One of the biggest debates among sports fans is the infamous “who's better than who?”
Throughout all sports, this question is thrown around with reckless abandon. Endless debates have stemmed from this simple question, and the arguments won’t end anytime soon.
Of all the sports that this question is usually applied to, basketball seems to be the sport that draws the most heated debate. Even ESPN took to this debate, with analysts such as Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless weighing in on the topic. LeBron James and other players have also given their opinions on the "Mount Rushmore" conversation
Most of the time, this debate is focused on the star's of yesterday and who should be considered the "royalty" of their respective sports. Today's superstars are very seldom discussed in regards to this debate. So what if I were to ask what your Mount Rushmore of today's NBA stars? It's a very tough question, but I'm here to tell you exactly who belongs there.
LeBron James
What else can be said about King James? I mean, his nickname has king in it—that should tell you something. LeBron is an all-time great and is truly a once-in-a-generation talent. He wasn't lying when he said, "we are all witnesses."
Stephen Curry
Yeah, I'm sure we all saw this coming. I have run out of words to describe Steph. It seems like just when we stop talking about him, he produces another insane highlight. Chef Curry is the epitome of a superstar and is quite possibly the most dangerous weapon in the league when he is on—which is pretty much all the time. Curry will most likely win his second consecutive MVP this season and doesn't look to slow down anytime soon.
Kawhi Leonard
I'm sure a lot of people won't agree with me on this but Kawhi Leonard is a special player. Many people like to describe Kawhi as a system player, but I think that is a great injustice to the immense talent Kawhi has. A label that is thrown around often today's NBA is "two-way player." Kawhi Leonard is the definition of a two-way player. No one gets it done as efficiently on both ends as Kawhi Leonard. He is arguably the best defensive player in the league, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him walk away with DPOY for the second straight year. Kawhi goes unnoticed often, but his game needs to be truly appreciated. The Spurs' dynasty will continue for the next several years thanks to Mr. Leonard.
Russell Westbrook
If it weren't for Stephen Curry and the insane season the Warriors are having, then Russell Westbrook would be dominating the headlines the way Steph has. What Russell Westbrook is doing on a nightly basis is out of this world. Westbrook has produced an astronomical 17 triple doubles, tying Lakers great Magic Johnson for the most triple-doubles in one season. To put this into perspective, Westbrook is putting up a triple double roughly every five games on average. That's a feat that is even tough to accomplish on NBA 2K. Westbrook is the definitive all-around player in the NBA, and plays with a motor and a passion that is reminiscent of Allen Iverson.
Choosing four players as the definitive players in the league is a tall task, but these four players are an elite bunch, who I believe fit this bill. Who would your "Mount Rushmore" be?
