Top 10 players of the NBA Showdown 2020-2021 Set

 With the completion of the regular season of the NBA this season, I jumped right in and started working on the card for the season. I played with different ideas all year and finally settled in on what I really liked. So the last couple days of Game 7s got me starting to share some of the completed cards and the best news is the full set is done. I figured the best way to expose it for the beginning is by showing off the top 10 players in points for the game. This will be the initial post before the full set is released very very soon. I'm excited for those that have played the original game to share some thoughts and hopefully can expose some of you MLB followers to a new game, that plays faster and if the game is close, can get really exciting and intense on the last few rolls of a game. One of the things I realized when making the cards is the way the game has changed, tighter defensive rules so scoring is up as is the pace of play, has led to stat sheet stuffers which causes the players to be more expensive when they have more available opportunities to get high level assists and rebounds along with their scoring. 

So lets get in to the top 10 players, starting at number 10 

10. Zion Williamson 1030 Pts- Second year freak athlete Zion Williamson opens up the top 10. Would I consider him a top 10 player in the league? No not yet I wouldn't, but he is a sole superstar on a team and he can put up big numbers as the primary option. That results in him being able to have this great card. I see him becoming a better player, as long as the reports of being unhappy already don't come to fruition and forcing his way out of New Orleans, I can see him being a fan favorite as his explosive game keeps evolving.

9. Damian Lillard 1040 Pts- One of my personal favorite players in the league, DAME DOLLA, made second team all NBA this year seems to just keep getting better. The guy is a scoring machine and can fill it up from anywhere inside of half court. 

8. James Harden 1070 Pts- James  Harden didn't make an All-NBA team this year, partly to his exit from Houston is my best guess. He did a lot of off the court things to force his way out and I think the media took that out on him. Luckily in NBA Showdown players don't just ask out from your team, or force their way out by doing diva things in the locker room.(Maybe I should make that strategy card) James harden is a great player to have as he is elite as a scorer, elite as a passer and can also rebound. His defense is judged, but he has super quick hands to get steals, showing that in the Easter Semis as he played on one hamstring and was still able to snatch the ball from drivers as they went by him. I am not a big James Harden fan, but a great player to have on your NBA Showdown team.

7. Kevin Durant 1080 Pts- His teammate who also didn't make the All NBA teams, really grew on me with his play in the East semis, carrying the load and fell one toe short of sending the bucks home, instead of them taking the win in overtime. Durant battled some injuries this season but when he was on the court he was his old dominant self. Using him in this game, he can move positions and probably win most matchups. 

T5. Stephen Curry 1120 Pts- Our first player that was first team ALL-NBA and NBA scoring leader Steph came back this year and reminded everyone just how good he really is. Without his running mate Klay Thompson, he showed he can still lead a team to the playoffs in the heavily contested Western Conference. Similar to the original game Iverson card, Steph is a threat to score if the dice can get rolling, while moving him out of his point guard position can make the defensive side of the floor.

T5. Luka Doncic 1120 Pts- Stephs back court mate on first team All-NBA, Luka Doncic comes in as a great offensive threat. He can do every thing and when he gets to the fourth level of his scoring rolls he will do damage from all three aspects of the showdown game. 

T3. Russell Westbrook 1130 Pts - Mr triple double, Russell Westbrook really came on in the second half of the season. The Wizards started very slow, but once him and Bradley Beal learned how to play together they were a formidable duo.  Westbrook was the most shocking to end up in the top 10 for me, especially this high up. But with a game based on regular season stats and season highs in the three categories that he does best, Russell Westbrook is your prototypical NBA Showdown player.

T3. Joel Embiid 1130 Pts- The second team All-NBA and second team All NBA Defense center Joel Embiid was incredible this season. He was such a force in the low post and on the outside with his expanded 3 point shooting game. If you want to dominate the paint he may be the guy you choose to play on your roster. 

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo 1190 Pts- Feels weird saying this, but the only player in the top 10 that is still remaining in the playoffs and greek freak Giannis, was also First team All-NBA and First team All NBA Defense. This two way player has a chance to get to his first finals, and maybe even win his first NBA Championship (at least Peter sure hopes so), he still put up great numbers this season, compared to his back to back MVP seasons, and is very versatile in the NBA showdown realm of a game. 

1. Nikola Jokic 1300 Pts- coming in first is your first team all NBA center and NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic. He did things that I have never seen a center do before so efficiently and often on the offensive end of the ball. One of the best passing big men of all time, would bring the ball up the court and initiate the offense from the center position, but he can also still take you down to the post and bully you in the paint. 

There are the top 10 players of the 20-21 NBA Showdown set. The rest of the players will be coming very soon, and I hope some of you will give it a try, if not if you're an NBA fan the card are fun to look at, at least.