NBA Players: Tier 1
“The talent in the Association has never been greater. Role players make shots that former generations wouldn’t even think of attempting. With that being said, there’s levels to this. The best players in the NBA hold a large gap in talent compared to their counterparts. We’ll be going through Tier 1:Current NBA Players in the league, these individuals can be the Best Player on a Championship Team”
13. Jayson Tatum
I believe Jayson Tatum will take the necessary leap next season, allowing him to be the second youngest player in this category. Tatum is an old soul. He faced off against LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals...in his rookie season. He reminds me of pre-injury Tracy McGrady. Although he does not have the same athleticism/explosiveness, the tough shot making ability they both possess is eerily similar.
Seeing Devin Booker rise to the occasion in this year's playoffs has only solidified my position on JT. Players who can consistently hit tough buckets and excel in the mid range thrive in the postseason, thus rendering defensive adjustments useless.
Jayson Tatum is currently training for the Tokyo Olympics with other All-Stars
Kevin Durant
Damian Lillard
Bradley Beal
Bam Adebayo
Playing and competing day in and day out with your contemporaries only makes you better. Iron sharpens iron. With Jaylen Brown returning from injury, along with a new front office regime, I expect the Celtics to be in the thick of the championship arms race in the Eastern Conference. Jayson Tatum dropped a 50 ball on a fully healthy Brooklyn Nets team.
I rest my case.
Photo From: Bullets Forever
12. Chris Paul
CP3 is an All-Timer. I did not believe 2 years ago that he still belonged in this Tier. What we have seen him accomplish in both Oklahoma City and Phoenix is more than impressive. You may be wondering how someone who does not average 20 points per game makes this list...it’s not about the gaudy numbers.
LeBron and Chris Paul are the last two true pioneers of their generation. So much of the game is about being one step ahead, it’s a chess match. Bron and CP have shown time and time again, they will exploit a player on defense possession after possession, until an adjustment is made. Whether it be Lou Williams or Brook Lopez, a screen and roll to have them as the main defender will occur. It’s quite genius.
In Game 4 of the Finals, Chris Paul sold. Let’s just get the elephant out of the room. If Chris Paul squanders this 2-0 series lead to the Bucks and loses this series…he might as well just retire. This is his only Finals appearance in his career, the Suns chances to make it back next season become exponentially higher. It is now or never. Devin Booker gave the Suns 42, he did his job. His 3rd quarter was for the ages. If Chris Paul scores 20 points they win that game.
He has been known for his ball control. Chris Paul does not turn the ball over, or so I thought. His 5 turnovers in Game 4 all seemed to be in untimely moments that swung the game. I was staring at the TV wondering “Is it just me…or can Chris Paul not dribble a basketball right now?”.
Luckily, the Suns head back to Phoenix for Game 5. I believe whoever wins this game, will ultimately win the series.
Who will step up? It’s a best of 3 series. The Larry O’B is waiting.
Photo From: Sky Sports
11. Damian Lillard
DameTime in Portland seems to be running out. Cryptic messages and quotes from Damian Lillard have left Blazers fans worrying they could lose their franchise player in the future. The argument for Dame to be in Tier: 1 is not worth having. We are seeing around the league that good teams are only getting better. A fully healthy Blazers team (exception for Zach Collins) could not beat a Jamal Murray-less Nuggets. Who then got swept by the Suns! There’s levels to this. He needs more help.
CJ McCollum falls into Tier: 3, players that can be the 3rd best contributor on a championship team. In Game 6 of the 1st Round, Damian Lillard dropped 55 on the Nuggets, scoring from everywhere on the court. Dame’s heat checks had heat checks, Austin Rivers was getting mixed. Even with this Herculean effort, the Blazers still lost to a balanced Nuggets offense.
I respect the hell out of Dame. Sticking to his roots and wanting to bring a chip to the city of Portland. However, there comes a point in every superstar’s career where they must evaluate their past, in order to make a decision for their future.
How much longer will Dame stay on the Grind?
Will the Marathon in Portland continue? Or will a new city be blessed with his generational talent…
Photo From: CBS Sports
10. Joel Embiid
It was incredibly hard to determine where Joel Embiid would place on this list. Number 10 seems a bit low, however, a great case could be made for every individual before him. Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are far and away the two best centers in the league. Although they impact the game in different ways, both result in winning.
The Sixers absolutely underachieved this postseason. After finishing 1st in the Eastern Conference, they flamed out in the 2nd round against a young, inexperienced Atlanta Hawks team. Joel Embiid played on a partially torn meniscus and still averaged 30 - 10. The turnover issue with Joel is why he is not higher. Careless mistakes led to 4 and 5 point swings in favor of the Hawks.
His running mate showed he should not be the Number 2 on a championship contender. Ben Simmons was abysmal, and that was still a euphemism. Embiid was visibly frustrated after their Game 7 loss, citing Ben Simmons passing up a layup as the turning point of the game.
Philadelphia has work to do. I believe both of these stars have run their course, their time together is dwindling. Imagine if the James Harden for Simmons trade was completed, the Sixers could be in the Finals. Oh to dream...the Sixers would be lucky to get an All-Star back in a Ben Simmons trade.
Photo From: Bleacher Report
9. Anthony Davis
Don’t let an injury laden season be the reason Anthony Davis dropped on your list. Last season, AD proved that he can impact the offensive and defensive side of the ball like no other big in the league. His mid range touch and ball handling ability allow him to utilize every area of the court.
Game 2: WCF Nuggets vs Lakers
The AD game. He took over down the stretch, taking on arguably the best center in the league (Nikola Jokic). He showed the clutch gene.
4th Quarter. Lakers down.
AD flares back to the left wing and drains a three in Jokic’ eye. Facial.
To make it even better, AD yelled “Kobe!” in celebration!
Anthony Davis runs the floor, protects the paint, and maybe best of all...is not a liability when switched onto a guard. His lateral movement allows him to stifle any and all shots in his vicinity.
A calf and groin injury greatly limited AD’s impact on both sides of the floor. His lateral movement was compromised due to his groin, along with his elite athleticism and spring. I love and applaud what the Phoenix Suns have done in this year's playoffs. But let’s not kid ourselves. A healthy Anthony Davis would have resulted in the Sun's losing in 6 games.
Anthony Davis is a generational talent at Power Forward. His guard-like skills rival that of other great power forwards, but he needs the hardware to back his claim. In New Orleans he did not have the pieces, now he does. Going into this 2021-2022 season there are no excuses, expect the Los Angeles Lakers to bounce back strong.
Photo From: Orange County Register
8. Thirteen Strippers James Harden
I’ll be the first to tell you, James Harden should not have been in the MVP conversation prior to his hamstring injury. It would be heinous to reward someone for flat out giving up on their team due to them wanting out. This is not a take that a “casual” would have. Harden’s former Rockets teammates were disgruntled, even having harsh words to say about his lack of effort.
Let’s not get it twisted. A healthy and locked in James Harden is a Top 10 Player in the NBA. Harden has all the hardware and accolades, except for that elusive Larry O’B. After the Nets trade, Harden averaged a staggering 24.6 Ppg - 10.9 Assists - 8.5 Reb on the highest efficiency of his entire career. Harden was fitting in. Kyrie became a scoring off-guard, handing over the ball handling and playmaking responsibilities to Harden. I would've loved to see Harden and Embiid in Philly, but this will suffice.
Harden and CP3 were able to take the Durant Warriors to 7 games, proving to the NBA that there was a chink in the armor. Now, Harden has more help…and the Slim Reaper himself. I expect Harden to average a near triple double next season, as the recovering Nets look to make a deep run in the postseason.
Why isn’t Harden higher?
Harden should not receive slander for losing the Golden State KD series, but he has much more red on his leger. The following season after losing in Game 7, the Rockets and Warriors faced off again. In Game 5, KD went down with an achilles injury. If there was ever a time to make it to the Finals and punch an injured Warriors in the mouth, it was then. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson walked into the Toyota Center and buried the Rockets in 6. This is just one example of not showing up in the big moment. The players ahead of Harden are stamped, we’ve seen them rise to the occasion.
Photo From: The Ringer
7. Kawhi Leonard
If you’re looking at this in frustration, asking yourself why do you read these articles if the author has Kawhi at 7...just hear me out.
Yes, Kawhi Leonard is a 2x Finals MVP
Yes, Kawhi looked like the best remaining player in the playoffs pre knee injury
But similarly to the Clippers organization, it seems as if he only turns it on when they have their backs against the walls. When you’re playing against Ty Lue, the series doesn’t start until he’s down 0-2. He seems like the person to hike with 40 pounds of rocks in their bag, just because they want to feel the extra pain. If Kawhi and the Clippers could start the series how they end them, they’d be hoisting a Larry O’B.
Kawhi is still a defensive stalwart, however, it is apparent that there is now a switch that must be turned on to activate it. In Toronto and San Antonio, Kawhi Leonard was undoubtedly the best two-way player in the game. Possession in and possession out, Kawhi would take on the toughest defensive challenge. Those days are in the past. In the 1st Round of the playoffs, Luka Doncic was putting up historic numbers. The Clippers refused to put Kawhi on Luka in the first two games, resulting in Pat Bev, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris getting bullied into an 0-2 deficit.
The adjustment was made, and Kawhi put on a masterclass performance in both Games 6 & 7 to advance to the next round. He looked like the Kawhi of old.
After recent news, having Kawhi at 7 seems even more appropriate than before. He recently had surgery to repair a partially torn ACL.
Due to this injury occurring so late in the season, his return for the 2021-2022 season is up in the air. If Kawhi does return, it will be to help a Clippers team looking to scrap into the playoffs. The West is coming back reloaded, so far the Clippers gamble on Kawhi and PG hasn’t paid off.
It is completely fair to assume we won’t see a fully healthy Kawhi Leonard for nearly 2 seasons.
This recent news brings up the question, do you value ability…or availability?
Photo From: Basketball Society
6. Nikola Jokic
The Joker falls in at 6. Joel Embiid is great, Nikola Jokic is the best center in the Association. His ability to make his teammates better is comparable to LeBron James. Many critics/skeptics of Jokic’s game are taking him for granted.
Nikola Jokic is widely considered the best passing big man of all-time, despite not even being in the league for 10 seasons. His ascension came quickly, as the Nuggets were making a decision between him and Jusuf Nurkic.
The 1-2 action between Murray and Jokic causes every team problems. They both have the ability to be either the screener or roller. We saw these DHO’s accentuated in the bubble playoffs when they took down the Jazz, upset the Clippers, and gave the Lakers a run for their money. With Jamal Murray’s season ending injury, Jokic’ workload increased to an almost insurmountable weight. With an undermanned team, he was able to still lead the Nuggets to a 1st Round victory against the Blazers in 6.
Jokic had to play point and center, as Campazzo showed he can have great and equally terrible performances in the postseason.
Nikola is also underrated as a shot maker. His style of play and mannerisms on the court make it seem as if he is being lackadaisical or not putting out maximum effort. The exact opposite is the case, Jokic has a deceptively quick first step, enabling him to dictate how a certain play will go.
He has all the tools in the box when it comes to low post scoring. Whether it be aggressive backdowns on smaller defenders, drop steps, or killer pump fakes that earn him a trip to the charity stripe…The Joker is always in control.
It all comes down to this, when Jokic is on my team, I know I’m getting 3 things:
Getting opposing PF’s & C’s in foul trouble
Offensive 2nd chance points
Efficient shot 90% of possessions
Nikola Jokic gets the nod over Kawhi. Not only because of the 3-1 comeback, but also, his durability. The Serbian MVP played all 82 regular season games for the Nuggets, showing that availability is one of his strengths. No matter how good Kawhi, Embiid, etc may be...it doesn’t mean an oz of shit if they are cheering their team on in street clothes. Jokic at 6.
Photo From: The SportsRush
5. Luka the Don
Going into writing this, I expect this take to receive the most backlash. Luka Doncic is a 22 year old putting up numbers that All-Time Pantheon Players could only dream of.
I know your rebuttal, “But the league has changed and stats are inflated”.
That is true. However, Luka’s impact would translate to every NBA era. His 6’9 frame allows him to be a point forward. What’s so impressive about Luka is his pace of play. It always seems as if both teams are playing at a speed which Luka controls.
Look around the league. Look at the talent, then take a look at the Dallas Mavericks. The league is comprised of duos and trios:
Lakers (AD - Bron)
Nuggets (Jokic - Murray)
Nets (Harden - KAI - KD)
Bucks (Middleton - Holiday - Giannis)
Suns (Ayton, Booker, CP3)
Celtics (Jaylen Brown - Jayson Tatum)
Luka is one of the only superstars in the NBA without a consistent 2nd man. Tim Hardaway Jr. proved to be a sniper in the playoffs, however you cannot rely on his consistent shooting throughout an entire NBA season. Luka doesn’t even have a fringe All-Star guy.
I won’t lie. At first, I was a huge advocate of the Porzingis trade going in favor of the Mavs, I could not have been more wrong. Kristaps’ consistent injuries and dissatisfaction with his role on the team have put the Mavs in a tough spot.
Mark Cuban needs to find a way to flip Porzingis and his atrocious contract. The question is…which team will be dumb enough to take the dolled up trade package that Dallas will inevitably offer?
What is Luka’s reward for leading his team to the playoffs?
Playing arguably the best two, two way players in the league [Paul George, Kawhi Leonard]. To put it bluntly, Luka ate them for lunch.
Here are Luka’s Playoff Averages:
2019-2020: 31.0 ppg - 8.7 Ast - 9.8 Reb
2020-2021: 35.7 ppg - 10.3 Ast - 7.9 Reb
You’d have to imagine that if Luka got a reliable running mate the league would be in a heap of trouble. He is outplaying the best superstars in the NBA in head to head matchups night in and night out. Don’t let his age fool you. Luka has been playing professional basketball in the 2nd best league in the world for years. If the beginning of the Olympic exhibitions have shown you anything, it’s that European players are hoopers too.
Luka doesn’t have the hardware that others below him might be sporting. Regardless, if I’m starting a team…I’m taking Luka Doncic over Load Management Leonard and James Harden.
Give Luka a co-star like AD, Kyrie, Klay, etc. and the conversation turns from 1st round exit, to possible dynasty.
Luka at 5. Debate your mother.
Photo From: Dallas Morning News
4. Stephen Curry
We’ll keep this short. Steph changed the game. Before the Warriors took the reigns of the NBA, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs reigned supreme. Two teams that were not known for their three point shooting. The Warriors changed the way people think, play and strategize basketball. Facts are facts, 3 is bigger than 2.
The Splash Brothers showed the league just how hard it was to beat them, going 73-9 in the regular season. Three pointers are so deadly, they can swing games in a snap of a finger. The Warriors 15-0 runs were common, as it only took one of their many stars to get hot from the floor.
Modern NBA defenses can’t play Steph 1 on 1. The play will either result in a bucket or free throws...guaranteed. Steph controls his offense by his off-ball movement, forcing teams to chase, ultimately messing up their defensive rotations. Steph is a 3 time NBA Champion. I’ll be the first to tell you the Warriors cheated the league for 3 years by adding Kevin Durant, but that hardware still shines the same.
Klay Thompson looks healthy and ready for this upcoming NBA season. The league will welcome him back with open arms. With Kawhi being sidelined indefinitely due to a torn ACL, a spot has opened up in the West. The Warriors look to take advantage. Giannis and Steph are very close, it goes either way.
Every NBA fan should be excited for the Warriors making a comeback, the league is better when the Splash Brothers are showboating in the 2nd quarter.
Photo From: ABC 7 San Fransisco
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak. Giannis’ parents are both from Nigeria, he was the first generation of the family born in Greece. Too many people focus on what he can’t do well, instead of congratulating him for everything else he excels at.
A light switched on inside of Giannis during this postseason. He made the decision to attack the basket relentlessly, knowing 9 times out of 10 it would result in a good outcome for his team. I’ve always said that Giannis has no bag. He is the one superstar who is lacking of a late game, go-to move. Instead of a bag, Giannis has a coin purse. He sticks to what he’s good at, and plays within himself.
These NBA Finals are a perfect example of his Pantheon Potential. He would become one of the youngest Finals MVPs in NBA History to also have multiple League MVP Awards. In Game 4 of the Finals, most viewers would say Giannis had an overall pedestrian game.
He finished with 26- 14 - 8. Even on an off-night, he’s still giving you all-time numbers.
Giannis is a hybrid between Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O’Neal. His frame and body type resemble that of the Big Ticket, however his relentlessness and efficiency in the paint can only be described as modern day Shaq.
The Block
The block in Game 4 by Giannis is an all-timer. He covered the Devin Booker screen and roll and recovered in just enough time to block the Ayton alley-oop. The Suns were down 2, this play would’ve tied it up with under a minute remaining. After this denial, Khris Middleton converts on a tough, acrobatic layup over a contesting (7th foul) Devin Booker.
This was the play of the series, a 4 point swing to permanently put the game away. The Bucks have all the momentum. Chris Paul is Number 12 on this list for a reason. His playoff history is marred by all time stinkers like he had in Game 4. He has the opportunity to climb higher on the ladder.
Giannis can also ascend in the hierarchy of NBA royalty. Giannis is an anomaly. Like Dame, he chose to stay. He did not want to take the easy way out. The relationships that were cultivated with players, staff and fans are everlasting…he wants to win the chip for them. If Giannis can win this NBA Finals after being down 0-2, this will be remembered as “The Giannis Year” when he proved that he is on the level with other All-Time Greats at his position.
Photo From: Sporting News
2. LeBron James
There’s really not much to say about The King. He has held the Number 1 spot for over a decade, however, it seems as if Kevin Durant has finally eclipsed him.
The blame should not be focused on LeBron for the Lakers 1st Round loss against the Suns. His running mate was injured and to make matters worse, every single Lakers shooter (except for Bron) shot worse in the playoffs than the regular season. The Lakers will look to reload for next season to make another push at the Finals.
LeBron is still playing at an elite level, but there are more superteams on the horizon, the time is now. I hope we get to see one final matchup between Bron and KD in the Finals.
The NBA needs this one.
Photo From: CBS Sports
1. Kevin Durant
Snake Durant has zero rings. No matter what team you root for, you have to concede that the league was taken hostage by the Warriors for 3 NBA Seasons. Let the record remember that Kevin Durant joined the team that he lost a 3-1 lead to.
He blamed the series loss and ultimate departure from Oklahoma City on the lack of playmaking and basketball IQ on his basketball team. There seemed to be no problem when he was up 3-1…
But that’s nor here or there. Objectively, Kevin Durant is currently the best player in the NBA. We saw him mix Giannis Antetokounmpo into a pull up jumper like it was nothing. Watching Kevin Durant is a spiritual experience. No one else on planet Earth can match him on tough shot making.
The Bucks series showed his entire repertoire. He had to take over playmaking, defensive and offensive shot making duties on his team.
Game 5 was the best performance of his life. He finished with 49 - 17 - 10, including the dagger at the end of the game while the shot clock was winding down. Durant had his game for the ages. He eliminated his demons from Golden State. Kevin Durant proved that he could carry a team when he does not have the king's ransom of help by his side.
Yes, I know. He did not win the series, but there’s no denying if the Nets had one of their co-stars fully healthy...this series would have been over in six. His peers think the same, he’s a walking bucket.
In 7 months time, I could be apologizing to the world for saying a statement that turned out to be false. But fuck it. I think KD has passed Bron.
Lebron Career > Kevin Durant Career
Current LeBron < Current Durant
Photo From: amNewYork
If you have any objections to this list, feel free to let us know. Contact us through our social media, or through our website in CONTACT under the MORE tab!
Preesh, till next time….anything you want to read about. Follow Instructions Above.