The 3 Best NBA Players Per Season In The Last 20 Years

The NBA has dramatically changed over the past 20 years, as we have been introduced to three-point shooting, ball movement, and far less aggressive defense. Even with this being the case, the league has had a ton of talented star players year after year challenge for the top spot. Specifically, three players have stood out as the best in the league over the past two decades. The reason is that three players often fight for the throne as to who is the number one player in the league at that particular moment. Debates between the top-three best players in the NBA at one point sparks a lot of controversy and opinions from fans and media alike. 

Therefore, it is time to narrow down the three best players in the NBA since the 2003-04 NBA season. What will be particularly impressive is that only a select few players will dominate this list and, unsurprisingly, are often regarded as the greatest players in NBA history. Precedence and bias will be given to the player who won the MVP award in each season because it shows how dominant he was over an 82-game stretch. However, the players will also be listed in terms of stats, impact, and all-around ability. In other words, just because a player won the MVP award in a particular season doesn’t mean he was the best individual player in the world, playoffs included.

Here are the three best players per season in the last 20 years in the NBA.

2003-04 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Kobe Bryant – 24.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG

2. Kevin Garnett – 24.2 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.2 BPG

3. Shaquille O’Neal – 21.5 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG

Shaquille O’Neal was still a dominant player coming off three straight championships and Finals MVP awards, but Kobe Bryant started taking over as the best player in the world by the 2002-03 season and was the best player by the 2003-04 season without a doubt. His skill, scoring ability, and leadership took precedence as the Los Angeles Lakers made the NBA Finals but lost to the Detroit Pistons. Bryant takes the blame for the defeat, for good reason, because he did not do a great job feeding Shaq enough inside. He took the blame, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t the best player in the world.

Kevin Garnett was league MVP in 2003-04, posting ridiculous numbers across the board. Despite having decent but unspectacular players around him, he led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 58-24 record which was good for 1st in the West. KG led the league in win shares and was the best big man in the league. Although in the Western Conference Finals, Kobe took over by posting a series-high 24.3 PPG to lead the Lakers to victory.

Shaquille O’Neal became the second option for the Lakers for most of the 2003-04 season, and it was clear that the franchise and Kobe himself did not appreciate him as much. O’Neal had a solid regular season, posting 21.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG, but he did not get enough touches and wasn’t always in the best of shape. Shaq was outscored by Bryant during the postseason run, but perhaps he should’ve been the first option because there was no way Ben Wallace could have handled him down low.

2004-05 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Shaquille O’Neal – 22.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.7 SPG, 0.5 SPG, 2.3 BPG

2. Kobe Bryant – 27.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG

3. Steve Nash – 15.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 11.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Shaq was back in the 2004-05 season for the Miami Heat, his new team. The big man did not have Kobe Bryant’s numbers as an individual player, but he was incredibly impactful for the new-look Heat side that had a budding star in Dwyane Wade. O’Neal was an absolute force inside and clearly should have won the MVP award after carrying the Heat to a solid 59-23 record which won the Eastern Conference. O’Neal lost out to Nash on MVP voting slightly, having 1,032 points vs. 1,066 MVP points. 

Kobe Bryant was probably the player any GM would have taken to start their team within the 2004-05 season because his scoring ability was truly off-the-charts. He also chipped in with scoring, rebounding, and defense and was the only player carrying the Lakers. However, his first season without Shaquille O’Neal did not go too well, as the Lakers finished with a poor 34-48 record and missed the playoffs. Bryant was simply not as good as Shaq was in the 2004-05 season, specifically.

Steve Nash, the league’s MVP, was given that title because he had spearheaded a very talented Phoenix Suns team in the regular season and playoffs. Nash should not have won the MVP award over Shaq, but he still deserved heavy consideration by posting a double-double and being one of the best offensive players in the world. Phoenix finished 1st in the West in the regular season and made it to the Western Conference Finals, thanks to their playmaking superstar.

2005-06 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Kobe Bryant – 35.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG

2. Dwyane Wade – 27.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG

3. Steve Nash – 18.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 10.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Kobe Bryant was the best player in the world in the 2005-06 NBA season, and it was purely based on the player’s elite skill on both ends. The shooting guard went ballistic after missing the playoffs the prior year and put up insane scoring numbers all year, including a game in which he scored 81 points on a helpless Toronto Raptors side. 

Bryant led the league in scoring and was the best individual talent in the game on both ends of the court as well, and the Lakers somehow made the playoffs. Remember, Kobe’s iconic game-winner against the Phoenix Suns also occurred in that playoff run.

Meanwhile, Shaquille O’Neal does not appear among the top-three players in the world, even if he ended up winning the championship as Dwyane Wade’s sidekick that year. Dwyane Wade, who had a spectacular playoff and Finals run, was challenging Kobe Bryant for the title as the best individual player in the world all year. Wade had a solid regular season by posting 27.2 PPG, but his true value came in the NBA Finals when he averaged a whopping 34.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.8 APG to win Finals MVP.

Steve Nash won league MVP again because he deserved it in the regular season. He was not as great as Bryant or Wade were on both ends of the court, but he had a much better team around him and earned the regular-season award by finishing 3rd in the Western Conference. By being the best playmaker in the world and having a beautiful playing style, voters opted to give Nash his second-straight MVP trophy, and as such was a top-three player in the world in the 2005-06 season.

2006-07 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Kobe Bryant – 31.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG

2. LeBron James – 27.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG

3. Dirk Nowitzki – 24.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Kobe Bryant remained the best player in the world in the 2006-07 season, even if losing games was starting to take a toll on him. The Los Angeles Lakers had not yet recovered from the loss of Shaquille O’Neal and could not find a legitimate star to pair with the superstar shooting guard. Kobe did his thing again by posting 31.6 PPG, which led the NBA, and also made the playoffs with a poor supporting cast. Despite all of this, Bryant was receiving criticism for not being a winning player, although things would change the following year.

LeBron James became one of the top-two players in the world during the 2006-07 NBA season, which was his fourth year in the league. The King had an argument for the title of the best player by his second season, but his inexperience was showing in the postseason. As such, he could have never really been ahead of players such as Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Steve Nash over the years. Regardless, James became an unstoppable force by the 2006-07 season, and the debates of Bryant vs. James became hot and heavy. James did make the NBA Finals that year, with an average supporting cast to say the least, but his inexperience showed again as the San Antonio Spurs shut him down completely to earn the sweep. Regardless, James and Bryant would be locked in for the title as the best player for the next few seasons.

Dirk Nowitzki, league MVP, has to receive consideration ahead of Tim Duncan because he was simply spectacular during the regular season. The German won the MVP award by averaging 24.6 PPG and 8.9 RPG and also led the league in win shares. The Dallas Mavericks were favorites to win it all but ended up losing in the first round to the “We Believe” Golden State Warriors side that featured Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Monta Ellis, and Al Harrington. Even if Dirk suffered a tremendous blow to his playoff legacy, he has to be a top-3 player considering the Mavericks won 67 games because of him.

2007-08 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Kobe Bryant – 28.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

2. LeBron James – 30.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG

3. Kevin Garnett – 18.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Finally, Kobe Bryant had an All-Star big man beside him. Anytime Kobe had a big man to help out with rebounding and defense, title contention would follow. That is exactly what happened in the 2007-08 season, as Bryant was rewarded for his patience as the Lakers acquired All-Star Spanish forward Pau Gasol. With Phil Jackson on the bench and veterans such as Derek Fisher on board, the Lakers were back in business, and so was Kobe Bryant. The Lakers superstar posted 28.3 PPG during the regular season, winning MVP since the team finished with a Western Conference-leading 57 wins. Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics had just created a superteam and ended up winning in the NBA Finals.

LeBron James led the NBA in scoring at 30.0 PPG, his first and only scoring title to date, and carried the Cleveland Cavaliers to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. The King was simply spectacular in every facet of the game, and because his team did not win enough games, he was not in the MVP conversation, as that was Kobe’s award from the start. James was still the best all-around player in the NBA, and conversations of who is the best talent in the world between Kobe and James continued, although Bryant making the NBA Finals and being the leader of the 2008 Olympics team settled that debate.

Kevin Garnett had a massive impact on the Boston Celtics in the 2007-08 campaign by winning Defensive Player of the Year and making it clear to everyone that “anything is possible.” The power forward allowed Paul Pierce and, to a certain extent, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen to lead the Celtics offense while he completely consumed opposing players on defense. Boston had an iconic championship run as the aging stars teamed up together to defeat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

2008-09 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Kobe Bryant – 26.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG

2. LeBron James – 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG

3. Dwyane Wade – 30.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.3 BPG

LeBron James was absolutely spectacular, but he was not on Kobe Bryant’s level during the 2008-09 season. The Black Mamba always seemed to bounce back from failure, and he did it in the 2008-09 season after losing in the NBA Finals a year prior. Kobe averaged 26.8 PPG, led the Lakers to 65 wins to win the West, and destroyed the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. Finally, Bryant won Finals MVP and had as many rings as his former partner Shaquille O’Neal. There was simply no stopping Bryant during the year.

LeBron James won league MVP because his numbers were off-the-charts. The King did it all for the Cavaliers, winning 66 games with them, and looked like a serious championship player in the making. All year, the noise of Bryant vs. James in the NBA Finals was being promoted, but it never happened. James once again had a disappointing end to the postseason, losing to the Orlando Magic and robbing us of an iconic Finals showdown. With Bryant winning the chip, eyes were starting to focus on LeBron and whether he could get it done or not as a franchise’s best player.

Dwyane Wade was the third-best player in the world in the 2008-09 season on an individual level. When discussing the best players in the world, it was always Kobe and James, with Wade right behind them. The shooting guard was simply an immense talent on both ends of the court as he led the league in scoring and was already solidified as the best shot-blocking guard of all time. However, the lack of a supporting cast was robbing him of playoff success, but luckily for him, LeBron James was receiving the bulk of NBA fans’ criticism.

2009-10 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Kobe Bryant – 27.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG

2. LeBron James – 29.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG

3. Kevin Durant – 30.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Bryant once again reigned supreme during the 2009-10 season, and this would be the last time that the shooting guard would be distinguished from LeBron James as the best individual talent and winner in the league. Kobe had a spectacular regular season, posting 27.0 PPG and leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. However, LeBron James had better numbers and slightly more wins for the Cavs, which meant The King ended up winning the MVP award. Bryant got his last laugh at the end of the year, however, as he ended up winning his fifth championship and second Finals MVP award to settle the comparison between him and Shaquille O’Neal.

LeBron James was the best player in the regular season but not in the playoffs. The King once again came up short in the postseason, and critics were banging the tables about his inability to win when it truly matters. Whether it was LeBron’s tendency to pass rather than score or even pout at times, The King’s criticism was widespread even if he had just won his second-straight MVP trophy. Guess what? LeBron would have enough and decide to go elsewhere to win his championship ring the following year.

Kevin Durant arrived as a top-three player in the world in the 2009-10 NBA season. The superstar forward was exceptional on offense, leading the NBA in scoring at 30.1 PPG. In only his third season, Durant was a special offensive player and had a great season by forming an up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder team in the West. The Thunder were still babies, however, and were not ready to compete just yet.

2010-2011 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Dirk Nowitzki – 23.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG

2. LeBron James – 26.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG

3. Derrick Rose – 25.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Sure, LeBron James was the best individual player in the world on a talent level. Derrick Rose was also the league MVP and had a historic year. However, it was Dirk Nowitzki who owned the 2010-11 NBA season. Seeking revenge for the Mavericks’ loss to the Miami Heat in the 2005-06 Finals, Dirk led the charge against a superteam Miami Heat side that featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Despite being the underdogs, Dirk ended up winning the Finals MVP and took Miami’s heart. Dirk was dominant in the playoffs entirely, averaging 27.7 PPG, and for that reason alone, he was the best player in the world without a debate.

LeBron James made the biggest “decision” in NBA history when he left his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers team and formed a superteam in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Critics were all over LeBron for losing, but now they had something else to focus on: joining other superstars to win rings. Whether we like it or not, that move altered the NBA forever as players now take their careers into their own hands. James was unbelievable, as usual, in the regular season and made the NBA Finals only to lose to Dirk and the Mavericks. With this latest loss, James became the most scrutinized star in the history of American sports.

Derrick Rose had an iconic regular season because he became the youngest MVP award winner of all time. At only 22 years old, the superstar point guard sliced his way to the rim and dominated the court time and time again. There was no answer for him, as he averaged 25.0 PPG and 7.7 APG while leading the Bulls to a tremendous 62-20 record which won the East ahead of the superteam Miami Heat. The point guard would never recover this form again, however, as injuries robbed him of an iconically great career.

2011-2012 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. LeBron James – 27.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG

2. Kevin Durant – 28.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG

3. Kobe Bryant – 27.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.2 PG, 0.3 BPG

Finally, LeBron James got it done. The King took his hits when he joined a superteam and also accepted the negativity he received from losing in the 2011 NBA Finals despite being favored. James returned to the 2011-12 NBA season with a vengeance and was dominant from the start of the season until the very end. The King knew he had the most talent around him in the NBA but needed to prove he was a killer. In other words, James needed to learn how to win, and he did. James captured the MVP award, led the league in win shares, and then dominated the NBA Finals to win his first Finals MVP award. The King was finally crowned.

Kevin Durant was also sensational in the 2011-12 NBA season, making the Finals with a very young and inexperienced Oklahoma City Thunder. Having Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka by his side, Durant started competing for rings a lot sooner than many expected. The superstar forward had a great regular season campaign, winning the scoring title, but was not at LeBron’s level as an all-around superstar by the time the Finals rolled around.

Kobe Bryant had a great year in 2011-12, posting 27.9 PPG and barely losing out on the scoring title to Kevin Durant. The superstar shooting guard led the Lakers to the third seed in the Western Conference but was unable to have much success as he was showing age alongside his teammates. Los Angeles had no shot at contending as they lost to the young and hungry Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs. Kobe, at age 33, did receive criticism for this loss, but he would get more help the following year.

2012-2013 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. LeBron James – 26.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG

2. Kevin Durant – 28.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG

3. Kobe Bryant – 27.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG

LeBron James was once again the best player in the world, and at age 28, he was at the top of his powers. We possibly saw the best version of James on both ends of the floor, as The King finished second to Marc Gasol for the Defensive Player of the Year award but still captured league MVP and Finals MVP. The King finally tasted victory the prior year, and there was no stopping him from earning another ring. As great as Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were, it was all about LeBron James in 2012-13.

Kevin Durant was once again an elite player, posting 28.1 PPG during the regular season and leading the Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference. The superstar forward had unbelievable offensive skills, going 50-40-90 from the field and proving to be the most talented offensive player in the NBA. Durant still could not win alongside Russell Westbrook, however, as a shocking loss to the Grit-n-Grind Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the playoffs was a big story.

Kobe Bryant had a new All-Star big man alongside him in Dwight Howard, and while it might have worked on paper, it did not work in terms of team success. In Dwight’s first season, the Lakers finished with 45 wins which was not good enough. Kobe did his best to keep his team afloat, putting forth an iconic run to end the season for the side to make the playoffs. Kobe’s leadership and scoring were enough to rank him among the top-3 players in the world yet again, but an Achilles injury would mark the start of the end of the Black Mamba’s career.

2013-2014 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Kevin Durant – 32.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG

2. LeBron James – 27.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG

3. Chris Paul – 19.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 10.7 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Kevin Durant was the best player in the world in the 2013-14 NBA season. What he was doing offensively with the type of efficiency he was averaging was simply extraordinary. The Oklahoma City Thunder star averaged 32.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 5.5 APG on 50.2% FG, 39.1% 3-PT FG, and 87.3% FT. He was unstoppable all year, leading the NBA in scoring and win shares while winning the MVP award. The Thunder even made the Western Conference Finals, although the team lost to the San Antonio Spurs.

LeBron James, no surprise, was right behind Kevin Durant as the best player in the world. The King averaged 27.1 PPG in the regular season and made the NBA Finals again with the Miami Heat, their fourth straight. This time, however, the Heat were beaten by the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals as LeBron was heavily defended in the series. The Spurs ended up winning by a record margin, as the Heat looked helpless at times. With this latest loss, Miami ended up going 2-2 in the Finals despite having one of the greatest superteams ever. LeBron’s future was also being thrown into question because Dwyane Wade started looking very old, and that was not a good sign.

Chris Paul had a fantastic 2013-14 campaign with the Los Angeles Clippers as his leadership continued to push the “Lob City” Clippers. Paul led the NBA in APG and SPG and finished third in the West. The point guard was the best of his talents, and he helped improve DeAndre Jordan as a two-way center while pushing Blake Griffin to third in the MVP race. Paul’s season was down to his leadership and ability as a floor general, although the team did end up losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.

2014-2015 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. LeBron James – 25.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG

2. Stephen Curry – 23.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG

3. James Harden – 27.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG

LeBron James made his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he made the NBA Finals immediately thanks to the presence of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. In a highly-anticipated reunion with the Cavaliers, James had a great regular-season campaign by posting spectacular statistics across the board and having an intelligent maturity that was scary for the NBA. The Cavs finished second in the East in wins, destroyed the competition en route to the Finals, and were leading 2-1 against the 67-win Golden State Warriors in the Finals. Kyrie and Love’s injuries gave James no chance to win, however, as he lost another Finals appearance despite posting 35.8 PPG, 13.3 RPG, and 8.8 APG.

Stephen Curry was the league MVP in the 2014-15 season because the Warriors were so dominant in the regular season, capturing 67 wins and winning the West. Curry was exceptional as he led the charge with a Warriors side that employed a spread offense that changed the league. However, Curry was not as good as James was, and The King should have won the MVP award, in all fairness. Steph ended up capturing his first NBA title, although he lost out on Finals MVP to Andre Iguodala.

James Harden had an excellent year with the Houston Rockets in the 2014-15 season as he carried the Houston Rockets to a solid second seed in the West with 56 wins. Harden had the edge over Chris Paul as a top-3 player because the shooting guard even made the Western Conference Finals with the Rockets alongside Dwight Howard and Josh Smith as his best teammates. Posting 27.4 PPG in the regular season, The Beard was slowly forming to become one of the best scorers the NBA had ever seen.

2015-2016 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. LeBron James – 25.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG

2. Stephen Curry – 30.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG

3. Kawhi Leonard – 21.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG

LeBron James was the greatest player in the world in 2015-16, and there was no debate about that. Stephen Curry was the game’s unanimous MVP winner for his once-in-a-lifetime MVP campaign, but he was not as great as LeBron James when it really counted. By far James’ greatest season, The King had a typical regular season in terms of all-around numbers and leadership, but his play took another level in the playoffs. LeBron was not at his explosive peak anymore, but he was at his mental best. James led the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals to win his most valuable championship ring to date.

Meanwhile, Stephen Curry won the first-ever unanimous MVP award by posting 30.1 PPG to lead the league in scoring and win shares. The point guard had an iconically great regular season and no other player had a chance of capturing the MVP award because the Golden State Warriors won a record-breaking 73 games to surpass Michael Jordan’s 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Curry’s shooting was simply incredible as he shot 50-40-90 from the field and shot 40.4% from three in the playoffs. However, Curry’s inability to close the lid on the Cavs’ comeback in the Finals pushes him to second place.

Kawhi Leonard had a sensational season in 2015-16, posting 21.2 PPG and winning Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight time during the regular season. The Claw was now the primary superstar for the San Antonio Spurs and led the team to an excellent 67-win record which was good for second behind the record-breaking Golden State Warriors. Leonard finished “runner-up” to Curry in the MVP race, although he never had a shot at competing against the unanimous winner.

2016-2017 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. LeBron James – 26.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG

2. Russell Westbrook – 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG

3. James Harden – 29.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 11.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG

LeBron James once again carried the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in the postseason after having another spectacular regular season. The Cavs finished with 51 wins to finish second in the Eastern Conference and made it to the Finals, this time coming up against an unfair Warriors side that just added Kevin Durant to the core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The King tried his best by averaging 33.6 PPG, 12.0 RPG, and 10.0 APG, but there was too much talent on the other side. James was the best player in the world, but he could not defy incredible odds as he did the prior season.

It might sound crazy to say, but Russell Westbrook, in the 2016-17 season, was one of the greatest players of all time. He was a man possessed on a physical and talent level because he hardly put a foot wrong on the basketball court. Kevin Durant left him high and dry when he departed for Golden State, and Westbrook had almost zero help around him. Despite this, he won the scoring title and averaged a triple-double for the first time since Oscar Robertson. On top of that, Westbrook had a game-winner and led the Thunder into the playoffs to solidify himself as the best player in Thunder history. What Westbrook did in his MVP campaign was truly astonishing, and he deserves credit for being the most spectacular individual player that year.

The Beard had himself another amazing campaign, leading the league in win shares and APG for the Houston Rockets. James Harden led the Rockets to 55 wins which were good for third in the Western Conference, and he made the second round before losing to the San Antonio Spurs. The shooting guard would be getting closer to winning the MVP award and was beginning to place himself among the greatest players in the game. Of course, the following season, Harden would be rewarded for his efforts.

2017-2018 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. LeBron James – 27.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG

2. James Harden – 30.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG

3. Kevin Durant – 26.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.8 BPG

LeBron James was still the best player in the world in the 2017-18 season, as he posted ridiculous all-around numbers and once again led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. The King had a 50-32 record in the East, which was good for the 4th seed, but he was still the “Beast of the East” because the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and Boston Celtics did not have enough to take him out. It only took a Kevin Durant masterclass in the NBA Finals to kick LeBron out of the postseason and send him home.

It is very easy to claim that LeBron James was the best player in the world during the 2017-18 season, but James Harden took his level another notch in the season and was right behind The King. The Beard led the league in scoring, win shares, and had the best record in the NBA with Chris Paul alongside him for the Houston Rockets. As expected, Harden deservedly won league MVP and he went all the way to the Western Conference Finals. If not for his disappointing performances in Game 6 and Game 7 of that series, he would’ve been claimed as the best player in the world.

Kevin Durant did not care about the criticism he was getting for joining the Golden State Warriors and had a splendid year in both the regular season and playoffs. The superstar forward posted 26.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 5.4 APG in the regular season but took his numbers to 29.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 5.7 APG in the playoffs. In the NBA Finals, KD averaged 28.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 7.5 APG in a sweep of LeBron and the Cavaliers. Due to his dominance all year long, Durant was easily a top-3 player in the world, regardless if he had Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson alongside him.

2018-2019 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Kawhi Leonard – 26.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 27.7 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.5 BPG

3. James Harden – 36.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 7.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Kawhi Leonard’s best season of his career occurred in the 2018-19 season with the Toronto Raptors. It started with an ugly situation in San Antonio where the player was missing games due to “load management,” and he caught the wrath of his teammates, including Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Claw did not appreciate his teammates not sticking up for him through his injury battles and requested a trade. The Spurs shipped him off to Toronto, perhaps the player’s least-desired destination, but it worked out in his favor. Leonard had the greatest season of any player in Raptors history as he averaged 26.6 PPG in the regular season and had an iconic playoff run which included a Game 7 game-winner against the Philadelphia 76ers and a trip to the NBA Finals where he won it all. It was Kawhi’s year from start to finish, and he was the best player in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChT3ewZXTfM

Giannis Antetokounmpo won league MVP as he became a top superstar in the game by dominating both ends of the court. The Greek Freak started receiving a ton of pressure and expectation on his shoulders, reasons why he even considered retiring, but was still a top-3 player in the world. Giannis led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in the NBA, but he did not have a great postseason, as he lost to Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals.

James Harden’s season in 2018-19 was iconic from an offensive standpoint. The man averaged 36.1 PPG to win his second scoring title and had to be double and triple-teamed from the moment he touched the ball. It never happened in NBA history when a player had to be blitzed as soon as he reached half-court to stop him from getting two easy points at the rim or kicking out to open shooters. The Beard was literally unstoppable except for the fact that Chris Paul did not have a great season and the Houston Rockets lost to the Golden State Warriors again, this time in the second round of the playoffs.

2019-2020 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. LeBron James – 25.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 10.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 29.5 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG

3. Kawhi Leonard – 27.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Shortly after a disappointing season with the Los Angeles Lakers a year prior, LeBron James regained the throne as the best player in the world once his team traded for Anthony Davis. Leading the NBA in assists per game with 10.2 APG, James returned with a vengeance and was the smartest and most dominant player in the world. The season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but that gave The King enough time to rest his 35-year-old legs. Once the season started again, James was well-rested and had Anthony Davis beside him as they ran riot in the West to win by far the player’s easiest championship.

On the other end, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the best player on the best team in the East once again. Giannis averaged 29.5 PPG, 13.6 RPG, and 5.6 APG while winning his second-straight MVP Award. Alongside LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the most dominant and impactful player in the league and was especially impactful on the defensive end of the floor. Nobody had any quarrels about Giannis winning league MVP and also capturing Defensive Player of the Year, but the player’s inability to win in the playoffs was starting to weigh on him and even the Bucks franchise.

Kawhi Leonard had a chance to make history by winning another championship with a new franchise, the Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard was supposed to be a Los Angeles Laker but decided to become a Clipper instead, recruiting Paul George to join him. The Clippers finished with the second seed in the West with 49 wins in the shortened season and made it to the Western Conference Semifinals. Somehow, and until today we wonder how the Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets despite holding a 3-1 lead. If not for that historic choke job, the Clippers would have played the Lakers in an all-time classic showdown in the Western Conference Finals.

2020-21 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 28.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.2 BPG

2. Nikola Jokic – 26.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG

3. Joel Embiid – 28.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.4 BPG

The Greek Freak is currently the best all-around player in the world and has been since the 2020-21 season without a shadow of a doubt. Giannis posted a monster double-double while leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the third seed in the East. With the Brooklyn Nets having a superstar trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving while the Philadelphia 76ers held the best record in the East, many wrote the Bucks off.

Giannis had a historically great postseason run, averaging 30.2 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and 5.1 APG, while knocking out the Nets in the second round. Giannis’ 50-point performance in Game 6 of the NBA Finals is tied with Bob Pettit (1958) for the most in a Finals closeout game, and that was the cherry on top of the cake.

Nikola Jokic was sensational all season long, capturing league MVP after he shocked us with elite playmaking from the center position. The Serbian star posted 26.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 8.3 APG in the regular season but could not do enough to not get swept by the Phoenix Suns in the second round. Even if Jokic had disappointing playoff success, he did deserve the MVP award because we had not seen a center with his capabilities before.

Joel Embiid had himself a great season in 2021, posting 28.5 PPG and 10.6 RPG for the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately, he could not dominate in the postseason as he did in the regular season, as Philly was kicked out in the Eastern Conference Finals by Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. That would be the final time we would see Ben Simmons in a Sixers uniform and that is actually a shame looking back at it.

2021-22 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 29.9 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.4 BPG

2. Nikola Jokic – 27.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG

3. Joel Embiid – 30.6 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG

A year after winning the NBA championship, Giannis Antetokounmpo reigned supreme as the best player in the world, considering both ends of the court. Nobody in the league can defend multiple positions like The Greek Freak can while also acting as a primary playmaker and scorer for the Milwaukee Bucks. His numbers speak for themselves, but Giannis was unstoppable and did not make a deep playoff run only because Khris Middleton wasn’t healthy.

Nikola Jokic won league MVP by posting ridiculous numbers once again, guiding the Denver Nuggets to 6th in the Western Conference despite injuries to key players, including Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. The Serbian was a top-3 player in the world but probably should not have won the MVP award over Joel Embiid, who had guided the Philadelphia 76ers to 51 wins despite the Ben Simmons drama.

Joel Embiid was frustrated by the fact he did not win the MVP award because he won more games with the Philadelphia 76ers and was the best scorer in the NBA by winning the scoring title. Regardless, Joel did not convince enough voters that he was the true MVP, and to be fair, he did not prove he was better as an individual player, even if he might have had a better season. Interestingly, the center would have the advantage the following year.

2022-23 NBA Season

The Best Players:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 31.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG

2. Joel Embiid – 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG

3. Nikola Jokic – 24.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 9.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG

With the 2022-23 NBA regular season over and the playoffs finally, here, the best players in the league are easy to name: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Jokic. Giannis is still the best player in the world, taking into account his play on both ends of the court and also his improved scoring ability. The Greek Freak finished the season 5th in PPG and 3rd in RPG and is the most versatile player in the world, considering how he can defend five positions as needed. Amazingly, he might not even win the MVP award this season as the favorites are two centers.

Joel Embiid won the scoring title for the second straight time and might even be one of the two players in the race for the MVP award. The superstar center averaged 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.7 BPG while leading the Philadelphia 76ers to 54 wins and the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The Cameroonian was showcasing skills we have yet to see from a center, including an automatic mid-range jumper, elite free-throw shooting, and range from three.

Nikola Jokic might be the first player since Larry Bird to win three straight MVP awards, although it will be tough for him to get it done. The Serbian almost averaged a triple-double for the Denver Nuggets and solidified the first seed in the West. Jokic definitely deserves the MVP award this season for his triple-double exploits, but since he might have won it undeservedly last year ahead of Joel Embiid, he probably won’t be able to clear Embiid this season. Regardless, the three best players in the world are clear this season and they are separated by fine margins. 

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