8. Paul George
After a career season, Paul George easily makes it into the top 10 current NBA players list. PG13 led the league in steals per game and was second to only James Harden in averaged points per game.
George was already a top NBA talent but took his game to a new level this season. Behind just his new teammate, Kawhi Leonard, George might be the league’s best two-way player. George can play on or off the ball and is atop the league’s best 3-point shooters, too.
George put up impressive averages of 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game last season. The scoring average was five points better than his next highest scoring regular season.
There really aren’t many flaws in George’s game, but he seems to disappear come playoff time. Whether it was difficult to play alongside one another, a duo of Paul George and Russell Westbrook should not have lost in the first round of the playoffs in just five games to the Portland Trail Blazers this past season. George couldn’t propel his team past the young Utah Jazz in the first round the previous season, either.
George will begin the 2019-2020 regular season on the sidelines after receiving two shoulder surgeries this summer, which will make how he follows last season’s career year super interesting.
George is a player you want to build around but needs to prove himself in the playoffs if he wants to move closer towards the top five.