NBA Player Power Rankings: Change of the Guard

Mar 16, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) steals the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 123-108. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 15, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) passes the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) and forward Jabari Parker (12) in the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

Last Rank: No. 11

Position: Point Guard

Age: 29

Slash Line: .442/.393/.837

Season Averages: 37.2 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 2.8 3PM

Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors are quietly surging, achieving a record of 45-21 with 16 games remaining on the schedule. A meltdown is always possible, but Toronto is well on its way to winning 50-plus games for the first time in franchise history.

DeMar DeRozan has put forth the best season of his career, but Lowry is the driving force behind the Raptors’ success on both ends.

Over the Raptors’ past 10 games, Lowry is averaging 26.2 points, 7.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.2 steals on 52.1 percent shooting from the field. That’s a jump from his season averages, but not enough to suggest he can’t maintain that level of play when the stakes are high.

Having played up to the level of even the fiercest competition in 2015-16, Lowry appears primed and ready for a miraculous run through the postseason.

Lowry is No. 5 in the NBA in Win Shares and No. 2 amongst point guards in defensive real plus-minus. As the numbers show, he’s the reason Toronto is just 2.0 games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Lowry isn’t a household name, but he’s very clearly been one of the Top 10 players in the NBA in 2015-16.

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