Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry and the NBA's Best Players on December 24, 2022
Merry Christmas! 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 (2.1)
2. Nikola Jokić (2.2)
3. Stephen Curry (4.4)
4. Anthony Davis (6.0)
5. Jayson Tatum (8.0)
6. Joel Embiid (8.2)
7. Kevin Durant (8.5)
8. Donovan Mitchell (8.6)
9. Tyrese Haliburton (10.2)
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (11.8)
11. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12.7)
12. Domantas Sabonis (13.2)
13. Ja Morant (16.1)
14. Lauri Markkanen (17.0)
15. Damian Lillard (18.5)
16. Pascal Siakam (19.0)
17. Devin Booker (21.0)
18. LeBron James (22.4)
19. Jimmy Butler (23.6)
20. Zion Williamson (24.0)
21. Kristaps Porziņģis (25.2)
22. Paul George (27.2)
23. Trae Young (28.5)
24. DeMar DeRozan (34.5)
25. Jrue Holiday (35.9)
26. Nic Claxton (37.2)
27. Kyrie Irving (37.7)
28. James Harden (38.2)
29. Brook Lopez (39.1)
30. Julius Randle (40.5)
31. De'Aaron Fox (41.5)
32. Jaylen Brown (41.8)
33. Aaron Gordon (42.2)
34. Jalen Brunson (44.2)
35. Fred VanVleet (46.6)
36. Dejounte Murray (50.0)
37. Darius Garland (54.4)
38. Clint Capela (54.7)
39. Jaren Jackson Jr. (55.2)
40. O.G. Anunoby (56.1)
41. Tyler Herro (57.2)
42. Jerami Grant (59.3)
43. Bradley Beal (59.9)
44. Andrew Wiggins (60.0)
45. Jarrett Allen (60.5)
46. Rudy Gobert (60.8)
47. Franz Wagner (63.9)
47. Kevon Looney (63.9)
49. Anthony Edwards (64.3)
50. Mitchell Robinson (67.2)
51. Desmond Bane (69.2)
52. Tobias Harris (71.2)
53. Spencer Dinwiddie (71.5)
54. Jusuf Nurkić (73.0)
55. Bam Adebayo (73.4)
56. Anfernee Simons (75.1)
57. Bojan Bogdanović (75.2)
57. De'Anthony Melton (75.2)
59. Buddy Hield (77.1)
60. Zach LaVine (78.1)
61. Karl-Anthony Towns (79.0)
62. Chris Paul (79.2)
63. Kyle Lowry (80.7)
64. Mikal Bridges (81.9)
65. Walker Kessler (82.5)
66. Nikola Vučević (82.7)
67. Myles Turner (83.2)
68. Kawhi Leonard (83.9)
69. Al Horford (84.4)
70. Derrick White (84.5)
71. Kyle Kuzma (84.9)
72. Kelly Olynyk (85.5)
73. Alperen Şengün (85.7)
74. CJ McCollum (86.1)
75. D'Angelo Russell (86.5)
76. Paolo Banchero (88.7)
77. Trey Murphy III (89.8)
78. Mason Plumlee (92.6)
79. Kevin Huerter (92.8)
80. Jordan Clarkson (92.9)
81. Josh Hart (95.9)
81. Steven Adams (95.9)
83. Larry Nance Jr. (97.0)
84. Evan Mobley (97.2)
85. Jamal Murray (97.3)
86. Marcus Smart (98.6)
87. Brandon Ingram (99.8)
88. Santi Aldama (100.3)
89. Dillon Brooks (100.6)
90. Kelly Oubre Jr. (101.9)
91. Draymond Green (104.7)
92. Harrison Barnes (106.0)
92. Kevin Porter Jr. (106.0)
94. Malcolm Brogdon (106.4)
95. Devin Vassell (110.1)
96. Jose Alvarado (111.2)
97. Deandre Ayton (111.5)
98. Grayson Allen (111.6)
99. Tre Jones (111.7)
100. Kevin Love (111.8)
101. Ben Simmons (112.9)
102. Bobby Portis (114.1)
103. Isaiah Joe (115.0)
104. Tyrese Maxey (118.8)
105. Alex Caruso (120.1)
106. John Konchar (121.3)
107. LaMelo Ball (123.3)
108. Cole Anthony (123.8)
109. Christian Wood (124.0)
109. Jordan Goodwin (124.0)
111. Immanuel Quickley (124.4)
112. Jakob Poeltl (124.8)
113. Mo Bamba (129.2)
114. Wendell Carter Jr. (129.9)
115. Alec Burks (130.0)
116. Mike Conley (130.3)
117. Terance Mann (131.1)
118. Nicolas Batum (131.7)
119. Naz Reid (131.8)
120. Daniel Gafford (132.0)
121. Austin Reaves (132.4)
122. Quentin Grimes (134.3)
123. AJ Griffin (134.5)
124. Tim Hardaway Jr. (134.6)
125. Jarred Vanderbilt (135.4)
125. Jonas Valančiūnas (135.4)
127. RJ Barrett (135.5)
128. Marcus Morris (135.9)
129. Javonte Green (136.6)
130. Malik Beasley (137.0)
131. Brandon Clarke (137.6)
132. Dennis Smith Jr. (140.0)
133. Caleb Martin (142.2)
134. Cameron Payne (142.3)
135. Monte Morris (142.8)
136. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (143.3)
137. Sam Hauser (143.4)
138. Josh Okogie (143.8)
139. Scottie Barnes (144.3)
140. Klay Thompson (145.3)
141. Cedi Osman (145.8)
142. Isaiah Hartenstein (145.9)
143. Thomas Bryant (146.0)
144. John Collins (146.8)
145. Josh Green (147.4)
146. Bol Bol (147.6)
147. Luguentz Dort (148.0)
148. Jaden McDaniels (148.5)
149. Jock Landale (148.6)
150. Michael Porter Jr. (148.8)
151. Isaiah Stewart (149.3)
152. Gary Trent Jr. (149.5)
153. Moritz Wagner (150.1)
154. Terence Davis (151.0)
155. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (151.8)
156. Herbert Jones (152.2)
157. Jevon Carter (153.2)
158. Tari Eason (153.8)
159. Bruce Brown (153.9)
159. Onyeka Okongwu (153.9)
161. Malik Monk (155.7)
162. Torrey Craig (157.7)
163. Collin Sexton (157.9)
164. Kenrich Williams (158.9)
165. Dwight Powell (159.0)
166. Royce O'Neale (161.9)
166. Terry Rozier (161.9)
168. Grant Williams (163.0)
169. Ivica Zubac (164.2)
170. Jalen Smith (165.3)
170. Nick Richards (165.3)
172. Chris Boucher (165.6)
173. Kenyon Martin Jr. (165.8)
174. Tyus Jones (166.6)
175. Russell Westbrook (166.9)
176. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (168.3)
177. Jalen Green (168.9)
178. Drew Eubanks (169.0)
179. Kyle Anderson (169.2)
180. Caris LeVert (170.2)
181. Luke Kornet (170.9)
182. Georges Niang (172.8)
183. Dorian Finney-Smith (174.1)
184. Landry Shamet (174.8)
185. Andrew Nembhard (177.0)
186. Devonte' Graham (177.5)
187. Damion Lee (179.1)
188. Keldon Johnson (179.5)
189. Garrison Mathews (179.9)
190. Jordan Poole (180.4)
191. Dean Wade (181.4)
192. Edmond Sumner (182.6)
193. Luke Kennard (182.8)
194. Jalen McDaniels (183.0)
195. Derrick Jones Jr. (183.4)
196. Yuta Watanabe (183.9)
197. Usman Garuba (184.8)
198. Naji Marshall (185.7)
199. Lonnie Walker IV (185.8)
200. Norman Powell (186.5)
201. Saddiq Bey (186.6)
202. Charles Bassey (187.2)
202. Josh Giddey (187.2)
204. Aleksej Pokusevski (192.1)
205. Marvin Bagley III (192.5)
206. Donte DiVincenzo (192.6)
207. John Wall (193.0)
208. Thaddeus Young (196.5)
209. Bennedict Mathurin (196.6)
210. Cade Cunningham (198.0)
211. Wenyen Gabriel (200.2)
212. Jaylen Nowell (200.7)
213. Deni Avdija (200.9)
214. Aaron Nesmith (201.8)
215. Isaiah Jackson (203.0)
216. De'Andre Hunter (203.3)
216. Reggie Jackson (203.3)
218. Montrezl Harrell (203.6)
219. P.J. Washington (204.4)
220. T.J. McConnell (204.8)
221. Jericho Sims (205.4)
221. Keegan Murray (205.4)
223. Obi Toppin (205.7)
224. Dewayne Dedmon (206.7)
225. Jalen Duren (206.9)
226. Dyson Daniels (210.0)
227. Jaden Ivey (214.0)
228. Bones Hyland (215.1)
229. Max Strus (215.5)
230. Corey Kispert (215.6)
231. R.J. Hampton (216.1)
231. Shake Milton (216.1)
233. Gordon Hayward (216.2)
234. Darius Bazley (216.9)
235. Ayo Dosunmu (218.0)
236. Matisse Thybulle (218.6)
237. Joe Harris (219.8)
238. Aaron Wiggins (221.4)
239. Oshae Brissett (222.1)
240. Anthony Lamb (223.8)
241. Kevin Knox (223.9)
242. Eric Gordon (224.7)
243. Hamidou Diallo (225.4)
244. Patrick Williams (226.3)
245. Davion Mitchell (227.0)
246. Aaron Holiday (227.7)
247. Zach Collins (228.6)
248. Tre Mann (229.0)
249. Keita Bates-Diop (229.2)
249. Markelle Fultz (229.2)
251. Jabari Smith Jr. (229.5)
252. Goran Dragić (229.8)
253. Killian Hayes (230.4)
254. Robert Covington (231.1)
255. Jalen Suggs (231.4)
256. Andre Drummond (232.7)
257. George Hill (234.9)
257. Trendon Watford (234.9)
259. Justise Winslow (235.2)
260. Talen Horton-Tucker (236.1)
261. Pat Connaughton (242.4)
262. Patrick Beverley (243.8)
263. Malachi Flynn (244.9)
263. Maxi Kleber (244.9)
265. DeAndre Jordan (245.1)
266. Haywood Highsmith (247.2)
267. Juancho Hernangómez (248.0)
268. Cam Reddish (248.5)
269. Rui Hachimura (248.9)
270. Théo Maledon (249.3)
271. Romeo Langford (250.1)
272. Isaac Okoro (251.0)
273. Jalen Johnson (251.6)
274. Cory Joseph (252.0)
275. Coby White (253.0)
276. Jeremy Sochan (254.2)
277. Bismack Biyombo (255.4)
278. Seth Curry (257.5)
279. Trey Lyles (258.1)
280. Chuma Okeke (258.7)
281. MarJon Beauchamp (261.7)
282. Nassir Little (262.1)
283. Josh Richardson (264.7)
284. Jalen Williams (264.9)
284. Rudy Gay (264.9)
286. Gabe Vincent (265.3)
287. Lamar Stevens (267.6)
288. Doug McDermott (269.0)
289. Isaiah Livers (270.4)
290. Wesley Matthews (271.8)
291. Isaiah Roby (272.2)
292. Taurean Prince (272.7)
293. Jeff Green (274.4)
294. JaMychal Green (274.8)
295. Terrence Ross (277.2)
296. Jake LaRavia (279.0)
297. Austin Rivers (279.2)
298. Dennis Schröder (281.8)
299. Danuel House Jr. (282.2)
300. P.J. Tucker (282.5)
301. Cam Thomas (283.7)
302. Moses Moody (286.5)
303. Christian Koloko (288.7)
304. Jonathan Kuminga (289.9)
305. Troy Brown Jr. (290.3)
306. Will Barton (294.1)
307. Caleb Houstan (294.9)
308. Jordan Nwora (295.4)
309. Duncan Robinson (296.4)
309. Shaedon Sharpe (296.4)
311. Daishen Nix (297.5)
312. James Bouknight (298.8)
313. Reggie Bullock (298.9)
314. David Roddy (300.5)
315. Malaki Branham (301.6)
316. Christian Braun (302.9)
317. Amir Coffey (304.7)
318. Justin Holiday (307.7)
319. Kendrick Nunn (315.2)
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 (3.0)
3. Stephen Curry (3.6)
4. Anthony Davis (4.0)
5. Joel Embiid (4.4)
6. Jayson Tatum (10.8)
7. Donovan Mitchell (11.2)
8. Damian Lillard (11.4)
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo (12.8)
9. Kevin Durant (12.8)
9. Tyrese Haliburton (12.8)
12. Jaren Jackson Jr. (13.0)
13. Ja Morant (13.4)
14. Jimmy Butler (14.0)
15. Domantas Sabonis (15.8)
16. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (16.6)
17. Pascal Siakam (17.2)
18. Lauri Markkanen (21.8)
19. Paul George (22.0)
20. James Harden (22.4)
21. LeBron James (22.6)
21. Zion Williamson (22.6)
23. Devin Booker (24.8)
24. Kristaps Porziņģis (30.2)
25. Desmond Bane (30.4)
26. Nic Claxton (33.8)
27. Jrue Holiday (34.0)
28. Kyrie Irving (35.2)
29. Kawhi Leonard (35.8)
30. Trae Young (36.4)