20. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
If we can get a few healthy years in a row for Zion Williamson, look out. We saw what the Duke product was capable of early on in his career. As a rookie in only 24 games, Williamson averaged 22 PPG in just 27.5 MPG. He upped that scoring total to 27.0 PPG on a blistering 61-percent field goal shooting in Year 2. After missing the entirety of last season, Williamson came back on the floor in ’22 and seemingly hasn’t missed a beat. In fact, he’s even been more aggressive attacking the paint with zero three-point attempts in over half of his games. No player is more dominant in the paint, as Williamson is the closest offering to a modern-day Shaquille O’Neal as we have in today’s league.
19. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
Even at 37 years old, Chris Paul can still get the job done. The question for him (as it always has been) is health. Paul seemingly gets banged up towards the end of every season, and his recovery rate will only get worse as he gets older. When healthy, Paul is the league’s top offensive orchestrator from the point guard position. He almost always makes the right decision, whether that’s passing it off to a wide-open teammate or sinking one of his patented mid-range jumpers. Has he lost a step? Sure, but there’s no denying the impact he has had on every team he’s ever played for.
18. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
James Harden isn’t the same player we saw in Houston. Though, that’s mostly by design. Harden was asked to take more of a scoring load on a Rockets team that was filled with 3-and-D specialists who were mostly incapable of creating their own shot. Since his Houston days, Harden has joined forces with the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and, now, Joel Embiid — stars who are plenty capable of manufacturing their own offense. As such, Harden has assumed more of a playmaking role as his scoring totals have gone down. He remains an elite passer, though he’ll need to show up for a playoff series or two in order to shake off his lousy postseason reputation.
17. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
We are seeing a superstar blossom before our very eyes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken his game to another level this season, developing into an offensive force who is capable of scoring at will. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging over 30 PPG this year while doing a majority of his damage in the paint. The wiry guard slithers his way past defenders, and has an array of finishing maneuvers to keep defenses off balance. The only issue the Thunder may have with SGA’s breakout is that he’s made it increasingly difficult for the team to tank for a top draft pick. However, having a 24-year-old superstar attached to your team is likely more beneficial than some additional ping pong balls.
16. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Is Donovan Mitchell a drastically different player in Cleveland than he was in Utah? No. Mitchell has excelled early for his new team, but has always been regarded as an offensive dynamo capable of carrying a team offensively. It helps that the Cavaliers are built better around Mitchell than the Jazz were. Having a true point guard like Darius Garland to feed Mitchell the ball has done wonders for the latter’s efficiency numbers.
Additionally, having two athletic big men in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to hide any defensive deficiencies certainly helps. Mitchell is an alpha dog scorer who has had plenty of memorable playoff moments already in his career. In Year 6, he may have finally landed on a team best suited to showcase his immense talent.
15. Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
Paul George has been one of the league’s top two-way players all the way back to his Indiana days. After building up a strong playoff resume early, George stumbled a bit with a few memorable clunkers in Oklahoma City and his first season with the Clippers. He shook off those disappointments with a memorable run in the ’21 postseason sans Kawhi Leonard. George led an undermanned Clippers team to the franchise’s first Western Conference Finals appearance.
Though, he was unable to lead his team in a similar manner last season when the Clippers were bounced out of the play-in tournament following consecutive losses. George is a supreme two-way talent, but has had too many playoff blunders for a player of his caliber.
14. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Morant made the Year 3-leap last year, ascending into superstardom as the leader of a rising Grizzlies team. Helping Memphis to 56 regular season wins and a playoff series victory over the Timberwolves, Morant’s exciting style of play and intense demeanor made the Grizzlies one of the most fun teams to follow in the league.
He still has a ways to go as a shooter and defender, but Morant can get to the basket at will, is an excellent playmaker, and seems to be a joy to play alongside with. He’s not backing down from any player — regardless of their status — and that mindset will allow him to continue to climb these rankings as his career progresses.
13. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
One thing Jimmy Butler is going to do is deliver in the playoffs. He might slog through the regular season from time-to-time. Butler has played in over 67 regular season games just twice in his 11-year career. However, when the game slows down and the lights get bright, Butler is always ready to go. He’s led Miami to two Eastern Conference Finals appearances in three seasons with the team, and was one shot away from taking them to the NBA Finals last year.
Butler went toe-to-toe with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the Bubble, and the Heat were the only team to take more than one game from the Lakers in a series during that playoff run. For his playoff heroics alone, Butler is right on the border of being a top-10 player.
12. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
What we’re not going to do is forget just how good of a basketball player Damian Lillard is. An injury-riddled campaign from its star derailed Portland’s 2022 campaign. Lillard was limited to just 29 games as the Trail Blazers traded away several key pieces in a rebuilding year. Now, Lillard is back on the floor alongside some new faces which includes former Piston Jerami Grant. Early reports indicate that Lillard has not lost a step. He remains the league’s preeminent three-point bomber not named Stephen Curry, and has knocked down some of the most memorable clutch shots in NBA Playoff history.
11. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
The end of Phoenix’s playoff run left a bad taste following a dominant regular season. While it wasn’t entirely his fault, First-Team All-NBA selection Devin Booker was nowhere to be found during the Suns’ despicable Game 7 performance. Booker’s off-night should not cloud what has been an incredible run for the league’s top two-guard. A complete offensive player, Booker is adept in all phases of the game. We’ve even seen stretches where Booker operates as the team’s point guard in Chris Paul’s absence. In those situations, Booker is capable of dropping 30 points and 10 assists on any given night.
10. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
Will we ever get another full season of Kawhi Leonard? After missing all of 2022 following an injury sustained during the Clippers’ first Western Conference Finals run, Leonard returned to the floor this season to much excitement. His return did not last long, as he played in just two games before landing on the injured list again. That pattern has continued throughout the year, with Leonard appearing in just a few games before shutting it down for several weeks. The Clippers and Leonard have taken a peculiar approach with the star’s rehab process, but it will ultimately pay off if the two-time Finals MVP can see the floor in the postseason.
9. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Arguably the biggest story of the first half of the season has been Anthony Davis’ reemergence as a superstar. Davis had fallen down the rankings a bit after a pair of ho-hum campaigns. Following the Lakers’ title win in 2020, Davis posted career-low numbers in ’21 followed by another injury-riddled campaign the next year. Staying on the court has never been easy for Davis. Right now, however, he’s healthy and balling. Davis has been a dominant force for a Lakers team that has desperately needed it. He’s engaged on both ends of the floor, and has dominated the paint on both ends of the floor. With Davis playing like this, the Lakers have to be considered a threat in a wide-open Western Conference.
8. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Ranking the top-tier of the NBA is not easy. It’s how you end up with the back-to-back MVP runner-up in the No. 8 spot. Joel Embiid is a force of nature, and was at his best last year without Ben Simmons. Embiid put up gaudy numbers (30.6 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.1 SPG) while picking up the slack until the 76ers acquired James Harden.
Embiid is a matchup nightmare for every team in the league, and has quelled any concerns about his ability to stay healthy for a full season. That being said, he does have the weakest playoff resume of the league’s top superstars. Both him and Harden have a lot to prove in the postseason this coming year.
7. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Among the league’s superstars, LeBron James might be the most difficult to rank. His statistical profile hasn’t fallen off by any significant margin. The 37-year-old is off to what many consider a “slow start” this season while putting up averages of 25/9/7. He looks every bit as athletic as he always has, and remains the brightest mind in basketball.
That being said, it’s clear to anybody who has watched James throughout his career that he’s entering a different phase. He’s not quite as capable of dominating each and every night on both ends of the floor as he once was. The league has also gotten significantly better in recent years. James’ standing as the 7th best player is more of a testament to how great the talent is at the top of the league.
6. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
As previously stated — ranking the top-tier of the NBA is not easy. That’s how you end up with the back-to-back league MVP ranked outside of the top-5. Nikola Jokic is unlike any player we’ve ever seen. He’s been recognized as the best big man passer for quite some time, but his evolution as a scorer has been shocking. With Denver’s other stars missing massive chunks of the last two seasons, Jokic has stepped up his scoring in a big way (26.7 PPG regular season and 30.2 PPG in the playoffs since ’21). Defensively, he can be a liability — evidenced by the Warriors endlessly attacking him during their playoff series. Still, he’s arguably the league’s most potent and efficient offensive fulcrum. With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back to full health, Jokic is plenty capable of leading this group on a run to the NBA Finals.
5. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
An argument can be made that Kevin Durant is the best player on the planet. Nobody can score the basketball quite like Durant can. And, we aren’t just talking about current players with that statement. Durant is one of the most skilled offensive players the game has ever seen. His mix of length, touch, and skill-set makes him an impossible matchup. However, it must be stated that Durant is coming off one of his lousier playoff outings.
Tasked with shouldering too much responsibility for the undermanned Nets, Durant was not his usual-efficient self in a sweep at the hands of the Celtics. It’s difficult to rank him above players who were outright better than him in the most crucial moments.
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
After years of waiting, Jayson Tatum finally put it all together for the Celtics in 2022. He became the best version of a two-way wing en route to his first NBA Finals appearance. Tatum put a stamp on his ascension in a first-round playoff series versus the Nets when he outplayed all-time great Kevin Durant in the four-game sweep. His playmaking has vastly improved over the last two years, and he was a key component for the top-ranked Celtics defense. His Finals outing left something to be desired, but the 24-year-old Tatum didn’t let that affect his development. Tatum has stormed out of the gates for the first-place Celtics to begin the year, and has arguably been the league’s MVP through the early stages of the season.
3. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
While Tatum has the look of an MVP, it’s difficult to rank him above the player who bested his Celtics during last year’s NBA Finals. Now a four-time NBA Champion, Stephen Curry has accomplished all there is to accomplish in the league. Already noted as the game’s greatest shooter of all-time, Curry will continue to rewrite record books for the remainder of his career.
Last season’s playoff run was perhaps the highlight of his illustrious career. Curry shouldered an immense offensive workload en route to helping the Warriors capture their fourth title in eight years. Remarkably, he’s been even better this year as the Warriors look to defend their championship.
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic has already accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. The 23-year-old has been in the league for just four seasons, and has been named First-Team All-NBA three times. That’s already more than all-time greats like Dwayne Wade, Tracy McGrady and Russell Westbrook. He’s one First-Team nod away from tying Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki. Doncic has also established himself as one of the league’s best playoff performers.
After going toe-to-toe with the Clippers for two seasons (and giving premier defenders Kawhi Leonard and Paul George all types of fits), Doncic and the Mavericks broke through to the Western Conference Finals in ’22. Doncic completely obliterated the top-seed Suns in an unforgettable Game 7 performance. The wunderkind will be dominating the league for years to come.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
After Giannis got over the championship hurdle, his game has taken another step forward. You can sense the confidence he plays with whenever he steps foot on the floor. Antetokounmpo plays with immense fire on both ends. He’s looking to punish defenders who dare to stand in his way of the rim. There is no player with his set of physical tools in the league. You can see the game slowing down for the man they call ‘The Greek Freak’. As such, that should be a terrifying proposition for the rest of the league as a whole. Giannis is undoubtedly the best player in the NBA at this current time.
