Over the past couple of weeks, the NBA on TNT crew consisting of Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley listed the best players in the NBA from 50 all the way down to the number one player. Each week, more and more players have been revealed, and on the final TNT broadcast before the All-Star break, the crew revealed their top five players in the NBA today.
To no one’s surprise, LeBron James led the way with the number one spot on all three lists. The King is averaging 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, a career-high 8.8 assists, and 1.4 steals on 54% shooting from the field and 39% from downtown.
San Antonio Spurs‘ forward Kawhi Leonard came up second on Barkley and Shaq’s lists. He’s also having a career season averaging 25.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals on 48.7% shooting from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc. Smith put Kevin Durant in the number two spot of his list. The Golden State Warriors‘ forward is putting up 25.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 53.9% shooting from the field and 37.4% from downtown.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is currently having the best statistical season in a long time with averages of 31.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 10.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on 42.2% shooting from the field and 33.8% from downtown.
Stephen Curry also made the lists, as he’s averaging 24.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals while making four three-pointers per game. Houston Rockets‘ guard James Harden, who is neck-and-neck with Westbrook in the MVP race, is also averaging 29.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, a league-leading 11.3 assists per game, and 1.4 steals per game.
