Sunday, October 4, 2015

Who is Number One: Top Five Current NBA Players


If you know me at all, you know I am a huge basketball enthusiast.  I can literally watch basketball anytime of the day or night.  Growing up as an only child in Winston-Salem, playing or watching basketball always brought great joy to my life.  When I had a bad day, I could always count on the game of basketball providing a refuge for me.  As a child and teenager, I watched a lot of men’s college basketball.  During this era, iconic players such as Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Tim Duncan and other great players could be seen on television a few nights per week.  Conversely, during this time, NBA basketball was going through a transition period from the “Michael Jordan” era.  As such, it appeared that college basketball was more popular and therefore television stations broadcast more college games.

Today, however, if you have basic cable services through Time Warner or Direct Television, you can watch NBA games four or five nights per week.  If, on the other hand, you purchase NBA League Pass, you can likely watch games seven days per week.  The growth and exposure of the NBA has influenced me to watch more and more NBA basketball.  That said: I believe I can provide reasonably based opinions on certain topics pertaining to the NBA.  Today’s topic—which is a favorite barbershop discussion point is: Who are the top five current NBA players?  It seems that everyone has an opinion on this topic, so here is mine:

5.) James Harden:

Five years ago, if someone told me that Harden would become a top five NBA player, I would not have believed it.  But, ironically, those words have come to pass and are true today.  Harden is a phenomenal scorer with an adept touch from deep and an uncanny ability to draw fouls at a very high rate.  Last season, but for Stephen Curry’s great season, he would have likely been named the NBA MVP.  This year, as he is just reaching his prime years, I am expecting even more from Harden.  Unfortunately for him, I just do not see him being able to do enough to overcome the stiff competition out west.

4.) Stephen Curry:

Five years ago, there were people who did not think Curry could become a full-time point guard in the NBA.  He was coming off a number of ankle surgeries and some naysayers said he was too small, not explosive and too weak to be an elite point guard.  Five years later, those people look pretty foolish and a few NBA talent scouts have written apologies for their harsh evaluations of Mr. Curry.  Now, he is the defending NBA MVP, and he is the undisputed leader and best player of the NBA Champions—the Golden State Warriors.


3.) Anthony Davis

It is pretty amazing that Anthony Davis is barely 21 years old, yet is considered one of the top few players in the NBA.  Last year, he had one of the more dominant statistical seasons in recent history. He even willed his team to a playoff bid in the stacked western conference.  From everything I have read about him, he seems to be a hard worker and has likely added additional skills to his game for the new season.  I am expecting him to average 25 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists per game this year.  I truly believe that, so long as he is healthy, he has a chance to be one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

2.) Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant experienced adversity for the first time in his professional career last year.  Last season marked the first time he suffered a major injury that required multiple surgeries and caused him to miss most of the season.  Based on the reports I have read, he is back to full health.  Like any great warrior coming out of adversity, I expect him to be dominant.  I expect him to reclaim his spot as the second best player in the NBA.  This is a spot that was unquestionably his prior to the injury-filled season.

1.) Lebron James

Another year has passed, yet Lebron James is still sitting atop of the NBA hierarchy.  Now, I must say that he won’t have this spot much longer.  For those who thought he had lost a half step last season, you are right.  However, what he has lost in athleticism, he has more than made up for with intelligence and an ability to get the most out of his players.  The 2015 NBA Finals provided James with a platform to show people his ability to dominate so many facets of the game.  Without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love—the second and third best players on his team—he willed the Cleveland Cavaliers to two wins against a much better team—The Golden State Warriors.  I am actually predicting that his production across the board will decrease for the third consecutive year, however, I believe his impact will remain constant.  For that reason, he still occupies the number one spot.


Peace

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