The NBA is home to the greatest basketball players in the world, with fans around the world witnessing historic records being broken left, right and centre. The game has evolved to the extent where scoring averages have gone through the roof, and the three-point shot has never been as valuable.
Whether it’s 7-foot centers stretching the floor, or more position-less basketball than ever, the NBA landscape has changed significantly since the days of Michael Jordan and even Kobe Bryant. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was recently crowned the MVP of the league, taking over the crown from Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, but can he lay genuine claim to being the greatest basketball player in the world today?
Below is a ranking of the 10 best players in the NBA right now, and there are some very big names to miss the cut.
Ranking Factors
Recent individual and team performances (play-offs included)
Individual awards like MVPs, DPOYs, All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections
Team achievements like NBA titles
Stats including points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals
Impact on their team and how important they are
It is a measure of Victor Wembanyama’s incredible impact on the league since his arrival, that he is already considered one of the best players in the league. Aged just 21, the Frenchman was very much the favourite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award in just his second season in the NBA – this after finishing as the runner-up in his rookie season – until a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder cut his campaign short
Standing at 7 foot 4, Wembanyama belies his height with extraordinary footwork, while his natural feel and touch for the ball marks him out already too. Able to launch jumpers from beyond the three-point line, and be the roll-man for his point guard, he could well emerge as the definitive MVP of the league as soon as next season.
Has there even been a more rapid, or even unexpected rise, to stardom in recent years than Jalen Brunson? His time with the Dallas Mavericks was fine enough, but moving away from the shadow of Luka Doncic and into the limelight of being the main man himself in New York, has catapulted Brunson’s game to new levels.
A relentless scorer, Brunson has added to his game significantly since playing at Madison Square Garden. He has been instrumental in leading the offence of the Knicks, and has been one of the biggest reasons why New York find themselves in the Eastern Conference finals after such a long time away. His tenacity and constant drives into the paint make him a nightmare to defend against, and is among the best scorers in the league now.
What more is there to say about LeBron James that hasn’t already been said before? One of the greatest NBA players of all-time, King James’ powers have yet to really wane, and despite now being in his 40s, continues to capture eyes unlike anyone else. While naturally, the explosiveness isn’t the same as it once was, his reading of the game has become second-to-none, while he can always fall back on his physicality and strength when he needs to get to the cup.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ trade for Luka Doncic in the middle of the season has opened up a world of possibilities for James going forward, not least in the knowledge that he can genuinely feel comfortable as the team’s second option. While even James’ superhuman powers weren’t enough to guide the Lakers into a deep post-season run, there’s no questioning he remains one of the best in the business.
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