Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic and the NBA's Best Players on November 14, 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 first in Basketball Reference’s box plus/minus, first 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, James Wiseman), 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.
Rank.Player (average of ranks in catch-all metrics)
1.Luka Dončić (1.8)
2.Stephen Curry (2.3)
3.Nikola Jokić (4.0)
4.Jayson Tatum (5.7)
5.Donovan Mitchell (6.2)
6.Kevin Durant (6.9)
7.Giannis Antetokounmpo (8.6)
8.Jimmy Butler (11.9)
8.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11.9)
10.Ja Morant (13.1)
11.Tyrese Haliburton (15.4)
12.Kristaps Porziņģis (15.6)
13.Joel Embiid (15.7)
14.Desmond Bane (18.0)
15.Dejounte Murray (18.2)
16.James Harden (18.7)
17.Devin Booker (21.7)
18.Pascal Siakam (23.1)
19.Paul George (23.9)
20.Anthony Davis (24.4)
21.Jrue Holiday (28.3)
22.Fred VanVleet (29.5)
23.De'Aaron Fox (30.2)
24.Domantas Sabonis (31.8)
25.Lauri Markkanen (34.0)
26.Damian Lillard (34.6)
27.Kevin Love (35.0)
28.Brook Lopez (37.7)
29.Jalen Brunson (38.1)
30.Karl-Anthony Towns (39.2)
31.Buddy Hield (39.5)
32.Trae Young (41.5)
33.Chris Paul (46.9)
34.O.G. Anunoby (47.1)
35.Jerami Grant (48.3)
36.Andrew Wiggins (49.5)
37.Nic Claxton (50.0)
38.Kyrie Irving (50.5)
39.Zion Williamson (51.0)
40.Keldon Johnson (51.4)
41.Jordan Clarkson (55.2)
42.Spencer Dinwiddi e(55.8)
43.Tobias Harris (56.0)
44.Mikal Bridges (56.8)
45.Michael Porter Jr. (59.7)
46.Aaron Gordon (59.9)
47.Zach LaVine (61.4)
48.LeBron James (61.9)
49.Tyler Herro (62.7)
50.DeMar DeRozan (62.8)
51.Cameron Johnson (65.3)
52.Kevin Huerter (66.6)
53.Paolo Banchero (67.3)
54.Isaiah Stewart (68.0)
55.Clint Capela (68.7)
56.Bradley Beal (69.2)
57.Mike Conley (69.8)
58.Jaylen Brown (69.9)
59.Jonas Valančiūnas (70.4)
60.Alperen Şengün (71.4)
61.Bojan Bogdanović (71.9)
62.Devin Vassell (75.5)
63.Tyrese Maxey (83.6)
64.Dennis Smith Jr. (84.4)
65.Wendell Carter Jr. (84.5)
66.Rudy Gobert (86.4)
67.Anfernee Simons (88.2)
68.Kelly Olynyk (89.7)
68.Kyle Lowry (89.7)
70.Marcus Morris (90.1)
71.Grant Williams (90.9)
72.Jordan Goodwin (91.3)
73.Jusuf Nurkić (91.5)
74.Al Horford (92.1)
75.Christian Wood (92.3)
76.Bennedict Mathurin (93.5)
77.Sam Hauser (93.9)
78.De'Anthony Melton (95.6)
79.Bol Bol (97.3)
80.Santi Aldama (97.6)
81.CJ McCollum (98.3)
82.Jarrett Allen (98.6)
83.Walker Kessler (99.0)
84.Malcolm Brogdon (99.1)
85.Bobby Portis (99.5)
86.Franz Wagner (100.5)
86.Javonte Green (100.5)
88.Brandon Ingram (100.6)
89.Scottie Barnes (101.0)
90.Nick Richards (101.4)
91.Max Strus (101.9)
92.Tari Eason (104.4)
93.Kelly Oubre Jr. (104.5)
94.Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (105.4)
95.Darius Garland (106.6)
96.D'Angelo Russell (107.4)
97.Trey Murphy III (109.4)
98.Julius Randle (110.4)
99.Larry Nance Jr. (110.7)
99.Tre Jones (110.7)
101.Kevon Looney (110.9)
102.Myles Turner (111.4)
103.Goran Dragić (112.1)
103.Kyle Kuzma (112.1)
105.Josh Green (112.4)
105.Obi Toppin (112.4)
107.Chris Boucher (113.3)
108.Luguentz Dort (113.4)
109.Jock Landale (113.9)
110.Bam Adebayo (116.2)
111.Naz Reid (117.3)
112.Jakob Poeltl (117.8)
112.Nikola Vučević (117.8)
114.Malik Beasley (118.8)
115.Dean Wade (119.2)
116.Ivica Zubac (120.2)
117.Lonnie Walker IV (121.1)
118.AJ Griffin (121.3)
119.Draymond Green (124.2)
120.Isaiah Hartenstein (124.9)
121.Immanuel Quickley (125.5)
122.Derrick White (128.9)
123.Marcus Smart (129.8)
124.Steven Adams (130.0)
125.Terence Davis (130.2)
126.Caris LeVert (130.6)
126.Collin Sexton (130.6)
128.Zach Collins (130.9)
129.Cameron Payne (132.0)
129.Mitchell Robinson (132.0)
131.John Wall (132.7)
132.Russell Westbrook (134.4)
133.Talen Horton-Tucker (135.9)
134.Terry Rozier (137.0)
135.Cade Cunningham (137.9)
135.Jamal Murray (137.9)
137.Mason Plumlee (138.2)
138.Onyeka Okongwu (138.8)
139.Darius Bazley (139.0)
139.Jarred Vanderbilt (139.0)
141.Jalen Green (139.4)
142.Kenyon Martin Jr. (140.1)
143.Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (142.1)
144.Malik Monk (143.3)
145.John Collins (143.6)
146.Jose Alvarado (144.3)
147.Grayson Allen (144.6)
148.Gary Trent Jr. (144.8)
149.Jaden Ivey (144.9)
149.R.J. Hampton (144.9)
151.Royce O'Neale (146.2)
152.Derrick Jones Jr. (147.8)
153.Kyle Anderson (148.8)
154.Tre Mann (149.3)
155.John Konchar (150.2)
156.Daniel Gafford (153.2)
157.Evan Mobley (153.4)
158.Dillon Brooks (154.1)
159.RJ Barrett (154.4)
160.Alex Caruso (154.9)
160.Justise Winslow (154.9)
162.Anthony Edwards (155.2)
162.Jevon Carter (155.2)
164.Dwight Powell (156.1)
165.Bones Hyland (156.3)
166.Jaylen Nowell (158.8)
167.Kevin Porter Jr. (159.2)
168.Jaden McDaniels (159.8)
169.Isaiah Jackson (159.9)
170.Jalen McDaniels (162.9)
171.Josh Hart (163.4)
172.Jalen Suggs (165.3)
173.Corey Kispert (165.8)
173.Yuta Watanabe (165.8)
175.Terance Mann (167.0)
176.Saddiq Bey (167.1)
177.Monte Morris (167.9)
178.Cole Anthony (168.0)
178.Otto Porter Jr. (168.0)
180.Georges Niang (168.2)
181.Bruce Brown (168.5)
182.Brandon Clarke (169.7)
183.Andre Drummond (172.5)
183.Klay Thompson (172.5)
185.Aleksej Pokusevski (174.3)
186.Nassir Little (175.6)
187.Chuma Okeke (175.7)
188.Ayo Dosunmu (177.3)
189.Deandre Ayton (178.2)
189.Jalen Smith (178.2)
189.Ty Jerome (178.2)
192.Mike Muscala (178.4)
193.Dalano Banton (178.5)
193.Harrison Barnes (178.5)
193.Jordan McLaughlin (178.5)
196.Edmond Sumner (180.8)
197.Joe Harris (180.9)
198.Eric Gordon (181.3)
199.Damion Lee (182.0)
200.Gordon Hayward (183.8)
201.Austin Reaves (184.5)
202.Wenyen Gabriel (185.1)
203.Dewayne Dedmon (185.4)
204.Usman Garuba (185.7)
205.Cam Thomas (186.5)
206.Naji Marshall (187.7)
207.Montrezl Harrell (188.0)
208.Cedi Osman (188.5)
208.Luke Kornet (188.5)
210.Herbert Jones (188.8)
211.Mo Bamba (189.8)
212.Andrew Nembhard (190.2)
213.Torrey Craig (192.3)
214.Keegan Murray (192.6)
215.Jalen Johnson (194.0)
215.Josh Giddey (194.0)
217.Tim Hardaway Jr. (195.1)
218.Goga Bitadze (196.4)
219.Terrence Ross (196.5)
220.Tyus Jones (199.3)
221.Landry Shamet (199.5)
222.Patty Mills (199.6)
223.Robert Covington (200.3)
224.Trey Lyles (201.1)
225.Patrick Williams (202.5)
226.De'Andre Hunter (203.8)
227.Gabe Vincent (204.3)
228.Caleb Martin (204.5)
229.Kenrich Williams (205.3)
230.Cam Reddish (205.9)
231.P.J. Washington (206.6)
232.Jeremy Sochan (208.5)
233.Devonte' Graham (209.2)
234.Aaron Wiggins (211.4)
234.Derrick Rose (211.4)
236.Dorian Finney-Smith (212.1)
237.Taurean Prince (214.6)
238.Jordan Poole (215.7)
239.DeAndre Jordan (218.5)
240.Deni Avdija (218.9)
241.Precious Achiuwa (219.0)
242.Anthony Gill (222.4)
242.Thaddeus Young (222.4)
244.Bismack Biyombo (223.1)
245.Shaedon Sharpe (224.1)
246.Drew Eubanks (225.0)
247.Aaron Holiday (230.9)
248.Jake LaRavia (231.9)
249.Troy Brown Jr. (233.2)
250.Théo Maledon (233.6)
251.Cory Joseph (234.0)
252.Matisse Thybulle (234.7)
253.Doug McDermott (235.6)
254.Garrison Mathews (237.3)
255.George Hill (238.5)
256.Josh Richardson (239.0)
257.Keita Bates-Diop (239.4)
257.Rudy Gay (239.4)
259.Jalen Duren (242.9)
260.Ben Simmons (243.8)
260.Luke Kennard (243.8)
262.Daishen Nix (243.9)
263.Coby White (244.0)
264.Chris Duarte (244.4)
265.James Wiseman (244.9)
266.Christian Braun (245.7)
267.Wesley Matthews (246.5)
268.Serge Ibaka (246.9)
269.Isaiah Livers (247.0)
270.Norman Powell (252.4)
271.P.J. Tucker (253.0)
271.Will Barton (253.0)
273.Nicolas Batum (253.3)
274.Jalen Williams (254.0)
275.Duncan Robinson (254.1)
276.MarJon Beauchamp (254.3)
277.Jeff Green (256.1)
278.Aaron Nesmith (257.0)
279.Reggie Jackson (259.1)
280.Hamidou Diallo (259.6)
280.Ousmane Dieng (259.6)
282.Evan Fournier (263.4)
282.Matt Ryan (263.4)
284.JaMychal Green (264.6)
285.Davion Mitchell (265.2)
286.Rui Hachimura (267.2)
287.Maxi Kleber (267.6)
288.T.J. McConnell (268.5)
289.David Roddy (269.2)
290.Patrick Beverley (269.4)
291.Jabari Smith Jr. (270.1)
292.JT Thor (271.0)
293.Moses Moody (274.6)
294.Noah Vonleh (275.3)
295.James Bouknight (279.0)
296.Danuel House Jr. (279.1)
297.Justin Holiday (281.6)
298.Keon Johnson (282.1)
299.Christian Koloko (282.8)
300.Reggie Bullock (283.6)
301.Richaun Holmes (284.9)
302.Romeo Langford (285.1)
303.Kevon Harris (287.1)
304.Caleb Houstan (291.1)
305.Juan Toscano-Anderson (292.9)
306.Jordan Nwora (293.5)
307.Shake Milton (297.1)
308.Killian Hayes (303.5)
309.Jonathan Kuminga (303.8)
310.Isaac Okoro (304.9)
311.Kendrick Nunn (306.8)