2015-16 NBA Player Rankings: 20-11
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 Part 2 of the four-part series.
Related: 2015-16 NBA Player Rankings, 30-21
20. Paul George (Highest ranking: 16)
On one hand, George is only about 15 months removed from a gruesome leg injury and has played just six NBA games since then. On the other hand, he was one of the best two-way players on the planet before that fateful night in Vegas, and, at 25, should be able to regain what was lost.
19. Kevin Love (Highest ranking: 17)
When 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds as a championship contender's third option is considered a down year, you know you've spoiled the hoops world with great ball. Look for the Cavs to get Love more involved this season and in spots where he can do more damage, which should result in a fourth All-Star appearance.
18. Tim Duncan (Highest ranking: 11)
From two young stars coming off injuries to a 39-year-old who has logged less than 70 games just twice in the last 10 seasons - and one of those was a lockout-shortened year. Duncan's greatness is about so much more than simple durability, however, as he remains one of the game's most dominant defensive players entering season No. 19.
17. Al Horford (Highest ranking: 12)
Perhaps the most underrated of the players on this list, Horford continues to quietly go about his business as one of the most complete big men in the Association.
16. Kyrie Irving (Highest ranking: 13)
While making modest strides on the defensive end last season, Irving continued to produce with stunning consistency on the offensive end, the likes of which has rarely been seen over the first four years of a pro career.
The fact he finally did it within the confines of a wildly successful team helped boost his stock, too.
15. Carmelo Anthony (Highest ranking: 10)
Is there a more polarizing star in the NBA?
'Melo is a one-way player who has rarely scored efficiently enough to validate claims he's among the game's best offensive talents, and he's a 31-year-old coming off knee surgery.
But the memory of the best two-year stretch of his career - where he averaged 28 points and 7.5 rebounds to go with a PER of 24.6 from 2012-14 - is still fresh enough in our minds to keep the eight-time All-Star in the top 20.
14. LaMarcus Aldridge (Highest ranking: 11)
As the modern game moves away from midrange basketball and values higher-percentage looks, Aldridge continues to drop 20 and 10 in his sleep while chucking up more than 57 percent of his shots from between 10 feet and the 3-point line.
LMA's Trail Blazers teams performed at least 2.9 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court in each of his nine seasons in Portland, so his propensity to fire long twos won't concern the Spurs.
13. Jimmy Butler (Highest ranking: 9)
No one took a bigger leap last season than Jimmy Buckets, who earned Most Improved Player honors after posting averages of 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals while logging a league-leading 38.7 minutes per game.
The question now is whether Butler can finally put together back-to-back seasons of above-average shooting. He displayed impressive marksmanship in his second and fourth seasons, but was worryingly inaccurate in his rookie and third years.
| Jimmy Butler | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years 1 and 3 | 39.8 | 27.9 | 76.9 |
| Years 2 and 4 | 46.3 | 37.9 | 82.3 |
12. John Wall (Highest ranking: 13)
It's no wonder Wall is knocking on the door for top-10 status. Last season he became just the fourth different player in the last four seasons to average 10 assists per game (joining Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, and Steve Nash), and earned his first career All-Defensive team selection.
The Wizards, who've made back-to-back trips to the East semis, know all about Wall's value. Their plus-5.3 net rating with Wall on the court last season would have ranked in the top five. Their minus-7.2 rating with Wall on the bench? Bottom five.
11. Kawhi Leonard (Highest ranking: 11)
On a team featuring Duncan and Aldridge, it's Leonard who we're projecting as San Antonio's best and most important player, and we're likely not alone.
The 24-year-old, two-way beast may have already established that reputation last season, when the Spurs went 46-18 with Leonard in the lineup, as opposed to 9-9 with the Defensive Player of the Year on the sidelines.