By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
With the new NBA season just a month away, ESPN released its Top 10 ranking of players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo at #9, the only European player in the list.
Earlier this week, Sports Illustrated also ranked The Greek Freak at #9.
Who will be the best in the 2017-18 season? Check out the rest of the ranking to get an idea:
10. Draymond Green / Golden State Warriors
As ESPN mentions: a tone-setter of the highest order on the defensive end, Green ranked second in the NBA in deflections last season as the Warriors finished first as a team. When Green played the 5, opponents averaged just 0.91 points per play and shot 42 percent from the field.
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo / Milwaukee Bucks
The Greek Freak was the youngest player in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks last season. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the Bucks‘ superstar.
8. James Harden / Houston Rockets
Fear the Beard, and rightfully so, as Harden scored and assisted 4,538 points last season, exactly one point behind Tiny Archibald’s NBA record set in the 1972-73 season.
7. Chris Paul / Houston Rockets
Paul once again led in a decisive position in real plus-minus in 2016-17 while finishing second league-wide behind LeBron James.
6. Anthony Davis / New Orleans Pelicans
Davis finished his fifth season in the league and was named in the first-team of NBA for the second time. He’s the 37th player in NBA history with multiple first-team, yet the only one not to have won a single playoff game in his career so far.
5. Russell Westbrook / Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook impressed in the 2016-17 season, averaging triple-double figures along the way with the Thunder.
4. Stephen Curry / Golden State Warriors
Reigning NBA champion with the Warriors, an impressive sight on the floor and many more could characterize Steph Curry. His team went 25-2 last season in games in which Curry scored at least 30 points.
3. Kawhi Leonard / San Antonio Spurs
Leonard was named first-team All-Defense for the third straight season and did it while averaging more than 25 points per game. His unfortunate injury against the Warriors didn’t allow him to help his team compete further in the previous season.