Top 100: 33-1
Here's looking at you, kid.
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this three-part tome. For those that haven’t already, check out part one and part two. I’m not sure how many people are willing to embark on doing a top-100 all on their own, but if you’re out there, you have all my respect.
Now, let’s land this damn plane.
#33 Jimmy Butler, G/F, GSW
Age: 36 Height: 6’6” Weight: 230 Exp: 14
PTS: 17.5 AST: 5.4 REB: 5.4 FG%: 50.4
At his best, Butler remains a downhill force who destroys defensive integrity with his drives and ball fakes—just look at the Warriors’ jump from one of the league’s worst teams in free-throw rate to the absolute best after adding him. Butler can also still be an incredibly impactful defender, combining intelligence, strength, and great hands to be a disruptive presence.
But Butler is no longer at the peak of his powers—even if he can still take over five-minute stretches with bursts of offensive brilliance. And recurring injuries and off-court tendencies have made him a player who can sink a ship as quickly as he can buoy it.
The lighter side of Jimmy:
Fortunately, Butler doesn’t have to be the Warriors’ best player. Instead, he can lean on his cutting, smart passing, and ability to manipulate defenses to complement what Golden State already does. Whether the impact he had after joining the Warriors in February—when the team went 23–8 down the stretch—is sustainable will be interesting to see, especially given the team’s collective age and Butler’s tendency to miss time—he hasn’t played as many as 70 games in a season since 2013. But when he’s on the floor, Butler still ahs the ability to help play winning basketball.
#32 Tyrese Maxey, G, PHI
Age: 24 Height: 6’2” Weight: 200 Exp: 5
PTS: 26.3 AST: 6.1 FG%: 43.7 3PT%: 33.7
Following a rough year in which he was the league’s worst volume three-point shooter—due largely to being forced to do everything for an injury-decimated roster—expect Maxey to return to a more efficient form this season. No player in the league is quicker with the ball in his hands, and because of that quickness, balance, and speed, along with exceptional lower-body control, Maxey has one of the game’s elite step-backs in terms of creating space. Those qualities, complemented by a smooth floater and the ability to rise on a dime, have turned Maxey into one of the best three-level scorers at the point guard position, averaging 26.1 points per game over the last two years. Maxey is also a very capable passer, particularly once he turns the corner and forces defenses to react.
Defensively, Maxey does a good job of jumping passing lanes, but his slight frame remains a concern when teams target him in the half court, making him a liability against bigger guards. Still, he’s a player who’s more than willing to take big shots in big moments—and capable of driving an offense for extended stretches all on his own.
#31 Kawhi Leonard, G/F, LAC
Age: 34 Height: 6’6” Weight: 225 Exp: 14
PTS: 21.5 REB: 5.9 STL: 1.6 3PT%: 41.1
No player on this entire list has a greater capacity to channel top-five-caliber play than Leonard, who was a monster to close last season—over his last 20 games, he averaged 25.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 steals on 52/43/80 splits—and was equally impressive in an all-time classic first-round seven-game series against the Nuggets. Yet, health is always the biggest question here. Though, “Where are the trees?” may have supplanted it for a bit. (At least something was planted.)
If Kawhi is in fact healthy (stop me if you’ve heard that a time or twenty), he’s in the running for one of the best overall players in the league. Equipped with massive hands, incredible strength, and maybe the best ability to dictate pace this side of Luka Dončić, Leonard is an offensive force who can get to his spots and make contested shots with the best—while also being a defensive wrecker who quite literally has his hands in everything. Seriously, there may not be a player in the history of basketball who’s ripped the ball straight out of opponents’ hands more often.
This is to say nothing of his efficiency, as Kawhi has essentially lived in 50/40/90 territory for four straight seasons now, averaging 51.4% from the field, 41.1% from three, and 87.2% from the line over that stretch. But the health issues are such a constant fixture in the Kawhi experience that you can’t count on his exceptional performance being a consistent factor for a Clippers team that’s been very good without him—but could be a true title contender if he stays on the floor.
#30 Bam Adebayo, F/C, MIA
Age: 28 Height: 6’9” Weight: 225 Exp: 8
PTS: 18.1 REB: 9.6 AST: 4.3 3PT%: 35.7
Last season was a strange one for Bam. The long-anticipated expansion of his perimeter game finally came to fruition—raising his three-point attempts per game from 0.6 in ’24 to 2.8 in ’25—with fairly positive statistical results. However, the move also took him too far away from the rim, where his quickness and strength make him an elite finisher. This culminated in Adebayo posting his lowest scoring average since the 2020 season while also shooting the lowest field-goal percentage of his career (48.5%).
Defensively, Bam was used more in a roamer’s role last season, which negated some of his impact as the league’s best defensive big when it comes to navigating the pick-and-roll. No center in the league is better at cat-and-mousing a ball handler in those actions, as Adebayo excels at the balance of hard hedging and recovering or dropping and covering space.
Hopefully, last season’s changes are just a part of the growing pains that come with a player trying to evolve. Expect to see a return to a more familiar—and more defensively dominant—Bam this season.
#29 Domantas Sabonis, C, SAC
Age: 29 Height: 6’10” Weight: 240 Exp: 9
PTS: 19.1 REB: 13.9 AST: 6.0 BLK: 0.4
Domas is an elite distributor out of the high post, an absolute beast on the glass, and one of the league’s best finishers at the rim—shooting 70.8% there last season. He also shot the ball extremely well from three last season (41.7%), though on low frequency (2.2 attempts per game). The problem is that, even with all those skills, Sabonis is more of a complementary offensive player from a scoring standpoint, and not the type of player you can just throw the ball to and expect a basket. Still, he operates out of the high post as a hub as well as any big man in the league, especially in handoff actions, which the Kings ran more than anyone but Brooklyn last season for that very reason.
On the defensive end, much is made about his lack of rim protection, but the offset of elite defensive rebounding—he has led the league with 10.1 defensive rebounds per game in consecutive seasons—and bruising physicality is often given too little consideration when discussing his overall defensive package. He’s still a liability on that end, particularly if asked to cover space, but he brings far more to the table than the reductive conversation of blocks per game suggests.
#28 Kyrie Irving, G, DAL
Age: 33 Height: 6’2” Weight: 195 Exp: 14
PTS: 24.7 AST: 4.6 FG%: 47.3 3PT%: 40.1
At the intersection of efficiency and efficacy, you’ll find Kyrie, who was in the midst of another spectacular offensive season before tearing his ACL in March. Few players in the league can combine his shooting prowess, all-time handle, and elite positional finishing, allowing Irving to average 23.7 points for his career on 47/39/89 splits. There isn’t a shot on the floor Irving can’t make or create, as his offensive creativity is in an historically elite category.
Defensively, Irving is not your stereotypical small guard, as he’ll dig in and use his phenomenal hands to pester and prevent bigger players from posting him up. The biggest question now is simply how the 33-year-old guard will respond to yet another injury, of which he has a substantial history. That said, he has a strong track record of returning and performing at nearly the same level.
#27 James Harden, G, LAC
Age: 36 Height: 6’5” Weight: 220 Exp: 16
PTS: 22.8 AST: 8.7 REB: 5.8 TOV: 4.3
Harden’s third act as an elite distributor who picks and chooses when to throttle up his offensive aggression functioned at its zenith last season, with Harden earning Third Team All-NBA honors as a testament to his play. The shooting efficiency—particularly as it’s supplemented less and less by free throws—leaves something to be desired, but Harden is still elite at collapsing a defense into chaos by getting into it’s teeth. Harden is always among the league’s elite in terms of mapping and anticipating, and he throws passes in tight spaces that nearly no one else is capable of.
The issue, of course, remains the playoffs and the fact that Harden is just not a reliable enough performer on a game-to-game basis when it matters most. But during the regular season, Harden proved that he could still be “The System,” even if it runs a bit differently than we’ve been accustomed to in years past.
#26 Trae Young, PG, ATL
Age: 27 Height: 6’2” Weight: 164 Exp: 7
PTS: 24.2 AST: 11.6 TOV: 4.7 3PT%: 34.0
It’s rare that a player of Young’s magnitude is subjected to a “make-or-break” season, but in a contract year—Young has a player option for next season—with a team that really went for it in the summer, this season could have real long-term ramifications for how Young is perceived. After having led the league in assists per game, it’s fair to expect that Trae will build on last season, where his offensive play felt less self-centered and his defensive effort was cause for far fewer collective sighs.
With his stature and offensive workload, defense will never be a strength, but the optics of Young giving more on that end have to be a boon for his relationships with teammates. Yet where Young can best ingratiate himself is by continuing to distribute to players in their spots and by showing a further increased willingness to be a shot threat when the ball isn’t in his hands. If Young can continue to improve on those things and lead this Hawks team into 50-win territory, don’t be surprised if he works his way into the MVP voting.
#25 Jaren Jackson Jr., F/C. MEM
Age: 26 Height: 6’10” Weight: 242 Exp: 7
PTS: 22.2 REB: 5.6 BLK: 1.5 STL: 1.2
The “hard sell” on Jackson as an extremely mobile big man who is defensively switchable, elite as a help-side rim protector, and capable of stretching the opposition’s defense with his movement as a shooter is a very sexy pitch. Add in a solid, if somewhat myopic, post game, and Triple J should be a perennial All-NBA-level producer. But the combination of constant nagging injuries and a disconcertingly low rebound rate are issues that can’t be ignored.
Still, he is a defensive force unto himself, having become more than just the rim protector he once was. Jackson can guard three positions credibly and has turned himself into a much more patient player, taking fewer risks to get blocks and playing a smarter positional defensive game.
Jackson has also become a player you can throw the ball to and let work, as he has developed a very solid post game that combines quick hooks and a reliable turnaround to attack the opposition. Just don’t expect him to pass out of those looks—he averaged only 2.0 assists per game, a low number considering his 28.1% usage rate.
#24 De’Aaron Fox, PG, SAS
Age: 27 Height: 6’3” Weight: 185 Exp: 8
PTS: 23.5 AST: 6.3 STL: 1.5 3PT%: 31.0
Fox has kind of become a forgotten man in the conversation about the NBA’s best players. But even in a down year last season, he remained an electric scorer who has proven capable of getting to the basket whenever he damn well pleases. His shooting has been erratic, and it’s concerning that he dropped back to the poor average we’d seen prior to ’24, when he shot an encouraging 36.9% from distance. Still, when he returns from his hamstring injury, expect Fox to take full advantage of the open looks he should get playing alongside Wemby and getting back to a more reasonably efficient version of himself. Speaking of which, while they only played five games together last season, the two-man game between that combo should create a ton of opportunities at the rim for Fox.
Nicknamed “Swipa,” Fox should return to his old defensive ways—he led the league in steals in ’24 with 2.0 per game—as Wemby allows him to be aggressive in the passing lanes without the detrimental effect it had in Sacramento when unsuccessful. Wemby’s ability to erase anything at the rim will go a long way toward covering any mistakes on the perimeter.
This should be a season where Fox reenters the mainstream consciousness as one of the league’s best point guards.
#23 Alperen Şengün, F/C, HOU
Age: 23 Height: 6’11” Weight: 243 Exp: 4
PTS: 19.1 REB: 10.3 AST: 4.9 FG%: 49.6
Şengün’s “feel” as a player is elite, as few bigs function better in space as either a distributor or finisher. He is nimble, with quick feet and the ability to use his barrel chest to finish through traffic. And when he draws the defense’s attention, Şengün delivers some of the nicest in-tight passes you’ll see. That combination of skills is why he is already one of the league’s best offensive hubs at the center position.
Delight in the splendor that is Alpie’s passing
Defensively, Şengün will never be among the league’s best, but he has turned himself into an above-average player on that end. He has quick hands, is an elite defensive rebounder, and his smart positional defense goes a long way in compensating for limited vertical rim protection.
While we may not see a huge statistical leap for Şengün this season because the Rockets have such great positional depth, don’t be surprised if he works his way into All-Star and All-NBA discussions once again.
#22 Pascal Siakam, F, IND
Age: 31 Height: 6’8” Weight: 245 Exp: 9
PTS: 20.2 REB: 6.9 FG%: 51.9 3PT%: 38.9
It has been easy to take for granted how multi-dimensional Siakam’s game is, yet that dynamism is a fundamental component of the Pacers’ success. What initially felt like a Siakam renaissance in Indiana when he joined the team a season and a half ago has proven to be far more reflective of a player tailoring his prodigious talents to best fit a system—benefiting both player and team alike.
Siakam has become a legitimate threat from three since joining Indiana, and his ability to get out in the open court and outrun bigger defenders—or overpower smaller defenders in the halfcourt—makes him a matchup nightmare. His Swiss army knife of a game isn’t limited to the offensive side. Defensively, Siakam is a switchable big who is a force on the help side, offering elite rim protection and rebounding. Just short of a superstar, Siakam is about as good as a number two option gets.
#21 Evan Mobley, F/C, CLE
Age: 24 Height: 6’11” Weight: 215 Exp: 4
PTS: 18.5 REB: 9.3 STL: 0.9 BLK: 1.6 3PT%: 37.0
Few bigs can do more on the floor than the Cavaliers forward/center. On the offensive end, Mobley can play inside-out, and the ways in which Kenny Atkinson unlocked him last season—allowing him to operate on-ball, where his athleticism and length make him a nightmare to keep out of the paint when he has a head of steam—exemplify a player whose limits are more about aggression than ability. To that end, his three-point shooting looked much improved, but it would benefit both Mobley and the Cavs if he continues to take more attempts from distance. To Mobley’s credit, he even flashed some movement shooting that makes him a much tougher player to guard. Mobley aslo mashes mismatches as a post-up player, finishes well on both sides of the rim, and showed a nasty streak inside. If Mobley can take another step as a scorer, we’re looking at a top-15-level player.
Defensively, the reigning DPOY does everything you could ask for from a modern big:
Switchable
Rangy
Elite rim protection
Reads the passing lanes
Strong rebounder
This is not said lightly, but Mobley brings to mind Tim Duncan as a defender. The way he plays in space, his elite rim protection, and the general maturity of his defensive game suggest he will earn double-digit All-Defensive honors before his career comes to an end.
#20 Jaylen Brown, G/F, BOS
Age: 28 Height: 6’6” Weight: 223 Exp: 9
PTS: 22.2 REB: 5.8 AST: 4.5 FG%: 46.3
For years, there have been questions regarding what Jaylen Brown looks like as a defined first option. Sure, we’ve seen flashes of it in Boston when Brown would take over the offense with Tatum resting. But this season, with Tatum out due to an Achilles tear, we finally get some answers as to just how much Brown’s offensive game can scale. Of course, this is a player who has already averaged as much as 26.6 points per game in an NBA season back in ‘23, but how will he respond to all the increased defensive attention? Will the improved playmaking we saw from Brown last season continue, or will we see more of the hero-ball tendencies that have occasionally plagued his game throughout his career?
The increased workload could also affect his defensive impact, where Brown went a bit underrated last season. That all said, Brown is one of the league’s most physically imposing guards and a player who clearly relishes a challenge. Expect a big season from the Celtics guard, who should challenge for a top-10 scoring average this year.
#19 Paolo Banchero, F, ORL
Age: 22 Height: 6’10” Weight: 250 Exp: 3
PTS: 25.9 REB: 7.5 AST: 4.8 FG%: 45.2 3PT%: 32.0
Not enough is made about just how absurd a physical specimen Paolo is. Players of his stature, showcasing nimble feet and these type of ball skills, are an extreme rarity. Because of that size and handle, Paolo can work into his shot against anyone. At times, this works to his detriment, as Banchero can be too reticent to settle for elbow turnarounds and off-the-dribble pull-ups, which has contributed to his inefficiency—particularly because his perimeter shot still isn’t where it needs to be for the volume.
Despite that, Paolo was an offensive force last season and a matchup nightmare. His post game isn’t talked about enough, but his ability to combine quick spins with powerful drop steps makes him a beast on the block. That excellence is only enhanced by Banchero’s playmaking, which is very good both off the dribble and when teams send quick help to the post.
Defensively, Banchero is a bit of a mixed bag. He can get lost in space too often and should have a bigger impact on the defensive glass considering his size, strength, and quickness. But expect to see improved rim protection numbers this season.
#18 Karl Anthony-Towns. F/C, NYK
Age: 29 Height: 7’0” Weight: 248 Exp: 10
PTS: 24.4 REB: 12.8 FG%: 54.5 3PT%: 42.0
The self-proclaimed “greatest big man shooter of all time” did plenty last year to support that statement, finishing fourth in total threes made by bigs while leading all post players in three-point percentage. That ability to knock it down made him an elite option out of the pick-and-roll, where he wasn’t just a lights-out shooter as a pop player, but, despite the rough aesthetics, actually finished well as the roll man too. There were times where he got stashed in the corner a bit too often, but KAT’s offensive game and the variety it offers were on full display last season in New York.
The problem, as always, is decision-making, which shows up most on the defensive end. KAT is often in pole position for some of the league’s most boneheaded fouls. Even when he isn’t fouling, his lack of balance and inability to get himself properly turned and repositioned—combined with limitations in vertical leaping—make him one of the league’s worst rim protectors. Fortunately, he rebounds well on the defensive end, helping offset some of those issues, as his 9.8 defensive boards per game ranked third in the league last season.
#17 Devin Booker, G, PHX
Age: 28 Height: 6’5” Weight: 206 Exp: 10
PTS: 25.6 AST: 7.1 FG%: 46.1 3PT%: 33.2
Back in familiar territory, Booker enters this season as the alpha and omega for Phoenix. Despite a down season last year—including shooting the worst three-point percentage of his career—the version of Booker stepping onto the court this season is the most complete of his career. The scoring has never been in question, but his playmaking and defensive effort have come a long way toward placing him in the conversation among the league’s best players.
That being said, for Phoenix to have any success, Booker will likely need to return to being a high-volume scorer, as this Phoenix offense offers little firepower beyond him. His defensive numbers may dip slightly due to the increased workload, but a return to the league’s top scorers is a very likely proposition for Booker this season.
#16 Jalen Williams, G/F, OKC
Age: 24 Height: 6’5 Weight: 211 Exp: 3
PTS: 21.6 REB: 5.3 AST: 5.1 STL: 1.6
The term “versatile” is used a lot in this era of positionless basketball, but no player embodies the broad scale of interchangeability that term encompasses better than J-Dub. Williams, who is already at the top of any discussion of the league’s best two-way players, has logged minutes at every single position on the floor over the last two seasons. And not just a trivial fraction of play for novelty’s sake, no, Williams has managed to play 8% or more of his total minutes at every position on the floor over the past two years. There is no other player in the league who can make a claim to be capable of playing meaningful minutes literally anywhere on the floor.
This is also a player who can count himself among just five players in the league to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 steals—and he accomplished all of that in just his third year. Oh yeah, and lest we forget, he posted a double-dub (40 points) in a Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Williams is a player who is not only willing but capable of doing literally anything on the floor—and he does so at an efficiency that belies his age. While not stylistically the same player , J-Dub feels like the heir apparent to Kawhi Leonard: someone who could just as easily vie for Defensive Player of the Year as he could MVP. That may feel like high praise, but based on what we’ve seen so far, there is no limit to the type of two-way player that Williams can become.
#15 Anthony Davis, F/C, DAL
Age: 32 Height: 6’10” Weight: 253 Exp: 13
PTS: 24.7 REB: 11.6 FG%: 51.6 BLK: 2.2 STL: 1.2
At the fullest extent of his powers, AD still shows flashes as the league’s most dominant defensive player. There is no big in the league who can claim a better combination of mobility, athleticism, and intelligence. The problem, of course, is how rarely we get to see Davis at his full version. Following a season in ’24 where he set a personal record for games played (76), last year was a return to injury-plagued form (just 51 games) for Davis, who underwent retina surgery in the offseason and now must wear protective goggles for the remainder of his career. But while his sight may be in question, as long as Davis is on the floor, the defense never is.
From an offensive standpoint, this season will provide an interesting test as to what caliber of offensive hub Davis is capable of being, as Dallas will run much of their offense through their big man. Davis has always felt a bit over-leveraged as a team’s primary option, despite being a smart player who understands when to attack and when to playmake. His offensive game has also been held back by inconsistencies as a shooter, and his best role still remains as a play finisher, where he is phenomenal in the restricted area.—shooting 74.5% for his career at the rim.
#14 Kevin Durant, F, HOU
Age: 37 Height: 6’11” Weight: 240 Exp: 18
PTS: 26.6 REB: 6.0 AST: 4.2 FG%: 52.7 3PT%: 43.0
Entering his 19th season in the league, the falloff for Durant is noticeable, but it’s been minimal enough that he remains one of the league’s elite performers. No player in the NBA blends volume and efficiency as seamlessly as a perimeter scorer. Durant just completed his seventh season averaging at least 25 points while shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three, all while making at least one three per game. There have only been 32 instances in league history where that has occurred, and Durant owns 22% of them.
The offense gets all the attention—and rightfully so, considering Durant is one of the game’s all-time greats on that side—but he is a complete player who still impacts the game as a rim protector (1.2 blocks per game last season) and playmaker (4.2 assists per game). In fact, Durant had a strong case as the Suns’ best defender last season. The biggest question this season for KD fans will be how much of an on-ball workload he’ll be asked to shoulder with Fred VanVleet sidelined due to injury.
#13 LeBron James, F, LAL
Age: 40 Height: 6’9” Weight: 250 Exp: 22
PTS: 24.4 AST: 8.2 REB: 7.8 3PT%:
Father Time may be undefeated, but in the fight against LeBron, he’s definitely taken a beating.
Entering like his 407th season, James continues to be a phenomenally productive player. There is no one who thinks the game like LeBron does—which alone would be enough to still make him a very good player—but the fact that he remains a top-flight athlete, particularly in the open court where he moves like a linebacker coming down the court, allows him to continue producing at the league’s highest levels. The vastly improved three-point shooting, of course, helps his cause, as James has made himself a legitimate threat from distance with no conscious terms of range.
On the defensive end, James no longer has his fastball, but after a slow start to the season, he was far more active last season than we had seen in several years, helping a Lakers defense that didn’t exactly have the most inspiring personnel in certain lineups. That’s not to say he didn’t flash his signature moments of passing the buck onto a teammate when he bailed out on a play. But the effort was there on a night-to-night basis in a way many of us thought was gone.
At this point, the question is how much longer the body can hold up as injuries continue to accrue. As sciatica seems like the type of ailment that will be a problem to manage for the duration of the season—if not his career—for however much longer that may prove to be.
#12 Cade Cunningham, G, DET
Age: 24 Height: 6’6” Weight: 220 Exp: 4
PTS: 26.1 AST: 9.1 REB: 6.1 3PT%: 35.6
Dyson Daniels may have won last season’s Most Improved Player Award, but you would be hard-pressed to make a more convincing argument for a greater leap in improvement than what we saw from Cade last season. The former number one overall pick became one of the league’s elite offensive performers, joining only the Joker as one of two players to average at least 26 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds. That performance didn’t go unnoticed, as Cunningham made his first All-Star team and was named Third Team All-NBA.
His playmaking is already elite, and his offensive output is only expected to increase as Cade continues to figure out how to leverage his size and strength to get any shot he wants on the floor. And there are just a handful of players who can hurt the opposition in as many ways as Cade can in the pick-and-roll. You would love to see the turnovers drop a bit, but they largely reflect a player carrying a very heavy workload. The injury to Jaden Ivey may make efforts to alleviate some of that burden difficult, but Cade is more than up to the task of taking it on and leading the Pistons to another postseason this year.
#11 Tyrese Haliburton, G, IND
Age: 25 Height: 6’5” Weight: 185 Exp: 5
PTS: 18.6 AST: 9.2 TOV: 1.6 3PT%: 38.8%
A well-reasoned argument could be made that no player imprints more heavily on their team’s style of play than Haliburton, whose joyous unselfishness has become the defining characteristic of a potent Indiana attack.
Haliburton’s ability to map the floor and make anticipatory passes is not just among the best in the league—it’s among the best we’ve ever seen. And only Jokic enters the conversation for more impressive kick-ahead passes. In the half-court, Haliburton’s skill at breaking down defenders and manipulating the defense sets the standard by which the rest of the league’s point guards should measure themselves. That decision-making is perhaps Haliburton’s greatest asset, as he takes care of the ball at an elite rate, leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio last season at 5.61 (Tyus Jones was second at 4.71). Haliburton is so adept at making the right play that he has people reconsidering the value of the jump pass.
Defense will never be a strength, but it was far less of a weakness last season. Haliburton made strides as a pesky defender and better controlled his habit of overcommitting for steals. But what is a strength of significant magnitude is Haliburton’s ability to make a big play in critical moments, as evidenced by one of the most magical Finals runs the league has seen, orchestrated by the Pacers point guard.
Of course, an Achilles tear suffered in Game 6 of those Finals will keep us from watching Haliburton operate this season. Given what is now a concerning number of lower-extremity injuries, questions will remain about his return. But few players have ever left as indelible an impression as Haliburton did this past spring and summer.
#10 Victor Wembanyama, F/C, SAS
Age: 21 Height: 7’4” Weight: 235 Exp: 2
PTS: 24.3 REB: 11.0 BLK: 3.8 3PT%: 35.2%
Third-year player or not, this is conservative for Wemby—and, in truth, it’s just a reflection of where he is at this exact moment. By the time the season is about 20 games in, fully expect Wembanyama to be in the conversation for the league’s best player.
Before suffering from deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder after just 46 games last season, Wemby was far and away the most dominant defensive player in the league. He will enter this season as the apex predator on the defensive side. No one makes opponents reconsider their choices more often than Wemby. His shot-blocking is already the best in the league, but he is also a smart defender who uses his mobility and length to impact every defensive possession for the Spurs.
The defense is already incredible, so it’s on the offensive end where his growth potential is greatest. Wemby looks stronger and seems focused on expanding the versatility of his offensive attack—particularly his power post game. If those aspirations come to fruition, the league may be cooked. Wembanyama is already a player who, with his combination of balance and height, can get a good look from literally any angle or position on the floor. Yes, his shot diet may include too many threes (8.8 attempts per game last season), but with Wemby’s commitment to becoming the most complete player he can be, those numbers will likely come down as he continues to explore space and expand his skill set.
A Defensive Player of the Year award feels almost assured if he qualifies—and if so, do not be surprised if Wembanyama also emerges as your MVP this season.
#9 Steph Curry, G, GSW
Age: 37 Height: 6’2” Weight: 185 Exp: 37
PTS: 24.5 AST: 6.0 3PT%: 39.7 3PM: 4.4
No player in the history of basketball causes more chaos without ever touching the ball than Stephen Curry. His ability to draw defenders as he sprints around the court is the reason we even use the term “gravity.” And when it comes to gravity, Curry is the only player for whom “black hole” can be used as a compliment. Like those gravitic anomalies, Steph bends, twists, and warps gravity to his will—often to the benefit of any teammate operating in the space he creates. These are the advantages you gain as the undisputed greatest shooter of all time, and Steph continues to hold that title by a margin of greatness that is likely the largest divide for any singular skill in NBA history.
Last season marked Steph’s sixth campaign with at least 300 made threes. All other players have combined for only four such efforts. Though his scoring average was his lowest per season since 2015, much of that can be attributed to Steph being overburdened before Jimmy Butler’s arrival helped alleviate some of the offensive load. After Butler joined Golden State, Steph’s numbers jumped to 27.3 points per game on 47.3% shooting from the field and 40.8% from three.
#8 Donovan Mitchell, G, CLE
Age: 29 Height: 6’2” Weight: 215 Exp: 8
PTS: 24.0 AST: 5.0 REB: 4.5 3PT%: 36.8
“Disappointing” feels like a harsh term for a player of Mitchell’s status, but that is how his career arc has felt, having still not reached a Conference Finals. Last season, Mitchell was the most complete version of himself, lessening some of his own scoring load to be a better playmaker and using his off-ball movement to draw attention—he had his lowest usage rate in five seasons—to help teammates get better looks.
Mitchell also gave his best effort defensively, staying far more locked into team principles and showing a willingness to take on the opposition’s best player for longer stretches than we’ve seen in years past. But at this point, regular season accolades don’t do much to bolster the “Spider’s” perception, as he is already widely recognized as a phenomenal player. What he now needs is a deep postseason run to shake the haunting echoes of prior failures. Otherwise, there is a chance that Mitchell could begin to be stigmatized in a way that could slide him backward on lists such as this.
#7 Jalen Brunson, G, NYK
Age: 29 Height: 6’2” Weight: 190 Exp: 7
PTS: 26.0 AST: 7.3 FG%: 48.8 3PT%: 38.3
When it comes to the clutch gene, Brunson may need to be looked at for a mutation—because he has that quality in abundance. No one feels more threatening in late-game situations than Brunson, who led the entire NBA in scoring in clutch opportunities at 5.6 points per game, 0.7 points more than Tyrese Maxey in second. That’s because Brunson plays with a confidence and pace that allows him to seemingly always know when and how to attack. No matter who is standing in front of him. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Brunson is an excellent isolation player or as an operator in the pick-and-roll, where his ability to use the league’s best in-tight footwork helps him get to his spots time and again.
The foul-baiting, which is an effective use of what officials will allow, can be a bit exhausting, but it only adds to the profile of a very smart and tough player, benefiting him on both sides of the floor. As the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 draft, no one saw Brunson becoming a star—and yet here we are, with him as one of the steadiest and most offensively important galvanizing forces in the league. When it comes to big moments, no one consistently comes up bigger than the Knicks superstar guard.
#6 Anthony Edwards, G, MIN
Age: 24 Height: 6’4” Weight: 225 Exp: 5
PTS: 27.6 REB: 5.7 AST: 4.5 3PT%: 39.5 3PM: 4.1
It feels almost like unfair criticism to fault Ant-Man for his three-point shooting last season considering he lead the entire league in total makes (320) and did so at a very healthy level of efficiency. But for a player of Edwards superlative athletic gifts, having over half his attempts taken from 24 feet away feels like sub-optimal utilization of his talents. Edwards can score from anywhere on the floor, but remains at his most destructive and effective as a driver. But the concerted effort to expand his game—which apparently includes an intense focus on post play this summer—should hopefully lead to a more balanced attack as he continues to work towards his full form. Even if it doesn’t, the former number one overall pick in the ’20 draft has already proven to be one of the league’s most electric scorers.
While the shooting was the gaudiest statistical improvement, the development that stuck out most to those looking for maturation was his ability to read a defense. There was a much greater patience to how Edwards attacked last season, particularly in the ways in which he would string out the defense to compromise their spacing in the half-court. That same maturity showed more of the defensive end as well, where Edwards took less risks and played a much better version of team defense.
What’s insane is that at just 24, with two Conference Finals under his belt, Edwards is still an ascendant player whose combination of skill and athleticism feels boundless.
#5 Luka Dončić, G/F, LAL
Age: 26 Height: 6’8” Weight: 230 Exp: 7
PTS: 28.2 REB: 8.2 AST: 7.7 FG%: 45.0 3PT%: 36.8
Skinny, bulky, or anywhere in between, Luka is one of the game’s all-time great box-score-stuffing players. This is a walking triple-double waiting to happen, packed into a player who, on any given night, feels like he may just drop 70. That may seem like hyperbole, but seeing as Dončić has already scored 70 in a single game, it’s well within reason to believe it possible once more.
From the Men’s Health photo shoot this summer
Already responsible for one the league’s greatest starts to a career, Luka, playing this season with a chip on his shoulder and a few extra pounds off his waistband, feels like a recipe for an MVP run. Even if not, expect Dončić—particularly in the absence of an injured LeBron—to post another season floating around 30, 9, and 9.
Hopefully, the combination of a trade that still makes no goddamn sense (unless you believe the conspiracy I outlined on the pod months back) and following a relatively down season last year, Luka will push not only to reestablish himself as an offensive maestro, but also to show a more consistent effort on the defensive end. Where no one expects him to be a plus-defender, just hopefully much less of a turnstile
Whatever this season holds, with it being his first full one in the bright lights of Los Angeles, expect Dončić to return to his offensive-dominant ways—as if he really ever left.
#4 Jayson Tatum, F, BOS
Age: 27 Height: 6’8” Weight: 210 Exp: 8
PTS: 26.8 REB: 8.7 AST: 6.0 3PT%: 34.3
It’s always a shame when a superstar goes down, but even more so when it happens right in the heart of a player’s prime. Tatum has become such a remarkable player on both ends of the floor, and a guy who doesn’t get enough credit for the little things he does. Of course, that’s because most people are distracted by all the big things.
Tatum has become a player who impacts the game in every phase—as his team’s best scorer, playmaker, and rebounder, and one of their most consistently impactful defenders. The only real knock on his game is his heavy reliance on the three-point shot (10.1 attempts per game), but part of that comes from playing within a system that prioritizes it. That same system also provides Tatum with the space needed to use his excellent handle to attack the heart of the defense, where his elite finishing ability (78.2% at the rim last season) and court vision allow him to do a lot of damage.
Whether we see him this season or not, Tatum has firmly established himself among the league’s top-five players.
#3 Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, MIL
Age: 30 Height: 6’11” Weight: 243 Exp: 12
PTS: 30.4 REB: 11.9 AST: 6.5 FG%: 60.1
I hope the viewing audience has been warned, because there’s a high chance that the season Giannis is about to have will be littered with acts of violence. No player has carried a heavier two-way workload over the last eight seasons—even if the defense has diminished somewhat. That yeoman’s effort has likely played a part in the injuries that have plagued Giannis come playoff time. This season will likely be much of the same, as, without an established second option, Giannis may challenge his previous career-high in usage (38.8% in ’23).
From a defensive standpoint, his on-ball defense isn’t quite what it used to be. But his playmaking as a roamer should benefit from the presence of Myles Turner. Giannis is no longer among the league’s elite at this end, but he still has the ability to take over segments of games defensively.
When it’s all said and done, because of the churn on the Bucks roster and the ever-present high burden of self-expectation, this may wind up being the most statistically insane season we’ve seen from Giannis. And considering he’s a two-time MVP who consistently hangs 30, 10, and 5, that’s saying something.
#2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, OKC
Age: 27 Height: 6’6” Weight: 195 Exp: 7
PTS: 32.7 AST: 6.4 FG%: 51.9 3PT%: 37.5 STK
Coming off one of the greatest seasons we’ve ever seen from a guard—regular-season MVP, Finals MVP, and the highest scoring average ever by a guard in a championship season—SGA enters this year with little left to prove. Yet, at just 27, Shai is only starting to enter his prime. And that should scare the hell out of the league. No player in the NBA is better at getting to his spots. Full stop.
SGA’s ability to use his length, shifty pace, and superior balance makes him a nightmare to guard—even for the league’s best defenders. Even if a defender can keep him corralled, his strength and ability to rise up off the dribble on a dime means he gets a good look on almost every shot. On the rare occasion that SGA does get stopped, he can beat you as a distributor—so send a double at your own risk.
From a defensive standpoint, Shai’s reputation exceeds the execution—and for that matter, the expectation. Thanks to being on an OKC squad stacked with elite perimeter defenders, he’s rarely tasked with exerting himself against the opposition’s best players. Still, SGA is a phenomenal playmaker in his role as a roamer. As shown in the Finals, he can greatly impact that side of the floor for stretches with his long arms, quick hands, and elite positional shot-blocking.
#1 Nikola Jokic, C, DEN
Age: 30 Height: 6’11” Weight: 284 Exp: 10
PTS: 29.6 REB: 12.7 AST: 10.2 FG% 57.6 PER: 32.0
It’s not just that Nikola Jokic is coming off the fourth-greatest season ever in terms of PER, nor that he became the only player ever to average a triple-double while shooting over 55% from the floor, or that he just had the greatest season of offensive generation we’ve ever seen. Those achievements, as singular stamps of greatness, perhaps aren’t enough to make Jokic the holder of the league’s best-player crown. But the fact that he did those things in the midst of a five-year run—the most impressive stretch of highly efficient offensive production we’ve ever seen in the league—makes it almost impossible to properly contextualize just how damn special this all is.
What Nikola Jokic does on a nightly basis is so far from normal that the fact we’ve become inured to it only underscores its excellence—because he does it with such consistency that our brains have to normalize it to make it make sense. The best passing big man of all time, Jokic is also among the greatest shooting and rebounding big men ever as well. This is a player coming off a season in which he ranked in the top three in averages for points, assists, and rebounds—all while being the most difficult player to stop on the block and shooting at elite levels, notching a new personal best in three-pointers made per game (2.0) and percentage (41.7%).
There aren’t enough characters to convey just how special Jokic is, as my feeble brain struggles to find the words to properly express the reverence and admiration we all should feel for what he is doing in real time. This isn’t just impressive. This isn’t just all-time great. It’s fucking otherworldly, and we all should make sure to stop, take notice, and give appreciation, because this may not come around again anytime soon, if ever.
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