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Earlier this month, we talked about the best players in the East of the NBA after LeBron left Cleveland. Now let's focus on the better conference. It is no secret that the Western Conference is filled with more talent. The vast majority of "super teams" are found in the West, which will make the conference standings tighter, creating further arguments against the current playoff format.
The Western Conference has become so synonymous with talent, that current fans and executives alike are arguing for the playoffs to be based off a 1 through 16 record, rather than via separate conferences. This time it's going to be harder to rank the top 10 talent because of the stiffer competition.
Notable omissions: DeMarcus Cousins and Kawhi Leonard
Does anyone know what's happening with Kawhi Leonard? He missed the entire season with a minor injury and has made it publicly clear he does not want to put on the Spurs uniform ever again. There are rumours he may get traded to other teams in the West like the Lakers or Clippers, but there are also rumours he may get traded to the East to the Celtics or 76ers. For now, he is a Spur, but because there are so many trade rumours surrounding his home for next year, he will be left off the list.
For DeMarcus Cousins, he is coming off one of the worst injuries a basketball player can suffer. A torn Achilles has ruined many NBA player's games, and for that reason, we don't know what to expect from DeMarcus for this upcoming season, and so he too will not be on the list.
Honourable Mention: Karl-Anthony Towns
KAT is only 22 years old. That should scare the league. At the age of 22, he made his first All-Star appearance and came off a season averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds, and a player efficiency rating of 25. There was a time where people were debating who should go number one overall in the draft: Towns or Okafor. Clearly, Minnesota made the right choice by picking the franchise big man.
There is one glaring flaw to his game: Defence. The Timberwolves have always been a team who have struggled defensively, and Towns is one of the reasons for that with his inability to keep up with other big men. There are questions about his work ethic, and not getting along with Jimmy Butler. He needs to mature as a player, and learn the work required to become an elite two-way centre on the same tier as Anthony Davis. He is still very young and has plenty of time to improve.
10. Klay Thompson
We begin with the third scoring option of the best team ever assembled in NBA history. Klay Thompson has proven that he is arguably a top 10 greatest shooter of all-time. His scoring and larger frame allows him to be dominant against smaller guards on the offensive end.
What's underrated about Klay's game is his defence. He is one of the best two-way wings in the game and gives 110% effort on both ends of the court. If Klay is ever having an off-night shooting wise, he can rely on Curry and Durant to take over the offensive load, while he makes up for his misses on defence. He has become the most underrated Warrior, but it must be stated that he is a capable primary scorer on any other team.
This past season his numbers did drop. He averaged 20 points, but that is his fourth consecutive year where he has averaged 20+ point per game season. It is important to remember his stats offensively are not a good representation of his talent because he is the third scoring option on his team. Thompson is a free agent next summer, maybe he will look to become the star of his own team?
9. Paul George
The newest member of the Los Angeles La.....oh wait...
Many fans were surprised that George did not sign with the Lakers this summer, after showing a desire to play there only one year ago. Regardless of where he plays, there is no denying that Paul George is one of the best wing players in the game.
It seems like his value has been overshadowed by his teammate, Russell Westbrook, but don't forget George is a 5-time All-Star, a 4-time All-NBA third team talent, a 2-time All-Defensive second team player, and he has been named in the All-Defensive first team once in 2014.
His resume is very impressive but his numbers and his play from this past season are definitely worse than his prior seasons. This is to be expected due to playing alongside Westbrook. The Western Conference is tough. The Thunder need to improve from their "super-team" from last year, and hopefully, they can go past the first round.
8. Jimmy Butler
Depending on who you talk to, Butler and George can be swapped on this list. Both of them have established themselves as top-tier two-way wings. I have Butler higher than George based off their playing levels last year.
Butler struggled to get minutes with Thibodeau back in the early Chicago Bulls days. Once he established himself as a starter, he has only elevated his game further as each season passes. This past season in Minnesota, he put up similar stats as he did in his last year in Chicago, showing the change in environment and team culture does not take away from his impact on the game.
He averaged 22 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game with a player efficiency rating of 23.70. He has a couple of All-NBA third team mentions, is a 4-time All-Star, and he is a 4 time All-NBA Defensive second team. There are rumours that Butler wants to leave Minnesota to go back to the East and play for a big market team like the Knicks. For now, he will look to lead Minnesota deeper in the playoffs.
7. Damian Lillard
The best NBA rapper right now falls to number 7 on the best players in the West. It may seem too low for the MVP candidate, but the six names ahead of him are inarguably better. This only shows how much talent there is in the West.
Lillard has established himself as one of the most clutch players in the league. He is a prime example of a victim of the considerable talent in the Western Conference. For two consecutive seasons prior to 2018, he was the most notable omission from the Western Conference All-Star team. This did spark a lot of outrage, as Damian Lillard is a scoring point guard who is very versatile on offence and can give you 25+ points on any given night.
Lillard drew some MVP rumblings this season with Portland's sudden surge to near the top of the conference. However, in the playoffs is where the Trailblazers have struggled. Lillard and McCollum need to step up next year in the playoffs, if not, one or both of them could be traded to reboot this organization.
6. Russell Westbrook
![Image result for westbrook]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/16a89-1531774813-800.jpg)
The walking triple-double is guilty of stat chasing. This has been proven and shown with Westbrook's style of play at certain moments of the game. Unfortunately, his label of being a stat chaser has earned him a reputation of being a player who can never lead a team to win a championship.
That is where it becomes unfair and unjustified. If stat chasing is so easy then everyone would do it. Westbrook is talented, and he is arguably a top 3 point guard in the league right now. His athleticism and passing skills are at an elite level and this allows him to make a major impact on the game. He is difficult to play with, but he is still one of the top players in the game.
Victor Oladipo gave a lot of credit to being inspired by Westbrook prior to his breakout season. If Westbrook can lead the Thunder deep in the playoffs with the help of Paul George, he could very well be higher on this list.
5. Steph Curry
The greatest shooter of All-time. Curry's rise to fame has been fun to watch, as the Warriors were able to find many complimentary players to highlight his ridiculous skill and shooting range.
People sometimes say Steph Curry is only a shooter, which is false. Shooting is just one facet of his game. It is a pretty big facet, but we should still remember his ball-handling, passing, and his creativity near the basket are all part of his game. All you need to know about his resume is that he is a two-time MVP and a three-time NBA Champion.
Unfortunately for him, Kevin Durant coming to the Golden State Warriors has reduced his impact on the game and his extraordinary skill may sometimes get overshadowed. With his team being as dominant as it is, it looks like he could be adding a few more championships under his belt. Curry has cemented himself a spot as one of the best players to ever touch the hardwood, and he will continue to rise in those discussions as the years go by.
4. Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is the best big man in the NBA and arguably a top 10 overall player in the league right now. It seems like he has been in the league forever, but he is only 24 years old. He isn't even in his prime yet, and he has already established himself as an MVP calibre player.
The Brow is coming off a season where he averaged 28 points, 11 rebounds, 2.6 blocks per game, and a Player Efficiency Rating of 29. His incredible two-way ability is what puts him ahead of his peers. He led his the Cousins-less Pelicans to the second round of the playoffs, and that's where he drew many MVP conversations. He had many monstrous games where he put up over 40 points and 15 rebounds, and he will only improve as he gets older.
Injuries have always been a concern surrounding Anthony Davis, but, assuming he stays healthy, he could be an MVP candidate and a potential winner in the next few seasons.
3. James Harden
After two consecutive seasons of being the runner-up, James Harden finally was able to capture the MVP award for the 2017-18 NBA season. His numbers did drop from last year, but that is to be expected when the Rockets added Chris Paul. This did not stop him from averaging a monstrous 30 points and close to 9 assists per game.
Harden often gets accused of drawing too many fouls. That is ridiculous. He has shown time and time again why he is an elite player with his exceptional ball-handling, step-back, and passing. The Rockets and he were very close to eliminating the Warriors but just fell short.
With the loss of Ariza and Mbah a Moute, the Houston Rockets may not push the Warriors as far as they did this past season. It will be up to Harden and Paul to make up for the loses, and somehow find a way to lead Houston to the championship.
2. Kevin Durant
Call Kevin Durant a snake or whatever you want, he still is the second best player in the league. The Warriors star has achieved immense success since coming to the league in 2007. He is one of the best scorers in NBA history. Over his career, he has accumulated many awards including being a 9 time NBA All-Star, an MVP, a 2-time Finals MVP, and a 2 time NBA champion.
While KD won't impose physically the same way LeBron does, his skill on offence to score any way imaginable is what puts him at the number 2 spot. This and his improvement on the defensive end this past year. He has spent a lot of this season improving his game by working towards being an elite two-way player. If he continues on this track, he will rise in the All-time rankings.
The biggest knock that will always be on Durant's resume will be the championships. Joining a 73-9 team sparked a flood of outrage and it has put a huge target on his back from every NBA analyst and critic. Whether or not you hate him, you can't deny his talent.
1. LeBron James
Also read: 5 Achievements LeBron James was the youngest to reach
The King and Los Angeles seem like the perfect match from a marketing perspective. The Lakers have dealt with underachieving for the last 5 seasons, and adding LeBron will finally bring the white, purple, and gold back to its glory days.
LeBron is arguably a top 2 all-time player with this past season perhaps being the best of his career. He single-handedly carried his team on his back and led them to the NBA finals. He has been the face of the league for many years and has shown no signs of decline at 33 years old. He is an MVP candidate every season, and if it weren't for voter fatigue there is an argument that he could have won more than three championships.
The only competition LeBron faces is Michael Jordan's legacy. He is going to keep working towards a championship and try to capture the glory of the title "Best of All-Time". Going to the West is definitely going to be an obstacle. His finals streak could come to an end, but if he is able to lead this Lakers team through the tough west and win the championship then I do believe he is the GOAT.
Guess the Lakers players!
