Offensive players in today’s NBA have more power than ever. With limited defensive resistance and the surprisingly soft refereeing in the game, the best offensive players are unstoppable right now.
But there are levels. Some superstar players cannot be defended by any single defender and need an entire defensive scheme to slow them down. By ranking the game’s greatest offensive players, here are the 10 most unguardable players in the NBA right now.
10. Devin Booker
2020-20201 Statistics: 26.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 35.8% 3-PT FG
Devin Booker might be one of the ten best players in the world right now. He has blossomed into a superstar on the offensive end of the floor, and he is doing it consistently.
Booker has the Phoenix Suns third in the Western Conference, with a chance to legitimately make the Western Conference Finals this season if Chris Paul keeps healthy.
9. Kawhi Leonard
2020-20201 Statistics: 26.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 39.5% 3-PT FG
Kawhi Leonard is mainly known for his defensive efforts, as he is one of the best to ever do it on that end. But Leonard is a tremendous scorer and one of the most unguardable players in the league.
Despite playing with a go-to scorer in Paul George, who is averaging 23.0 PPG, Leonard is the best scorer on the team. His size and shooting make him an automatic bucket getter at any time and he easily makes this list.
8. Luka Doncic
2020-20201 Statistics: 28.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 36.6% 3-PT FG
Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the world and is completely unguardable. Doncic had an NBA-ready body in his rookie season, and he is only getting stronger. Other than that, Doncic has world-class skills.
Doncic can shoot from the perimeter, drive to the basket, and kick it out for easy buckets when double-teamed. Luka cannot be handled by a single player and it needs a complete team defensive effort to slow him down.
7. LeBron James
2020-20201 Statistics: 25.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 36.8% 3-PT FG
LeBron James, despite being 36 years old, is one of the most unstoppable players in the NBA. Of course, his size and athleticism are off the charts and have been since he entered the league.
But his shooting has vastly improved and he cannot be handled when he wants to score or assist the ball. He is stronger and faster than any defender he comes up against, and that will never change.
6. Damian Lillard
2020-20201 Statistics: 28.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 7.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 37.8% 3-PT FG
One of the best point guards in the last decade, Damian Lillard is a sharpshooter of the highest order. He is averaging 28.7 PPG while shooting 37.8% from three, meaning he is automatic when he gets a single look at the basket.
Lillard is explosive when he attacks the rim and needs a double team at all times. Lillard can score from everywhere, and his free throw shooting (92.7%) means it’s also deadly to foul him.
5. Kyrie Irving
2020-20201 Statistics: 27.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 39.8% 3-PT FG
Kyrie Irving is a monster at scoring the ball, and his dribbling is the major reason why. His comparisons to Allen Iverson are well documented because defenders do not stand a chance.
Irving has also been efficient from three this season, nailing almost 40% of his long-range shots. Despite playing with Kevin Durant (28.1 PPG) and James Harden (25.2 PPG), Irving has been the most consistent scorer on the Brooklyn Nets this season.
4. Zion Williamson
2020-20201 Statistics: 26.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Zion Williamson is completely unstoppable inside the paint. He weighs over 280 lbs, but he is one of the most explosive NBA players of all time. Williamson has catapulted himself into an All-Star in only his second season, and he will be the face of the NBA very soon.
As Josh Hart mentioned in his Twitter post, Zion is clearly one of the most unguardable players in the world. The scary thing? He is only getting better and a consistent jumper is next on his radar.
3. Stephen Curry
2020-20201 Statistics: 30.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 41.6% 3-PT FG
Stephen Curry might be the most impactful point guard in NBA history. The greatest shooter of all time, the 3-time NBA champion cannot be stopped in today’s NBA. In an era with spacing and protection for the shooter, Curry can score whenever he wants.
Stephen Curry is averaging over 30 PPG for the second time in his career, even though he is part of a very average Warriors squad that is missing Klay Thompson. Still, Curry is unguardable at the point guard position.
2. James Harden
2020-20201 Statistics: 25.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 10.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 36.1% 3-PT FG
James Harden is one of the game’s best scorers, and many pundits are arguing for him over the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Harden, when he has the ball, is that lethal.
Harden’s maturation as a player has resulted in him being the smartest offensive player in the league, who can score at the rim or assist anytime he wants. Harden is leading the NBA in assists per game and just misses out at the top spot on this list.
1. Kevin Durant
2020-20201 Statistics: 28.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 5.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 43.7% 3-PT FG
Kevin Durant is still the game’s most unstoppable player. As great as James Harden and Stephen Curry are, neither is 6’11” and have the ability to dominate a game physically like Durant. Averaging 28.1 PPG, he is back to his best.
The best part of Durant’s game is his efficiency. He is a superstar shot maker, but he does it at an alarming rate. He is nailing over 43% of his threes, 52.8% of his field goals, and 87.7% of his foul shots. Durant is the most unguardable player in the world because he has no weakness.
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