[ESPN] NBA Rank Top 100

10. Paul George, LA Clippers (14)
9. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (10)
8. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (9)
7. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (12)
6. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (2)
5. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (6)
4. James Harden, Houston Rockets (3)
3. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (1)
2. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (8)
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (4)

 

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27701496/is-kawhi-giannis-best-basketball-player-world

Spoiler

Windhorst: I was thinking: It's 2019. It's not 2016. It's not 2012. It's a new day in the NBA.

MacMullan: OK.

Windhorst: Who's the player in the NBA?

MacMullan: Kawhi Leonard.

Goldsberry: No, Jackie. That's incorrect. The best player in the NBA is Giannis Antetokounmpo. And it's not particularly close.

There are three reasons why it's Giannis. No. 1, he's a better offensive player than Kawhi. No. 2, he's a better defensive player than Kawhi. And No. 3, he's 24 years old and just won the MVP.

MacMullan: I'll give you that last one. That's all.

OK. So let's take them one by one. Better offensive player. Really? Are we sure? What metric are you using?

Goldsberry: Giannis scored more points. He did it at a more efficient rate and he's the best interior scorer we've had since somebody named Shaquille O'Neal was in his absolute prime. He led the league in paint points and put up more paint points than anybody since Shaq in '03-04 or something in there.

MacMullan: Kirk, you just spent all morning telling me that paint points no longer matter in the NBA. We spent a lot of time talking about how the game is going out to the perimeter. And listen, I think Giannis will be the best player. He's just not there yet because he only shoots 25% from the 3-point line. As you know, Kawhi Leonard, one of your former players, shoots around 33.3%.

But be that as it may, Brian, let's just talk about what happened, shall we, last season in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. OK? The Toronto Raptors are down two-to-nothing. Nick Nurse says: You know what? I've got to do something. I'm going to put Kawhi on Giannis. And Kawhi Leonard then proved why he's a better defensive player than Giannis -- or maybe a better defensive player than anyone.

Would you like to know what happened?

Windhorst: Yes. Remind me.

MacMullan: OK, in 41 matchups --

Windhorst: It was a pretty damn big important moment.

MacMullan: It kind of was.

In 41 matchups, Giannis took 12 shots, scored four points and had an effective field goal percentage (eFG) of 16.7%. Let us just say that swung things the other way. Now as it went along, Giannis got a little better at being guarded by Kawhi, until it came to the all-encompassing Game 6, which is when the best player should shine. I think we agree. Three shots, four points for Kirk's best player in the NBA.

Goldsberry: As you know from your playing days, basketball is a team game. And the Raptors need to be commended for building a superb postseason team that included Marc Gasol -- world champion Marc Gasol. It included Kyle Lowry; Serge Ibaka, a phenomenal defender; Pascal Siakam, a phenomenal defender; Danny Green, a phenomenal defender. Give head coach Nick Nurse and all those dudes credit, they shut down Giannis in that series. Nobody deserves more credit than Kawhi. He is a marvelous on-ball perimeter defender.

The two stats that make me think that Giannis is an even better defender than Kawhi are the following: Out of 38 players who defended at least 300 shots at the rim last season -- that's a lot of the biggest players in league -- he had the best rim-protection score. He's the No. 1 rim-protector of the volume rim-protectors in the NBA. He's a wing!

He also ranked second in defensive rebounding in the NBA ahead of Andre Drummond and just below Joel Embiid. This dude is supposed to be a small forward and he's blocking shots and getting rebounds. Just remember, a stop isn't a stop until somebody gets the board. The board man gets paid, as some say.

MacMullan: But here's what I would say about that -- and I don't want to disparage Giannis because I think he's a terrific player. But Mike Budenholzer was very smart in the way he used Giannis. He used him as an off-the-ball defender who sagged into the lane and protected at the rim, just in the way you've described. I would argue, quite successfully I believe, that that's a little easier to do than to guard some of the best players in the league. By the way, eight of the past nine MVPs in the league have been wing players, where Kawhi's guarding guys on the perimeter.

Now Kawhi said himself during the regular season he was coming back from what we assumed was a serious injury. Who will ever know what went on there? He probably wasn't 100 percent in terms of his pursuit defensively in the regular season. But I'll say it again: For my best player, right now -- not three years from now, because your answer could be correct three years from now -- I want the player when the game is on the line, when my season is on the line, when a trip to the NBA Finals is on the line, I want my guy defending then. And Kawhi did.

Windhorst: Well, when I don't know what the answer is -- and both of you guys have made incredible cases, I'm glad I don't have to adjudicate this myself -- I go to the man who has all the answers. And that's Kevin Pelton. Let's hear what he has to say.

Han: Kevin Pelton! Kevin Pelton! Who's the best player in the NBA?

Pelton: Kawhi Leonard. You know, he adds the most to your chances of winning the championship at this point. You saw him as two-way player in the playoffs last year.

Han: Really? So not Giannis?

Pelton: Giannis is great. I mean, it might be Giannis, but he has to prove it at the highest echelons of the playoffs. He wasn't quite the same player last season in the Eastern Conference finals. Kawhi was the best player in that series, wasn't he?

MacMullan: I'm doing the happy dance over here. Can you see my little happy dance?

What about LeBron?

[...blahblahblah...]

 

Spoiler

100. Derrick White, San Antonio Spurs (NR)
99. Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic (99)
98. Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks (NR)
97. Robert Covington, Minnesota Timberwolves (49)
96. Derrick Favors, New Orleans Pelicans (83)
95. Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn Nets (NR)
94. Justise Winslow, Miami Heat (96)
93. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (NR)
92. Julius Randle, New York Knicks (84)
91. Danilo Gallinari, Oklahoma City Thunder (NR)
90. Otto Porter Jr., Chicago Bulls (38)
89. Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets (NR)
88. Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors (74)
87. Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics (54)
86. Josh Richardson, Philadelphia 76ers (68)
85. Paul Millsap, Denver Nuggets (61)
84. Ricky Rubio, Phoenix Suns (52)
83. Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers (75)
82. P.J. Tucker, Houston Rockets (NR)
81. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat (NR)
80. Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks (30)
79. Patrick Beverley, LA Clippers (NR)
78. Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets (42)
77. Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers (70)
76. Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets (76)
75. Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder (47)
74. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings (NR)
73. J.J. Redick, New Orleans Pelicans (65)
72. Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers (NR)
71. Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs (64)
70. Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets (43)
69. Marvin Bagley III, Sacramento Kings (NR)
68. Lonzo Ball, New Orleans Pelicans (62)
67. Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks (56)
66. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns (NR)
65. Gordon Hayward, Boston Celtics (40)
64. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (NR)
63. Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers (92)
62. Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz (53)
61. Marc Gasol, Toronto Raptors (51)
60. Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets (NR)
59. Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings (NR)
58. Lou Williams, LA Clippers (72)
57. Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers (89)
56. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans (55)
55. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls (NR)
54. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (NR)
53. Clint Capela, Houston Rockets (36)
52. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons (45)
51. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (37)
50. Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls (66)
49. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors (18)
48. Bojan Bogdanovic, Utah Jazz (NR)
47. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks (NR)
46. DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs (39)
45. Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic (41)
44. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers (48)
43. Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers (24)
42. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans (NR)
41. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs (28)
40. Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic (NR)
39. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (21)
38. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (16)
37. Al Horford, Philadelphia 76ers (34)
36. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks (35)
35. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (25)
34. Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks (59)
33. Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers (15)
32. Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder (11)
31. Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans (27)
30. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (31)
29. Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers (60)
28. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks (NR)
27. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets (46)
26. D'Angelo Russell, Golden State Warriors (NR)
25. De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings (NR)
24. Mike Conley, Utah Jazz (44)
23. Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons (33)
22. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (NR)
21. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat (13)
20. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz (22)
19. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards (29)
18. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (17)
17. Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics (26)
16. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks (63)
15. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers (19)
14. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz (23)
13. CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers (30)
12. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets (7)
11. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets (20)
10. Paul George, LA Clippers (14)
9. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (10)
8. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (9)
7. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (12)
6. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (2)
5. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (6)
4. James Harden, Houston Rockets (3)
3. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (1)
2. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (8)
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (4)

____________________________________________________________

28. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks (NR)
47. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks (NR)

17. Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics (26)
35. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (25)
51. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (37)
65. Gordon Hayward, Boston Celtics (40)
87. Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics (54)

11. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets (20)
60. Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets (NR)
76. Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets (76)
89. Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets (NR)
95. Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn Nets (NR)

50. Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls (66)
55. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls (NR)
90. Otto Porter Jr., Chicago Bulls (38)

43. Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers (24)

16. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks (63)
34. Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks (59)

7. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (12)
27. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets (46)
70. Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets (43)
85. Paul Millsap, Denver Nuggets (61)

23. Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons (33)
52. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons (45)

6. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (2)
26. D'Angelo Russell, Golden State Warriors (NR)
38. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (16)
49. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors (18)

4. James Harden, Houston Rockets (3)
12. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets (7)
53. Clint Capela, Houston Rockets (36)
78. Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets (42)
82. P.J. Tucker, Houston Rockets (NR)

33. Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers (15)
44. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers (48)
57. Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers (89)
63. Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers (92)

2. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers (8)
10. Paul George, LA Clippers (14)
58. Lou Williams, LA Clippers (72)
72. Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers (NR)
79. Patrick Beverley, LA Clippers (NR)

3. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (1)
5. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (6)
77. Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers (70)

54. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (NR)
93. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (NR)

21. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat (13)
81. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat (NR)
94. Justise Winslow, Miami Heat (96)

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (4)
36. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks (35)
67. Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks (56)
80. Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks (30)

18. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (17)
97. Robert Covington, Minnesota Timberwolves (49)

31. Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans (27)
42. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans (NR)
56. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans (55)
68. Lonzo Ball, New Orleans Pelicans (62)
73. J.J. Redick, New Orleans Pelicans (65)
96. Derrick Favors, New Orleans Pelicans (83)

92. Julius Randle, New York Knicks (84)
98. Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks (NR)

32. Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder (11)
64. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (NR)
75. Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder (47)
91. Danilo Gallinari, Oklahoma City Thunder (NR)

40. Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic (NR)
45. Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic (41)
99. Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic (99)

8. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (9)
15. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers (19)
29. Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers (60)
37. Al Horford, Philadelphia 76ers (34)
86. Josh Richardson, Philadelphia 76ers (68)

30. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (31)
66. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns (NR)
84. Ricky Rubio, Phoenix Suns (52)

9. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (10)
13. CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers (30)
83. Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers (75)

25. De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings (NR)
59. Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings (NR)
69. Marvin Bagley III, Sacramento Kings (NR)
74. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings (NR)

41. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs (28)
46. DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs (39)
71. Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs (64)
100. Derrick White, San Antonio Spurs (NR)

22. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (NR)
39. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (21)
61. Marc Gasol, Toronto Raptors (51)
88. Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors (74)

14. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz (23)
20. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz (22)
24. Mike Conley, Utah Jazz (44)
48. Bojan Bogdanovic, Utah Jazz (NR)
62. Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz (53)

19. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards (29)

 

Don’t have insider but just heard their top 10:

1. LeBron
2. AD
3. Giannis
4. Luka
5. Kawhi
6. Durant
7. Dame
8. Curry
9. Harden
10. Jokic