The Best Player From Every NBA Franchise In The Last 5 Years

While the league is known for movement and no real loyalty to a specific franchise, there is generally one franchise player that has achieved the most or has been the most consistent for their team over the last five years. Star players have always controlled the outcome of the league, and this hasn’t changed since basketball was created.

Today, almost every NBA franchise has the luxury of sporting at least one star player that shines brightest for their fans. Many NBA franchises even have more than one player that has the right to argue that they belong to the NBA’s elite. It is finally time to settle in and name the single best player per every NBA franchise over the last five seasons.

Atlanta Hawks – Trae Young

5-Year Statistics: 25.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 9.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Trae Young has easily been the face of the Atlanta Hawks franchise over the last few years, as he has 4 seasons under his belt after coming into the league drafted No. 5 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. Young’s stats are truly off the charts, and he has managed to make the Hawks a difficult team to handle after making the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.

It remains obvious that Young is the franchise star for the Hawks and that won’t change as the seasons progress. A point guard with exceptional offensive ability, Young could be back in the playoff mix after his team added All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to join the ranks. No doubt, the pressure is mostly on Young to get the team back to contention in the Eastern Conference.

Boston Celtics – Jayson Tatum

5-Year Statistics: 20.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Jayson Tatum was a superstar player last year and made the All-NBA First Team after carrying the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals and averaging 26.9 PPG and 8.0 RPG in the regular season. A talented scorer with the ability to create his own shots, Tatum is one of the players who could be in charge of the league in just a few years.

Tatum has been in the NBA for 5 years since getting drafted No. 3 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. The superstar forward has the tendency to carry a team, as he showed last year, although the growing pains he endured in the 2022 NBA Finals might still hurt him until this point. Still, Tatum is arguably a top-10 player in the world, and that will be evident when the forward returns to his best form next season as well.

Brooklyn Nets – Kevin Durant

5-Year Statistics: 28.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Kevin Durant has only played three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, including the entire season he missed during the 2020 season due to his Achilles injury. But the superstar forward returned to MVP form in 2021 and has not slowed down by averaging at least 26 PPG per season. Last year, KD was considered the best player in the regular season after posting 29.9 PPG on 51.8% shooting.

Durant has easily been the most valuable member of the Nets franchise over the last 5 years, even if he has been signed for 3 years and only played in 2 seasons. The superstar is the face of the Nets and the only positive thing about them last season because the franchise has been in disarray from all the drama. It remains to be seen if Durant finishes next season with the Nets with all the trade talks going on.

Charlotte Hornets – Kemba Walker

5-Year Statistics: 23.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG

The Charlotte Hornets have had LaMelo Ball over the last two seasons, but they had Kemba Walker three years before that. On numbers and impact so far, Walker has been the player that helped the Charlotte Hornets the most over the last 5 years. Over that three-year span, Kemba averaged 23.7 PPG and 5.7 APG while shooting 37.8% from three.

An elite scorer and ball-handler, many in the media and of the fan base were already describing Kemba as a legend in Hornets history. The guard carried the franchise on his back and did well, even making an All-NBA Team selection in 2019 after posting 25.6 PPG. Obviously, Walker is no longer part of the team and LaMelo will be the franchise player going forward.

Chicago Bulls – Zach LaVine

5-Year Statistics: 24.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG

DeMar DeRozan has a great year last year, but Zach LaVine has been the star of Chicago over the last 5 seasons. The talented athlete came into Chicago as a raw offensive player and has blossomed into an All-Star. Since arriving in Chicago, Zach has made two All-Star Teams and has averaged at least 23 PPG over the last 4 seasons.

Last year, LaVine helped form one of the best duos in the NBA with DeMar DeRozan, as the shooting guard averaged 24.4 PPG. After signing a max extension and at the age of 27, LaVine has plenty of basketball left to play and will continue to try to help bring winning times back to the championship-hungry city of Chicago.

Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James

5-Year Statistics: 27.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG

The King has been in Los Angeles for four seasons, missing the playoffs twice but also winning the NBA championship in 2020. But still, over the last five seasons of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise, there is no doubt that LeBron James has been the best player as evidenced by his numbers, impact, and single championship success. Wherever The King goes, winning usually follows. That has been the case in Cleveland since 2018, with LeBron making the Finals in 2018 and eventually departing a season later.

As great as Darius Garland has been so far, making his first All-Star Team last year, LeBron’s single season over the past five years meant more to Cleveland than what the current star of Cleveland’s roster has done. The King will likely never go back to Cleveland, which is not a great thing for Cavaliers fans, but James has solidified his legacy as their greatest player ever.

Dallas Mavericks – Luka Doncic

5-Year Statistics: 26.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Who else would be the best player for the Dallas Mavericks over the last 5 seasons? Superstar Luka Doncic is a one-of-a-kind talent with exceptional basketball skills, overcoming his lack of explosiveness with physical size and elite offensive talent. The Slovenian went No. 3 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft and has been the gift that the Dallas Mavericks have been asking for since Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki retired.

Doncic has already played in a Western Conference Finals by age 23 and has made 3 All-Star Teams in 4 seasons since coming into the league. Expect Luka to be in the MVP conversation every year over the next 7 years at the least, because he has stamped his foot on the league already. Known as “Baby Bird”, Doncic is doing magical things for the Mavericks and will continue to do so.

Denver Nuggets – Nikola Jokic

5-Year Statistics: 22.3 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic might already be the most impactful player in Denver Nuggets history, considering how he has carried the team over the past two years despite the injury of star point guard Jamal Murray. Jokic is a unique big man with a unique skill set because we have never seen a 7-footer pass the way he does.

Jokic’s numbers are off the charts for a center as his passing ability has been unprecedentedly great. The Serbian monster is hard to handle in the post because of his soft touch around the rim, while he can lead the fast break at his size, and also has an excellent three-point shot. The city of Denver is in love with their superstar form, and they should be as he is their only hope of one day competing for an NBA championship thanks to a berth in the NBA Finals.

Detroit Pistons – Blake Griffin

5-Year Statistics: 19.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Sure, Blake Griffin did not play extremely well with the Detroit Pistons, mainly due to injuries. Now, Griffin is a shell of himself and his decline began when he was traded to Detroit by the Los Angeles Clippers. But over the past 5 years, there hasn’t been anyone better than Blake Griffin that played in Detroit.

The big man lasted 4 seasons with the team, although he was traded to Detroit into his first season and also managed to play 20 games before getting traded to the Brooklyn Nets in his last season. A talented power forward with an improved jump shot, Griffin had some very good moments with the Pistons, although his run was considered forgettable by most fans who watched Blake dominate with the Clippers many years ago.

Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry

5-Year Statistics: 27.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Mr. Golden State Warrior himself, Stephen Curry, has been carrying the franchise for a very long time. The point guard is a tremendous offensive player with an unstoppable three-point shot, and he has rewarded the Warriors with two championships since 2018. Of course, Curry has four total championships, including the 2015 and 2017 seasons.

Curry is not only a fan favorite in the NBA but the most coveted member of the Warriors franchise. Even if Kevin Durant helped the team win two rings and won both Finals MVP awards, it was Steph who was the face of the franchise and the man who was responsible for fitting Durant into the roster seamlessly. As the reigning NBA champion and best point guard in the league, Curry is on cloud nine right now and deserves to be.

Houston Rockets – James Harden

5-Year Statistics: 32.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG

The way James Harden departed from Houston was an ugly situation, but it should not take away from how great the shooting guard was for the franchise that gave him a chance to spread his wings. We knew James was a special talent when he played in Oklahoma City, but nobody saw what was to come from one of the best offensive players of all time. Over the last 5 years, Harden won an MVP award with the Rockets and also led the NBA in scoring three times.

Of course, Harden was the franchise player for the team that came close to winning the championship in 2018. Had Chris Paul not gotten hurt in the series against the Golden State Warriors, many believed the Rockets would have ended up as champions during the year. Nonetheless, Harden gave Houston their first superstar player since Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and was the key for the franchise over the last few years.

Indiana Pacers – Victor Oladipo

5-Year Statistics: 20.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

People forget how good Victor Oladipo was with the Indiana Pacers before his major injury seemingly derailed his career. An excellent defensive player, Oladipo worked on his game to eventually become a solid go-to scorer. He made two straight All-Star Teams in 2018 and 2019, showcasing his exceptional two-way play.

But injuries only led Oladipo to appear in 19 games in 2020, followed by only 9 games in 2021 before he was traded to the Houston Rockets. The talented shooting guard showed glimpses of potentially becoming a superstar player, although that is now out the window because it will be hard for the 30-year-old to get back to his best. Nonetheless, Victor Oladipo has been the best player for the Pacers over the last five seasons.

Los Angeles Clippers – Kawhi Leonard

5-Year Statistics: 26.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Kawhi Leonard helped place the Los Angeles Clippers on the map after the Chris Paul era ended with the franchise. The superstar forward built his name with the San Antonio Spurs, and after winning the championship with the Toronto Raptors, he made a big decision to recruit Paul George and start a new era in Los Angeles.

Over the past few seasons, The Claw has been the most important member of the team. Leonard has officially been a member of the Clippers for three seasons, although he missed all last year due to injury. The Clippers will go as far as Leonard takes them, and the player has been most important so far.

Los Angeles Lakers – LeBron James

5-Year Statistics: 27.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 8.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG

The King decided to take his talents to Los Angeles in 2019 and has awarded the Purple and Gold with a championship run in 2020 alongside Anthony Davis. James was the driving force on the team, still competing as arguably a top-five player in the game and averaging 30.3 PPG last year at age 37.

James has been a Laker for four years and has played as great as he has been anywhere else. The King is always in the best shape possible and is still the best passer in the game. A championship over four seasons is nothing to sniff at, which means LeBron has obviously been the man for the Lakers since Kobe Bryant retired. Hopefully, James can continue contending for a title because the roster he is playing with needs a ton of work to compete with the other top teams in the league.

Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant

5-Year Statistics: 21.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Can you name a player more exciting to watch than Ja Morant? The explosive point guard is doing great things on the floor at such a young age, and he continues to get better at being a playmaker and all-around leader as well. Last year, Memphis was challenging the Golden State Warriors to reach the Western Conference Finals.

The talented point guard has been in the NBA for three seasons, making the All-Star and All-NBA Team last year. No doubt about it, Ja could kick-start a run of success that Memphis has never had before because this Grizzlies team could be better than the Mike Conley and Marc Gasol teams in the late 2010s. 

Miami Heat – Jimmy Butler

5-Year Statistics: 20.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Jimmy Butler is the heart and soul of the Miami Heat and that is because of his tremendous work ethic and willingness to do what it takes to win. Butler put up monster performances during the 2020 playoffs as he guided the underdog Heat team to the NBA Finals against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Butler chose to join the Miami Heat over other contending teams a few years ago, even choosing against the likes of the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers at the time. Instead, Butler has been arguably a top-15 player in the game over the last five years and could be the main reason Miami tastes championship glory in the near future.

Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo

5-Year Statistics: 28.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.3 BPG

A two-time MVP and the 2021 NBA champion, Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players of all time when looking at power forwards in any era. The Greek Freak is truly a once-in-a-lifetime athlete because he stands 6’11” yet moves like a guard with incredible speed and explicitness. As a result, Giannis was blessed with the gifts to be successful.

But Antetokounmpo did not allow himself to simply use his gifts, as he has worked year after year to become arguably the most dominant two-way player in the game. In fact, only Kevin Durant can truly challenge Giannis for the title of being the best player in the world. Over the last five years, Giannis has won 2 MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, and an NBA title.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns

5-Year Statistics: 23.9 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 3.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Karl-Anthony Towns might very well be the best three-point shooting big man ever, especially after he won the 3-Point Contest last year. While it would be a shame to just see Towns shoot instead of going inside, it seems that is going to be the case with Rudy Gobert joining the team.

Towns is also a great rebounder and always finds ways to use his size to battle down low. The big man has made 3 All-Star Teams with the franchise over the last five years and continues to be one of the top young players in the world. Hopefully, Towns and the rest of the Timberwolves can make a deep push into the playoffs next year.

New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Davis

5-Year Statistics: 27.2 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG

Zion Williamson is going to be the star of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise going forward, but Anthony Davis was certainly impressive over the last five seasons. An extremely talented big man who can score in multiple ways, Davis put up MVP-caliber numbers, although he never quite won enough games.

Obviously, Davis has seen more success since joining the Los Angeles Lakers by winning the 2020 NBA championship alongside LeBron James. Playoff success aside, Davis was a force with the Pelicans as one of the most talented bigs of all time. Hopefully, Zion can reach those heights and even exceed them if healthy.

New York Knicks – Julius Randle

5-Year Statistics: 21.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Julius Randle has received a ton of criticism for failing to repeat his stellar play from two seasons ago, but he has still been the only true bright spot for a struggling New York Knicks franchise. The big man was on fire in 2021, doing everything on the floor, including being a playmaker and three-point shooter.

Even after a down year, Randle should continue to be New York’s best player. He is strong, versatile, and hopefully ready to get back to his best. We could very well see the rise of RJ Barrett, although the young man has been taking steady steps with his growth into a future All-Star.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Russell Westbrook

5-Year Statistics: 24.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 10.5 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

The Oklahoma City Thunder have not been in the playoffs since they traded their superstar Russell Westbrook. Westbrook was the heart and soul of the Thunder franchise, and he captivated fans with his tremendous athleticism and triple-double ability. Obviously, that is not the case these days.

Westbrook won an MVP award with the Thunder in 2017, but over the past five years, he played with the franchise for two seasons and made both All-Star Teams in the Western Conference. If current point guard Josh Giddey can be as close to great as Westbrook was, the Thunder can rejoice because so far they are simply tanking the seasons away.

Orlando Magic – Nikola Vucevic

5-Year Statistics: 20.3 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Before the Orlando Magic blew it up two seasons ago, Nikola Vucevic was the driving force behind the team’s playoff appearances. A big man with a versatile offensive skill set, Nikola can score the ball inside and also outside. That is why he has made two All-Star Teams as a member of the Magic.

Since Vucevic was traded, the Magic have been tanking and have not found a replacement for their double-double machine. The center is a strong scorer and rebounder, as players of his talent do not come by too often. Hopefully, the Magic can start winning games thanks to their No. 1 overall selection, Paolo Banchero.

Philadelphia 76ers – Joel Embiid

5-Year Statistics: 26.6 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 BPG

Every season, Philadelphia 76ers fans pray that Joel Embiid stays healthy for the majority of the year because his ability to score the ball inside and also shoot makes him an untouchable piece on the roster. The big man also came very close to winning his first MVP award last season.

Over five years, Embiid has steadily imported his stats across the board and is now officially a top-5 player in the world and challenges Nikola Jokic as the best center in the NBA. The big man has also made 5 straight All-Star teams and will continue to have selections as he gets closer to winning his first NBA championship.

Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker

5-Year Statistics: 26.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Devin Booker has been a blessing to the Phoenix Suns franchise because the young shooting guard has improved almost every year in terms of scoring the ball and also getting used to the defensive attention he faces. Of course, his partnership with Chris Paul boosted the Suns into championship contention.

Outside of a prime James Harden, Devin Booker has to be regarded as the best shooting guard in the NBA. His ability to space the floor, create his own shot, and get to the free-throw line are at elite levels. Perhaps most impressively, we also witnessed Booker drop 70 points in a single game as a member of the Suns, although it happened in 2017.

Portland Trail Blazers – Damian Lillard

5-Year Statistics: 27.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG

A top superstar when healthy, Damian Lillard is the face of the Portland Trail Blazers and has been since his rookie season. A talented point guard who has blossomed into an elite three-point shooter and improved playmaker, Lillard was challenging Stephen Curry for the title as best point guard at some point.

Lillard excels at attacking the rim, finishing inside, and also using his unlimited range. Even if Lillard has not won any major individual awards since his Rookie of the Year award, he has been a stalwart on the All-Star and All-NBA Team and will hopefully continue to be as he returns from his injury in 2023.

Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox

5-Year Statistics: 19.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG

The Sacramento Kings are somewhat of a laughingstock, but they do have a talented point guard in De’Aaron Fox. The speedy point guard is great running the break and attacking the rim, although his outside jumper needs a lot of work. If he can add a jumper, Fox could be the second coming of John Wall.

Fox’s statistics look solid on paper, and he has done a great job leading the offense with the ball in his hands. The Kings need to get back into the playoffs soon or else the criticism of the franchise will continue to flood social media and the media as a whole. Hopefully, Fox can get the team back into the postseason.

San Antonio Spurs – DeMar DeRozan

5-Year Statistics: 21.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG

DeMar DeRozan did not have the playoff success with the San Antonio Spurs that Kawhi Leonard had, but his consistency as a scorer made him the best player on the Spurs over the last 5 years. DeMar was arguably the most efficient mid-range scorer outside of Kevin Durant year after year.

Not to mention, DeMar also improved his all-around game to showcase excellent playmaking ability and solid rebounding. As a 6’6” athlete, DeMar also became a very solid defensive player. By looking at his stats, it is clear that DeRozan has been the best player in San Antonio, even usurping the late run by Dejounte Murray.

Toronto Raptors – Kawhi Leonard

5-Year Statistics: 26.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Even if Kawhi Leonard lasted one season with the Toronto Raptors, he is without a doubt the best player to play for the team over the past five years. Leonard was the driving force behind the team that won the 2019 NBA championship, and even if he did not want to be there at the time, he still got the job done by defeating top teams in the postseason.

Leonard led the charge against the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors all in the same playoff run. Sure, he was fortunate to play against a Warriors side that lost both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson to injury, but Leonard came up big time after time. As great as Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam have been, Leonard changed the Raptors franchise in 2019.

Utah Jazz – Donovan Mitchell

5-Year Statistics: 23.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Nobody knows if Donovan Mitchell will end up getting traded like his former co-star Rudy Gobert did. Even if he does get traded, Mitchell has been the best player in Utah for some while now. The talented shooting guard is a great scorer and has shown the tendency to have big games in the playoffs as well.

Unfortunately, the Utah Jazz squad has come up short multiple times despite surrounding Mitchell and Gobert with solid pieces, including Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, and Bojan Bogdanovic. Mitchell helped place the Jazz on the map and he deserves a ton of credit for that.

Washington Wizards – Bradley Beal

5-Year Statistics: 26.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG

The Washington Wizards have not had much to be happy about since John Wall suffered his injuries and eventually moved away from the team. The Wizards are an average team at best and have been over the past 4 years. The only bright spot has been Bradley Beal, one of the best shooting guards in the NBA. An elite scorer, Beal has improved his game across the board since the 2019 season.

Beal has averaged at least 30 PPG on two occasions over the past five years and has carried the team night after night with his offense. After signing a max contract, it seems that Bradley enjoys being the star of the show while having the ultimate green light. It is a shame to see a player this talented see his talents go to waste without winning, but there is no doubt Beal is one of the best scorers in the league and will continue to be going forward. 

Next

The Most Likely Award Winners For The 2022-23 NBA Season: Kevin Durant Wins The MVP, Jordan Poole Becomes The Sixth Man Of The Year

LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant Career-Highs Comparison

The Most Accomplished Current NBA Players: LeBron James Leads With 14, Stephen Curry Chases Him With 9

25 NBA Legends And Superstars Career-Highs In Points: Wilt Chamberlain Holds The Record With 100 Points, Kobe Bryant Is No. 2 With 81 Points

All-Time Blue Superteam vs. All-Time Red Superteam: Who Would Win A 7-Game Series?