NBA: 10 best players of calendar year 2019

Toronto Raptors Kawhi Leonard Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo. Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Toronto Raptors Kawhi Leonard Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo. Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images /
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NBA Houston Rockets James Harden
Houston Rockets James Harden. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images /

2. James Harden, G, Houston Rockets

If Kawhi Leonard had the best postseason in the league this year, but his overall year is brought down slightly by his regular-season production, James Harden represents the mirror image of his resume. Harden’s regular season offensive production is elite to the point of historic.

Since Jan.1, the Houston Rockets‘ guard has averaged an insane 38.5 points per game, nearly nine points more than the second-place Giannis Antetokounmpo. He shoots more field goals and free throws than anyone else in the league and only Stephen Curry matches the number of 3-pointers he has made.

In 2018-19 he finished second in MVP voting and is again in the mix in 2019-20. These are not simply empty calories either; since Jan.1, the Houston Rockets have the league’s second-best net rating at plus-6.5. He leads a prolific offense by shooting and scoring more than anyone in recent memory, and it works.

That is, it works in the regular season. Once again Harden and the Rockets bogged down in the postseason, with Harden unable to overcome a wounded Golden State Warriors team in the Western Conference semifinals. Out of 14 players who attempted at least 200 field goals in the 2019 playoffs, no one shot worse than Harden’s 41.3 percent from the field.

The isolation-heavy attack the Rockets employ is not as successful in the playoffs and again Harden was denied a trip to the NBA Finals.

Harden’s prolific production scoring and passing is breathtaking, whether or not one enjoys watching his style of play. His efficiency is up-and-down, which helps put Antetokounmpo ahead of him in a head-to-head evaluation.

Adding in defensive impact and it becomes a clear choice. Harden is great, but as a two-way superstar he is incomplete. Which means he was just the second-best player in 2019.