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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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Feb 1, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with fans while leaving the court after defeating the Indiana Pacers 111-106 in overtime at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with fans while leaving the court after defeating the Indiana Pacers 111-106 in overtime at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Rank: No. 3

Position: Small Forward

Age: 31

Slash Line: .505/.271/.718

Season Averages: 35.9 MPG, 24.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.0 3PM

Even in what’s been commonly described as a down season, LeBron James is Top 5 in the NBA in scoring and shooting better than 50 percent from the field. It’s yet another sign of James’ under-appreciated consistency as a scorer, as well as his uncanny ability to attack the rim against zone defenses and the verticality rule.

At 31 years old, James continued his unbelievable ascension of the all-time scoring list by passing Kevin Garnett for the No. 16 spot.

James is shooting as well as one would expect him to given the rise in the importance of the 3-point shot, and that is a significant factor. He’s also converting well below 75 percent of his free throws, which is a dreadful mark for a player averaging 6.9 attempts from the charity stripe per game.

None of that has changed the fact that he’s scoring with borderline elite volume and overall efficiency, however, and that cannot be taken away from The King.

James and the Cavaliers have elevated their team play to another level under Tyronn Lue, winning five of six, including a blowout of the San Antonio Spurs. The 31-year-old’s numbers still aren’t on-par with what’s expected of him, but he’s becoming more of a distributor under Lue.

Down season or otherwise, James has been one of the Top 5 players in what can only be described as a wild and explosive 2015-16 regular season.

Next: The Scoring Machine