-Ethan Cote
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Many NBA players have a lot to prove this season. But there are 7 big players that stand out to me. These NBA players show that with a lot of hard work and talent in the game you can turn into a star. Why are these players on this list? These players are on my list by their talent, past, history of winning, and also the success their team has on their backs this season. Also what do they have to prove? They have something they need to show!
This season is the 75th anniversary is a milestone for the NBA. This is one big step towards the future of the NBA, and with a lot of prospects coming up and young players in the league, this list could change every season!
Here are my ranking for my NBA's top 7 players coming into this season...
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1) Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is well known for being one of the best players in the league for many years. The new Nets player has got a lot of pressure on him coming into the season, the question is will he step up to the challenge or will he crumble under the lights in Brooklyn? Durant is one of, if not the best scorer of all time. Kevin Durant has had a great past with good teams, either starting his career with a young Harden and a young Westbrook, to winning rings with Steph Curry on Golden State. You can call him a ring chaser but 2 finals MVPs don't lie, he is the star of any team he joins.
With Kevin Durant about to start the season with James Harden and maybe Kyrie Irving, the odds are looking very likely for great success coming to the south side of New York. Durant is known for being a scorer and he's going to bring points to Brooklyn coming off an average of 26.9 points in 35 games last season, and that's coming back from an achilles injury! There's no doubt the 11 time all star is not going to crumble, with the goal of bringing a NBA championship to Brooklyn!
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2) Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo also known as "The Greek Freak" is well known around the NBA. Giannis is 6' 11'' but can move like he's a guard. The 2 time MVP is just coming off a NBA championship is looking to bring another one to Milwaukee. Coming very close to the one spot as well, Giannis is working on his game this offseason shown on the media Giannis is improving his form and can now shoot the 3 quite well, a huge improvement from last year. Giannis is a scorer at heart but can also rebound the ball as good as many centers in the league.
With all these stats going his way the main question with Giannis is, can he run it back? Will his team perform up to the level with the newly stacked eastern conference? Only time can tell but I think Giannis will step up to the challenge coming off a great season of, 28 points,11 rebounds, and 6 assists with the MVP and DPOY award under his belt as well. He's looking great coming into the season! Even though he isn't an all around scorer like Durant he is going to be scary to guard this season, watch out for the Greek Freak!
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3) Stephen Curry
Wardell Curry, also known as Stephen Curry, is one of the best shooters in NBA history if not the best. Stephen Curry the reigning scoring champion scoring 32 points per game, is one of the best point guard the league has to offer, with great shooting and handles to create space with his defender. Coming off his play in game loss Stephen Curry is going to have a revenge season, he's going to show why he is the best point guard in the league. What does he have to prove? Stephen Curry has nothing to prove, however he needs to show to lead his injury set roster to another playoff appearance like last year.
With the come back of Klay Thompson and the 2 new rookies to the roster of Moses and Kuminga, Steph Curry is going to lead his team to great success. Why is he so high up on the list people might ask? Steph has a history of winning, showing his 3 rings leading one and playing along side Kevin Durant for the other 2 he is a champion. Did he get outperformed by his teammates? Is that why he has these rings? Absolutely not! Stephen Curry is a 2 team MVP, 1 being unanimous, that's insane. Stephen Curry is also a 7 time All NBA player and 7 time all star. Stephen Curry has shown he can score at will. Watch out for Steph Curry, the 3 point sniper!
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4) LeBron James
LeBron James, some people love him some people hate him. LeBron the 4 time champion, 4 time MVP, 4 time finals MVP being hated? Maybe because he's just on another level for some people maybe it's his flopping antics. Love LeBron or hate him he is one of the best players to stand on a NBA basketball court. LeBron coming from Cleveland Ohio, to Los Angles California is a big change of scenery outside, but on the inside of the court he has the same goal, winning. LeBron's newly formed "super team" on the Lakers have the people wondering, will LeBron take that backseat role? Will Westbrook and Davis effect his stats for this coming season?
No, LeBron James is great moving off the ball but when he has that ball in his hands he can do it all. LeBron can drive to the basketball, pass the ball extremely well, and even shoot the ball with great consistency. Why so low on the list? He's one of the best players of all time, why is he this low? Some people think that he's still the best in the league but the main truth is people are starting to surpass him, because of his old age he doesn't seem to be slowing down but others are starting to turn it up. With a great Lakers team coming into the season it's time to see what LeBron can do. Is this the decent of LeBron James, or will he show everyone that he still has some things to prove and lead the Lakers to there 18th championship!
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5) Luka Doncic
The NBA has a lot of huge upcoming young stars, with players like Trae Young, Cade Cunningham, and Jalen Green coming to mind. But let's all be honest when you think young star there is that one name that will always come to mind, his name, Luka Doncic. Luka is 22 years old and what has he done in the league so far? 2 All NBA first team selection and 2 time NBA all star starter. The stats don't lie either Luka Doncic has almost averaged a triple double for 2 years straight and has only been in the league for 3 years! The main fact remember is he is only 22, what is his future looking like?
I think Luka will one day become the MVP of the league sooner rather than later, he's just got the talent to prove it. With the past season averaging 27.7 points, 8.6 assists, and 8 rebounds a game, that's insane! I could go on and on about how Luka is a great player but really, why is he on the list? Isn't he too young. When you are 22 years old and being compared to LeBron James already I don't think there is such thing as too young in the NBA, for example Derrick Rose winning MVP at the age of 22, so too young is out of the question. Luka has a lot on his shoulders coming into the season being the only all star on the Dallas Mavericks. However they have great pieces around Luka for example Porzingis and Hardaway Jr. Many players on this list have a huge background of awards but Luka is at the age with the 3 years he's been in the league and the awards he's got, him being on the list had to be done!
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6) Nikola Jokic
NBA draft, 2015. A Taco Bell add rolling through everyone's TV. But when this ad was going on the Denver Nuggets with the 41st pick in the second round of the NBA draft the selected Nikola Jokic. Guess he wasn't the best prospect then because they didn't care to broadcast right? Wrong, Nikola Jokic aka "The Joker" was soon to be the MVP of the league. The 26 year old center from Serbia took home the award after an incredible season in which he averaged 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists per game while leading the Nuggets to the third seed in the West.
Even though suffering the 2nd round exit to the Suns in the playoffs Jokic showed that he could lead this Nuggets team to greatness. Nikola Jokic is one of, if not the best center in the league. He may not be the most dominant center in the paint but he makes up for it in so many different aspects. Shooting? check, rebounding? check, don't even get me started about this big man's playmaking! Jokic is one of the best playmakers in the league and he's a center! Jokic is one of the most unselfish players, getting his teammates involved and getting his own in the process. The Joker is no joke and is going to be a dangerous sight in this upcoming season. He and the Nuggets are going to be a dangerous sight this season, watch out!
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7) Damian Lillard
For the last on the list we are going to talk about a guy that has stayed committed to the Portland Trailblazers for his whole career. You don't see this very often staying with one team. Even with the success of the team hasn't been that good almost his whole career. But that doesn't stop "Dame Dolla" from getting his buckets. Lillard is a 5 time all star, 6 time all NBA, and one ROTY award, but other than that hasn't really got any team awards because he doesn't have much help. But for him to be on this ranking team is a factor, and Lillard is one of the best point guards in the league and I don't think I could keep him off this list. Lillard is known for long range shooting and some nice flashy dunks too. It's good when your point guard can shoot and get to the rim with ease and he nails both of those things.
Lillard hasn't made it far in the play offs quite yet but with the off season work he has put in being shown by the media, this could be the turning point for the Portland franchise. With all these players if their team isn't performing wanting a move, Lillard could become one of the main people being talked about around a trade! Would Lillard be better on a different team? We don't know but we do know where ever Lillard is he's going to get his buckets, and give us some logo shots while he's at it!
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