Steph Curry, Kevin Durant lead NBA quotes of the week, Fantasy 30: Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle and other NBA notes. Brady331. At this point in his career, the only question left for Embiid isn't necessarily up to him: Can he make it through a postseason healthy? 100-26 | Nos. The Mavs' offseason additions of shooters should give Doncic wider driving lanes this season. Given that Curry made 337 3s last season, he figures to eclipse Allen before the All-Star break. After Tatum didn't make any of the three All-NBA teams in 2020-21 when the Celtics finished seventh in the East, he was a deserving first team member this past season after leading Boston's dramatic turnaround from being under .500 in late January to finishing second in the East and advancing to the Finals for the first time since 2010. This is an intriguing list that many fans will probably take issue with. 20 for James, and there's a lot at stake for the all-time great. Who Is The Best Nba Basketball Player In History? November 26, 2021. In the years leading up to his retirement, Michael Jordan was considered the greatest basketball player of all time. There are some exceptions, but this has been a consensus choice for more than two decades now. It is a monumental moment for James to be ranked higher than he is. He's made the Grizzlies must-see TV. Where is LeBron James, who is entering his 20th season? If they get even half of those events eliminated, it's not hard to see why the Nets are the preseason title favorites. According to Second Spectrum tracking, Doncic led the league in points off of drives (804) and ranked third in assists (150). Defensively, he's certainly known as a heady player who can operate within team schemes. According to the folks at ESPN, star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is ranked as the No. What about rookies and young stars ready to take the leap into the upper tier of NBA players? Although his assist total essentially remained unchanged year-to-year in the regular season, they shot up during the playoffs, including averaging seven per game during the Finals. Yeah, um, look out, 2021-22. We asked, "Which player will be better in 2022-23?" He cemented that status last season, when he was the lone All-Star on a Dallas team that went to the West finals. To get the final NBArank prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players: LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry vs. Ja Morant, Luka vs. Jayson Tatum and the list goes on. Timberwolves-Clippers, 10 p.m. Warriors-76ers, 7:30 p.m. He's the first player to average 25 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists in a season and the first to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage. Despite a calf strain that sidelined him for the first three games of the first round, Doncic led Dallas in points, rebounds and assists 10 times during the playoffs -- the most ever in a single postseason, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Murray missed all of last season due to a torn ACL, and Porter Jr. was out since early November due to back surgery. 20 for James, and there's a lot at stake for the all-time great. In two out of the last three seasons since arriving in Los Angeles, James has suffered a major injury that sabotaged his and the Lakers' chances. The 247Sports rankings are determined by our recruiting analysts after countless hours of personal observations, film evaluation and input from our network of scouts. The Nuggets are whole again, but can Jokic and a new-look roster recapture the form that helped Denver reach the West finals in the 2020 bubble? He has become a complete player offensively, able to score at all three levels with ease, and is one of the league's most imposing rim protectors. The problem for the former MVP is that he couldn't stay on the floor. He's averaged 1,895 points over the past four seasons (the last two were shortened to 72 games) so he could easily pass Kareem sometime in April. The Suns were unceremoniously bounced from the second round of the playoffs, with Booker combining to shoot a combined 9-for-31 in Games 6 and 7 against Dallas. One thing to watch for: James enters the season just 1,562 points away from passing Karl Malone for No. On Friday, ESPN revealed their top-five players for the 2022-23 NBA season. Will LeBron James retain his throne? But with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. expected back this season, Denver hopes to be back in contention, led by its two-time reigning MVP. No player drove the NBA's summer conversation more than Durant, after requesting, then pulling back, a trade request out of Brooklyn. To this point in his career, he has had one dose of bad injury luck after another, including a facial fracture and thumb sprain during Philadelphia's playoff run in the spring. He's made the Grizzlies must-see TV. Sign up now to unlock everything ESPN+ has to offer. Knicks-Bulls, 7:30 p.m. In the other: James finished second in MVP voting and led the Lakers to the championship. What about rookies and young stars ready to take the leap into the upper tier of NBA players? His scoring soared more than eight points per game to 27.1, elevating Morant into the top echelon of offensive weapons and earning him his first All-Star berth and the Most Improved Player award. If he was able to put together a historic season without Murray and Porter Jr., what can he do with them back on the court? Which stars made the cut? His scoring soared more than eight points per game to 27.1, elevating Morant into the top echelon of offensive weapons and earning him his first All-Star berth and the Most Improved Player award. ESPN's Top 5 Players For The 2022-23 NBA Season: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets; Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks; Joel Embiid, He's a pure point guard who is a dominant interior scorer despite his 6-foot-3 frame, as Morant has a breathtaking blend of explosiveness, finesse and fearlessness. Which players made the cut? And if he can three-peat as MVP, Jokic would pull off what only Larry Bird, Chamberlain and Bill Russell have accomplished -- that sounds like a recipe to become the No. What about rookies and young stars ready to take the leap into the upper tier of NBA players? One thing to watch for: Antetokounmpo is already second on the Bucks all-time scoring list after passing Glenn Robinson last season. We all have our opinions and biases as to why we would place Isiah Thomas over John Stockton or Drexler over James Harden, but well spend our time speaking to what we believe as the most-glaring mistakes. If he does, the sky's the limit. The 20 Best looking NBA playersKelly Obure Jr.Kevin LoveSerge IbakaDevin BookerKyle KuzmaBlake GriffinBen SimmonsJustin WinslowDanilo GallinariWayne EllingtonMore items Booker's ascendant year -- an NBA Finals run, followed by an Olympic gold medal and leading Phoenix to a league-best 64 wins in the regular season -- ended with a precipitous fall. His legacy is secured no matter what happens this season, but Curry and the Warriors are confident that they can vault themselves back toward the top of the Western Conference if he has another MVP-like season and Klay Thompson returns to form. YOU. The real answer -- which is downright scary for the rest of the league -- is for Antetokounmpo to improve the few areas of his game he can still work on. Last Updated: February 15, 2022. jn Search Engine Optimization. 12 in the league, further cementing his reputation as one of the game's most lethal scorers. Offensively, he's already a nightmare for opponents, but just imagine how difficult Morant would be to defend if his 3-point shot (34.4% last season) continues to improve. He's finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in the last two MVP votes. The Suns won a whopping 74.6% of their regular-season games over the past two seasons but are defined just as much by their flameouts as they are their success. To follow up winning his first Finals MVP, Antetokounmpo challenged for the scoring title, averaging 29.9 points (third in the NBA), while grabbing 11.6 rebounds, dishing out 5.8 assists with 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. 100-26, Nos. If James and Anthony can both play the bulk of L.A.'s games, the Lakers will have a viable path back to the postseason, even with the challenges of working in Russell Westbrook and being guided by a new coach Darvin Ham. Here are the top 10 players, from No. In the middle of dropping 42 points during a cameo appearance in L.A.'s famed Drew League in July, James told ESPN, "I'm 100 percent healthy." To get the final NBArank prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players: LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry vs. Ja Morant, Luka vs. Jayson Tatum and the list goes on. The 77 WNBA Players That Have Come Out As Gay Lesbian, Trans or Non-Binary, Free, printable basketball score sheets: Keep track of stats including rebounds, assists, 10-Team bracket (single-elimination tournament), Six Team bracket (single-elimination tournament), The 20 NBA players with the most technical fouls in history, Average Height by Country (Males >20 years), The 40 Tallest WNBA Players of All-Time (Ranked By Height), The 7 Best Basketball Hoops for the Driveway. One thing to watch for: The Nets protected Durant as much as they could last season -- he averaged his fewest minutes per game during the regular season and he skipped some back-to-backs. 3 seed. Antetokounmpo (12,319 points) needs 1,892 this year to become Milwaukee's all-time leading scorer. 22 overall And after unveiling players Nos. Those struggles are likely in large part due to his astronomical usage rate (40.4%, the highest in the playoffs), which is why the Mavs attempted to add another playmaker this offseason. However, it's fair to say that Doncic faded in the fourth quarters of last season's series, shooting only 34.9% from the floor with almost as many turnovers (9) as assists (12) in the final frames over the seven games. 2020 NBArank: No. After each offseason, Antetokounmpo emerges with a new skill in his arsenal. One big question: Durant's game is almost untouchable, so the real question is: Will everyone stay on the floor? Davis doesnt even have 15,000 points in his career and Lillard stands at ~17,500 points. Durant has played in 90 out of a possible 152 regular-season games over the past two seasons. The problem for the former MVP is that he couldn't stay on the floor. The question is, can James have the good fortune to stay healthy at the same time that Anthony Davis can, giving the Lakers a chance to replicate the success that led to a title in 2020? Arguably no player in the league can match his impact on both ends of the floor. Swing skill: James averaged a career best 2.3 3-pointers made per game last season and shot 36.5% from deep, which accounted for his fourth most accurate season from deep of his career. 100-26 and Nos. 5-1, NBArank's top-5 finale: Euro-tripping through the league's top stars, The move that might've saved the Warriors' season, Warriors relish 'important win' vs. NBA-best Celts, 'Still my city': Wall fulfilled by Washington return, Sources: Warriors' Myers still without new deal, Nets top Pacers despite sitting KD, Kyrie, others, Doncic (quad strain) sits out as Mavericks stumble, Zion's 360 dunk to punctuate win rankles Suns, Why this D.C. homecoming will be 'totally different' for John Wall, They said it! He'll also look to bounce back from a disappointing showing in his series against the Golden State Warriors, where he shot 30.8% from 2-point range across six games. The 12-time NBA All-Star led a Nets team that got swept in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Top 10 nba players of alltime espn 2022. Get access to exclusive original series, premium articles from our NBA insiders, the full 30 for 30 library and more. 25-11 | Nos. Embiid was dominant last season, averaging 30.6 points per game to lead the league in scoring for the first time in his career -- the first time a center led the league in scoring since Shaquille O'Neal in 1999-2000 and the first time a center had averaged at least 30 points per game across an entire season since Moses Malone in 1981-82. Free Press high school sports guru Mick McCabe gives his list of the top 100 girls basketball players in Michigan for the 2021-22 season.Top 25. Even though Milwaukee was without its second best player, Khris Middleton, during their second-round playoff series against Boston, the Bucks extended the series to seven games on the will of Antetokounmpo, who averaged 31.7 points, 14.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the postseason. Murray missed all of last season due to a torn ACL, and Porter Jr. was out since early November due to back surgery. 1. With a full complement of contributors around him, Jokic won't face the same type of defensive attention. That's a solid starting point for James to get things back on track. Along the way, Tatum set a career-high of 26.9 points per game, continued to raise his 3-point attempt rate and remains one of the best two-way wing players in the league. From the pure consistency and the reliable dominance each night from Antetokounmpo, his claim on the status as best player in the world has only been strengthened in the past year. Stream SC: NBA Top Plays of 2022 on Watch ESPN. 25-11. Will it be triumph or tribulations in 2021-22? We asked, "Which player will be better in 2021-22?" Jokic was double-teamed 191 times on post-ups last season, the most in the league. The two-time MVP led the league in scoring last season with 32.0 points per game. After playing a career-high 68 games last season, Embiid is eyeing both a healthy regular season and playoffs this time around. On top of that, all four were named to the NBA All-Star Team this season. NBArank 2021: Where the final five check in, including LeBron, Giannis and KD, The move that might've saved the Warriors' season, Warriors relish 'important win' vs. NBA-best Celts, 'Still my city': Wall fulfilled by Washington return, Sources: Warriors' Myers still without new deal, Nets top Pacers despite sitting KD, Kyrie, others, Doncic (quad strain) sits out as Mavericks stumble, Zion's 360 dunk to punctuate win rankles Suns, Why this D.C. homecoming will be 'totally different' for John Wall, They said it! How far can Doncic lead a team that doesn't feature another All-Star? He'll also look to bounce back from a disappointing showing in his series against the Golden State Warriors, where he shot 30.8% from 2-point range across six games. The Mavs went 32-12 -- a 60-win pace -- with Doncic in uniform after he returned from a three-week absence to heal his sprained ankle and work on his conditioning. The Best 100 NBA Players of the 2022-23 Season; Rank Player Team Avg Rank ESPN SI; 1 : Giannis Antetokounmpo : Milwaukee Bucks : 1 : 1 : 1: 2 : Nikola Joki : Denver If James averages the 25 points per game that he did last season -- and plays in every game -- he would be in range to pass Malone in L.A.'s 63rd game on the schedule (which just so happens to be a primetime ABC matchup against Curry and the Warriors). Giannis, Luka and the Joker battle for the top spot, while Steph is the only American-born player in our top five. Despite Jokic averaging 31.0 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists, the Nuggets were no match for Golden State in the first round. 25-11 | Nos. With the team deeper this season after signing a host of veterans, the inclination will be to protect Durant some more. What is his race and ethnicity? Tucker is downright legendary -- was almost on the list of biggest shots in NBA history. Embiid also averaged the fewest minutes of any player to win the scoring title with 33.8 per game, beating the 34.2 mark Curry set in both 2016 and 2021. 25-6 throughout the week, we've finally reached the top five. Will old frustrations rise? With Russell Westbrook added to the mix as another playmaker, it will be interesting to see if James' aim can benefit from the type of looks he's usually creating for others. That will only increase Embiid's chances of claiming that elusive MVP award and leading Philadelphia to the deep playoff run missing from his rsum. Durant, who will be 34 when the season tips, has to prove he can stay healthy in order for the Nets to vault back toward the East elite. But in a league loaded with star duos, Doncic carries as big of a burden as anyone. Yet, Curry did lead his team to their fourth title in the last eight seasons, so one would think he would be in the top three. The Nuggets are whole again, but can Jokic and a new-look roster recapture the form that helped Denver reach the West finals in the 2020 bubble? NBArank 2022: Nos. Visit ESPN for the game recap of the New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Hornets NBA basketball game on 10 December 2022. Let's leave it at: Durant is one of the most skilled players to ever take up basketball, and his height, release and accuracy make him one of the most undefendable players in history. Perhaps that -- in addition to the rise of the MVP contenders below -- is the reason he's in the same spot in our rankings. As Antetokounmpo enters his age-28 season, his list of accolades already makes him one of the most decorated winners in league history. 100-26, Nos. Ranking who the best NBA players are is always a hot topic. Our countdown returns for its 12th season. If James and Anthony can both play the bulk of L.A.'s games, the Lakers will have a viable path back to the postseason, even with the challenges of working in Russell Westbrook and being guided by a new coach Darvin Ham. Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 16.4 points and 3.2 rebounds over the last 10 games for Dallas. See which stars barely missed the top 25, Sign up now to unlock everything ESPN+ has to offer. Here are the very best players for the 2021-22 season. Antetokounmpo reached the NBA mountaintop in 2021 by winning a championship and Finals By missionjimpossib. ESPN Player. James has already redefined the notion of how long a player's prime can last, so it would be foolish to write him off too soon, but it's impossible to ignore that the Lakers had a negative net rating with James on the floor last season, which is reason enough to drop him out of the top five in the rankings no matter his impressive offensive output. 2 on the league's all-time scoring list. After two straight narrow second-place finishes behind Jokic in MVP voting, Embiid is again a favorite to claim the award as the anchor of what should be one of the better teams in the league. Here's a look at Nos. Tim Duncan, 15: > NBA 75 Legend Profile. How did Jokic follow up an MVP season? Premier Basketball is proud to announce that we will be the James has four titles under his belt already and has long cemented his legacy as one of the true greats to ever play the game, but adding a ring at age 37 would certainly boost his quest for universal GOAT recognition. NBA Top 100 Players 2021-2022 (ESPN) Can you name the NBA Top 100 Players for 2021-2022 (according to ESPN's NBARank)? For starters, LeBron James of theLos Angeles Lakers) did not even crack the top five, and he is coming off a season where he averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per contest. The first game of the 2022-23 regular season will take place between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers on October 19. Booker's rise to All-Star status has been largely absent of the weight of expectations. With his having earned All-NBA First Team honors in the Boston Celtics 2021-22 campaign, it was probably safe to say that superstar forward Jayson Tatum was going to be If those things happen, he could vault to the top of this list. As usual, the sky is the limit for Curry. 25: Anthony Edwards. Swing skill: It's probably foolish in these times to say anyone is the "greatest" at anything, so let's avoid that nonsense. If Morant can consistently make guards pay for going under a screen, he might be impossible to contain. Swing skill: Antetokounmpo was the first player to average 20 points and shoot 65% in the paint in a single postseason. When Embiid is healthy and available, there might not be a more dominant player in the NBA today. 25-11 | Nos. In the middle of dropping 42 points during a cameo appearance in L.A.'s famed Drew League in July, James told ESPN, "I'm 100 percent healthy." What about rookies and young stars ready to take the leap into the upper tier of NBA players? Embiid also averaged the fewest minutes of any player to win the scoring title with 33.8 per game, beating the 34.2 mark Curry set in both 2016 and 2021. 100-26 | Nos. Could the 5-3 Muggsy Bogues dunk when he played in the NBA? The Mavs went 32-12 -- a 60-win pace -- with Doncic in uniform after he returned from a three-week absence to heal his sprained ankle and work on his conditioning. NBArank is back for its 12th season counting down the best players in the league. As stated above, Curry is said to be ready to start this season as he ended the last. Coming off his first All-NBA appearance, winning the Eastern Conference finals MVP, making his first trip to the NBA Finals and playing for a team that is projected to contend for the league's best record, Tatum is primed to make yet another leap entering his sixth season. 25-11 | Nos. Visit ESPN to view 2022-23 NBA player stats. Note: ESPN's NBArank panel, composed of over 200 reporters, editors, producers and analysts, were asked to rank players based on their predicted contributions -- quality and quantity -- for the 2022-23 season only. In the Finals he was even more lethal in the paint, shooting 75%. The question is, can James have the good fortune to stay healthy at the same time that Anthony Davis can, giving the Lakers a chance to replicate the success that led to a title in 2020? After a season full of emotional ups and downs for the organization, Durant's trade request and the uncertainty surrounding Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons make the Nets one of the most fascinating stories in the NBA. And despite rising conversations about Curry's age (he'll turn 35 before the end of the regular season) and how big his remaining window is, his performance suggests he could continue to play at this level for the foreseeable future. Search: Espn top 100 basketball 2022.ESPN has several sister channels including Disney XD, ACC Network, and Longhorn Network among many others 1 Like Zion Harmon in. Doncic has led the league in usage rate the past two seasons, a trend that's likely to continue into 2022-23. No. Bookmark Quiz Bookmark Quiz -/5-RATE QUIZ. Aside from health, the big question for the Nets is whether Durant will remain committed to the team. Were obviously not talking about Steph, LeBron, Giannis or Chris Paul. One big question: Can Curry play at an MVP level again? Defensively, he's certainly known as a heady player who can operate within team schemes. No. After playing a career-high 68 games last season, Embiid is eyeing both a healthy regular season and playoffs this time around. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Presented By Jokic became just the 13th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards and did so with a historic campaign. Voters had to predict what they expected from each player during the season. 4. Yes. Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors. James' 30.3 points per game average was unprecedented for a 19-year veteran, but the 26 games he lost to various injuries and an ill-fitting roster around him made for one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. The 23-year-old has room for drastic improvement on the defensive end, where his slender frame makes him a target, and he has a tendency to lose focus. In his absence, his teammates stepped up and kept the Warriors afloat to secure the West's No. They finished by revealing their top five players for the upcoming season. He's been a first-team All-NBA selection the last two seasons, a feat only Kevin Durant has accomplished at such a young age since the ABA-NBA merger. Will Giannis Antetokounmpo add the No. So the question remains how he will add to that list. Note: ESPN's NBArank panel, composed of over 200 reporters, editors, producers and analysts, were asked to rank players based on their predicted contributions -- quality and quantity -- for the 2022-23 season only. Eric Karabell explains how that could play out this season and for years to come. Instead it was the longest 2-pointer possible and the topper to an incredible playoff series that verified Durant's complete recovery from a torn Achilles. No. To get the final NBArank prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players: LeBron vs. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry vs. Ja Morant, Luka vs. Jayson Tatum and the list goes on. Another player from the Aggies' top-rated 2022 recruiting class has entered the portal, as wide receiver Chris Marshall submitted his name. One distinction Doncic doesn't want: He has the most career postseason points (436) of any player without a series victory, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. How did Jokic follow up an MVP season? Sign up now to unlock everything ESPN+ has to offer. 2022: Ranking the top 20 NBA players right now 01 Giannis Antetokounmpo. Along the way, Tatum set a career-high of 26.9 points per game, continued to raise his 3-point attempt rate and remains one of the best two-way wing players in the league. However, he'll take the next step by leveraging those scoring skills in crunch time. Will old frustrations rise? But what happens if and when times get tough? But what happens if and when times get tough? It brings friends and strangers together; it creates a common investment. He's also a ruthless competitor, as evidenced by his unforgettable Game 7 demolition of the top-seeded Suns, when he single-handedly matched Phoenix's scoring total in the first half. And if he can three-peat as MVP, Jokic would pull off what only Larry Bird, Chamberlain and Bill Russell have accomplished -- that sounds like a recipe to become the No. From the pure consistency and the reliable dominance each night from Antetokounmpo, his claim on the status as best player in the world has only been strengthened in the past year. He got better. After years of having to make up for the deficiencies of a flawed roster around him, this season is the first time Embiid will be surrounded by a team built to optimize his strengths. Only 25 years old and already a three-time All-Star and coming off an All-NBA selection, Booker and his silky smooth offensive game should vie for the top shooting guard status in the league for years to come. Top-10 NBA Players 24-Years-Old Or Younger: Post 2021-22 Season EditionJordan Poole - Golden State Warriors. Early on in the season, you would have called me crazy for saying that Jordan Poole is a Top-10 player in the league Anthony Edwards - Minnesota Timberwolves. The No. Zion Williamson - New Orleans Pelicans. Darius Garland - Cleveland Cavaliers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Oklahoma City Thunder. More items Last season, in the first nine minutes of quarters, Booker shot 48.5% overall and 42.1% from 3. Durant shot 51.8% from the field and the assists were a career-high. If Morant can consistently make guards pay for going under a screen, he might be impossible to contain. 100-51, Nos. Today, our rankings continue into the league's top 10 superstars. Jokic beat out Embiid for MVP by recording the highest PER (32.8) in a season in NBA history. 3 seed. The rebuilding Houston Rockets boast one of the most talented young rosters in the NBA. To qualify a player must play 70% of his team's games When conditioning isn't a concern, Doncic is one of the NBA's most dominant forces. While his scoring might dip, assists and other categories could increase this season. After years of having to make up for the deficiencies of a flawed roster around him, this season is the first time Embiid will be surrounded by a team built to optimize his strengths. Aside from health, the big question for the Nets is whether Durant will remain committed to the team. 8. Note: ESPN's NBArank panel, composed of over 200 reporters, editors, producers and analysts, were asked to rank players based on their predicted contributions -- quality and quantity -- for the 2022-23 season only. Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden all had moderate injuries during the shortened season, and, combined with Irving's leave of absence, the Spencer Dinwiddie injury and the transition after the Harden trade, they made last season a mess for Brooklyn. Even though theres never going to be one list we can all agree upon, its an interesting exercise that pushes the arguments and discussions about how we quantify greatness. ESPN Reveals Their Top 10 NBA Players For 2022-23 NBA Season #nba #nbabasketball #lebronjames #stephcurry About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Morant made the massive leap last season from promising franchise cornerstone to bonafide superstar. 25-11 and a surprising Nos. He's still just 26 years old, which means we probably are just now getting to Antetokounmpo's prime years. To follow up winning his first Finals MVP, Antetokounmpo challenged for the scoring title, averaging 29.9 points (third in the NBA), while grabbing 11.6 rebounds, dishing out 5.8 assists with 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) and Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) make up the list. Giannis is a career 71.7% free throw shooter, but he dipped to 63.3% in 2019-20 and 68.5% last year. Tim Duncan wins co-MVP with Shaquille ONeal at the 2000 NBA All-Star game in Oakland. Despite Jokic averaging 31.0 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists, the Nuggets were no match for Golden State in the first round. ago. ESPN recognizes this and speaks to the pitfalls of ranking so many great players. 10 to No. The question is, in today's NBA, where the top tier of superstardom is reserved for players who dominate on both ends, what room for growth remains for Booker? Only 25 years old and already a three-time All-Star and coming off an All-NBA selection, Booker and his silky smooth offensive game should vie for the top shooting guard status in the league for years to come. The Lakers did not have a good year (11th seed in the west), but James was still very clearly elite. If he does, the sky's the limit. Doncic has 36 triple-doubles through his third season (plus three more in the playoffs), putting him seven behind Fat Lever for the 10th most in NBA history. Morant might be the NBA's most entertaining player, a high-flying acrobat with a poise and a confidence creeping toward arrogance. 1-ranked player in the league. In 2022, Nearly 30% of All WNBA Players Identify As Gay, Lesbian, Trans or Queer, The Full List: ESPNs ranking of the NBAs Top 75 Players (#1-76), ESPNs List of The NBAs 100 Best Players for the 2022-23 season #NBArank. Dallas Mavericks | PG In his absence, his teammates stepped up and kept the Warriors afloat to secure the West's No. A knee injury cost him almost two months worth of games, and for the second straight year he was forced to miss a big chunk of the season. Can he become more forceful with his stops and his scores to keep climbing up the list of the game's best? Coming off his first All-NBA appearance, winning the Eastern Conference finals MVP, making his first trip to the NBA Finals and playing for a team that is projected to contend for the league's best record, Tatum is primed to make yet another leap entering his sixth season. After two straight narrow second-place finishes behind Jokic in MVP voting, Embiid is again a favorite to claim the award as the anchor of what should be one of the better teams in the league. 2020 NBArank: No. After spending his offseason starring for the Slovenian national team, Doncic should report to training camp in game shape for the first time in a few years. Durant, who will be 34 when the season tips, has to prove he can stay healthy in order for the Nets to vault back toward the East elite. ESPN Reveals Their Top 10 NBA Players For 2022-23 NBA Season #nba #nbabasketball #lebronjames #stephcurry Booker's ascendant year -- an NBA Finals run, followed by an Olympic gold medal and leading Phoenix to a league-best 64 wins in the regular season -- ended with a precipitous fall. When Durant played, he was one of the best players on the planet. NBArank: A massive surprise is hiding in our top 10, The move that might've saved the Warriors' season, Warriors relish 'important win' vs. NBA-best Celts, 'Still my city': Wall fulfilled by Washington return, Sources: Warriors' Myers still without new deal, Nets top Pacers despite sitting KD, Kyrie, others, Doncic (quad strain) sits out as Mavericks stumble, Zion's 360 dunk to punctuate win rankles Suns, Why this D.C. homecoming will be 'totally different' for John Wall, They said it! 1 candidates. Comments. Get access to exclusive original series, premium articles from our NBA insiders, the full 30 for 30 library and more. The Nuggets welcome both back but also went through some changes in the offseason, namely adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown and trading Monte Morris to the Washington Wizards to clear playing time for emerging second-year point guard Bones Hyland. The question is, in today's NBA, where the top tier of superstardom is reserved for players who dominate on both ends, what room for growth remains for Booker? NBArank 2022: Nos. That will only increase Embiid's chances of claiming that elusive MVP award and leading Philadelphia to the deep playoff run missing from his rsum. Check out ESPN.com's NBA All-Time Leaders page!. All of whom are Hall of Fame locks and arguably top five in their positions in all time. 10-6 | Nos. Los Angeles Lakers | SF NBArank is back for its 12th season counting down the best players in the league. One big question: Can James help a Lakers team with 10 fresh faces coalesce into a championship team from the jump? Even though Milwaukee was without its second best player, Khris Middleton, during their second-round playoff series against Boston, the Bucks extended the series to seven games on the will of Antetokounmpo, who averaged 31.7 points, 14.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the postseason. In the last three minutes of quarters? I consider myself an ambassador for the game of basketball and for the NBA, though I am also an ambassador for fantasy sports. Can he win a third NBA MVP? If the Warriors want to return to the top of the West, Curry will need to have another huge season -- even with Thompson expected to make his return. Booker's rise to All-Star status has been largely absent of the weight of expectations. NBArank: 10 to 1. 25-11. 25-11 and a surprising Nos. Today, our rankings continue into the league's top 10 superstars. 24: Donovan Mitchell. He's arguably the best offensive weapon in the NBA -- a threat to win scoring and assists titles who picks apart defenses with a blend of power, skill and savvy. Whom were talking about is Damian Lillard and Anthony Davis. We saw living Voters had to predict what they expected from each player during the season. ESPN's countdown of the league's top 100 players returns for its 11th season. Morant might be the NBA's most entertaining player, a high-flying acrobat with a poise and a confidence creeping toward arrogance. Today, our rankings conclude with the league's top five superstars. 10-6. Who is Hansel Emmanuel, the one-armed basketball player? Jokic beat out Embiid for MVP by recording the highest PER (32.8) in a season in NBA history. Tatum made some strides as a passer last season -- something coach Ime Udoka has stressed since arriving last summer -- but continuing to improve that part of his game is what will allow him to go from a player in the back half of the top 10 to one competing for the top spot on this list. Sources told ESPN that, heading into training camp, Curry is looking in shape and primed to pick up where he left off. Want to know the NBA's top 25 all-time points leaders? Could 22-year-old Luka Doncic leapfrog them all? 5-1 (coming Friday). Giannis Antetokounmpo. Offensively, he relies on finesse, angles and footwork to do his damage. The easy answer is to repeat. Curry is in the same position he was in at the start of last season. ESPN2 to Broadcast Record Number of Games Each Season, Including All 45 Games that will Air in Primetime in Africa During the 2022-23 Regular Season, the Conference Finals and Finals NBA Africa and ESPN Africa today announced a multiyear agreement that will see ESPN2 (DStv 219 and Starsat 249) broadcast a record of more than 180 NBA regular We've already revealed players Nos. Mavs management is confident that Brunson's scoring void can be filled by Tim Hardaway Jr.'s return from injury and Christian Wood's arrival via trade. Both were included in the NBA 75 official list, but werent even voted on as an NBA All-Star this season which you can see as just a coincidence or evidence that their inclusion was obviously premature. You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Curry believes he can stretch his prime out a little longer, but he'll be 34 in March and, aside from a fluke tailbone injury, stayed relatively healthy. If those things happen, he could vault to the top of this list. Sources told ESPN that, heading into training camp, Curry is looking in shape and primed to pick up where he left off. The Bucks will be among the favorites to win another NBA championship, but can Antetokounmpo secure another Finals MVP? He shot 41.8% from the field and 31.8% from deep. NBArank 2022: Nos. Is Klay Thompson mixed? It only seems like a matter of when -- and how many times -- Doncic wins MVP. 4. Offensively, he relies on finesse, angles and footwork to do his damage. Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 16.4 points and 3.2 rebounds over the last 10 In the last three minutes of quarters? Tatum made some strides as a passer last season -- something coach Ime Udoka has stressed since arriving last summer -- but continuing to improve that part of his game is what will allow him to go from a player in the back half of the top 10 to one competing for the top spot on this list. Over the years, he has refined his vision as a passer, has improved an outside jumper that keeps defenses guessing and has become more unstoppable attacking the paint and in the post. He's arguably the best offensive weapon in the NBA -- a threat to win scoring and assists titles who picks apart defenses with a blend of power, skill and savvy. See which stars barely missed the top 25, Sign up now to unlock everything ESPN+ has to offer. Doncic has scored at least 30 points in 17 of those triple-doubles. Today, our rankings continue into the league's top 10 superstars. Note: Because of knee injuries that will sideline both for most of the 2021-22 season, the LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard and the Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray were excluded from this season's rankings. 9h ESPN. Seeing Curry, LeBron, and Giannis on the court and seeing past superstars Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Russell, Jerry West, Allen Iverson, Magic Johnson, George Gervin, and Patrick Ewing watching from the sidelines was surreal. Where are MVP candidates such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic? When Durant played, he was one of the best players on the planet. Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets) and LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) did not make the top five. He's also a ruthless competitor, as evidenced by his unforgettable Game 7 demolition of the top-seeded Suns, when he single-handedly matched Phoenix's scoring total in the first half. Swing skill: Doncic staked a claim as the most dominant driver in the NBA last season. He shot 59.2% from the floor in those situations, tied for second behind Giannis Antetokounmpo among the 48 players with at least 600 drives. We asked, "Which player will be better in 2022-23?" Doncic has finished fourth, sixth and fifth in MVP voting the past three seasons, respectively. He averaged 16.6 paint points last season, becoming the only guard to lead the league in that category over the last 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Not that AD and Dame wont be worthy when their careers are all said and done, but their current numbers and accomplishments simply doesnt justify their inclusion. Its one of those things that people value differently but if you look at it from that perspective, I think some of the rankings are at least a bit more understandable. Today, our rankings conclude with the league's top five superstars. Jokic collected 19 triple-doubles -- most by a center since Wilt Chamberlain -- and led Denver to one more win than the previous season despite missing Murray and Porter Jr. He averaged 16.6 paint points last season, becoming the only guard to lead the league in that category over the last 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Knicks-Bulls, 7:30 p.m. Perhaps that -- in addition to the rise of the MVP contenders below -- is the reason he's in the same spot in our rankings. MORE: Debating LeBron's spot and the biggest NBArank surprises, Golden State Warriors | PG The Suns were unceremoniously bounced from the second round of the playoffs, with Booker combining to shoot a combined 9-for-31 in Games 6 and 7 against Dallas. Unlike other sports, individual rankings are a lot easier to judge. We asked, "Which player will be better in 2022-23?" One thing to watch for: There is a good chance that Doncic will rank among the top 10 all-time in triple-doubles by his 23rd birthday on Feb. 28. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, only seven players have as many or more 30-point triple-doubles: Robertson, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, James Harden, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Durant has played in 90 out of a possible 152 regular-season games over the past two seasons. 10-6 | Nos. 25-11, including the Point God, two Wolves All-Star big men and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. NBArank is back for its 12th season counting down the best players in the league. He got better. This could be the season that Doncic climbs to the top of the ballots, especially if he gets off to a strong start and Dallas claims a top-four spot in the competitive West. 1. But there's even room for improvement there, too, if he works on his back-to-the-basket post moves like LeBron James did at a similar juncture in his career. Doncic has led the league in usage rate the past two seasons, a trend that's likely to continue into 2022-23. 7 player in the league according to the 2022-23 seasons NBA ranking During the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend, the NBAs 75 best players were invited to gather in Cleveland to continue the celebration of the leagues 75th anniversary. You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. We've already revealed players Nos. But it was the 17-for-19 performance at the free throw line in Game 6 that really stood out. Although his assist total essentially remained unchanged year-to-year in the regular season, they shot up during the playoffs, including averaging seven per game during the Finals. When conditioning isn't a concern, Doncic is one of the NBA's most dominant forces. During the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend, the NBAs 75 best players were invited to gather in Cleveland to continue the celebration of the leagues 75th anniversary. Antetokounmpo reached the NBA mountaintop in 2021 by winning a championship and Finals MVP award. We opine that there are way too many accomplished players in the seventy-five years that the NBA has been in existence to include Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14,211 points as a Buck) is in sight this year. Based on Curry's 2021-22 campaign, there's no obvious reason to believe he couldn't end this season as the No. (Previous rank: 5) No matter what happens next, Curry is going down as the most prolific shooter ever. 1 player in the league. 23 min. NBArank 2022: Nos. More: Players 100 to 51 | 50 to 11 | Future No. Dallas' roster was dealt a significant blow when Jalen Brunson, the Mavs' second-best player last season, bolted for New York in free agency. What is Jordan Pooles race and ethnic background? However, he averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per contest. Max Kellerman: Yankees paid an '$80 million stupid tax' for Aaron Judge How he fits back into a Nets culture after requesting that coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks be fired is one of the most intriguing questions in the league. Barring an extended absence, Curry should be able to put together a strong, complete season that could see him win another championship and possibly more individual hardware. The Bucks will be among the favorites to win another NBA championship, but can Antetokounmpo secure another Finals MVP? Arguably no player in the league can match his impact on both ends of the floor. Steph Curry, Kevin Durant lead NBA quotes of the week, Fantasy 30: Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle and other NBA notes, Debating LeBron's spot and the biggest NBArank surprises. Printable 16 Team bracket (single-elimination tournament), The 12 Best Basketball Shoes That Provide Maximum Ankle Support, Printable 3 team double elimination bracket, FIFA Football World Cup for Pinoy Hoops Fans. How much better can Morant get? He's the first player to average 25 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists in a season and the first to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage. He shot 41.8% from the field and 31.8% from deep. Then, by the way, he laid waste at the Olympics and carried the Americans to gold. The expectations are high each season, but Antetokounmpo usually finds a way to exceed them. After averaging 25.5 points per game on 43.7% shooting, Curry by no means had a subpar season -- he was an early contender for MVP -- but an ankle injury did keep him off the floor for the last month of the regular season. As stated above, Curry is said to be ready to start this season as he ended the last. Despite the strength of their All-Star core and supporting cast, their title hopes rest mainly on Curry's shoulders. As Antetokounmpo enters his age-28 season, his list of accolades already makes him one of the most decorated winners in league history. Embiid was dominant last season, averaging 30.6 points per game to lead the league in scoring for the first time in his career -- the first time a center led the league in scoring since Shaquille O'Neal in 1999-2000 and the first time a center had averaged at least 30 points per game across an entire season since Moses Malone in 1981-82. Fantasy New York Knicks scores 33 Jokic collected 19 triple-doubles -- most by a center since Wilt Chamberlain -- and led Denver to one more win than the previous season despite missing Murray and Porter Jr. 10-6. If Lillard and Davis were to retire tomorrow, their inclusion would most-certainly be questioned especially in the face of excluding Dwight Howard, Manu Ginobili, Vince Carter, Alex English, Klay Thompson, Adrian Dantely, Alonzo Mourning, and Dikembe Mutombo. How far can Doncic lead a team that doesn't feature another All-Star? That devastating turnaround jumper in Game 7 against the Bucks -- the thunderous left-foot pivot and lightning-quick rise-and-release over P.J. One thing to watch for: Curry enters the season just 141 3-pointers behind Ray Allen for the top spot on the all-time list. Simply put, he is virtually impossible to stop once he gets inside. However, he'll take the next step by leveraging those scoring skills in crunch time. He needs 1,323 points to eclipse Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer, but the Lakers' team success -- or lack thereof -- will largely determine how the moment resonates. Is it possible for Antetokounmpo to get even better? But Booker's 26.8 points per game last season ranked No. Voters had to predict what they expected from each player during the season. Can he become more forceful with his stops and his scores to keep climbing up the list of the game's best? James' 30.3 points per game average was unprecedented for a 19-year veteran, but the 26 games he lost to various injuries and an ill-fitting roster around him made for one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. Despite the strength of their All-Star core and supporting cast, their title hopes rest mainly on Curry's shoulders. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, only seven players have as many or more 30-point triple-doubles: Robertson, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, James Harden, With a full complement of contributors around him, Jokic won't face the same type of defensive attention. If he was able to put together a historic season without Murray and Porter Jr., what can he do with them back on the court? Can Steph and the Warriors do it again? While his scoring might dip, assists and other categories could increase this season. The expectations are high each season, but Antetokounmpo usually finds a way to exceed them. The 2021-22 top 50 NBA players list was voted on by eight of our staff members David Morrow, Lance Roberson, Oti Agbeyegbe, Dylan Hargis, Xavier Santos, David Loaiza, Cameron Dunlap and Jalen Sherman plus guest voter Kas Facts. 100-26 | Nos. He'll enter them with the confidence of a two-time MVP and an NBA champion. What new skill will Antetokounmpo bring to the table? And despite rising conversations about Curry's age (he'll turn 35 before the end of the regular season) and how big his remaining window is, his performance suggests he could continue to play at this level for the foreseeable future. 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