Nass’ Trip Around the Association, NBA Player Pyramid Part 3

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Nass’ NBA Player Pyramid

We finish off our three-part series on my NBA player pyramid of the 25 best players before the playoffs begin. As previously mentioned, there will be debates about this list as to the order of the players’ rank. NBA fans will ask questions and come back with their own list. But that is what debate is all about. So without further ado, let’s look at part 3, tiers 1A and 1B.

– Tier 1B

Before you attack my analysis of this tier and why I kept Kawhi Leonard who finished top three in MVP voting in both 2016 and 2017 and has a Finals MVP of his own off the apex tier of the pyramid, his ACL tear in last years’ WCSF and absence thus far this year is the reason he’s on the outside looking in. Let’s not forget what Kawhi Leonard was doing to the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz prior to his unfortunate knee injury that depleted the Clippers before the Western Conference finals. In fact, since 2019, Kawhi Leonard is putting up 30 points, nine rebounds, and four assists a game in the postseason on 50/36/87 shooting splits. Not to mention the second half of last years’ Western Conference first-round Mavericks series was when yet again Kawhi asserted himself more defensively taking on the responsibility of Luka Doncic. Of the 92 possessions, Kawhi matched up against Luka the two-time NBA champion held him to just 42% shooting from the floor and 31.6% from deep. Kawhi’s phenomenal performances the past two postseasons reminded us why he’s still one of the few clear-cut superstars our league has to offer.

Joel Embiid to this very point has been in the driver’s seat for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Joel (29.8 points, 11 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1 steal, 1.4 blocks in 2021-22) has been Philadelphia’s engine all season. Even with additional help from unsung heroes Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey, Embiid has put on a show with his improved shot-making ability outside the paint. It hasn’t just been the numbers Embiid has put up that’s left us in awe but also the fluidity and ease that’s come with his scoring barrage this season. Prominent NBA trainer Drew Hanlen who’s worked with the likes of Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal, and Zach LaVine played a big part in Embiid’s now even more expanded scoring repertoire. What makes Embiid such a special and unique talent is he doesn’t have to solely rely on scoring opportunities on the block or dump-offs underneath in the paint like traditional centers. Embiid is so much more comfortable off the dribble with pull-up jumpers, drop steps in the paint which has led to even more trips to the charity stripe. (Career-high 11.7 FTA/game in 2021-22). We can’t say we’ve never seen a combination of size and skill before from a seven-footer. Both Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki, two all-time scoring seven-footers were perimeter killers dependent on their skill to dominate for 48 minutes. Both of them made a living in the post but don’t bang down in the paint like Embiid nor possess the same upper body strength. Embiid’s been pretty much dominant from all over the floor, whether in pick and roll/pop, isolation, or post-up situations. Now with James Harden in town, taking massive pressure off of the Cameroonian giant now makes contending for a title more likely in the City of Brotherly Love.

For most of the 2021-22 season bonafide MVP candidate, Nikola Jokic was on pace to have the highest PER in NBA history. With both Jamal Murray (torn ACL) and Michael Porter Jr (Back surgery) being out pretty all season, like Durant, the Joker has been the bearer of the organization that’s been weighed down by major injury woes. Besides LeBron, CP3, and the Beard there isn’t a perimeter threat in the NBA that commands the floor and has the ability to pick teams apart with their passing and playmaking like Joker. Jokic has averaged at least seven assists each of the past four seasons. Only Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and LeBron James, and can say they’ve done the same. Through March 25th Joker leads the NBA in double-doubles (59) and is currently averaging a career-high in rebounds a game (13.6). Jokic is one of the most balanced offensive weapons in the league from a production/efficiency standpoint and that’s to go along with his out of galaxy passing ability. Jokic will look to lead a regrouping Denver squad to another deep playoff run come April.

Tier 1A

The very cream of the crop and a very special tier to be a part of; the top three players in the NBA. Not just any select group to be a part of, being at the top of the pyramid means on a nightly basis you’re considered by some, the best player on the planet regardless of who’s lined up across from you. A player that can affect multiple facets of the game and whose game rises above all in the postseason when the stakes are even higher.

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have pretty much made up the top three players in the world since 2020. They’re also the only players in my pyramid that have won both a regular-season MVP and a Finals MVP. Reigning NBA Champion Giannis Antetokoumpo the Greek Freak, who’s in the midst of his peak athletic prime continues to stuff stat sheets. Greek is currently averaging his third consecutive 25 PPG, 10 RPG, 5 APG, 1 SPG, 1 BPG line this season, one of four NBA players in history to do so (K. Abdul-Jabbar ’76, L. Bird ’85, D. Cousins ’18) and is the only player to do so multiple times. Despite leading the NBA in PER and keeping the Milwaukee Bucks amongst the top in the East, the Greek Freak slides into the second slot in my player pyramid.

Next to the Greek Freak in tier 1A is LeBron James. King James has re-invented the term “father time” in professional sports to “father prime”. The kid from Akron has reached 50 points twice this year and is currently on his way to his second scoring title. Even with the Lakers’ underwhelming roller coaster season LeBron has displayed a supreme level of shot-making ability and scoring productivity that we haven’t seen since his historical 2018 postseason in Cleveland. LeBron’s always been known for his selflessness and ability to enhance an entire rosters offense with his playmaking and decision-making. This year with an often sidelined Anthony Davis and an aging Russell Westbrook, at 37 years old LeBron is averaging 30 points (most since 2007-08), eight rebounds, and six assists. LeBron is never going to get the same respect as a skilled volume shot creator as some of his all-time peers Jordan, Kobe, Durant, and T-Mac because of his freakish nature. Arguably the most athletic player to ever play his playmaking (career 7.4 assists a game), an unbeatable combination of size/speed, and above the rim playstyle often overshadows his overall scoring skillset. James doesn’t quite soar above the rim for 48 minutes like he used to but continues to prove to everyone he’s one of the most skilled scorers our game has to offer. If it wasn’t for the lackluster Lakers record he would still be sitting comfortably atop the mountain of my pyramid as he’s been doing pretty much his whole career.

The best player in the world at this very moment plays for the Brooklyn Nets. Number 7. Durantula. Kevin Durant was undoubtedly the lead MVP candidate before going down with a sprained MCL. Durant’s stat line very much mirrors LeBron’s (29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists) with the exception of more efficient shooting splits than the King’s (52/37/90). Durant’s also dealt with an ailing James Harden who’s now in Philadelphia and simply wasn’t himself from a physical standpoint to start the year. The COVID-19 vaccine mandate in New York has limited his other running mate, Kyrie Irving to just 20 games. Despite all sorts of different lineups and constant rotation of players this season, KD’s still managed to lift the Brooklyn Nets to the best record in the East before going down. Already in 10 games removed from his recent sprained MCL, he’s averaging 31/7/7 including a 53-point performance against in-state rival New York Knicks on March 13th. Slim Reaper should be getting right back into form and with Kyrie and Ben Simmons (hopefully) soon joining him full time the Nets should be taken as seriously as anyone in the East. We’re still wondering how NBA history would look if Durant had worn a half-size smaller sneaker in Game 7 of last years’ Eastern Conference Finals. Regardless had he hit or not, he’s still on top here.

We hope you enjoyed Nas’ trip around the association. Just a look at who I think the best of the best the NBA has to offer are. If you have a comment or a pyramid of your own, let’s see and begin the debate.