Who’s the Best Player in the NBA?
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It’s a question that has been asked for years, and one that can never be definitively answered. However, we can take a look at the stats and try to make a case for who the best player in the NBA is.
LeBron James
When it comes to who the best player in the NBA is, there is no clear cut answer. However, many experts and analysts say that LeBron James is the best player in the league. LeBron has been in the league for 17 years and has won 4 MVP awards. He has also led his teams to the Finals 10 times.
His stats
LeBron James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His accomplishments include four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, four NBA Finals MVP Awards, two Olympic gold medals, an NBA scoring title, and the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He has also been selected to 14 NBA All-Star teams, 12 All-NBA teams, and six All-Defensive teams.
His team
The Cavs came back from a 3-1 Finals deficit to win their first ever NBA Championship. That was thanks in large part to LeBron James, who averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 assists, 8.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game in the series, including a triple-double in the clinching Game 7.
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard is the best player in the NBA. He is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time NBA champion, and a two-time Finals MVP. Kawhi is also a two-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 2020. Kawhi is one of the best two-way players in the league and is the best player on the Los Angeles Clippers.
His stats
In his nine NBA seasons, Leonard has averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He has shot 49.1 percent from the field, 37.4 percent from three-point range, and 88 percent from the free throw line. He is a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time NBA champion, and a two-time Finals MVP.
His team
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They were established in 1995 as part of the NBA’s expansion into Canada.
The Raptors play their home games at the Scotiabank Arena, which they share with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). They are currently the only NBA team based in Canada after the Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, United States, in 2001 and became the Memphis Grizzlies.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the NBA. He’s a great scorer and shooter, and he has the ability to take over a game. He’s also a great defender, and he’s one of the best players in the league at both ends of the court.
His stats
In his first eleven seasons, Durant averaged 27.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.18 steals per game. He has shot .488 percent from the field, .376 percent from three-point range, and .880 percent from the free throw line. He has also been selected to ten All-Star teams, ten All-NBA teams, and five All-Defensive teams. Furthermore, he has won two NBA Championships (2017, 2018), two Finals MVP Awards (2017, 2018), one regular season MVP Award (2014), and two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016).
His team
The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Barclays Center. They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City; the other is the New York Knicks. The club was established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the NBA’s rival league, the American Basketball Association (ABA). They played in New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans during their first season, before moving to Long Island, New York, in 1968 and changing their name to the New York Nets. During this time, the Nets won two ABA championships (in 1974 and 1976). In 1976, the ABA merged with the NBA: and since then, the Nets have appeared in six NBA Finals, winning two NBA championships in 2002 and 2003.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak, is the best player in the NBA. He’s a 6’11” freak of nature who can do it all on the court. He’s averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game this season. He can shoot, he can drive, he can defend. He’s the complete package. There’s really no knock on his game. The only thing he doesn’t do well is shoot threes, but he’s working on that.
His stats
In the 2019-2020 season, Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points per game, 13.6 rebounds per game, 5.6 assists per game, 1.0 steal per game, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting a career-high 55.3 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line. He was named MVP of the league for the second consecutive season.
His team
The Greek Freak has been taking the NBA by storm ever since he was drafted in 2013. Standing at 6’11”, Antetokounmpo has the size of a traditional center but the skill set of a perimeter player. He’s been dubbed “the next LeBron James” and it’s not hard to see why. Giannis is an incredible athlete with a high basketball IQ, making him a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the court.
Offensively, Giannis is virtually unstoppable. He averaged 27.7 points per game this season and shot nearly 60% from the field, marks that are both career-highs. His efficiency is astounding, as he is able to score in a variety of ways. He can finish above the rim with ease, has a smooth jumper out to three-point range, and is also an excellent playmaker for his teammates. In fact, Giannis led the Bucks in assists this season with 5.9 per game. Simply put, there is no weakness in his offensive game.
Giannis is also an elite defender, despite being just 24 years old. He has great instincts and uses his long arms (he has a 7’3” wingspan!) to disrupt passing lanes and block shots. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team this season after averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per game while anchoring Milwaukee’s defense.
There are few players in the NBA who can match Giannis’ combination of size, skill, and athleticism, which is why he is widely considered to be one of the best players in the league today. With him leading the way, the Bucks have emerged as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and look poised to make a deep playoff run in 2018.
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the NBA. He’s a great scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker. He can do it all on the court. He’s also a great leader and has helped the Los Angeles Lakers win a championship.
His stats
In his seventh season, Davis is averaging 29.3 points (second in the NBA), 13.3 rebounds (fifth), 2.6 blocks (second) and 1.4 steals (tied for 18th) in 33.9 minutes per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 80.8 percent from the foul line. He’s also tied for 11th in the league with a player efficiency rating of 28.07.
His team
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league’s Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.