2016-17 NBA Superstar Rankings: Top 25 Players Heading into the New Year
If it feels like the NBA has a giant conglomerate of elite talents this year, it's because that's true.
Even as Russell Westbrook continues to throw up monstrous lines and average a triple-double, he hasn't run away with the 2016-17 MVP race. James Harden, LeBron James and Kevin Durant are right on his heels, and you can count in another handful of players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Marc Gasol, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry chief among them.
Everything is tightly packed, and that includes these superstar rankings.
A lot has changed since the Nov. 12 edition. There's a different face at the top, and five new players are ranked for the first time—including someone who's jetted all the way up to No. 13.
As is always the case, 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, considering all facets of the game with a heavy emphasis on recent performances.
25. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors (Previous Ranking: No. 17)
1 of 25
Age: 27
Position: SG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 27.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.1 blocks
DeMar DeRozan remains a scoring machine. During December, the Toronto Raptors 2-guard has averaged 25.5 points per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the field.
He's peppering defenses with a seemingly endless barrage of mid-range buckets, but his inability to knock down triples has hampered Toronto's dominant offense. It's tough to adjust when your starting wing can hit only 15.8 percent of his triples.
That, along with DeRozan's anemic defense, serves as the primary reason the Raptors have had more success with the 27-year-old off the floor. While their net rating stands at 6.0 when he plays (a fine number), they outscore opponents by a historic 17.6 points per 100 possessions when he's resting—a level no team has ever reached for a full season.
As an individual, DeRozan is fun to watch, and he's putting up huge numbers. But his star power oversells his on-court impact, and that's become increasingly clear as the season has progressed.
Others Receiving Consideration: LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Nicolas Batum, Eric Bledsoe, Mike Conley, Jae Crowder, Andre Drummond, Joel Embiid, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, DeAndre Jordan, Zach LaVine, Brook Lopez, Paul Millsap, Otto Porter, Kristaps Porzingis, Jeff Teague, Klay Thompson, Myles Turner, Hassan Whiteside
24. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
2 of 25
Age: 21
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 12.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks
The Denver Nuggets have been a different team since they reinserted Nikola Jokic into the starting lineup and began running the offense through him. He's been allowed to handle the rock in transition, where he's put so much touch on passes while running at full speed that he's occasionally looked like—yes, we're going here—Magic Johnson.
Don't believe that? Let's turn to The Ringer's Jonathan Tjarks:
"He’s the rare center who is comfortable pushing the ball up the court and starting the break himself, and he knows exactly how to use his body to create angles for him to get a shot off against even the longest and most athletic defenders. His feel for the game is off the charts, and he’s the latest in a long line of European big men who can pass, dribble, and shoot as if they were guards.
"
Only foul trouble has held back his relentless combination of touch shooting around the hoop, phenomenal passing in all areas, mid-range jumpers and great positional defense. He's become a nearly complete player on the brink of stardom while carrying the Nuggets back into the Western Conference playoff race.
And lest you look at his season-long per-game stats and think we're giving him too much credit, he's averaging an eye-popping 16.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists during his last eight appearances while shooting 67.5 percent from the field. He's even fallen just shy of earning a triple-double on two different occasions.
23. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (Previous Ranking: No. 14)
3 of 25
Age: 21
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 21.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.4 blocks
Though Karl-Anthony Towns' off-ball defense has left much to be desired, there's little doubt he's the best player on the up-and-coming Minnesota Timberwolves. The team is far better playing through him and allowing the 21-year-old to make decisions with the ball.
Perhaps we were a bit aggressive when projecting him as an immediate challenger to become the league's best center earlier in the year.
But not by much.
Towns isn't far from earning that status as he tortures defenses with a relentless combination of quick post moves and timely jumpers. He's even developing as a distributor, capable of recognizing the inevitable double-teams and finding open teammates to set up easy jumpers.
For him to make the jump to the top of the pack, he'll have to become a more impactful defender and avoid the weird home/road splits that have made him the NBA equivalent of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees early in his professional career.
That should come with time, and sticking around as one of the league's top-25 players is far from a bad start.
22. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (Previous Ranking: No. 9)
4 of 25
Age: 26
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 27.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks
If you ask former head coach George Karl—as David Marchese of the Daily Intelligencer recently did—he'll tell you Damian Lillard is the reason the Portland Trail Blazers have sunk down the Western Conference standings:
"I was watching the Portland Trailblazers [sic] play, and I was trying to figure out, What the hell is wrong with this team? My conclusion is that Damian Lillard is getting too much attention.
...
Who controls the team? The coach and the point guard. And that team is not working. I think their coach, Terry Stotts, is a great coach. So I’m going to say the problem is Lillard. They were a together, connected, committed team last year. This year they’re not. What changed?
"
That take—part of Karl's scorched-earth endeavors in recent weeks—is incorrect.
Rather than serving as a problem for Portland, Lillard has been—rather obviously—the team's best player. His defense remains subpar, but he's such an incredible offensive asset that he can afford to treat screens like brick walls. His pull-up jumpers keep the opposition on edge, and his ability to probe enemy schemes and get to the rim is nothing short of miraculous.
Sure, Lillard hasn't been able to spark a quality encore after last year's sterling finish. But it's hard to pin the struggles on him unless you're providing nothing more than unsubstantiated opinions.
21. Paul George, Indiana Pacers (Previous Ranking: No. 16)
5 of 25
Age: 26
Position: SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.3 blocks
This hasn't been Paul George's best season. Not by a long shot.
Though he's maintained his scoring prowess and contributed in all areas of the half-court set, he's been unable to make an impact in other facets. His defense in particular has been troubling—especially for a player hailed as a fringe Defensive Player of the Year candidate in previous years.
According to NBA Math's defensive points saved, he's been a slightly below-average stopper. ESPN.com's defensive real plus/minus concurs, sandwiching George between Omri Casspi and DeAndre' Bembry at No. 53 among the 80 players who qualify as small forwards.
Defense has been a problem all year for the Indiana Pacers and not just because of the personnel they lost over the offseason. They've shown little commitment to the less glamorous end, and a good bit of the responsibility has to be placed upon the leading star's shoulders.
George can look like a top-10 player on offense, but basketball remains a two-way game.
20. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
6 of 25
Age: 27
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 27.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.1 blocks
While Paul George has been mediocre on defense, the 5'9" Isaiah Thomas has been atrocious. He's incapable of stopping opposing point guards and struggles to position himself correctly off the ball, which makes overcoming his lack of size even more difficult.
But Thomas has been sensational on offense—and then some. Moving past sensational is the only way to score 52 points in a game, after all.
Averaging 27.7 points and 6.1 assists is impressive enough. Yet Thomas is doing so while shooting 45 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from beyond the arc and 90.4 percent at the stripe.
Should those percentages blow you away?
Not really, except the free-throw shooting is coming as he averages nine trips to the line. That boosts his true shooting percentage to 60.6 percent, putting him on pace to become just the 22nd player ever to clear 59 percent while averaging at least 26 points.
Thomas has become one of those tough, gritty, creative offensive players who no one wants to guard. And because of that, the Boston Celtics are more than willing to live with his defensive flaws.
19. Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
7 of 25
Age: 28
Position: PF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 22.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks
Love has become the player the Cleveland Cavaliers wanted when they originally traded Andrew Wiggins to the Timberwolves for his services. He's re-established himself as a dominant rebounder and settled in as a consistent floor-spacer for the isolation-heavy offense.
"He's the Kevin Love of old and this is everything we expected out of him," LeBron James told Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor. "That's what we want out of him. But there's no added pressure for him. He's going out and just playing his game right now. He's at a point where he's just comfortable with everything and it's great to have him."
The power forward is taking a career-high 6.8 three-pointers per game (and mixing in a steady diet of post-up attempts), and he's still connecting at a 40.7 percent clip. Throughout NBA history, just six qualified players have maintained those numbers for an entire campaign.
Kyrie Irving has an easier time showing off his handles when Love is spotting up from beyond the arc and waiting to drop in yet another trey. Ditto for James' athletic bursts to the hoop, which are far simpler when the defense can't collapse around him without risking a Love triple.
18. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
8 of 25
Age: 24
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 12.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.6 blocks
At this point, the whole world knows about Rudy Gobert's prowess around the rim. His ability to guard the basket is the primary reason he's served as a leading Defensive Player of the Year candidate each of the last few years.
But Gobert has developed an offensive game in 2016-17, and that's helping him turn into a full-fledged superstar.
He'll never be a consistent jump-shooter. But his touch around the hoop is better than ever, which is why he's making a league-best 69.8 percent from within three feet despite more of his shots coming from the restricted area. He's also converting a career-high 64.8 percent of his shots at the foul line, thereby preventing defenses from hacking away as soon as he gets the rock.
Not only is Gobert averaging 12.3 points, but he's doing so with an NBA-high 70.7 true shooting percentage.
Even with a limited arsenal, he's become a distinct plus on the scoring end while remaining a DPOY-caliber defender and a dominant rebounder.
17. John Wall, Washington Wizards (Previous Ranking: No. 15)
9 of 25
Age: 26
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 23.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 10 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.6 blocks
"John [Wall] is an emotional player," head coach Scott Brooks told CSN Mid-Atlantic's Chase Hughes about his star point guard. "That's how he plays. He gets the crowd involved. He plays with a lot of passion and I will never take that away from him. I like guys that play with passion. I don't like guys that don't compete and that's not John."
Wall is by no means a perfect player.
He's still struggling to develop a consistent jumper and can hamper the Washington Wizards' defensive efforts when his athleticism-aided gambles don't come to fruition. But the good more than outweighs the bad, especially because it seems Wall will never play without passion.
His energy allows him to dominate in transition. It lets him utilize a unique style of off-ball defense that keeps opposing wings uneasy. It helps him dart into the paint and keep his eyes open as he searches for open teammates on the perimeter.
More than anything else, it allows the Wizards to remain competitive in spite of a putrid bench.
16. Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets (Previous Ranking: No. 20)
10 of 25
Age: 26
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 22.3 points, 4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.2 blocks
How do you stop Kemba Walker anymore?
Going into the year, defenses hoped his three-point shooting in 2015-16 was fluky. Maybe they could keep ducking under screens to avoid getting blown by?
But despite taking 0.5 additional triples per game, Walker has dispelled that theory by upping his three-point percentage from 37.1 to 40.9.
They also hoped his finishing around the rim wasn't sustainable, but the same story has unfolded. Walker shot 59.8 percent from within three feet last year. And while his percentage has declined, it's still at a high level—57.1 percent.
Walker just doesn't have any distinct offensive weaknesses, and his defense isn't bad enough to make him a liability on that end. He's become a complete player, and that should result in the first All-Star appearance of his NBA career.
15. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers (Previous Ranking: No. 23)
11 of 25
Age: 24
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 23.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks
The Kyrie Irving-LeBron James combination is working perfectly for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
By himself, the dynamic point guard has trouble carrying a team to much success. His defensive woes and occasional bouts with offensive inconsistency prove too detrimental to win on a regular basis.
But when he can cycle between dominating the ball and working away from the primary action in a spot-up role, he's one of the league's most dangerous offensive players.
In terms of value, Irving may not even be the Cavaliers' No. 2 player (that's Love). But when we're talking about stardom, he's unquestionably the leading Robin to James' Batman.
Irving's flashy handles, knack for big plays down the stretch and hot spurts of shooting aid his popularity and have helped make him one of the league's most fearsome matchups. That has to count for something, even if his defense limits his on-court value and requires Cleveland to put the right personnel around him.
14. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (Previous Ranking: No. 10)
12 of 25
Age: 26
Position: PF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 10.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.3 blocks
Draymond Green continues to prove you don't need to score to have value.
Sure, the Golden State Warriors have to deal with his emotional outbursts and near-constant flirtations with technical fouls. They also can't rely on him as a primary scorer—not that they need to when he's sharing the court with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
But his defensive acumen, passing abilities and yeoman's work on the boards make him indispensable.
Remember when Green bashed the idea that Golden State's defense would suffer after the team's offseason moves? Per ESPN.com's Chris Haynes:
"The world says we traded our defense away when we got KD. I disagree. So, I think our defense actually has the upside to be better with the length and everything that we have, the speed, the athleticism. That pissed me off more than anything, that it's kind of like, 'Yeah, their defense is going to suck now.' I take that personally. So that pushes me more than anything else.
"
He's one of the leading candidates for Defensive Player of the Year now (again). And behind his all-around excellence, the Warriors sit at No. 2 in defensive rating (101.1 points allowed per 100 possessions), trailing only the Memphis Grizzlies.
13. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (Previous Ranking: Unranked)
13 of 25
Age: 31
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.6 blocks
For all of Marc Gasol's defensive skill, he's been more valuable on offense for the surprisingly competitive Memphis Grizzlies. No matter who head coach David Fizdale pairs him with, he can keep the team afloat with his fundamental excellence and developing jumper.
Without Gasol, the Grizz are scoring 95.3 points per 100 possessions, which would trail the league-worst Philadelphia 76ers by 2.5. With him, the offensive rating skyrockets to 104.0, and that would place Memphis at No. 17, between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls.
This shouldn't have been possible without Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons. But Gasol has been that good, especially with a three-point jumper added to his arsenal.
Before 2016-17, the big man had never made more than three triples in a season.
This year, he's knocked down at least three in seven different games. On the campaign, he's taking 3.5 attempts per contest and connecting at a 41.9 percent clip.
12. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (Previous Ranking: No. 18)
14 of 25
Age: 27
Position: SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 24.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.3 blocks
As Jonathan Tjarks wrote for The Ringer, Jimmy Butler doesn't make basketball look effortless:
"There’s nothing pretty about Jimmy Butler’s game. His jumper comes and goes; his most effective move is putting his head down and bullying his way through defenders to get to the rim. ...
... He’s a very deliberate offensive player, and even when he’s knocking down jumpers off the dribble, it usually comes after pounding the ball against a set defense geared to stop him. Watching Butler is a reminder that playing professional basketball at a high level is work. These guys may be playing a game, but they are still punching a clock.
"
Though Butler's game may not be pretty, it's effective.
Not only is he averaging 24.5 points, but he's doing so while hitting 45.3 percent of his shots from the field, 33.6 percent of his triples and 88.7 percent of his free-throw attempts (and taking 9.1 per game). Perhaps even more impressively, he's limited his turnovers while involving himself as a primary playmaker.
Butler will have to find more energy for defense if he hopes to jump into the top 10, and a more consistent jumper would aid his cause. But he's already proved he can be the unquestioned on-court leader of a team.
11. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings (Previous Ranking: No. 12)
15 of 25
Age: 26
Position: C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 29.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.5 blocks
You don't have to like DeMarcus Cousins' attitude. You're more than welcome to look down upon how he carries himself on the court. Lambast his leadership if you so desire. Criticize him for how he handled himself in the locker room when he confronted a reporter in a threatening manner.
But stop denigrating his play.
According to NBA Math's total points added, only 11 players have given their teams more in 2016-17. Cousins has developed into a positive defensive presence, and his offensive arsenal constantly leaves the opposition in a pickle.
How do you guard someone who's a terrific passer when they can also knock down jumpers and bully you on the interior? Now that Cousins is connecting on 38.8 percent of his triples, he's become a near-unstoppable force.
Of course, that hasn't translated into a winning record (14-18). And while much of that is on the Kings' front office for failing to assemble enough talent, Cousins has to be held at least somewhat accountable.
10. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (Previous Ranking: No. 21)
16 of 25
Age: 30
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 22.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.3 blocks
Can we stop thinking Kyle Lowry's excellent 2015-16 campaign was a fluke?
Though he's regressed on defense, the encore has proved he'll stick around as one of the NBA's elite point guards. No one at the position has been better in the Eastern Conference—Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Isaiah Thomas and John Wall come close, but their games aren't this well-rounded.
Lowry began the season in a shooting slump, but that hasn't affected him in recent weeks, during which he has propelled the Toronto Raptors offense to historic highs. Since the beginning of December, he's averaged 24.4 points while shooting 54.0 percent from the field, 50.4 percent from downtown and 83.8 percent at the stripe.
If defenders commit to stopping his jumper, he can use his physicality to get to the basket. If they duck under screens, he'll make them pay. If he's working off the ball, he knows how to find the right spots. And if he's pressured, he won't turn the rock over.
Lowry means everything to one of the best offenses in NBA history (so far), and he deserves to be on the fringe of MVP consideration.
9. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (Previous Ranking: No. 2)
17 of 25
Age: 25
Position: SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 24.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.5 blocks
Kawhi Leonard's season has been confusing.
He passes the eye test with ease. Between the effortless scoring that allows head coach Gregg Popovich to deviate from the ball-sharing principles upon which the offense is founded and his hounding defense, he looks the part of a two-way stud who can impact the game as much as anyone.
But some numbers tell a different story.
For example: The San Antonio Spurs' net rating improves by 4.3 points per 100 possessions when Leonard is watching from the sidelines.
But don't take misleading stats like that as gospel. The Spurs' depth and discipline belies on/off splits and makes All-Stars look worse. Plus, San Antonio is adjusting as opponents attack Leonard's incredible defense differently. For more on that, let me direct you to CBS Sports' Matt Moore, who pioneered the "Kawhisolation" idea.
Leonard has slowed after his torrid early-season pace, but it will be a long time before this 25-year-old is viewed as anything other than an undisputed top-10 player.
8. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers (Previous Ranking: No. 7)
18 of 25
Age: 31
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.2 blocks
Chris Paul remains a point god.
We could brag about everything he does, whether it's his defensive presence, his knack for breaking down a defense and getting to spots with his eyes, his shooting touch or his on-court leadership. But let's focus on his ability to limit mistakes.
Despite averaging 9.5 assists and carrying a hefty scoring responsibility, Paul coughs up the ball just 2.3 times per game. That gives him a mind-numbing turnover percentage of only 13.3 percent.
Plenty of players have recorded sub-15 marks, but the vast majority are bigs who rarely touch the ball for long enough to make mistakes. Paul is on pace to do so while averaging more than nine dimes for the 10th time in his career, and only eight other players in NBA history have done so even once—just Tim Hardaway has on multiple occasions.
This combination of facilitation and mistake-avoidance is unprecedented.
7. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (Previous Ranking: No. 6)
19 of 25
Age: 23
Position: PF/C
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 29.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 2.6 blocks
Here's the good news: Anthony Davis is one of the most uniquely skilled players in the NBA.
He's capable of doing anything on the court, and only his health seems to limit his talent. Whether the New Orleans Pelicans turn to him as a leading scorer or ask him to function as a defensive stalwart, he can carry out the instructions.
But there's bad news as well. For that, we'll turn to The Vertical's Michael Lee:
"The Pelicans are in danger of turning Davis into Kevin Garnett 2.0 – another generational big man whose franchise could never quite find the right supporting cast and left a magnificent player mired in mediocrity until he got traded much too late.
Davis, 23, doesn't have Garnett's crazy but is already showing incredible patience and loyalty, telling The Vertical last month that he has "never" thought about bailing on the Pelicans. Once Garnett got to Boston and experienced winning on a championship level with the Celtics, however, he started to question the wisdom of that mentality by stating, "Loyalty is something that hurts you at times because you can't get youth back."
"
With Davis on the court, the Pelicans are a mediocre team (minus-0.2 net rating)—still a massive improvement from the minus-8.9 net rating they post without him. But that's not good enough to even think about making the playoffs.
It's an enduring shame NOLA has surrounded its centerpiece with so little talent, because we're seeing one of the NBA's best squandered.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (Previous Ranking: No. 13)
20 of 25
Age: 22
Position: ?
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 23.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.8 blocks
There's no way a near-7-footer with insane athleticism and ball-handling skills should be allowed in the NBA, but the Milwaukee Bucks have one. And they've unleashed him in 2016-17, allowing Giannis Antetokounpo to earn whispers of MVP consideration by putting up numbers we've never seen.
That's not an exaggeration. The per-game line you're looking at above may well be the most unique in league lore—assuming uniqueness is something that can be quantified.
Throughout NBA history, only four qualified players have averaged at least 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks: Antetokounmpo (this year), Bobby Jones, Hakeem Olajuwon (four times) and David Robinson. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo (this year), Larry Bird (six times), Wilt Chamberlain (twice), John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson (five times) and Russell Westbrook (this year) are the only qualified players to tally no fewer than 23.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.
Notice how only one name appears on both lists?
Now, go watch the endless YouTube highlights of Antetokounmpo doing things that wouldn't be possible for normal humans. Just make sure you come back and read about our top five players after you've exhausted the endless reserve. Antetokounmpo can't be real.
5. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Previous Ranking: No. 8)
21 of 25
Age: 28
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 23.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.1 blocks
If it seems Stephen Curry is flying under the radar, it's because he is.
He draws headlines about his porous defense and how he's ceding touches to Kevin Durant, but the numbers he's producing aren't sinking in. And that's incredible for a player averaging 23.9 points and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from three-point territory and a league-best 93.6 percent from the free-throw stripe.
Yes, Curry is on the verge of joining the 50/40/90 club. All it would take is hot shooting from inside the arc, which should be coming as his performance from 10 to 16 feet (32.1 percent) regresses to the mean of the last three seasons (51.3 percent).
He's also on pace to put up yet another historic season from downtown.
At his current rate, Curry would finish the year with 304 triples—a total that would rank No. 2 on the all-time leaderboard, behind only his 402 treys from last season's 73-win effort. Plus, among every qualified player in NBA history who's connected on at least 40 percent of his deep attempts, only 2015-16 Curry has done so while taking more treys per contest than 2016-17 Curry.
4. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors (Previous Ranking: No. 5)
22 of 25
Age: 28
Position: SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 25.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.6 blocks
First, Kevin Durant is averaging 25.9 points and 4.8 assists while turning the ball over just 2.3 times per contest—the lowest mark of his Hall of Fame career. He's also shooting 53.7 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from deep and 86.2 percent on freebies.
With a 65.0 true shooting percentage, he'd garner just the eighth season where a player finished north of 65 while scoring at least 25 points per game.
Second, Durant has been huge by serving as a rim protector. He's allowed opponents to shoot just 46.1 percent at the hoop while facing 4.7 attempts per game, and his work has been excellent further from the basket.
According to NBA Math, he's trailing only four players in total points added and joins Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol as one of only five who's already added 50 points on offense and saved 50 on defense.
More so than ever, he's become a complete player.
3. James Harden, Houston Rockets (Previous Ranking: No. 3)
23 of 25
Age: 27
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 27.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.3 blocks
As Zach Lowe wrote for ESPN.com, the Houston Rockets offense doesn't always ask James Harden to run a pick-and-roll right away:
"There is a tendency to characterize Mike D'Antoni's offense as simplistic chaos: someone sets a pick for James Harden (or Steve Nash) early in the shot clock, and Harden takes it from there. That is true on some possessions.
But D'Antoni's system has long featured subtle scripted set pieces that have made their way into almost every playbook.
"
Even when the plays get more complicated, Harden usually orchestrates the action. The bearded point guard isn't just the conductor for Houston; he's the guy waving the baton, the first-chair violin playing the beautiful solo and the timpani player helping provide the rhythm for everyone, all rolled into one.
And it's worked.
With Harden on the floor (and playing passable defense this season, even if his reputation won't allow some to recognize that), the Rockets have outscored opponents by 9.3 points per 100 possessions. Without him, they've produced a minus-0.5 net rating.
2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (Previous Ranking: No. 1)
24 of 25
Age: 32
Position: SF
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 25.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks
LeBron James is probably still the best basketball player in the world.
The Cleveland Cavaliers just haven't needed him to turn up the volume to 11 quite yet in 2016-17, as he did during the 2015-16 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
James has been able to play a comfortable brand of basketball, thriving as he takes on a diminished scoring role, cedes touches to Kyrie Irving and serves as a maestro who can get everyone involved. Cleveland has put together an ideal roster for him, surrounding its best player with a cadre of spot-up shooters and allowing him to assert himself as one of the league's premier playmakers.
Every once in a while—see: Christmas Day against the Warriors—he's taken over with feats of athleticism. But he hasn't needed to put together a sustained stretch like we saw in June.
Either way, he's still been immensely valuable, to the point that he has a serious chance of earning the fifth MVP award of his illustrious career.
1. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (Previous Ranking: No. 4)
25 of 25
Age: 28
Position: PG
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 31.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks
Even if you subscribe to the theory that LeBron James has been better than Russell Westbrook, it's tough to argue the former has been a bigger superstar.
The NBA world has revolved around the Oklahoma City Thunder's dynamic point guard and his ceaseless quest for triple-doubles.
Some players, such as James and Kevin Durant, elevate great teams to unfathomable heights. Others, such as Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, keep their squads out of the gutter but are still mired in mediocrity.
Westbrook has taken a limited OKC roster—seriously, Victor Oladipo, Steven Adams and Enes Kanter are the next-best players—and kept it in playoff contention. He's meant everything to the Thunder, accounting for a tremendous amount of offense while displaying his athleticism on defense—the few possessions where he catches his breath notwithstanding.
No one has ever carried this much responsibility before. And that statement isn't even remotely hyperbolic.
When another member of the Thunder scores while Westbrook is on the floor, the point guard fed him the rock and generated an assist 58.9 percent of the time. Heading into this season, John Stockton held the record among all qualified players with a 57.5 assist percentage in 1990-91. But Westbrook has simultaneously produced a usage rate of 42.4 percent—shattering the record-setting mark Kobe Bryant earned in 2005-06 (38.7).
We've never seen this before.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats from Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com or NBA Math and accurate heading into Saturday's games.
