NBA 2018-19: 5 Great NBA players on not so great teams
The NBA is a collection of some of the greatest athletes in the world. There are so many incredible basketball players who compete against each other on a nightly basis. While some of these players play on fantastic teams with a great coach and make winning a habit, some players play with average and below average teams and try to do their best to help their squad win games.
Let's have a look at 5 great NBA players in the league today who are gifted offensive/defensive players but are not playing on the right teams.
#1 Anthony Davis - New Orleans Pelicans
Anthony Davis is among the top five best players in the league today. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, former All-Star game MVP and is the face of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise. He is a dominant force on both ends of the floor and is the Pelicans' go-to guy in clutch situations.
Although Davis has had a great career so far in terms of his individual numbers, he has not seen similar success with his team. He's having a brilliant season once again this year averaging 27.8 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game, but the Pelicans currently sit at 13th in the stacked Western Conference with an 11-12 record.
Although the Pelicans have put some good players around him in Jrue Holiday, Nicola Mirotic and Julius Randle, they still have not been able to figure out how to play together. The Pelicans do not look like a championship caliber team at this point and Davis could likely be traded to a contender next season.
#2 Damian Lillard - Portland Trail Blazers
Another All-Star who finds himself in an unfavorable position is Damian Lillard. The Trail Blazers have a talented pool of players. They have a terrific backcourt tandem in Lillard and C.J. McCollum and a versatile center in Jusuf Nurkic. Yet the team has not managed to get over the line in the last few seasons and despite making the playoffs, have been eliminated by superior teams.
Lillard has been in scintillating form to start the season averaging 26.6 points per game. The Blazers sit at 7th in the Western Conference as of now.
Lillard has always expressed his desire to stay in Portland and build a winning culture. It will be interesting to see what the Blazers do come summer time, will they trade Lillard or sign a big free agent?