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NBA Power Rankings: Top 20 Players Heading Into 2017

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against theMinnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against theMinnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) passes while Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) passes while Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets

Position: Point Guard
Age: 26 (5/8/1990)
Experience: 6th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .457/.409/.813
2016-17 Season Averages: 33.3 MPG, 22.3 PPG, 5.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 2.7 3PM

Two members of the Charlotte Hornets qualify for the unofficial, “Most underrated in the NBA,” list. The first is head coach Steve Clifford, who has solidified his status as one of the most respected minds in the Association.

The other is star point guard Kemba Walker, who continues to rise to the occasion for a Hornets team that many expected to regress.

Cardiac Kemba continues to be one of the best closers in the NBA. He’s improved his game to the point of playing at a star-caliber level when it’s not a clutch scenario, which makes his closer status the solidifying factor in his Top 20 ranking.

Charlotte is well above .500 as at 19-14 son and Walker is shooting an obscenely efficient 50.0 percent from the field during clutch situations.

Walker has been one of the most dynamic talents in the NBA for quite some time. He’s beginning to piece it all together as he enters his prize, however, and the statistics are a fair reflection of just how dangerous he’s become.

The list of players who are currently averaging at least 20.0 points and 5.0 assists per game on a slash line of .450/.400/.800 consists of just Walker, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, and Stephen Curry.