Still aren’t many No. 2 options who can live up to Khris Middleton’s blend of timely shot-making and connective playmaking. He’s the perfect three-level scorer to balance out Giannis’ downhill dominance and perpetually underrated in the broader conversation around Milwaukee’s team success.
Jaylen Brown has taken his game to the next level, scoring prolifically from everywhere on the floor. His pull-up jumper, physical drives to the hoop, and consistently excellent wing defense make him one of the league’s premier two-way wings.
Bam Adebayo remains otherworldly on defense, taking on every challenge thrown his direction with aplomb. He’s the best switch big in the NBA by a country mile and an increasingly more dynamic offensive weapon, even if he’s not as aggressive as Heat fans would like in the scoring department.
Tyrese Haliburton has transformed himself into the NBA’s paragon of efficiency: he’s lights out from 3-point range with the most prolific assist-to-turnover ratio in the league. He just doesn’t make mistakes. He’s in complete control of his game, all while orchestrating the team around him too. He’s also a clever defender who knows how to weaponize his length on the perimeter. A true franchise player for Indiana.
Kawhi Leonard’s return to basketball has been slow moving, with several bumps in the road already. But we’re starting to see flashes of the old Kawhi. Health may prevent him from returning to top-10 status on a permanent basis, but he’s still on track to help the Clippers contend in the playoffs.