Fansided

Top 5 NBA players at each position so far

By Jabari LeGendre

Nov 23, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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(EDITORS NOTE: CAPTION CORRECTION) Nov 22, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Warriors won 118-105. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
(EDITORS NOTE: CAPTION CORRECTION) Nov 22, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Warriors won 118-105. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mention: Rajon Rondo SAC

The renaissance of Rajon Rondo is well and truly underway and Dallas was a stop that the former champion would like to forget.  Friction with Rick Carlisle seemed to derail his season and we all know that Rondo isn’t the easiest cat to get along with. However, in Sacramento he may have found a home. Rondo has already amassed a scintillating four triple-doubles to his name and he is almost averaging one as well. Although their record is putrid, Sacramento has plenty of talent on their roster and that’s crucial for a point guard like Rondo. The mercurial floor general is at his best when he is running the show with lots of talent around him, and if he continues on this pace Rondo will certainly be causing waves out West.

5: Eric Bledsoe PHX

Like his partner in crime Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe is enjoying the best stretch of his career at the moment. Bledsoe is one of the most balanced players in the game right now, averaging nearly 25, 5 and 5. His all-around game and tough, physical style makes him the perfect catalyst for this hungry Phoenix Suns team. Bledsoe can do it all. He’s lightning fast in transition, has the ability to shoot from mid-range as well as downtown, and he is currently playing with exceptional court vision. At the moment Bledsoe is out performing perennially great play-makers like Chris Paul and Tony Parker. By adding a dose of maturity to his game, the six-year pro out of the University of Kentucky is finally breaking into the upper echelon of point guards in the NBA.

4: Kyle Lowry TOR

Kyle Lowry still doesn’t get enough respect in my opinion. It’s a bit of a shock that this is already Lowry’s 11th season in the NBA, but the Raptors superstar is playing like a wily veteran after all. Coming off of his first All-Star game appearance, Lowry is building on the success he claimed last season. Posting career highs in points and assists while leading the league in steals, Lowry has quietly become an all-around stud. His game may not be flashy and standing at only 6’0″ Lowry doesn’t cut the most imposing figure, but there is nothing soft about his game. Under his leadership the Raptors may be on their way to serious Eastern Conference ambitions.

3: Damian Lillard POR

Damian Lillard was essentially abandoned by his teammates. LaMarcus Aldridge departed for San Antonio, Nicolas Batum ventured east to Charlotte, Robin Lopez is the new starting center in New York and Wesley Mathews took his talents to Dallas. Now Lillard must do all the heavy lifting by himself. Luckily the added pressure doesn’t seem to affect ‘Big Game Dame’. The Portland star is currently averaging career highs in points, assists, and steals, proving that when the pressure mounts, Lillard is always ready to answer the bell.

2: Russell Westbrook OKC

Perhaps the most athletic point guard of all time, Russell Westbrook looks like a man possessed. Much will be made of the power struggle between Durant and Westbrook. Many of his critics believe that as the point guard, Westbrook should take a backseat to KD and be more of a facilitator. Of course anybody with half a brain realizes that the Thunder are better with Durant in the lineup, but there is no reason Westrbook should back down from his alpha male status. With arguable the highest motor in the NBA, Westbrook’s all action style is what makes the Thunder such a difficult team to play against. Westbrook has the uncanny ability to rack up triple-doubles in the blink of an eye and you could argue that no player does more for his team.

1: Stephen Curry

The reigning MVP is playing on another level. It’s hard to believe that Stephen Curry might actually have improved on his amazing form from last season, but that truly might be the case. Chef Curry may be the best amalgamation of shooter, ball handler, and passer that the NBA has ever seen. He is currently shooting an eye-watering 43.8% from behind the arc and he leads the league in plus-minus with + 13.4. Curry’s bag of tricks seems never-ending, and at the moment he is making an almost undeniable case for best player on the planet. The Golden State Warriors have broken the record for the best start in NBA history, and look primed to challenge 1995–96 Chicago Bulls for best record of all time. The Warriors success is due in large part to Curry’s unequivocal brilliance.

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