Looking at who Bleacher Report has as the top 20 players entering 2020... as predicted just over 4 years ago

This happens right before the Warriors dynasty for some context. So they did a pretty classic Bleacher Report job of it. The little walls of text are the predicted best case scenarios. They actually hit the nail on the head with some of their optimism. They also missed wildly with these rankings, especially #2...

1. Jaylen Brown -

"Brown dominates the college ranks as a freshman, goes No. 1 in the 2016 NBA draft and promptly develops into an All-Star, with the potential to supplant the likes of Kevin Durant, Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the league's preeminent wing."

1. Dragan Bender -

"Bender arrives stateside as a top-five pick in the 2016 NBA draft and develops, in time, into the NBA's next great European import"

1. Jahlil Okafor -

"Okafor is the first player taken in the 2015 NBA draft. The team that selects him is able to tailor its style of play (i.e. methodical, half-court basketball) and its roster (i.e. good shooters, smart passers, rim protectors at other positions) to suit Okafor's strengths and mask his weaknesses. Okafor, in turn, becomes an All-Star and a reliable 20-10 guy at center."

1. DeAndre Jordan -

"Eventually, Jordan establishes himself as the league's preeminent stopper at center and is recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year. On the other end, Jordan does enough to sharpen his free-throw shooting so as to not be a liability on offense."

1. John Wall (Rip his achilles) -

"Wall leads the Wizards to their longest and most fruitful period of sustained success since the 1970s. Along the way, he establishes himself as a perennial All-Star starter, takes home an MVP and leads Washington to a title, with a helping hand from a major free-agent acquisition in the summer of 2016."

1. Bradley Beal -

"Beal stays healthy long enough to grow into an All-Star. His shooting stroke—one of the prettiest and most lethal in the league—earns him all manner of accolades, but it's his surprisingly effective all-around game that thrusts him into the discussion of the game's best 2-guards, right alongside Klay Thompson, James Harden and Andrew Wiggins."

1. Andre Drummond -

"Drummond becomes a passable free-throw shooter and an effective low-post operator to complement his prodigious abilities as a rebounder and pick-and-roll finisher. His near-20-10 production and penchant for spectacular plays earn him All-Star and All-NBA status. His work as the leader of a basketball renaissance in Detroit, though, is what gets people whispering about Drummond for MVP."

1. Karl-Anthony Towns -

"Towns is the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. His skills, perfectly suited to pick-and-roll basketball, allow him to have an immediate impact within the context of the league's overarching style of play. He becomes no worse than the third-best big to come out of Kentucky under John Calipari, with some wondering if he might move up a rung in the years to come."

1. Klay Thompson -

"Thompson challenges his teammate, Stephen Curry, for the unofficial title of "NBA's best shooting guard" and James Harden and Andrew Wiggins for the top spot at his position. He and Curry guide Golden State to a title, with the potential for a dynastic run to open up the Warriors' new arena in San Francisco."

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo -

"Antetokounmpo becomes the bedrock of a Bucks squad that competes for the Eastern Conference crown year in and year out. Likewise, his two-way excellence and physical prowess put him in position to be a perennial selection to All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive teams."

1. James Harden -

"Harden takes home 2015 MVP honors, kicking off a stretch in which he's a top contender for the league's most prestigious individual award nearly every year. At least one of those runs results in a championship for Harden, Howard and the Rockets, who haven't lifted the Larry O'Brien trophy in 20 years."

1. Paul George -

"George returns from his horrific injury to lead the Pacers back to the playoffs this season, looks more like his old self in 2015-16 and re-emerges as one of the league's elite players thereafter, with a jump shot and a handle further refined during his time away from the game. Furthermore, a healthy George puts Indy into the East's upper echelon once again."

1. Stephen Curry -

"Curry's ankles stand the test of time, allowing him to lead the league in scoring, three-point shooting and assists. Curry carries the Warriors to a title and earns MVP honors in the process."

1. Blake Griffin -

"Griffin continues to sharpen his skills and establishes himself as a top-tier point forward, capable of running an offense and reliably nailing jumpers out to three-point territory. He leads the Clippers to their first championship and becomes the first MVP in the team's sordid history."

1. Kyrie Irving -

"Irving learns the art of leadership from LeBron James. His period of study includes at least one title for Cleveland. Eventually, James cedes the Cavs' reins to Irving, just as Dwyane Wade did with LeBron in Miami, and the team continues to compete at an elite level with Kyrie at the controls."

1. Russell Westbrook -

"Westbrook earns an MVP of his own. In turn, he and Durant become the first to win MVPs as contiguous teammates since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson with the Showtime Lakers. Like those two, Westbrook and Durant add at least one championship to their shared resume."

1. Kevin Durant -

"Durant shakes off his recent foot problems and returns to dominating the NBA in short order. He adds a championship and another MVP to his list of achievements and remains lethal into his 30s, thanks to his size and historic shooting ability."

1. DeMarcus Cousins -

"With Karl's guidance, Cousins matures into a consistently dominant force who keeps his cool and carries the Kings back to respectability. He dominates the low post with skill, attitude and sheer physical fury like no one has since O'Neal. Boogie's singular excellence within Sacramento's renaissance makes him a perennial MVP contender."

1. Andrew Wiggins -

"Wiggins becomes the fifth unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year and the league's third in the last five campaigns. He follows that up by beginning an extended string of All-Star appearances while spearheading the rebirth of playoff basketball in Minnesota."

1. Anthony Davis -

"Davis complements his face-of-the-game-type talent with the on-court results to match. He turns the Pelicans into a perennial playoff powerhouse and, in the process, stakes his claim to default MVP consideration."

No LeBron?

Link to the article: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2377569-nba-2020-predicting-the-leagues-top-20-stars-in-2020

Submitted May 30, 2019 at 01:56PM by J-Stone13 http://bit.ly/2MiPyVU