NBA Top 100 Players Heading into 2023–24 Season: 100–91 Edition

Ranking is hard. There is no singular statistical formula that can produce a totally accurate player ranking. There is also no singular individual that can watch every single second of each game and give us a fair ordering of the best players without some type of bias or being unable to recall a decent amount of information. Hence, the best way we can rank NBA players is a combination of the eye test and statistical data. Raw game footage can show us the variety of skills that players display that are not shown on the stat sheet, and the statistical data—especially the new-age advanced stats—can help fill us in on gameplay we have missed or forgotten. With that said, I came up with my criteria for ranking 100 of the best NBA players going into next season.

The following will be copy pasted on each edition of this top 100 so feel free to skip the next portion in the future.

I will mainly be looking at how these players performed last season, but what the players have done in seasons before 2022–23 and how well they can potentially perform for next season will also be taken into consideration. The individual skillsets that all players will be judged on are (from most to least important):

1. Playmaking
2. Shot Creation
3. Shot-making/Offensive Efficiency & Consistency
4. Defensive Presence & Versatility
5. Player Health/Availability
6. Defensive Awareness & Effort
7. Offensive Versatility
8. Performance Under Pressure
9. Communication/Leadership
10. Toughness

Impact metric/advanced statistics (RAPTOR, EPM, LEBRON, VORP, etc.) will also be taken into account but they will mostly be used to sort out players who are only marginally better or worse than one another. Additionally, even though there are great players who are unfortunately stuck on incompetent teams, I do have a little bit of a bias toward players that get to the playoffs and perform well in them (winning the big games is the ultimate object after all).

Alright, enough with the intricacies that half of y’all probably do not give two shits about. Let’s get to the rankings.

Players that just missed the cut: Markelle Fultz, Josh Hart, Keegan Murray, Trey Murphy, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, Keldon Johnson, Marcus Smart, Caris LeVert, and Austin Reaves

100. Russell Westbrook

Although a good part of me wanted to leave him out of the top 100 completely, I felt like there was no way I could leave out such a polarizing basketball figure. At age 34, Russ shows that he still has the blazing speed to slice through the lane and finish violently at the rim. The Brodie is not afraid to take on any player assignment on defense or snag rebounds over bigger players. His muscular frame allows him to bully smaller guards inside the paint and shrug off contact on his drives to the hole.

Russ’s usage rate these last two seasons has dropped to under 30%, but that has not stopped him from being able to create for others when he has the ball in his hands as he was 8th in the league in assists per game. His intensity and competitiveness have drawn high praise from many players—teammates and opponents—despite the public criticism he constantly receives from fans (like me). But while Russ’ innate traits are very admirable, his Jekyll and Hyde performances on the court leave many fans wondering if he is capable of being part of a team that is striving for a finals appearance.

Behind Russ’ highlight plays and triple-double endeavors lies a player that has been too susceptible to producing ridiculous turnovers or pulling up for ill-advised mid-range jump shots. In an era that highly values spreading the floor, Russ just seems like an imposter among other starter-caliber guards. He was able to make 43.8% of his corner threes in the 2021–22 season, but that number dropped to a “slightly” worse 23.1% in 2022–23 (24.3% with the Lakers and 21.4% with the Clippers). His mid-range efficiency at 37.4% (23rd percentile) and rim efficiency of 54.4% (15th percentile…yikes) aren’t exactly encouraging signs of good offensive prowess either. However, Russ’ overall 3p% with the Clippers last season did end up at 35.6%, his FG% flew to 48.9%—a whopping 7.2% increase from his time with the Lakers earlier that season—and had nice contributions on both sides of the floor for the injury-riddled Clippers in the playoffs. Russ’ late surge toward the end of last season could be indicative of how he could still be an integral player on a contending team, but it’s hard to trust him over many other lead guards who are less erratic with the ball.

99. Onyeka Okongwu

The Big O is going into his fourth season having only started 28 of the 178 total games he has played in, and has not averaged over 10 PPG or RPG once in any of his past three seasons. So why does Mr. Double O Seven(teen) deserve a spot on this prestigious top 100 ranking? Well, despite only playing 23 minutes per game last season, Okongwu found a way to be T-13th in the league in BPG (1.3) and was in the 94th percentile in block% on two-point attempts with 5.2% (higher than Embiid, Mobley, Gobert, Porzingis, and AD). He was also in the 94th percentile in offensive rebounds, 83rd percentile in defensive rebounds, and T-1st on his team for defensive win shares.

Standing at 6'9, Okongwu may seem undersized for the center position until you realize his wingspan stretches out to 7'2 and his bouncy legs allow him to achieve great verticality on all shot-blocking attempts. Unlike his fellow teammate and minutes stealer Clint Capela, Okongwu has displayed flashes of a more refined offensive game as he mixes in soft touch floaters and tough hook shots with the regular alley-oops he receives. Due to his forward-like size, Okongwu can stay with smaller players and skilled big men on the perimeter while also being able to handle contact comfortably. He has a sixth sense for sliding over for timely help defense and disrupting or completely erasing sorry-ass shot attempts. Okongwu has not been able to drag his range out to the 3-point line or be an elite finisher at the rim just yet, but with the continuous improvements he has been making each year, he could end up in the upper echelon of centers soon.

98. Bruce Brown

After playing for four different teams (soon to be four after this upcoming season) across five seasons, Brown has become an NBA journeyman very early in his career. Coming into the NBA as a hard-nosed guard with clear flaws in his offensive game, Brown has been able to drastically improve his jump shot to the point that he has become a real spot-up threat (40.4% and 35.8% from three in the last two seasons). Brown’s offensive production does heavily rely on others creating opportunities for him, but his lack of demand for the ball makes him a perfect fit alongside high-volume playmakers.

With a 6'9 wingspan and terrific athletic prowess, Brown has no problem taking on the toughest challenges on defense. He slips through ball screens, rotates with great urgency, hounds ball handlers, and makes a great effort to contest every shot possible. Although the Indiana Pacers have stacked a seemingly unnecessary amount of guards on their roster, I do not doubt that Brown will give them a defensive mindset and consistency that they were missing last season regardless.

97. Buddy Hield

The former 3-point contest champ and Naismith Player of the Year winner has found himself another home in Indy while breaking multiple 3-point records. He set a new career high in 3-pointers made in a season by becoming one of the most lethal jump shooters in the league. Buddy’s release is so simple that he can get it out of his hands lightning-quick in any sort of action: spot-ups, pull-ups, off ball-screens, in transition, from a standstill—you name it. Over 65% of Buddy’s field goals come from outside of the arc and despite not being a very dynamic ball handler, he is capable of getting to the rim when defenders overstep on their closeouts.

The addition of Bruce Brown and the development of younger guards on the Pacers roster has drawn some questions about Buddy’s usage on the team. His versatile shooting ability is an exceptionally valued commodity in this league—so there will be plenty of suitors for him around the league—but he probably will not evolve his game at this stage of his career. However, on a playoff-level team with finals aspirations, Buddy would have to be the 3rd or 4th option. Buddy is not proficient in many other areas of the game besides shooting, thus he does not have the playmaking or elite shot creation skills to spearhead an offense when the first option is out.

96. Bojan Bogdanovic

Amid the dismantling of the Utah Jazz after the 2021–22 playoffs, Bojan found himself being shipped out to an awful Pistons squad. Even though the Pistons have added a plethora of promising young talent in these past two offseasons, Bojan’s career timeline does not align with the rest of the team. The eleven-year veteran possesses an efficient three-level scoring package that many contending teams have been looking to trade for. Despite being the Pistons’ clear number-one option after Cade Cunningham’s early season injury, Bojan was able to put up career highs in PPG (21.6), APG (2.6), and TS% (62.7).

Bojan has never been a player with amazing raw athleticism, but his savviness makes him one of the most underappreciated bucket-getters in the league. Bojan is comfortable taking quick 3s a couple of feet behind the arc and his high release allows him to get shots off against all kinds of contests in the mid-range. His height and solid frame lets him back down smaller defenders and rise up for beautiful-looking fadeaways once he gets to his spot. The increase in ball-handling duties also gave Bojan the chance to show some moments of nice playmaking as well (hard to generate many assists in an abysmal Pistons offense). Bojan has noticeable agility concerns on the defensive end, but he gives a good effort to keep up with shifty ball handlers and contest shots to the best of his ability. Unless the Pistons generate some serious playoff buzz in the first half of next season, I expect Bojan to end up someplace else in 2024.

95. Kyle Anderson

For fans, Anderson’s playstyle may not be very appealing to watch and his overall movements do seem very slow (they call him “Slow-Mo” for a reason). However, Anderson has proven to be a highly impactful point-forward type of player regardless of how unsightly the upper portion of his head may be (you guys are the ones saying this, not me).

Now some of y’all might think that the only thing worse than this man’s funky jump shot is his hairline, but he was able to drain a career-high 41% of his 3-pointers this past season. Anderson ended up being in the 93rd percentile in defensive EPM and is above the 80th percentile in both steal% and block%. Although he does not show off much self-creation, his sneaky good handle allows him to initiate offense in the half-court or transition as a forward (career-high 4.9 APG). He also has an excellent floater game from just inside the free-throw line and loves to use that shot whenever he finds himself in the paint. On defense, Anderson’s long strides lets him cover a lot of ground against drives or on rotations and his lengthy wingspan (7'2) makes him a tough player to get a shot off against. This part-time facilitator and defensive maestro was able to become a reliable Swiss Army Knife for the Timberwolves during a somewhat disappointing season for the team. For the Timberwolves to make another playoff push in 2023–2024, Anderson will have to continue to excel in his role to take some pressure off of his All-Star teammates.

94. Alex Caruso

In a time where many of the league’s top talents have refused to let it go, Caruso has embraced his baldness and let his lack of hair reflect his lack of nonsense on the defensive side of the court. Last season, Caruso scored the highest defensive RAPTOR (+6.1) which put him over players like Brook Lopez, Rudy Gobert, Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, and many other intimidating rim protectors. The Carushow’s defensive intensity and IQ landed him in the 100th percentile in defensive EPM (+4.1), leading his Bulls to place 5th in the league in defensive rating. His love for jumping passing lanes and attacking a player’s dribble at opportune moments also put him in the 97th percentile for steal rate (3%).

Of course, he is still being placed at the low end of this ranking due to his lack of an offensive game, but he has been able to be a respectable catch-and-shoot threat from 3 (36.4% in 2022–23). Additionally, when Caruso is given open lanes on cuts or fast breaks, he is not afraid to get up for some strong (sometimes loud) finishes at the rim. But when the Bulls have three former All-Stars in their starting lineup, the offense is not something Caruso should have to worry about…even though the Bulls ended up 23rd in the league in offensive rating.

93. Kevon Looney

The center position for the Warriors has constantly been a spinning wheel of low-cost players who just need to cater to the rest of the team. So if you are a big man for the Dubs, you will not get a lot of touches, you are going to be setting a ton of screens, you need to be solid on defense, and if you take a shot attempt, you better be making it or else people are going to be questioning why you didn’t pass it out to Steph or Klay. However, despite the long line of centers that have preceded him, Looney has arguably become the most liked out of all of them.

Grabbing 20+ rebounds in one game is already a spectacle in today’s NBA, but doing it in a Game 7 environment against an All-Star player in Domantas Sabonis — who is no slouch of a rebounder himself — is truly incredible. Looney is a little short for a center at 6'9, but that keeps him nimble on the feet and very switchable on defense. Many players have tried to put him on an island just to end up tossing up a tough jumper after realizing that Looney can stay with them through all types of crosses and hesitations. He rarely bites on shot fakes, and his stocky build makes him a boulder in the paint. Unfortunately, because of some early-career injuries, Looney is not athletic enough to be a top-tier lob threat or shot blocker. Fortunately, he does still have a 7'4 wingspan which makes up for his lack of vertical pop and helped him achieve a 15.3 offensive rebound % (97th percentile and 4th amongst players who played more than 60 regular season games).

92. Clint Capela

In my opinion, to be a starting support center should have the following traits: aggressive rebounding, good rim protection, dangerous lob threat, efficient finishing at the rim, lengthy wingspan, and decent switchability. Capela fulfills all of those requirements and nothing more, making him perfect for the support center role. He does not try to overstep his boundaries on offense and understands that he must cover up for his teammates’ weaknesses on defense.

Last season, Capela posted a 15.7 offensive rebound % (98th percentile) and ended up 3rd in the league in total offensive rebounds while playing just 65 games. His offensive rebounding specialty was crucial to the Hawks team that was in the bottom half of the league on long-range shots, but 9th in the league on 2nd chance points per game (14.3). However, as mentioned earlier, he does not have additional unique qualities—such as 3-point shooting or passing—as a center that would make him more versatile on the floor. Capela’s shot-blocking and switchability are not elite enough to make him an All-Defensive center either. His value and potential as a player have most likely already been capped, which has led to speculations about if the Hawks will package him in a trade for a player with more upside.

91. Immanuel Quickley

After his sophomore season, I gained a lot of doubts about Quickley. His shooting splits all decreased from his rookie year and his playmaking was not good enough to make up for it. However, Quickley quickly (pun intended) turned things around in 2022–23, improving his FG% to 44.8, 3-point % to 37.0, and PPG to 14.9. Quickley gives the Knicks the burst of scoring that they need off the bench with his crafty handle, an assortment of floaters, long-range jump shots, and slippery finishes at the rim.

For me, the most impressive aspect of Quickley’s game this year had nothing to do with his offensive game. Last season, Quickley became one the stoutest defensive guards in the league and landed in the 93rd percentile of defensive EPM. His active hands and pesky nature caused a good deal of loose balls or turnovers for opponents. This defensive tenacity showed how badly he wanted to stay on the court, which lead to Coach Thibs—a very defensive-minded individual—rewarding him with an increase of MPG. Quickley does need to polish his lead guard skills as he was in the 83rd percentile for turnover %, but the overall energy and two-way value he can bring off the bench give the Knicks something they can lean on when Brunson is off the floor.

So that completes the bottom 10 of the top 100. The 100–51 part of this will probably be murkier than the upper 50 as it’s especially difficult to pinpoint how certain impactful supporting players are. I have a hard time believing I left out some of the players in the “just missed the cut” tier, but I did not feel comfortable putting them over any of the players that made it. I know that I will wake up the next day and ask myself “Why the fuck did I put this player over the other”, but if I keep doubting myself these articles will never be published.

I hope you guys enjoy this first edition, or rage over it because of how atrocious it might be (relax we haven’t even got to the good parts yet). Nevertheless, feel free to leave comments or join the Clockwork discord server to discuss.