Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry and the NBA's Best Players on December 31, 2022
Happy New Year! 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 (1.8)
3. Stephen Curry (6.8)
4. Joel Embiid (7.0)
5. Kevin Durant (8.0)
6. Anthony Davis (8.1)
6. Jayson Tatum (8.1)
8. Tyrese Haliburton (9.3)
9. Donovan Mitchell (10.8)
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12.1)
11. Domantas Sabonis (13.4)
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.4)
13. Lauri Markkanen (15.9)
14. LeBron James (16.2)
15. Ja Morant (19.1)
16. Kristaps Porziņģis (19.5)
17. Damian Lillard (19.7)
17. Pascal Siakam (19.7)
19. Jimmy Butler (21.7)
20. Devin Booker (22.7)
21. Zion Williamson (24.1)
22. Paul George (25.1)
23. James Harden (27.4)
24. DeMar DeRozan (31.3)
25. Julius Randle (32.6)
26. Trae Young (33.8)
27. Kyrie Irving (34.2)
28. Jrue Holiday (38.2)
29. Brook Lopez (39.8)
30. Nic Claxton (40.2)
31. Jaylen Brown (40.5)
32. De'Aaron Fox (41.2)
33. Darius Garland (41.8)
34. Aaron Gordon (45.6)
35. Jalen Brunson (49.6)
36. Tyler Herro (53.2)
37. Dejounte Murray (54.5)
38. Fred VanVleet (56.6)
38. Jerami Grant (56.6)
40. Jaren Jackson Jr. (56.9)
40. Mitchell Robinson (56.9)
42. Anthony Edwards (57.2)
43. Buddy Hield (57.6)
44. Clint Capela (59.5)
45. Franz Wagner (62.0)
46. Bradley Beal (63.6)
47. Jarrett Allen (64.5)
48. Jusuf Nurkić (64.6)
49. CJ McCollum (64.9)
50. Zach LaVine (65.0)
51. Andrew Wiggins (67.4)
52. O.G. Anunoby (67.6)
53. Bam Adebayo (68.6)
54. Kevon Looney (69.9)
55. Chris Paul (71.4)
56. Spencer Dinwiddie (72.4)
57. Rudy Gobert (72.8)
58. Kawhi Leonard (74.7)
59. Derrick White (77.5)
60. De'Anthony Melton (78.7)
60. Myles Turner (78.7)
62. Alperen Şengün (78.9)
63. Desmond Bane (79.6)
63. Kyle Kuzma (79.6)
65. Tobias Harris (82.1)
66. Anfernee Simons (82.5)
67. Karl-Anthony Towns (83.2)
68. Kyle Lowry (83.5)
69. Mason Plumlee (86.1)
70. D'Angelo Russell (86.9)
71. Trey Murphy III (87.6)
72. Mikal Bridges (88.4)
73. Jordan Clarkson (88.8)
74. Al Horford (89.1)
74. Kevin Huerter (89.1)
76. Kevin Porter Jr. (89.2)
77. Draymond Green (89.3)
78. Walker Kessler (89.4)
79. Alec Burks (90.4)
80. Kelly Olynyk (92.3)
81. Bojan Bogdanović (92.4)
82. Jamal Murray (93.0)
83. Steven Adams (93.3)
84. Marcus Smart (94.9)
85. Christian Wood (95.6)
86. Josh Hart (96.1)
87. Nikola Vučević (97.3)
88. Larry Nance Jr. (105.8)
89. Brandon Ingram (106.0)
90. Bobby Portis (106.1)
91. LaMelo Ball (106.6)
92. Jakob Poeltl (106.8)
93. Tre Jones (109.0)
94. Kevin Love (109.5)
95. Dillon Brooks (110.5)
95. Evan Mobley (110.5)
97. Ben Simmons (113.0)
98. Devin Vassell (115.0)
99. Isaiah Joe (115.4)
100. Kelly Oubre Jr. (115.5)
101. Jose Alvarado (115.9)
102. Santi Aldama (117.6)
103. Malcolm Brogdon (119.3)
104. Deandre Ayton (120.0)
105. Harrison Barnes (121.0)
106. Paolo Banchero (121.1)
107. Alex Caruso (121.3)
108. John Konchar (121.5)
109. Naz Reid (121.8)
110. Wendell Carter Jr. (124.7)
111. Immanuel Quickley (124.9)
112. Klay Thompson (125.2)
113. Tim Hardaway Jr. (128.7)
114. Monte Morris (128.8)
115. Scottie Barnes (128.9)
116. Daniel Gafford (129.5)
116. Grayson Allen (129.5)
118. Terance Mann (129.7)
119. Jordan Goodwin (132.8)
120. Mo Bamba (133.3)
121. Gary Trent Jr. (133.6)
122. Marcus Morris (134.0)
123. Jock Landale (134.4)
124. Thomas Bryant (135.7)
125. Caleb Martin (135.9)
126. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (136.1)
127. Mike Conley (138.2)
128. Nicolas Batum (138.6)
129. Jarred Vanderbilt (139.1)
130. Ivica Zubac (139.4)
130. Tyrese Maxey (139.4)
132. Quentin Grimes (139.8)
133. Jaden McDaniels (141.7)
134. Isaiah Stewart (142.2)
135. Michael Porter Jr. (143.1)
136. Jonas Valančiūnas (144.7)
137. Javonte Green (145.0)
138. Dennis Smith Jr. (145.4)
138. Grant Williams (145.4)
138. Moritz Wagner (145.4)
141. Brandon Clarke (145.7)
142. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (146.5)
143. RJ Barrett (149.2)144. Sam Hauser (149.5)
145. Cameron Payne (149.6)
146. Cole Anthony (149.7)
147. Donte DiVincenzo (150.5)
148. Landry Shamet (150.8)
149. Luguentz Dort (150.9)
150. Cedi Osman (151.4)
151. Dwight Powell (153.3)
152. Josh Okogie (153.5)
153. Onyeka Okongwu (153.6)
154. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (154.7)
155. Josh Green (155.0)
156. Malik Monk (155.9)
157. Terence Davis (156.0)
158. John Collins (156.4)
159. Royce O'Neale (156.5)
160. Tari Eason (157.1)
161. Jalen Green (157.9)
162. Jevon Carter (158.2)
163. Torrey Craig (158.5)
164. AJ Griffin (160.0)
165. Herbert Jones (160.7)
166. Collin Sexton (164.1)
167. Mike Muscala (164.9)
168. Austin Reaves (165.6)
169. Malik Beasley (165.9)
170. Russell Westbrook (166.3)
171. Bol Bol (166.7)
172. Naji Marshall (167.0)
173. Devonte' Graham (168.9)
174. Saddiq Bey (169.5)
175. Nick Richards (171.2)
176. Keldon Johnson (171.5)
177. Chris Boucher (172.1)
178. Kenrich Williams (173.1)
179. Bruce Brown (173.9)
180. Kyle Anderson (174.1)
181. Isaiah Hartenstein (175.1)
181. Luke Kornet (175.1)
183. Bogdan Bogdanović (176.2)
184. Tyus Jones (176.6)
185. Drew Eubanks (176.9)
186. Garrison Mathews (177.6)
187. Norman Powell (180.5)
188. Jordan Poole (182.8)
189. Jalen Smith (184.2)
190. Dorian Finney-Smith (184.5)
191. Jalen McDaniels (184.7)
192. Caris LeVert (185.0)
193. Damion Lee (185.9)
194. Dean Wade (187.4)
195. Aleksej Pokusevski (187.5)
196. Josh Giddey (187.9)
197. Georges Niang (188.3)
198. Charles Bassey (188.7)
199. P.J. Washington (189.0)
200. Derrick Jones Jr. (189.1)
201. Luke Kennard (189.4)
202. Kenyon Martin Jr. (190.0)
203. Usman Garuba (190.1)
204. Aaron Nesmith (192.4)
205. Andrew Nembhard (192.5)
206. Bennedict Mathurin (192.6)
207. Terry Rozier (194.2)
208. John Wall (194.4)
209. Deni Avdija (194.5)
210. Edmond Sumner (197.1)
211. Anthony Lamb (197.3)
212. Keegan Murray (198.0)
213. Montrezl Harrell (200.2)
214. Reggie Jackson (200.4)
214. Yuta Watanabe (200.4)
216. Thaddeus Young (201.3)
217. Cade Cunningham (204.2)
217. Marvin Bagley III (204.2)
219. Lonnie Walker IV (205.4)
220. T.J. McConnell (205.9)
221. Oshae Brissett (207.6)
222. Wenyen Gabriel (208.4)
223. Jaylen Nowell (208.5)
224. De'Andre Hunter (209.3)
225. Dyson Daniels (211.1)
226. Dewayne Dedmon (211.4)
227. Gordon Hayward (212.2)
228. Andre Drummond (212.6)
229. Jalen Duren (213.9)
230. Obi Toppin (214.2)
231. Hamidou Diallo (215.5)
232. Corey Kispert (215.8)
233. Isaiah Jackson (218.3)
234. Rui Hachimura (221.0)
235. Tre Mann (222.5)
236. Jericho Sims (222.6)
237. Jaden Ivey (224.1)
238. Joe Harris (224.4)
239. R.J. Hampton (224.8)
240. Max Strus (225.0)
241. Patrick Beverley (226.1)
242. Davion Mitchell (226.2)
242. Matisse Thybulle (226.2)
244. Jalen Johnson (226.9)
245. Markelle Fultz (227.1)
246. Shake Milton (227.4)
247. Zach Collins (227.5)
248. Killian Hayes (229.2)
249. Bones Hyland (229.6)
250. Patrick Williams (231.6)
251. Jabari Smith Jr. (231.8)
252. Ayo Dosunmu (232.1)
253. Jalen Suggs (233.0)
254. George Hill (234.0)
255. Miles McBride (234.8)
256. Aaron Holiday (234.9)
256. Darius Bazley (234.9)
258. Talen Horton-Tucker (236.3)
259. Trendon Watford (237.7)
260. Keita Bates-Diop (238.8)
261. Justise Winslow (239.6)
261. Kevin Knox (239.6)
263. Admiral Schofield (240.1)
263. Eric Gordon (240.1)
263. Robert Covington (240.1)
266. Ty Jerome (240.3)
267. Romeo Langford (242.3)
268. Aaron Wiggins (243.6)
269. Coby White (244.3)
270. Trey Lyles (249.2)
271. Pat Connaughton (249.7)
272. Maxi Kleber (253.5)
273. DeAndre Jordan (255.5)
274. Jalen Williams (255.9)
275. Cam Reddish (256.5)
276. Isaac Okoro (258.0)
277. Théo Maledon (258.5)
278. Jeremy Sochan (259.5)
279. Goran Dragić (259.7)
280. Bismack Biyombo (259.9)
281. Kevon Harris (260.4)
282. Chuma Okeke (262.4)
283. Juancho Hernangómez (264.0)
284. Josh Richardson (265.6)
285. Haywood Highsmith (266.2)
286. Nassir Little (267.6)
287. Cory Joseph (268.9)
288. Lamar Stevens (269.9)
289. Doug McDermott (270.5)
290. Gabe Vincent (271.0)
291. Jonathan Kuminga (271.5)
292. Malachi Flynn (271.6)
293. MarJon Beauchamp (271.7)
294. Christian Koloko (271.9)
295. Isaiah Roby (272.7)
296. Derrick Rose (273.4)
297. Seth Curry (274.5)
298. Troy Brown Jr. (276.2)
299. Dennis Schröder (276.5)
300. Rudy Gay (277.6)
301. Taurean Prince (277.7)
302. Wesley Matthews (278.6)
303. Jeff Green (279.1)
304. Isaiah Livers (280.3)
305. JaMychal Green (281.6)
306. Jake LaRavia (285.2)
307. Cam Thomas (287.1)
308. Daishen Nix (290.3)
309. P.J. Tucker (290.7)
310. Danuel House Jr. (291.3)
311. Terrence Ross (292.0)
312. Duncan Robinson (293.5)
313. Austin Rivers (294.6)
313. Moses Moody (294.6)
315. Will Barton (302.0)
316. Jordan Nwora (303.1)
317. Shaedon Sharpe (303.7)
318. James Bouknight (305.0)
319. Malaki Branham (306.5)
320. David Roddy (307.1)
321. Caleb Houstan (307.5)
322. Reggie Bullock (308.1)
323. Amir Coffey (309.8)
324. Christian Braun (311.8)
325. Justin Holiday (314.2)
326. Kendrick Nunn (319.5)
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 (1.6)
2. Luka Dončić (2.0)
3. Anthony Davis (4.2)
3. Stephen Curry (4.2)
5. Joel Embiid (4.8)
6. Jayson Tatum (11.0)
7. Kevin Durant (11.4)
8. Tyrese Haliburton (12.0)
9. Damian Lillard (13.0)
9. Jimmy Butler (13.0)
11. Donovan Mitchell (14.2)
12. James Harden (15.2)
13. Giannis Antetokounmpo (15.4)
14. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15.6)
15. Domantas Sabonis (16.4)
15. Jaren Jackson Jr. (16.4)
17. LeBron James (17.4)
18. Ja Morant (17.8)
19. Pascal Siakam (19.2)
20. Lauri Markkanen (20.2)
21. Zion Williamson (21.0)
22. Paul George (22.0)
23. Kristaps Porziņģis (22.8)
24. Devin Booker (24.0)
25. Kyrie Irving (32.2)
26. Kawhi Leonard (32.6)
27. Jrue Holiday (34.8)
28. Nic Claxton (37.0)
29. Mitchell Robinson (41.4)
30. Trae Young (42.6)