Welcome back to "Pat's Top 25 NBA Players Countdown". On Wednesday, August 1, 2018 Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and DeMar Derozan of the San Antonio Spurs were selected as the 19th and 18th best player currently in the NBA. Now with 25% percent of the list completed we are nearly half way done with the top 25 process.. Speaking of process,  "The Process", Center Joel Embiid will be one of two players making an appearance on today's list.

Before I reveal who's the other star player ,here's how the list is shaping out so far.
Players that didn't make the cut

• C. Nikola Jokic *Denver Nuggets  
• C. Andre Drummond *Detroit Pistons
• SG. Devin Booker *Phoenix Suns
• PF. Kevin Love * Cleveland Cavaliers
• PG. Kemba Walker *Charlotte Hornets
• SG. C.J. McCollum *Portland Trail Blazers

Players ranked 25-18

• (25.) SG. Bradley Beal *Washington Wizards
  

  
• (24.) C. Karl-Anthony Towns *Minnesota Timberwolves
  

  

  
  
• (23.) PG. Kyle Lowry *Toronto raptors
  

  
• (22.) SG. Victor Oladipo *Indiana Pacers
  

  
• (21.) C. Rudy Gobert *Utah Jazz
  

  
• (20.) PF. LaMarcus Aldridge *San Antonio Spurs
  

  
• (19.) PF. Draymond Green *Golden State Warriors
  

  
• (18.) SG. DeMar Derozan *Toronto Raptors
  

  

Now here's the 17th and 16th selection

• (17.) C. Joel Embiid *Philadelphia 76ers  
  

Joel Embiid a.k.a. "The Process" is not only the most impactful young star in the league, but may also be the most confident. In an article from Philly.com by staff writer Sarah Todd, Embiid gave his insight while giving a conference call from Johannesburg, South Africa. When asked how he felt about Philly recruiting Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James. He said, "When my season ended , there was a lot of talk about adding guys. I literally did not really care, because I want to get better. I want to be better than those guys that were mentioned, if I'm not already better than them."

Joel Embiid is coming of his first relatively healthy season as a professional. He was able to play in 63 regular season games and put up some very good numbers. His stat line from this past season, (22.9 Pts,11.0 Rebs, 3.2 Ast, 1.8 Blk, 48 Fg%, 31 3pt%, & 77 Ft%.) Embiid was an All-Star for the first time in his career , made All-NBA second team, All-Defensive second team and finished second in Defensive Player of the year voting behind Rudy Gobert.

Joel Embiid cumulative averages the past two seasons, (22.0 Pts, 9.9 Rebs, 2.8 Ast, 2.0 Blk, 48 Fg%, 31 3pt% and 77 Ft%.) His numbers are even better per 36 minutes. In 2017, his per 36 minutes stat line, (28.7 Pts, 11.1 Rebs, 3.0 Ast, 1.2 Stl, 3.5 Blk, 47 Fg%, 37 3pt% & 77 Ft%), In 2018, per 36 minutes, (27.2 Pts, 13.0 Rebs, 3.7 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 2.1 Blk, 48 Fg%, 31 3pt%, & 77 Ft%.) Joel Embiid is definitely a force to be reckoned with when he's on the court. His play alongside Ben Simmons is the reason why Philadelphia was able to win 52 games , make the playoffs as a 3 seed in the East, beat Miami in the first round 4-1, before losing (4-1) against the Celtics, three out of five games decided by five points or less. Joel Embiid wasn't as efficient in the playoffs, but his numbers were still good. His stat line for 10 postseason games (21.4 Pts, 12.6 Rebs, 3.0 Ast, 1.8 Blk, 44 Fg%, 28 3pt%, & 71 Ft%.).

Furthermore, Joel Embiid would be much higher on my list, if he was able to stay healthy. He is easily one of the best talents in the NBA, but only playing in 104 games including the playoffs in four years ,averages out to 26 games a year. The ability to stay healthy, is why he isn't in my top 10. He had a monster "season" like the number 22 selection this list Victor Oladipo, so I had no problem  placing him over some established players such as DeMar Derozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Draymond Green. Embiid's upside is much higher than the players I just listed and his ability to be elite on both ends of the court, is all I needed to justify my ranking for him inside the top 20.

• https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/embiijo01.html
• http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/joel-embiid-sixers-free-agency-lebron-james-paul-george-kawhi-leonard-mvp-basketball-without-borders-20180801.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_NBA_Playoffs

• (16.) PG. John Wall *Washington Wizards
  

John Wall comes second only to Russell Westbrook when it comes to athleticism at the point guard position. John Wall athleticism is what makes him excel on defense and offense. His ability to attack the paint relentlessly is once again second only to Russell Westbrook and when he's motivated he can really sit down on defense and wreck havoc with his long arms and lateral quickness.

John Wall has been very good player in the NBA the past four seasons. He can score, create for teammates, and thrives in fast break opportunities. John Wall stat line the past four seasons , (20 Pts, 4.4 Rebs, 10.1 Ast, 1.8 Stl, 4.0 To, 43 Fg%, 34 3pt% & 77.4 Ft%). Also, he has made four consecutive All-Star games (2015-2018), All-NBA third team (2017) and All-Defensive second team (2015).

So why Wall isn't higher on the list? Well According to my list Wall is the sixth best point guard in the NBA, and finds himself out of the top 15 because of that. Also, there are a legit 15 players that I view not definitively better, but are more impactful either individually or to the concept that their team needs. Wall is a very good two-way player, capable of averaging 20 points and 10 assist every night to go along with two steals and above average defense, but his lack of a consistent jump shot and the rumors of his teammates not wanting to play with him is what seems to hold him back from reaching his ceiling. Wall lack of leadership, his inefficiency and his bad turnover habits with more than four a game is what may be keeping a talented Wizards squad from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, which is something the franchise hasn't achieved since 1979. 

I'm not trying to diminish Wall, I just expect more from him. He is up there with Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, and even comparable to a Russell Westbrook, but out of those four players, he achieved less. Furthermore, Wall is the least explosive offensively out of those four players and although his defense is solid, he's not a Patrick Beverley or even a Chris Paul on defense on a consistent basis. Basically I'm saying his defense is not more valuable than their offense. I surely hope Wall develops his game to a true SUPERSTAR level so that he and Bradley Beal can uplift a very good supporting cast that they have in Washington. The Wizards should be a perennial contender in the East, not an eight seed ,only winning 43 games and ultimately losing to the Toronto Raptors in the first round. The Wizards may have went home early ,but Wall gave it his all. Wall  averaged, (26 Pts, 11.5 Ast, 5.7 Rebs, 2.3 Stls, 44 Fg%, & 86 Ft%) in six games. Wall deserves zero blame for the Wizards losing early this past season, especially since he was coming off injury and only had a few games to prepare before the playoffs.

Wall is still in his prime, so there's still time for him to become a greater player and a true MVP candidate that they need in D.C. for the team to take that next step ,but time is ticking and the East is getting stronger. The Wizards window to win is closing rapidly and now is the time to make it happen!

• https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walljo01.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_franchise_post-season_droughts
• http://www.nba.com/playoffs/2018/eastseries1#/

That concludes Part six, make sure you read parts one through five as well and let me know how you feel about each selection. I'll be posting the 15th and 14th selection on  Tuesday, August 7th ,2018. Thank you'll!