NBA 2017-2018: Ranking The 15 Best Basketball Players For The Upcoming Season

The Golden State Warriors are the odds-on favorites to win another championship with four of the league’s 15-best players. The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to challenge them in the 2018 NBA Finals with the greatest active basketball player. The Houston Rockets, Oklahoma CIty Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves all arguably have two superstars.

Let’s take a look at the top 15 players for the 2017-2018 NBA season.

1) LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

James has been the NBA’s best player for the last decade, and he’s likely the second-greatest basketball player ever. After averaging a triple-double in the 2017 NBA Finals, he holds onto the top spot.

2) Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors

There should be no more debate regarding who is the best player on the Warriors. Durant was sensational last postseason, winning the NBA Finals MVP award and finally winning his first championship.

3) Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

He’s the best player on the NBA’s second-best team and keeps getting better each year. An elite defender that became a top-10 scorer in 2016-2017, Leonard might be the best bet to win the 2018 MVP award.

4) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Curry is the best shooter in NBA history and it isn’t close. He can’t be any lower than No.4 after winning consecutive MVP awards in 2015 and 2016.

5) James Harden, Houston Rockets

Despite his postseason failures, it’d be difficult to keep Harden out of the top five. He’s been the MVP runner-up in two of the last three years, finishing second in scoring in each of the last three seasons.

6) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

A triple-double machine, Westbrook is the reigning MVP. Putting up all those numbers didn’t help Oklahoma City win more than one playoff game last season, though the point guard didn’t have much help.

7) Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

This is the year that “The Greek Freak” becomes recognized as a bonafide superstar. The sky's the limit for Antetokounmpo, who averaged 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game as a 22-year-old.

8) Chris Paul, Houston Rockets

The Los Angeles Clippers were 19.6 points better when Paul was on the floor compared to when he was on the bench in 2016-2017. He might make Houston the biggest threat to Golden State in the West.

9) Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Davis is good enough to average 30 points and 12 rebounds per game. There’s no excuse for the Pelicans to miss the playoffs if he stays healthy.

10) Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

If you don’t think Green is a top-10 player then you haven’t been paying attention to the NBA for the last three years. The league’s best and most versatile defender is essential to Golden State’s formula for success.

11) Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

The former No.1 overall draft pick has a real chance to become a top-10 player. After averaging 25.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game in just his second season, Towns might put up monstrous numbers in 2017-2018.

12) Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves

One of the NBA’s best two-way players, Butler could help turn Minnesota into one of the West’s five best teams.

13) Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder

A terrific defender, George is coming off his best year as an offensive player. Shooting close to 40 percent from three-point range, he should thrive while playing alongside Westbrook.

14) John Wall, Washington Wizards

The point guard might be one of the most underrated players in the league. He nearly led Washington to the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, and he’s still improving as he enters his eighth NBA season.

15) Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors

How many other players could score 22.3 points per game while playing with Durant and Curry? Thompson would be among the scoring leaders if he played for another team, and he’s one of the NBA’s best defensive shooting guards.

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