Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and the NBA's Best Players on January 7, 2023
It's time for another look at how the NBA's players stack up according to catch-all metrics from around the internet!
Who has been the best player in the NBA this season?
A number of catch-all metrics from the around the internet endeavor to answer that question every year. And though many of the different adjusted plus-minuses attempt to measure the same thing (an individual player’s impact on the game when he’s on the floor), they have slightly different ways of getting there.
If you want to acknowledge the most accessible ones, you could say something like…
“Luka Dončić is second in Basketball Reference’s box plus/minus, second in Dunks and Threes’ estimated plus-minus, third in FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR, first in ESPN’s real plus-minus and third in Basketball Reference’s game score per 36 minutes…”
…but that’s quite a mouthful.
For the last several seasons, I’ve been sharing something of a shorthand for the above. Instead of rattling off that list for any and all players one might want to discuss, I average every qualified player by the average of their ranks in those five stats (as well as their cumulative variants).
The results give credit to each of the metrics, throw a bone to basic numbers (through the use of game score) and reward players for availability (through the addition of the cumulative marks).
The lists produced by this exercise aren’t perfect, but none are. A strictly subjective ranking wouldn’t cut it either. This is at least a guide, though. And it can give you a pretty good idea of who’s been the best (or worst) in 2022-23.
Before diving in, here’s just a little hint. If you’re looking for a specific player (like, oh say, Ben Simmons), do the handy little “control (or command) plus F” trick on your keyboard and type in that player’s name.
Oh, and one more caveat. If Giannis Antetokounmpo looks lower than you thought he should be (totally warranted reaction to his current spot), bear in mind that cumulative numbers (think points, rather than points per game) are in play, and Giannis has already missed three games. This early in the campaign, that makes a big difference.
So, with all of that behind us, feel free to scroll away.
If you’re looking for last week’s rankings, you can find them here.
Rank. Player (average of ranks in rate and cumulative catch-all metrics)
1. Luka Dončić (1.6)
2. Nikola Jokić (1.7)
3. Joel Embiid (6.3)
4. Kevin Durant (7.2)
5. Tyrese Haliburton (7.9)
6. Jayson Tatum (8.8)
7. Stephen Curry (8.9)
8. Donovan Mitchell (9.1)
9. Anthony Davis (10.1)
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (12.1)
11. Domantas Sabonis (13.8)
12. Lauri Markkanen (14.1)
13. Ja Morant (14.2)
14. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15.4)
15. LeBron James (16.3)
16. Damian Lillard (19.8)
17. Jimmy Butler (21.6)
18. Kristaps Porziņģis (21.8)
19. Paul George (24.4)
20. Julius Randle (25.2)
21. Devin Booker (26.6)
22. James Harden (27.0)
22. Pascal Siakam (27.0)
24. Kyrie Irving (30.6)
25. Zion Williamson (31.2)
26. Trae Young (31.8)
27. DeMar DeRozan (33.2)
28. Nic Claxton (36.4)
29. Jaylen Brown (40.9)
30. Brook Lopez (41.5)
31. Aaron Gordon (41.6)
32. Jaren Jackson Jr. (42.8)
33. Bam Adebayo (44.9)
34. Fred VanVleet (46.3)
35. Jalen Brunson (47.1)
35. Jrue Holiday (47.1)
37. Darius Garland (47.3)
38. Jerami Grant (48.3)
39. Mitchell Robinson (48.9)
40. Buddy Hield (49.1)
41. De'Aaron Fox (50.8)
42. Anthony Edwards (51.4)
43. Zach LaVine (53.7)
44. Tyler Herro (56.7)
45. Dejounte Murray (59.2)
46. Bradley Beal (63.8)
47. Mason Plumlee (64.2)
48. Myles Turner (65.6)
49. Clint Capela (66.7)
50. Franz Wagner (67.5)
51. Jusuf Nurkić (67.8)
52. O.G. Anunoby (67.9)
53. Rudy Gobert (69.0)
54. Kevon Looney (72.7)
55. Jarrett Allen (72.8)
56. CJ McCollum (73.1)
57. De'Anthony Melton (73.3)
58. Alperen Şengün (73.8)
58. Chris Paul (73.8)
60. Andrew Wiggins (74.5)
61. Bojan Bogdanović (75.8)
62. Kawhi Leonard (76.7)
63. Derrick White (80.9)
64. D'Angelo Russell (81.6)
65. Desmond Bane (82.4)
66. Anfernee Simons (83.6)
67. Nikola Vučević (84.9)
68. Tobias Harris (85.6)
69. Jamal Murray (86.4)
70. Steven Adams (87.0)
71. Kevin Huerter (87.8)
72. Walker Kessler (88.4)
73. Jakob Poeltl (88.5)
74. Christian Wood (89.9)
75. Alec Burks (90.1)
76. Draymond Green (91.3)
77. Jordan Clarkson (91.7)
78. Mikal Bridges (91.9)
79. Karl-Anthony Towns (92.2)
80. Kyle Lowry (92.6)
81. LaMelo Ball (93.4)
82. Spencer Dinwiddie (95.6)
83. Kyle Kuzma (95.9)
84. Josh Hart (96.2)
85. Bobby Portis (96.3)
86. Trey Murphy III (96.4)
87. Al Horford (98.0)
88. Kevin Porter Jr. (98.6)
89. Isaiah Joe (101.9)
90. Marcus Smart (103.2)
91. Klay Thompson (105.1)
92. Kelly Olynyk (105.3)
93. Immanuel Quickley (107.8)
94. Harrison Barnes (109.0)
95. Kevin Love (110.1)
95. Tre Jones (110.1)
97. Brandon Ingram (111.3)
98. Gary Trent Jr. (114.2)
99. Ben Simmons (114.7)
100. Paolo Banchero (114.9)
101. John Konchar (115.5)
102. Larry Nance Jr. (115.8)
103. Jose Alvarado (116.3)
104. Wendell Carter Jr. (116.7)
105. Daniel Gafford (116.9)
106. Grayson Allen (119.8)
107. Evan Mobley (120.5)
108. Dillon Brooks (121.2)
109. Malcolm Brogdon (123.6)
110. Kelly Oubre Jr. (124.3)
111. Thomas Bryant (124.7)
112. Devin Vassell (125.5)
113. Deandre Ayton (126.6)
114. Scottie Barnes (127.5)
115. Quentin Grimes (128.2)
116. Jaden McDaniels (129.7)
117. Jordan Goodwin (131.3)
118. Alex Caruso (131.9)
119. Tyus Jones (132.0)
120. Monte Morris (132.9)
121. Mike Conley (135.0)
122. Luguentz Dort (135.4)
123. Naz Reid (138.3)
124. Tim Hardaway Jr. (139.7)
125. Santi Aldama (139.9)
126. Javonte Green (140.7)
127. Terance Mann (142.3)
128. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (142.6)
129. Tyrese Maxey (143.1)
130. Cedi Osman (143.9)
131. Mo Bamba (144.8)
132. Jarred Vanderbilt (145.3)
133. Marcus Morris (145.5)
134. John Collins (146.8)
135. Nicolas Batum (147.0)
136. Michael Porter Jr. (147.2)
136. Naji Marshall (147.2)
138. Kyle Anderson (148.8)
139. Brandon Clarke (148.9)
140. Dwight Powell (149.3)
141. Jock Landale (150.7)
142. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (151.8)
143. Bruce Brown (152.2)
144. Cameron Payne (153.2)
145. Grant Williams (153.5)
146. Moritz Wagner (154.3)
146. Russell Westbrook (154.3)
148. Herbert Jones (154.7)
149. Jonas Valančiūnas (155.5)
150. Sam Hauser (156.8)
151. Torrey Craig (157.1)
152. Dennis Smith Jr. (157.2)
153. Josh Green (157.4)
154. Onyeka Okongwu (158.4)
155. Isaiah Stewart (159.1)
155. Malik Beasley (159.1)
157. Josh Okogie (159.3)
158. RJ Barrett (159.5)
158. Royce O'Neale (159.5)
160. Caleb Martin (159.9)
161. Nick Richards (162.3)
162. Keldon Johnson (162.4)
163. Austin Reaves (163.2)
164. Terence Davis (163.5)
165. Collin Sexton (163.6)
166. Jalen McDaniels (164.6)
167. Kenrich Williams (164.9)
168. Georges Niang (165.1)
169. Caris LeVert (166.1)
170. Landry Shamet (166.5)
171. Tari Eason (166.9)
172. Ivica Zubac (167.2)
173. Josh Giddey (168.1)
174. Donte DiVincenzo (169.7)
175. Bol Bol (171.9)
176. Terry Rozier (172.0)
177. Drew Eubanks (172.5)
178. Jalen Green (173.1)
179. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (173.4)
180. Malik Monk (174.9)
181. AJ Griffin (175.2)
182. Mike Muscala (177.1)
183. Luke Kornet (179.6)
184. Jalen Smith (180.9)
185. Cole Anthony (181.3)
186. Montrezl Harrell (181.7)
187. Norman Powell (182.3)
188. Chris Boucher (182.5)
189. Bogdan Bogdanović (183.7)
190. P.J. Washington (185.4)
191. Yuta Watanabe (185.6)
192. Saddiq Bey (185.8)
193. Jevon Carter (186.2)
194. Aaron Nesmith (186.3)
195. Dorian Finney-Smith (186.6)
196. Keegan Murray (186.7)
197. T.J. Warren (187.5)
198. Charles Bassey (190.4)
199. Max Strus (190.7)
200. Bennedict Mathurin (191.9)
201. Kenyon Martin Jr. (192.2)
202. Isaiah Hartenstein (192.6)
203. Aleksej Pokusevski (192.9)
203. Jordan Poole (192.9)
205. Hamidou Diallo (194.6)
206. Anthony Lamb (194.8)
207. Dean Wade (195.0)
208. Marvin Bagley III (195.2)
209. John Wall (195.6)
210. Damion Lee (196.4)
211. T.J. McConnell (197.9)
212. Devonte' Graham (198.6)
213. Wenyen Gabriel (199.8)
214. Derrick Jones Jr. (201.4)
215. Edmond Sumner (203.7)
216. De'Andre Hunter (205.3)
217. Dyson Daniels (205.8)
218. Deni Avdija (207.4)
219. Thaddeus Young (208.5)
220. Cade Cunningham (209.0)
221. Corey Kispert (209.5)
222. Bones Hyland (210.8)
223. Patty Mills (211.1)
224. Zach Collins (212.8)
225. Andre Drummond (213.4)
226. Garrison Mathews (213.6)
227. Andrew Nembhard (214.1)
228. Jaylen Nowell (214.4)
229. Obi Toppin (214.8)
230. Jalen Duren (215.0)
231. Lonnie Walker IV (215.1)
232. Usman Garuba (215.4)
233. Reggie Jackson (215.9)
234. Patrick Williams (216.2)
235. Markelle Fultz (216.4)
235. Victor Oladipo (216.4)
237. Killian Hayes (217.0)
238. Isaiah Jackson (217.9)
239. Matisse Thybulle (220.1)
240. Luke Kennard (220.6)
241. Jericho Sims (222.2)
242. Ayo Dosunmu (222.5)
243. Jalen Johnson (222.6)
244. Shake Milton (223.1)
245. Robert Covington (223.2)
246. R.J. Hampton (225.0)
247. Tre Mann (226.6)
248. Rui Hachimura (227.1)
249. George Hill (231.7)
250. Oshae Brissett (232.3)
251. Jalen Williams (233.8)
252. Ish Wainright (234.4)
253. Vlatko Čančar (235.3)
254. Jabari Smith Jr. (236.9)
255. Dewayne Dedmon (237.5)
256. Admiral Schofield (238.8)
257. Aaron Holiday (240.2)
258. Coby White (240.5)
259. Aaron Wiggins (241.0)
260. Eric Gordon (241.2)
261. Jalen Suggs (241.5)
262. Patrick Beverley (242.3)
263. Talen Horton-Tucker (243.4)
264. Dennis Schröder (244.5)
265. Pat Connaughton (244.9)
266. Keita Bates-Diop (246.8)
267. Joe Harris (246.9)
268. Davion Mitchell (247.6)
269. Justise Winslow (248.0)
270. Seth Curry (251.6)
271. Kevin Knox (251.9)
272. Jaden Ivey (252.4)
273. Ty Jerome (254.2)
274. Josh Richardson (255.5)
275. Gordon Hayward (256.3)
276. DeAndre Jordan (256.5)
277. Darius Bazley (257.4)
278. Isaac Okoro (258.4)
278. Troy Brown Jr. (258.4)
280. Maxi Kleber (258.7)
281. Goran Dragić (258.8)
281. Théo Maledon (258.8)
283. Jeremy Sochan (260.2)
284. Cam Reddish (260.6)
285. Romeo Langford (261.8)
286. Trey Lyles (263.5)
287. Doug McDermott (265.2)
288. Miles McBride (265.7)
289. Trendon Watford (265.8)
290. Kevon Harris (266.9)
291. Bismack Biyombo (268.7)
292. Chuma Okeke (269.1)
293. Juancho Hernangómez (271.6)
294. Christian Koloko (272.2)
295. Cory Joseph (272.6)
296. Nassir Little (275.5)
297. Terrence Ross (277.7)
298. Jonathan Kuminga (278.7)
299. Gabe Vincent (278.9)
300. Anthony Gill (281.0)
301. Haywood Highsmith (282.2)
302. Rudy Gay (282.5)
303. Derrick Rose (284.3)
304. Isaiah Livers (286.4)
305. Cam Thomas (287.0)
306. Evan Fournier (287.8)
307. Jeff Green (288.5)
308. JaMychal Green (289.1)
309. Lamar Stevens (290.0)
310. Isaiah Roby (290.1)
311. Taurean Prince (290.4)
312. Wesley Matthews (291.6)
313. MarJon Beauchamp (291.7)
314. Austin Rivers (292.6)
315. Moses Moody (294.9)
316. Jake LaRavia (295.9)
317. Danuel House Jr. (300.3)
318. Zeke Nnaji (301.1)
319. Daishen Nix (301.6)
320. Duncan Robinson (303.6)
321. Malachi Flynn (304.0)
322. Will Barton (304.7)
323. P.J. Tucker (305.6)
324. Jordan Nwora (309.5)
325. Caleb Houstan (309.7)
326. James Bouknight (310.2)
327. Chris Duarte (311.1)
328. Reggie Bullock (312.2)
329. Shaedon Sharpe (312.9)
330. David Roddy (314.8)
331. Kendrick Nunn (318.1)
332. Malaki Branham (321.1)
333. Amir Coffey (322.6)
334. Christian Braun (322.8)
335. Justin Holiday (324.0)
Aaand, if you’d like to see the top 30 if you only use the rate numbers (think points per game, rather than points), those are below.
Rank. Player (average of ranks in rate catch-all metrics)
1. Nikola Jokić (1.4)
2. Luka Dončić (2.0)
3. Joel Embiid (4.2)
4. Stephen Curry (4.4)
5. Anthony Davis (4.6)
6. Kevin Durant (10.0)
7. Tyrese Haliburton (10.2)
8. Donovan Mitchell (11.6)
9. Jayson Tatum (12.0)
10. Jaren Jackson Jr. (13.0)
11. Jimmy Butler (13.4)
12. Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.8)
13. Damian Lillard (14.4)
13. Ja Morant (14.4)
15. LeBron James (17.0)
16. James Harden (17.4)
17. Domantas Sabonis (17.8)
18. Lauri Markkanen (18.4)
19. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (20.4)
20. Paul George (21.4)
21. Devin Booker (24.4)
22. Kristaps Porziņģis (26.4)
23. Pascal Siakam (27.6)
23. Zion Williamson (27.6)
25. Kyrie Irving (29.6)
26. Nic Claxton (33.6)
27. Julius Randle (34.8)
28. Kawhi Leonard (35.0)
29. Mitchell Robinson (38.2)
30. Trae Young (39.2)