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NBA Player Power Rankings: Kevin Durant Surpassing LeBron?

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dribbles against Brooklyn Nets forward Thaddeus Young (30) during the first quarter of the game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dribbles against Brooklyn Nets forward Thaddeus Young (30) during the first quarter of the game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Last Rank: No. 6

Position: Power Forward

Age: 22

Slash Line: .490/.296/.766

Season Averages: 35.5 MPG, 23.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.2 ORPG, 1.9 APG, 2.4 BPG, 1.3 SPG

Based on talent alone, one could make a case that Anthony Davis is already the best player in the NBA. There’s a lot more that goes into it than talent, but Davis is a dominant interior defender who scores and rebounds at Top 10 levels while possessing the shooting range and ball-handling ability to break teams down.

It’s been a rough season for the New Orleans Pelicans, but between Davis’ raw ability, stunning statistics, and undeniable influence, he’s clearly a Top 10 player.

The fact that Davis is this good at such a young age is a major reason why most have crowned him as the next best player in the NBA. He’ll need to stay healthy and polish his game in order to achieve such a prestigious status, but he’s well on his way.

In the meantime, all eyes are on Davis as the underachieving Pelicans sit just 5.0 games back of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

Davis is on pace to become the first player to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steal in three consecutive seasons since Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. That duo achieved the feat in far more than three straight campaigns, but most recently rattled off those insane numbers in 1995-96.

20 years later, Davis has a chance to write his name in statistical ink alongside those two titans of the sport.

Next: The Franchise Record-Holder