Quietly, LaMarcus Aldridge had one of his best seasons playing for the San Antonio Spurs. (Photo: Mark D. Smith – USA TODAY Sports)
20. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs
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By Advith Sarikonda
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After a cursory look at the box score, one might get the impression that 2016 was a bit of a down year for LaMarcus Aldridge. After all, Aldridge’s 18 points per game average was his lowest scoring mark since his third season in the NBA, and his usage rate fell from 30.2 percent during his final season in Portland to 25.9 percent in his first year in San Antonio. Though Aldridge’s box score numbers were not particularly impressive, a deeper dive suggests he actually improved on both ends of the floor under Greg Popovich—posting a career-best defensive rating (99 points per 100 possessions) and nearly matched his career-high in offensive rating (114).
As anybody who played under Popovich can attest, something about San Antonio tends to get the best out of a player. In Aldridge’s case, San Antonio’s ball movement-oriented system helped him shoot higher percentage shots while getting better looks throughout the floor.
What the Spurs have lacked in recent years is an offensive threat who can not only do damage within the system, but also out of it. A 6-foot-11 power forward who can create his own shot, Aldridge proved yet again to be one of the greatest mismatches in the NBA. His combination of size, footwork, and ability to shoot from all over the floor offered San Antonio a dimension it hadn’t seen before.
While the early growing pains were evident, Aldridge became more comfortable in San Antonio’s offense as the season progressed. This familiarity within the system culminated in the Spurs’ postseason run, in which Aldridge averaged 21.9 points per game on 52.1 percent shooting. Specifically, Aldridge proved to be a difference-maker in the Spurs’ second round series against the Oklahoma City, when he averaged a scintillating 26.8 points on 52.5 percent shooting.
But perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Aldridge’s gradual acclimation to the Spurs is the fact that everything came naturally – nothing was forced, and the team’s core players did not have to make great sacrifices in order to accommodate his all-star presence. Though some may have anticipated superstar teammate Kawhi Leonard’s role decreasing upon Aldridge’s arrival, Leonard was able to have the best season of his young career alongside Aldridge. Going forward, Aldridge and Leonard should make for one of the best one-two punches in the NBA. With Tim Duncan officially gone and the franchise now looking to make up for his absence, the former Trail Blazer appears poised to step up into an even bigger role.
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19. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
The fact that Karl-Anthony Towns is already on this list is a testament to just how dominant he was as a rookie. Put simply, Towns embodies the new prototype of an NBA player. Despite playing in a league that has become increasingly guard-oriented, Towns is the rare breed of athlete who has the potential to redefine the current paradigm of the sport. Indeed, Towns put up historic numbers across the board for a rookie on both ends of the court. On offense, Towns became just the third rookie in NBA history behind Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal to average at least 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the field. And even O’Neal and Duncan didn’t possess Towns’ ability to shoot from the perimeter during their respective inaugural seasons. At least on the offensive side of the ball, there has never been a rookie big man more refined than Towns in terms of touch, range, and versatility.
But offense wasn’t the Kentucky product’s only specialty. On defense, Towns’ combination of length and innate instincts helped him block 1.7 shots per game, a mark good for tenth in the whole league. Likewise, Towns often showed the ability to guard multiple positions and defend players out on the perimeter — two skills highly sought after in big men in a league that is relying more and more on positional ubiquity.
This staggering display of all-around ability garnered Towns much deserved recognition, as he ended up winning the rookie of the month award every month in which it was handed out in addition to ultimately taking home the rookie of the year award in unanimous fashion.
Now the question is not whether Towns is Minnesota’s franchise cornerstone, it’s whether the rest of the Timberwolves’ young core can elevate their games to supplement what Towns can already provide. Players like Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine will have to showcase improvement on both ends of the floor to complement Towns’ ethereal talents.
All in all, Towns’ game screams superstar, and rightfully so. Assuming good health, he has the makings of a top-tier player in the NBA for as long as he wants to be.
Kyle Lowry’s production stands with the best in the league. (Photo: Dan Hamilton – USA TODAY Sports)
18. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
Perhaps the most underrated star in the NBA, Kyle Lowry had another vastly overlooked season in which he helped lead the Toronto Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals. Though he won’t blow anyone away by virtue of otherworldly handles like Kyrie Irving or inhuman athleticism like Russell Westbrook, Lowry is still one of the most productive point guards in the entire league, and proved it last season.
Alongside backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan, Lowry propelled Toronto to its winningest season in franchise history. Leading the team with 11.6 win shares and ranking eighth in the entire NBA in that category, Lowry was a do-it-all guard for a franchise that sorely needed one. His all-in-one combination of shooting, playmaking ability, and defense was matched by less than a handful of guards.
Unfortunately, an elbow injury undermined the quality of Lowry’s play during the majority of the postseason, though it’s unlikely that the Raptors would’ve gotten past LeBron James’ Cavaliers squad either way.
After making an unsavory-yet-expected decision to lock up DeRozan to a $139 million contract, the Raptors are banking on the Lowry-DeRozan tandem to get them over the hump. Now teammates since 2013, it is imperative that both take the next step towards challenging the Cavaliers in the playoffs. Though it appears unlikely that any Eastern Conference team will be able to stop the impetus that is Cleveland anytime soon, Lowry’s Raptors are the best bet to do so.
Whether Lowry has capped his ceiling or is still improving remains to be seen. After all, he is 30 years old — older than Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, and John Wall, among others — and isn’t getting any younger. But as far as last season goes, it’s undeniable that the impact he had for his team was rivaled by few. Now it’s just a matter of that impact translating to when it matters most.
17. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Long touted as a potential star, Kyrie Irving finally had the opportunity to show his regular season success could carry over to the biggest stage in basketball. After being sidelined in the NBA Finals a year earlier, Irving had a marvelous playoffs that saw him average 25.2 points on 47.5 percent from the field and 44.0 percent from beyond the arc. Specifically, Irving rose to the occasion in the NBA Finals, where he averaged 27.1 points per game on 46.8 percent shooting.
Though he was regarded as a rising star for a while, few could have predicted a postseason run like Irving’s. It was Irving, after all, who outdid the league’s first unanimous MVP, Steph Curry, and eventually helped the Cavaliers capture its first championship in franchise history.
Many initially deemed Irving, an undeniably shoot-first point guard, a bad fit alongside another ball-dominant player in James. Yet, somehow, Irving and James both carried the brunt of the load for Cleveland in the Finals, with Irving showing he didn’t need to change his style of play in order to get the best out of James.
Only 24 years old, Irving now boasts a plethora of accolades that most players could only dream of. The Duke product owns an NBA title, three all-star appearances, an all-star game MVP, an Olympic gold medal, and a FIBA World Cup MVP. His youth also bodes well for a team whose best player, James, will most likely take the pedal off the gas to an extent during the upcoming regular season in preparation for the playoffs. As a result, Irving may very well see an uptick in usage, which will be key to the former’s maturation as an overall player.
All in all, the 2016 playoffs were an awakening to both Irving and fans of the sport in general. In his first extended postseason run, Irving capitalized on the hype that led to him getting his own signature shoes alongside the likes of James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant. When the Cavaliers needed him the most, Irving delivered, becoming the yin to James’ yang.
16. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Despite now being the tertiary option on the offensive end with Kevin Durant’s arrival, Klay Thompson is still one of the very best at his position, and it could be argued that he indeed is the league’s best shooting guard. A volume scorer whose unparalleled hot streaks can change the course of a game at any moment, Thompson offers plenty of highlight reels on the offensive end.
Admittedly, it remains to be seen whether Thompson can shoulder a larger load on the offensive end and be a team’s primary ball-handler, a la James Harden. For as great as he is, Thompson’s rare cold streaks are almost as vicious as his hot ones. Likewise, too often he looks like a deer in headlights when asked to create offense off the dribble.
But in spite of these deficiencies, Thompson provides something that Harden doesn’t — great defense. Thompson is often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best guard, and he does a great job of cutting off passing lanes and forcing tough shots thanks to his impressive length. He is also a great lateral mover who can guard positions 1 through 3 on any given night.
Overall, there shouldn’t be many concerns regarding Thompson on the current edition of a Golden State team that has a multitude of playmaking superstars. If anything, the fact that he is already an off-ball player should ease any concerns regarding his role on a team that now features two MVPs.
Though he has ways to go in terms of maintaining consistency and improving his handles, Thompson’s two-way skillset offers a world of productivity for a team that already has an excess of it. In the end, it’s undeniable that Thompson is a lightning rod on both ends of the court who the opposition has to be looking out for on a consistent basis. Just ask the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had to learn the hard way.
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