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NBA Player Power Rankings: All-Star Break Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

17. Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks

Last Rank: No. 17

Position: Power Forward

Age: 31

Slash Line: .486/.324/.766

Season Averages: 32.4 MPG, 17.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.4 ORPG, 3.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 0.9 3PM

Paul Millsap is contributing in, literally, every single area for the Atlanta Hawks. This hasn’t been as prolific a season as Atlanta experienced in 2014-15, but Millsap is making his third consecutive All-Star Game appearance on the strength of his individual progression.

With one look at his season averages, it becomes abundantly clear why Millsap is so easily ranked as a Top 20 player.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Millsap joins DeMarcus Cousins as the only players averaging at least 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 block, and 1.0 steal per game. If those are numbers are tweaked, Millsap in 2015-16 and Cousins in 2014-15 join even rarer company.

That duo makes up the only players to average at least 17.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 block since Chris Webber in 2002-03—a fair comparison for Millsap’s role in Atlanta.

Millsap may not always have the best numbers in any one area, but he finds ways to contribute across the board. The capable explosiveness was evident this past week, when he recorded 24 points and four blocks against the Indiana Pacers, and had 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, four steals, and one block against the Orlando Magic.

It’s a testament to Millsap’s character and quality as a player that he’s willing to sacrifice the numbers he’s clearly capable of posting for the betterment of head coach Mike Budenholzer’s vision.

Next: The Walking Double-Double