The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a 3-point basket, tying his father’s Dale Curry’s 3-pointer mark, against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group/TNS)
November 23, 2015
The 2015-16 NBA regular season kicked off Oct. 27, and has been full of surprises. Here’s a compiled list of the best performing players at each position as of Nov. 23.
Although Curry was named the league MVP and led his team to the national championship last year, he’s already exceeded expectations with a spectacular set of games to kick off the 2015-16 season. Helping his team to a quick 15-0 start, Curry is first in the league in points per game, averaging 32.7 (8.9 higher than last season). He is also thriving on the defensive end, coming up third in steals per game with 2.6. With Curry performing so well, the Warriors have a promising season ahead of them.
Westbrook had an incredible second half of last year’s season after Kevin Durant was injured. Many thought his stats would level as Durant healed, but Westbrook has continued to perform at high rates. His PPG average has remained very similar to last year’s at 28.7, but he also averages 10.2 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game. These exemplary stats, alongside Durant’s great start show promise to make the 2016 post-season.
Known as “The Brow”, Davis was drafted first overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. Now in his fourth season, he’s living up to the hype. His PPG increases each season. This year he sits at 23.3. He is also a defensive force, averaging 2.5 blocks per game, putting him fourth in the NBA. New Orleans has started the regular season 3-11 despite Davis’ efforts.
Entering this season as the reigning defensive player of the year, Leonard was expected to continue his defensive domination. However, his offensive jump was unforeseen, especially with the scoring machine LaMarcus Aldridge joining the Spurs this year. His PPG jumped from 16.5 to 21.3 from 2015 to 2016. With the rising stars of Leonard and Aldridge alongside established greats like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, the Spurs started the year 10-3 and are expected to succeed far into the playoffs.
Entering the NBA alongside Anthony Davis in 2012, Drummond was taken ninth overall. He has proven that he is a dynamic player by averaging a double-double in points and rebounds throughout his short 4-year career. However, what makes him the top center so far in 2016 is his huge jump in scoring and rebounding. On Nov. 3, Drummond scavenged 29 rebounds and dropped 25 points in the Pistons’ only loss this thus far. He is averaging 18.4 PPG and 17.8 RPG this year, leading the previously underperforming Pistons to a 7-6 start.
The 2015-16 season has been an improvement for Cousins as he has started with 27.7 PPG and 11.2 RPG. Although these aren’t the most incredible stats, Cousins shocked the community as he showed off his newly developed long-range shot. His best performance from behind the arc was Oct. 28 while playing the Los Angeles Clippers. He hoisted 4-5 from three and ended the game with 32, all while scavenging 13 rebounds. The Kings have started 5-9, although they have had a difficult schedule so far.
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