CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 18: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors on January 18, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Sports Illustrated concluded its Top 100 NBA players list today, by revealing the top 10.
Sports Illustrated concluded its annual Top 100 NBA players countdown by revealing the top 10 on Thursday morning. Although it is impossible for everyone to agree on the order, the top 10 is hardly surprising. Other than maybe the 10-spot, the top nine is indisputable. Here is the top 10:
10. Draymond Green, Warriors
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
8. Anthony Davis, Pelicans
7. Chris Paul, Rockets
6. Russell Westbrook, Thunder
5. James Harden, Rockets
4. Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
3. Stephen Curry, Warriors
2. Kevin Durant, Warriors
1. LeBron James, Cavaliers
As noted above, no surprises in the top 10. However, the order in which the NBA’s brightest stars appear may come as a shock to some. Due to his continued defensive excellence, Green is certainly deserving of his spot amongst the best.
Meanwhile at No. 9, Antetokounmpo continues to climb his way up the list as his career steams forward. The Greek Freak still has a lot to prove in his young NBA career, but he’s leading the new wave of NBA superstars. Davis, No. 8, is one of the NBA’s greatest scorers and undisputed best big man in the league. Over the course of his career, No. 7, Paul has been one of the most under-appreciated stars in the league. His incredible scoring and passing abilities, along with his abundance of NBA first-team all-defense appearances make him a strong lock.
Furthermore, Russell Westbrook, the reigning league MVP, and James Harden, MVP runner-up, rank No.’s 5 and 6 respectively. Next, Leonard comes in at No. 4. He is now Gregg Popovich’s sole superstar and the NBA’s best two-way player. The Warriors tandem of Curry and Durant make up the second and third spots as reigning NBA Champions and previous MVP winners. Finally, James, the King, retains his No. 1 spot as the NBA’s best player. All things considered, Sports Illustrated’s NBA Top 10 encompasses the best that the league has to offer.