Looking back at the 2017 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how dramatically the landscape shifted that year. As someone who's followed basketball religiously since the early 2000s, I've witnessed numerous MVP races and player ranking debates, but 2017 stands out as particularly memorable because of how it mirrored certain timeless moments in sports history - including that legendary 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 kind of dramatic conclusion, where a competitor pushes through immense adversity only to have their team make the ultimate call, resonates deeply with what we saw in the NBA that season.
The top spot undoubtedly belonged to Russell Westbrook, who averaged what still feels like video game numbers - 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game. I remember watching his 42nd triple-double to break Robertson's record and thinking we might never see such statistical dominance again. What made Westbrook's season particularly special was how he carried the Thunder after Durant's departure, similar to how great fighters like Ali had to dig deep when everything was on the line. The MVP race felt like those championship rounds where both competitors leave everything in the ring, and Westbrook's historic numbers combined with his will to win ultimately secured him the top ranking.
Right behind him was James Harden, who posted his own incredible stat line of 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 11.2 assists while leading the Rockets to 55 wins. I've always been slightly more impressed by Harden's season from a pure basketball IQ perspective - the way he controlled games reminded me of a veteran fighter pacing themselves through early rounds. Kawhi Leonard finished third in most rankings, and honestly, I think he was somewhat undervalued that year despite his 25.5 points per game and Defensive Player of the Year caliber performance. His two-way dominance had this beautiful, methodical quality to it, like watching a technician systematically break down their opponent.
LeBron James ranking fourth that season sparked considerable debate, and I'll admit I was among those who thought he deserved higher placement. While his 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.7 assists were slightly below his astronomical standards, his playoff performance that year proved he could still elevate like no other player. It reminded me of how veteran champions like Ali knew when to conserve energy during the regular season before unleashing their full power when it mattered most. The conversation around LeBron that year often overlooked how efficiently he was managing his career at that stage, picking his moments like a seasoned champion who understands the long game.
Rounding out the top five was Kevin Durant, whose transition to Golden State made him somewhat controversial in ranking discussions that year. His 25.1 points per game on 53.7% shooting was remarkably efficient, though I've always felt his defensive improvements that season didn't receive enough attention. What fascinated me about Durant's 2017 was watching him adapt to a new team dynamic while maintaining elite production - not unlike how great athletes throughout history have reinvented themselves while maintaining their competitive fire. The Warriors' system allowed him to be more selective with his energy, similar to how smart fighters pick their moments to explode into action.
Reflecting on these rankings seven years later, what strikes me most is how each player's season told a different story about excellence in basketball. Westbrook's raw statistical dominance, Harden's offensive mastery, Leonard's two-way precision, James' strategic preservation of his powers, and Durant's efficient adaptation - they all represented distinct paths to greatness. Much like that historic Ali victory where strategy, endurance, and knowing when to push forward ultimately decided the outcome, the 2017 NBA rankings reflected various forms of basketball excellence competing at the highest level. These debates about who truly deserved the top spots continue to resonate because they touch on fundamental questions about what we value most in basketball greatness - statistical achievements, team success, individual brilliance, or some combination that changes with each passing season.
