Ranking the top 50 NBA players of next season: 20-11

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 09: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers react against the Chicago Bulls in the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on February 9, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 118-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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18. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving is much better than he has looked either of the last two seasons and will be ready to prove it this year. He will be playing with his best teammate since he forced his way out of the Cleveland Cavalier organization after falling in the 2017 NBA Finals. It is time to silence the jokes.

Irving was still quite effective last season, averaging 27.4 points (career-high), 6.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds (career-high) and 1.4 steals per game. He was only a few additional makes shy of 40 percent from long range. When he was able to be on the court his was still efficient, even if some of his teammates seemed better off with him in street clothes.

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Availability and chemistry are the biggest questions surrounding him. He has only played over 65 games four times in his career and appeared in only 20 games last year. He will need to be healthier and ready to fit in more this year to see success. Much has been made about his media availability (or lack thereof) and how things went when he was with the Boston Celtics. There is only one thing that makes that all go away. It is time for Kyrie Irving to get back to winning.