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NBA Player Power Rankings: The Top 20 Players Of 2016-17

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) and Western Conference guard James Harden of the Houston Rockets (13) during the NBA All-Star Practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) and Western Conference guard James Harden of the Houston Rockets (13) during the NBA All-Star Practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) reacts after a play during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Quicken Loans Arena. The Wizards won 127-115. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) reacts after a play during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Quicken Loans Arena. The Wizards won 127-115. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: Point Guard
Age: 25 (3/23/1992)
Experience: 6th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .473/.401/.905
2016-17 Season Averages: 35.1 MPG, 25.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.5 3PM

Kyrie Irving doesn’t facilitate at the level of his contemporaries or defend like the point guards of yesteryear. What’s he’s become with the Cleveland Cavaliers, however, is the player who either slams the door shut or finds the impossible crevices.

LeBron James is still the best player in the world, but if a game is on the line, everyone in the building will know where the ball is traveling to: Irving’s hands.

Irving averaged a career-high in points, field goal attempts and 3-point field goal attempts per game. That didn’t stop him from posting the highest field goal percentage of his career, which is a testament to how methodical he’s become.

Irving is known for having the Mamba Mentality, and throughout the 2016-17 season, he proved that with his competitiveness and fearless play in the clutch.

No advanced metric can truly measure what it is that makes Irving special. It’s not just the individual numbers, but the ability to step up against favored competition and prove that he’s every bit as dangerous as the best point guards in the NBA.

Irving won the Cleveland Cavaliers the first championship in franchise history with an unforgettable title-winning shot. He’ll have an opportunity to do it again this postseason.