The discussion of who is the best player in the NBA is always ongoing, although the last few years LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers has earned respect from his peers to be considered the best player in the world.
But through the first half of the 2016-17 NBA season, many young players have elevated their game and could now perhaps challenge James and be considered among the best in the league.
Chief among those is Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, who may become the first person since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double.
New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis is also putting himself in the conversation, as he broke Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star game scoring record by scoring 52 in his home building Sunday night, earning himself MVP honors.
Los Angeles Lakers veteran forward Metta World Peace recently addressed the question of who the best player in the league is on Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed, and his answer was a bit surprising as he did not mention James’ name:
"[Russell Westbrook] is the best player in the NBA. Anthony Davis is second." — @MettaWorldPeace pic.twitter.com/4kivooMdWy
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) February 20, 2017
Coincidentally, both Westbrook and Davis were both recently linked to the Lakers, as their agent recently said that the duo plans to team up in Los Angeles sometime down the road.
That may have changed in the last 24 hours though as the Pelicans traded for Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins, who will pair with Davis to form the best frontcourt in the NBA. If Cousins re-signs with New Orleans this summer when he becomes a free agent, it is hard to imagine that Davis would leave anytime soon.
As far as World Peace’s comments, guys like James, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Stephen Curry, among others, surely have something to say about that. But with Westbrook playing at the high level he has been this season night in and night out, it is hard to argue that he has not been the best player in the league.