LeBron James has long reigned as the best
basketball player in the world. James took the crown from Kobe in 2010-11, his
first season with the Heat. Since then, his Kingship has been largely
undisputed, even in his defeats.
But in the last few seasons, events have
occurred that have blurred who actually is King of Basketball. The biggest of
which was LeBron’s absence from last year’s playoffs, his typical time to shine
where he shows the world no matter what happened in the regular season, he’s
still the best on the court. We didn’t get that showing last year, and now,
with a crown laying unworn but claimed and contested by many to be theirs, we
await the conclusion of the 2020 playoffs to coronate, or recornate a
King.
These are the claimants:
Kawhi Leonard
The reigning NBA Finals MVP, and now reigning
All Star MVP might have the best claim as it stands right now. After all, last
season’s playoffs were Leonard’s playground. Across the 2019 postseason,
Leonard averaged 30.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, and 3.9 apg on 49% shooting and 38% from 3.
He was the best player on the court throughout the Raptors run and topped it
off with his second career championship. Leonard also notably took down MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference Finals, stopping short
Antetokounmpo’s rise to the top of basketball.
So far through the 2019-20 campaign, Leonard is
averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists, with 27.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg,
and 5.3 apg respectively.
In areas of his play that Kawhi could have been
criticized for even a couple years ago, he has since shored up those, and every
other aspect of his game. He is now a quality play-maker and ball handler, and
can score with the very best of them. He’s able to score getting to the basket,
shooting 3s, mid-range, at the free throw line and might be the only defender in
the NBA that can effectively limit the Greek Freak. Leonard has also been the
best two-way player in the NBA for a few years now (not including his injury
plagued 2017-18 campaign).
He won’t be taking home the regular season MVP
this year, with his load management routine limiting his playing time. But
Kawhi is sitting in cruise control this regular season while playing better
than ever. Leonard sits calmly composed in the driver seat in the quest for the
crown, barring any unfortunate injuries, LeBron and Lakers will likely be the
only squad standing in Kawhi’s way toward another Finals appearance.
Lebron James
LeBron’s roughly decade long reign atop the
world as the best basketball player has only really been called into question
due to injury from last season. We didn’t get to see Playoff LeBron for the
first time in a long time, and with no James Finals for the first time since
2010, the script for the crown is waiting to be written come April, May and
June.
After eight straight seasons of being the only
constant in the final series of the NBA season, James’s off-season began in
April last year. The extra rest has led to LeBron playing rejuvenated this
season, leading the NBA in assists from the outset, while boasting
typical LeBron numbers of 25.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 10.6 apg on 49% shooting and 35%
from 3.
James has been leading the Lakers atop the West
most of the season, currently sitting with a six-game lead over the Nuggets and
Clippers. LeBron looks to secure the top spot in the conference for the first
time since his 2015-16 Championship campaign.
Just so we all remember what James does come
playoff time, his stats from his last two appearances in the Finals where he
faced arguably the greatest roster in NBA history:
2016-17: 33.6 ppg, 12 rpg, 10 apg 56% FG, 38%
3pt FG
2017-18: 34 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 10 apg 52% FG, 33% 3pt
FG
LeBron’s previously unquestioned status may
afford him de facto King status to some this season, especially as he continues
to put up MVP numbers in his 17th NBA season. Despite his age and the minutes
under his belt, King James was less dethroned than merely tripped last season.
Time will tell whether he picks back up the crown enroute to his fourth NBA
title.
Kevin Durant
Though KD is not on the court this year,
negating any real consideration of him being considered the top guy right now,
he arguably had taken the crown from LeBron after back-to-back Finals MVPs
against the King himself.
Durant balled out during his two Finals
victories, posting stats of:
2016-17: 35.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.4 apg 56% FG, 47%
3pt FG
2017-18: 28.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 7.5 apg 53% FG, 41% 3pt
FG
There is also something to be said that if KD
had been healthy for last year's NBA Finals, the Warriors get their 3-peat.
Durant may not have won his 3rd consecutive Finals MVP even if Golden State got
the win, but being the best player on a dynasty says enough in its own right.
Injuries are a part of the game, but if Durant was healthy, the Warriors are
probably the reigning champions right now.
Durant’s Nets career will pick up next season
where he and Kyrie Irving look to join the elite teams of the Eastern
Conference. The Nets will likely run into the likes of the Bucks, Celtics,
Raptors and 76ers on their pursuit of a championship, but if Durant returns
from injury somewhere close to 100%, he may find himself hoisting another
Finals MVP in a year’s time.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The youngest of the group at 25 years old,
Antetokounmpo is the reigning MVP and is very much on par to win the award in
back to back years. Through 53 games this season, Giannis has the highest
single season PER in NBA history, currently beating out the best MVP seasons of
Wilt’s, LeBron’s, Jordan’s and Curry’s career.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 29.7 ppg, 13.7 rpg,
5.8 apg on 55% shooting and 32% from 3, in only 30.8 minutes a night. That is
the most astounding aspect of Antetokounmpo’s play, the amount he does on the
court in such a short time, and in such an efficient fashion. If his numbers
are increased to per 36 minutes (i.e. the amount Harden plays a game), his
numbers jump to 34.7 ppg, 16 rpg, 6.8 apg. Though James Harden typically wins
the scoring debate when it comes to these two players, if they’re playing the
same number of minutes, the stats are neck and neck.
The biggest criticism of Giannis from last year,
his shooting, has vastly improved this year. His 3-point shooting increased
from 25% to 32% while attempting 1.9 more 3s per game. On shots from 10-16 feet
away, Antetokounmpo is shooting 43% this season, while shots from 16 feet-3pt
line, he’s converting at a 45% clip.
Giannis had me convinced last year
through the first 2 games of the Eastern Conference Finals that he was now top
dog. But in a matter of 4 games, Kawhi showed what having been there before
really meant, going a tear that will be remembered for the rest of basketball
history.
Giannis was set to get it done last year, but
fell short in his first season with serious expectations. With a historic team
now dominating their way through the league, can Giannis get it done this
season and crown himself the new king for the NBA’s next decade?
Honorable Mentions:
James Harden
One of the most prolific scorers the game has
ever seen, Harden is just efficient enough to warrant amazement for what he
does instead of bewilderment; but just barely. Averaging 35.2 ppg on 44%
shooting is impressive. But if that percentage even drops to 42%, it quickly
becomes a case of too many bad shots. Besides Curry though (the
best shooter of all time), this is the last guy you want shooting the ball if
he’s going up against you. The only thing left for Harden to do to truly have a
shot at the crown is a championship. While not impossible within the next few
seasons, he may end up just another great player in an era where there are
simply greater ones in his way.
Luka Doncic
The young superstar may be a season away from blossoming into his true potential, which is scary to think about when
the 21-year-old is averaging 28.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 8.8 apg on 46% shooting.
Though I expect Luka and the Mavericks to fall short on firepower against the
likes of the Lakers or Clippers, he may be Giannis’s number one competition for
supremacy through the next decade.
Anthony Davis
Now paired with another superstar, Davis is
finally getting wins under his belt and true MVP consideration along with it.
While undoubtedly the best big man in the league today, I’d say he’s not the
best player on his team and is nowhere near the ball handler or passer that all
these other players are. Slightly unfair as that's not his job, AD will just
have to settle for the top spot in the West, and a great chance to win his
first NBA title.
Ben Simmons
The potential to be the next LeBron is there for
Simmons. Averaging 16.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 8 apg through two seasons is nothing
to bat an eye at, but the comparisons that come with those numbers are to
players like LeBron and Magic. With those comparisons, the expectations of
MVPs, championships and dominance are attached. That next step we’re all
waiting for with Simmons has still not arrived, but when and if it does, the
throne may be wiped clean to make way for another era of a dominant point
forward running the league.
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