Best NBA Players: 2020-2021 Projections, Top Superstars For Upcoming Season

Following the Disney bubble and the shortest offseason ever, the 2020-2021 NBA season is sure to be an interesting one. In a sport that is dominated by superstars, there are plenty of storylines involving the league’s best players.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden have won the last three MVP awards, but it’s unknown where they’ll be playing in a year. How will Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry perform after sitting out last season? Can Kawhi Leonard and Paul George compete with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the West?

As the basketball world waits to learn the answers to those questions, there is a clear group of superstars that stands above the rest. Here’s a ranking of the top 11 players for the 2020-2021 NBA season:

1) LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

There’s no debate after James led the Lakers to the 2020 championship and won his fourth NBA Finals MVP award. James has been the league’s top player for at least a decade, and it might not be long before he passes Michael Jordan as the consensus greatest of all time.

2) Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

On the heels of winning consecutive Finals MVP awards, Durant was playing better than anyone before he ruptured his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals. Durant's length and shooting ability make him more equipped than most to bounce back from such a devastating injury.

3) Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

Leonard is only a season removed from carrying the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever title. An outstanding player on both ends of the floor, Leonard is one of the few stars that has proven he can be the best player on a championship team.

4) Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

As the back-to-back regular-season MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Antetokounmpo is clearly a top-five player. His inability to carry Milwaukee to the Finals keeps him out of the top three. Maybe an improved three-point shot could help Antetokounmpo and the Bucks get over the hump in 2021.

5) Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

An argument can be made that Davis belongs as high as No.3 on this list, given what he did during the Lakers’ championship run. The NBA’s best big man controlled games with his defense in the bubble. Davis can conceivably score 30 points per game if James continues to feature him as the Lakers’ No.1 option.

6) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Don’t forget what kind of transcendent player Curry is because he’s been limited to five games over the last 18 months. The greatest shooter in NBA history could put up eye-popping offensive numbers with Klay Thompson out for the season.

7) Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Doncic is off to a historic start to his career, making First-Team All-NBA as a 21-year-old while nearly averaging a triple-double. He’s the 2021 MVP favorite with good reason, though he is looking to win his first playoff series.

8) James Harden, Houston Rockets

It doesn’t really matter what Harden does in the regular season at this point. Three straight scoring titles and five top-three MVP finishes are impressive, but Harden’s accomplishments are overshadowed by yearly postseason failures.

9) Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

No player’s stock rose more in the bubble than Butler, who went toe-to-toe with James for much of the NBA Finals. An All-NBA Third Team selection in three of the last four seasons, Butler raises his game when his team needs it the most.

10) Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Jokic is the best player on a team that just went to the conference finals. One of the league’s best passers who can put up 20 points and 10 rebounds on a nightly basis, Jokic is a dark-horse MVP candidate.

11) Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

With three All-NBA Second Team selections and one appearance on the First Team over the last five years, Lillard is a consistent elite offensive player. The guard led Portland to the 2019 Western Conference Finals and has made some of the biggest playoff shots in league history.