Top 10 Best NBA Players Through the First Quarter of the 2019-20 Season

This season has been very good and very competitive.

The players on this list have led their teams to a good amount of success, been good leaders, or have had great stats through this first quarter.

The Top Ten

LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over his career, LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers. He has won four NBA championships.

Take this. LeBron James has got 33,000 points, 8,000 assists, and 9,000 rebounds. He is a candidate for the NBA MVP. I know that Harden is averaging 37 a game on about 10 three point attempts, but LeBron James is leading the league in assists. This season he became the first player in NBA history to record a triple double against all 30 teams. Three words. Astonishing and amazing.
Not only that, but LeBron James became the fourth player in NBA history to score 33,000 points, and the youngest. He is on pace to pass Kobe Bryant for third place in a career.

LeBron is proving haters wrong. People called him "washed" coming into this year, and he has proven to be anything but washed. He has balled this year, and right now I think he is the front runner for MVP.
So far this season he has averaged a near triple double and has led his team to the first seed.
James Harden

James Edward Harden Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA.e is a 10-time NBA All-Star and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2018. Harden is also recognized for leading the league in scoring for three consecutive seasons and for his exceptional... read more

James Harden is second on my list. He has averaged an amazing 38 points. Harden could easily average 40 this year. That is just insane. He could also get a double double. He is leading the Rockets to the second seed in the West.
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Greek professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association. He was drafted 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. He is a two-time NBA MVP and led the Bucks to an NBA Championship in 2021.

I personally believe this year will be a three player race for MVP. I have Giannis third so far. He could easily overtake Harden and James though. He has had a record breaking beginning of the season.
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic (born February 28, 1999) is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since his rookie season, he's been selected to five NBA All-Star games and five All-NBA First Team selections. He also represents the Slovenian national... read more

Luka has been so impressive. He will round out my top four. He is balling this year. I doubted Luka a lot, but he has proven me wrong. If he wins MVP this year he will be the youngest MVP ever.
Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Andrew Irving is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA. He previously played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. He was the 2016 NBA Finals MVP after helping the Cavaliers win their first championship.

Kyrie Irving has been a little banged up, but in the time he has played he looked great. The team hasn't completely come together yet, which hurts him a little, but it will take time.
Anthony Davis

Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. (born March 11, 1993) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. He was traded during the 2024-25 season, on February 2, 2025, from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Mavericks in a blockbuster midseason deal involving Luka... read more

AD has played great in Los Angeles. He and LeBron have taken no time to click. If they can keep consistency.
Joel Embiid

Joel Hans Embiid is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association. He was born on March 16, 1994, and played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks before being drafted third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. Embiid was named the NBA Most... read more

Joel Embiid has had a quiet year, but he has also had a great year. He just missed a few games and that is what lowers him.
Ben Simmons

Benjamin David Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player. As of 2025, he plays for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association. He was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft and has earned multiple All-Star selections, as well as the NBA... read more

Ben Simmons is starting to make that next step. He did get injured, so we haven't seen him fully.
Still, he did knock down a three, and when he's been on the floor the Sixers offense has become a lot more efficient.
Kemba Walker

Kemba Hudley Walker, born May 8, 1990, is an American basketball coach and former professional player. He retired from professional basketball in July 2024 after playing for AS Monaco in France's LNB Pro A.
Following his retirement, he became a player enhancement coach for the Charlotte Hornets... read more

Prayers to Kemba. Hoping this injury is not serious. He literally looked like he died on the court.
He was having an amazing season thus far.
Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. is a Dominican-American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks in the NBA. He was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Knicks before the 2024-25 season, after spending nine years with Minnesota. In 2025, Towns helped lead the Knicks to their first Eastern... read more

Besides all the fights, KAT has looked very serious and he has been playing amazing basketball. He may be overtaking Nikola Jokic.

The Newcomers

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Mike Conley

Michael Alexander Conley Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays as a point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. Conley began his career with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007, spent time with the Utah Jazz, and earned his first All-Star selection in 2021.
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Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol Sáez is a Spanish former professional basketball player who currently serves as president of Bàsquet Girona, a team he founded in 2014. He played 14 seasons in the NBA with teams including the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, and Los Angeles Lakers. Gasol won an NBA championship with Toronto... read more

The Contenders

Devin Booker

Devin Armani Booker, born on October 30, 1996, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. At age 20 in March 2017, he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 70 points in a single game when he scored... read more
Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Anthony Leonard is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. He has previously played for the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he won an NBA championship in 2014, and the Toronto Raptors, leading them to their first title in 2019... read more
Stephen Curry

Wardell Stephen Curry II is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA. He is widely considered one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and has set numerous records for three-point shooting. Curry is a two-time MVP and has helped lead the Warriors to multiple... read more
Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Nuggets in 2014 and has since become one of the league's top players. Jokić won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in both 2021 and 2022.
Paul George

Paul George (born May 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. He previously played for the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. George is known for his two-way play, earning multiple All-Star selections and All-Defensive... read more
Blake Griffin

Blake Austin Griffin is an American former professional basketball player who played fourteen seasons in the NBA before retiring in April 2024. He was selected first overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and won Rookie of the Year in the 2010-11 season. Griffin became a six‑time All‑Star... read more
Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler III is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. Born in Houston, Butler grew up in Tomball, Texas, and attended college at Marquette University. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and led the Heat to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023... read more
Bradley Beal

Bradley Emmanuel Beal Sr. is an American professional basketball player in the NBA. As of July 2025 he plays as a shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns. He was drafted third overall by the Washington Wizards in 2012 after a standout collegiate career at Florida, and he has been named an NBA All‑Star multiple... read more
Damian Lillard

Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers before being traded to the Bucks in 2023. Lillard is known for his clutch shooting and multiple All-Star selections... read more
Al Horford

Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso, born June 3, 1986, is a Dominican professional basketball player. He has played in the NBA for teams including the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2024, he won his first NBA championship with the Boston Celtics and, as of 2025... read more
Draymond Green

Draymond Jamal Green Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Warriors in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Green is a four-time NBA champion and a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Pascal Siakam

Pascal Siakam (born April 2, 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
A four-time NBA All-Star (2020, 2023, 2025, 2026) and two-time All-NBA selection, Siakam won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019... read more
Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Vernell Mitchell Jr. (born September 7, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Spida," he was selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets and was subsequently traded to... read more
Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert is a professional basketball player who plays center for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. He also represents the French national basketball team in international competitions. Standing 7 feet 1 inch tall, with a 7-foot-9-inch wingspan, Gobert is known for his dominant shot-blocking... read more
Trae Young

Rayford Trae Young is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association. Young is known for his exceptional shooting and playmaking abilities and was selected as an NBA All-Star in 2020.