As the year draws to a close, it’s time to do some looking back. The NBA had a turbo-charged 2017 — from the Golden State Warriors steamrolling the entire league to win the Finals to one of the wildest offseasons in recent memory to the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics threatening to knock off the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers now — there are no shortage of topics to discuss.
We’ll be taking a look at the 25 most popular stars of 2017, as determined by the SNiP 100 formula, along with the events that got them so high on the charts. Let’s get right into it.
1. LeBron James, small forward, Cleveland Cavaliers
Who else but LeBron would occupy the top spot? Even at age 33, James is still the league’s best player, bar none. Despite being on autopilot during the regular season, he’s averaging 27.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game right now. If he wanted to average a triple-double, James probably could. Despite falling short against Golden State, he reached his seventh straight NBA Finals in 2017. Right now, he stands as a favorite to make that number eight.
Until somebody knocks off LeBron, it’s almost impossible to see it happening. James has firmly established himself as one of the best three players ever. If he can win another title, maybe he’ll catch that ghost in Chicago after all. Another thing working in his favor is that James is now establishing himself as a player in the entertainment industry, which has elevated his stature all the more.
2. Kevin Durant, small forward, Golden State Warriors
Durant is still the NBA’s most polarizing figure. But whether you like his move to the Warriors or not, Durant has done nothing but ball out since joining Golden State. He earned Finals MVP honors last year, scoring 35.2 points and grabbing 8.2 boards per game against Cleveland. He also hit the series’ biggest shot, a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a one-point lead late in Game 3.
He hasn’t slowed down in 2017-18 either, averaging 26.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists thus far. If there was ever a doubt that Durant is one of the best players ever, he ended it in 2017.
3. Kyrie Irving, point guard, Boston Celtics
Irving caused the league’s collective head to explode when he demanded a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers over the summer. When the Cavs sent him to Boston — their chief rivals in the Eastern Conference — nobody knew what to think. Questions as to whether Irving could anchor a title contender floated through the NBA ether.
Now, we can consider them answered. Irving is putting up 24.7 points and five assists per game on a 56.0 effective field goal percentage. He’s led the Celtics to a 26-9 record, good for the top of the Eastern Conference despite Gordon Hayward’s injury. Boston looks like a serious threat to topple Cleveland’s reign. If they manage to do it, the Celtics will have Irving to thank.
4. Stephen Curry, point guard, Golden State Warriors
Curry has come down a bit from his back-to-back MVP heights, but he’s still one of the engines behind Golden State’s unbeatable machine. At this point, there’s no argument that he’s the greatest shooter of all time. Curry is the only player ever who can pull up from 30 feet out and have the entire arena think it’s going in.
Though a sprained ankle had him on the ropes through most of December (he returned in style Saturday night), Curry is averaging 26.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists — standard practice for one of the league’s best.
5. Russell Westbrook, point guard, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook’s 2016-17 season was one of the most incredible feats in the history of basketball, as he became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double, putting up 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game. He also led the league in scoring to boot, dragging Oklahoma City to 47 wins and the playoffs.
It is worth noting that Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo, Westbrook’s teammates last year, are now thriving with the Pacers. Westbrook’s style of play, especially the one he’s employed since Kevin Durant left, undoubtedly diminishes his teammates. However, his individual brilliance cannot be denied.
6. Isaiah Thomas, point guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
Who could forget Thomas playing a postseason game for the Boston Celtics right after his sister tragically died? That was one of the most touching moments of last season. He led Boston to 53 wins, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals last season as well. He scored 9.8 points per fourth quarter last season, putting in more clutch baskets than anyone could count.
Thomas was also a part of the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston. That deal takes the cake as the most insane of 2017, no easy feat, but Thomas has yet to play a game in a Cavs uniform thanks to a hip injury sustained in the postseason last year.
7. James Harden, shooting guard, Houston Rockets
Harden was right in the middle of last season’s MVP discussion and looks to be the early favorite in 2017-18. He currently leads the league in per-game scoring at 32.5 and is doing so efficiently as well. According to Cleaning the Glass, Harden is notching an absurd 126.9 points per 100 shot attempts, which ranks in the 100th percentile. He’s putting up 9.0 assists per game as well.
His 30.3 PER for this year, should it keep pace, will put Harden in a club with the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, Tracy McGrady, David Robinson, Dwyane Wade, and Russell Westbrook. He’s been passed over for MVP twice — in 2015 for Curry and last year for Westbrook. But it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Harden keeps playing like this and doesn’t win it.
8. Lonzo Ball, point guard, Los Angeles Lakers
It seems we can’t go three minutes without Ball or one of his family members popping up in the headlines. (Fine, it’s usually LaVar, every Little League dad who yells at the umpire combined into one person.) All of the attention surrounding his family, however, leads us to underrate Lonzo himself. Ball led UCLA to the Sweet 16 last season before being picked second overall in the NBA Draft.
Though his transition to the Lakers hasn’t been perfectly smooth — Ball’s shot needs work and his defense must get better, as is the case with most rookies — we’ve seen flashes of why he was taken so high. Most recently, 24 points, five rebounds and five assists on 9-of-16 shooting against the Golden State Warriors. Ball also has two triple-doubles and looks to be one of the better rebounders in the league from point guard already. The talent is certainly there with him — the results will come.
9. Carmelo Anthony, small forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
To build on a common theme, Anthony changed teams last summer. Things took a while to come together, but his moving on from the Knicks was inevitable after Phil Jackson more or less said he was going to trade Anthony, then got fired three months later.
Anthony’s fit with the Thunder has been far from perfect. Though Oklahoma City’s defense is its best quality, little of that has to do with Anthony. On the other end, Anthony has been terribly inefficient, ranking in the 11th percentile in points per shot attempt, according to Cleaning the Glass, despite a gaudy 23.0 percent usage rate. Things have been trending upwards lately, as the Thunder have started to make Anthony a clear third option. Keeping him in that role will be necessary for their success going forward.
10. Paul George, small forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
George was yet another superstar on the move last offseason, finally getting his wish to leave Indiana when the Pacers sent him to the Thunder. Though he’s played well with the Thunder, George’s offensive numbers are down and Oklahoma City only just started winning games. That could make it tough for the Thunder to re-sign George at the end of the year and trade rumors are already abound.
The light at the end of the tunnel for George still seems to be the Los Angeles Lakers. We expect to be doing a lot of talking about his 2018 destination over the next couple months.
11. Draymond Green, power forward, Golden State Warriors
Green is the Warriors’ master key. Everything he does, from defense to screen-setting to rebounding to passing, allows Golden State to be Golden State. As the Warriors try to win their third title in four years, Green is as vital as ever. He was the Defensive Player of the Year last season and has a leg-up on the award this year after Kawhi Leonard missed the first third of the season. Doubtless, Green will have a large role to play in determining who takes home the Larry O’Brien trophy this season.
Oh, and his penchant for kicking players in the jewels has garnered him a fair amount of headline material, too.
12. Chris Paul, point guard, Houston Rockets
Paul was the centerpiece in yet another massive offseason trade. The Clippers shipping him to Houston marked the end of an era for Los Angeles and seems to have opened a title window for the Rockets. Along with James Harden, Paul has driven Houston to the best offense in the league — 115.5 points per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass.
However, much of his impact has come on the defensive end. The Rockets’ defense was their Achilles heel last season. This year, however, they’re 10th in defensive rating thanks in large part to Paul. If that keeps up, the Rockets are a serious threat to win the Western Conference.
13. Kawhi Leonard, small forward, San Antonio Spurs
The most compelling NBA what-if moment of 2017: What is Leonard didn’t get injured during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals? To refresh your memory, the Spurs were coasting to a 20-point win when Leonard took a shot and came down on Zaza Pachulia’s foot, injuring himself in the process (watch here). Without Leonard, the Spurs coughed up their lead, losing the game and getting swept in the series.
It’s unlikely San Antonio would have won with Leonard, but it would be nice to know for sure. Leonard was out for the first few months of this season with an unrelated quad injury and the Spurs have been fine in his absence. Now that Leonard — the best two-way player in the league — is back, San Antonio could pose a threat to Golden State.
14. Jimmy Butler, small forward, Minnesota Timberwolves
Butler was at the center of one of the year’s biggest trades when the Chicago Bulls shipped him to Minnesota in exchange for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and the first-round pick that became Lauri Markkanen. That deal looks less lopsided than it did at the time.
However, Butler is the catalyst behind the T-Wolves’ 19-13 start. He’s the team’s best wing scorer and easily their top all-around defender. He’s putting in 21.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists on a nightly basis with 1.8 steals to boot. Despite a heavy minutes workload, it’s safe to say the reunion with head coach Tom Thibodeau is going swimmingly.
15. Klay Thompson, shooting guard, Golden State Warriors
Klay is still Klay. He was an integral part of Golden State’s 2017 title team, notching 15 points per game on 38.7 percent shooting from outside during the postseason. He hasn’t slowed down since then either. Thompson is putting up 20.7 points per game on an absurd 58.7 effective field goal percentage right now. He’s firmly cemented himself as one of the best five shooters of all time.
His defense deserves some credit as well — if and when Golden State stares down Houston in the postseason, it will be Thompson guarding James Harden and doing as good a job as possible.
16. John Wall, point guard, Washington Wizards
How do you succeed in today’s NBA as a point guard who doesn’t shoot especially well? Be John Wall. Wall, who will likely make his fifth straight All-Star game a couple months from now, will drive down the throat of any defender who dares him to shoot by ducking under a pick-and-roll. He gets to the rim on 39 percent of his shot attempts, per Cleaning the Glass, and gets to the line six times per game to boot.
Wall is also one of the game’s best passers, notching 8.5 assists per game with a 40 percent assist rate. That ranks in the 95th percentile and it’s worse than his mark from last season, per Cleaning the Glass. No way around it, Wall is a superstar. As long as he’s in Washington, the Wizards will be contending.
17. Michael Jordan, owner, Charlotte Hornets
Yeah, he’s been retired since 2003 and didn’t do anything particularly noteworthy this season. But Jordan is the GOAT. Need we say more?
18. Kevin Love, power forward, Cleveland Cavaliers
This is Love’s fourth season with the Cavs and the trade rumors will seemingly never stop. It doesn’t help that they seem to be true — in July, Cleveland reportedly had a deal in place for Paul George in which Love would be sent to Denver. However, that fell through. The rumors have temporarily died down, but with Cleveland in need of some defensive help, they’ll undoubtedly pick back up again come deadline season.
It’s easy to forget because he’s been a secondary option in Cleveland, but Love can practically run an offense from the elbows. He’s a good scorer from both the post and beyond the arc. He can pass it as well as nearly any big man in the league and is currently averaging 10.2 rebounds per game. Whether it’s Cleveland or somebody else, Love will help a team down the stretch.
19. Dwyane Wade, shooting guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
Wade is in the twilight of his career, but that doesn’t stop him from being one of the most talked about players in the league. Since joining LeBron James in Cleveland, Wade has embraced a bench role, putting up 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per 36 minutes. Defense is optional, but Wade is still shooting at a decent 44.8 percent from the field given that he’s in the 89th percentile when it comes to shot frequency from midrange, per Cleaning the Glass. Even if he’s far from his old self, it’s still fun to sit down and watch Wade take some youngins to school every night.
20. Kristaps Porzingis, power forward, New York Knicks
In 2017, Porzingis introduced hope to the Knicks. After then-team president Phil Jackson seemed to suggest trading the Latvian phenom was a possibility last summer, the entire fanbase went berserk. Jackson was fired as a result of that (and about 50 other things he messed up), and Porzingis has spent the first few months of this season proving why. The 22-year old is putting up 24.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on a 50.3 49.1 effective field goal percentage.
Porzingis has steadily improved since coming into the league, but he’s putting up star numbers this year and is making headlines on a regular basis. With Jackson gone, the Knicks have finally unleashed him as a pick-and-pop menace and they’re reaping the rewards. He should be on the All-Star team come February. It will be the first of many.
21. Derrick Rose, point guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
Rose’s place on this list is a bit confusing. At this point in his career, Rose is a marginal-at-best point guard who can’t stay healthy. He’s played just seven games with the Cavs this year and is currently out with a sprained ankle and bone spur. His career could be over soon as a result of all these injuries.
Rose’s story is a sad one. He was a phenom earlier this decade and now it’s exceedingly likely he’ll be the only MVP winner ever not to make the Hall of Fame. Injuries are the main culprit there — Rose wasn’t the same after initially tearing his ACL and subsequent knee injuries have only made the matter worse. Even if his career does continue, Rose is a shell of himself.
22. Steve Kerr, head coach, Golden State Warriors
When the Warriors added Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016, there was a vocal minority shouting about how the team might struggle to integrate him. There’s only one ball, right? Well, Kerr managed to do that and more. He piloted the Warriors to 67 wins and a title, going 16-1 in the postseason. Golden State looks very much like a title favorite again this year. And remember, Kerr is doing all this despite a debilitating back injury which kept him off the sideline for large swaths of last season’s playoffs.
23. Gordon Hayward, small forward, Boston Celtics
Hayward made waves in July when he left the Utah Jazz to sig with Boston and reunite with Brad Stevens, his head coach in college at Butler. Unfortunately, we never got to see what Hayward could do in a Celtic uniform. He broke his leg just minutes into the season, a horrible injury that prompted waves of support on social media.
Though the nature of his injury suggests that he’ll be out for the rest of the season, Hayward has been shooting from a wheelchair and recovering faster than expected. Perhaps he could make a return in the postseason, just in time to help Boston against the Cavs.
24. Kobe Bryant, shooting guard, Los Angeles Lakers
Bryant, retired, didn’t play a single game in 2017, but that didn’t stop him from being a huge part of the conversation. As one of the NBA’s greats — and one of the most popular — Bryant will likely always hold a place in the discourse. It doesn’t hurt his standing that the Lakers honored him in retiring both No. 8 and No. 24 a couple weeks ago. Bryant certainly deserved the honor and we’re excited to see if he gets involved in any basketball-related endeavors in the future.
25. DeMarcus Cousins, power forward, New Orleans Pelicans
Cousins was at the center of one of the first big basketball stories of 2017: his trade to New Orleans. At the time, there was a consensus that the Pelicans pulled one over on the Sacramento Kings. 11 months later, that looks to be the case. Cousins struggled to get integrated for the latter half of 2016-17, however, he’s figured out how to play alongside Anthony Davis since the new season has started. He’s currently averaging 26.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. The Pelicans — currently at 18-18, 8th in the Western Conference — look to have a decent shot at a playoff bid, thanks in large part to Cousins.
Another reason Cousins made this list, aside from his excellent play, is that he’s one of the biggest crybabies in the NBA and regularly gets into trouble with the refs.