Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has dragged OKC back to relevancy with his spectacular two-way play. He’s one of the best iso scorers in the NBA, eluding defenders with slippery handles and a special understanding of how to change speeds on the fly. He’s herky-jerky to the extreme, forcing defenders off balance with long, expertly timed strides and sudden shifts in momentum. He can finish at unorthodox angles in the paint or bury the defense with his pull-up jumper. Not many guards are playing at SGA’s level right now. The Thunder are, at long last, on the precipice of contention.
It’s pretty difficult to knock Luka Doncic at this point. The numbers speak for themselves: no team relies more heavily on a lead creator than Dallas on Doncic, and he’s near the top of the league in scoring and assists to prove it. Stealing a page out of prime James Harden’s book, Doncic can just bludgeon defenses out of the pick-and-roll or in isolation. He’s a strong-bodied finisher in the paint, with a filthy step-back and laser-sharp passing vision to keep the defense guessing.
Stephen Curry has a legitimate claim to the title of best offensive player ever. He’s still refreshingly unique, despite almost single-handedly ushering in the latest era of NBA offense. He can bend defenses to the breaking point without even touching the ball. There isn’t a deadlier off-ball mover in the sport. Hand Curry the ball and ask him to create, and he’s just as dominant. We’re talking about much more than the greatest shooter we’ve ever seen.