NBA News and Updates 2016: LeBron James Still 'King' of SI's Top 100 Players; KD, Curry Trail in Players List
There have been a lot of standout talents in the NBA last season, and even more names coming this season. While young blood continues to dominate the league, sprouting potential superstars in the next few years, the greats of the hardwood keep their place at the top of the food chain.
Sports Illustrated released its annual list of Top 100 NBA players, ranking the best athletes of this era. The top of the list still features familiar names, but younger and skillful players threaten to overthrow them sooner or later.
1. LeBron James
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It's no big news; the King still deserves his spot as the apex athlete in the NBA. It should be noted that SI almost considered crowning Stephen Curry as this year's No. 1 to take down the perennial best player on the list.
James was not the scoring juggernaut he was back in his first Cavaliers stint when he single-handedly brought Cleveland back on the map, becoming one of the youngest Most Valuable Players. He brought that team to the NBA Finals once, but they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
This year, LBJ returned to his hometown after winning two rings for the Miami Heat. He fulfilled his promise of a title within two years in stellar fashion, leading his team and the Golden State Warriors in all stats during this year's Finals. He scored 41 points off two straight games, finishing with a triple-double and a spectacular block on Andre Iguodala to win the title.
2. Kevin Durant
Durant has always been the second-best player in this era, just under a definite Hall-of-Famer candidate in King James. However, Durant had been a four-time NBA scoring champion and an MVP after the 2013-14 season.
In addition, he had another all-time great season, stats-wise, even after coming off a foot injury. He finished the 2015-16 season with averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game. What separates him from James, however, is the fact that he and the Oklahoma City Thunder blew a 3-1 lead and let GSW walk into the Finals. Now, he joins the team that defeated them last year.
3. Stephen Curry
Curry has had a tremendous last few years with the Warriors, leading them to playoff supremacy and helping them win their first championship in 40 years. Over those last two seasons, too, Curry hit mind-boggling three-point shooting numbers and won the league MVP title twice. His last MVP award was the first one unanimously-decided.
Yet something always prevented Curry from landing the top spot during those two seasons - his inefficiency in the playoffs. Curry recorded some of the worst numbers of an MVP in the postseason, trailing the Thunder 3-0 and blowing a 3-1 lead to lose the championship.
The following players also landed in the top 10:
4. Chris Paul
5. Russell Westbrook
6. Kawhi Leonard
7. James Harden
8. Anthony Davis
9. Paul George
10. Blake Griffin
