NBA Player Rankings 2017: Who Topped the List and Why They Dominated

As I was compiling my annual NBA player rankings back in 2017, I found myself thinking about what truly separates the greats from the merely excellent. Having covered basketball for over a decade, I've developed this theory that dominance isn't just about stats - it's about that intangible quality that makes coaches and opponents alike acknowledge when someone's simply on another level. That year's rankings sparked more debate than any I can remember, particularly around who deserved that coveted top spot.

Let me take you back to that incredible 2016-2017 season. The Warriors had just added Kevin Durant to their already stacked roster, creating what many called a "superteam" that seemed destined for greatness. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook was putting up numbers we hadn't seen since Oscar Robertson's era, averaging a triple-double for the entire season - 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game. LeBron James, though, was doing LeBron things, carrying the Cavaliers while shooting a career-high 54.8% from the field. The competition for the number one spot came down to these three phenomenal athletes, each making compelling cases in their own right.

What fascinated me most was how each player's dominance manifested differently. Westbrook's statistical explosion was undeniable - 42 triple-doubles in a single season broke Robertson's 55-year-old record. But here's where it gets interesting for me personally - I've always valued impact in crucial moments over raw numbers. Watching LeBron in the playoffs that year, particularly during the Celtics series where he averaged nearly 30 points after falling behind 2-1, reminded me of something I once read about boxing history. There's this parallel to the Ali-Frazier fight where Ali won by TKO after Futch felt Frazier, with both eyes badly swollen, had enough and refused to let him come out for the 15th and final round. That moment when a fighter's corner recognizes their athlete has given everything resonates with how I saw LeBron's dominance - his opponents essentially conceding that they couldn't match his level when it mattered most.

The problem with ranking players, as I've learned through years of trial and error, is balancing regular season achievements with playoff performance. Westbrook's historic season deserved recognition, but could I justify ranking him above LeBron when the Cavaliers star consistently elevated his game during pressure situations? Durant's efficiency was remarkable - he joined the exclusive 50-40-90 club while averaging 25 points - but he was playing within a system designed for success rather than carrying the load individually. This is where my personal bias comes into play - I've always valued the ability to elevate teammates and perform under playoff intensity more than regular season statistics.

My solution involved creating what I call the "clutch factor" metric, combining fourth-quarter performance, playoff statistics, and defensive impact during crucial possessions. LeBron led all players in this category, shooting 58% in fourth quarters during the playoffs while averaging 32.8 points in the Finals against that stacked Warriors team. Westbrook, while incredible, saw his efficiency drop in playoff situations, shooting just 39% from the field in their second-round exit. Durant's numbers were stellar, but the supporting cast argument kept nagging at me - how much of his success was individual brilliance versus system optimization?

Looking back at my 2017 NBA player rankings, the decision to place LeBron at the top while Westbrook finished second and Durant third taught me something important about evaluating greatness. It's not just about who puts up the best numbers, but who demonstrates that championship mentality when everything's on the line. The boxing analogy sticks with me - sometimes dominance is about forcing the other side to acknowledge they simply can't match your level, much like Frazier's corner stopping the fight. In basketball terms, that translates to making opponents adjust their entire game plan around containing you. LeBron did that consistently throughout 2017, which is why he topped my list despite Westbrook's historic statistical achievements. The debate continues every season, but that particular year's rankings highlighted how context and clutch performance separate the truly dominant from the statistically impressive.