to participate in the play-in tournament as at least one of the other teams will probably remain within 4 games of them. The Grizzlies certainly would have preferred to have finished their 17 remaining games to maintain their 3.5 game lead on their competitors. Even so, the young Grizzlies exceeded expectations last year going from one of the league's worst teams to a probable playoff team, and will only get better as they grow.


Tier 4: Definitely Making the Playoffs, but little to no chance of Winning a Championship

#13. Indiana Pacers
39-26; T-5th in East

The Pacers are a good but not great basketball team that is still a piece or two away from being a championship contender. They have 2 young all stars in Victor Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis but I'm not sold either ever becomes a true superstar. The same goes for Myles Turner, Indiana's 3rd best player who is an elite shot blocker but average at best scorer and rebounder. It's unlikely the Pacers make it past the first round, let alone make a deep run.

#12. Oklahoma City Thunder
40-24; T-5th in West

One of the big surprises of the year. The Thunder were fully committed to a rebuild, they had traded former MVP Russell Westbrook and all-star Paul George for a collection that included 7 future first round picks, a young prospect with upside (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), and two experienced veterans who can still produce (Chris Paul & Danillo Galinari). The group fully expected to be a bottom 10 team without it's 2 superstars yet had the current group won half of its remaining games it would have matched last year's record. There likely isn't personnel in place to make a run beyond the 2nd round and it's more likely they lose in round 1. But the Thunder have already greatly exceeded expectations this season and were red-hot before the hiatus so the possibility exists that the trend could continue into the postseason.


Tier 5: Dark Horse Candidates
#11. Utah Jazz
41-23; 4th in West

The Jazz have the pieces in place of a team that could make a run at a championship. They have a bonafide scorer in Donavan Mitchell (25 ppg), an elite shot blocker and rebounder in Rudy Gobert (2nd in the NBA in rebounds, 4th in blocks). A smart, veteran point guard who can facilitate the offense and not turnover the basketball in Mike Conley. A solid second scoring option in Bojan Bogdonavic. A top 10 coach in Quinn Snyder. And role players who provide solid depth and the roster as a whole is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. What Utah lacks from the formula is a true superstar, which is often the difference between winning a championship, and getting close to doing so. Mitchell has potential to become that, but needs to make the jump from star to superstar. Nothing helps that argument more than playoff success.

#10. Dallas Mavericks
40-27; 7th in West

They're probably 1 year away just because their 2 cornerstones are so young but with the way the dynamic European duo is playing the Mavs can't be overlooked. 21 year old Luka Doncic is already an NBA super star. Doncic has 14 triple-doubles, the most in the league, and nearly averages one with 29 ppg, 10 rpg, and 9 apg. Doncic's sidekick, 24 year old Kristaps Porzingis, appears to finally be coming into his own again after an ACL tear sidelined him all of last season. Porzingis had a slow start to the season as he re-adjusted to the game, but from February forward Porzingis has been a machine averaging 26 ppg and 9 rpg and shoots over 50% from the field and nearly 40% from the 3-point line. These elite talents are only improving as the season progresses and will be a tough out for any playoff team who gets matched up with them (3rd and 7th place are only separated by a few games so the standings could still shuffle quite a bit). The youth and inexperience is probably their undoing this year, but this is a team that is going to improve and be in the mix for years to come.

#9. Miami Heat
41-24; 4th in East

After missing the playoffs last year, Miami returns to the postseason this year largely due to 2 reasons. 1) They went all out to acquire Jimmy Butler in free agency, an all-star wing player who can score and play great defense; and 2) because Bam Adebayo made the jump in year 3 from promising young prospect to all star. The Heat also have a deep roster that features a combination of talented veterans (Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk), and overachieving young players (Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, Derrick Jones Jr., Tyler Herro). Miami's combination of depth, defensive prowess, and dog-mentailty, make them a dangerous team to the Eastern heavyweights. The ability for the Heat to make a deep run will largely hinge on how the younger players handle the bright lights and big moments that come with the playoffs. Growing pains should be expected but the veteran leadership can be a large asset to covering that up to an extent. This is a year where the Heat probably get bounced around the 2nd round, but if they can lure another all-star to South Beach this summer then they become a true championship contender for the first time since LeBron James and Dwayne Wade were winning titles together.

#8. Philadelphia 76ers
39-26; T-5th in East

 No team benefited more from the hiatus than Philadelphia, who was in danger of having their two best players unavailable for the playoffs due to injuries. At the time of the stoppage, Joel Embiid, one of the best big men in the NBA, was dealing with a shoulder sprain, and Ben Simmons, an all-star point guard, was dealing with a back injury. Now both have had ample time to recover and are expected to play in Orlando. In their absences, Tobias Harris and Al Horford have been good enough to keep the Sixers as a middle-seeded playoff team, along with the emergence of 2nd year player Shake Milton who had a 39 point game in the week before the pause. With the full band back together, in conjunction with the most favorable schedule in the Disney bubble (their first 6 games are against sub . 500 teams) the Sixers hit the jackpot and can compete with anyone in the East.


Tier 5: Championship Contenders, but not Heavy Favorites
#7. Denver Nuggets
43-22; 3rd in West

The Nuggets are the team that wins consistently yet no one talks about them. They only have one all-star, Nikola Jokic, who isn't the flashiest or most popular player, but is a fundamentally sound big man who can help his team as a scorer, rebounder, and passer. Behind Jokic, the Nuggets have an arsenal of  talented players that form a well-balanced scoring attack and help the team win. 6 players on the roster average double-figures in scoring and 3 others contribute between 7 and 9 ppg. The offensive balance and the defensive sturdiness make the Nuggets one of the league's most consistent teams but with only one all-star on the roster it's difficult to envision the Nuggets being able to square up with teams like the Lakers and Clippers in a 7-game series in the Western Conference Playoffs.

#6. Houston Rockets
40-24; T-5th in West;

The Rockets have the distinction of being the only team in the NBA that has 2 former MVP's on the roster. James Harden is the NBA's best scorer at 35 ppg, a full 5 points ahead of the league's 2nd highest scorer (Bradley Beal). Harden's ability to score cannot be stressed enough, he has led the league in scoring the previous 2 seasons as well and last year went on a streak of 32 games where he scored at least 30 points. Not to be outdone, Houston's other MVP is Russell Westbrook, who has averaged a triple double the past 3 seasons, something only accomplished in a single season one other time in the league's history. Behind the two superstars is a roster constructed of 3 point shooters who are ready to catch and shoot when Harden and Westbrook draw double teams or attack the rim. They do lack size and instead opt to go for a "small-ball" approach, where they sacrifice rebounding in order to have more speed and better shooters on the floor. Harden and Westbrook are 2 players who despite being amazing statistically have never experienced much playoff success. Westbrook has a large number of first round exits and Harden has never made it to the Finals. They hope joining forces will allow them to be more successful than their individual allocates.


#5. Toronto Raptors
46-18; 2nd in East

The defending champion Raptors were a team many thought would take a huge step backward after the departure of 2-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers in free agency. For the Raptors to have any chance of remaining one of the league's best teams, it would require both young players to step up and veterans to play at an extremely high level. Fortunately for Toronto that's exactly what happened. Pascal Siakam, who was the 2nd scoring option to Leonard last season, has proved he is good enough to be the top option. Kyle Lowry slid back into the #2 role and is averaging 20 ppg, 8 apg, and playing good defense. Other key members off last year's title team like Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka have stepped up their games and players like Norman Powell and OG Annunoby who had minimal roles last season have filled into bigger roles nicely. These Raptors are playing with a chip on their shoulder, they want to prove their title was no fluke and wasn't solely dependent on 1 superstar. Fueling that fire has led them to the 3rd best record in the NBA currently and motivated them to defend their title.

#4. Boston Celtics
43-21; 3rd in East

The Celtics boast an impressive roster in that they have a go-to scorer but also 3 other players who could score 25-30 points on any given night. The go-to scorer is 22 year old Jayson Tatum, who was sizzling last month when he averaged 31 ppg and almost 50% from the 3 point line. Furthermore Tatum is a great perimiter defender and solid rebounder. Tatum is widely recognized as a star and he's almost certainly going to become a superstar and top 10 player in the league provided he can maintain this level of consistency. Tatum is joined by fellow all-star Kemba Walker, a guard with elite speed and ball-handling ability who chips in with 22 ppg. The All-Star duo is further supported by Jaylen Brown (20 ppg and another great defensive player) and Gordon Hayward (17 ppg and a great perimeter shooter). Tatum has had the hot hand as of late, but any of these 4 could lead Boston in scoring on any given night. That versatility of not knowing who might be the best scorer each evening makes Boston a difficult team to defend,  and Boston themselves are a top 5 defensive team also. The Celtics are close, and if Tatum can make the jump to superstardom they will have all the pieces in place to win a championship.

Tier 6: The Heavy Favorites

#3. Los Angeles Clippers
44-20; 2nd in West

Before this summer the Clippers were a mediocre at best team that made the playoffs as an 8 seed last year. Then the organization signed Kawhi Leonard (a two-time Finals MVP, two-time defensive player of the year, and top 5 player), and Paul George (finished top 3 in MVP voting and defensive player of the year voting last season). The two superstars instantly made the Clippers a championship favorite as both are two-way players that can score many points and also shut down the opposing teams' best scorers. Behind them the Clippers have a good collection of players such as Lou Williams (3-time 6th man of the year award winner), Montrezl Harrell (19 ppg), Patrick Beverly (two-time all NBA defensive team), and Marcus Morris (20 ppg). The Clips are elite both offensively and defensively and seem to be on a collision course with the Lakers for an epic "Battle of LA" to decide the Western Conference Finals.

#2. Milwaukee Bucks
53-12; 1st in East

The Bucks boast the NBA's best record, largely thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo (we just call him Giannis, no one bothers with the last name), who is on track to win his second consecutive MVP award. The 25 year old is becoming the new face of the NBA. Born in Greece to parents who were immigrants from Nigeria, Giannis and his family grew up in a tiny house where they all slept in the same room with little money since the parents had trouble finding work as immigrants, so Giannis and his brothers would sell inexpensive goods on the streets from a young age such as watches, handbags, and sunglasses to help provide the family with income. Years later, Giannis is an NBA megastar, averaging 30 ppg and 14 rpg and is also one of the league's best defensive players. In a league filled with arrogance, fame, and drama, fans love that Giannis is a humble individual playing for a small market team from an impoverished upbringing proud of his Greek origin. Past Giannis, the Bucks have a second all-star, Khris Middleton, who is an excellent 3 point shooter, and then some good role players like Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez, and George Hill. The Bucks for the most part have steam-rolled their Eastern competitors in the regular season but come playoff time teams like the Celtics, Raptors, Heat, and 76ers (if healthy) would present a good challenge to them. The team has not been to the Finals since 1974 but could rewrite history this season. What will ultimately determine whether or not the Bucks can win a championship this year, is whether or not Middleton can be a great enough side kick and whether members of the supporting cast can contribute enough to put Milwuakee over the top and give Giannis the support he needs.

#1. Los Angeles Lakers
49-14; 1st in West

The biggest brand in basketball also happens to be arguably the league's best team. They have the league's best player, LeBron James (26 ppg, 11 apg, 8 rpg) and another top 5 player in Anthony Davis (27 ppg, 10 rpg, elite rim protector.). James has long been the NBA's best player and an inhuman athlete, even at 35 years old. His accolades include 3 championships, 9 Finals appearances (including 8 in a row from 2011-2018), 3 Finals MVPs, 4 regular season MVP's, annual All-Star selections, and is 3rd all-time in scoring in NBA history. His greatness is compared to the likes of Michael Jordan and the late-great Kobe Bryant. Jordan won 6 championships and Kobe won 5 so LeBron is looking to close the gap on those two as he continues to make a case for the greatest of all time. James and Davis are the league's best superstar duo as Davis is a top 5 player as well, and they have a good supporting cast of contributers that includes Kyle Kuzma, Dwight Howard, JR Smith, Danny Green, JaVale McGee, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who all do their part. The Lakers will have to earn it, they have the likely aforementioned Battle of LA with the Clippers in the Western Finals and then the NBA Finals will either pit LeBron vs Giannis in a battle of the league's rising superstar versus the league's OG, or possibly Lakers vs Celtics which is the oldest rivalry in the NBA. The Lake-Show hasn't won a championship since Kobe helped them win back to back titles in 2010 & 2011, but with LeBron looking more motivated than ever and a roster of stingy veterans supporting him they could rule the league once again.

NBA Player Rank 2019-20

     The NBA differs from the NFL, NHL, and MLB greatly. While the other leagues focus on marketing their sport and teams, the NBA is driven by stars trying to build legacies and be remembered. It's no secret that Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant all leave the best players in other sports in the dust when it comes to fame, wealth, and popularity. This is also because in basketball one player can dominate and take over a game, whereas the other sports are a little more dependent on full team performance. That being said, here are (in my opinion, open for debate!) the 25 best stars and superstars in the game today!

(One quick note! An '*' denotes that the player changed teams via free agency or via trade as of July 1).

Honorable Mentions:
LaMarcus Aldirdge, San Antonio Spurs; Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns; Donavan Mitchell, Utah Jazz; Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks; DeMaar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs


#25. Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers
Age: 27; 2019 Stats: 18.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.2 APG

'Dipo was a rising star in this league, before a torn ACL in January ended his season and thus that of the Pacers as well. Oladipo is a playmaker who gave LeBron and the Cavaliers fits in the first round of the playoffs 2 seasons ago, and many believed he was only scratching the surface of his potential. Hopefully he can make a full recovery from the torn ACL and continue his rise.

#24. Mike Conley*, Utah Jazz
Age: 31, 2019 Stats: 21.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 6.4 APG

Conley has been a proven veteran point guard in the league for years. Conley spent his entire career with the Memphis Grizzlies, until recently being traded to the Utah Jazz so they could contend for a title while Memphis focused on rebuilding. Conley isn't flashy, but he is extremely disciplined and rarely turns the ball over. His ability to make good decisions with the basketball and serve as a floor general allows his team to be successful.

#23. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
Age: 33, 2019 Stats: 14.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 8.7 APG

Lowry will always be somewhat lacking in scoring, but he's an excellent passer (finished 2nd in assists last year), tough defender, and makes great hustle plays that don't show up on the stat sheet. After many years of inconsistency and playoff struggles, Lowry finally delivered in the Finals when the Raptors needed him most, making big play after big play. The 33 year old has paid his dues and given Toronto everything he has and it was nice to see him finally win one.

#22. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Age: 29; 7.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.9 APG

One of the few players who can have a huge impact on a game without scoring many points. While Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson are/were the primary scorers for Golden State, it's no secret that Green is the leader and the motor for them that never stops. Green is one of the league's best defenders, even winning defensive player of the year in 2017. He also is a good passer, good rebounder, and makes hustle plays. Some dislike him for being a trash talker and a bit arrogant, but he's a 3 time champion and 3 time all star and his motor never stops.

#21. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
Age: 26; 2019 Stats: 25.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.5 APG.

After years of lurking in John Wall's shadow, this is Bradley Beal's team now. Wall was sidelined with season ending knee surgery and Beal took the reins and never looked back, averaging more than 25 points per game. The Wizards will need to build around him and support him with more talented players but having just turned 26 Beal is a young, talented scorer that Washington can build around.

#20. Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons
Age: 30; 2019 Stats: 24.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 5.5 APG

Blake Griffin's game has developed over the years. In his younger years, he was an amazing athlete who could jump overs defenders and make highlight reel dunks. While his body isn't as explosive as it used to be, Griffin has learned how to shoot from outside and use savvy post moves to score, even adding a nice step back 3 point shot to his arsenal. Griffin spent the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Jordan were forever contenders in the West but never made it past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

#19. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
Age: 22; 2019 Stats: 16.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 7.7 APG

If Ben Simmons could only develop a jumpshot, he'd be a fringe top 10 player, and there is still time for that at only 22 years old. Even without being a great shooter, Simmons still averages 17 points per game largely by getting to the rim and scoring in transition. He's also a great ball handler, rebounder, passer, and athlete. He's insanely tall for a point guard at 6'10 and thus can create mismatches against other teams guards. Simmons is one of the league's most exciting young players and once he improves his perimeter shooting he's going to be scary good.

#18. Kemba Walker*, Boston Celtics
Age: 29; 2019 stats: 25.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.9 APG

Kemba Walker is one of the best players that rarely gets talked about simply because he has spent his whole career playing for a small market team. Prior to this summer, Walker spent the entirety of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, who were never able to lure enough supporting talent to help Walker or the team reach any further than the first round of the playoffs. After 7 loyal years, Walker decided it was time for a change and signed with the Boston Celtics, who have much more talent than the Hornets ever did. Perhaps the change of scenery will help Walker achieve more postseason success.

#17. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 23, 2019 Stats: 24.4 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 3.4 APG

"KAT" is another immensely talented younger player. Towns plays center, but can also make 3's and is a great free throw shooter, in addition to his skills as a post scorer and good rebounder. He's a doulble-double (a term used for someone who gets double digits in points and rebounds) machine but ultimately Towns' ceiling and how far he can lead the Timberwolves will come down to if he can ever become half as good of a defensive player as he is an offensive player.

#16. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Age: 27, 2019 stats: 15.9 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 2.3 BLKPG

While he isn't a bad scorer and is a great rebounder, Gobert is best known for great rim protection and shot blocking. In fact he has won Defensive Player of the Year the past 2 seasons by anchoring the Jazz defense and making it nearly impossible for opponents to score in the middle. Despite this, Gobert has yet to make the all star game, many feel he was snubbed last year. The big man is a hard worker and continues to assert himself as one of the league's best centers.

#15. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Age: 29, 2019 Stats: 21.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.4 APG

Often being overshadowed by Durant and Curry, Klay Thompson rarely gets the credit he truly deserves. Klay is probably one of the 5 best shooters in the history of the game, he's also a great defender, and no one in the league can get as red hot as Thompson can. Klay set an NBA record a few years back by scoring 37 points in a quarter, yes you read that correctly. Klay also elevates his game in the playoffs, he shot an absurd 65% from deep in this year's finals before tearing his ACL in the final game of the series. Klay and Steph Curry are known as the "Splash Brothers" because they are both insanely good shooters that can make the net splash when they swish the ball through perfectly. Klay is a 3 time champion and five time all star and one of the league's best two way players.

NOTE: Klay Thompson is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season while rehabbing his torn ACL.

#14. Jimmy Butler*, Miami Heat
Age: 29, 2019 Stats: 18.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.0 APG

"J-Buckets" is a tremendous 2 way player (2 way player is someone who is terrific scorer and defender) and a competitor with a dog mentality. He can get baskets in clutch moments late in games, he plays terrific perimeter defense, and is a hard worker. Butler has moved around a bit, demanding a trade from Chicago after things weren't going well, and then again demanding a trade from Minnesota. After Minnesota failed to adhere to Butler's request, he lost his shit on them one practice screaming at other players and claiming they couldn't win without him. In 2019, Butler went toe to toe with Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors and perhaps the Sixers could have won the East and played in the Finals if not for one miraculous game 7 shot by Leonard. Now Butler fins himself on the Miami Heat, a team with a deep roster that has lacked a go-to offensive player when the game is close. In a league full of superstars who want to team up with other superstars, it's admirable that Butler wants to do it himself and create his own legacy.

#13. Kyrie Irving*, Brooklyn Nets
Age: 27; 2019 Stats: 23.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.9 APG

Kyrie is one of the league's elite scorers who can snipe from 3 point range and also blow past defenders and make nearly impossible layups at the rim. Irving might be the best ball handler in the league, with a cross over that can break ankles. Irving hit the game winning shot in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals to give the Cleveland Cavaliers their only championship, although LeBron James was the Finals MVP. Sometimes Irving looks mentally checked out or like he isn't giving his best effort, and there are questions about how coachable or good of a teammate he is, but there's no denying his on the court talent. After starting his career in Cleveland and winning a title alongisde LeBron, Irving demanded a trade because he wanted the opportunity to lead his own team and not always play second fiddle to LeBron. That experiment did not work out for him in Boston, who actually made it further in 2018 when Irving was injured, than they did this year when he was healthy. Irving decided to join forces with Kevin Durant and sign with the Brooklyn Nets this offseason.


#12. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Age: 24, 2019 Stats: 20.1 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 7.3 APG

Nikola Jokic is far from the best athlete or most naturally gifted player on this list, but his technique is so well polished that he is able to hold his own with the best of them. The Joker can score from outside as well as in the post and is a good rebounder, but perhaps what sets him apart is his passing ability as a big man. Jokic has great vision and is able to set his teammates up for open shots rather frequently. Jokic's combination as an effective passer, polished scorer, and strong rebounder makes him one of the league's more versatile weapons. Jokic helped lead the Denver Nuggets back to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2013, where they defeated the Spurs in 7 games in round 1 and then fell to the Trailblazers in 7 games in round 2.

#11. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Age: 25, 2019 Stats: 27.5 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.7 APG

As the NBA has developed, it has become a game of perimeter jump shooting and less reliant on big men, however Embiid embodies the old school NBA and is a smash mouth, in your face center who can dominate the middle. The scoring and rebounding numbers speak for themselves, Embiid is the league's best scoring big and he cleans the glass off of missed shots. Additionally he is a great shot blocker, can make 3's, and is a tremendous athlete. Furthermore Embiid has a reputation for being the league's biggest trash talker, often calling out other players via Twitter or in interviews with the media. Embiid firmly has the mentality that he is the league's most dominant player and placing him 11th on my list isn't going to change his mind. The one downside to Embiid is his injury history. He didn't even play in his first 2 seasons due to a broken foot and then a set back in the rehabilitation process. Additionally Embiid has battled a meniscus tear, an orbital fracture in his left eye, and he missed part of the 2nd round of the playoffs battling flu-like symptoms.

#10. Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 29; 2019 stats: 28.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 4.1 APG

There was a time 5 or 6 years ago when "PG-13" was a top 3 player in this league, holding his own with LeBron James and Kevin Durant. When he played for the Indiana Pacers, they had epic duels with LeBron and Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals but fell short every time. Then, he suffered an unfortunate broken foot injury in a game with the olympic team and hasn't quite been the same ever since. George has had to adapt his game, shooting more 3's and attacking the rim less. In 2019, George had his best season since his injury, finishing 2nd in points per game, 1st in steals, and 3rd in MVP voting. In addition to MVP George was also nominated for defensive player of the year and is one of the league's best scorers and defenders. In George's 2 years at Oklahoma City, they have yet to advance past the first round of the playoffs, losing to the Jazz in 6 games in 2018 and the Trailblazers in 5 games last season. However George was traded this summer to the Los Angeles Clippers to join forces with Kawhi Leonard (more on him later) where he should have a chance to contend for a title.

#9. Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers
Age: 28; 2019 Stats: 25.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 6.9 APG

Damian Lillard is a star whose been knocking on the door of superstar for quite some time now and after last season I would finally say he has earned that title. Lillard is one of the league's best scoring guards and one of the game's best shooters. After losing 10 straight playoff games, Lillard and Portland finally exorcised their playoff demons and defeated the Thunder in 5 games in the first round and then the Nuggets in 7 games in the 2nd round before being swept by the Warriors in the conference finals. Lillard has hit some big time shots in big moments, including two that would win a playoff series for the Trailblazers: the 2013 first round Game 6 against Houston, and the 2019 first round Game 5 against Oklahoma City. In the shot to eliminate OKC he even waved goodbye after draining a deep 3 to end their season, savage. Lillard has a certain swagger to his game and belief that he's the best player on the court at all times, he also does free style rapping when he's not playing basketball.

#8. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets
Age: 30; 2019 Stats: 22.9 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 10.7 APG

Russell Westbrook is probably the most physical and explosive point guard in the league today. He's one of the league's best finishers at the rim and in transition because he is able to muscle his way to the cup and also breeze past defenders with lightning speed. Westbrook is best known for the firey passion and tenacity he plays the game with, he has a killer's mentality when he's on the court and is always screaming and slapping his chest after big dunks or contact plays. Sometimes when he scores on players he thinks are soft, he motions to the crowd and pretends to rock a baby to sleep.

What makes Westbrook great is the fact that he's the only player who can average a triple double (double digits in points, rebounds, and assists). In fact he's done it the past 3 seasons, only one other individual in NBA history has accomplished that in one season. The reason I exclude him from the top 5 is the fact that he can be cancerous to his team at times by being a poor jumpshooter and a horrendous defender. Additionally Westbrook has struggled in the playoffs lately, having not made it past the first round since 2016. Before that, Westbrook and Durant were a dynamic duo in OKC, one that even reached the Finals in 2012 before losing to the Heat in 5 games, and when Durant elected to leave this was an ugly break up. Westbrook was the MVP in 2017 and is still chasing that elusive NBA title.

Following the Paul George trade, Westbrook requested and was granted a trade out of OKC, being sent to join forces with James Harden (more on him later) in Houston.

#7. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
Age: 31; 2019 stats: 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.2 APG

Putting it simply, Curry is the best shooter the game has ever seen. He has shattered various single season and career records in 3 point shooting, and more often than not he's done it by a huge margin and with ease. He can catch and shoot, he can create shots with his dribble, he can pull up from 10 feet off of the 3 point line, he is one of the games deadliest snipers from deep. Curry is a 3 time champion and 2 time MVP, and one of the league's brightest stars and most popular players. In addition to his on court success, Curry is known for being a devout Christian and one of the most human superstar athletes out there. He has often used his platform to speak of his faith and let others know this defines him, and even has 4:13 scripted on the lace loops of some of his shoes in reference to Phillipians 4:13. He has a child like aura to him and is famous for always having his mouthpiece hanging halfway out of his mouth. He is one of the world's most famous athletes and one of the best individuals off the court also.

#6. Anthony Davis*, Los Angeles Lakers

Age: 26; 2019 Stats: 25.9 PPG, 12 RPG, 3.9 APG










Known as "AD" or "The Brow" (for his unibrow), Anthony Davis is the hybrid between a big man and a wing player. Davis can dominate the post, collect rebounds, and protect the rim but he can also shoot from the perimeter and dribble. He is an athletic player who can run the floor and soar for alley oops and has a quick first step against his bigger defenders. His versatility makes him a unique talent on both sides of the ball and at only 26 he is still going to be in his prime for awhile. Until this summer, Davis spent his entire career with the New Orleans Pelicans, who were never really able to surround him with enough talent to make deep runs in the playoffs. In fact they only made the playoffs twice and won one series in Davis' time there. Now, in a trade that shook the league, Davis heads to the Lakers to join forces with LeBron James in what has potential to be one of the greatest duos the league has ever seen.

#5. James Harden
Age: 29; 2019 Stats: 36.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 7.5 APG

There's no sugarcoating it, James Harden is the league's most prolific scorer. Harden averaged 36 points per game last season, the next highest scorer (Paul George) averaged 28. This was the highest scoring season since Michael Jordan in the 1986-87 season. Adding the 7.5 assists and 6.6 rebounds is just further icing on the cake to what was a historic season. Adding to this impressive stretch, was that Harden went 32 straight games from December to February in which he scored 30 or more points in 32 consecutive games, a streak that finally ended on an evening he went cold and shot 0/10 from the 3 point line and scored "just" 28 points. Offensively Harden is nearly impossible to guard one on one. Give him space and he will drill a 3, play too close and he will zoom past you, play in between and he will creatively draw a foul. "The Beard" has led Houston to the Western Conference Finals twice, but they lost both appearances and have yet to reach the NBA Finals. Harden was the MVP in 2018 and many feel he was deserving of winning it again this year after his historic offensive season. While the individual accolades are impressive, the only big whopping thing left on Harden's check list is to win a championship.

#4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Age: 24; 2019 Stats: 27.7 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 5.9 APG

The reigning MVP came from nothing, the son of Nigerian immigrants to Greece where he, his parents, and his 4 brothers all lived in a single room during their childhood. Fast forward 24 years and Giannis won the MVP award and is en route to becoming the new face of the NBA when the current generation passes. On the court Giannis is known as the "Greak Freak" due to his combination of size and athleticism. He can score in a variety of ways, mostly attacking the rim but his jumpshot has vastly improved over the past season. He's an exceptional rebounder and defender and good passer as well. Off the court Giannis is a humble player and one that will serve as a great role model once the torch is passed to him as the face of the NBA. Always doing his part to give back to both the communities of Milwuakee and Greece. Prior to this year Giannis had never won a playoff series, but this year they won two before falling in a competitive 6 game series to the Raptors. At only 24, Giannis is just now scratching the surface of his potential, and has plenty of time to help guide Milwuakee to a championship. It will be exciting to see how Giannis handles the mountainous expectations that are being placed before him.

#3. Kawhi Leonard*; Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 28; 2019 Stats: 26.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG

There is only one player in the league who can score 30 points and simultaneously shut down the opposing team's best player and that is 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi was dominant in leading Toronto to its first ever NBA title, and he became only the third player in NBA history to win titles and be named Finals MVP with 2 different teams (he did it with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014). In addition to being a 2 time champion, Leonard is also a 2 time defensive player of the year and one of the league's best defenders. In a league full of big personalities, Kawhi is actually an emotionless man of few words. He instead prefers to let his game do the talking and block out all distractions, he doesn't care for the media attention and celebrity status that comes with being one of the game's best. The top three are all extremely close, and there's a real argument for Leonard to be #1. After delivering a championship to Toronto, Leonard decided to return home to Los Angeles, and join forces with Paul George on the Clippers and try to lead them to their first ever NBA title. Leonard's choice was a respectable one, as he could have joined LeBron and AD on the Lakers, but instead embraced the challenge of trying to defeat them rather than join them.

#2. Kevin Durant; Brooklyn Nets
Age: 30; 2019 Stats: 26 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.9 APG

He's salty with reporters, he made fake twitter accounts to defend himself against haters, and he will be forever seen as a coward for leaving an already great Oklahoma City to join a loaded Golden State team that didn't need his help to win championships. All that aside, he's still one of the best basketball players on the planet, if not the best. Durant has the height of a center (he's 6'10) but the abilities of a wing player. He has an incredibly smooth jump shot and is also has great speed, athleticism, and ball handling for his size. He's a good perimeter defender, as his lanky wing span makes it difficult for opposing players to score against him.

Durant is a two time champion and two time Finals MVP, though fans will always see that as somewhat tainted since he piggybacked off of a Warriors team that was already competing for and winning championships without his help. Golden State was en route to a three peat before Durant suffered a torn achilles injury in the NBA Finals, which allowed the Raptors to take advantage and win the series with KD sidelined.

NOTE: That torn achilles is expected to take a year or longer to fully recover, meaning Durant is expected to sit out all of next season with his new team, the Brooklyn Nets.

#1. LeBron James; Los Angeles Lakers
Age: 35; 2019 Stats: 27.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 8.3 APG

While this is much more debatable now than it has been the past 10 years, LeBron is still in my opinion the most gifted and well-rounded player in the league. James has always been a great scorer, a strong rebounder, and a passer with incredible vision. His defense took a step back last year but he's still someone who can both play and defend all 5 positions, the only player in the league who can do so. He elevates his game come playoff team and has had some out of this world performances in the NBA Finals. Off the court you either love him or hate him. He can be a bit narcissistic and embraces the celebrity status the media and LA market gives him, but he also does do a lot to give back to the community and be a good role model to the many who look up to him. James will be forever compared to and chasing the ghost of Michael Jordan and his 6 championships (James had 3: 2 with Miami and 1 with Cleveland), but has been adamant about not wanting to be the next Michael Jordan, but rather the first LeBron James. With Davis now in LA, James will have a couple more runs at more NBA championships before calling it quits on an incredibly accomplished career.