So the free agency period in the NBA has come and gone, and what a period it turned out to be. This class of free agents was one of the most star-studded in recent memory, and the results of the moves has turned the league into a place where, dare I say it, parody, might be the theme of the upcoming season. Through all of the moves, there has been a lot of debate (as usual) in regards to which player holds the title as the best basketball player in the world. Obviously, this answer varies depending on who you talk to, but for me, it’s between four men. Before I dive into the debate, I want to send my apologies to fans of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (this season’s regular season Most Valuable Player) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden (not really), because they aren’t on this list, but here are the four dudes that are:
Could it be Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard? Most players who come off of an NBA Finals MVP instantly become part of this conversation, and the same is true in this case. Leonard is coming off of a season where he led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship, and he was traded to them by the San Antonio Spurs before last season. In his only season in a Raptors uniform, Leonard quickly reminded all of us how good he is, and the run he went on during the playoffs can compare to some of the all-time great runs we’ve ever seen. Going to the hardware count, he has two titles, two Finals MVPs and is also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner. Maybe there is a little bit of prisoner of the moment energy when it comes to Kawhi, but this man was always among the best in the league.
Might it still be Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James? I say still because in the estimation of most fans and analysts, James has held this title for quite a while. Even though we didn’t see him in the playoffs this season, the “Chosen One” has more than enough to back up his claim for the world’s best. He is a four-time regular season MVP and a three-time NBA Finals MVP to go along with his three championships. To go along with all that, James has been on a team that has made the Finals eight straight seasons (four with the Miami Heat and four with the Cleveland Cavaliers) before the miss with the Lakers. Say what you want about LeBron, but it’s hard to ignore the man has been historically good for a decade and a half.
Maybe it’s Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant that takes the vote. The instant boost into the best player discussion from winning Finals MVPs was mentioned earlier in the article. Durant was the beneficiary of that boost in 2017 and 2018, where he won the award on the Golden State Warriors’ title teams. We all know Durant is already one of the best scorers ever to play the game, and he has four scoring titles to back that up, and he has a regular season MVP award by his name also. Because of the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors, it’ll be a while before we see him on a basketball court, but don’t be surprised if KD comes back to remind us of how potent he can be.
Perhaps it’s Warriors guard Stephen Curry who claims the best player award. Curry is already widely known as the greatest shooter of all-time, and he still has some years left two play. He has two regular season MVPs, and is the only played to win that award by a unanimous vote (2015-16). He’s also a three-time NBA champion, and is also given credit for revolutionizing the game because of his shooting ability. Unlike the other three players mentioned above, there’s nothing physically imposing with Steph. He can dominant a game entirely with skill.
There are my four player who are in the running for best player in the world. Of course, I can’t complete this article without actually listing them, right? On my rankings, I would still have to give a slight edge to James. LeBron has been on the top of my list for a while, and it’ll take more than a season to knock him off the No. 1 spot. Leonard would be second, followed by Curry, then Durant. I would love to hear who you have as the best player in the world. Is one of my four, or do you have Antetokounmpo? Maybe Harden, or perhaps Russell Westbrook? Let me know, then let’s debate.
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