Joel Embiid

[Deleted User 880]

[Deleted User 863]

[pdub]

Dame not in there for me.
Kawhai, Joker, Giannis all have better cases.
Luka also has good argument.

[Deleted User 863]

Dame not in there for me.
Kawhai, Joker, Giannis all have better cases.
Luka also has good argument.

Harden too.

[pdub]

I suppose.
I'd take several other players besides Harden if I was building a team, maybe including Dame.

[Deleted User 880]

Joel with a monster 1st half.
25 points 7 boards 3 steals.

[ousdahl]

New playoff career high.

New tv! Getting to finally watch. moves so well for a dude his size.

[Mjl]

Dame not in there for me.
Kawhai, Joker, Giannis all have better cases.
Luka also has good argument.

I think those three replace Lilliard, KD, and LeBron.

[Deleted User 863]

LOL

[pdub]

If we are talking this seasons results and just off the regular season and MVP type vote I can see the angle ( games played ).

If we are talking top 5 in the NBA generally and it doesn't include LeBron, that's a LOL for sure.

[Deleted User 880]

It states "Shaq’s top five current NBA players".
Steph isn't "currently" playing but I assume he meant top 5 players who are/were plying in the NBA in 2021.
I have no issue with his top 5 other than I might/would probably take Dame out and replace him with either Luka, Kawhi, Giannis, A.D., Joker, Harden, or someone else I am forgetting.

[Deleted User 863]

If it is only this season then it is probably hard to keep Julius Randle off that list.

[Mjl]

If we are talking this seasons results and just off the regular season and MVP type vote I can see the angle ( games played ).

If we are talking top 5 in the NBA generally and it doesn't include LeBron, that's a LOL for sure.

I'm not in the hate-Lebron crowd. I think he's easily top 3 all time.

But his age is starting to show.

[pdub]

Before he went down with an injury in late March, LeBron was the leading candidate for MVP.

[Mjl]

I only watch playoffs. My opinion should probably be dismissed here. Or not given in the first place.

[pdub]

Yes, so far Anthony Davis is the best guy on the Lakers in the playoffs.

[randylahey]

If it is only this season then it is probably hard to keep Julius Randle off that list.

LOL. julius randle had a solid year. but top 5? come on. maybe top 25

[Deleted User 863]

If it is only this season then it is probably hard to keep Julius Randle off that list.

LOL. julius randle had a solid year. but top 5? come on. maybe top 25

Pretty sure he was/is top 5 or 6 in the MVP race.

Top 5 if only going by this year was my statement.

24pts / 10rebs / 6ast per game is pretty freaking good. And lead a relatively bad team team to the playoffs. (For reference Kawhi averaged 25pts / 7rebs / 5ast per game this season).

Now, ranking current best players (including more than this season), he wouldn't be in my top 15.

[pdub]

If it's an MVP vote for this season, Randle is up there.

But hes not a top 5 player in the NBA.

Kawhi is showing why hes a top 5 dude by bringing his team back. Randle is seeing what a better player imo in Trae Young can do.

[Deleted User 880]

Once again, MVP and best can be two different things.
I believe you're right that for a portion of the season Randle was top 5 in some (many? most?) people's/sources MVP race - but not in mine and not in other's.
As good has he was this season, I disagree that his TEAM was "relatively bad".
I'll spare you my break downs of his teammates but I will say I am really impressed with R.J. Barrett and he's Jimmy Butler II to ME.

Comparing players based on their stats is tough unless they play on the same team.
You compared Randle to Kawhi but does Randle play the same defense? Randle is bigger and big part of his role is that he is supposed to be grabbing rebounds.
Randle took more shots per game and more FT per game - therefore, more opportunity to score more points.
Randle played more minutes per game - therefore, more minutes to grab more rebounds and have more assists.
FWIW, Randle's PER was 42 while Kawhi's was 7.

Now watch, Randle will score 50, grab 20 boards, and have 10 assists on Wednesday.