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NBA Rankings: Top 10 small forwards for 2014-15

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 29, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is pressured by Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is pressured by Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 8, 2014; Akron, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during the LeBron James Family Foundation Reunion and Rally at InfoCision Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

1. LeBron James:

2013-14 Stat Line: 77 games, 37.7 MPG, 27.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, .567/.379/.750 shooting, 29.4 PER

It wouldn’t surprise me if Kevin Durant has another superior statistical season compared to LeBron James, but putting anyone but King James in the No. 1 spot felt like blasphemy no matter what last season’s numbers say. Now that King James has yet another Big Three to work with, he’ll be tough to stop and he has a much easier path to the NBA Finals than Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder do out West. Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving seem like perfect complements to LeBron’s game and with the right role players, this is a title contender.

That being said, the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t quite as formidable as whoever will come out of the West. LeBron returning to Cleveland recalls a sense of happy nostalgia that probably plays a small part in his selection here at No. 1, but even the King was willing to admit that work still needs to be done. At 29 years old, LeBron’s prime is running out and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he’s no longer the league’s most unstoppable force.

Given that he knows all these things, I’m expecting a big season out of LeBron James. He didn’t partake in Team USA activities this summer to rest, he has young legs around him that will help take some of the pressure off and something tells me LeBron knows his defense will have to be more consistent in 2014-15 for his team to compete on that end of the floor. Add it all up and LeBron James gets the ever-so-slight edge over Kevin Durant for the No. 1 spot.

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