Toronto Raptors: Is Pascal Siakam a top-5 player in the East?
![Toronto Raptors - Pascal Siakam (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Toronto Raptors - Pascal Siakam (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d140e15043608dbea2abff73f58162c8caccf587776f1ed3e634893c735a4425.jpg)
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The NBA’s reigning MVP is, without a doubt, the best player in the Eastern Conference. Something that really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Giannis Antetokounmpo took the NBA by storm last year, and is on the path to do the exact same once again this season.
Blessed with incredible size, length, and athleticism, Antetokounmpo can do things on the court that no other player can do. He can pick the ball up at half court, take three steps and dunk the ball. Who else can even dream of doing that?
Giannis has averaged 27.7 points, 14 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 61-percent from the field, but only 17-percent from three. He’s averaging more three-pointers than ever before, but the results aren’t showing yet. If that jump shot becomes even a little consistent, he could become unguardable.
Inside the three-point line, he’s just about unstoppable already. Giannis is hitting 71-percent of his two-pointers, an incredible clip which just shows how difficult he is to stop. He’s a two-way monster too, capable of guarding just about any position on the court.
There’s no doubt about it, Giannis will be one of the NBA’s best for years to come, and could potentially win back-to-back MVP awards, especially if the Milwaukee Bucks replicate their success in the regular season from one year ago.
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Giannis is the best in the East, but with Pascal Siakam rising higher every day. He won’t come near Giannis in terms of quality yet, but his progression is so much different to any player in the league, so who knows that will happen in the future.