Brandon Jackson

What is the game of basketball?

A game you try to win by scoring (or assisting your teammates in scoring) the most points putting a ball through a hoop, and stopping your opponent from doing the same.

The best players in the world are the ones that can do one, two, or a combination of all three of these things at an elite level. When it comes to ranking players on an individual level, the only thing that should be taken into account is their ability to perform in these aspects of the game.

If you want to rank players individually, you can not use team statistics to either hinder or boost an argument. There are many great players in the NBA who will never win a championship, and that is okay. It does not take away from the greatness of a player if they don’t win, because there are many other factors that contribute to winning a championship.

With that in mind, I have ranked the best players in the NBA using Carmelo Anthony as a starting point. ESPN has been doing their #NBARank for years now, and this year decided to list Carmelo Anthony at #64. Meaning there are 63 players in the NBA better at basketball than him, including ones that haven’t played yet.

Anthony’s ranking annoyed me because, yes, he is my favorite NBA player, and because there cannot possibly be 63 more talented basketball players currently in the league.

With that being said, and being objective as I can, I believe Carmelo Anthony should be #16.

I know you think I’m biased. That’s okay. I truly believe this is his ranking. At the moment, not talking about potential or team statistics, Melo is the sixteenth best player in the NBA. He is still an elite scorer at all three levels, post, midrange, and 3 pt. He is a factor that you have to pay attention to. His defense has never been great, and at this point he can just be passable as a power forward defensively.

He is the cut-off point when talking about great players that do most of their work on one side of the ball. Anyone below him isn’t good enough at their respective craft to be considered a “great” player.

#15 Blake Griffin, #14 Kyrie Irving, #13 Damian Lillard, #12 Jimmy Butler

This group of players are exceptional on one side of the ball. Griffin isn’t that much of a 3-pt shooter, but the offense can run through him in the post and in the midrange game.

Irving and Lillard are elite offensive players, with Lillard getting the edge because of his superior passing ability. Both of their defensive abilities keep them from cracking the top 10.

And Butler is a fantastic two-way player, but his defense is what gets him so high on the list. He can absolutely guard your best wing player, and then give him 20 points easily on the other side.

#11 John Wall, #10 Draymond Green, #9 Paul George

The members of this group all have all around games that make them tough to gameplan against. Wall can lead an offense, start a break with his defense, finish that same break with his speed, and knock down a clutch shot.

Green can do everything at an exceptional level except score, and even then he is a very capable scorer.

George is a fantastic athlete, great 3-pt shooter,  and an unbelievable defender.

#8 Chris Paul, #7 Anthony Davis, #6 James Harden, #5 Kawhi Leonard

With this group, all you need is one word to describe them, and they are all fundamental parts of the game.

Paul: passing. Davis: defense. Harden: scoring. Leonard: DEFENSE.

Obviously there are more to these guys’ games than one word, or they wouldn’t be ranked this high. But it’s a pretty good descriptor of all 4.

#4 Steph Curry, #3 Russell Westbrook

The next four players on this list have all changed the game of basketball in some shape or form. Steph Curry has revolutionized the 3-pt shot, to the point that highschoolers are shooting from half-court on secondary fast-breaks. It’s crazy.

He is such a great shooter, that he can manipulate and curve defenses from while just thinking about shooting the basketball. Add on top of that he can finish in the lane, draw fouls, and hit free throws at a record rate. He also is one of the best and most willing passers in the game. his defense leaves a little to be desired, but it’s acceptable to give up 25 points on one end when you can score 50 at a moment’s notice.

Russell Westbrook is a walking triple-double. Whether or not you think he tried to pad his stats is irrelevant. He can’t be stopped when he wants to get to the rim. He is one of the best finishers in the world when he does get to the rim. He rebounds his position unlike anyone since Jason Kidd, and before that Magic Johnson. He plays well on defense, but can freelance and get into trouble at times.

Westbrook is also not that great of a jump shooter. He makes up for this with an uncanny ability to get to the paint. When his athleticism leaves him, I’m not sure what kind of player he’ll be. But currently, it makes him the third best player in the NBA.

#2 J.R. Smith

Hennything is possible. Just Kidding.

#2 Kevin Durant 

Kevin Durant is a 7-foot shooting guard, basically. But he can also protect the rim. It doesn’t make sense at all. Someone his size should not be able to handle the ball as well as he does, move as well, defend as well, and be one of the best jump shooters ever.

Kevin Durant is the best scorer on planet Earth, and it really isn’t even close. If your live depended on someone 1-on-1 making a shot, Durant would have to be the pick. You may say Curry, but what if Kawhi Leonard is guarding him? Durant can score on anyone.

He can pull up from 40 feet. He can rise over you in the midrange. He can take you off the dribble and lay it up. He can take you off the dribble and dunk on your center. He can take you off the dribble, dunk on your center, draw the foul, and make the free throw. He can take….never mind, you get the point.

Kevin Durant is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. And would be the best player in the league if it wasn’t for some kid from Akron, OH.

#1 LeBron James

I don’t or shouldn’t have to plead his case for best currently in the NBA. I should be making his case for best ever, but that’s for a different day. Somehow, LeBron James is simultaneously the best Small Forward, Power Forward, and Point Guard in the NBA right now.

Everything I said about Russell Westbrook applies to LeBron. Plus he’s one of the best passers of all-time. And he can be one of the best defenders in the game as well. LeBron is a streaky shooter, but when he gets hot he is literally impossible to guard.

There you have it, my top 16 #NBARank. With respect to a lot of players that didn’t make this list, namely Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and most of all, Giannis Antetokounmpo, I believe I’ll see you on my list next year.