James Harden (photo. Nicky Woo)

3. JAMES HARDEN, Oklahoma City Thunder
Harden is a modern day combo guard in the best sense of the word. When he runs the point in Russell Westbrook’s absence, Harden is a pick-and-roll force (mySynergySports.com ranked him 9th overall as a pick-and-roll ballhandler last year, as he scored nearly a point per possession on the play). Playing off the ball as a shooting guard, he’s just as effective; Harden shot 39 percent from deep in 2011-12, and mySynergySports.com had him tabbed as the league’s best scorer off of screens and hand-offs. He was also lethal on cuts, shooting 71 percent on those plays. No matter how you slice it, Harden is an incredible talent nearing his apex. He’ll be worth every penny he makes as a free agent, be it with the Thunder or another hungry squad. Like with Ginobili, if you don’t enjoy watching Harden, you’re not a true basketball fan. By this time next year, it’s not inconceivable that he’ll be at the top of this list.