Top 5 NBA Superstars at Every Position: Final Regular-Season Edition
By this portion of the NBA calendar, the cream is usually rising to the top. But while Stephen Curry, LeBron James and other big names continue to thrive, who has joined them?
Since the last edition of these rankings, we've seen plenty of change. Notable players have succumbed to injuries, young up-and-comers (such as Hassan Whiteside and Giannis Antetokounmpo) have filled new roles and the overall landscape has shifted. It's good news for some, but not all.
As always, we're looking at the players who have made the biggest on-court impacts while establishing themselves as household names—or at least getting on track to do so in the near future.
How that impact is achieved is ultimately irrelevant. An offensive stud can be just as valuable as a defensive anchor, and some mixture of the two diametric opposites is viable as well. Basically, be the best at basketball, and you'll be rewarded here.
Also note that for the first time, we're replacing player efficiency rating (PER) with total points added (TPA) in each star's statistical line. The new metric estimates how many more points someone has contributed than an average player would, and it has the added benefit of factoring in both playing time and per-possession effectiveness. A full explanation can be found throughout this article.
Injured Players
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Before we dive into the rankings, it's worth noting that we will not consider injured players for any of the featured spots or list them as honorable mentions.
If a player is expected to be out of action for a prolonged period or has missed too much time in the last few weeks, he's automatically ineligible for the remainder of this slideshow.
As a result, Eric Bledsoe, Chris Bosh, Mike Conley, Jae Crowder, Anthony Davis, Danilo Gallinari, Marc Gasol, Blake Griffin, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Andre Iguodala, Nerlens Noel, Chandler Parsons and Nikola Vucevic will not appear, although they would make the cut—or at least be considered—if the injury imp didn't dictate otherwise.
Point Guard No. 5: John Wall (Previous Ranking: Honorable Mentions)
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Team: Washington Wizards
Age: 25
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 20.2 points, 10.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 0.7 blocks, 188.63 TPA
Point guard is impossibly deep this year. Not even Damian Lillard's high-scoring exploits, Isaiah Thomas' continued offensive excellence or Kemba Walker's hot run with the Charlotte Hornets can get credit here, as we only have five slots for the position.
During the stretch run, it's become unfathomable to snub John Wall.
While carrying the Washington Wizards back into the playoff picture, he's played so well that he's raised his season-long numbers into 20/10 territory. Since the beginning of March, the floor general has averaged 20.5 points, 11.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds.
Wall has always showcased an ability to find open teammates. He's an unabashed master of attacking the rim and using the eyes in the back of his head to see shooters freeing themselves on the perimeter. Now, he's coupling that with even more scoring ability, and he's become an unstoppable force in the nation's capital.
According to NBA.com's SportVU data, Wall has possessed the ball for 7.7 minutes per game this season, leaving him behind only Lillard, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Walker. In March, that number is up to 8.7, and the results have more than justified the increased responsibility.
Honorable Mentions: Damian Lillard, Isaiah Thomas, Kemba Walker
Point Guard No. 4: Kyle Lowry (Previous Ranking: No. 3)
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Team: Toronto Raptors
Age: 30
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 21.7 points, 6.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 0.4 blocks, 378.68 TPA
How much has Kyle Lowry's physique helped him out?
In previous seasons, he's gotten off to a torrid start before the wear and tear of the NBA calendar took its toll. This year, he hasn't slowed down one iota. In fact, he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on March 21—the second time he's earned the award since the All-Star break.
Ever since representing the Toronto Raptors in front of their home fans during the midseason festivities, Lowry has dominated the opposition on both ends of the floor. Beginning with a strong individual showing during a Feb. 19 loss to the Chicago Bulls, he's averaged 23.8 points, 7.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from beyond the arc.
That, in a nutshell, tells you everything you need to know about his stellar campaign—one that should see him receive serious consideration for Most Improved Player despite already playing at a high level in 2014-15.
Point Guard No. 3: Chris Paul (Previous Ranking: No. 4)
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Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 30
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 19.9 points, 9.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 0.2 blocks, 337.59 TPA
As Micah Adams explained for ESPN Stats & Information, there's a rather large discrepancy between what the Los Angeles Clippers do with and without Chris Paul:
"Blake Griffin has not played since Christmas. In the 39 games the Los Angeles Clippers have played since then, Chris Paul's on-court presence is the difference between the Clippers having the best offense in the NBA and the worst offense in the NBA.
Literally.
With Paul on the floor since Dec. 26, the Clippers are averaging 113.0 points per 100 possessions, which would tie for first with the Golden State Warriors over that span. In the nearly 600 minutes that Paul has been off the court over that span, the Clippers' offense has managed 97.2 points per 100 possessions, which would rank last.
"
That shouldn't be particularly surprising.
Paul does everything for the LAC offense, and that's reflected in a number of his advanced statistics. The point guard leads the league in assist percentage, generating dimes on 51.4 percent of the shots his teammates make while he's on the floor. He's also boasting a 27.1 usage rate while turning the ball over on just 13.5 percent of his possessions.
Prior to this campaign, only two individual seasons had been recorded in which a player posted an assist percentage over 50 and a usage rate over 25: Paul in 2007-08, and Paul in 2008-09.
This guy is pretty decent at his craft.
Point Guard No. 2: Russell Westbrook (Previous Ranking: No. 2)
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Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Age: 27
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 23.7 points, 10.4 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 0.3 blocks, 513.08 TPA
Despite his crunch-time woes with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook has been an imposing force whenever he's on the floor. Without him, the Thunder wouldn't be keeping games close enough for those clutch situations to matter.
During March, Westbrook has averaged 20.8 points, 10.8 assists and 8.4 rebounds while asserting himself as the league's foremost triple-double threat.
In the span of just 13 games, the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets have all fallen victim to a trip-dub performance. And that's saying nothing of the near-misses or the 20 points, 15 assists and 13 boards he recorded against the Sacramento Kings to close out February.
"He's a very, very rare guy, because in my opinion, if he never took a shot, he could still dominate a game," OKC head coach Billy Donovan said earlier in the year, per ESPN.com's Royce Young. "He can rebound, he can assist it, he can defend. He can do anything."
If it weren't for the league's No. 1 point guard, that rarity would look even more special. Westbrook should be the prohibitive favorite to become the MVP runner-up once the regular season draws to a close, and he's putting up numbers that boggle the mind on a consistent basis.
Point Guard No. 1: Stephen Curry (Previous Ranking: No. 1)
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Team: Golden State Warriors
Age: 28
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 30.0 points, 6.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 0.2 blocks, 610.22 TPA
Russell Westbrook's TPA would place him at No. 45 since 1973-74 if the regular season suddenly ended before games were played on March 28. But that still pales in comparison to what Stephen Curry is doing, seeing as his 610.22 TPA would show up at No. 16.
The Golden State Warriors point guard continues to throw up offensive numbers that should dwarf anything produced during the modern era of NBA basketball—yes, Michael Jordan included.
According to the offensive portion of TPA, he's already produced 615.14 points above average on the scoring end, giving him the fourth-highest score since 1973-74:
- 1987-88 Michael Jordan, 645.62 offensive points added (OPA)
- 1988-89 Michael Jordan, 644.64
- 1989-90 Michael Jordan, 624.78
- 2015-16 Stephen Curry, 615.14
- 2002-03 Tracy McGrady, 561.54
If Curry continues at his current pace and plays in each of the Warriors' final nine games, he'll finish with an OPA of 694.23.
In other words, we're still watching the best offensive season of the modern era. Frankly, it's not even that close.
Shooting Guard No. 5: Dwyane Wade (Previous Ranking: No. 4)
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Team: Miami Heat
Age: 34
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 19.0 points, 4.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks, 27.44 TPA
As Shandel Richardson reported for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Dwyane Wade's offseason conditioning has allowed him to stay far healthier during the 2015-16 campaign:
"Trimming the amount of games missed was a priority for Wade in the offseason. Being in the best shape possible was the emphasis of his summer workouts.
"I just wanted to come in and be able to be available most nights," Wade said. "I had a goal in my mind of how many games I wanted to play. Hopefully, I'll reach it by the end of the season."
"
Thus far, the Miami Heat have played 72 games. Wade has been on the floor for all but six of them. Throughout the entire roster, only Justise Winslow has made more appearances, and Wade is 14 years his senior.
But the conditioning hasn't just led to extra appearances for the future Hall of Famer. He's also looked far more spry on the defensive end, taking fewer possessions off and asserting himself more as a help defender.
Admittedly, Wade remains a mere shadow of his old self. He's no longer able to ferociously dunk whenever he feels like it, he's not serving as a shutdown stopper and he often has to take a backseat role to a teammate who's gaining steam. But he's managed to make the most of his savvy veteran tricks this season and stave off the advances of Father Time as best he can.
Honorable Mentions: C.J. McCollum, Khris Middleton, Victor Oladipo
Shooting Guard No. 4: DeMar DeRozan (Previous Ranking: No. 3)
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Team: Toronto Raptors
Age: 26
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 23.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks, 64.73 TPA
DeMar DeRozan has turned into a free-throw-shooting machine.
During March, he's scored 26 points per appearance, and those have come in remarkably efficient fashion. Though he's shooting just 46.9 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc, he's making 10.7 trips to the charity stripe per game and connecting at an 87.1 percent clip. That all adds up to 58.9 true shooting percentage, which is nothing to sniff at.
The Toronto Raptors 2-guard has displayed a penchant for inducing whistles throughout the season, and he's taken it to a bit of an extreme in March. But on the year as a whole, he's still taking 8.6 free-throw attempts per game, which leaves him behind only James Harden and DeMarcus Cousins among all qualified players.
DeRozan's game still isn't a perfect fit for today's NBA: He doesn't shoot nearly well enough to fit into the three-point revolution.
But by becoming even more aggressive and picking his spots wisely, he's managed to turn into one of the better players at his position, albeit in unorthodox fashion.
Shooting Guard No. 3: Jimmy Butler (Previous Ranking: Injured)
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Team: Chicago Bulls
Age: 26
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 21.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, 161.14 TPA
"You see the way I've been playing lately," Jimmy Butler recently explained to reporters. "It's saddening. It's piss-poor. It's terrible. My teammates won't say it, my coaches won't say it, but I'm a realist. If I continue to play like this I'm hurting this team."
He's not wrong.
Since re-entering the lineup on March 14 against the Toronto Raptors, Butler has averaged just 14.3 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 39.2 percent from the field and 9.1 percent from three-point territory. There's no missing digit in that last number.
Something remains wrong. Even if his hyperextended knee has healed, Butler's mindset hasn't caught up. He's in a brutal cycle right now where he needs to gain confidence to play well, but he needs to play well in order to gain confidence.
Still, we can't drop Butler too far down the rankings. He'd established himself as one of the league's two best shooting guards before suffering his injury against the Denver Nuggets just prior to the All-Star break, and this is only a small stretch of struggles.
Shooting Guard No. 2: Klay Thompson (Previous Ranking: No. 2)
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Team: Golden State Warriors
Age: 26
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 22.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, 38.97 TPA
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News recently wrote that the Stephen Curry-Klay Thompson pairing has no precedent and "is transitioning into something past normal NBA dimensions," asking a series of rhetorical questions:
"When has a presumed two-time MVP like Curry ever had a teammate who duplicated and amplified his own most unique skill as much as Thompson is doing now?
When has a player as dominant as Curry ever deferred his own most dominant talent (shooting) so often by setting up the shooting of a teammate?
"
The Golden State Warriors wouldn't still be hunting 73 if Thompson hadn't caught fire in March. Highlighted by his back-to-back 40-point games against the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers, he's averaged 25.9 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 49.7 percent on his three-point attempts.
All of a sudden, it's not just Curry who's on a historic trajectory.
Heading into the Warriors' Tuesday night showdown with the Washington Wizards, Thompson has made 253 triples this season. That already places him at eighth on the single-season leaderboard, trailing only four different individuals—Curry (four times), Ray Allen, Dennis Scott and George McCloud (the latter two made their marks in 1995-96 while playing with a shortened arc).
Thompson's 3.6 treys per game would total out to around 285 if he plays in each of the final nine contests. That would leave him alone in third, trailing only Curry's 2014-15 and current campaigns.
However, the 2-guard has made 4.9 threes per game in March. If he continues at that pace, he'll finish at 297. And if that's the case, this year's Splash Brothers will finish in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the all-time leaderboard.
Shooting Guard No. 1: James Harden (Previous Ranking: No. 1)
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Team: Houston Rockets
Age: 26
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 28.6 points, 7.5 assists, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, 382.13 TPA
There's no other option.
Every other player at this position has struggled on one end of the court, failed to exhibit superstar ability or suffered a lengthy injury at some point during the 2015-16 campaign. James Harden has indeed struggled on defense, but his incredible offensive ability has been more than enough to make up for the detrimental aspects of his game.
Throughout NBA history, only six different qualified players have averaged at least 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds:
- Larry Bird
- John Havlicek
- LeBron James (three times)
- Michael Jordan
- Oscar Robertson (eight times)
- Russell Westbrook
Not only is Harden on pace to join that exclusive club, but he's doing so while posting a 59.5 true shooting percentage—the product of his foul-drawing tendencies and ability to connect from the charity stripe.
Of the 15 previous individual seasons in the club, only 1988-89 Michael Jordan, 1986-87 Larry Bird and 2009-10 LeBron James managed to score more efficiently.
Small Forward No. 5: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Previous Ranking: No. 5)
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Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Age: 21
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 16.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.2 steals, 99.26 TPA
Even though the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks held Giannis Antetokounmpo in check during back-to-back outings near the end of March, he's been nothing short of stellar since head coach Jason Kidd decided to turn him into a primary ball-handler and playmaker. Beginning with his triple-double against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 22, he's averaged 18.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.7 steals while shooting 51 percent from the field.
The scariest part is that those numbers feel wholly sustainable now that he's attacking opposing floor generals and learning how to use his size advantageously: If Antetokounmpo finds himself in a one-on-one situation, he can call his own number. If help comes, he's now more than capable of finding the open man and creating an easy bucket for someone else.
Nobody has averaged at least 18 points, eight boards and seven assists this season, as Antetokounmpo has since late February. In fact, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, John Havlicek, Grant Hill, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Fat Lever and Oscar Robertson are the only men to ever hit such numbers for a full year.
If the Milwaukee Bucks keep this 21-year-old in the same role next season, that list could swell to include a 10th member.
Honorable Mentions: Carmelo Anthony, Nicolas Batum, Gordon Hayward
Small Forward No. 4: Paul George (Previous Ranking: No. 4)
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Team: Indiana Pacers
Age: 25
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.4 blocks, 228.34 TPA
"Over the team's past seven games on the second night of a back-to-back, [Paul] George has averaged 30 points," Candace Buckner wrote for IndyStar.com after Paul George's heroics in a March 5 victory over the Washington Wizards. "In this latest effort, George was just as 'spectacular,' as [Pacers head coach Frank] Vogel described him, playing 39 minutes and making 13 of 22 shots, including four of seven from beyond the three-point arc."
The pattern didn't continue against the Atlanta Hawks on March 13, as George shot just 3-of-15 during the Indiana Pacers' blowout loss. But it resumed March 27, when the dynamic forward helped knock off the Houston Rockets by completing a back-to-back with 25 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 8-of-17 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
When the Pacers have needed George this season, he's usually been able to deliver. This offense goes as he goes, and that's typically a good thing for a player who's putting up gaudy scoring figures while knocking down perimeter jumpers and attacking the rim with aplomb.
Whether George has played small forward or power forward this year—Basketball-Reference.com now has 52 percent of his minutes coming at the 3—he's remained a positive presence.
Small Forward No. 3: Kawhi Leonard (Previous Ranking: No. 3)
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Team: San Antonio Spurs
Age: 24
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 21.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.9 blocks, 344.31 TPA
If you still think Kawhi Leonard is merely a system player, please go watch him play a little more often. Even Kevin Durant, who infamously tweeted such sentiments after the 2014 NBA Finals, has come around, though he won't retract the original statements. Per ESPN.com's Royce Young:
"I know you guys like to throw that term around, but he's just grown so much as a player. I have to be locked in every play. He can shoot the midrange, he can post up, he can hit the 3, he can dribble and he's just grown so much. Defensively, probably one of the best guys in the league. It's fun when you get that matchup at the small forward. There are so many great guys, but he's one of the guys in that top tier.
"
Take a gander at the top 10 scores in ESPN.com's offensive and defensive real plus/minuses (ORPM and DRPM), then tell me if you see the same name show up twice:
| 1 | Stephen Curry | Andrew Bogut |
| 2 | Russell Westbrook | Tim Duncan |
| 3 | Chris Paul | DeAndre Jordan |
| 4 | James Harden | Draymond Green |
| 5 | Kyle Lowry | Ian Mahinmi |
| 6 | LeBron James | Kawhi Leonard |
| 7 | Kevin Durant | Rudy Gobert |
| 8 | Damian Lillard | Kevin Garnett |
| 9 | Kawhi Leonard | Bismack Biyombo |
| 10 | Reggie Jackson | Andre Drummond |
Hey there, Leonard.
There should no longer be any doubt he's become the league's premier two-way player, even if he's still not quite on the same offensive level as the two best small forwards.
Small Forward No. 2: Kevin Durant (Previous Ranking: No. 1)
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Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Age: 27
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 27.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks, 0.9 steals, 372.17 TPA
By dropping a 31-spot in a big win over the San Antonio Spurs on March 26, Kevin Durant extended his streak of 20-point games to a mind-numbing 58 contests. If you don't think he'll ever stop scoring so many points, I really don't blame you.
In March, there's been no sign of an offensive decline. Durant has averaged 27.8 points, and he's done so with his trademark levels of efficiency. The Oklahoma City Thunder small forward has knocked down 52.3 percent of his field-goal attempts, 37.2 percent of his triples and 87.6 percent of his free-throw tries.
Sure, he's short of the 50/40/90 club, but not by a substantial amount.
Durant remains one of the NBA's pre-eminent offensive forces, and it's only the rest of his game that holds him back. He's a strong distributor, but he's not on the same level as the No. 1 player at his position. Ditto for defense, as he's focused so much of his energy on the scoring end that he doesn't have the ability to make a difference-making impact on the point-preventing side.
Small Forward No. 1: LeBron James (Previous Ranking: No. 2)
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Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 31
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 25.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks, 410.73 TPA
You can question LeBron James' subtweeting habits. You can wonder whether he's stirring up trouble by mentioning the idea of playing with some of his closest friends, who just so happen to be superstars currently rostered by other squads. You can think about the nature of his off-court leadership and wonder if he's starting to mess up the structure of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But you can't deny the on-court impact he has on a daily basis.
When James is on the bench, Cleveland is a helpless squad that opponents outscore by 4.3 points during the average 100 possessions. When he plays, that trend reverses and the Cavaliers post a net rating of 11.
When Kevin Love is on the floor, the net rating jumps by 5.6 points per 100 possessions. Tristan Thompson's presence leads to a boost of 4.1. With Kyrie Irving playing, it only goes up by 1.3. J.R. Smith's minutes actually lead to a lower net rating.
Essentially, the presence of this four-time MVP morphs the Cavs from the Milwaukee Bucks (minus-4.3 net rating on the season) into the Golden State Warriors (11.1 net rating this year). For better or for worse—though almost always for better—this is James' team. There's no doubt about that.
Power Forward No. 5: Derrick Favors (Previous Ranking: Honorable Mentions)
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Team: Utah Jazz
Age: 24
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.2 steals, 93.16 TPA
Derrick Favors doesn't dominate any one facet of the game, but he's an above-average contributor in almost all of them. He can serve as a go-to scorer for a few possessions, pass out of double-teams, play stellar interior defense and hit a few mid-range jumpers to space out the defense.
Even though the Utah Jazz remain below .500 and are struggling to cement a playoff spot in the Western Conference, it's tough to pin the blame on Favors. Throughout March, he's been a steady force, averaging 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 49.5 percent from the field.
"When he wants to go out and do something, when he's being aggressive, he can do pretty much anything," rookie teammate Trey Lyles told CBS Sports' James Herbert in early March. "If he wants to dunk on you, he'll dunk on you. If he wants to shoot a jumper, he'll make it. Anything, when he's being aggressive, he can pretty much do."
It's that versatility that makes this 24-year-old so special, even if he's not going to serve as a stretch 4 at any point in the near future.
Oh, and he's only trending up.
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Love, Jabari Parker, Marvin Williams
Power Forward No. 4: Dirk Nowitzki (Previous Ranking: No. 5)
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Team: Dallas Mavericks
Age: 37
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 blocks, 0.6 steals, 57.18 TPA
Isn't Dirk Nowitzki supposed to be slowing down?
Many 37-year-olds would be struggling to keep up as the season draws to its conclusion. Plenty of them would have retired years ago. But not this German 7-footer, who's posted 23.7 points per game in March while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.
The Dallas Mavericks are beginning to fall apart, but it's largely due to the steady stream of injuries they've been forced to endure and their defensive woes. Without Chandler Parsons, they're in big trouble. With Deron Williams missing time, they don't have as many reliable guards. And it's not like head coach Rick Carlisle was handed a wealth of talent to work with at the beginning of the season.
But Nowitzki has been the unstoppable force who's doing his darnedest to keep the Mavericks in the Western Conference playoff picture. He may not be capable of serving as a defensive stopper or a supremely talented rebounder, but he's contributing immensely on the offensive end.
Ugly as the post-All-Star-break portion of the season has been for Dallas, it's almost unfathomable how bad this team could've been if Nowitzki threw in the towel.
Power Forward No. 3: LaMarcus Aldridge (Previous Ranking: No. 2)
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Team: San Antonio Spurs
Age: 30
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 17.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 blocks, 0.4 steals, 68.09 TPA
It would appear the adjustment period is over. LaMarcus Aldridge is more than just comfortable with the San Antonio Spurs; he's earning Player of the Week awards and carrying the offense while key players sit out.
No one has been able to stop this power forward in March. He's averaged 22.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals while shooting a scorching 56.6 percent from the field. If that's somehow not enough, he's also knocked down 92.6 percent of his attempts at the charity stripe.
As San Antonio assistant coach Ettore Messina explained to the Associated Press (via OregonLive.com), this was a true team effort from head coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs:
"I think it's been a mutual effort from Coach Pop and all the veterans and LaMarcus to step to each other. Nobody rushed him. There was a lot of step-by-step attitude. Every day he feels more comfortable and guys know where to find him, where are his sweet spots. He's also giving us a defensive presence that most of the times goes underrated.
"
Aldridge is currently posting the best true shooting percentage of his career. But even more impressively, his 1.1 defensive box plus/minus is also a high-water mark, as it tops the 0.7 he'd earned in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2013-14.
As well as he's already playing on both ends, just imagine what could happen if he keeps gaining comfort.
Power Forward No. 2: Paul Millsap (Previous Ranking: No. 3)
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Team: Atlanta Hawks
Age: 31
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.5 blocks, 253.63 TPA
Paul Millsap's game isn't glamorous enough to draw much national attention, but his immense and versatile impact has helped lift these Atlanta Hawks nearly all the way up the Eastern Conference standings. He's stealthily been one of the league's most effective defenders while filling myriad roles in head coach Mike Budenholzer's offensive schemes.
The 31-year-old power forward's numbers may not immediately catch your eye, but the combination of them should.
Throughout the Association, only one Millsap is averaging at least 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. And it's not like that's all he does, since he's scoring loads of points, asserting himself as a dangerous rebounder on both ends and passing the ball proficiently when he's asked to do so.
If you're sleeping on Millsap, wake up already.
Power Forward No. 1: Draymond Green (Previous Ranking: No. 1)
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Team: Golden State Warriors
Age: 26
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, 283.43 TPA
It's time to give Draymond Green some serious love for Defensive Player of the Year.
The versatile forward may not fit the typecast as a studly wing defender or a shot-blocking interior specialist, but his ability to fill so many different roles has made him an invaluable piece for the Golden State Warriors. He can do all of that and more, as he often protects the rim on one possession and then switches onto a guard the very next.
When Green is on the floor, the Dubs allow just 100.3 points per 100 possessions, which stands in stark contrast to the 113 defensive rating they've posted when he isn't playing. For perspective, the former would be the NBA's No. 2 mark, while the latter would lag well behind even the historically porous Los Angeles Lakers.
Everything Golden State does on defense is built around Green's ability, so it stands to reason that he's leading the league in the defensive portion of TPA. He's also No. 4 in DBPM and ranks the same in ESPN.com's DRPM, so it's not like this is just a fluke created by a singular metric.
Even if Green never scored, he'd be one of the NBA's most valuable players. When you're at the top of the league on one end of the floor, rebound so well you're nearly in double figures as a power forward and average 7.4 assists, the scoring is just gravy.
Center No. 5: DeAndre Jordan (Previous Ranking: Honorable Mentions)
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Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 27
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 12.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 157.61 TPA
It's easier to bump Pau Gasol and Rudy Gobert into the honorable mentions, because the former needs a limited role with the Chicago Bulls to hide his flaws, and the latter remains a one-way player. Impressive as Gobert has been on defense, his offensive woes cancel out too much of his overall value.
But keeping Andre Drummond out of the top five is a much tougher proposition. The Detroit Pistons center has glamorous statistics in two of the most visible categories, while DeAndre Jordan's lack of scoring may make him seem less valuable right off the bat.
And that's the trouble with per-game stats. Digging deeper, let's compare the offensive and defensive contributions of the two by looking at the TPA breakdown, prorated to a full season:
| Andre Drummond | Minus-87.54 | 68.09 | Minus-19.45 |
| DeAndre Jordan | Minus-19.10 | 176.71 | 157.61 |
Drummond has more natural talent than Jordan. Plus, youth is on his side. But until he learns how to function as a go-to scorer rather than relying on cleaning up garbage and becomes at least a decent passer, his offensive value won't be high enough.
On the other hand, Jordan is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate whose insanely efficient, albeit limited, offensive contributions allow him to hang around the league average. That's the more valuable package in 2015-16.
Honorable Mentions: Andre Drummond, Pau Gasol, Rudy Gobert
Center No. 4: Al Horford (Previous Ranking: No. 4)
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Team: Atlanta Hawks
Age: 29
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 15.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 blocks, 0.8 steals, 205.52 TPA
What can't Al Horford do?
He's able to score on the interior, knock down mid-range jumpers by using his unorthodox form to splash bucket after bucket and, this year, he can even hit triples. He's shooting 35.4 percent from beyond the arc while taking 3.1 treys per game.
He also serves as an offensive hub for the Atlanta Hawks and is constantly trusted to initiate from the elbows. He can compete with the league's premier rebounders for boards on both ends of the court. He's even helped anchor a defense that's arguably been the league's best since the All-Star break.
As ESPN.com's Zach Lowe wrote while also noting that Horford is a master at sagging off bigs to affect passing lanes, the schemes are built around him and Paul Millsap:
"They have perhaps the best power forward-center duo in the league in Al Horford and Paul Millsap, and Budenholzer reconfigured his Popovichian defensive system around their speed. Atlanta unleashes its big men to trap ball handlers around the 3-point arc on the pick-and-roll, confident Horford and Millsap can corral those little guys -- and then scamper back toward their original assignments.
"
Basically, you can throw him into just about any role, and he'll make it work. He continues to be a driving force behind Atlanta's success, even if Millsap has arguably surpassed him and become the team's unquestioned star.
Center No. 3: Hassan Whiteside (Previous Ranking: Honorable Mentions)
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Team: Miami Heat
Age: 26
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 13.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.7 blocks, 0.6 steals, 0.4 assists, 88.82 TPA
At this point, there shouldn't be much doubt that Hassan Whiteside is going to earn some serious cash during the offseason.
Though he was a negative contributor on the offensive end earlier in the year, due primarily to the extreme lack of spacing he necessitated and his woeful passing, he's learned how to fill his role off the Miami Heat bench.
Since leaving the starting lineup for a Feb. 3 contest against the Dallas Mavericks, Whiteside is shooting 61.2 percent from the field and has even averaged 0.5 assists per contest. That number might not seem impressive in a vacuum, but remember who we're talking about.
Prior to the second half of this season, Whiteside was one of the worst passers in NBA history. Before that game, the 26-year-old big man had recorded 14 dimes in 41 appearances during the 2015-16 campaign, and that was already a stark improvement after logging just six throughout the 2014-15 season. Now, he's got another dozen in just his last 22 outings.
He's also learning that proper rotations and discipline can be more important than swatting everything in sight, and the results have been noticeable. Calling him a current contender for Defensive Player of the Year is going too far, but he's getting closer.
Next year, he may well get there.
Center No. 2: Karl-Anthony Towns (Previous Ranking: No. 3)
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Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 20
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 18.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 blocks, 0.7 steals, 123.84 TPA
"[Karl-Anthony] Towns' 39 double-doubles ranks No. 6 in the entire league—behind Andre Drummond, Russell Westbrook, DeAndre Jordan, DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall," Ben Leibowitz wrote for PointAfter while going over the statistical reasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves center's supremacy in the Rookie of the Year race. "From Jan. 25 through Feb. 19, Towns rattled off 10 straight double-doubles. That's reliability you rarely see from a first-year player."
At this point, pretty much everything Karl-Anthony Towns is doing is rare for a first-year player. Hell, it's rare for most veterans.
During March, the 20-year-old has averaged 21.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals while shooting 58.7 percent from the field. He's even in the midst of another lengthy double-double streak, throwing up eight in a row that date back to a March 11 outing against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It no longer seems to be a question of if Towns will become the league's best center, but rather when he'll do so. Based on the growth he's shown during his first professional go-round, you'd better believe it's going to happen soon.
Center No. 1: DeMarcus Cousins (Previous Ranking: No. 2)
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Team: Sacramento Kings
Age: 25
2015-16 Per-Game Stats: 27.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks, 125.01 TPA
Sure, you can criticize DeMarcus Cousins for his inability to get along with head coaches or the recent controversy that has seen him and George Karl butt heads on the sidelines. But you could also pin the blame firmly on the shoulders of the Sacramento Kings organization, as it's consistently failed to put the proper leadership around its All-Star center while rotating coaches and firing the only one he truly got along with (Mike Malone).
Either way, Cousins is thriving when he's on the floor.
His defensive motivation has been a bit lackluster in 2015-16, and Karl hasn't made the most of his impressive distributing ability. But the big man still excels as a scorer and force on the glass even as the Kings' season has taken a turn for the worse.
Throughout March, he's posted 25.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks, though he's been a bit too reliant on his perimeter shot and has seen his efficiency levels decline correspondingly.
Despite the gaudy nature of his per-game numbers, Cousins isn't a lock at No. 1. He won't be until he begins contributing more on defense and actually starts leading his team to wins while playing more efficient basketball. But for now, no one at the position can keep pace.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.
All stats, unless otherwise indicated, are from Basketball-Reference.com or Adam's databases and accurate through games played on March 27.
