[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 So I get why both SI and espn had him ranked number one. These are regular season rankings and Giannis is the reigning mvp coming off a dominant regular season. He is dominant on both ends of the floor, has never had a serious injury in his career, and unlike some of the other superstars in the league you won’t have to worry about him being “load-managed” throughout the season. 

However, there is a distinct difference from being the most productive regular season player and the true overall “best” player in the game. And right now, Giannis still has too many holes in his game to really be considered the best. To me the best is the guy I would want if I needed someone to carry a team in a playoff series against elite competition. Kawhi proved he could do it last postseason. Lebron and curry have done it in the past. Giannis, for as talented as he is, showed last year that he wasn’t really capable, at least not yet anyway. I think could get there someday and it might even be this year, but until he does I just have a hard time saying he’s the best player in the game right now.

[jjj10manParticipant]

 The ranking is a projection for next year not last year is what people don’t understand, and based on how much Giannis improves every year, he will be the best next year most likely. 
 

Kawhi’s defense dropped since he was with the Spurs. People seem to never call out when people drop on defense as fast as they do on offense, but there is a reason he wasn’t in DPOTY disscussions. 

The rest that Kawhi got helped him tremendously in that playoff series. It doesn’t prove that he’s better than Giannis because he rested 30 more games and played slightly better.

Giannis has one whole in his game not ‘too many’.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Kawhi wasnt in the DPOY conversation due to the load management strategy and the fact that the raptors had other great individual defenders and made a concerted effort not to tax him too much on that end. In the playoffs though, when they really needed him to, he showed he is clearly still one of the best individual defenders in the world.

The problem with Giannis as opposed to other great scorers in the league is that he is too one-demonsional right now. If you can keep him out of the paint he can’t score efficiently. Of course that is easier said than done but the best defensive players and teams can do it over a 7 game series. Kawhi and raptors did it in the ECF and he did not have a way to counter. That’s the difference right now. When you take away kawhis (or lebron, Durant, harden etc. first option on offense they all have a second, and third option they can go to a still score efficiently. Giannis does not right now. That’s why, even though he may dominate the regular season and put up the best individual numbers, it’s really hard for me to say he’s truly the best player in the game at this moment. I just don’t believe he’s capable of taking over a game and elevating a team at the highest level the way other superstars in the league are, and I also believe he’s more dependent of having the right personnel surrounding him to be effective. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Yes. I think so. At least in the regular season.  He’s a great player who is super-fun to watch.  Probably not on that Jordan level or even LeBron, and maybe even a step below Magic/Bird but he is right there as a superstar in his prime, and might be the only "younger" NBA player with MEGA STAR potential.

I would say that he is this generation’s Dr. J.

During last season I commented (privately or maybe on message board’s too) that he looked like PEAK ABA Dr. J.  I wasn’t even born then, but Greek Freak is SPECIAL.

Maybe he comes away with Dr. J’s hardware (combined ABA and NBA), one title maybe a bit more, and at least a couple of MVP awards but nothing on the level of MJ or Wilt or LeBron although I wouldn’t rule out one of those awesome 5 year runs (at least individually).

Great player.

 

[festar35Participant]

I think he has the most raw talent & is still getting better, but if someone said you can pick any player to build around I am taking Kawhi Leonard everytime.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Not a chance. James and Leonard are better. It shoudnt even be debated. Durant too but with the injury who knows…But watch out because Giannis is entering his 7th season, 25 years old now, he’s made some serious playoff runs, been booted a few times now from the playoffs, he doesnt joke around in his postgame interviews anymore and yep hes about to turn that corner you can just tell.

Giannis is on the path to being the best in the league, but he still has some things to figure out. Despite everyone saying its soft todays NBA is still a league run by wiley veterans and the young guys like Giannis, Embiid, Towns etc. still end up getting outplayed with that sly veteran sense only experience can acquire. But hes figuring it out.

[cohenbc1Participant]

 I mean, did you watch the Eastern Finals? They went head to head. Kawhi took over games on both ends and his team won. Giannis struggled to get baskets when his team needed them. He’s clearly first-team all NBA and I thought he deserved MVP based on his team having the best record.

But he’s not #1. Kawhi proved this.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 my suspiscion is the Freak was ranked #1 b/c decisions are based on what will get the most clicks & eye balls 

Not it’s not that serious & the Greek is clearly already a Great player who is a Super Star but based on Playoff success KD, Kawhi & Lebron are the top 3 in whatever order you like & I’d put Giannis #4

But there were a lot of rankings that were debatable & that’s really the point – to stimulate discussion & debnate 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The conventional wisdom over the last few years was that LBJ and KD were number 1 and 2 in the League. But with KD being injured and LBJ now pushing 35 – things need to be reviewed.

Giannis, Kawhi, Steph, Harden  and AD are probably the other names in the mix. I’d put PG13 and Westbrook a bit behind these guys and Embeast, Jokic etc need a few more years at the highest level.

I’d agree that Giannis would be the guy to build any team around and still has scary upside and is probably the best regular season player. But in the play offs, if I wanted one guy on my side for a crunch game I’d possibly take LBJ or Kawhi.

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