The 2020-2021 NBA regular season has concluded and has given us the opportunity to re-rank the top 20 NBA players. Some of the criteria we will be using are skills, performances, and impact on winning. For this list, I will try to rank them as if healthy, for the most part. Previous lists usually took availability more into consideration. That may be why you will find many different rankings from my previous top NBA players list from March.
Ranking the top 20 NBA players June 2021:
20. Devin Booker- Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker is one of the most gifted scorers in the NBA. He started the year as the third best shooting guard on my list, and is arguably second best. I’m of the belief that Booker still has a long way to go in his development. The addition of Paul has enabled Booker to be more efficient, which was much needed. I believe Booker has “dominant” type skillset, but has yet to really be able to show that in a winning situation.
In summary, teams do not fear Booker the way they should just yet.
19. Bradley Beal- Washington Wizards
Although I was not a fan of Beal’s attitude to start the year, he eventually bought into Westbrook’s leadership and the Wizards benefited as a result of it. Beal is one of the most capable scorers in the NBA. He could be higher on this list if he made his teammates better or played defense. The Wizards have a long way to go, and so does Beal.
18. Jayson Tatum- Boston Celtics
Per Sources followers may accuse me of being biased for ranking Tatum above Beal. However, I’ll make it very simple for you to understand. The playin tournament said it all for me. Tatum is improving as an offensive threat and has earned the respect of almost every NBA defender. His ability to score is right up there with the elites. Unlike Beal and Booker, I have seen Tatum do it in meaningful games, repeatedly. In addition to that, Jayson Tatum plays defense. Defense still matters folks.
Some NBA fans rank Tatum as a top 10 player. I am not there yet.
17. Ben Simmons- Philadelphia 76ers
Yes, I have Simmons over Tatum, for now. Simmons is a top 2 DPOY candidate, and the star point guard of the no.1 ranked team in the Eastern Conference. He makes his teammates better and does a lot at an elite level.
Unfortunately, his inability to shoot is what’s keeping him from climbing on this list.
16. Kyrie Irving- Brooklyn Nets
As many of you already know, I am not a fan of Kyrie Irving. In fact, I have expressed numerous times why I and many others dislike Kyrie Irving. However, there is no denying Irving’s skillset and impact on winning, when playing alongside other stars. He is one of the best complimentary pieces to elite talent that you can find in the NBA.
When available, Irving has proven he can help a team win when playing alongside two other all-stars. Irving is showing that once again.
15. Chris Paul- Phoenix Suns
What more can Chris Paul do to prove to us that he is still an elite point guard in the NBA? Chris Paul is one of the best regular season players in NBA history. He makes any team he joins better. My only knock on Paul remains the fact that I have not seen him impact winning when his teams need him most. I don’t expect this year to be any different.
For what he does, he does really well. He is still very impressive at 36 years of age.
14. Jimmy Butler- Miami Heat
There are very few players that impact winning and make their teammates better the way Jimmy Butler does. The Heat were one of the best passing teams in the NBA this season, and would have finished with a better record had Butler not missed time. Butler is one of the toughest two way players in the NBA.
I have my suspicions as to why the Heat struggled in the playoffs this year. Butler is not to blame for that, in my opinion.
13. Russell Westbrook- Washington Wizards
There are very few players who can actually impact the culture of an organization. The Wizards have almost become too content with missing the playoffs. They even started this season with wanting to give up at several points. Nonetheless, Westbrook never gave up.
Westbrook was willing to do it all to lift the Wizards to the 8th seed. By any means necessary, the Wizards made it, despite having a mediocre and relatively injured roster. Westbrook is truly one of the most underappreciated superstars in NBA history.
12. Paul George- Los Angeles Clippers
George remains one of the best two way players in the NBA. Say what you want about his lack of playoff success, there is no denying George’s talent and physical gifts. My only issue with George is his mental toughness. He reminds me a lot of Vince Carter.
11. Kawhi Leonard- Los Angeles Clippers
In my heart, I still believe that Leonard is the second best player in the NBA. I just couldn’t rank him in my top 10 NBA players at this point. All the things I respected about Leonard haven’t been present ever since he joined the Clippers. In the past, I watched LeBron James shut down the Bulls’ offense when guarding Derrick Rose in the playoffs. Last night, Leonard failed to instill any fear in the heart of Doncic and the Mavericks.
Something has changed for the worse, and I can’t pin point what it is exactly. Leonard is still the closest thing I have seen to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but I need some reconvincing right now.
Here are the top 10 NBA players heading into June 2021.
10. Anthony Davis- Los Angeles Lakers
What Anthony Davis can do, when healthy, is almost unmatched. He remains one of the best two way players in the NBA. I know I mentioned in the opening paragraph that I would weigh availability a little less than I usually do, but I just can’t do that with Davis. He may be the reason the Lakers are about to be eliminated tonight.
Davis needs to figure out a way to be available. Despite his health issues, I couldn’t leave a talent like Davis off the top 10 of my top 20 NBA players in 2021.
9. Damian Lillard- Portland Trail Blazers
I’m of the belief that Lillard is asked to do too much, which causes him to burn out come playoff time. That is why I lack faith in Lillard and the Trail Blazers come playoff time. However, there is no denying that Lillard is a superstar talent.
Not only is he an elite scoring point guard, he is arguably the most clutch player in the NBA. When I think of Lillard, I don’t think of dominant like Leonard. However, the continuity he has with Terry Stotts has enabled Lillard to perform at a very high level in the regular season.
The guys ahead of Lillard on my top 20 NBA players 2021 list, I consider dominant.
8. Joel Embiid- Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid is right up there with Anthony Davis as one of the best two way big men in the NBA. Embiid’s dominance enabled him to be an MVP favorite for a large chunk of the season. However, like Davis, injuries have plagued him throughout his career. If the 76ers are going to win an NBA championship this season, they’re going to need a healthy Embiid to be at his best.
Embiid has the talent to do it. The question is, is he built to last?
7. Nikola Jokic- Denver Nuggets
MVP.
6. Luka Doncic- Dallas Mavericks
Ranking Doncic ahead of Jokic on my top 10 NBA players list was a very difficult decision for me. They both make their teams better, dominate at a high level, and have incredibly high basketball IQs. Jokic is a slightly better defender. However, it is very easy to argue that Doncic is doing a lot more, with a lot less talent.
Doncic used the early portion of the regular season to get himself in shape, which cost the Mavericks in the rankings. Now that he is in shape, he is almost impossible to stop. I watched Doncic single handedly torch the Los Angeles Clippers last night.
Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tim Dunca, LeBron James, and now Luka Doncic. I consider this kid a once in a generation type talent.
I haven’t been wrong about Doncic yet. If I’m wrong right now, it may be the fact that I’m not ranking him as the best player in the world yet.
5. James Harden- Brooklyn Nets
For a decent amount of this season, Harden was playing like the best player in basketball. Now that he is healthy again, he is looking like the best player in the world once again. Sometimes opportunity can shape up a large part of your success. Harden may be a beneficiary of his current opportunity with the loaded Brooklyn Nets.
Harden also happens to be the most lethal isolation offensive threat I’ve ever seen in my life. Whether it’s the step back three, attacking the rim, or passing, Harden can do it all. I just wonder what he and the Nets will look like playing against another top tier eastern conference team.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo- Milwaukee Bucks
There is no denying the 2x MVP & DPOY’s talent. Perhaps no player impacts both sides of the court like Antetokounmpo does. I also love the fact that he is continuing to improve, year after year. Antetokounmpo’s poise may help the Bucks win in this post season. Fans may argue his limitations as a shooter. I believe this series vs the Brooklyn Nets will be a massive indicator as to just how much does shooting matter to a star in the NBA.
3. Wardell Stephen Curry II – Golden State Warriors
LeBron James publicly considered Curry as the MVP for good reason. Curry proved once again that he can torch any team, on any given night. He is the best shooter in NBA history. His handles are on par with Irving and his passing is on par with Nash. He is one of the most gifted point guards in NBA history, currently ranked 2nd all time on my list.
If Klay was healthy, the Warriors would be my favorites to win the NBA championship this season.
2. Kevin Durant- Brooklyn Nets
Ranking Durant this highly is complicated and slightly contradictory. If I was building a team for the regular season, I can argue that there are 20+ players I’d take over Kevin Durant. If it weren’t for a mid season trade, I don’t know if Brooklyn would have even made the playoffs this season due to his and Irving’s absences.
However, I’m looking at Durant as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. Durant is one of the most gifted, if not the most gifted, scorer in NBA history. There is no proven method of guarding Durant. I don’t know if there is a proven way of even slowing him down.
When available, good luck finding a scorer better than Durant. As of right now, he is available, and dominant.
1. LeBron James- Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James is still the king in my eyes. He makes his teammates better in ways no one else can in the NBA. I don’t think people realize how bad the Lakers roster actually is. They have taken a significant step back from last season’s team, and I didn’t even think that roster was that good.
At 36, the king remains dominant. However, for the first time in Per Sources history, I feel like the end of James’ dominance is near. It’s shaky. I can sense it. I hope when the time comes, I’m ready to admit it.
Honorable mentions.
I have to mention Klay Thompson, who is out due to injury. Two players I feel the need to mention are Rudy Gobert and Trae Young. Both have impact on winning that I do not feel like NBA fans appreciate. I’d also like to recognize the improving talents of DeAndre Ayton, Ja Morant, and Zion Williamson.
Jaylen Brown and Julius Randle are also two players that could make this list next season.
Care to argue my top 20 NBA players 2021 list? Tweet me @tprx11