Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry and the NBA's Best Players on December 10, 2022
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 (3.6)
3. Stephen Curry (3.8)
4. Anthony Davis (4.3)
5. Jayson Tatum (7.3)
6. Donovan Mitchell (7.6)
7. Kevin Durant (9)
8. Joel Embiid (10)
9. Ja Morant (12.2)
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (12.6)
11. Tyrese Haliburton (13.4)
12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (13.8)
13. Domantas Sabonis (17)
14. Devin Booker (17.7)
15. Zion Williamson (19.5)
16. Pascal Siakam (19.8)
17. Kristaps Porziņģis (20.1)
18. Lauri Markkanen (20.9)
19. Jimmy Butler (27.4)
19. Trae Young (27.4)
21. De'Aaron Fox (32.1)
22. Damian Lillard (32.5)
23. Jrue Holiday (32.7)
23. Paul George (32.7)
25. Brook Lopez (34.3)
26. Jaylen Brown (35.3)
27. Dejounte Murray (37.5)
28. Jalen Brunson (38.2)
29. Kyrie Irving (42)
30. Andrew Wiggins (43.7)
31. Jerami Grant (44.7)
32. DeMar DeRozan (46.5)
33. Aaron Gordon (47.2)
34. Julius Randle (48.6)
35. Darius Garland (49.5)
36. LeBron James (49.6)
37. James Harden (52.5)
38. Clint Capela (52.9)
39. O.G. Anunoby (54.8)
40. Desmond Bane (54.9)
41. Nic Claxton (56.8)
42. Anfernee Simons (58.7)
43. Derrick White (59.5)
44. Karl-Anthony Towns (59.6)
45. Bam Adebayo (62)
46. Mikal Bridges (62.1)
47. Zach LaVine (62.9)
48. Bradley Beal (65.7)
49. Kelly Oubre Jr. (70)
50. Spencer Dinwiddie (70.3)
51. Kyle Lowry (72)
52. Kelly Olynyk (72.1)
53. Buddy Hield (72.6)
54. Rudy Gobert (73.1)
55. Tyler Herro (73.8)
56. Jaren Jackson Jr. (74)
57. Fred VanVleet (74.7)
58. Kevin Huerter (75.3)
59. Jose Alvarado (75.6)
60. Draymond Green (76.2)
61. Kevon Looney (76.6)
62. Franz Wagner (79.9)
62. Nikola Vučević (79.9)
64. De'Anthony Melton (81.6)
65. Anthony Edwards (82.9)
66. Tobias Harris (83.4)
67. Trey Murphy III (83.5)
68. Myles Turner (85.3)
69. Bojan Bogdanović (86.1)
69. Malcolm Brogdon (86.1)
71. Jusuf Nurkić (86.3)
72. Marcus Smart (87.2)
73. Chris Paul (87.3)
74. Brandon Ingram (87.4)
75. Larry Nance Jr. (87.6)
76. Kevin Love (89.3)
77. Kyle Kuzma (89.8)
78. Grayson Allen (90.8)
79. Al Horford (91.7)
80. D'Angelo Russell (92.9)
81. Mitchell Robinson (93)
82. Jarrett Allen (93.1)
83. Jamal Murray (93.7)
84. Harrison Barnes (93.9)
85. Jordan Clarkson (95.8)
86. Evan Mobley (98.3)
87. Mike Conley (98.7)
88. Tyrese Maxey (100.1)
89. Alec Burks (100.7)
90. Cameron Johnson (102)
91. Santi Aldama (102.6)
92. Deandre Ayton (102.9)
93. Wendell Carter Jr. (103.5)
94. Jakob Poeltl (103.8)
95. Steven Adams (104.8)
96. Walker Kessler (105.3)
97. Alperen Şengün (105.8)
98. Josh Hart (109.1)
99. Paolo Banchero (109.7)
100. Sam Hauser (110)
101. Terence Davis (110.8)
102. Isaiah Stewart (110.9)
103. Tre Jones (111.5)
104. John Konchar (112.2)
105. Bobby Portis (112.4)
106. Tari Eason (113.6)
107. Devin Vassell (114.4)
108. Dillon Brooks (114.9)
109. Mason Plumlee (117.3)
110. Javonte Green (119.3)
111. CJ McCollum (120)
112. Scottie Barnes (121.1)
113. Caleb Martin (122.9)
114. Malik Monk (123.4)
115. Kevin Porter Jr. (124.3)
116. Dennis Smith Jr. (124.7)
117. Jarred Vanderbilt (124.8)
118. Christian Wood (127.7)
119. Tim Hardaway Jr. (128.7)
120. Isaiah Hartenstein (129.3)
121. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (130)
122. Alex Caruso (130.5)
123. Klay Thompson (130.8)
124. Cameron Payne (131.9)
125. Ivica Zubac (133.6)
126. Daniel Gafford (134.8)
127. Gary Trent Jr. (135)
127. Josh Green (135)
129. Luguentz Dort (135.7)
130. Grant Williams (136.7)
131. Jonas Valančiūnas (137.2)
131. Jordan Goodwin (137.2)
133. Immanuel Quickley (137.6)
134. John Collins (141.8)
135. Bol Bol (142.1)
136. Michael Porter Jr. (143.3)
137. Jevon Carter (144.6)
137. Terance Mann (144.6)
139. Luke Kornet (146.2)
140. Malik Beasley (147.4)
141. Austin Reaves (148.3)
142. Terry Rozier (148.4)
143. Marcus Morris (148.8)
144. Andrew Nembhard (150.5)
144. Ben Simmons (150.5)
146. Yuta Watanabe (151)
147. John Wall (151.3)
148. Jock Landale (153.9)
149. Collin Sexton (154.5)
150. Bruce Brown (155.1)
151. Jaylen Nowell (155.5)
151. Saddiq Bey (155.5)
153. Jordan Poole (156.7)
154. Kyle Anderson (156.9)
155. Josh Okogie (157.8)
156. Dwight Powell (160.6)
157. Cole Anthony (161.5)
158. Monte Morris (162)
159. Damion Lee (162.4)
160. Chris Boucher (162.6)
161. AJ Griffin (162.8)
162. Royce O'Neale (163.6)
163. Dorian Finney-Smith (163.9)
164. Cedi Osman (164)
165. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (165.6)
166. Lonnie Walker IV (165.9)
167. Kenyon Martin Jr. (166.9)
168. Nick Richards (167)
169. Corey Kispert (168.1)
170. Jordan McLaughlin (168.2)
171. Herbert Jones (168.3)
172. Wenyen Gabriel (168.7)
173. Dean Wade (169.4)
174. Naji Marshall (170.2)
175. Charles Bassey (171.4)
176. Georges Niang (171.6)
177. Onyeka Okongwu (172.4)
178. Jaden McDaniels (173.4)
179. Norman Powell (175.7)
180. Dewayne Dedmon (176)
180. Keldon Johnson (176)
182. Nicolas Batum (176.6)
183. Caris LeVert (177.5)
184. Chimezie Metu (178)
185. Torrey Craig (178.4)
186. Jalen Smith (178.9)
187. Usman Garuba (179.7)
188. Quentin Grimes (180.3)
189. Thaddeus Young (181.2)
190. Naz Reid (181.4)
191. Dyson Daniels (182.7)
192. Dalano Banton (182.8)
193. Oshae Brissett (183.2)
194. Drew Eubanks (183.4)
195. Brandon Clarke (183.6)
196. P.J. Washington (184.2)
197. Jalen Green (184.3)
198. Marvin Bagley III (184.8)
199. Kenrich Williams (184.9)
200. Cade Cunningham (185.9)
201. Devonte' Graham (187.1)
202. Max Strus (187.4)
202. Tyus Jones (187.4)
204. Bones Hyland (187.6)
205. Mike Muscala (188)
206. Russell Westbrook (189.2)
207. Obi Toppin (190.8)
208. R.J. Hampton (193)
209. Mo Bamba (193.4)
210. RJ Barrett (194.6)
211. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (195.2)
212. Keegan Murray (199.5)
213. Bennedict Mathurin (200.1)
214. Isaiah Jackson (201.1)
215. Jalen McDaniels (201.2)
216. Edmond Sumner (202.7)
217. Aleksej Pokusevski (203.3)
218. Paul Reed (203.5)
219. Eric Gordon (203.8)
220. Kawhi Leonard (205.5)
221. Garrison Mathews (206.7)
222. Darius Bazley (207.3)
223. Anthony Lamb (208.2)
224. T.J. McConnell (208.5)
225. Jericho Sims (210)
226. Shake Milton (211.6)
227. Josh Giddey (213.3)
228. Jalen Suggs (214.8)
229. Robert Covington (215.1)
230. Tre Mann (215.3)
231. Derrick Jones Jr. (215.4)
232. Goran Dragić (216.8)
233. Reggie Jackson (217.9)
234. Justise Winslow (218.4)
235. Derrick Rose (218.7)
236. Deni Avdija (220.2)
237. Jalen Johnson (220.5)
238. Kevin Knox (221)
239. DeAndre Jordan (221.7)
239. Patty Mills (221.7)
241. Joe Harris (222.3)
242. Moritz Wagner (222.4)
243. Juancho Hernangómez (223.1)
244. Jaden Ivey (224.5)
245. Gordon Hayward (224.8)
246. Montrezl Harrell (225.2)
247. Donte DiVincenzo (225.3)
248. Aaron Wiggins (228)
249. Ayo Dosunmu (228.1)
250. Hamidou Diallo (229.6)
251. De'Andre Hunter (232.4)
252. Andre Drummond (234)
253. Davion Mitchell (236.6)
254. Pat Connaughton (236.7)
255. Cory Joseph (237.4)
256. Cam Reddish (238.1)
257. Jalen Duren (239.6)
258. Seth Curry (240)
259. George Hill (241)
259. Landry Shamet (241)
261. Keita Bates-Diop (241.4)
262. Jabari Smith Jr. (242)
263. Patrick Williams (242.2)
264. Talen Horton-Tucker (242.8)
265. Zach Collins (243.3)
266. Matisse Thybulle (245.8)
267. Théo Maledon (247.9)
268. Coby White (250.1)
269. Malachi Flynn (250.6)
270. Maxi Kleber (250.9)
271. Killian Hayes (252.7)
272. Chuma Okeke (253.7)
273. Vlatko Čančar (254.6)
274. Payton Pritchard (255.4)
275. Precious Achiuwa (255.5)
276. Romeo Langford (255.6)
277. Luke Kennard (256.4)
278. Gabe Vincent (259.9)
279. Trey Lyles (260.5)
280. Aaron Holiday (260.7)
281. Lamar Stevens (261.3)
282. Nassir Little (262.6)
283. Ousmane Dieng (263.8)
284. Patrick Beverley (265.6)
285. Taurean Prince (267.6)
286. Ty Jerome (267.9)
287. Jalen Williams (268.6)
288. Kai Jones (269.9)
288. Rudy Gay (269.9)
290. Aaron Nesmith (271)
291. Isaiah Livers (272.2)
292. Troy Brown Jr. (273.2)
293. Rui Hachimura (273.6)
294. Jeremy Sochan (274.7)
295. Anthony Gill (277.9)
296. Terrence Ross (279.3)
297. Jake LaRavia (280)
298. Doug McDermott (280.4)
299. Chris Duarte (280.8)
299. Trendon Watford (280.8)
301. Jeff Green (283.1)
302. Cam Thomas (283.6)
303. Bismack Biyombo (283.7)
304. Kevon Harris (284.3)
305. Isaiah Roby (286)
306. JaMychal Green (288.1)
307. Furkan Korkmaz (288.6)
308. Zeke Nnaji (289.3)
309. Josh Richardson (290.5)
310. Admiral Schofield (291.8)
311. Robin Lopez (293.5)
312. Christian Braun (295.5)
313. P.J. Tucker (296.2)
314. Jonathan Kuminga (296.6)
315. Christian Koloko (296.7)
316. Dennis Schröder (297)
317. Wesley Matthews (297.9)
318. Evan Fournier (300.5)
319. Jordan Nwora (303.2)
320. Haywood Highsmith (303.7)
321. MarJon Beauchamp (304.4)
322. Will Barton (307.4)
323. Caleb Houstan (307.7)
324. Isaac Okoro (308)
325. Daishen Nix (308.6)
326. Danuel House Jr. (309.1)
327. Duncan Robinson (311.9)
328. Moses Moody (312.3)
329. Shaedon Sharpe (313.1)
330. James Bouknight (313.6)
331. David Roddy (315.1)
332. Austin Rivers (315.9)
333. Amir Coffey (317.2)
334. Reggie Bullock (321)
335. Justin Holiday (322)
336. Kendrick Nunn (326.2)
336. Malaki Branham (326.2)
338. Davon Reed (331.1)
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. Luka Dončić (1.8)
2. Nikola Jokić (2.4)
3. Anthony Davis (3.8)
4. Stephen Curry (4)
5. Joel Embiid (5.4)
6. Donovan Mitchell (9.2)
7. Jayson Tatum (10.2)
8. Pascal Siakam (11.4)
9. Ja Morant (11.6)
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (12.4)
11. Damian Lillard (14.2)
11. Kevin Durant (14.2)
13. Zion Williamson (15.8)
14. Tyrese Haliburton (16)
15. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (17)
16. Jimmy Butler (18.8)
17. Domantas Sabonis (19.4)
18. Jaren Jackson Jr. (23)
19. Kristaps Porziņģis (24.6)
20. Devin Booker (25)
21. James Harden (25.6)
22. Desmond Bane (25.8)
23. Lauri Markkanen (28.2)
24. Paul George (29.6)
25. Jrue Holiday (31.6)
26. De'Aaron Fox (34)
27. Trae Young (35.2)
28. Brook Lopez (39.6)
29. Cameron Johnson (43.2)
30. Kyrie Irving (44.6)