Naming The Top 10 NBA Players At This Very Moment In Time
Although there are a tremendous amount of highly skilled individuals in the game of basketball right now, there are those handful of players that continue to separate themselves from the rest of the pack on a nightly basis. Those players are the ones that can win you games off of their presence alone, ones that you give the ball to when the game is close down the stretch, ones that the whole team and organization understand that they are the bus driver.
It’s easy to point out who those handful of players are, but it’s hard when the decision to have to put one over the other comes into fluition. All of these players are extremely talented in their own unique ways. As long as they are playing and their roster is mostly healthy, those teams will be recognized as contenders.
Here was my list of the top 10 players at the end of last season; Devin Booker (10), Jayson Tatum (9), Jimmy Butler (8), Luka Doncic (7), LeBron James (6), Stephen Curry (5), Nikola Jokic (4), Joel Embiid (3), Giannis Antentokunmpo (1A) and Kevin Durant (1B). The disagreements on this lost won’t be on which players make the list, but where those players sit on the list. Without further a do, let’s discuss the top 10 NBA players in the NBA right now.
10A. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA is having that breakout season, going from promising young player to bonafide all-star and certified superstar. Although the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently sitting at the 9th spot in a competitive Western conference, they are only a game and a half back from the 6th seed with a 22–23 record. This team is only steps away form being a true force to be reckoned with.
The team as a whole is showing major flashes of a contending team sometime in the near future, and it all starts with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Averaging 30.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.7 spg and 1.1 bpg, he’s the head of the snake for the youngest team in the league that is on the come up. In two to three years, this team will be a certified playoff team and a championship contender for years to come.
10B. Zion Williamson
It’s hard to make a top 10 players list and leave out Zion with the start he’s had to the season. Last year, we watched as the New Orleans Pelicans took a regular season best Phoenix Suns team through a competitive six game series in the first round of the playoffs without their best player. From that point on, everyone knew that this team was going to be serious once they got their franchise player back.
So far this season, Zion is averaging 26 ppg, 7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.1 spg and 0.6 bpg on a career high +5.1 box plus/minus. He’s been out the past couple of weeks due to injury, but this team is good enough to hold up the fort as they await for their franchise player to return. Zion is undoubtably a top three dominant force in the league and has all the tools to be able to lead this franchise to an NBA chapionship.
9. Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies are certified championship contenders and it’s all because of their franchise player named Ja Morant. This generation’s second coming of Derrick Rose, the high flying guard is a walking highlight reel and the perfect leader to a gritty Memphis Grizzlies team who likes to kick the behind of their opponents and let them know about it.
This season, Ja is averaging 27.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 7.9 apg, 1.0 spg and 0.3 bpg. These numbers are fantastic in only his fourth season, but his impact on the team’s success goes beyond the numbers. His sky high confidence is something that flows throughout the whole team and organization. The words he speaks and the actions he performs set the tone to what this team is building. Not only will Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies will win an NBA championship within the next couple years, but they will be the next dynasty of the Western conference.
8. LeBron James
As LeBron continues to age like fine wine, it looks like his career-long championship window has passed him and onto the next generation of superstars. Despite this, he still continues to show why he is still one of the league’s top players, averaging 29.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 6.9 apg, 1.0 spg and 0.5 bpg.
When talking about LeBron, the only thing to discuss is his pursuit on chasing what was supposed to be the most unbreakable record of the National Basketball Association; the scoring record. He currently sits about 300 points shy of the record and is on pace to break that record sometime between the end of February to the end of March. Either way, this record will be broken this season. When this record is broken, it will solidify LeBron James, the chosen one, the one who was declared as a first ballot hall of famer or bust as a high school kid, as the greatest basketball player to ever play in the NBA.
7. Joel Embiid
It’s very disappointing to see that the Philadelphia 76ers continue to fail to build around a generational talent like Joel Embiid. At this point, he should’ve had at least a conference finals appearance under his belt. His personal dominance will continue, but his future with the team might not last much longer as the organization’s dysfunctions continue.
This season, Embiid is averaging a career high 33.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.1 spg and 1.7 bpg. Putting up MVP numbers, the success of the other candidates’ teams combined with the so called brighter MVP moments of the others, he’s been slightly underlooked throughout the whole race. As Joel is currently 28 years old and in the middle of his prime, time is running out for him to compete for a championship as the lead piece on a contending team.
6. Jayson Tatum
JT’s strong MVP season is stemming off of the finals run last year where they lost to the greatness of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors dynasty. Halfway through the season, the Boston Celtics have the best record in the league, standing head and shoulders above most of the league with a 32–12 record.
Tatum has taken a leap from a young superstar to one of the league’s best players. He will certainly have an MVP award and championship added to his resume within the next three years. JT is averaging 30.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.0 spg and 0.8 bpg for the Celtics this season. His most impressive stat is his average of 2.6 turnovers per game despite his high usage rate and consistent high scoring average. Widely regarded as one of the best two-way players int he game today, Jayson Tatum has officially became one of the faces of this league.
5. Stephen Curry
Steph will be turning 35 years old in a little less than two months and he’s arguably at the peak of his basketball powers right now. Coming off a championship run that ultimately solidified his legacy as arguably the greatest point guard to ever play and one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball, Steph is still a worldwide, generational icon and the true face of the NBA.
This season, Steph is averaging 29.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 6.3 apg, 0.9 spg and 0.4 bpg for a Warriors team that was heavily struggling to start the season. They’re currently starting to heat up as the Warriors now have an even 22–22 record sitting at the 6th seed in the West. Many people who pay attention to the NBA on a daily basis are expecting them to make a second-half turnaround like the Celtics did last year and if they continue to stay healthy, they will be a team to reckon with come playoff time like they have the past eight or nine years.
4. Luka Doncic
Although Luka had already reached superstar status last year, the case can be made that he made one of the biggest jumps this season. He is truly one of the best players in the league and arguably the best player in the world on some nights. His 60-point, 21-rebound, 10 assist night against the New York Knicks will go down as one of the greatest performances of this generation.
Averaging a league-high 33.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 8.8 apg, 1.6 spg and 0.6 bpg, Luka is simply the Mavericks franchise right now. As long as he’s on the court, they will be a force to be reckoned with. But if the Dallas Mavericks truly want to make a championship run, they have to find a true second and third option to play alongside Luka because he can’t do it all by himself in a playoff series against a team who’s game plan will be solely centered around him.
These next three players are all neck-and-neck, so close to a point where I can’t pick one over the other. All of their skillsets are so unique and unstoppable that they all fairly share the “best player in the world” title equally.
1A. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is having one of the most efficient offensive seasons in NBA history. When it’s all said and done, he will go down as a top five most dominant offensive weapon if all-time if he already isn’t in that category. This season, he’s averaging 29.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.3 apg, 0.8 spg and 1.5 bpg on 56% fg and 57% on mid-range shots, the highest mid-range field goal percentage in a single season in NBA history.
A 7-foot tall guard that can raise up over anybody in the league with a hand in his face and will hit nothing but net. He’s a once in a generation player. His career has taken a lot of twists and turns, especially with his short stint with the Golden State Warriors, but he’s still one of the best players to play the game of basketball, both in today’s game and all-time. Whatever team Kevin Durant plays on will be considered a contender because he’s just that dude.
1B. Giannis Antentokunmpo
As long as Giannis is at the peak of his powers, he will be the best player in the planet. If he decided to retire at this moment, his resume at 27-years old is already enough to become a first ballot Hall of Famer. The Milwaukee Bucks will continue to be a top three contender every single season as long as Giannis is playing.
Averaging 31 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 5.3 apg, 0.8 spg and 0.9 bpg, the Bucks are currently the second seed in the East while missing their second option in Khris Middleton majority of the season. Despite Middleton’s absence, the Bucks are still expected to make a deep playoff run just as much as any other contender in the league. That right there is something that we can attest to Giannis’ greatness as a basketball player. A force of nature, the “Superman” of our generation, the second-comng of Shaq.
1C. Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is in that category with players like Dirk Nowitzki and Stephen Curry as players who’s offensive game is so dominant that it cancels out their defensive weaknesses. Currently in the middle of his prime, Jokic has had three of the most all-around efficient offensive seasons and is currently the league leader to win his third straight MVP award. Even voter fatigue can’t stop people from saying he’s not the leading candidate for the award.
On pace to become the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double, Jokic is averaging 25.1 ppg, 11 rpg, 9.9 apg, 1.4 spg and 0.6 bpg on 62.6% fg while having a staggering +9.5 box plus/minus. His usage rate is in the top three in the league but isn’t even in the top 20 in field goals attempted. He’s one of the very few players in today’s game that can do whatever he wants on the court and nobody can do a single thing about it. On his best night, he can easily be considered as the best player in the league.
