1. Kyle Lowry
   Al Horford
2. Donovan Mitchell
   D'Angelo Russell

For years, Kyle Lowry helped the Toronto Raptors reach the NBA Playoffs, but they couldn't find enough success in the playoffs to get to the NBA Finals. That all changed in 2019 when the Raptors not only reached the Finals but defeated the Golden State Warriors to take home the title.

1. Jimmy Butler
   Blake Griffin
2. Bradley Beal
   Kemba Walker

Jimmy Butler has never had the same level of athleticism as some of his contemporaries, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming one of the best players in the NBA. His skill level comes from hard work off the court, which is why the Miami Heat wanted him so badly in the 2019 offseason.

1. Jimmy Butler
   Paul George
2. Klay Thompson
   Draymond Green

After a devastating leg injury derailed his career in 2014, most people thought Paul George would never fully get back to his All-Star form. However, he not only returned to form but actually got better. He even put himself in the MVP race in the 2018-19 season by averaging 28 points and 2.2 steals per game.

1. James Harden
   Klay Thompson
2. Damian Lillard
   Stephen Curry

Before Stephen Curry came along, small players who shot from the outside weren't as valued as they are today. After Curry showed that the three-point shot was more valuable than the two, players all over the league followed suit by shooting from way beyond the arc.

1. Kyrie Irving
   Draymond Green
2. Kevin Durant
   Paul George

In 2017, Kevin Durant was able to achieve his goal of winning an NBA championship when the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers. Durant was dominant in the series, taking home the Finals MVP after averaging 35.2 points and 8.4 rebounds.

1. Al Horford
   Carmelo Anthony
2. LaMarcus Aldridge
   Andre Drummond

Al Horford is like a Swiss Army knife because he has the ability to do it all on the court. Whether it's scoring, setting up teammates or playing defense at a high level, Horford is always there to make the play.

1. James Harden
   Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Joel Embiid
   Ben Simmons

James Harden has become a master of offense by using the rules of the game to benefit him on the court. For example, Harden will kick his legs out on a three-point shot to draw a foul if the defender moves forward and runs into him. It's one of the sneakiest ways to get points.

1. Devin Booker
   Kemba Walker
2. Bradley Beal
   Mike Conley Jr.

Kemba Walker spent the first half of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, where he was a three-time All-Star. However, the team never developed around Walker, and he decided to move on following the 2018-19 season in hopes that he could join a championship contender.

1. Kevin Love
   Tobias Harris
2. Carmelo Anthony
   C.J. McCollum

The NBA game has developed beyond Carmelo Anthony's style when he was in his prime because he's a player that needs to hold onto the basketball to be a superstar. However, Anthony has proven with the Portland Trail Blazers that he can still be a viable option to score when he makes quick decisions.

1. Lonzo Ball
   Jayson Tatum
2. Trae Young
   Jaylen Brown

Jayson Tatum struggled to find his game in his second season in the league while the Boston Celtics were going through continuity issues in the 2018-19 season. However, changes were made in the offseason, and Tatum progressed substantially coming into his third year.

1. Jimmy Butler
   Chris Paul
2. Russell Westbrook
   Kawhi Leonard

Russell Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for a season when he did it over the course of the 2016-17 season. The only difference is that Westbrook went on to do it for the next two seasons as well, a feat never accomplished before.

1. Kyle Lowry
   Kyrie Irving
2. Blake Griffin
   Kawhi Leonard

Instead of saying much on the basketball court, Kawhi Leonard lets his play do the talking for him. He particularly shows up opponents on the defensive side of the ball, where he's a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

1. LeBron James
   James Harden
2. Russell Westbrook
   Carmelo Anthony

LeBron James could have stayed in Cleveland, where he made four straight NBA Finals appearances between 2015 and 2018. Instead, James decided to go to Los Angeles, where the lights are the brightest, in hopes that he can deliver another title to the Lakers.

1. Draymond Green
   Donovan Mitchell
2. LaMarcus Aldridge
   Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert has been with the Utah Jazz since he entered the NBA in 2013. Gobert played sparingly his first two seasons before becoming a full-time starter in 2015. His length helped him work his way into that position, as he uses his 7-foot-9-inch wingspan to deflect passes and block shots.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns
   Rudy Gobert
2. Dwight Howard
   Al Horford

Karl-Anthony Towns is the perfect big man for the modern NBA, which is why he was drafted with the first pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Not only can he work underneath the basket, but Towns also has the ability to step out to the three-point line and hit a shot when it matters.

1. Bradley Beal
   Klay Thompson
2. DeMar DeRozan
   Victor Oladipo

Klay Thompson is the other half of the "Splash Brothers" in Golden State, which also consists of Stephen Curry. The two have set numerous three-point records, including the NBA record for combined three-pointers made between the pair for a season.

1. Paul George
   Kyrie Irving
2. Jimmy Butler
   Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard hit one of the biggest shots of his career in the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Guarded by Paul George, Lillard launched a deep three in a closeout game as time ran off the clock to take down the Thunder in five games.

1. Kyle Lowry
   D'Angelo Russell
2. Kyrie Irving
   Draymond Green

Kyrie Irving is one of the biggest reasons LeBron James returned to Cleveland in 2014. However, Irving wanted his own team as he developed and demanded a trade in 2017. His wish was granted, and he ended up on the Boston Celtics until his contract expired.

1. Boban Marjanovic
   Rudy Gobert
2. Nikola Jokic
   Victor Oladipo

Nikola Jokic has court vision that rivals just about anyone in NBA history. His vision and feel for the game lead him to always make the right play, whether it's scoring the ball himself or setting up a teammate.

1. Klay Thompson
   Luka Doncic
2. Nikola Jokic
   Rudy Gobert

Luka Doncic has taken the NBA by storm after only one full NBA season, even winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2019. His play has only improved as he has shown that European players can be superstars in the league.

1. Carmelo Anthony
   Jayson Tatum
2. Donovan Mitchell
   Blake Griffin

Because of his incredible jumping ability, Blake Griffin had a ton of hype coming into the NBA. During his first season in the league, Griffin used that athleticism to win the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest by jumping over a car.

1. LaMarcus Aldridge
   Jayson Tatum
2. Gordon Hayward
   D'Angelo Russell

When LaMarcus Aldridge first joined the San Antonio Spurs, he ran into problems with his role on the team, which he thought didn't fit how he played. After having a conversation with head coach Gregg Popovich, his role was altered to better fit his style, and Aldridge returned to his All-Star form.

1. Andrew Wiggins
   Devin Booker
2. Ricky Rubio
   Deandre Ayton

Devin Booker has one of the best offensive arsenals in the NBA, even if it hasn't helped the Phoenix Suns reach the playoffs. In three of his first four seasons, Booker averaged over 20 points per game and consistently improved his assists each of those years.

1. Donovan Mitchell
   Jayson Tatum
2. Victor Oladipo
   DeMar DeRozan

The main knock against DeMar DeRozan throughout his NBA career has been his three-point shooting ability, as he only shoots 28 percent on his career. However, he didn't need the three to score 27.3 points per game during the 2016-17 season, so it's not that big a knock.

1. Jayson Tatum
   Mike Conley Jr.
2. Trae Young
   Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell was in a fierce competition for Rookie of the Year during his first NBA season. Mitchell didn't take home the award, but he still made the All-Rookie First Team after averaging 20.5 points for the season.

1. Marc Gasol
   Ricky Rubio
2. Serge Ibaka
   Gordon Hayward

Marc Gasol was a longtime star for the Memphis Grizzlies before the team decided to revamp in 2019. At that point, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, which ended up benefiting his career because he won an NBA title in his first season with the Raptors.

1. JaVale McGee
   John Wall
2. Mike Conley Jr.
   Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard was once an MVP candidate, as he dominated the boards and the defensive side of the ball. Even in his 30s, he has traits of his former self, but he has had to adapt to the current NBA that relies more on three-point shooting than post-up play.

1. Draymond Green
   Victor Oladipo
2. Bradley Beal
   LaMarcus Aldridge

In only his second season, Bradley Beal helped turn the Washington Wizards into a playoff contender. During his first playoff run, the Wizards advanced to the second round, where they played six tough games against the Indiana Pacers before going down.

1. Kemba Walker
   Devin Booker
2. Ben Simmons
   Kyler Lowry

An injury forced Ben Simmons to miss his first year in the NBA, but when he did finally make his debut, Simmons showed why he was so highly touted coming out of college. After all, Simmons has the ability to achieve a triple-double on any given night, and his court vision makes him a great team player.

1. D'Angelo Russell
   Victor Oladipo
2. Mike Conley Jr.
   Andre Drummond

After leaving Oklahoma City, Victor Oladipo completely revamped his training regiment after being inspired by Russell Westbrook. It paid off as Oladipo made his first All-Star Game in his first season with the Indiana Pacers.

1. Stephen Curry
   Anthony Davis
2. Kawhi Leonard
   Kevin Durant

No one doubted Anthony Davis would be a star in the NBA when he was scooped with the first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He hasn't disappointed during the regular season, either, as he currently averages over 23 points and ten rebounds per game for his career.

1. Trae Young
   Tobias Harris
2. Kristaps Porzingis
   Andre Drummond

A major knee injury slowed the progression of Kristaps Porzingis, but it didn't completely derail his career. After returning in 2019, Porzingis has shown that he can still be the "Unicorn" that many called him early in his career.

1. Lonzo Ball
   Trae Young
2. Andre Drummond
   Mike Conley Jr.

Trae Young was viewed as the next Stephen Curry coming into the NBA because of his range from beyond the arc. He hasn't let his team down as of yet, scoring 19.1 points per game in his first NBA season while increasing those numbers moving into the 2019-20 season.

1. Chris Paul
   Damian Lillard
2. Kyle Lowry
   Ben Simmons

The only mark against Chris Paul is that he's never played in an NBA Finals. Other than that, he's a nine-time All-Star, has made seven All-NBA Teams and shows that he'll play defense by being elected to nine NBA All-Defensive Teams.

1. Luka Doncic
   Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Joel Embiid
   Nikola Jokic

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a force on the basketball court, as few NBA players can stop him from getting to the rim by themselves. Sometimes, he can power his way through two or three defenders to slam down the ball at the hoop.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns
   Ben Simmons
2. Rudy Gobert
   Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid suffered a devastating loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of the semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. He was criticized for his conditioning throughout those playoffs and vowed to return the next season even better.

1. D'Angelo Russell
   Dwight Howard
2. John Wall
   Jrue Holiday

The Los Angeles Lakers were forced to trade D'Angelo Russell following some issues off the court, but the trade benefited Russell, who continued to improve his game with the New York Nets. In his second season with the NY Nets, Russell made his first All-Star Game after putting up 21.1 points and seven assists per game.

1. DeMar DeRozan
   Andre Drummond
2. Draymond Green
   Kevin Love

Draymond Green was one of the most important pieces in the Golden State Warriors' "Death Lineup" that helped them win three NBA titles. As part of the lineup, Green could run the floor with the smaller players while also guarding larger players in the post.

1. Marc Gasol
   Pau Gasol
2. Gordon Hayward
   Kevin Love

After the departure of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love was the last major piece of Cleveland's championship team from 2016. Rather than let him part as well, the Cavaliers signed Love to a four-year extension worth $120 million.

1. Brandon Ingram
   John Wall
2. Tobias Harris
   Jrue Holiday

The Philadelphia 76ers decided to trade for Tobias Harris in the middle of the 2018-19 season because of his three-point shooting ability. Harris was up and down in his first season with the 76ers, but they still signed him to a long-term deal in the offseason, hoping he could help them make the Finals.