17. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
Last Rank: No. 20
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 26
Slash Line: .446/.339/.837
Season Averages: 36.1 MPG, 23.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.0 SPG
There are still flaws in his game, and the tunnel vision hasn’t been entirely eradicated, but DeMar DeRozan is a much better player than he used to be. He’s an improved shooter, and a more willing passer and defender who has been a genuine asset in the Toronto Raptors’ rise to prominence.
DeRozan has long been the object of the analytics craze’s scorn, but he’s become a genuine star in 2015-16.
DeRozan creates much of his own offense, and that makes his average of 23.3 points on 44.6 percent shooting from the field all the more impressive. DeRozan is currently No. 9 in the NBA in scoring average, and is converting a career-best 33.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
After posting a dud against the Cleveland Cavaliers, DeRozan bounced back with two very strong performances.
DeRozan scored 20 points and seven assists in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, and had what may have been his best game of the season mere days later. He scored 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting as the Raptors pulled away for a 104-94 victory over the Utah Jazz.
DeRozan has his poor moments against true contenders, but he’s as worthy of a Top 20 ranking as any.
Next: No. 16