The NBA season is quickly coming to an end, and as the playoffs get underway, fans everywhere are gearing up for what should be some exciting basketball games. For those that have followed NBA picks and parlays this season, it’s no secret that LeBron James has been the best player, but who will be right behind him in 2024? Check NBA picks and parlays on the top players in the league right now, with NBA odds on them being one of the best players next season.
1. LeBron James
Source: hoopshype.com
LeBron James is a great player. One of the top five best players in the league. He’s one of the few to have won three championships. He’s a seven-time All-Star, two-time Finals MVP, two-time regular season MVP, and four-time league MVP. He’s arguably the best player in the world right now, but what will he be like in 2024? Will he still be dominating or will Father Time finally catch up with him?
Let’s take a look at what James could potentially do from age 33 to 39. In 2020, he averaged 27 points on 43% shooting from the field, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. That was his worst year statistically since 2006 when he was only 23 years old. The following year (2024), his numbers increased to 28 points on 49% shooting, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. In 2024 it jumped again to 29 points on 51% shooting, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists per game.
2. Kevin Durant
Source: nba.com
Kevin Durant is an American professional basketball player who has been playing in the National Basketball Association since 2007. He played with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2008 to 2016 and played with the Golden State Warriors from 2017 to 2019. He was a two-time All-Star selection, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and three-time member of the United States national team.
Durant grew up in Seat Pleasant, Maryland, and played for Montrose Christian School as well as the AAU club team DC Blue Devils. His college basketball career started at Texas, where he won a national championship his freshman year.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Source: nba.com
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a 6-foot-11-point guard from Greece. He’s been in the NBA since 2013, but still only 22 years old. He’s the only player in the league to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, and field goal percentage. He has made it to three All-Star games in four years.
4. Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is a generational talent. He has the potential to be the best big in NBA history, even better than Shaquille O’Neal. In his first eight seasons, he’s averaged 24.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 2 times All-NBA First Team (including once being unanimously selected), four times All-Star (including two MVPs), two times Defensive Player of the Year, two times Olympic gold medalist and three times FIBA World Champion with USA Basketball (including once as captain).
Davis’ value should not be underestimated because he can do it all on both ends of the court.
5. Kawhi Leonard
Source: nba.com
Russell Westbrook is a point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was drafted 4th overall in 2008 by the Sonics but was traded to the Thunder soon after. Westbrook attended UCLA from 2006-2008, where he led his team to an NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship in 2007.
In 2010, Westbrook won gold with Team USA at the FIBA World Championship as well as silver at the 2012 Olympics. He is also a two-time All-Star Game MVP and has been named to five All-NBA Teams (3x First Team, 2x Second Team).
6. Joel Embiid
Source: 6abc.com
Joel Embiid is a player for the Philadelphia 76ers. Born in Yaounde, Cameroon, his family moved to Canada when he was 16 years old. He went on to have one of the most successful college basketball careers ever, leading the University of Kansas Jayhawks to an NCAA Championship in 2008.
Embiid was drafted by Philadelphia in 2014 with the 3rd overall pick. His rookie year was a success as he averaged 20 points per game (5th among all rookies) along with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks per game. In 2017-2018 he was named to the All-NBA second team after averaging 22 points per game along with 11 rebounds and 1 block per game.
7. Russell Westbrook
Source: gq.com
Russell Westbrook is one of the best players to ever play in the NBA. He led the league in scoring this past season, with 16.7 PPG. Russell is also considered an elite defender, as he averaged 2 steals per game last season. Westbrook has a high basketball IQ, averaging 8.6 assists per game last year, which was good enough for 3rd in the league behind only James Harden and LeBron James.
8. Chris Paul
Source: latimes.com
Chris Paul is a professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets. He has been named to 12 All-Star teams, all as a starter, and has won two Olympic gold medals as a member of Team USA. His jersey number is 3, which he wears in honor of his father, who was also a point guard. Chris Paul was born on May 6th, 1985 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
9. Kyrie Irving
Source: thenation.com
Kyrie Irving is the youngest player on this list, so it may be a stretch to think that he will be one of the top players in 2024. However, Kyrie is one of the most gifted players in the league right now and has been improving at an insanely rapid pace. He has taken over as Cleveland’s best player after James’ departure, averaging 24 points per game with a field goal percentage over 47% (a career-high).
With him being only 26 years old, there is plenty of room for him to improve his shooting from long-range (right now he shoots only 31%) or develop better ball-handling skills. Kyrie also has two consecutive games with a triple-double this season which is near career high for him.
Conclusion
This is a list of the top most likely players to be on an all-NBA team in 2024. To be considered for this list, each player must have played in less than 50 games in the 2016-2017 season. I hope this has been helpful for any betters out there looking for good picks and parlays.
