2016-17 NBA Superstar Rankings: Kawhi Leonard Leaving No Doubt About Status
Though some NBA players with lesser reputations have thrived during the opening segment of the 2016-17 season, a pack of MVP candidates has emerged, led by plenty of expected names.
Russell Westbrook and James Harden have kept their squads competitive by playing like one-man wrecking crews. Kawhi Leonard has become one of the league's premier two-way studs. LeBron James is still LeBron James.
The list goes on.
But how do all these players stack up?
As was the case in our preseason edition, we're not concerned with the level they'll reach by the end of 2016-17. The distant past doesn't matter, either. This is about who's the best on the floor right now, with a heavy emphasis on recent performance and considering all facets of the game.
Injured Players
1 of 27
As in previous seasons, it's worth noting that we do 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.
As a result, Jae Crowder, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Reggie Jackson, Khris Middleton, Nerlens Noel and Ricky Rubio will not appear, although they would at least be considered if the injury imp didn't dictate otherwise.
Honorable Mentions
2 of 27
Eric Bledsoe, PG, Phoenix Suns (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
We're finally getting to see what Eric Bledsoe is capable of when healthy. The point guard can thrive on both ends of the floor, using his athleticism to wreak havoc on defense while he contributes in all areas on offense. He's a consistent jumper away from true stardom.
Andre Drummond, C, Detroit Pistons (Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention)
Although Andre Drummond's defense around the rim has been better in 2016-17—NBA.com shows he's allowing opponents to shoot just 50.7 percent at the hoop, as opposed to 52.6 percent in 2015-16—he needs to continue improving offensively. For a player who spends so much time around the tin and struggles immensely at the charity stripe, a 47.9 field-goal percentage isn't acceptable.
C.J. McCollum, SG, Portland Trail Blazers (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
It's not just Damian Lillard who can light up the scoreboard in Rip City. Though there are plenty of impressive players nipping at his heels, we can't overlook C.J. McCollum averaging 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from downtown and 88.9 percent at the free-throw line.
Others Receiving Consideration (in alphabetical order): LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Harrison Barnes, Nicolas Batum, Avery Bradley, Mike Conley, Goran Dragic, Joel Embiid, Derrick Favors, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood, Nikola Jokic, Zach LaVine, Dirk Nowitzki, Jusuf Nurkic, Kristaps Porzingis, Isaiah Thomas, Klay Thompson, Tristan Thompson, Myles Turner, Dwyane Wade, Hassan Whiteside, Andrew Wiggins
25. Dwight Howard, Atlanta Hawks (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
3 of 27
Age: 30
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 15.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.1 blocks
So much for the idea that Dwight Howard is washed up.
The big man is accepting the role he should've filled for the Houston Rockets: thriving as a rim-runner while playing superb defense and dominating on the glass. He's given the Atlanta Hawks a new element after losing Al Horford's versatility, and the result has been an already stringent defense looking even stronger on the interior.
But the biggest difference comes on the boards, and not just because the 6'11" Howard has recorded 12.6 rebounds per contest.
Last year, the Hawks eschewed offensive rebounding in favor of transition defense. Meanwhile, they struggled on the defensive glass, often due to a lack of size and a scheme that pulled bigger players away from the rim. They finished No. 30 and No. 25 in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage, respectively.
Atlanta now ranks No. 3 in offensive rebounding percentage, trailing only the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls. For the defensive counterpart, it slots in at No. 10.
Any guesses about who's behind the identity reversal?
24. George Hill, Utah Jazz (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
4 of 27
Age: 30
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 20.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks
There's a solid chance this will be George Hill's only appearance in our season-long rankings. As the Utah Jazz get healthy around him, his role will diminish, forcing him into fewer ball-handling responsibilities and causing him to focus more on defensive work as Gordon Hayward leads the charge.
But none of that should prevent him from getting his much-deserved credit.
Despite all of the injuries, the Jazz have still posted the league's No. 14 offensive rating, and Hill's scoring excellence has been the main reason why. Even though he previously filled a much smaller role for the Indiana Pacers while sharing the court with Paul George and Monta Ellis, he's had no trouble adjusting to his new digs.
Scoring at least 20 points per game is always impressive for a point guard, especially when they aren't shirking distributing duties. But Hill has done that in efficient fashion by shooting 54.1 percent from the field, 43.2 percent from downtown and 87.5 percent from the charity stripe.
According to NBA Math's offensive points added, only James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant have been more valuable on the scoring end.
23. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers (Previous Ranking: No. 16)
5 of 27
Age: 24
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 24.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks
There's no doubt Kyrie Irving is valuable to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a scorer, but his overall game has shown a few signs of regression.
For Irving to become one of the league's five best point guards, he must resume his focus on playmaking, and not just for himself. Though this is partially by head coach Tyronn Lue's design, it's a bit troubling that the 24-year-old is averaging fewer assists per 36 minutes than ever before (4.3) while surrounded with so much offensive talent, especially without a corresponding dip in turnovers.
Second, he must become more efficient from two-point territory. He's uncharacteristically struggled from between three and 15 feet, which makes his overall scoring game that much less terrifying, even as he thrives around the hoop and from downtown.
Finally, he needs to commit himself defensively. This has been a longstanding critique of Irving's game, but it's no less true during a season in which the Cavs have allowed 2.3 additional points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor.
22. DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers (Previous Ranking: No. 15)
6 of 27
Age: 28
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 10.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.2 steals, 1.9 blocks
Only occasional offensive struggles keep DeAndre Jordan from a more lofty placement. After all, he's been a defensive menace for a Los Angeles Clippers squad that appears capable of competing with anyone.
According to NBA.com, Jordan's assignments have shot 53.5 percent from within 10 feet. But against him, they've only mustered successful conversions on fewer than half their attempts.
And he's just as impressive at the rim: While facing 7.7 shots per game, Jordan has held the opposition to a meager 36.2 percent clip. For comparison's sake, here's how last year's leaders stacked up, looking only at those who went up against at least seven attempts per contest:
- Rudy Gobert (41.0 percent)
- Serge Ibaka (43.6 percent)
- Marc Gasol (45.7 percent)
- Robin Lopez (45.8 percent)
- Pau Gasol (46.3 percent)
- DeAndre Jordan (46.4 percent)
If you're wondering why it seems like Jordan could win Defensive Player of the Year, you don't need to dig deeper. His work has been impregnable around the hoop.
21. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (Previous Ranking: No. 14)
7 of 27
Age: 30
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 17.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.8 blocks
Eventually, Kyle Lowry will break out of his early-season funk.
There's no chance the talented 30-year-old will spend all year shooting just 36.4 percent from the field and 31.0 percent from beyond the arc. He's way too good to post such pedestrian numbers, even if the Toronto Raptors continue leaning so heavily on him while playing him for more minutes per game than anyone else in the Association (38.4).
But what continues to make Lowry impressive is the simple fact that, even when his shot won't fall, he's remained a two-way force.
Instead of throwing up too many attempts, he's settled in as a playmaker and let DeMar DeRozan take over the primary scoring burden, focusing his excess energy on the defensive end.
His offensive box plus/minus isn't close to where it was last year, but it's still in the green (2.7, down from 6.2). That's more telling than anything, keeping hope alive that he'll find a way to rebound before too long.
20. Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
8 of 27
Age: 26
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 25.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
If you thought Kemba Walker's career year in 2015-16 was unsustainable, you were right.
The 26-year-old point guard made noticeable strides across the board during the Charlotte Hornets' surprising playoff run last year, but none were more obvious than his three-point shooting and knack for finishing plays around the rim. Behind those two improvements, his scoring-efficiency gains put him on the verge of All-Star recognition.
Walker isn't just sustaining last year's numbers; he's improving upon them.
In 2016-17, he hasn't been quite as impressive at the hoop. Whereas he shot 59.8 percent from within three feet last year, he's connecting at "only" a 54.5 percent clip. However, that's still above his career average (53.8) and would be the third-best mark of his Charlotte tenure.
But he's coupled that modest regression with even more growth from distance. Not only is he taking a career-high 7.3 triples per game, but he's shooting 46.6 percent—his previous best is last year's 37.1 percent.
If this is sustainable, Walker will continue to emerge as one of the NBA's deadliest scorers.
19. Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks (Previous Ranking: No. 13)
9 of 27
Age: 31
Position: PF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 18.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.5 blocks
For the most part, Dwight Howard has earned the nation's focus as he continues his resurgent season and changes the team identity. Dennis Schroder has received plenty of coverage during his attempt to replace Jeff Teague and justify his contract extension. Then there's the bench: Thabo Sefolosha, Mike Muscala and Tim Hardaway Jr. have given the Hawks an explosive second unit capable of hanging with anyone.
But power forward Paul Millsap has quietly been excellent.
"Millsap is just plain really good — LeBron, but cut from limestone instead of marble," Danny Chau wrote for The Ringer.
Nothing the three-time All-Star does will blow you away, but the combined efforts of his well-rounded contributions help Atlanta win plenty of games. He's able to become more of a playmaker as Schroder adjusts to his new role, and that doesn't prevent him from serving as a defensive fulcrum or a dominant scorer who can thrive inside or out.
He works in conjunction with anyone, and that's perhaps the best news of all for a Hawks team trying to fit all of its new pieces together.
18. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (Previous Ranking: No. 23)
10 of 27
Age: 27
Position: SG/SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 22.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.9 steals
If Jimmy Butler can score like this, the Chicago Bulls won't have to worry about their persistent spacing concerns.
He hasn't just notched 22.9 points per game; he's done so while knocking down 48.0 percent of his shots from the field, connecting on 44.1 percent of his three-point attempts and hitting 87.3 percent of his free-throw tries while taking 8.8 per contest.
Every one of those numbers represents a new high-water mark for his professional career.
Butler's offensive responsibilities are still forcing him into a defensive decline. For the first time in his career, his defensive box plus/minus is negative (minus-0.9). Thus, two-way balance remains an ideal rather than a realistic request.
So long as his scoring remains the same, it won't matter for a Bulls squad experiencing more success than expected during the season's first few weeks. And the beautiful part is that, if he does regress, Chicago has other players to lean upon while it asks him to refocus his energy as a stopper.
17. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
11 of 27
Age: 27
Position: SG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 34.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals
DeMar DeRozan and Michael Jordan.
They aren't names you typically hear in conjunction with one another, but there's no other way to accurately represent the remarkable scoring excellence of the Toronto Raptors 2-guard. He averaged 37.4 points through his first seven games, which puts him in elite territory.
Take a gander at the most total points scored by a player shooting at least 50 percent from the field in his first seven outings:
- Michael Jordan, 251 points in 1988-89
- Michael Jordan, 241 points in 1989-90
- DeMar DeRozan, 239 points in 2016-17
- Karl Malone, 238 points in 1988-89
- Stephen Curry, 237 points in 2015-16
How's that for impressive company?
Perhaps most stunningly, DeRozan has done all this without any reliance on three-point territory. He's made only two of his 13 attempts from downtown through eight games, instead counting on his ability to knock down mid-range jumpers and attack the basket. It's an unorthodox strategy, but it's working for him.
In the past, it's been easy to criticize DeRozan for commandeering the offense at the expense of team success. Not his year.
16. Paul George, Indiana Pacers (Previous Ranking: No. 10)
12 of 27
Age: 26
Position: SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 21.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.4 blocks
"We're all out of whack. There's no trust, there's no chemistry, there's no belief. We're kind of just lifeless right now," Paul George told IndyStar.com's Nate Taylor after he and the Indiana Pacers lost to the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 7, one game after his ejection for kicking a ball into the stands against the Chicago Bulls.
George hasn't been the only lackluster contributor for this struggling squad, but he hasn't helped elevate the team's performance.
Sure, the Pacers are far better with him on the floor (plus-20.2). But it's still concerning that he's struggled to contribute when his shot isn't falling and is having the worst defensive season of his career. According to NBA.com, he's allowing opponents to shoot 47.6 percent from the field while guarding assignments whose typical field-goal percentages stand at 42.7 percent.
Teams often go as their star player goes, and this is George's franchise.
But so far, that hasn't always been a positive—hence the six-spot slip after his lofty preseason placement.
15. John Wall, Washington Wizards (Previous Ranking: No. 19)
13 of 27
Age: 26
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 22.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.7 blocks
John Wall's frustration has boiled over during the Washington Wizards' 2-6 start. That frustration is justified, as Philly.com's Sarah Todd wrote:
"Listen, I'd be frustrated too if I was Wall. He is on a short list of dominant point guards and is swallowed into mediocrity every year because the Wizards are going nowhere. Wall is to the Wizards what DeMarcus Cousins is to the Kings. Capable of being more than great and loyal to a fault. But untapped greatness will boil over at some point.
I think Wall needs to be frustrated and needs to demand respect. But it's not the officiating crew or Marcus Smart he should be demanding it from. It's the Wizards' front office that needs to hear him say, 'I demand a better supporting cast.'
"
14. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (Previous Ranking: No. 17)
14 of 27
Age: 20
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 21.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.1 blocks
Karl-Anthony Towns can do everything.
Early in his sophomore season, he's already made it clear how improved his offensive game is. He's able to dazzle opponents with myriad post moves; he'll drop in mid-range jumpers, step out to the three-point arc and explode toward the rim for alley-oop slams.
Few players are capable of shooting 52.2 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from downtown and 80.6 percent from the charity stripe, but the 7'0" Towns is doing so as a big man. That's nearly unheard of, especially because he's still so young.
But it's not even his scoring that's so impressive, so much as the all-around effort.
Towns is on pace to have the 47th season in NBA history with the line you can see up above, but the list dwindles dramatically if we include his age. He's 20 years old, and no one else has joined the club while 22 or younger. For that matter, he's also the only first- or second-year player to do so.
Though he may not yet be the league's best center, he isn't far away.
13. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention)
15 of 27
Age: 21
Position: Irrelevant
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 20.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.9 blocks
While we're on the subject of historically excellent lines...
Throughout the NBA annals, 1,036 individual seasons have seen a qualified player average at least 20.6 points. Thus far, 1,396 have averaged no fewer than 8.6 rebounds.
At least 5.4 assists per game? That list stands at 1,070. For averages of 1.8 steals and 1.9 blocks, there have been 583 and 415, respectively.
But joining all of those groups at once is special.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is on pace to become the only player who's ever done so. Need we say more?
12. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings (Previous Ranking: No. 12)
16 of 27
Age: 26
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 26.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks
It's a shame how coverage of DeMarcus Cousins is typically handled.
We always hear speculation about whether the big man is on the trade block. We see stories about his heated exchanges with Julius Randle, his fines for throwing mouthpieces and his ridiculous number of fourth-quarter fouls.
But we should focus more on how uniquely talented this center has become, especially now that he's cutting down on his turnovers and hitting some timely triples.
Few players blend power and finesse so seamlessly, but Cousins' ability to mesh those polar opposites often makes him impossible to guard.
Just imagine what he could do if the Kings put actual talent around him. Think about what he could do after developing chemistry with a point guard and a coaching staff. Try to ponder the full extent of his dominance if he experienced roster continuity.
Cousins is already a monstrous presence. And yet, it's not that difficult to imagine more from him, even if it's tough to justify blaming him for the team's ceaseless struggles.
11. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (Previous Ranking: No. 21)
17 of 27
Age: 27
Position: PF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 20.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.4 blocks
Here's an excerpt of what we wrote about Blake Griffin in the last edition of these rankings:
"A full return to health should allow Griffin to lessen his focus on elbow jumpers, which he took too frequently in 2015-16. Instead, he'll attack the hoop with ferocity while torturing defenders with his inside-out ability and deadly knack for passing on the move.
This rank may seem low, and it probably is. But the NBA is a "what have you done for me lately" league, and we need to see a few standout showings in 2016-17 before we move Griffin closer to the top 10.
"
Fewer elbow jumpers and more attacking the basket? In 2015-16, 52.8 percent of Griffin's shots were two-pointers from 10 feet or beyond, while only 29.2 percent of his attempts came from within three feet. This season, those numbers stand at 32.2 and 41.3 percent, respectively.
Standout showings? Highlighted by his 28 points on 19 shots during a dominant road victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Griffin has thrived during the campaign's opening segment. He's a nightly 20-10 threat who can contribute in many different areas, and his defense is reaching new heights.
It's time to restore Griffin to his rightful place on the fringe of the top 10.
10. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (Previous Ranking: No. 9)
18 of 27
Age: 26
Position: PF/C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 10.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.6 blocks
With Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson surrounding him, Draymond Green hasn't received as many touches. Correspondingly, he's seen his scoring and assist averages dip.
He's responded by becoming an even more efficient offensive player, even if his shooting percentages may disguise that trend. It's become almost impossible to witness a mental mistake from Green when he's controlling the rock, which is reflected by his minuscule turnover totals (1.8 per game). Plus, he's successfully parlaying his excess energy into better defensive performances.
Just take a peek at how his offensive and defensive box plus/minus figures have trended throughout his career:
| 2012-13 | -4.8 | 1.7 | -3.1 |
| 2013-14 | -1.6 | 4.4 | 2.8 |
| 2014-15 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| 2015-16 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 5.9 |
| 2016-17 | 2.5 | 4.2 | 6.7 |
The box scores may not tell you this, but we could be witnessing peak Green. There's so much more to the game than sheer scoring numbers.
9. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (Previous Ranking: No. 11)
19 of 27
Age: 26
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 30.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
Damian Lillard is on a mission.
Through his first 10 games, he's peppered the opposition with a barrage of successful jumpers, coming everywhere from mid-range territory to well beyond the arc. The point guard has averaged a career-best 30.6 points, and it's even more impressive that he's coupled it with a career-high true shooting percentage of 65.0 percent.
For perspective, here's the complete list of players who have topped 30 and 60 during a qualified season:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (twice)
- Stephen Curry
- Adrian Dantley (three times)
- Kevin Durant (twice)
- James Harden (this season)
- Michael Jordan (four times)
- Damian Lillard (this season)
- Karl Malone
Lillard has still struggled to play effective defense; each screen he attempts to run through treats him like it's a brick wall and he's a water balloon. But so long as he's scoring like this, he'll remain invaluable to the Portland Trail Blazers.
8. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Previous Ranking: No. 2)
20 of 27
Age: 28
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 26.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks
If panic ensued after Stephen Curry's 0-of-10 showing from three-point territory during a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, optimism should now reign supreme. Since he ended his streak of regular-season outings with a made trey at 157 games, he's combined to go 24-of-38 against the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.
All of a sudden, the two-time reigning MVP is almost on pace to break last year's single-season record (402)...which shattered his own feat from 2014-15 (286)...which broke his old record from 2012-13 (272). Making a league-best 43 triples in his first nine outings puts him on track to finish the year with 392.
Still, we can't help but drop Curry down the rankings.
His defense, after reaching respectable levels over the last two seasons, has been atrocious during the Golden State Warriors' relatively lackluster opening. He's also taken on less offensive responsibility by ceding touches to Kevin Durant.
Overall, Curry has still been excellent. But his diminished role has prevented him from looking like a true world-beater, which we can't say about the seven remaining players in this countdown.
7. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers (Previous Ranking: No. 8)
21 of 27
Age: 31
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 19.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 2.8 steals, 0.3 blocks
Aren't point guards supposed to slow down after they enter their 30s?
Chris Paul refuses to engage in conventional wisdom.
He's averaging 19.0 points while shooting better than ever: 45.8 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from downtown and 89.8 percent at the stripe. He's posting a career high in rebounds per game. He's thriving as a playmaker while recording the fewest turnovers of his professional life (1.6). He's even playing arguably the best defense of his career.
According to NBA Math's defensive points saved, no one in the league was even within striking distance of his Association-leading total as of Nov. 11.
All in all, Paul's start to the year has been excellent. It's all summed up by his box plus/minus of 16.7, which puts him on pace to shatter the previous record of 12.99, set by LeBron James in 2008-09. Without him on the court, the Los Angeles Clippers have outscored the opposition by 3.4 points per 100 possessions. But when he's playing, they've looked like the league's best team and posted a staggering net rating of 25.1.
If there's ever been a season for Paul to win MVP—he's never finished higher than No. 2 in 2007-08—it's this one.
6. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (Previous Ranking: No. 6)
22 of 27
Age: 23
Position: PF/C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 31.0 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.1 steals, 3.1 blocks
As Danny Chau noted for The Ringer, conversations about Anthony Davis also have to focus on the putridity of the New Orleans Pelicans operating around him:
"It’s hard to dissect Davis’s greatness without acknowledging the complete void he has to operate within. As good a performance as he put on Thursday night, it could’ve gone better; for instance, the two assists notched in the box score could’ve been five or six, had his rifle passes on the run to the left corner for open 3s been fielded by competent shooters.
"
It borders on inexplicable that the Pelicans have wasted Davis' stellar start.
They squandered his first game of the season—50 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, seven steals and four blocks—with a loss to the Denver Nuggets. They couldn't beat the Golden State Warriors two nights later when he recorded 45 points and 17 rebounds. In fact, they've only been able to turn one of his six 30-point performances into a victory, and that win came at the expense of the lowly Milwaukee Bucks.
Sometimes, star players can post big numbers that don't provide much value. Their apparent contributions stand in stark contrast to their true victory-aiding abilities.
This is not one of those times.
5. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors (Previous Ranking: No. 5)
23 of 27
Age: 28
Position: SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 27.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks
Stephen Curry has received fewer touches and seen his scoring and assist averages decline. Draymond Green has been granted less offensive responsibility and grown more efficient on both ends of the floor. Klay Thompson has struggled to find his rhythm, even when shooting wide-open jumpers.
Kevin Durant, meanwhile, just keeps rolling.
His per-game averages are impressive enough, but they're even better when paired with his shooting success. By hitting on 57.3 percent of his looks from the field, 40.5 percent from beyond the arc and 85.0 percent of his shots at the charity stripe, the 2014 MVP is on pace to set career highs in field-goal percentage, true shooting percentage and player efficiency rating.
Offensively, he's been everything the Dubs could've hoped for. And then some.
Only 22 players in NBA history have finished a qualified season with a true shooting percentage north of 67. None of them have done so while averaging even 20 points per game, and Artis Gilmore (in 1984-85) leads the pack at 19.1.
Curry and Durant are both on pace to join the club—the former at 26.9 points per game, and the latter at a historic 27.6.
4. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (Previous Ranking: No. 4)
24 of 27
Age: 28
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 30.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.6 blocks
Ascertaining Russell Westbrook's value to the Oklahoma City Thunder isn't a tough task.
Just look at how the team fares with him on and off the floor:
| Westbrook On | 107.9 | 97.7 | 10.3 |
| Westbrook Off | 88.5 | 107.1 | -18.6 |
| Improvement | 19.4 | 9.4 | 28.9 |
Enough said.
3. James Harden, Houston Rockets (Previous Ranking: No. 7)
25 of 27
Age: 27
Position: PG/SG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 30.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 1.3 steals
This sequence between James Harden and The Vertical's Michael Lee is telling:
"Now that Harden is setting up teammates better than anyone else and currently leads the league in assists, who is the league's best player at his position?
'Best point guard or best player?' Harden responded when asked.
Either one.
'I am,' Harden told The Vertical.
"
We'll disagree with calling him the "best player." That title is tough to earn when you remain a distinct negative on the defensive end, even if it's possible for a one-way player to ascend to the top of the hierarchy by sheer, unadulterated offensive excellence.
But it's tough to argue that he's anything but the league's best point guard—so far, at least.
The Houston Rockets have turned the reins over to him without a second thought, and the results have been staggering. Harden has a legitimate chance to become the first player since Tiny Archibald to lead the NBA in both points and assists per game.
According to NBA Math's offensive points added, Harden has granted the Rockets 80.82 points on the scoring end. No one is closer to that total than Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry, who lag well behind at 62.85 and 62.14, respectively.
2. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (Previous Ranking: No. 3)
26 of 27
Age: 25
Position: SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 26.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.4 steals, 0.6 blocks
"From the look-at-me beard to the look-at-those numbers, James Harden could only make a more conspicuous entrance into any Kia Most Valuable Player conversation with bells on his toes and his hair on fire," Fran Blinebury wrote for NBA.com "Then there's Kawhi Leonard, whose comfortable place within a crowd is as the background wallpaper."
Don't let that quiet, unassuming manner fool you.
This small forward has asserted himself as one of the best players alive, taking over as the San Antonio Spurs' unquestioned leader now that Tim Duncan has retired. Talented as Leonard may have been last season while winning Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight campaign and growing on the offensive end, he's been even better in 2016-17.
All of a sudden, the league's best wing defender has become capable of competing for a scoring crown and gaining entry into the 50/40/90 club. He may rank "just" No. 9 on the points-per-game leaderboard, but he's doing so while shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from three-point land and a stunning 97.3 percent at the stripe.
There's a distinct possibility Leonard finishes the season as the NBA's most complete player.
1. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (Previous Ranking: No. 1)
27 of 27
Age: 31
Position: SF/PF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 23.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks
Yes, these rankings are reactive to what's happened in the last few weeks. But they also take a bit of history into account, or else we'd see established studs falling out of the countdown entirely while players on unsustainable hot streaks rise to the top.
LeBron James has not been better than Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook or James Harden during the 2016-17 season, but he's working with a remarkable head start. After all, he re-established himself as the league's premier talent during the 2016 NBA Finals.
And it's not like he's been anything less than stellar to start the year.
The Cavaliers still have just a single loss (7-1), and that record is largely because James has been willing to change his role and continue thriving. He's let Kyrie Irving take over the primary scoring load, content to sit back and facilitate while doing all the little things. It's why he's closer than ever to averaging a triple-double—something no player other than Oscar Robertson has ever done.
When Tristan Thompson is on the floor, the Cavaliers' net rating goes up by a meager 0.1 points per 100 possessions. That impact rises to 3.7 when we're talking about J.R. Smith. With Irving or Kevin Love playing, the net ratings actually go down—by 21.9 points per 100 possessions for the point guard and 23.3 for the power forward.
But when James enters the proceedings, his squad's net rating skyrockets from minus-15.5 to a stellar 14.7.
If he's not the leader in the early-season MVP race, he's right up near the front of the star-studded pack. Either way, he's still the sport's premier superstar.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @fromal09.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are from Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com or NBA Math and are current heading into games on Nov. 12.
