Ranking The 100 Best Players For The 2020-21 NBA Season: 10-1

There is a wide range of qualified candidates that can make the top-100 players in the NBA, but only the elite make the top-10. The rankings were determined by a combination of data and subjective evaluation. Players were looked at for their skills and taken out of their team contexts. These rankings were specifically for the upcoming 2020-2021 season.

These players are the best of the best. Someone you would want to start a franchise with. They are the face of the NBA. Who will be the best player this season? Take a look at the top-10 players of the NBA.

10. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Doncic is a guard with a forward’s frame. At 6-foot-8 and 218 pounds, he can do just about anything on the floor. He brings legit shooting guard range but is also able to be creative with his shot. After averaging near triple-double numbers with 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists, Doncic made the All-NBA First-Team.

If Doncic can limit his turnovers, which averaged 4.3 last year, he can shoot up through the rankings. He’s not very long, but he’s super clutch. Last year was Doncic’s second season in the league. Year 3 can be a turning point for some players in their career, so who knows how high his ceiling is?

9. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

“Dame Dolla” is a true offensive assassin. Lillard averaged 30.0 points per game last season, which included a 40.1% shooting clip from three-point range. That’s unheard of in the NBA. On top of that, he threw in a career-high 8.0 assists. Let’s put into perspective how much range Lillard has when it comes to his unbelievable shooting skills.

Lillard shot from three-point range exactly 50.0% of the time and cashed in 40.1%. Also, he led the league in offensive win shares with 10.9. It was the third straight season that Lillard accumulated at least 9.7 win shares in a season. He is integral to the Trail Blazers and should be respected from all parts of the court.

8. James Harden, Houston Rockets

What else is there to say about James Harden? Harden led the league in scoring with 34.3 points per game. He finished with the second-best player efficiency rating (29.11). He led the league in free throws attempted per game (11.8), was fourth in field games made (9.9), and seventh in assists (7.5). Needless to say, Harden is an annual MVP candidate.

This year, Harden has some serious question marks. Even though he is a regular triple-double threat, Harden has not fully committed to the Rockets. He missed training camp, requested a trade, and threatened a holdout. While he is playing with the Rockets, for now, this distraction can lead to detrimental impacts. If Harden believes in Houston and thinks John Wall and DeMarcus Cousin are worth playing with, we should expect another strong year from the best beard in basketball.

7. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Butler proved that he deserves to be considered an “alpha.” His reputation stands for itself. He wanted to run a team in Chicago but got ran out and traded to the Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins didn’t buy into the hard work, so Butler was kicked out of Minnesota. Butler is the bonafide leader of this Heat crew with his strong leadership, two-way abilities, and hard work.

The advanced analytics say it all. When the Timberwolves made the playoffs, the team was +8.8 when Butler was on the court. Last year, Butler translated for 6.3 offensive shares, while the Heat was +5.8 when he played. Butler finished with an offensive rating per 100 possessions of 123, which was the best of his career last year. Butler will give you a little bit of everything on offense while guarding the opposing team’s best player. The Bulls, Timberwolves, and 76ers messed up by not keeping him around.

6. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Curry played just five games last year. Losing Klay Thompson for the season was huge, but look how much of an impact losing Curry was. When he is on the floor, he is an offensive wizard with the basketball. Curry has the potential to go down as the best pure shooter in NBA history from both beyond the arc and at the free-throw line.

In Curry’s last full season, he shot from three-point range 60% of the time and made 43% of those shots. That also includes a +13.2 rating when Curry takes the floor, which is nearly double of what Damien Lillard or James Harden has. The Warriors are going to be a playoff contender because Curry is playing. Title contender? That all depends on the supporting cast.

5. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Last year, Davis missed averaging a double-double by 0.7 rebounds, which ended a streak of six straight seasons. While some of his offensive points, rebounds, and blocks were down compared to years past, Davis was an NBA champion. Those numbers were “down” by traditional A.D. standards because Davis didn’t have to do everything as he did with New Orleans.

A down year for Davis was 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.3 blocks. However, one major improvement was that Davis shot a career-high 84.6% from the free-throw line. Davis could be the next Laker to get his uniform retired. He isn’t going anywhere after signing a five-year max contract extension either. Davis will be in the running for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year this season.

4. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

Leonard is one of the most complete players on Earth. He has a large wingspan, large hands, and explosive athleticism. He moves so well with and without the ball. He is an All-NBA Defensive Team candidate every year. If he wasn’t injury prone, he would be in the top-3.

Last season, Leonard averaged a career-high 27.1 points and 4.9 assists. He has a smooth ability to get into the paint and absorb contact. Then, he converts 88% of his free throws. In nearly every category, Leonard puts up numbers that could be top-5 or top-15. Either way, Leonard wants to lead the Clippers to their first title, and he is the multi-tool talent that could do it.

3. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

Before the preseason started, it was nearly a year and a half since we saw Durant suit up for a basketball game. It’s like some people forgot that Durant is a former four-time scoring champion. Some might have forgotten that in his last season with the Warriors, Durant averaged 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, shot 88.5% from the free-throw line, and 52.1% from the field. If Durant didn’t get hurt in the NBA Finals, the Nets might have been a contender last season, but he had to sit out the whole season to heal from an Achilles injury.

Now, Durant is back and 100% healthy. He wants to prove that he can lead a franchise to the NBA Finals. Despite winning two NBA Finals MVP trophies, the media still scrutinizes Durant for joining Golden State. Say what you want, but somebody that accounts for over 8.0 win shares in a season and is +16.7 points per 100 possessions is a guaranteed top-3 player in the league.

2. Giannis Antetokounpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis is the two-time defending MVP of the league and the former Defensive Player of the Year. Last year, Giannis was fifth in the league in scoring (29.5), second in rebounds (13.6), first in double-doubles (56), and first in performance efficiency rating (31.94). The advanced analytics were off the charts, suggesting that per 100 possessions Giannis averaged 44.2 points and 20.4 rebounds. Defensively, he led the league with a 97 defensive rating, which is how many points are suggested allowed per 100 possessions.

The Bucks are +15.8 when Giannis is on the floor. He is one of the best players ever in the paint. Offensively, 76.3% of his shots come from 0-3 feet from the basket, and he converts on 77.9% of them. There is nobody that can stop a 6-foot-11, 242-pound big man. Giannis will be in contention to win his third straight MVP, which has only been done by Larry Bird from 1984 to 1986.

1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron made an exceptional case to win the MVP last season. While Giannis was deserving, how many small forwards have ever seen lead the league in assists? LeBron’s 10.2 assists donned him as the only player to finish with an average of double-digit assists in a season. It’s exceptional how LeBron can evolve each year and make his game just a little bit better, even at the age of 35.

Here’s what is even more impressive. According to the advanced stats, LeBron assisted on a league-leading 49.1% of the team’s offensive plays. Even while serving as the main point guard, LeBron still managed to average 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. There is no denying that LeBron can do it all and that is still the best player in the world.

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Ranking The 100 Best Players For The 2020-21 NBA Season: 100-51

Ranking The 100 Best Players For The 2020-21 NBA Season: 50-31

Ranking The 100 Best Players For The 2020-21 NBA Season: 30-11