NBA: Biggest x-factors heading into the final month of the season

NBA Los Angeles Lakers Lonzo Ball Brandon Ingram (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NBA Los Angeles Lakers Lonzo Ball Brandon Ingram (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
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NBA
NBA Toronto Raptors Kawhi Leonard (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors

As basketball fans we have only seen the great Kawhi Leonard compete at the highest level in the NBA under the great Gregg Popovich and in a San Antonio Spurs jersey. This season in Toronto, we have been blessed to see Leonard play a style of basketball that has evolved since his days in San Antonio.

If Leonard can reach another level as the competition up the antes, we can consider Kwahi a x-factor of his own in the Eastern Conference similar to what we have seen in recent years with LeBron James in Cleveland.

Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

As the 2018-19 Milwaukee Bucks have reached heights they haven’t seen in decades, one of the major keys to this run is Wing Star Khris Middleton. Middleton has developed into one of the better two-way players in all the NBA.

If the Bucks are to take their top seed in the East and possible make a NBA Finals appearance, the key will be in Middleton being the consistent second star to Bucks Superstar and possible 2019 NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.