Now that LeBron has headed out to Los Angeles, the Eastern Conference has become exponentially weaker. The West is undeniably more stacked than before, but there is still plenty of talent on both sides of the league. With that being said, here’s the top 10 players from the NBA’s Western Conference.
1. LeBron James
This is the only undebatable selection in this article, if we’re being honest. The new Laker and 14-time NBA All-Star has dominated this league for years, and he’s shown no signs of showing down despite being 33 years old. The only thing that’s up for debate with The King is whether or not he is the greatest basketball player of all-time.
2. Kevin Durant
KD, and put aside if you think he’s a snake or traitor, is a two-time champion and Finals Most Valuable Player. He’s arguably the best scorer ever, only potentially lapped by greats such as Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Durant is in the middle of his prime and is molding better than ever with the rest of the Warriors. He will never pass LeBron, but being right behind him isn’t a bad thing.
3. Stephen Curry
Some say all he does is shoot. Well, he is in fact the best shooter to ever touch a basketball. Still, he’s won a pair of MVP trophies and has a few rings on his hand. Steph has handles, can create shots for himself and teammates, is solid defensively, and is still in his prime.
4. Russell Westbrook
The triple-double machine and most athletic point guard ever is one of the best players in the league, and almost the best at his position. Westbrook has been to 7 All-Star Games at this point and has won MVP, and don’t forget that last year he led the league in assists for the first time in his career. His intensity and hustle are unmatched, and there’s a reason that Michael Jordan has named Russ as the player most similar to his prime self. All in all, him and Stephen are interchangable at the three and four spots.
5. James Harden
Harden won his first Most Valuable Player award last year, and remember that he almost (with the help of Chris Paul) took down the Warriors in 7 games. His offensive game is absurd and unstoppable, but his slack on the defensive side of the ball is the reason he isn’t ranked higher. The Beard is still evolving though, and with both Ariza and Mbah a Moute gone next year (assuming he steps up) he might end up repeating as the recipient of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.
6. Anthony Davis
The Brow is the best big man in the league by far, and is not even in his prime yet. Anthony Davis is only 25 years old, yet averages 23.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his entire career. I’m not sure how much New Orleans is doing to keep him happy, but he better find a way deeper into the postseason if he wants to keep up his reputation.
7. Paul George
PG has re-signed with the Thunder and shown that he wants to be a part of the franchise for years to come. He looks to be a key factor in an Oklahoma City championship run considering he molds so well with Westbrook, and the 5-time All-Star forward is steadily improving every season. George can shoot the 3, defend the ball extremely well, and step up in big situations.
8. Damian Lillard
Now 28 years old, Dame is still very underrated. He led Portland to a 3-seed last season, which ended poorly upon being swept by the Pelicans. Regardless, he’s only been to a trio of All-Star Games, despite being viewed as a top-5 MVP candidate by many. The tandem Lillard has formed with McCollum is so valuable to the franchise as they look to move forward with other young pieces like Jusuf Nurkić.
9. DeMarcus Cousins
Despite not being the quickest or most athletic big man in the NBA, DeMarcus Cousins is almost certainly the most dominant. His strength is unmatched, and the new member of the Golden State Warriors will look to reel in his first ring next year. Cousins will miss a portion of the season still recovering from his achilles, but we can be confident he’s working hard to ensure he returns to his past trends of destroying defenders.
10. Jimmy Butler
Butler was shipped to the Timberwolves just a year ago, which has looked like a failed operation as of recently. He was unhappy with the nonchalant attitudes of some of their younger guys, which is a sign of how serious the 4-time All-Star is about winning a championship. Butler is a defensive anchor with strong offensive skills and is capable of leading a team, and at 28 years old he still has time to figure out where exactly he should be playing.
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