For the sixth season in a row, Def Pen Sports presents its collaborative ranking of the top 50 NBA players. A couple of quick things notes about the list:

• This is a list of who our staff members think the top 50 NBA players are for this season. The definition of “top” or “best” is subjective and open-ended; each voter has their own view and opinion on that.
• No rookies are included in our top 50 NBA players list because we haven’t seen them in NBA action yet (preseason and Summner League don’t count).

The 2021-22 top 50 NBA players list was voted on by six of our staff members — David Morrow, Dylan Hargis, Xavier Santos, David Loaiza, Jared Brown and Michael Parra. Ties were broken by guest voter Kas Facts. Each voter created their own list, and we averaged the rankings of each individual list to create the final product below.

For each player, you’ll see the overall ranking, where we had them ranked on our 2020-21 Top 50 NBA players list, the highest and lowest ranks any of our voters ranked them on their individual lists, and a brief writeup about that player.

Honorable mentions (players who received at least one vote but didn’t make the list), listed in order of how close they were to cracking the top 50): Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers; Julius Randle, New York Knicks; De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings; Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets; Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies; Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers; Robert Williams III, Boston Celtics; Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks; Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls; Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies; Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets; Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic; RJ Barrett, New York Knicks

50. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Last Year’s Ranking: 44

Highest Vote: 40

Lowest Vote: Unranked

Sometimes, Draymond Green’s personality can be a bit of a punch to the face. Despite that, he is the enforcer of a team that has won four NBA Championship with him on the roster. Last season he averaged 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. Don’t let the numbers fool you, the Warriors don’t win the NBA Championship last year without Green on the court.

Green is getting older and the Warriors’ title window will close in a short amount of time. Until then, he and the Warriors will fight hard to win at least number five. Green is still incredibly valuable and is a top-50 player in the NBA.

49. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

Last Year’s Ranking: Ineligible (Rookie)

Highest Vote: 41

Lowest Vote: Unranked
Scottie Barnes comes in at No. 49 after taking home Rookie of the Year honors last season. The Toronto Raptors got plenty of grief for taking Barnes in initial draft reactions, but it paid off in a big way. Barnes finished the season averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists with an impact that felt bigger than the box score.

Barnes was able to be a playmaker on a Raptors playoff team as well as play a high level of defense. His shot has been a work in progress, as Barnes was never viewed as a threat in that area. Defenders would dare Barnes to shoot from 3, which only falls at a 30.1% rate. Working on developing a consistent offensive shooting repertoire will be the biggest task for the second-year standout.

Overall, No. 49 may be slightly low for a player that did as many things at a high level as Barnes. If the second-year Raptor can take that next step in his game, Barnes will not only make the Raptors look smart for not trading for Kevin Durant but will end up a lot higher on next season’s list.

– Michael Parra

48. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Last Year’s Ranking: 35

Highest Vote: 35

Lowest Vote: Unranked

So, everyone knows the Kings are a bit dysfunctional, to say the least. Opinions on the trade that got Domantas Sabonis there are what they are, but it can’t be denied that Sabonis is a very good player. Last season, he averaged 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. He is a force on offense and isn’t a massive liability on the defensive end.

Sabonis fits in fairly well with what the Kings want to do on offense. He spaces the floor and rebounds the basketball very well. Is he good enough to carry the Kings to the playoffs? Probably not, but surely they eventually have to make it… right?

– Dylan H.

47. Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics

Last Year’s Ranking: Honorable mention

Highest Vote: 38

Lowest Vote: 50

Last season, Marcus Smart didn’t quite make the cut on the Def Pen Top 50 list. Then, he won the Defensive Player of the Year award and was a key player in the Celtics’ run to the NBA Finals. After all of that, It would have felt like a crime to omit him from this list again. The Celtics have dealt with some turbulence before training camp started, but the team still has to be considered one of the top teams in the East, and Smart is the emotional heart that will keep them going.

– David Loaiza

46. Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn Nets

Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked

Highest Vote: 31

Lowest Vote: Unranked

After a breakout season that saw the 24-year-old big man put up career-best averages in points (16.1), rebounds (10.8) and field-goal shooting (67.7%), Jarrett Allen made his first All-Star team in 2021-22 and now makes our Top 50 list for the first time. Allen sometimes feels like the forgotten man next to Cleveland’s exciting, young, star-laden roster that features Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and now Donovan Mitchell. But make no mistake, the Cavaliers are led by a Big 4, not a Big 3.

– David Morrow

45. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Last Year’s Ranking: Ineligible (Rookie)

Highest Vote: 38

Lowest Vote: Unranked

As a rookie, Cade Cunningham quickly proved why he was the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He led all rookies in points per game and was second to Oklahoma City’s Josh Giddey in assists. The Pistons have a true franchise player to build around in Cunnigham, and we are excited to see what this season will look like for him and what improvements he has made to his game over the offseason.

– David L.

44. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns

Last Year’s Ranking: 42

Highest Vote: 34

Lowest Vote: Unranked

Deandre Ayton doesn’t seem to be overly thrilled about signing a four-year contract worth nearly $133 million to stay with the Suns, but nonetheless, in Phoenix he remains. Ayton has been a walking double-double and a very solid center since he entered the league, and he still is. The big man hasn’t made a major leap nor has he declined, and he thus hasn’t made any major movement in our rankings.

– David M.

43. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Last Year’s Ranking: 31

Highest Vote: 33

Lowest Vote: Unranked

After missing a year and a half of basketball, Jamal Murray comes in at 43. This is a fair ranking for someone who missed this much time, but Murray can easily make it way too low by the season’s end. The last time we saw Murray in playoff action was in 2020, when he completely tore up the opposing defense en route to a Western Conference Final appearance.

Murray had two 50-point performances in a series against the Utah Jazz and set a Nuggets franchise record for most 40-point games in a post-season run. While missing that amount of time is a concern and it might take Murray a bit of time to get back into rhythm, Murray looked every bit the part of an All-Star and perfect running mate to Nikola Jokic.

– Michael P.

42. Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors

Last Year’s Ranking: 47

Highest Vote: 29

Lowest Vote: Unranked

Fred VanVleet has been a steady presence during the changeover in Toronto since the Raptors’ championship in 2019. Last season was the first time in VanVleet’s six-year career that he was selected to an All-Star team. VanVleet posted career highs in points (20.3), assists (6.7) and even rebounds (3.8) per game. His minutes per game last season (37.9) ranked second-highest in the NBA, and it’s fair to wonder how this dose minutes will affect his smaller body in the NBA, especially with a player who plays as physically defensively as VanVleet does.

VanVleet is a good defender despite his small size, averaging 1.7 steals and finishing second in the NBA in total deflections.
While VanVleet may stick out in the Raptors’ 6-foot-8-at-every-position experiment, he is still a crucial player on both ends of the floor for a scrappy Toronto team.

– Michael P.

41. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors

Last Year’s Ranking: 43

Highest Vote: 27

Lowest Vote: Unranked

Klay is back!

Last season, he got back into the court toward the end of the regular season to help
the Warriors in their quest to win another championship. Throughout the playoffs, he had his ups and downs, understandably, considering that he went more than two years without playing on an NBA court. With an offseason to get healthier and more in rhythm, the old Klay can be back for Golden State. In the end, he is one of the greatest shooters in the history of the league, but his injuries have made him slide into the 40s in our rankings.

– David L.

40. Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors

Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked

Highest Vote: 31

Lowest Vote: 49

Wiggins enjoyed a revival season with the Warriors, especially during the NBA Finals against the Celtics. Without the pressure of being the No.1 guy, he focused at doing the small stuff and excelled at it. Wiggins gave Jayson Tatum fits in the finals, grabbed rebounds and dead balls galore and at some point was in the talks for the Finals MVP, until Curry’s scoring proved
unmatchable. The Warriors want to repeat as champs, and Wiggins is ready for the adventure.

– David L.

39. CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans

Last Year’s Ranking: 42

Highest Vote: 25

Lowest Vote: Unranked

CJ McCollum’s first full season with the Pelicans will come with some pretty high expectations, and they aren’t all because of him. The team made the playoffs last year in a surprise. Now, they add back Zion Williamson and have a full offseason to jell and learn to play together. The playoffs are now an expectation for this team.

Last season, McCollum averaged 22.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. His veteran leadership is invaluable on a team full of young and talented players. This is a new role for the guard, but he seems fully prepared to take it on heading into the season.

– Dylan H.

38. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Year’s Ranking: Ineligible (Rookie)

Highest Vote: 28

Lowest Vote: Unranked

Scottie Barnes may have won the Rookie of the Year Award last season, but on our list, Evan Mobley ranks as the best player from the 2021 NBA Draft Class. In his rookie season, he showed his ability to score in the paint and sometimes out to the 3-point line, as well as his defensive ability to protect the paint and versatility to defend on the perimeter. In addition, the Cavaliers look to be majorly improved after a great season with the addition of Donovan Mitchell and should be contenders to surprise everyone in the East.

– David L.

37. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks

Last Year’s Ranking: 28

Highest Vote: 27

Lowest Vote: Unranked

Jrue Holiday can’t be the best player on a title team. In truth, he can’t be the second-best, either. We saw what happened last year after the Bucks lost Khris Middleton to injury. The role was too big for Holiday. You want Jrue putting opposing guards in Alcatraz. You don’t want him looking for his shot over and over in iso situations. If he’s somehow the third-best player on your team, you are almost certainly an elite team.

In a league that struggles to contain dribble penetration, Holiday is truly a lockdown defender on the perimeter. He can also credibly guard wings that are taller than him. He leads by example and is a terrific locker-room presence.

– Xavier Santos

36. Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks

Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked

Highest Vote: 21

Lowest Vote: 50

Finally, Dejounte Murray is in a system that will allow him to play a more free style of offense. He also won’t be the main focus for defenders with Trae Young playing next to him. Even in a more restrictive system last year, Murray averaged 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game. Expect the rebounds to dip some, but the points and assists could jump up by a significant number.

Murray is in a perfect situation and a perfect role heading into the season. The Eastern Conference is packed, but Murray makes the Hawks serious playoff contenders on paper. His defense compliments Young perfectly, and the Hawks should be very fun to watch this season.

– Dylan H.

35. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

Last Year’s Ranking: 21

Highest Vote: 24

Lowest Vote: 50

Williamson is an athletic freak and a walking highlight, but I had to force myself to rank him this high. We’ve seen stretches of dominant play, but he has yet to put together the type of season that would cement him as a true superstar. His defensive shortcomings also make him difficult to build around. Playing him next to a traditional big means you need three really good shooters on the floor. If you play him at the 5, it’s likely the other team will kill you on the boards and score points in the paint in bunches. He has looked great in preseason, but unless the weight loss can help him avoid injury, we could be looking at another disappointing end to the Pelicans’ season.

– Xavier S.

34. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last Year’s Ranking: 40

Highest Vote: 26

Lowest Vote: 44

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s numbers don’t jump off the page; you have to watch him play to truly appreciate how far he’s come as a player. And look, we don’t blame you if you haven’t watched many OKC in recent years, but if you can ignore the scoreboard, the Thunder are actually a fun League Pass team, and much of that has to do with Gilgeous-Alexender. He has no spacing around him. He has no one to help ease the offensive burden. Yet, he’s been able to overcome his shortcomings as a shooter and become a truly prolific scorer.

The Thunder are building something special. Sam Presti probably wants to try his lottery luck one more time before pivoting toward winning. We just hope SGA is there by the time OKC builds the next great version of its team. Any team would be lucky to have him, but SGA deserves the chance to see this rebuild through. Were the Thunder to miss out on one of this year’s top picks, Presti could decide to let SGA explore greener pastures while he continues his search for another franchise cornerstone

– Xavier S.

33. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

Last Year’s Ranking: 36

Highest Vote: 23

Lowest Vote: Unranked

Is Pascal Siakam really good enough to be the best player on a good team in the long term? While it has worked fairly well for the Toronto Raptors, there needs to be more evidence. The Raptors run an odd lineup that keeps opposing teams on their toes, and to be fair, that would be impossible without Sikkim.

Last season, he averaged 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. While Toronto undoubtedly needs him on the court, don’t be surprised if his name comes up around the trade deadline this year if things go wrong. Toronto’s system does not feel all that sustainable.

– Dylan H.

32. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Last Year’s Ranking: 26

Highest Vote: 22

Lowest Vote: 44

The perennial Defensive Player of the Year favorite, we know very well who Rudy Gobert is at this point. He posted a career-high 14.7 rebounds last season and had his best shooting season of his NBA lifetime, making 71.3% of his shot attempts. He also shot a respectable 69% from the free-throw line, another career-best mark.

Gobert is in a new home now, and we’ll be fascinated to see how he looks alongside fellow star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. The fit projects to be awesome, with Gobert making up for Towns’ defensive deficiencies and Towns’ shooting enabling Gobert to hang out in the paint without mucking up the spacing too much. We’ll need to see it in practice before making any conclusions, but we’re excited to watch this Wolves team next season.

– David M.

31. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Year’s Ranking: Unranked

Highest Vote: 22

Lowest Vote: 42

Darius Garland was able to fully showcase his talents after the Cleveland Cavaliers lost Colin Sexton, and Garland took advantage, having his best season. Garland finished with a career-high 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game en route to his first All-Star selection. Garland is a scoring threat at multiple levels, even if the guard ended up not taking as many 3-point attempts as some would have liked to have seen.

As Cleveland needed Garland to be more of a playmaker, one thing that also went up was his turnover rate. 3.6 turnovers per game is something Garland will need to clean up. With the Cavaliers adding Donovan Mitchell to the fold, however, Garland might take a back seat as a playmaker.

Garland still has a path to improvement, and with Mitchell on the team, he has a chance to have more opportunities at clean looks. If Garland can become more efficient and take care of the basketball more with another scoring guard running with him, Garland and the Cavaliers have a path for a successful season.

– Michael P.

30. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Last Year’s Ranking: 39

Highest Vote: 26

Lowest Vote: 39

Without Zion Williamson, the Pelicans and Ingram struggled at the start of the season until the addition of CJ McCollum gave them the boost they needed to make the playoffs. Ingram now ranks third in the pecking order of the team, which can help him improve offensively, taking pressure off him; he won’t be the focus of the defense like he has been in other seasons. His shooting percentages and efficiency should go up this season, and the Pelicans can be expected to take one of the playoff spots in the West.

– David L.

29. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Last Year’s Ranking: Honorable Mention

Highest Vote: 24

Lowest Vote: 37

From highlight-level dunks to memorable Netflix performances, Anthony Edwards is quickly rising as one of the more popular players in the NBA. On the court, Edwards is continuing to ascend into one of the league’s premier players. Edwards’ shooting numbers improved in both 2-and 3-point shooting percentages last season.

Edwards still isn’t a finished project but — like his draft class-mate LaMelo Ball — is progressing in all the right ways. While his catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage is improving, he still needs to improve his off-the-dribble 3-point shot, which was 32% last year.

Though going from a volume scorer to an efficient one from his first to the second season was important, Edwards also has to improve defensively and cut down on turnovers the more he becomes the Timberwolves’ primary ball handler.

Edwards still is looking for his first All-Star appearance after being passed over during his sophomore season. If Edwards can match the progression from his first two years, the Timberwolves star will not only reach that goal but could push for an All-NBA spot, as well.

– Michael P.

28. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

Last Year’s Ranking: 22

Highest Vote: 22

Lowest Vote: Unranked

There’s a world in which Khris Middleton was healthy in the playoffs last season and the Bucks beat the Boston Celtics to win the East and perhaps repeated as champions.

Unfortunately for the Bucks, Middleton wasn’t able to play, and Boston narrowly won that series. Middleton was his usual steady, stellar self in 2021-22, averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals en route to his third career All-Star appearance. Midldeton’s shooting did take a dip last season; he went 37.3% from 3-point range, his first sub-41% season since 2018-19. His 44.3% field-goal mark was also his lowest since ’18-19. Still, Middleton is a fantastic player and an integral cog in one of the NBA’s best teams.

– David M.

27. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

Last Year’s Ranking: 24

Highest Vote: 20

Lowest Vote: 42

Zach LaVine is an interesting player and the best player on the Bulls moving forward, if that was in question. Last season, he averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. His athletic ability jumps off the page, but he’s become a better shooter and leader since joining the Chicago Bulls.

Watching LaVine grow into the team’s franchise player has been fantastic. His biggest problem is his teammates can’t seem to stay healthy. This unfortunate fact could easily keep him out of a packed Eastern Conference playoff race. Right now, a play-in game looks like a very real possibility.

– Dylan H.

26. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Last Year’s Ranking: 46

Highest Vote: 18

Lowest Vote: 41

LaMelo Ball makes NBA League Pass worth the price. Ball does not lack confidence and makes highlight passes look routine. Last season, Ball improved in all areas of his game, finishing the season with 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game. Ball made his first All-Star appearance and looks to be quickly ascending on the track to being a premier player in the league.

While Ball had a great season, some could point to 26 as a little high on this list a still-ascending prospect. Ball is still in the bottom tier of point guards when it comes to finishing at the rim, connecting at just a 54% rate. Ball also will need to improve on his defense and his somewhat-erratic shot selection to stamp in this optimistic ranking.

Still, with the ascension that Ball has had in his first two seasons, it’s hard to bet against him continuing to grow and pushing to be one of the best point guards in the league.

– Michael P.

25. DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls

Last Year’s Ranking: 45

Highest Vote: 17

Lowest Vote: 34

The master of the midrange comes in at No. 25 in our rankings. While he may be an analytics lover’s worst nightmare, he showed that you can still have offensive firepower without the 3-point shot. While 71% of DeRozan’s shots came from the midrange, he still made 47% of those shots. This gave DeRozan a career-high 27.9 points per game and helped push the Chicago Bulls to their first playoff appearance in five seasons.

This is a pretty fair spot for DeRozan, who is coming off All-Star and All-NBA appearances. The deficiencies in his game are well-noted at this point. Between DeRozan at absolute best being only average defensively and his lack of a 3-point shot, you won’t see him much higher than 25 player-ranking lists. However, the Bulls guard still is a scoring machine who can help lead his team to the playoffs.

– Michael P.

24. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards

Last Year’s Ranking: 17

Highest Vote: 20

Lowest Vote: 35

It is entirely possible that the Washington Wizards believe in Bradley Beal a bit too much. They have done a fairly poor job stacking talent around him, and because of that, he hasn’t been able to win much with the franchise. Still, he has been more than good enough to receive the supermax extension he signed this offseason. Is Washington a playoff team this season? Well, probably not.

An injury sidelined him for all but 40 games last season, and without him, the Wizards aren’t a very good team. In those games, Beal averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. Washington fans should just sit backm enjoy Beal and pray to someone that a young player the team drafted works out.

– Dylan H.

23. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Last Year’s Ranking: 25

Highest Vote: 18

Lowest Vote: 34

Last season, the Miami Heat were robbed from any representation in the All-Star and All-NBA teams because of injuries to their star players. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo had Miami as one of the top teams of the East despite missing 25 games each. Defensively, Adebayo ranked fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. For this season, one of his main goals should be winning that award. With each season, he has been improving and scaling up in the big man rankings in the league. The main change in his game has been his shooting range, which has been expanding since his rookie season. This preseason, he’s been making some 3s and has displayed an improved shooting form.

– David L.

22. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Last Year’s Ranking: 32

Highest Vote: 16

Lowest Vote: 30

Brown’s limitations were on full display in certain parts of last year’s postseason, when he struggled to keep his dribble to himself, particularly in matchups against Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo.

Still, Brown had a fine season overall and has established himself as a borderline-All-Star-level player. He wasn’t able to repeat his 2020-21 All-Star selection in 2021-22, but he still averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to maintain his near-40% 3-point shooting from his All-Star season. Instead, his outside shooting took a major dive, down to 35.8%, his lowest mark since 2018-19. Brown had a worse individual season last season than the season before but still took a jump in our rankings, probably due to the fact that we now know a team with him as the No. 2 options is capable of making it all the way to the NBA Finals.

– David M.

21. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets

Last Year’s Ranking: 15

Highest Vote: 11

Lowest Vote: 50

The uncertainty about his playing availability during the past season made Kyrie Irving
slide in our rankings, but his talent cannot be questioned. When he appeared for the
Nets in the court, he would consistently put up 30 points and rack up assists. He played 29
games throughout the season, scored 30-plus points in 11 of those and had a 50- and 60-point game within a week of each other.

This season, he should not have trouble being active for the Nets, as most vaccine
mandates have been removed. With Ben Simmons taking charge of playmaking, we
may see a scoring explosion from Irving.

– David L.

20. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz

Last Year’s Ranking: 20

Highest Vote: 15

Lowest Vote: 36

We know exactly who Donovan Mitchell is at this point, as evidenced by his consistency in our rankings year over year. Mitchell comes in at exactly 20th on this list for the third year in a row.

Mitchell was his usual self last season, posting 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game en route to his third consecutive All-Star appearance. His 2020-21 3-point-shooting bump (38.6%) appears to have been an outlier rather than the new norm, as Mitchell’s 2021-22 mark of 35.5% was more in-line with his career average of 36.1%.

Mitchell is one of the toughest scorers to stop in the entire NBA and can attack defenses in myriad ways. Expect him to thrive in a backcourt alongside shifty young star Darius Garland in Mitchell’s first year as a Cavalier.

– David M.

19. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers

Last Year’s Ranking: 8

Highest Vote: 8

Lowest Vote: 38

James Harden is no longer in a Houston system that enabled him to put up ridiculous scoring averages like 36.1 and 34.3, but he’s still an effective, crafty and creative offensive player who can pick apart defenses with his passing and scoring. Still, the 33-year-old former MVP appeared to have lost a step last season, which explains his drop in our rankings from last season.

In his 21 games in Philadelphia last season after the 76ers acquired him from Brooklyn, Harden averaged 21 points, 7.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists. If he shows up this season in great shape and can shoot better than the 40.2% from the field and 32.6% from 3-point range that he managed as a Sixer last year, it will be no surprise if Harden ends up being better than the 19th-best player in the NBA.

– David M.

18. Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers

Last Year’s Ranking: 13

Highest Vote: 11

Lowest Vote: 35

Injuries derailed last season for both Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers. He played just 31 games in the regular season, but he did average 24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game in those outings. With a revamped supporting cast and the return of his running mate things should be different this season.

Kawhi Leonard and George teamed up on the Clippers with one goal in mind. They want to bring an NBA Championship to the “other” Los Angeles franchise. Could this finally be their year to do just that? Barring any major setbacks, they should be right in the thick of things in the Western Conference. Paul George will need to shrug off the “Pandemic P” nickname once and for all this upcoming season.

– Dylan H.

17. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Last Year’s Ranking: 23

Highest Vote: 9

Lowest Vote: 31

A new era has arrived in Minnesota, and it should include trips to the playoffs, a couple of All-Star big men and a lot of expectations for the future. Prior to last season, Karl-Anthony Towns struggled with injuries, and the team wasn’t winning. Last season was his best in the league, although his numbers didn’t change much. With the addition of Gobert to the team, Towns won’t have to use a lot of energy defensively protecting the paint and will be able to focus more exclusively on offense, which is the best part of his game. Currently, Jokic and Embiid are the two top centers in the league, but Towns is at the top of the next tier.

– David L.

16. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Last Year’s Ranking: 19

Highest Vote: 13

Lowest Vote: 23

Good Trae can pull up from the logo and get into the lane at will while unleashing high-arching floaters over much taller defenders. Bad Trae’s shot selection and flat-out indifference on the defensive end can make the Hawks extremely exploitable.

Young is probably one of the most electric players in the game, but he can’t be the best player on a true title contender. He will stuff the stat sheet and make an infinite number of highlight plays, but his weaknesses place a glass ceiling on Atlanta’s title hopes.

– Xavier S.

15. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

Last Year’s Ranking: 18

Highest Vote: 13

Lowest Vote: 21

When healthy, CP3 is still one of the best players in the game. His ability to get to his spots and manipulate the defense to his will is still there. The only knock against Pau; is his ability to withstand the rigors of an 82-game season and maintain his level of play during the playoffs.

Last postseason in particular is the perfect case study for where CP3 is in his career. Against the Pelicans, CP3 put the team on his back and went absolutely nuclear to close New Orleans out. In the next series, the Mavs made it a point to punish him on the defensive end, and he showed signs of attrition as the series went on. The Suns’ ability to keep their title window open depends entirely on how they manage Paul’s workload in the regular season. Chasing regular-season wins at the expense of putting additional miles on his legs could be their downfall.

– Xavier S.

14. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Last Year’s Ranking: 9

Highest Vote: 14

Lowest Vote: 29

Anthony Davis didn’t make an All-Star team in 2021-22 for the first time since his rookie year in the NBA back in 2021-13. Still, it’s not as though Davis isn’t an All-Star-caliber player anymore; sitting out games with an MCL sprain was the culprit for Davis’ All-Star absence last season.

Appearing in only 40 of 82 games last season, Davis averaged 23.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. In the Bubble playoffs, Davis appeared to have taken a massive leap as a shooter and scorer, but that proved not to be the case, as Dvis’ shooting has regressed to his norm — or below his norm, as Davis’ 18.6% mark from deep last season was well below his career average of 30.3%. Still, Davis is a tremendous talent, and the Lakers will need him to step up and play like a top-10 player if they want to be anything better than a play-in or fringe playoff team.

– David M.

13. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

Last Year’s Ranking: 7

Highest Vote: 7

Lowest Vote: 49

We know what Kawhi Leonard is — or was, the last time we saw him, anyway. He’s an octopus capable of stripping ball handlers at will and making life difficult for your best offensive player. On offense, he’s a machine that has improved as a shooter and can get to his spots at will.

The only question is whether Kawhi can stay on the court. If he plays around 60 games, the Clippers should contend for the top seed in the Western Conference and should be considered title favorites. The problem? Leonard hasn’t played an NBA game since he was injured against the Utah Jazz during a playoff game on June 14, 2021.

– Xavier S.

12. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Last Year’s Ranking: 11

Highest Vote: 11

Lowest Vote: 17

Last season was forgettable for the Trail Blazers. Injuries didn’t let Damian Lillard play at his best, and he had to be shut down after 29 games. The team is also a bit weakened after the McCollum trade, and we still don’t know how Jerami Grant will function in the rotation, but Lillard’s presence is the only way this team can compete. When healthy, he is one of the top guards in the league, just behind Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic. But we still need to see him come back to the court.

– David L.

11. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Last Year’s Ranking: 16

Highest Vote: 9

Lowest Vote: 18

Devin Booker is a difficult player to rank. We ranked him above Chris Paul, but I truly believe he might be the second-most important player on his own team. While he has certainly taken steps, he has yet to truly master the art of playmaking for others. He’s a more willing passer, and his shot selection has improved, but he is nowhere near the floor general that Chris Paul is. He can find open shooters but doesn’t use his movement and dribble to create opportunities for his teammates.

Can he be the best player on a championship team? At this point, you’d have to say no. Until he can round out his game and find ways to impact the game in areas other than scoring, he’ll continue to leave us wanting more.

– Xavier S.

10. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Last Year’s Ranking: 14

Highest Vote: 10

Lowest Vote: 17

Jimmy Butler continues to be one of the top players in the NBA. Butler may have averaged 21.4 points per game during the regular season, but Playoff Jimmy is a whole different animal. Averaging 27.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 17 postseason games last year, there are maybe only a handful of players whom you would want to have over Jimmy Buckets when the playoffs start.

The only question with Butler is if in his age 33 season there will be any issues with availability. Butler throughout his career has logged a ton of minutes, and he shows up on the injury report quite often. There is no denying, though, that when he is available he is one of the 10 best players in the NBA, especially when the postseason lights shine.

– Michael P.

9. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Last Year’s Ranking: 34

Highest Vote: 9

Lowest Vote: 13

There might not be a more exciting player in the NBA right now than Ja Morant. Morant is consistently putting out highlight-worthy plays that make him alone worth a subscription to NBA League Pass. Morant put the league on notice and made his jump into superstar status last season, jumping up to 27.1 points per game and taking home a Most Improved Player award along the way. With his consistent aggression and freakish athleticism leading to countless highlight-level plays, Morant averaged 16.6 points per game in the paint, becoming the first guard in NBA history to lead the league in that category.

No. 9 feels like the perfect spot for Morant. His explosiveness and highlight-level plays on the regular make him a game-wrecker on the offensive end, which helped him earn his first All-NBA honor last year. However, there are still a few holes in Morant’s game, and addressing those will help propel him to that next level. Defensively, teams still look to attack Morant where his slender frame has done him no favors despite his explosiveness. Also, while Morant’s shooting numbers have improved, he is not enough of a consistent threat from outside of the paint yet to make the defenses respect him enough to not go under every screen set.

These deficiencies at the end of the day are minor, which is why Morant comes in at No. 9. If Morant can shore these up, particularly the perimeter shooting, the sky is the limit for this must-see-TV 23-year-old.

– Michael P.

8. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last Year’s Ranking: 12

Highest Vote: 2

Lowest Vote: 10

Jayson Tatum continued his ascent to the top tier of NBA stardom last season, making his third straight All-Star appearance and posting career-high averages of 26.9 points, eight rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Tatum’s 3-point shooting took a dive to 35.3%, the lowest mark of his career, but make no mistake, Tatum is still an elite shooter, and he’s become one of the league’s toughest covers. Conversely, Tatum shot a career-high 3-point percentage in the playoffs, converting 39.3% of his attempts from deep. Tatum clearly ran out of gas by the NBA Finals but played well overall in the playoffs, averaging 25.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists.

– David M.

7. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Last Year’s Ranking: 10

Highest Vote: 4

Lowest Vote: 7

Joel Embiid was dominant last season for the Philadelphia 76ers. Averaging 30.6 points per game to lead the league in scoring for the first time in his career, it was the first time a center has led the league in scoring since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000. Embiid also finished with a career-high 11.7 rebounds per game and 4.2 assists per game with a team built around him more than ever before in his career.

The No. 7 spot may be a little low for Embiid, and the postseason might have something to do with that. When Embiid is healthy, there might not be a more dominant player in the NBA, highlighted by his second-place finish in MVP voting in back-to-back seasons. Unfortunately, Embiid had a facial fracture and thumb sprain during last Philadelphia’s playoff run and seems to be hurt during each of Philadelphia’s postseason appearances.

Embiid has all the tools to make this number seven ranking look too low. If Embiid is finally able to claim his elusive MVP award and help lead the 76ers to a deep postseason run, look for him to challenge for the top spot in our Top 50 list next season.

– Michael P.

6. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

Last Year’s Ranking: 3

Highest Vote: 1

Lowest Vote: 8

LeBron James is set to begin Year 20 this season, and the possible G.O.A.T. of the sport has hardly slowed down. The new-look Los Angeles Lakers will still run through James, and hopefully, his supporting cast will prove better this season. Most years you could argue James has an argument for the MVP award. Can King James win his fifth ring this season?

Last season, James averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. A major storyline this season will be James’ unofficial chase for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring title. James could still arguably be the top player in the NBA. Appreciate watching greatness while we still can.
– Dylan H.

5. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Last Year’s Ranking: 6

Highest Vote: 3

Lowest Vote: 8

A peloton membership could be the only thing keeping Luka from winning his first career MVP trophy. Were Doncic to transform his body and get into elite shape, it’s scary to think what he’d be capable of. Dallas’s roster construction puts a tremendous burden on Doncic’s shoulders, and he has shown signs of wearing down late in games.

Other than conditioning, it’s impossible to find a flaw in his offensive game. He has become more engaged on the defensive end and is now just a slightly below-average defender. That might sound like an insult, but it’s not. The difference between Luka and Trae Young, for example, on the defensive end is massive.

Offensively, he puts the fear of God into opposing defenses. He can score at all three levels and whip cross-court passes in the blink of an eye. If you double him, he’ll pick you apart with his passes. If you play him straight up, he’ll blow by slower defenders, punish smaller defenders and get his stepback 3 off against anyone. He has yet to peak as a player, and that should be a scary thought for the rest of the league.

– Xavier S.

4. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

Last Year’s Ranking: 1

Highest Vote: 2

Lowest Vote: 5

KD is arguably the best natural scorer in the league. His ability to shoot over defenders at will makes him impossible to gameplan against. Essentially, you have to hope he misses because closeouts mean nothing.

The question is whether he has taken a step back defensively and whether he can carry a less-talented team. In 2021, he carried the Nets and was a toe on the line from defeating the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks. In 2022, his shot was off, and he struggled to find ways to impact the game. As a result, his Nets were swept by the Boston Celtics.

He’s still a star, but you can’t throw him out there with any four players and expect them to be legitimate title contenders. If the Nets lack chemistry and struggle to get stops, we could see a bunch of 40-point efforts from KD in eventual losses and a disappointing season.

– Xavier S. 

3. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Last Year’s Ranking: 4

Highest Vote: 3

Lowest Vote: 7

Fresh off of his fourth NBA Championship and his first NBA Finals MVP, Stephen Curry doesn’t really have anything to prove to anyone. That being said, the idea of a fifth ring does sound enticing. The Golden State Warriors’ contention window is closing and the team will be looking to capitalize on however long they have left. Curry is still at the top of his game, but an MVP season probably isn’t in the works this year.

Last season, the greatest shooter of all time averaged 25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Watching Steph play basketball will never cease to be amazing. At this point, anything he accomplishes is just icing on top of his Hall-of-Fame-career cake. Curry is still the best point guard in the NBA, and last season he reminded the league of that fact.

– Dylan H.

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last Year’s Ranking: 5

Highest Vote: 2

Lowest Vote: 6

The back-to-back MVP, it almost feels odd that Nikola Jokic isn’t No. 1 on our list, and it says a great deal about the No. 1 player that he’s ahead of a player of Jokic’s stature.

After winning MVP in 2020-21, Jokic was able to repeat the award win by playing even better last season. Jokic posted career-best averages of 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game to go along with 7.9 assists. His 3-point shooting was down from 38.8% in 2021 to 33.7% in 2022, but he did shoot a career-high 58.3% from the floor.

It’s very unlikely that Jokic three-peats as MVP, as nobody has done that since Larry Bird, and voter fatigue makes it very difficult. Still, Jokic is unbelievable, and we can’t rule out the possibility.

– David M.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last Year’s Ranking: 2

Highest Vote: 1

Lowest Vote: 2
In the regular season, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most dominant force in the NBA. Are there more skilled players in the league? Absolutely. But Antetokounmpo’s combination of strength, athleticism, length and motor make him deserving of the No. 1 spot. Once he has a head of steam in the open court, there is nothing you can do to stop him. On defense, his wingspan and ability to swat shots out of the air from the weak side make him a force on both ends of the floor. To cap it all off, he’s also one of the more likable players in the history of the league.
– Xavier S.

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