The 2016-17 NBA regular season continues to redefine position roles. Which players are steadily rising up the NBA hierarchy?

Whether you’re ready for it or not, the NBA is entering a new phase. The faces of the NBA aren’t who they used to be and the players who promise to lead the next generation are already making their names known in the contemporary era.
The latest edition of the NBA Player Power Rankings perfectly reflect how balanced this era has become with the old, the new, and the present.
In some instances, superstars who have maintained their perch atop the NBA are looking to hold onto their elite status. In others, the younger generation is looking to leapfrog the players ahead of them and make an instant rise to superstardom.
Stuck in between those conflicting generations are the stars of today who are hoping to solidify their legacies as future Hall of Famers.
With the month of December now in full swing, the 2016-17 NBA regular season is legitimately getting underway. Thus, the breakout performers and resurgent stars are beginning to either establish their hot starts as the source of new expectations—or hit a wall.
The question is: who is the best player in the NBA during the 2016-17 regular season thus far?