10.  Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks: 2013-14 was a bounce back season for Nowitzki as he returned to the All-Star game after a one-year absence while leading the Mavericks back to the playoffs with a whole new cast of characters.  Nowitzki is no longer much of a threat on the glass after totalling his lowest rebounding average since his rookie year, but he is still a very accomplished shooter and scorer.  In 80 games on the floor, Nowitzki averaged 21.7 points on 49.7 percent shooting from the floor including 39.8 percent from behind the arc.  Nowitzki also accounted for 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists a game.

9.  Paul George, Indiana Pacers: after starting the season on a blistering pace, George and the Pacers came back down to earth after the trade deadline effected the chemistry of the team.  Even with that hiccup, George shattered his career-high in scoring while leading Indiana to the number-one seed in the Eastern Conference.  George earned his second straight All-Star appearance after averaging 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists.  As good as george is offensively, he is even better on the other end of the floor.  George is a lockdown defender who still finds success even though he has to guard some of the best players in the league.  His 1.9 steals a game placed George fifth in the NBA.

8.  LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers: although his shooting percentage is the worst of his career, Aldridge had a dominating season to lead the Blazers back into the playoffs.  Aldridge made his third consecutive Western Conference All-Star team after averaging career-highs in scoring, rebounding and free-throw percentage and put himself into the conversation for the top power forward in the game today.  For the season, Aldridge averaged 23.2 points,11.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists ans one block a game.

7.  Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder: the injury bug that hit Westbrook in the 2013 playoffs carried over to this season and left him out of commission for nearly half the season.  Even though Westbrook appeared in just 46 games this season, he is still one of the most explosive players in the NBA and will be a key piece of the puzzle if the Thunder want to make a deep run in the playoffs.  In a career-low 30.7 minutes a night Westbrook averaged 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.9 steals.

6.  James Harden, Houston Rockets: if Dwight Howard is the backbone of the Rockets’ defense then Harden is undoubtedly the leader of the offense.  Harden looks to attack whenever he crosses half court and can score with the best players in the league.  He made his second straight Western Conference All-Star team after averaging 25.4 points on a career-high 86.6 percent shooting from the free-throw on 9.1 attempts a game.  Harden is more than just a scorer though.  He also added 4.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals a game.