Ranking the Top 15 Players in the Western Conference

Top to bottom, the talent in the Western Conference surpasses that of the East.

A multitude of strong post players help to make up the representation for the West, as do a considerable number of brilliant point guards.

Let's take a look at the top 15 players in the Western Conference...

Honorable Mentions: Zach Randolph (when healthy), Danilo Gallinari, Marc Gasol, Kyle Lowry, Steph Curry, Tim Duncan, DeMarcus Cousins, James Harden, Kevin Martin, Paul Millsap, David Lee

15. Utah Jazz Forward/Center Al Jefferson

The Mississippi native is one of the most unappreciated players in all of the NBA.

Not many people get to see the Utah Jazz play often, but when they do, Jefferson often stands out.

The big man is currently averaging 19.1 points per game to go along with 9.3 rebounds a contest. He uses crafty moves in the post which are coupled with his huge hands and long arms.

He and fellow forward Paul Millsap form one of the most potent big man duos in the league.

14. Golden State Warriors Guard Monta Ellis

The ultra-quick guard has been really impressive for his mediocre Golden State team.

Ellis' first step is lethal, and he has a knack of driving the lane and finishing in traffic. He's also a pure scorer—in every sense of the word.

Not only can be drive the lane (as alluded to above) but he can also stroke it from the perimeter as well.

This season, Ellis is averaging a career-high 5.9 assists per game. His understanding of the game has grown this year, and he's evolved in regards to his maturity.

It would be fascinating to watch him play for a contending team.

At this point in his career, he hasn't played in very many meaningful contests (he's only had one postseason appearance in his six-year career).

13. Memphis Grizzlies Forward Rudy Gay

Gay has helped to pick up the slack left when forward Zach Randolph went down with an injury earlier this season.

He's been Mr. Everything thus far for the Grizzlies. He's able to facilitate from the small forward position with his passing skills and awareness.

In addition, he's a skilled forward with a sweet stroke from the perimeter. His go-to move, however, is utilizing his immense leaping ability to rise up and finish at the rim.

He just epitomizes the word smooth with his game play.

Without a doubt, he's the biggest All-Star snub in the Western Conference.

12. Phoenix Suns Point Guard Steve Nash

Cerebral. Clever. Fantastic. Creative.

All of the adjectives above are truly apropos when describing Nash's game.

At 38, the Santa Clara product is leading the NBA in assists per game with 11.

That's truly remarkable.

At his age, he might not be as quick as he once was, but his intelligence out on the court hasn't been compromised at all.

He still demonstrates stellar vision when picking out teammates for open shots and is more than capable of hitting the three-point shot with great consistency.

Also, he's shooting a career-high 54.3 percent from the field. For a point guard to be converting at that rate is almost unheard of. For Nash to be performing at that level with his current age is even more astounding.

11. Los Angeles Lakers Center Andrew Bynum

The 7'1" center has established himself as the second best at his position next to Dwight Howard.

Bynum has really matured as a player this season. He's not only refined his post moves, but he's recognizing when the double team comes much earlier than he did early in his career.

As a result, he's passing out of the post extremely well and offers open looks for his teammates out on the perimeter.

His length also allows him to be a very strong defensive presence in the post, often altering shots when he's not blocking them.

At only 24, Bynum has an extremely high ceiling. His continual improvement is paramount for an aging Lakers squad.

10. San Antonio Spurs Guard Tony Parker

Parker is having a renaissance of sorts this season, and with that rebirth has come much success for the Spurs.

Right now, the team is second in the conference behind Oklahoma City. They are also in the midst of an 11-game winning streak right now. The main culprit behind their hot streak?

Parker.

The Frenchman has been performing at an elite level for the majority of this season. He's averaging 19 points a contest with a career-high 7.8 assists a game.

He's regained the lightning-quick first step that allowed him to live in the lane during the glory days of San Antonio. Also, he ranks first in the NBA in field goal percentage between three and nine feet.

Parker hasn't been playing up to his capabilities the last few years. He had been involved in trade rumors and a messy public divorce from Eva Longoria, but he looks as if he's playing with mental clarity and tons of confidence. 

9. Los Angeles Lakers Forward Pau Gasol

With recent trade rumors hanging over Gasol's head, he simply hasn't been the same player this year. He's down in points per game from a season ago, and his overall confidence out on the court seems to be shaken.

He's also settling more often for the perimeter shot as opposed to using his length and skill around the rim.

Despite those shortcomings, Gasol is still a hot commodity and a top-15 player in the league. He's immensely skilled for a big man and can use both hands effectively.

His soft shooting touch extends out to the three-point line, and his passing ability is marvelous for a player 7'1".

In terms of skill, he's one of the best in the world. Regardless of where he ends up after the trade deadline, Gasol is still a wonderful talent.

8. Portland Trail Blazers Forward LaMarcus Aldridge

Aldridge has taken the next step in becoming a star player in this league.

Not only does he have a fine jump shot, but he demonstrates deft touch around the basket. Defensively, he utilizes his length and makes it difficult for opposing post players to play effectively in the painted area.

With the retirement of Brandon Roy comes new responsibilities for the Texas product. Aldridge is now entrusted with the task of providing leadership to a young team.

He needs to be able to lead by example and produce both on and off of the court.

Portland has endured a rough patch of late, but Aldridge is performing at a fantastic clip. He's been so good that he's garnered a spot in the All-Star Game.

He gets the nod over Gasol in this list due to his age and athleticism.

7. Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Russell Westbrook

Westbrook might be the most athletic guard in the entire league. He's an absolute terror in the open floor and thrives when in transition.

In terms of leaping ability, he's unparalleled with any other point guard in the league. He also harbors his supreme quickness and has become a lock down on-ball defender.

The scary thing is, the two-time All-Star is still very raw as a player. His understanding of the point guard position is relatively green, as is the consistency with his jump shot.

As he matures and gets older, those parts of his game will only continue to get better.

When that happens, look out.

6. Los Angeles Clippers Forward Blake Griffin

The high-flying Griffin is easily the most exciting player to watch. He literally has jaw-dropping moments when he accelerates through the air and throws down unbelievable dunks with  great ferocity.

As a player, he's improved from his stellar freshman campaign. He's become more adept at the perimeter shot, and he's picking up more of the little intricacies of the game as he gets older.

For all young players, however, he still has room for improvement.

He needs to develop a go-to move in the paint. By refining his post moves, it will make him more multi-faceted and not so predicable in the post (not that many can stop his dunk attempts).

Also, he needs to learn to play more under control and slow down on the court. Due to his exuberance and over-eager play, he's been susceptible to committing charges and turnovers.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves Forward Kevin Love

The former UCLA star is an absolute beast. There's no other way of putting it.

Love is as multi-faceted a player as they come. He's extremely polished as a player and is very fundamentally inclined.

He combines brutish strength in the post with a silky smooth outside shot. His basketball I.Q. is quite impressive, as is his passing ability.

Love has fortified this franchise which was in a serious downfall upon his arrival and has turned them around into a .500 basketball team.

For the season, Love is averaging 25.6 points per game and 14.2 rebounds a contest.

That type of production ranks him this high on the list.

4. Dallas Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks forward is one of the most unorthodox yet productive players in the game today.

At 7'0", he has good mobility out on the floor. He uses a combination of pump fakes and herky-jerky movements to keep defenders off balance.

When he does that, he steps back and takes his famous one-legged fadeaway, which seemingly always goes in.

As the reigning champions, the Mavericks lean heavily upon their German superstar. Dirk's not only is a wonderful perimeter shooter, but he can utilize his size and get baskets around the rim.

His overall intelligence and craftiness makes him a truly special player.

Without a doubt, he's the best NBA player Europe has ever produced.

3. Los Angeles Clippers Guard Chris Paul

Paul literally plays like he has the ball on a string. His way of manipulating the ball and exploiting minuscule passing angles truly makes him the most elite point guard in the entire Western Conference.

His impact on the Clippers has also been profound. They're currently first in the Pacific Division (ahead of the Lakers) and playing with loads of confidence.

Paul will not wow anyone with his athleticism, but his quickness is superlative and he has the ability to get to the rim any time he wants.

His outside shot is quite good, as is his defensive prowess. He employs extremely quick, active hands and is always up near the league leaders in steals per contest.

The acquisition of Paul by the Clippers will make them perennial contenders for years to come. Paul's overall ability to control the tempo of the game makes him arguably the best true point guard in all of the NBA.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Kevin Durant

Durant is the best scorer in the game, bar none. He makes it look effortless with his spider-like arms and silky shot.

At 23, the sky is the limit for Durant. He has all the tools to be truly considered a great player when his career comes to a close.

However, there are some aspects of his game that need to improve if he is to take the next step as an elite player.

He still needs to get stronger physically, and be able to get easier baskets as opposed to settling for jumpers. His slight, wiry frame needs to gain some muscle in order to be more effective in the paint.

In addition, Durant should attack the box more and post up. With his length, he'll be able to shoot over any defender on a turnaround jumper or fadeaway.

Despite the nitpicking, Durant will undoubtedly be a staple in this league for the next decade.

1. Los Angeles Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant

Even at 33 years old, Bryant still holds the title as the best player in the Western Conference.

His offensive repertoire includes every possible move in the book.

He also arguably has the best footwork of any player in the NBA, regardless of position.

One thing that sets Bryant apart from many players (like LeBron James) is his unabated ruthlessness out on the court. He wants it so badly and will always compete to the best of his abilities.

That proverbial killer instinct (along with his patented face scowl) only enhances his reputation as one of the best to ever play the sport. If anything, the man might literally have ice water coursing through his veins.

Bryant is the most clutch player in the league for a reason. When a game is on the line, there's not another player I'd want taking a big shot as the buzzer expires.