NBA Player Power Rankings: All-Time Statistics Are Tough To Ignore

1 of 21

Feb 9, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

In this week’s edition of the NBA Player Power Rankings, a question beckons: can one rationally overlook historical significance of all-time statistics?

Perhaps the most important responsibility of an evaluator is to provide context to statistics. Gaudy numbers are attractive, but the ultimate goal remains to win and the realization of that mission hinges upon the way those statistics are accumulated.

In what’s shaping up to be a statistically historic 2016-17 NBA regular season, however, a question beckons: how exactly can one ignore these all-time numbers?

As the regular season approaches the three-quarter mark, the statistics that once had the basketball community in awe have attained a new level of validity. With regular season nearing its end, however, one can’t help but question if this legendary production can persist.

Moreover, one can’t help but question how such production can be overlooked in the race for league MVP and the All-NBA First Team slots.

Outside of those positing elite statistics, this week’s Player Power Rankings caused a number of deserving players to be excluded. That list includes Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Denver Nuggets phenom Nikola Jokic, and Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson.

The question is: which 20 stars cracked the Top 20 in this week’s NBA Player Power Rankings?