2015-16 NBA Player Rankings: The top 5

Welcome to theScore's preview of the 2015-16 NBA season. Visit our season preview hub for comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams.

As part of our season preview coverage, theScore's six NBA editors each ranked their top 30 players heading into the 2015-16 campaign. Players were awarded 30 points for a first-place vote, 29 points for a second-place vote, and so on, with one point awarded for a 30th-place vote.

We then compiled those point totals for the 35 different players who received votes, leaving us with a cumulative top 30. Here's the conclusion of the four-part series.

Related: 2015-16 NBA Player Rankings, 30-21
Related: 2015-16 Player Rankings, 20-11
Related: 2015-16 Player Rankings, 10-6

5. James Harden (Highest ranking: 4)

Even optimistic Harden supporters didn't see this coming when he was dealt to the Rockets, as the 26-year-old quickly evolved from a super-sub to a top-five talent in the span of three years, cementing it with back-to-back All-NBA First Team selections in 2014 and 2015.

Last season, Harden joined Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant as the only players to post a 27-5-5 season with a 25-plus PER and 60-plus true shooting percentage.

Fear The Beard, indeed.

4. Stephen Curry (Highest ranking: 3)

All hail the new Point God.

In an era flush with a generational influx of point guard talent, led for years by Chris Paul, Curry emerged superior last season, taking home the MVP award after leading the Warriors to a historic, 67-win season, then helping Golden State capture its first championship in 40 years.

As a reminder of just how insanely valuable Curry was to the dominant Warriors last season, consider that a 67-win team that outscored opponents by 17 points per 100 possessions with Curry on the court was outscored with him on the bench, according to NBA.com.

3. Kevin Durant (Highest ranking: 1)

A year ago, the reigning MVP was pushing LeBron James for the "best player on the planet" mantle. Now the Thunder forward has lost his consensus No. 2 status to a younger star in Anthony Davis. Injuries are a fickle thing.

Nevertheless, between James entering the season banged up and Davis once again needing to carry an undermanned Pelicans squad, a seemingly healthy KD has a golden opportunity to grab a second Maurice Podoloff Trophy in three years.

In the 27 games he suited up for last season, Durant averaged a modest-for-his-standards 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on a 51-40-85 shooting line.

Beware a scorned Slim Reaper.

2. Anthony Davis (Highest ranking: 2)

It's tough to put into words how unfathomably good Davis was last season.

The Brow, aged 21 for the majority of the 2014-15 campaign, averaged roughly 24 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks while leading the underdog Pelicans to a playoff berth in one of the most competitive conferences the league has ever seen.

He compiled base statistics no big man had accrued in nearly a decade and posted the 11th-highest PER in NBA history, all while being barely old enough to legally order an alcoholic beverage.

Davis figures to be further unleashed in a more exciting brand of basketball under Alvin Gentry, and that's a scary thought - both for the league and its record books.

1. LeBron James (Lowest ranking: 2)

LeBron's 25.3 points and six rebounds per game in his first season back with the Cavaliers were his lowest totals since his rookie campaign 11 years earlier - which says something about how unfairly good he's been since stepping foot in the Association - and his early-season lapses on the defensive end had some people questioning whether he lost a step.

Those questions were answered in the postseason when, despite his efficiency crumbling under the weight of unprecedented usage, James' overall contributions to each game were awe-inspiring. "King James" reminded us that particularly in the weak East, when healthy, he's essentially guaranteed to carry his team to the Finals.

Bothered by a back issue, James (and the Cavs) may once again stumble out of the gate, but he'll eventually right the ship, cruise to a 25-6-6 stat line, contend for a fifth MVP award, and remind us come April, May, and likely June, he's still the king of this castle.