🏀Top 25 Current NBA Players
25) Jalen Brunson- He’s not great at one particular thing, but he’s a true competitor. Tom Thibodeau is a tough, no-nonsense coach, and Jalen seems to fit the mold. Brunson is willing to lead the team and leave it all on the floor.
24) Zach Lavine- During his first few seasons, Zach was known more for his highlight reels than his overall basketball ability. The man can get up there with the best of them. Over the last 3 or 4 seasons, he’s worked on his jump shot, and he’s blossomed, turning himself into a really nice player.
23) Ja Morant- He should be higher on this list. The man is gifted. But with all he’s had to overcome over the last few seasons, I’m not sure if he’ll continue improving at the rate we’d expect.
22) Paul George- Paul is another guy I’d expect to be higher on the list. But with all the injuries and his inability to come up big when it matters most, I decided to keep him right here.
21) De Aaron Fox- I’m super excited to see how his career unfolds. He’s arguably the quickest guy in the league. He can score in bunches, he gets his teammates involved, and he comes up with huge defensive plays. De Aaron also seems like a very coachable guy. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders.
20) Bradley Beal- He finally left the Wizards after all these years. I was happy to hear he was going Phoenix, alongside KD and Booker. The trio should be fun to watch this season. Beal has always been a dynamic scorer.
19) Anthony Edwards- They call him Ant-Man. He’s young and built like Lebron James. He has all the tools to become a top 5 player in this league, and it seems like he just might do it.
18) Kyrie Irving- Kyrie has the best handles the NBA has ever seen. On top of that, he can make shots others only dream about. If the guy was a few inches taller, he might average 35 a night.
17) Kawhi Leonard- He’s a great two-way player. He can get you 30 while shutting down the opponent’s best player. There aren’t many players capable of doing this. My only knock against Kawhi is he never plays. He’s injury-prone.
16) Donovan Mitchell- I’m not sure why Donovan doesn’t get more attention from the media. He’s an extremely talented player. He can handle the ball, score from anywhere on the court, and come up with stops during key stretches of the game. Maybe it’s because his teams can never seem to get over the hump.
15) Jaylen Brown- Jaylen is a big-time NBA player. He can score and defend at an elite level. He really gained more respect during the 2022 NBA Finals, when he picked up the slack for a struggling Jayson Tatum.
14) Anthony Davis- He can do it all on both sides of the ball. Davis is a big man with a soft touch, and he’s also one of the best shot blockers in the league. He should be much higher on this list, but he’s inconsistent.
13) Jimmy Butler- Jimmy is a hooper. He won’t wow you with fancy moves, but the guy puts his heart and soul on the court when it matters most. He’s not afraid of the bright lights. I don’t care if he isn’t the most talented. He’s a guy I want to go to war with because I know he won’t choke.
12) Jamal Murray- He’s another player who doesn’t get much media attention, but the man can flat-out play. Jamal isn’t afraid of the moment. He’s always hitting big shots. Some people just have it in them.
11) Shai Gilgeous Alexander- Shai has sort of a throwback game. He’s never in a rush to do anything on the court. The man scores so effortlessly. Every time I look up he just dropped a 30-piece on somebody. Better watch out. The OKC Thunder will be a team to be reckoned with very soon.
10) Damian Lillard- I wanted him to land with the Miami Heat. They seem like the perfect franchise for him. But getting a chance to play with Giannis doesn’t seem like a consolation prize. Dame can drop 30 in his sleep, and now, he gets a chance to play with a real championship contender. “Dame Time”
9) Devin Booker- The silent assassin. Devin is another guy who can fill it up in a hurry. I’m impressed with his footwork down in the mid-post area. The game has changed and most players aren’t making this a priority. Beyond this, Booker is becoming a better and better facilitator. He can run the offense and distribute the ball much better than in previous years.
8) Jayson Tatum- Watching him play at Duke, being selected 3rd, a lottery pick in the 2017 NBA draft, I already knew this guy was special. He had an uncanny ability to score the ball. Jayson is now one of the best in the league. I just wish he was a little more selfish. Jayson could be top 3 in the league.
7) Luka Donic- This guy is special. He’s another one who plays at his own pace, he’s never in a rush. My only knock on Luka is he’s too ball-dominant. I’m not sure if the Mavs can win a championship with his style of play.
6) Lebron James- At age 38, he’s still one of the best in the NBA. There’s something to be said about a guy playing twenty-plus years in the league and still better than 95 percent of the players. He keeps himself in tip-top condition. I need to find out what he’s doing because it’s looking like he can play another 5 years easily.
5) Joel Embiid- Joel is one of the most skilled players in the NBA. He will get you 30 and 10 on most nights. I think it all comes down to coaching with the Sixers. The offense gets stagnant at times, primarily because they’re too busy watching Embiid go to work
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4) Steph Curry- The best shooter in NBA History. I don’t think I need to say much about why I’m putting Steph in my top 5. He just adds a different element to any team. Opposing teams need to guard the man as soon as he crosses half-court.
3) Kevin Durant- I’m in awe just about every time I watch. He’s one of the most gifted scorers in NBA History. Kevin gets a bad rap for joining the Golden State Warriors, but no one can deny his talent. I think he needs another ring to shut up the naysayers and further cement his legacy.
2) Giannis Antetokoumpo- One of the most dominant players to step foot on the hardwood in a long time. The last time I saw a player this dominant, Shaquille O’Neal was in the league. He will get you 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks on most nights, maybe more. He’s unstoppable on both ends.
1) Nikola Jokic- The walking triple-double. The man can barely jump, but he can do whatever he wants on the basketball court. He can shoot, score down low, and distribute. He also has a nose for the ball. He positions himself perfectly for rebounds, using his uniquely shaped body to his advantage. Jokic is a monster.
Honorable Mentions- Victor Wembanyama, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, Trae Young, Tyrese Maxey.
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Joseph Thompson is a Professional Registered Nurse with a love and passion for sports. Check out his medium profile and get notified when he publishes new content. Thank you for your support!