LeBron James leads five Cavaliers in SI’s top 100 players in NBA

In just over a month, the Cleveland Cavaliers will begin defending the NBA championship. I know, that’s weird to think, right? But with the season quickly approaching, Sports Illustrated has methodically released their top 100 NBA players, in which the top 10 were revealed on Thursday.

The 100-deep list features all five players who are expected to be the starters for the Cavs this season, headlined by none other than the four-time MVP, LeBron James.

Here are the five who made the list:

1. LeBron James

Wait, LeBron beat out Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry — who helped his team blow a 3-1  lead in the Finals — for the top spot? Yes, that’s right. After (finally) achieving his lifelong dream of winning a championship with the Cavs, the King will now look to lead the wine and gold to back-to-back championships this season as SI’s best player, named so for the fourth consecutive season.

Arguably the most complete player in the league on both sides of the floor, the 31-year-old averaged 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 35.6 minutes per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from beyond the arc in 76 regular season games in 2015-16. While leading the wine and gold to the championship, he averaged 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 39.1 minutes per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the floor and 34 percent from three-point range in 21 playoff games.

While he will most likely sit out some games during the regular season to rest, James has proven that he can kick it into the elite and domination gear once the playoffs  come around, which is all the Cavs want.

Don’t forget, he also had what is now known as “The Block” that was heard around the world in Game 7 against the Warriors.

https://vine.co/v/5Buz97awpBT

25. Kyrie Irving

The point guard of the NBA champions, Irving played his best when it mattered the most. Although he had his struggles on the defensive end, especially during the regular season, No. 2 stepped up during the most critical times. Oh, and what he can do on offense is the reason why he is one of the best point guards in the NBA.

While rankings won’t change the impact Irving has on the wine and gold, his play and stats prove just how good he is. And to think that he is only 24 years old.

During the 2015-16 regulars season, Irving averaged 19.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in 31.1 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and just 32.1 percent from beyond the arc in 53 regular season games. During the playoffs, No. 2 averaged 25.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 36.9 minutes per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 44.3 percent from three-point land.

For what it’s worth, after he was ranked the 23rd-best player by Sports Illustrated in prior to last season, Irving dropped two spots this season and is ranked behind two Eastern Conference point guards that seem to have questionable rankings: Raptors’ Kyle Lowry (No. 14) and Wizards’ John Wall (No. 17). Only one of these three point guards was able to have what will forever be known as “The Shot” to all but clinch the title for the Cavaliers, but don’t let SI know that.

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Have at it with this one, commenters.

30. Kevin Love

Continuously involved in trade rumors since he first put on a Cavs jersey, Love proved just how much he means to the wine and gold in the Finals, especially in Game 7 when the Cavaliers clinched the championship.

Whether he is hitting shots from the outside (or inside), No. 0 opened the floor for the rest of the Cavs slashers whether he had the ball in his hands or not. Able to play in the Finals this time around, Love made the most of his opportunity. In 20 playoff games (19 starts), he averaged 14.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 30.7 minutes per game while shooting 38.5 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent from long distance. The 28-year-old averaged 16.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 31.5 minutes per game while shooting 41.9 percent from the floor and 36 percent from beyond the arc in 77 regular season games.

His numbers aren’t what they used to be in his pre-Cavs days anymore, but that’s expected considering he is now the third option (behind LeBron and Kyrie) instead of being his team’s first option on offense. Unfortunately for Love, he will most likely be involved in trade rumors during the upcoming season as well. But, at least he can flaunt a ring while being involved in those trade “talks” now, right?

52. Tristan Thompson

After taking over for Timofey Mozgov as the starting center, Thompson proved his versatility on the defensive end and even brought a little offense to the offense as well. During the regular season and playoffs in 2015-16, the big man proved that how much he contributes on both ends of the floor is almost irreplaceable.

While setting a team record for consecutive games played in late March with 361 straight games (and counting), in 82 regular season games, Thompson averaged 7.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in 27.7 minutes per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the floor. During the postseason, the 25-year-old averaged 6.7 points and 9.9 rebounds in 29.6 minutes per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor in 21 playoff games.

96. J.R. Smith

Last but most certainly not least, Smith is the fifth and final player in the top-100 for the Cavaliers. Wait, he’s not technically a Cavalier at this moment—I forget. While the timetable of when he will return to the wine and gold is not known due to the fact that he and the team are not close on a deal (hopefully sooner rather than later), Smith is all but certainly going to re-join the Cavs for this season and beyond.

Known as a sharpshooter from downtown, Smith proved that he can be counted on on the defensive side of the ball as well throughout the 2016 playoffs, especially during the Finals.

One of the streakiest shooters in the league, if No. 5 is feeling it, he can make shots from literally anywhere on the court, even while falling down or with a hand in his face, which he loves the most. In 77 regular season games (all starts) last season, Swish averaged 12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 31.1 minutes per game while shooting 41.5 percent from the floor and 40 percent from beyond the arc. But, when it mattered most, the guard stepped up for the wine and gold in the postseason. On the way to an unforgettable Cavaliers NBA title, Smith averaged 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in 34.8 minutes per game all while shooting 43.6 percent from the floor and 43 percent from three-point land.

Don’t worry Cleveland, Swish, the 96th-best player in the NBA, will be back in the wine and gold this season.