NBA Player Rankings Part 2 No. 20-11

20. Paul George  

George is a proven star in this league. At his peak he was in MVP races and one of best two-way players in the entire NBA. At 34 years old he’s still a star, but not quite the elite defender he once was. His offensive game however, is still young and fresh. He’s an elite catch and shoot guy from the three and still has the ability to put the ball on the floor and make plays even at his age. The injury bug has gotten him in the last couple of seasons, but he’s still proven when healthy in the past, he’s a deserving top 20 player in the NBA. 

19. Tyrese Haliburton 

Haliburton slots in at number 19 on the list. He’s coming off his best season in his young career and is still improving. He’s the best passing point guard in the NBA and that is evident as he was the catalyst for the high flying Pacers' offense this past season. He had a case as the best point guard in the Eastern Conference the first 35+ games into the year before a hamstring injury put a damper on his season. He still earned All-NBA and All-Star honors this season, along with representing Team USA at the summer Olympics.  

18. Ja Morant 

Morant comes in at number 18 on my list and I think he’s a forgotten star at this point. He’s coming off a season where he only played 9 games due to a suspension and season-ending shoulder injury, but make no mistake he’s one of the most explosive players in the league. He attacks the basket at will and has been the Grizzlies best player since he entered the league. He’s made improvement on his shooting and playmaking since entering the league also. He’s poised for a comeback season after a disappointing previous season.  

17. Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell earns the number 17 slot in my list. He's a dynamite three level scorer, whose efficiency has only gone up since being traded to the Cavaliers. He’s a little on the smaller size as a guard, which handicaps him on defense, but he’s an electric offensive player. He attempted the highest volume of shots in his career and answered with career bests in percentages as well. His playmaking has also improved as he averaged career high in assists as well. 

16. Jaylen Brown

Brown comes in at number 16 on my list. He’s one of the best two-way talents in the entire league at the wing position. He’s become a much better all-around player and has taken on the challenge of guarding the other teams best players as well. His snub from Team USA will more than likely motivate him into having another All-NBA caliber season. 

15. Kawhi Leonard 

Leonard lands in the number 15 spot. The 33 year old has had some injury issues so I don’t mind if people think he’s too highly rated, but just turn on the tape if you disagree. He’s a game wrecker with his defense and offensive prowess. He’s a killer in the mid range and has a way of always getting to his spots on the floor. Pair that with his defensive capabilities and you have a monster on your team. He showed glimpses of it this past season, as he earned All-NBA second team, returning to the Kawhi Leonard that carried the Raptors in the 2019 championship. 

14. Victor Wembanyama 

Wembanyama is at number  14 on this list. He’s a literal alien. He finished second in defensive player of the year voting, won rookie of the year, and made all-rookie first team in his first campaign. His defensive ability is the best in the league. He erases any type of shot at the basket and takes up seemingly the entire floor. On offense he showed he’s more than capable of handling any type of matchup. I expect Wembanyama to not only be a top 15 player, but potentially move into the top 10 at some point this year. 

13. Jalen Brunson 

Jalen Brunson earned the 13th overall spot on my list. He 6 '2 point guard out of Villanova proved this past year he’s the best point guard in the Eastern Conference. He had 5 straight 40+ points games in the postseason this past year and rose to every scenario when his team needed him. He’s electric with the ball in his hands and gets past any defender in his way. His craftiness allows him to draw fouls and bully his way into the paint as well. He’s taken steps forward with his playmaking and will be ready to lead the Knicks against the best teams this. 

12. Lebron James  

Lebron James lands in the number 12 spot on my list. Even at age 40 it still hurts me to put him outside the top 10 with how impressive he still is. He controls every facet of the game on offense and still sees the game at the highest level in the league. His defense and overall energy is the biggest decline over his 22 NBA career so far, but at this stage he’s proven to be still one of the best players in the league today. 

11. Devin Booker

Booker rounds out this week’s edition at number 11. Booker is going into his 10th season in the NBA and has proven he’s one of the best shooting guards in the league. He’s an assassin in the mid range and cuts defenders apart with his versatile footwork. He’s mastered all types of shots in the mid range along with improving his overall scoring prowess since he entered the league. On top of that, he’s become a fantastic facilitator. He averaged a career high in assists this past year as well. He’s  one of the more underrated scorers in the league in my opinion as some of his outputs have been mind blowing. He’ll look to regroup a struggling Suns squad into the finals contender this year.