When anyone mentions the NBA and its players, the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are usually among the first to come to mind, and to a great extent are considered the faces of the league. This is due to the fact that thus far in their careers, they have performed at such a high standard that they are considered to be true superstars.
While there are a number of players in the league that are considered to be “good”, there is a much smaller list of those that individuals consider to be “superstars”. The three previously mentioned players certainly fall into the list, but there are others rapidly moving towards them.
Here is a look at some of the players who are establishing themselves as dominant forces in the league:
Anthony Davis (Power Forward/Center) – New Orleans Pelicans
Despite being only 21, Anthony Davis is already emerging as a true superstar in the NBA. He set the precedent for an impressive 2014-2015 season by being one block shy of a triple-double in the Pelicans’ opening game against the Orlando Magic, recording 26 points, 17 rebounds, 9 blocks, three steals and two assists on the day.
With an efficiency rating at 32.3 (well above that of the closest contender) Davis has his eyes set on a truly memorable season with contributions on both ends of the court. So far this season, he is one of two players to record multiple games of 30 points and 15 rebounds. His league best average of 25.2 points is strongly supported by 10.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.1 steals. Notably, Davis is on course to match “Hall of Famers” David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in league history to average 3 blocks and 2 steals for the season.
Though relatively early into the season, many think the real battle for MVP honors will be between Davis and Curry – especially if they continue in this rich vein of performance. Not LeBron James. Not reigning MVP Kevin Durant. Barring injuries, it’s hard to imagine that they won’t. Highly unlikely that anyone could have predicted that coming into the season.
Stephen Curry (Point Guard/Shooting Guard) – Golden State Warriors)
At the moment, the Warriors are boasting a league best 18-2 record, a 13-game winning streak, and arguably the league’s best point guard (and player) – Stephen Curry. After a couple of good seasons, Curry appears to have finally molded his play to be a truly efficient player. For the season, he is averaging 23.1 points, 7.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds, with an efficiency of 26.1 (third in the league) – a representation of the player’s overall performance and contribution on the court.
Heading into the season, there were a lot of people looking to Curry to keep the franchise on the “up and up”, particularly after head coach Mark Jackson was removed, (and he is yet to disappoint). While it is not a fully dependable representation, many sports fans assess a player’s season based on their ranking in fantasy leagues, and thus far only Anthony Davis is ahead of him.
Demarcus Cousins
It can easily be argued that the current 11-10 Kings would be higher than their existing ninth place rank in the Western Conference were it not for the injury that sidelined star player DeMarcus Cousins. After developing something of a (bad) reputation in his three prior seasons in the league, he now appears to have matured and is ready to establish himself as a truly dominant player – not only in his position, but across the league.
For the games he has played, Cousins has averaged 23.5 points and 12.6 rebounds, which is sixth and first in the respective categories. His efficiency rating is 27.9 – placing him second only to Davis. The earlier bit that mentioned Davis as one of two players with more than one game with 30 points and 15 rebounds – Cousins was the first to do so.
If he is able to bounce back from his injury, the Kings will certainly be hopeful of challenging for a playoff spot in the hotly contested Western Conference.
John Wall (Point Guard) – Washington Wizards
There are some individuals with the type of personality to use disappointment to push them to do better for themselves, and the 24-year-old John Wall appears to be one such individual. After being passed over for the trip to the 2014 FIBA World Cup – an event that Wall himself wasn’t too happy about – he has been one of the stand-out guards in the league thus far.
In the Wizards’ recent 133-132 double overtime win against the Boston Celtics, Wall set a franchise record of five games with at least 12 assists. It would not be a surprise if this were one of the best assist streaks in NBA history. His average of 10.4 assists (second only to Rajon Rondo with 10.8), as well as 18 point, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals makes for a commendable all-round performance.
The 14-6 record of the Wizards is second only to that of the Toronto Raptors’ 16-5, and Wall is a big part of that. He achieved his first All-Star appearance last year, and it appears to be the first of many.
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