James, Durant, Curry ranked top on NBA Top 100 Players of 2019

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LeBron James, Kavin Durant and Steven Curry respectively secured top three positions on newly-updated Top 100 Players of 2019 list released Thursday by Sports Illustrated (SI), an American sports magazine.

Their ranking kept unchangeable for the third straight season, and LeBron James and Kevin Durant listed top 2 in six consecutive years.

"Based on a fluid combination of subjective assessment and objective data", according to the SI, the ranking is an "exhaustive exercise that seeks to define who will be the league's best players in the 2018-19 Season".

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers holds the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after defeating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. /VCG Photo

LeBron James with No. 23 jersey in Los Angeles Lakers since July this year averaged 27.5 points, 9.1 assists, 8.6 rebounds and 28.65 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) in 2017-18 regular season and stunned the playoff's court with 34 points, 9.0 assists and 9.1 rebounds per game.

The King ushered the Cleveland Cavaliers to acquire the fourth consecutive Eastern Conference titles despite All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving's trade to the Boston Celtics.

Off the court, LeBron James opened a public school named "I Promise School" for at-risk children in his hometown Akron, Ohio after his second stay in Cleveland. The three-time FMVP said the opening event was "going to be one of the greatest moments – if not the greatest – of my life".

Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors talks to the media after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals won 108-85 by the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, June 6, 2018. /VCG Photo

After claiming his second FMVP at the final with LeBron-led Cavaliers, Kevin Durant followed James. He averaged 26.4 points, 5.4 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 26.05 PER in 2017-2018 regular season with playoff statistics of 29 points, 4.7 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game.

In July 2018, Durant officially signed a two-year contract with the Golden State Warriors. The 29-year-old forward with kaleidoscopic scoring skills partners with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the newcomer DeMarcus Cousins in the upcoming season. The line-up undoubtedly guarantees Warriors' dominance in league and Durant's more achievements for years to come.

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors poses for a portrait with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after winning Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, June 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Durant's teammate Stephen Curry averaged 26.4 points, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 28.32 PER in 2017 – 18 regular season as well as his playoff's performance of 25.5 points, 5.4 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Considered as one of the most offensive three-pointers with accuracy and timing, Curry won the three final championships in four years given the Warriors' rise and small ball trend in the league. Nonetheless, his defense capability and ill-timed injury impede the 30-year-old point guard for further improvements. Curry was assisted from prolific defensive players in the team such as Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala who more or less bear his defending task and open space for his three-point shots sometime.