You are on page 1of 3

Will Hill 3/25/19

English 11 Extended Learning

Top 10 NBA Players


The NBA is loaded with talent from the best player on each team to the last guy on the bench. I'm going
to focus on the guys all the way at the top and I'll list who, in my opinion, are the top 10 players in the
league.

1) LeBron James
LeBron is arguably the greatest player ever and despite some obvious signs of him slowing down this
year, he is still the best player in the league. He is the most physically gifted player ever at 6'8 and 260
pounds with lightning quick speed and a ridiculous vertical. he can score easily by powering through
other players but also has developed a reliable jumpshot over the years. His best skill on the court is his
passing. He does a tremendous job of getting his teammates involved and makes passes that most
players are not capable of. LeBron plays great defense and has a tendency for getting big blocks on
opponents. At 34 years old, age may finally be catching up to James, but he still had an amazing season
and is still the best player in the league for now.

2) Kevin Durant
Although Durant is easily the most hated player in the league, there is no denying his talent as a scorer
and one of the most unstoppable offensive players ever. Durant is a legit 7-foot guard and his shot is
unblockable. He is one of the best shooters in the league and can always raise up above his defender to
knock his shot down. His length and agility make his crossover very effective and he uses this move to
create space to drive to the basket. He is extremely difficult to stop once at the rim due to his height and
length. Durant is a tremendous interior defender as well and is one of the best shot blockers in the
league. Durant is yet to show that he can lead a team to a championship, and this may be the only thing
holding him back from being the best player in the league.

3) Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis truly lives up to his nickname, the Greek Freak. At 6'11 with a 7'3 wingspan along with a
muscular 245-pound frame, Giannis is nearly unstoppable once he gets a full head of steam. He is a
relentless inside finisher who dunks what seems like every time he gets near the basket. He draws a ton
of fouls and has improved a lot at knocking down his free throws, shooting 73 percent this year. He is
one of the best rebounders in the league and often goes straight to the basket for a dunk after getting a
rebound. Since Giannis draws a ton of attention from opposing defenses, his teammates are often open,
and he does an excellent job finding them. Giannis is also an excellent defender who gives his full effort
every play. At just 24 years old, the sky is the limit for Giannis and many people see him taking over as
the best player in the near future.

4) Steph Curry
Despite being one of the least physically-intimidating players in the league, Curry is one of most skilled.
He is unquestionably the best shooter ever and has changed the way basketball is played. As soon as
Curry crosses half court, he is a threat to shoot and there has never been a player like him. He is equally
deadly shooting off the catch as he is off the dribble. He can make any shot from anywhere on the court
and uses a variety of dribble moves to create space for himself. He also uses his incredible handle to
help create driving lanes to the basket. Since he is not the most athletic player, Curry relies more on
finesse for finishing at the basket and he is excellent at finding angles to finish around big men trying to
protect the basket. Curry is also an excellent passer and always makes the right play within the Warriors
ball movement-oriented system.

5) Kawhi Leonard
People didn't know what to expect from Kawhi this year, he was coming off an injury and just traded to
a new team. He quickly silenced all the doubters and has had his best season yet. Known as the best on
ball defender in the league, Leonard has maintained that label this year. He takes the most difficult
defensive assignment each night and locks them down almost every night. Offensively, he is performing
better than ever before. Kawhi has a simple game but it is extremely effective. Most of his points come
from mid-range shots and post-ups, but he can also drive in and hit the 3 at an excellent percentage.
Kawhi is often called the best two-way player in the game, and he has solidified that claim with his
offensive and defensive play this year.

6) James Harden
Coming off an MVP season, Harden may have an even better case to win this year. He is a scoring
machine, averaging 36.4 points per game, good enough for the 6th highest scoring average of all time.
There have been 18 50-point games in the NBA this year, and Harden has 8 of them. He gets to the free
throw line at a historic rate and knocks almost all his free throws down. He has mastered the step-back
and creates a ton of space using this move. He is a master at scoring wherever he wants seems to always
hit timely shots as well. There are questions if this style will translate to success in the playoffs, but it
certainly has led to a lot of winning so far this regular season.

7) Anthony Davis
It's been a strange season for AD, since he requested a trade from his long-time home, New Orleans. He
hasn't played as much recently due to the trade request, but when he plays, there is no denying he is
the best big man in the league. He doesn't have one significant strength but does everything really well.
He can defend any position and is an excellent shot blocker. He can handle the ball, shoot, and finish
around the rim extremely well. It'll be interesting to see which team gets Davis this offseason and how
his talents will translate to the team's success.

8) Paul George
PG is having a career year, and everyone is happy to see it. George suffered one of the worst injuries in
NBA history 4 years ago and each year since returning he has looked better and better. This year,
however, he has taken it to a new level. He is a lethal scorer, whether he is shooting threes or creating a
lane to the basket for himself off a screen. He has had many memorable performances this year, hitting
several clutch shots to win games. His defense is back to its top form like it was before the injury.
George's shot making ability at 6'9 is extremely difficult to stop and he has shown how hard he is to stop
all season long.

9) Joel Embiid
Embiid is having his best season in his early career and he is making his case to be the best big guy in the
league, and one of the best ever. Embiid is a deadly post scorer at 7'2, he uses multiple fakes and moves
to create angles and space for him to get off his shots. Because of his towering size, he draws a ton of
fouls when he's down low and he converts many of his attempts at the free throw line. Embiid may be
just as good on defense as he is on offense. He blocks a ton of shots and grabs almost every rebound. He
has a knack for the big play and always gets the Philly crowd energized. An improving part of Embiid's
game is his three-pointer. It is not a strength yet, but he is capable of getting hot from deep at any time.
He is only going to continue to get better in years to come.

10) Kyrie Irving


Like many players on this list, Kyrie is having his best season so far. He has always been a great scorer,
but this year he has established himself as one of the best passers in the league as well. Kyrie has
arguable the best ball-handling skills of all time and he uses these handles to create space and get
wherever he wants to on the court. He is one of the best finishers at the rim in the league too, he knows
how to finish off of any part of the backboard at any angle with either hand. Irving has also had an
excellent year shooting the three and is always a threat to pull up and hit a shot. His team is currently
struggling and it'll be interesting if he can help right the ship by playoff time.

You might also like