Top 30 NBA players this season

Top 30 NBA players this season 

The NBA is full of very skilled and talented athletes, after watching the 2019-2020 NBA season these are my thoughts on what NBA players had the most impressive seasons. Every year the top 30 players in the NBA may change a lot some players will slip down the list and others will jump up to the top. These are my picks for the 30 best NBA players this season.

Honorable mention 

Brandon Ingram 

The chance finally emerged for Brandon to be the one player with all the spotlight (almost) and he went full charge lighting up the floor scoring 24.4 points grabbing 6.3 boards and dishing out 4.3 assists a night. One of the most Improved players in the NBA Ingram looked a lot better than his days playing with LeBron, Ingram showed a lot of skill before he was injured in the 2018-2019 season and it translated into this year with the Pelicans. If the season was not suspended, I could see Ball, Ingram and Williamson making a run at the playoffs and making a series against the Lakers. 

30. Zach Lavine 

Much like Devin Booker Lavine is an elite scorer but needed to improve his defensive ability and his playmaking he was one of the worst defenders in the entire NBA in the 2018-2019 he looked unmotivated to play defense and would get blown by a lot, he did not become a premier defender but he became a defender who wasn’t terrible and that’s all he needed he looked like a good player who was more confident in himself on both ends of the floor. Lavine didn’t look like the playmaker that the bulls wanted him to be but still looked improved. Lavine played better than most people expected him to he was a great shooter from behind the arc and a threat on the drive, but his improved defense is why he has jumped into the top 30. 

29. LaMarcus Aldridge 

Aldridge is 34 and it shows, he doesn’t play with that speed he once did, his slow play resembles and older Tim Duncan with less jumpers and more post shots. When LaMarcus first arrived in San Antonio is play dropped off he didn’t agree with the way coach Popovich wanted him to play and neither do I. Aldridge is one of the best post scorers there is available, and a capable defender down low but his under developed outside shooting is where he lacks, this season he has improved shooting 3 per game but it is too little too late if he shot more threes earlier his career would go much different later on. Aldridge has great skills, but his offensive approach does not fit perfectly into the modern NBA. 

28. Kristaps Porzingis  

During the first half of the season it seemed that the ACL injury real changed Porzingis and he wasn’t the same player he once was, but when he was fully integrated into the Maverick system he looked like an impossible cover and lived up to his nickname as the unicorn. A 7’3 power forward with the shot blocking of a center and the shooting of a guard, Kristaps is shooting 35% from three which doesn’t pop off the page but he was shooting 10 threes a game and making on average over 3 of them. His shooting makes him an outside threat, but the rebounds and block shots show how he is so versatile averaging 9.5 rebounds per game which is a career high and 2 blocks per game. Porzingis is very talented and a great duo for the future with Luka Doncic. 

27. Rudy Gobert 

Gobert has been known around the NBA for his prominent defense and stifling shot blocking, The Jazz center is as top of the line defensive player as they come, the former defensive player of the year is blocking 2 shots a game as well as pulling down almost 14 rebounds. It is not secret that Rudy Gobert is a great defender, but his offensive game has been lack luster, not because he is not skilled but he doesn’t shoot the ball, He is taking 8.2 shots per game when other centers like Tristan Thompson shoot 9.5 shots per game. For Gobert to be considered a top three center in the NBA he must shoot the ball more and average at least 20 points and maybe 15 rebounds. 

26. Devin Booker 

The Phoenix Suns are 26 and 39 after the loss of former first overall pick Deandre Ayton due to suspension, they have had key role players step up that made this team look scary at the start of the season. Kelly Oubre, Aron Baynes and Ricky Rubio have all had impressive years. But the biggest bright spot on this team is guard Devin Booker. The main knock on Booker was always that he was a defensive liability, but Booker has stepped up his defense and has a defensive rating comparable to Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving. Devin has done a good job rounding out his game averaging 6.6 assists per game to go along with 26.1 points and 4.4 rebounds. Excluding the teams record this has been a very good season for Devin Booker and if he can continue to improve, he will become an elite player. 

25. Trae Young 

The Atlanta Hawks were at the bottom of the NBA’s standings for most of the season, Trae has played a great season earning himself a spot as an all-star starter, but Young did not do one particular thing this season, DEFENSE Young was the NBA’s worst defender. Out of all players Trae Young has been the worst, his offense though has been top tier almost 30 points a game to go along with 9.4 assists. Trae has been a great shooter from deep his entire career and has proved himself as one of the top guys right up there with Damian Lillard and James Harden. Trae has a lot of upside, but his defense is what makes the Hawks struggle when this Atlanta team is fully healthy, they will be tough to match up against. 

24. Donovan Mitchell 

Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz are a very good team for more than one reason, they have great depth, shooters who can catch fire, a defensive anchor and finally a star scorer who can get 30 on anybody. Donovan is that guy, his all around skillset on offense can be a tough cover he can pull up from deep work the defender and take a clean mid range jump shot or drive to the rim and dunk it on the defense. There is no question Mitchell is a great offensive player, but his play-making has not came along yet to complement that, with Mike Conley struggling this season Jordan Clarkson and Mitchell have been the primary ball handlers, Mitchell’s 4.2 assists is not terrible but could use improving. Mitchell’s solid defense and elite offense are what makes him one of the NBA’s rising stars. 

23. Khris Middleton  

Middleton is a premier second and often doesn’t get the credit He deserves in Giannis’ shadow, Khris an elite shot maker and has a great stroke from 3 shooting about 42% from downtown. He complements Giannis perfectly as the backup scorer and a very strong defensive player, there skills bounce off each other and it makes the best team in the NBA more versatile if Giannis is double or struggling Middleton will not be afraid to light it up. Middleton is one of the most underrated players in the league and that is one of the main reasons the Bucks are so hard to stop. 

22. Bam Adebayo 

Bam Adebayo has proved himself as an elite defensive player he’s taken head coach Erik Spoelstra’s challenge of becoming a point center someone who can handle the ball and pass consistently to cutters out of the post, his offensive game is still developing but his goal is not always to score it is to get the best shot available passing the ball at an incredible rate for a center averaging 5.1 assists per game as well as 5.2 screen assists per game. If he can develop his offensive game to the level of Joel Embiid, He could truly be the best Center in the NBA. 

21. Ben Simmons 

When someone says Ben Simmons is the 4^th best point guard in the eastern conference it might stir up Philly fans, But Ben isn’t a complete player yet only making two three pointers in his entire career but this is not the only reason. He has blossomed into a 6’10 playmaking lockdown defender who can finish at the rim with ease, He has holes in his game that explain why the 76ers are in 6^th in the eastern conference and would have to play a very tough Celtics team in the second round. Although not being able to do one thing does not sound bad but in this modern league not being able to shoot causes many problems for a team. 

20. Kyle Lowry 

Kyle is a leader and a hustler at the age of 34 he is leading in the NBA in charges drawn with 30 and he plays more than defense, averaging 19.7 points per game with 7.7 assists as well. He is as well rounded as a player can get and is a main reason why Toronto has the third best record in the NBA. His leadership is what makes him such a great player and why players like Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell and Delon Wright have had successful careers, He makes other players better. Kyle is not afraid of the big shot and that is what separates him from other point guards his leadership and his confidence in himself. 

19. Kemba Walker  

After Kyrie departed for Brooklyn and Kemba was brought into Boston many thought that the Celtics missed out on Kyrie even though his mind was made up. After the first game of the season this was certain Kyrie was much better Kemba put up and abysmal 4-18 for 12 points when Kyrie lit up Minnesota for 50. But throughout the season Kemba’s playmaking and scoring has been a huge help to the Celtics but most importantly his ability to take a back seat, a let Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown score. That is ability that is very difficult to find in players and it is what makes himself Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry so high on this list. 

18. Karl Anthony Towns  

Karl Anthony Towns is one of the harder players to rank because although he is very skilled offensively his defense is not at the level it needs to be for him to be in with Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. This season he’s averaging a career high in points and assists but has dealt with injury problems, for Towns to be higher on this list his defensive game must get better and physically stronger he is the most skilled shooter and scorer at his position but offense wins games and defense wins championships.  

17. Bradley Beal 

One of the biggest snubs from this year’s all-star game Beal is scoring at an amazing rate of 30.5 points per game with 6.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds. Much like other shooting guards on this list they are unreal scorers and offensive player but are bad on the other side of the ball, this year Beal is the second worst defender in the entire NBA only behind Trae Young. This defense is what held Bradley from being an Allstar and what held the Wizards back from winning many games. What is the point of playing great offense if you play terrible defense, although Beal was a bad defender he has the capability to be a good one and has in past seasons when the Wizards were more successful. 

16. Paul George 

One player whose had his fair share of injuries is Paul George, he has that ability to bounce back better than before but after missing the first part of the 2019-2020 due to surgeries on both shoulders George did not bounce back to his MVP caliber play, in his first game he scored 33 points and grabbed 9 boards in just 24 minutes of play then in his second game back he torched the Hawks with 39 points in just 20 minutes this is when the NBA was getting scared of the Clippers. But Georges play quickly fell off not an extreme amount but not to level he did with the Thunder; this season Paul George is averaging 21 points down 7 from his 28 per game last season. His play has not been consistent but when he has been on the Clippers look tough to beat. 

15. Jimmy Butler 

Jimmy Butler has always been seen as a fantastic basketball player, but he hasn’t always had the best reputation. In Chicago, Butler had multiple disagreements with teammates creating an uneasy atmosphere. Later Butler would force his way out of Minnesota after having different arguments about the lack of effort from the younger players. After being traded to Philadelphia, Butler clearly had been frustrated by the job Bret Brown had done coaching and finally ended up in Miami. Many believed the same result would happen in Miami, but it didn’t. It seemed the team gelled perfectly. the great team chemistry and even scoring are what have the Heat in 4^th in the eastern conference with a record of 41 and 24. Butler himself has had the role of primary playmaker not being scared to have games where he scores 6 points, He’s averaging 20.2 points to go along with 6.1 assists and 6.6 rebounds. Butler’s great all-around play is a big part of the Heat’s success as they were ready to make a surprising playoff push. 

14. Jayson Tatum 

If you think of a young star leading their team Jayson Tatum should be one of the first players that comes to mind. Tatum is an elite scorer who has really stepped up his all-around game this season, the first time all-star is scoring 23.6 points and grabbing 7.6 rebounds a game and his defensive stats have progressed as well almost blocking a shot a game to go along with 1.4 steals. Tatum was seen as a great player but after the all-star break he was unquestionably a star putting up 29.9 points, 3^rd among all players after the break. His deep range shot was unstoppable shooting 48.8% from downtown making 4 per game. Tatum is a young leader with a very bright career in front of him. 

13. Kyrie Irving 

Irving has been seen as a toxic player, someone who his teammates would rather not play with, and getting their coach Kenny Atkinson fired after being a candidate for coach of the year. Even if Irving is perceived this way, it can’t over-shadow that he is one of the NBA’s top players. Irving is most famous for his incredible ball handling and finishing but can be seen as an unstoppable offensive player. He’s missed time from lingering injuries but in 20 games Kyrie has torched the scoreboard with 30 points per game and 7 assists. The notion that Irving is a bad player because of his off-court attitude is not true maybe he is a bad teammate, but he is an incredible basketball player. 

12. Pascal Siakam 

All the lights were on Pascal Siakam after Kawhi packed his bags and headed to Los Angeles, and he has played exceptionally well this season, with the help of veterans Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka and many others. Siakam has had his fair share of struggles but has shown strength and he has not backed down from the big moment, with his bad games came his great games where he led Toronto to big wins. His skill has come from his hard work and dedication to getting better, after every season he’s gotten significantly better and more confident. As the first option in Toronto, Pascal is scoring 23.6 points and grabbing 7.6 rebounds. His impressive mix of scoring, rebounding, passing and defense are what earned him his first all-star nod as a starter. 

11. Chris Paul 

Many see Chris Paul as one of the more overrated players in the NBA, but I see him as one of the most underrated. Before the season started, people believed the Thunder could land Wiseman with the first pick but are currently 5^th in the west 5 games behind the Clippers for 2^nd. Chris Paul has been the leader of this team although he doesn’t have the stats that Kyrie Irving has, he brings that leadership mentality. This is the first year of Paul’s career where he averages more rebounds than assists (6.4 rebounds 5.5 assists). CP3 is an elite defender and is a hustle player has a not afraid to fall to get a loose ball or foul call. 

10. Joel Embiid 

Embiid’s skill level alone makes him a top player in the league, but he is having a down year which puts him as the second-best center in the NBA. Embiid is down from 27.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks last season to just 23.4 points 9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks this season. Embiid’s down year has affected the Sixers as well, primarily on their record, with 39 wins and 26 losses ranking them as the sixth seed in the East.  On a team that is desperate for home court, being the sixth seed won’t cut it. Philadelphia has a top record in the NBA at home with 29 wins and only 2 losses, but on the road they are an abysmal 10 and 24. There are many excuses for Embiid not playing at the level he did the year prior but the main reason is his effort. There are many times on the road where Embiid looks tired and careless. Earlier this season against the Miami Heat the Sixers were coming off a loss to the Orlando Magic and it showed, the Sixers stars Ben Simmons and Embiid played with a lack of effort, resulting in a loss. Although Embiid put up 36 points he had a critical late game turnover, easily fixable but it was clear he wasn’t 100% in the game. Even with this problem Embiid is a star big man and maybe needs a new situation to reach his full potential. 

9. Russell Westbrook 

Often overlooked and seen as a “stat-padder” that doesn’t care about the team only his own stats, Westbrook is one of the best shooters from the elbow and that’s where he scores most of his points. But a place where he does struggle is behind the 3-point line only shooting 25% on the season. Although Westbrook is playing with one of the best in today’s game, he still manages to score 27.5 points, 7 assists and 8 rebounds. If he shot more efficiently it would be very hard to knock his skill. The former MVP is a very tough cover and a match-up nightmare if he gets hot. And while he’s listed at 6’3 but on court its clear to see he’s bigger than that. His size, height and skill are what allows him to be such an incredible player. 

8. Luka Doncic 

Many people believed it wasn’t possible for Luka to take a big step to get better after his incredible rookie season, but Luka has proven them wrong. Doncic is averaging a near triple double with 28.7 points 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists. With this play he’s been shot into MVP talks and could legitimately make a case to win it, although the chances are in favour of LeBron or Giannis. Luka Magic showed everyone that he was an elite player and can get buckets on the best of them as he earned his first of probably many all-star appearances. Doncic will most likely be a face of the NBA for years to come. 

7. Nikola Jokic 

Although Jokic is one of the slowest players there is, he still finds a way to be one of the most exciting to watch. While he doesn’t get big fast-break throwdowns or highlight blocks into the 10^th row, it’s his calm play and his impressive basketball IQ which helps him to make beautiful passes as a center. Jokic’s passing makes him a threat, able an almost triple double every game, he averages almost 7 assists to go with 10 rebounds and 20 points. He is very skilled and smart out of the elbow which allows him to make those beautiful passes to cutters for dunks. The only knock on Nikola is his defense, and other players like Enes Kanter have been quoted as saying he is the easiest player to score on. But he has made steps to become better on defense after coach Mike Malone made that his first priority. 

6. Damian Lillard 

Lillard has been the best point guard in the NBA this season, (not counting LeBron) and his numbers show it. Averaging a career high in points, 28.9, and a career high in assists 7.8.  Although the Blazers have not been the same team this season, Lillard has, he’s the same player that gives opposing coaches headaches. His mix of rim attacking, deep shooting and being a very underrated play-maker is what has made him the best point guard in the NBA this season. He’s a very capable defender who can also be a big re-bounder and his more fluent offense is what puts him in front of players like Russell Westbrook. 

5. Anthony Davis 

There were a lot of questions surrounding the superstar big man going into the season. Was he healthy? Will he be the same player with LeBron? Can he carry the load if LeBron gets hurt? And all of those questions were answered with a big yes. Davis has developed his offensive game to an elite level being able to post up and score off the dribble, and he’s also in my opinion the defensive player of the year. His skills on both ends of the court, put him at number 5 because I don’t believe that he’s quite as skilled as Kawhi or the people above him. 

4. James Harden  

James Harden is one of the best scorers the NBA has ever seen. He has a fluid step back that might be the most un-guardable move in the league.  
Harden has become a quality defender, and is not the liability he once was, now ranking 6th in the NBA for steals per game. He has become a more rounded player, but he still has those games where he shoots low percentages with a high amount of turnovers. Harden is leading the league in points and three pointers per game, but with good comes bad, as he is only shooting 43% from the field and turning the ball over more than any player. He is an elite player and his offense can’t be ignored, but the down sides of his game definitely puts him out of the top three.

3. Kawhi Leonard 

After the Raptors historic championship run, Kawhi  could have arguably been called the best player in the world. This season however many have moved away from that statement because of Kawhi’s load management with the Clippers. Load management was used last season as a way of keeping the superstar player fresh for the playoffs coming off a season ending injury the year prior. The load management worked and even though he is on a new team now, the load management continues. Kawhi is a superstar player with an unbelievable scoring ability, he’s the best defensive player in the game, but sitting out games is something that puts him further down on the list. Kawhi is the quiet superstar that everyone in the NBA fears, and for good reason, you would not want to run into him in a playoff series. 

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo 

The reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in many people’s eyes is the best player in basketball. The Bucks have the best record in the NBA and Giannis is on pace to win his second most valuable player trophy. But there is one reason he is not quite number one; and that reason is Bam Adebayo. Every star has their nights where they struggle, but Giannis particularly struggles against the Heat. The Bucks have lost both games to the Heat this season, but two performance stood out. Giannis had 9 points on 3-12 shooting in 2018-19 and this season just 13 points on 6-18 shooting. And while this is not very important in the big picture, it does show how Giannis can be stopped, and on more than one occasion. 

1. LeBron James 

The past few seasons the gap between LeBron and the rest of the league has been getting smaller and smaller. The main reason why LeBron is still at the top is because of the Lakers dominance this season. When LeBron and AD aren’t on the floor the Lakers look like a completely different team, they don’t have that big time scorer of the bench that many teams like the Clippers have. But the Lakers are number one in the western conference because LeBron has shown his skill on both sides of the ball. He is proving himself at 35-years-old to still be the best in the NBA. 

This article is original content published by sports writer Matthew White. Please feel free to link to and discuss this article but do not copy content.

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