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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