Who’s Number One in the NBA?

That’s a difficult question to answer. It depends on how you measure “number one.”

The most common way to measure is by wins and losses. But that doesn’t always tell the whole story.

The Case for LeBron

It’s safe to say that LeBron James is the best basketball player in the world. He’s been to the NBA Finals nine times, winning four times. He’s a three-time NBA champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a 14-time All-Star. He’s also the only player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in a season.

LeBron’s individual stats

LeBron James is in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career. In his last 10 games, he’s averaging 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from three-point range. He’s also been doing it against some tough competition, including the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics.

During this stretch, LeBron has looked every bit like the best player in the world, and his individual stats backs that up. He leads the NBA in PER (30.6), win shares (10.4) and offensive rating (125). He’s second in defensive rating (99), third in VORP (5.9) and fifth in box plus/minus (8). In other words, LeBron is putting up video game numbers while playing against some of the best teams in the league.

LeBron’s team success

It is well-documented that LeBron James has been one of the most successful players in the NBA over the past decade. He has led his teams to nine Finals appearances, winning three championships. Furthermore, he has been named MVP four times and Finals MVP three times. All of this success has led many to believe that LeBron is the greatest player of his generation, and some have even suggested that he is the greatest player of all time.

There are a number of factors that support this claim. First, LeBron has been extremely durable throughout his career, appearing in all 82 games six times. Second, he is an incredible passer, averaging over seven assists per game for his career. Third, he is a great rebounder for his position, averaging over seven rebounds per game for his career. Finally, he is an excellent defender, being named to the All-Defensive team nine times.

LeBron’s individual success is also impressive. He is a four-time NBA scoring champion and he currently ranks seventh on the all-time scoring list. He has also been named to the All-NBA team fifteen times, including thirteen times to the first team.

When taken together, LeBron’s team success and individual success make him a strong candidate for the greatest player of all time.

The Case for Kawhi

Kawhi Leonard is the two-time defending NBA champion, and he’s coming off of a Finals MVP performance in which he averaged 28.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. He’s also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and he has established himself as one of the best two-way players in the league. In other words, there’s a strong case to be made that Kawhi Leonard is the best player in the NBA.

Kawhi’s individual stats

In his seven years in the league, Leonard has put together an impressive resume. He was named to his first All-Star team this season and is widely considered to be one of the best two-way players in the NBA. On the offensive end, he is a gifted scorer who can get his shot off against anyone in the league. He is also an excellent three-point shooter, making over 37 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Defensively, Leonard is a menace, using his long arms and quick feet to frustrate opponents. He has been named to the All-Defensive first team three times in his career and is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

There is no doubt that Leonard is one of the best players in the NBA. But where does he rank among the best players in history? To answer that question, let’s take a look at some of Kawhi’s individual statistical accomplishments.

One measure of a player’s greatness is how often they are able to be named MVP of the league. In Leonard’s seven seasons, he has finished in the top five of MVP voting three times, including a second-place finish this season. Leonard is also one of only six players in NBA history to win both an MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year award. The other five players are Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James. That’s some pretty elite company.

Another way to judge a player’s greatness is by looking at their individual statistical accomplishments. Leonard has been named to an All-NBA team five times in his career, including four times on the first team. He is also a two-time recipient of the NBA Finals MVP award and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice. In terms of individual stats, Leonard has career averages of 20 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, and 2 steals per game. He has also been extremely durable throughout his career, playing in at least 74 games six out of seven seasons.

When you compare Kawhi Leonard’s individual accomplishments to other great players in NBA history, it’s clear that he belongs in the conversation as one of the all-time greats.

Kawhi’s team success

Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players in the NBA. Often overshadowed by other stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry, Leonard has quietly put together an incredible resume over his seven seasons in the league. And while he may not be the most flashy player or have the best stats, there’s no doubt that Kawhi is one of the most important players in the league today.

Here’s a look at some of Kawhi’s most impressive accomplishments:

-He’s a two-time NBA champion, winning titles with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and Toronto Raptors in 2019.
-He’s a two-time NBA Finals MVP, winning the award in 2014 and 2019.
-He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
-He’s been named to four All-Star teams (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) and five All-NBA teams (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019).
-He was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2014.

In addition to all of his individual accolades, Kawhi has also had a lot of team success throughout his career. He’s helped lead the Spurs to five straight playoff appearances (2011-2015), including three trips to the Western Conference Finals (2012-2014). And after being traded to the Raptors in 2018, he helped them win their first ever NBA championship last season.

There’s no doubt that Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players in the world. And while he may not be as well-known as some other superstars, his impressive resume speaks for itself.

The Case for Giannis

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most dominant players in the NBA today. He’s an incredible athlete with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, and he’s only getting better. Giannis is averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game this season, and he’s leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in the NBA. Let’s take a closer look at why Giannis is the best player in the NBA.

Giannis’ individual stats

Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. He is shooting 52.9% from the field, 30.6% from three-point range, and 77.4% from the free throw line. Giannis has played in 54 games and has started in all of them. He is currently sixth in the league in scoring and first in rebounding among small forwards. Giannis is also second in the league in blocks per game and fifth in steals per game among small forwards.

Giannis’ team success

The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA, and much of that is due to the play of Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game while leading the Bucks to a league-best record of 46-14.

The Case for Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is one of the most dominant players in the NBA. He’s a 6’10” big man who can do it all on the court. He can score, rebound, block shots, and he’s an excellent defender. Davis is currently averaging 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He’s also shooting a career-high 52.5% from the field.

Davis’ individual stats

In his seven NBA seasons, Davis has averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. He is a five-time All-NBA selection, a four-time NBA All-Star, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He has also been voted onto five All-Defensive Teams and won two NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards.

Davis’ team success

Since being drafted number one overall in 2012, Anthony Davis has been one of the most dominant players in the NBA. He’s a 6’10” big man with a rare combination of size, speed, strength, and athleticism. He’s an excellent shot-blocker and rebounder, and he can score inside and out. He’s also a very good passer for his position.

Davis has been incredibly successful since he came into the league. He was named an All-Star in each of his first six seasons, and he was named First Team All-NBA three times. He led the New Orleans Pelicans to the playoffs four times in his first seven seasons, including a trip to the conference semifinals in 2018. And he’s still just 26 years old.

There are some who argue that Davis is not the best player in the NBA. They point to his lack of individual awards, like MVP or Defensive Player of the Year. They also point out that he’s only made it past the first round of the playoffs once in his career.

But when you look at Davis’ impact on winning, it’s clear that he is one of the league’s very best players. His teams have consistently been better when he’s on the court than when he’s off it. In fact, over his seven-year career, Davis has been worth more than 16 wins above replacement (WAR), which is an estimated measure of how many wins a player adds to his team over an average replacement-level player. That total puts him eighth among all players since he entered the league in 2012\u2014and first among all big men during that time period.

The Case for Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is having an MVP-caliber season. He’s dominant on both ends of the floor and is the driving force behind the Philadelphia 76ers’ success. Some might say that Giannis Antetokounmpo is having a better season, but the case could be made that Embiid is the more valuable player. Here’s why.

Embiid’s individual stats

Joel Hans Embiid is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia
76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks, he was drafted with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the 76ers. However, he missed his first two seasons due to injury.

During his first two seasons, Embiid was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won two FIBA World Cups gold medals while representing Cameroon. In his third season, he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time and was also named to the All-NBA Second Team. The following season, he suffered a torn left meniscus that caused him to miss four months of action. In 2019–20, Embiid led the Sixers to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2001. He has been nicknamed “The Process”.

Embiid’s individual stats:
3-point field goal percentage: 36.7
Assists per game: 2.1
Blocks per game: 1.4
Free throw percentage: 79.8
Minutes per game: 33
Points per game: 23

Embiid’s team success

The Case for Joel Embiid:

Embiid has had a huge impact on the court, and his team has been successful as a result.

In his first two seasons, Embiid led the Sixers to a combined record of 52-30 (.634), which is the best winning percentage of any center in their first two seasons in NBA history.

And in 2018-19, his first full season, Embiid was named an All-Star and led the Sixers to their first playoff appearance since 2012. They went on to reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they lost to eventual NBA champion Toronto.

Embiid has also been durable, playing in all but two of his team’s games over the past two seasons. And when he’s been on the court, he’s been one of the best players in the league.

The Case for Damian Lillard

This season, there is no doubt that Damian Lillard is the best player in the NBA. He is averaging 30.0 points, 7.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 45.7% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. Lillard is also a clutch player, as he has hit numerous game-winning shots this season. When the game is on the line, there is no one else that you would want with the ball in their hands.

Lillard’s individual stats

In his eight NBA seasons, all with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard has averaged 24.1 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 44.3% from the field, 37.2% from three-point range and 88.8% from the free-throw line. He’s also a two-time All-Star and was named All-NBA first team in 2018. This season, he’s averaging 28.9 points, 7.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 45.7% from the field, 39.4% from three and 92.9% from the foul line. He’s scored 30 or more points in 19 of his 35 games and had 10 or more assists 13 times.

Lillard’s team success

In terms of team success, Lillard has been far superior to Irving. While Irving has only made it past the first round of the playoffs once in his seven-year career, Lillard has led the Trail Blazers to the Conference Finals twice in the last four years. And this season, Portland is once again on pace to be a top-four seed in the Western Conference.

The Case for Nikola Jokic

The 2020-2021 NBA season has been thrilling thus far and there is no clear cut MVP. Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has been putting up video game like numbers and has been the most consistent player in the league. Some people may argue that other players like Joel Embiid or LeBron James are more deserving, but the numbers don’t lie. Nikola Jokic is the best player in the NBA.

Jokic’s individual stats

Nikola Jokic is proving to be one of the most complete players the NBA has ever seen.

At just 23 years old, the 6’10” center from Serbia is averaging 20.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game for the Denver Nuggets. He’s also shooting 50.8% from the field, 39.6% from three-point range, and 85.2% from the free throw line.

Those are some impressive numbers, but they don’t tell the whole story of just how good Jokic has been this season.

For starters, he’s one of only four players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists per game while shooting 50% or better from the field and 38% or better from three-point range. The other three players are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry.

Not bad company to be in.

Jokic’s team success

Nikola Jokic is one of the best players in the NBA. He has led the Denver Nuggets to many playoff appearances and has even won an MVP award.Jokic is a very skilled player who can shoot, pass, and rebound at a high level. He is also a very humble person who is loved by his teammates.

The Case for Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is one of the most explosive players in the NBA. When he’s on the court, he makes things happen. He’s a triple-double machine and he’s always hustling. Some people may say that he’s not a true point guard, but he’s one of the best scoring point guards in the league. Let’s take a look at the case for Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook’s individual stats

In the 2016-2017 NBA season, Russell Westbrook averaged a triple double. Averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game, he became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-1962 to average a triple double for an entire season. He also broke Robertson’s record for most triple doubles in a single season, with 42. Westbrook’s individual stats are impressive, but they don’t tell the whole story.

Westbrook’s team success

While it is true that Westbrook has not led his team to an NBA championship, it is also true that he has taken a team that was not expected to achieve much and turned them into a perennial playoff contender. In the years since he joined the Thunder, they have gone to the playoffs nine times in eleven seasons. They have also won two division titles and made it to the Conference Finals three times. In other words, Westbrook has been very successful in turning the Thunder into a winning franchise.

So, while some may argue that Westbrook has not been able to lead his team to an NBA championship, the fact is that he has been extremely successful in taking a team that was not expected to do much and turning them into a perennial playoff contender.