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#3 LeBron James
(2018) Throwback to when LeBron finally got acknowledged for being CLUTCH. 💯👑#WITNESS pic.twitter.com/orYUgf8i4J
— Witness History (@LeBronFactory) August 27, 2021
Speaking of LeBron, the acquisition of sure Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook, might add some time onto LeBron's NBA career. Brodie will be all over the court putting pressure on every defense that sees his jersey. Anthony Davis' injury killed any shot for the Lakers for a repeat, so instead of sitting back and allowing the league to bypass L.A., Russell Westbrook is now back home -- as a Laker. LeBron averaged 25, 8 and 8 in year 17, and as he seeks to control the narrative of his NBA legacy by moving about whenever the opportunity arises, winning a few more championships is only more icing on the king's cake. If LeBron wants to play with his son Bronny, the motivation to do so will take many shapes. Let’s just hope the basketball gods allow that to happen since it never has in the NBA.
#2 Kevin Durant
In his NBA playoff career, Kevin Durant is averaging 29.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 151 games. In the 2021 playoffs, Durant went higher: 34.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 12 games. With James Harden ineffective with an injured hamstring, it was Kevin Durant that shouldered the load, and came within scant inches of taking the eventual champion Bucks to Game 7. I can't imagine how that one game will incentivize Durant (if at all) to be even more efficient this season. If Brooklyn is firing on all cylinders, how will the league catch up? The only reality that will stop the Nets in their tracks, if Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving are healthy, is the actual start of the playoffs. Otherwise, Brooklyn is about to run over the league. The Easy Money Sniper is on another level right now, and the league better hope he begins to plateau and decline. That won't be the case for a while, and subsequently, as LeBron chases Kareem, LeBron too will be chased by Kevin Durant.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo
2021 stats: 28.1 points, 57% shooting, 11 rebounds and six assists.
In the playoffs, the NBA Finals MVP went a little higher: 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in six games.
It is now Giannis Antetokounmpo's world. The look of determination in his eyes during the entire NBA playoffs was downright inspiring. Giannis was a bull tank starring as a Bucks juggernaut, and played as if the NBA title was his birthright.The two-time NBA MVP is creating legacy points that will endure as he continues to develop into an NBA legend. Giannis seems like a heavy dude, so to assume he may not want to repeat the success off this year next season would be erroneous. That he's doing all this in the NBA small-market city of Milwaukee is a story creating balance in the super team era.
NBA fan benefit
As the younger generation lays in wait for the older vets to finish out their careers, what is interesting is that it seems the NBA is growing younger and younger. That leaves the older generation to show and prove it still belongs, and whether it’s injuries, depression in the bubble, etc., this top ten will factor in mightily who wins the a highly coveted NBA Championship in 2022.
