Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry and the NBA's Best Players on December 17, 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 (1.7)
2. Nikola Jokić (2.7)
3. Stephen Curry (3.7)
4. Anthony Davis (4.9)
5. Donovan Mitchell (7)
6. Joel Embiid (7.9)
7. Jayson Tatum (8.3)
7. Kevin Durant (8.3)
9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12.2)
10. Ja Morant (12.6)
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo (12.8)
11. Tyrese Haliburton (12.8)
13. Domantas Sabonis (14.5)
14. Zion Williamson (18.7)
15. Lauri Markkanen (20.5)
16. Devin Booker (21.4)
16. Kristaps Porziņģis (21.4)
18. Damian Lillard (22)
19. Jimmy Butler (23.4)
20. Paul George (26)
21. LeBron James (28.1)
22. Pascal Siakam (29.5)
23. Trae Young (34.4)
24. Jrue Holiday (34.8)
25. Jalen Brunson (34.9)
26. Kyrie Irving (35.4)
27. De'Aaron Fox (36.2)
28. Jaylen Brown (36.7)
29. James Harden (37.2)
30. DeMar DeRozan (41)
31. Dejounte Murray (41.1)
32. Julius Randle (41.8)
33. Brook Lopez (42.4)
34. Nic Claxton (45.2)
35. Clint Capela (47)
35. Fred VanVleet (47)
37. Jerami Grant (50.6)
38. Andrew Wiggins (51.5)
39. Darius Garland (52.5)
40. Tyler Herro (55.5)
41. Aaron Gordon (55.7)
42. O.G. Anunoby (58.9)
43. Kevon Looney (59.6)
44. Desmond Bane (62.6)
45. Rudy Gobert (62.9)
46. Jaren Jackson Jr. (64.1)
47. Mikal Bridges (64.5)
48. Spencer Dinwiddie (65.2)
49. Karl-Anthony Towns (67.5)
50. Tobias Harris (68.6)
51. Bam Adebayo (70.3)
52. Anfernee Simons (71.3)
53. Franz Wagner (72.7)
54. Bradley Beal (73)
55. Jarrett Allen (73.9)
56. Jusuf Nurkić (74.8)
57. Kelly Olynyk (75.6)
58. Kelly Oubre Jr. (76.5)
59. De'Anthony Melton (77.1)
60. Derrick White (77.4)
61. Myles Turner (77.5)
62. Bojan Bogdanović (77.7)
63. Anthony Edwards (78.9)
63. Mitchell Robinson (78.9)
65. Kyle Lowry (80.6)
66. Nikola Vučević (81.9)
67. Kevin Huerter (82.3)
68. Evan Mobley (84.9)
68. Larry Nance Jr. (84.9)
70. Jordan Clarkson (87)
71. D'Angelo Russell (87.6)
72. Al Horford (88.2)
73. Paolo Banchero (89.3)
74. Jose Alvarado (90.5)
75. Buddy Hield (91.1)
76. Chris Paul (91.8)
77. Walker Kessler (92.1)
78. Brandon Ingram (93)
79. Zach LaVine (93.3)
80. Jamal Murray (94)
81. Harrison Barnes (94.4)
82. Steven Adams (97.5)
83. Santi Aldama (97.9)
84. Kyle Kuzma (98.4)
85. Alec Burks (99.3)
85. Draymond Green (99.3)
85. Malcolm Brogdon (99.3)
88. Marcus Smart (101.4)
89. Trey Murphy III (101.6)
90. Bobby Portis (104.3)
91. Deandre Ayton (105.9)
91. Kevin Porter Jr. (105.9)
93. Grayson Allen (107.3)
94. Dillon Brooks (108.3)
95. Mason Plumlee (108.7)
96. Devin Vassell (108.9)
97. Josh Hart (109)
97. Kevin Love (109)
99. Tyrese Maxey (109.8)
100. Jakob Poeltl (110.4)
101. John Konchar (111.1)
102. Alperen Şengün (112.1)
103. Tre Jones (113.9)
103. Wendell Carter Jr. (113.9)
105. Jarred Vanderbilt (114.6)
106. Kawhi Leonard (114.8)
107. Mike Conley (116.1)
108. Isaiah Stewart (117.6)
109. Jordan Goodwin (119.1)
110. Marcus Morris (120.9)
111. Terence Davis (121)
112. CJ McCollum (121.8)
113. Tari Eason (126.2)
114. Alex Caruso (126.4)
115. Josh Okogie (127.6)
116. Dennis Smith Jr. (129.2)
116. Scottie Barnes (129.2)
118. Tim Hardaway Jr. (129.4)
119. Klay Thompson (129.8)
120. Javonte Green (130)
121. Christian Wood (130.9)
122. Quentin Grimes (132.6)
123. Sam Hauser (132.9)
124. Malik Monk (133)
125. Cameron Payne (133.8)
126. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (134.8)
127. Isaiah Hartenstein (135)
127. Jock Landale (135)
129. Caleb Martin (137.1)
130. Jevon Carter (137.2)
130. Terance Mann (137.2)
132. Josh Green (138.2)
133. Malik Beasley (138.5)
134. Gary Trent Jr. (138.8)
135. Bol Bol (140.7)
136. Cole Anthony (143.5)
137. John Collins (143.6)
138. Nicolas Batum (144.6)
139. Yuta Watanabe (144.8)
140. Daniel Gafford (145.7)
141. Grant Williams (146.3)
142. Luguentz Dort (146.6)
143. Mo Bamba (146.9)
144. Austin Reaves (147.4)
145. Tyus Jones (148.3)
146. Jonas Valančiūnas (149)
147. Michael Porter Jr. (149.8)
148. Immanuel Quickley (150.7)
149. Kyle Anderson (151.1)
150. Ben Simmons (151.6)
151. Monte Morris (151.8)
152. Brandon Clarke (153.9)
153. Naz Reid (155.5)
154. Ivica Zubac (158)
155. Caris LeVert (158.9)
156. Herbert Jones (159.5)
157. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (159.6)
158. Saddiq Bey (159.7)
159. Jalen Green (159.8)
160. AJ Griffin (160.3)
161. Bruce Brown (160.4)
162. Drew Eubanks (160.6)
163. Collin Sexton (160.7)
164. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (161.1)
165. Torrey Craig (161.6)
166. John Wall (161.7)
167. Terry Rozier (162)
168. Luke Kornet (163.6)
169. RJ Barrett (164.3)
170. Naji Marshall (164.8)
171. Dwight Powell (164.9)
172. Chris Boucher (166.8)
172. Russell Westbrook (166.8)
174. Andrew Nembhard (167.4)
175. Keldon Johnson (169.2)
176. Usman Garuba (169.4)
177. Garrison Mathews (169.9)
178. Georges Niang (170.8)
179. Damion Lee (172.5)
180. Jordan Poole (172.9)
180. Kenyon Martin Jr. (172.9)
182. Cedi Osman (173)
182. Derrick Jones Jr. (173)
184. Jordan McLaughlin (175.4)
185. Charles Bassey (175.7)
185. Dean Wade (175.7)
187. Marvin Bagley III (175.8)
188. Jaden McDaniels (176.3)
189. Dorian Finney-Smith (176.4)
190. Bennedict Mathurin (177.2)
191. Dyson Daniels (177.6)
192. Onyeka Okongwu (177.7)
193. Jalen Smith (178.3)
194. Edmond Sumner (179.4)
195. Wenyen Gabriel (180.5)
196. Donte DiVincenzo (180.8)
197. Nick Richards (181.7)
198. Norman Powell (184.4)
199. Royce O'Neale (185)
200. Devonte' Graham (185.1)
201. Dewayne Dedmon (188.4)
202. Bones Hyland (189.7)
203. Kevin Knox (190.7)
204. Jaylen Nowell (191.2)
205. Cade Cunningham (192.6)
206. Lonnie Walker IV (192.7)
207. Thaddeus Young (192.9)
208. Patty Mills (193)
209. Isaiah Jackson (193.4)
210. T.J. McConnell (193.8)
211. Kenrich Williams (194.1)
212. Moritz Wagner (195.6)
213. Eric Gordon (198.8)
214. Obi Toppin (199.3)
215. Oshae Brissett (200.1)
216. P.J. Washington (201.2)
217. Shake Milton (201.5)
218. Jalen McDaniels (203)
219. Corey Kispert (203.7)
219. Max Strus (203.7)
221. R.J. Hampton (204.4)
222. Keegan Murray (205.3)
223. Josh Giddey (205.7)
224. Luke Kennard (206.9)
225. Reggie Jackson (207.3)
226. Montrezl Harrell (207.5)
227. Aleksej Pokusevski (208.1)
227. Landry Shamet (208.1)
229. Darius Bazley (208.4)
230. Chimezie Metu (208.8)
231. De'Andre Hunter (210.7)
232. Jericho Sims (212.1)
233. Deni Avdija (212.8)
234. Goran Dragić (213.7)
235. Anthony Lamb (215)
236. Andre Drummond (221)
237. Aaron Wiggins (221.8)
237. Paul Reed (221.8)
239. Talen Horton-Tucker (222.2)
240. Zach Collins (222.3)
241. Patrick Williams (223)
242. Jabari Smith Jr. (223.2)
243. Joe Harris (223.9)
244. Jalen Suggs (224.5)
245. Trendon Watford (225.3)
246. Justise Winslow (225.5)
247. Ayo Dosunmu (225.8)
248. Gordon Hayward (226.4)
248. Matisse Thybulle (226.4)
250. Jaden Ivey (227.1)
251. Derrick Rose (228.6)
252. Aaron Holiday (230.4)
253. Juancho Hernangómez (231.1)
254. Tre Mann (232.1)
255. Hamidou Diallo (232.3)
256. Keita Bates-Diop (233.2)
257. Jalen Duren (233.3)
258. Robert Covington (234.5)
259. Cory Joseph (235)
260. DeAndre Jordan (236.6)
261. Jalen Johnson (237.7)
262. Killian Hayes (238.2)
263. Coby White (242)
264. Aaron Nesmith (243.4)
265. Maxi Kleber (243.7)
266. Cam Reddish (243.8)
267. George Hill (245.3)
268. Romeo Langford (245.9)
269. Davion Mitchell (249.5)
270. Patrick Beverley (254)
271. Jalen Williams (254.4)
272. Chuma Okeke (254.7)
272. Rudy Gay (254.7)
274. Nassir Little (256.6)
275. Théo Maledon (257.4)
276. Josh Richardson (259.2)
277. Trey Lyles (259.6)
278. Gabe Vincent (260.9)
278. Seth Curry (260.9)
280. Lamar Stevens (261.8)
281. Terrence Ross (262.7)
282. Isaiah Roby (263.7)
283. Doug McDermott (265.7)
284. Bismack Biyombo (267.3)
285. Rui Hachimura (267.6)
286. Jeff Green (268.2)
287. Taurean Prince (268.9)
288. Jeremy Sochan (269)
288. Troy Brown Jr. (269)
290. Isaiah Livers (270.8)
291. Kevon Harris (271.2)
292. Anthony Gill (273.6)
293. Jake LaRavia (275.7)
294. Christian Koloko (278.1)
295. Cam Thomas (278.3)
296. Jonathan Kuminga (280.2)
297. Wesley Matthews (280.6)
298. Haywood Highsmith (280.7)
299. JaMychal Green (281.9)
300. P.J. Tucker (284.8)
301. Isaac Okoro (287.2)
302. Will Barton (287.7)
303. Daishen Nix (289.3)
304. Moses Moody (290)
305. Evan Fournier (291.4)
306. MarJon Beauchamp (291.5)
307. Shaedon Sharpe (292.1)
308. Dennis Schröder (294.1)
309. Jordan Nwora (294.3)
310. Caleb Houstan (295)
311. James Bouknight (297.4)
312. Duncan Robinson (298.6)
313. Danuel House Jr. (299.2)
314. Reggie Bullock (300.5)
315. David Roddy (302.6)
316. Christian Braun (303.6)
317. Austin Rivers (304.6)
318. Justin Holiday (309.4)
319. Amir Coffey (309.8)
320. Kendrick Nunn (313.7)
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 (1.8)
2. Luka Dončić (2.2)
3. Stephen Curry (3.6)
4. Anthony Davis (4.2)
4. Joel Embiid (4.2)
6. Donovan Mitchell (8.6)
7. Ja Morant (10.4)
8. Jayson Tatum (11.6)
9. Damian Lillard (12)
10. Kevin Durant (12.2)
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.4)
12. Jaren Jackson Jr. (15.2)
13. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (16)
14. Tyrese Haliburton (16.2)
15. Jimmy Butler (16.6)
16. Zion Williamson (16.8)
17. Domantas Sabonis (17.6)
18. James Harden (17.8)
19. Pascal Siakam (22.2)
20. Paul George (22.8)
21. Kristaps Porziņģis (24.6)
22. Lauri Markkanen (26.4)
23. Devin Booker (27)
24. LeBron James (27.6)
25. Desmond Bane (28.6)
26. Jrue Holiday (29.2)
27. Kyrie Irving (34)
28. De'Aaron Fox (39.4)
29. Clint Capela (42)
30. Jalen Brunson (43.4)