Who Is Number 1 In The NBA?
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We all know the answer to this question, but do you know who is number 1 in the NBA? Well, according to ESPN, it is none other than LeBron James!
The Case for LeBron James
As of right now, the answer to who is number one in the NBA is LeBron James. He is in his eighteenth season and is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Not only is he leading his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to the best record in the Western Conference, but he is also putting up video-game like numbers.
His stats
LeBron James is, without a doubt, one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is a four-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA champion, and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Throughout his career, he has averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. He is also a 14-time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA First Team 12 times. In short, LeBron James is one of the most accomplished players in the history of the NBA.
There are those who would argue that LeBron is not the greatest player of all time, but rather that he is merely the product of his era. They would point to his lack of individual awards as evidence that he is not as great as players like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. However, this argument fails to take into account the fact that LeBron has played in an era that is far more competitive than any other in NBA history. The level of talent in the league today is far higher than it was in Jordan’s or Bryant’s day, and thus it is harder for any one player to dominate like they did.
LeBron’s individual stats may not be as impressive as some of his predecessors, but when you take into account the overall context of his career, it becomes clear that he is indeed one of the greatest players ever to step on a basketball court.
His impact
LeBron James is widely considered to be the best player in the NBA today. He has led his teams to nine NBA Finals appearances, winning three of them. He has also been named NBA Finals MVP four times. James is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year in 2012.
There is no question that James is one of the greatest players of all time. But what sets him apart from other greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant? One big difference is that James has always been a team player, focused on making those around him better. His unselfishness has helped him become one of the most respected players in the league.
While some may argue that Jordan is the greatest player of all time, there is a strong case to be made for James being number 1. His accomplishments speak for themselves, and his impact on the game cannot be overstated.
The Case for Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard is one of the best basketball players in the world. He is a two-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Kawhi is also a two-time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA First Team twice. He is currently in his prime and is only getting better.
His stats
In his rookie season, Kawhi Leonard became just the fourth rookie in Spurs history to average at least 10 points, five rebounds and one steal in a season. The other three are Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Sean Elliott. He was also the only Spurs rookie to start in all 82 games. Leonard finished the season with an average of 11.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks in 28 minutes per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range.
As a sophomore, Leonard took another step forward, increasing his scoring to 13.5 points per game while adding 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals in 33 minutes per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range, making him one of only four players (joining LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony) to average at least 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal while shooting 53 percent or better from the field and 40 percent or better from three-point range in a season.
In his third season, Leonard established himself as one of the best two-way players in the league as he was named to the All-Defensive First Team and the All-Star team for the first time in his career. He averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 52 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range in 34 minutes per game
His impact
Kawhi Leonard’s career trajectory has been fascinating to watch. He was drafted 15th overall in 2011, became a starter in his second season, and then slowly but surely began to emerge as one of the best players in the league. By the 2014-15 season, he was a bona fide superstar, and he’s only gotten better since then.
Now, Leonard is widely regarded as the best player in the NBA. He’s an elite offensive player and a Defensive Player of the Year-level defender, and he’s also an excellent leader. He’s led the Toronto Raptors to the best record in the NBA this season, and they’re heavy favorites to win the championship.
There’s no question that Leonard is a great player, but is he really the best player in the world? Let’s take a look at his case.
The Case for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is having an MVP season. The Greek Freak is averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game while leading the Bucks to the best record in the NBA. He is also shooting an efficient 56.8 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from three-point range. All of these numbers are career-highs for Giannis.
His stats
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a 25-year-old Greek professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the Bucks’ franchise player and was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2019. Standing at 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), he plays the small forward and power forward positions. In 2017–18, he led the NBA in blocks per game, becoming the first player in Bucks franchise history to do so.
His impact
There are a lot of great players in the NBA, but right now, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the league. He’s an incredibly talented player who is having an unbelievable season. Here’s a look at why he’s number one in the NBA.
Giannis is averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He’s also shooting 52.9% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. Those are some incredible numbers. And it’s not just that he’s putting up big numbers, it’s that he’s doing it on a team that has a chance to win an NBA title.
The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the league, and they’re currently on pace to win 70 games. That’s thanks in large part to Giannis. He’s been the driving force behind their success. His impact on the court is undeniable, and he’s one of the main reasons why the Bucks are one of the favorites to win it all this year.
Giannis is also an outstanding defender. He averages 1.5 steals and 1 block per game, which are both very good numbers for a player his size. His defensive impact is often overlooked because of how good he is offensively, but make no mistake about it, Giannis is an elite defender as well.
There are a lot of great players in the NBA, but at this point in time, there’s no doubt that Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the league. He’s having an incredible season and he’s a big reason why the Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to win an NBA title this year.
The Case for Anthony Davis
The 2020 NBA season has been a roller coaster, with many ups and downs. However, through all the chaos, one player has emerged as a clear cut MVP candidate, and that is Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers. Here are three main reasons why Davis deserves to be crowned MVP.
His stats
In his seven seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, Anthony Davis has averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 2.1 assists per game. He is a six-time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA First Team three times. He is also a three-time winner of the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.
His impact
In just his seventh season, Davis has already established himself as one of the best players in the league. He is a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA First Team selection, and a two-time blocks leader. He was also named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2017-18, after leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a playoff berth.
Davis is averaging 27.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range. He is also one of the league’s best defensive players, averaging 2.4 blocks per game.
The Pelicans have struggled this season, but that has more to do with injuries than anything else. When healthy, they have shown that they can be one of the better teams in the Western Conference. And it all starts with Davis.
The Case for Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is the best player in the NBA. He is the most dominant force on both ends of the floor. On offense, he has a versatile skill set that allows him to score from anywhere on the court. On defense, he is a rim protector who alters or blocks shots. He also has the ability to switch onto smaller players and defend them.
His stats
In his 3 years in the NBA, Joel Embiid has averaged 22.9 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. He is a towering figure at 7 feet tall, and he has quickly become one of the most dominant players in the league. With his combination of size and skill, he is a nightmare for opposing defenses. He has shown the ability to score inside and out, and he is an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker. In addition to his physical gifts, Embiid possesses a tremendous work ethic and a high basketball IQ. He is a true student of the game, and he is always looking to improve his skills.
In spite of his many talents, Joel Embiid has been hampered by injuries throughout his career. He missed significant time during his first two seasons due to foot injuries, and he missed the entire 2016-17 seasondue to a knee injury. While he has been healthy for most of the past two seasons, he has still struggled to stay on the court for a full 82-game campaign.
Despite his injury concerns, Joel Embiid is undoubtedly one of the best players in the NBA when healthy. When compared to other superstars such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant,Embiid stacks up quite favorably. In fact, when you look at his per-36 minute numbers, they are better than all three of those players!
While it is fair to question whether or not Embiid can stay healthy enough to reach his full potential, there is no denying that he is an elite player when on the court. If he can finally stay healthy for an entire season, there is no doubt that he will be in contention for MVP honors.
His impact
There are a lot of factors that go into who is the best player in the NBA. You could look at things like points per game, assists per game, rebounds per game, steals per game, blocks per game, etc. Or you could look at more general things like how much a player contributes to their team’s success or how important they are to their team’s overall game plan.
In terms of raw statistics, Joel Embiid is probably not the best player in the NBA. He averages about 23 points per game, 11 rebounds per game, and 3 assists per game. These are very good numbers, but there are plenty of other players who put up similar or better statistics.
Where Embiid really separates himself from other players is in his impact on the court. He is one of the best defensive players in the league, and he has a rare ability to change the course of a game with his defense. He is also an excellent rim protector, which is a very important part of today’s NBA.
On offense, Embiid is extremely skilled for a big man. He has a great shooting touch and he is an excellent passer. He also has a great feel for the game and he always seems to make the right play.
The bottom line is that Joel Embiid is an extremely talented player who has a huge impact on both ends of the court. There are other players who may be more talented than him or who may put up better statistical numbers, but there are very few players who have as much impact as he does. For that reason, I believe that Joel Embiid is the best player in the NBA today.
The Case for Kevin Durant
The 2017-2018 NBA season has been one for the ages. A season in which a new crop of young superstar talent has taken the league by storm, and a season in which the old guard has refused to go quietly into the night. In the midst of all of this, one player has stood out above the rest: Kevin Durant.
His stats
Kevin Durant is a nine-time NBA All-Star, four-time scoring champion, former MVP and currently the second-leading scorer in the league. He’s also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
In his 10th season, Durant is averaging 25.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three-point range. He’s also shooting a career-best 88.9 percent from the free throw line.
His impact
No player in the NBA produces more wins than Kevin Durant. That’s the simple, undeniable fact that makes him the most valuable player in the league today. It’s not just that Durant scores a lot of points—though he does that, too, better than anyone else in the league. It’s that his all-around game makes him the most complete player in the NBA, and his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, relies on him to do everything.
In a game against the Charlotte Hornets last season, for example, Durant had to switch onto Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, one of the quickest point guards in the league. Walker blew by Durant and looked like he was about to score an easy layup. But Durant used his 7-foot-6-inch wingspan to reach out and swat Walker’s shot away from behind. On the other end of the court, Durant then hit a tough jump shot over Walker. That one possession sums up what Durant does: He can guard any player in the league, and he can score on anyone, too.
But it’s not just that Durant is an all-around player; it’s that he makes those around him better. When Durant is on the court, his teammates shoot better and rebound better than when he’s off it. That impact is even more pronounced when you compare him to his peers: Among players who have played at least 3,000 minutes over the past three seasons (as Durant has), only LeBron James has had a greater positive impact on his team while he’s on the court. And while James has played with some all-time great players—Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami; Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis now—Durant has never had a true co-star in Oklahoma City. His most talented teammates have been Russell Westbrook (a point guard who doesn’t need/want to shoot as much as other stars) and Serge Ibaka (a big man who takes mostly midrange jumpers).
