LeBron James recently called himself “the best player in the world.”
Kevin Durant isn’t ready to cede that title to the Cavaliers star, though
Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago:
KD: "No disrespect to anyone else but I feel like I'm the best player in the world."
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) August 12, 2015
I expect LeBron to consider himself the world’s best player. I expect Durant to consider himself the world’s best player.
I expect Dwight Howard to consider himself the world’s best player. I expect James Harden to consider himself the world’s best player. I expect… really, you can name any All-Star-caliber player, and I’d expect him to have that faith in himself.
LeBron, Durant and the rest didn’t reach this level by doubting themselves. They did it by having enormous confidence in their ability and putting in the work to realize their potential. They succeed because of that arrogance.
As to the actual question, it’s a three-man race between LeBron, Durant and Anthony Davis.
Like most people, I thought Stephen Curry and Harden had the best seasons last year. But, perhaps unfairly, neither has produced long enough at that level to get real consideration from me.
Davis does because he’s younger and has probably improved more since just the end of last season than anyone else. Durant believes he’s the best, but he also knows his window falls between LeBron’s and Davis’.
A healthy Durant belongs in the thick of the discussion with LeBron and Davis. LeBron is slightly declining. Durant, when not injured, is holding steady. And Davis is rapidly rising. That puts all three around the same level right now.
Which of the three is the world’s best player? For me, it depends on the day you ask.
For them, the answer is probably the same from each: “Me.”