Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic and the NBA's Best Players on December 3, 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 (2.1)
2. Stephen Curry (2.7)
3. Nikola Jokić (3.6)
4. Jayson Tatum (5.9)
5. Anthony Davis (6.6)
6. Kevin Durant (8.6)
7. Devin Booker (8.8)
8. Donovan Mitchell (10.1)
8. Joel Embiid (10.1)
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (11.5)
11. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12.2)
12. Ja Morant (14)
13. Tyrese Haliburton (16.3)
14. Kristaps Porziņģis (19.3)
15. Trae Young (20.5)
16. Lauri Markkanen (21.4)
17. Zion Williamson (23.2)
18. De'Aaron Fox (23.7)
19. Domantas Sabonis (25.2)
20. Jalen Brunson (26.3)
21. Paul George (31.6)
22. Brook Lopez (31.7)
22. Jimmy Butler (31.7)
24. DeMar DeRozan (33.9)
25. Dejounte Murray (36.6)
26. Jrue Holiday (38.3)
27. Darius Garland (39.1)
28. Pascal Siakam (40.4)
29. Desmond Bane (44.6)
30. Aaron Gordon (46.5)
31. LeBron James (47.2)
32. James Harden (48.1)
33. Clint Capela (48.6)
34. Damian Lillard (48.8)
35. Kyrie Irving (49.6)
36. Jerami Grant (50.3)
37. Anfernee Simons (51)
38. Karl-Anthony Towns (51.2)
39. Mikal Bridges (51.4)
40. Nic Claxton (51.5)
41. Jaylen Brown (55.2)
42. Derrick White (55.6)
43. Bradley Beal (59.6)
44. Andrew Wiggins (60.6)
45. Kelly Olynyk (62.4)
46. Bam Adebayo (63.2)
47. Fred VanVleet (64.6)
48. Kevin Huerter (65.3)
49. Draymond Green (67)
50. Kevin Love (67.3)
50. O.G. Anunoby (67.3)
52. Kelly Oubre Jr. (68.3)
53. Kyle Lowry (68.4)
54. Kevon Looney (69)
55. Jordan Clarkson (69.2)
56. Alperen Şengün (74.7)
57. Tobias Harris (76.6)
58. Bojan Bogdanović (77.2)
59. Chris Paul (78)
60. Kyle Kuzma (78.3)
61. Spencer Dinwiddie (79.1)
62. Brandon Ingram (79.5)
63. Al Horford (80.8)
64. Rudy Gobert (82)
65. Nikola Vučević (82.6)
65. Trey Murphy III (82.6)
67. Julius Randle (85.6)
68. Zach LaVine (87.1)
69. Jamal Murray (87.4)
70. Myles Turner (88)
71. Jarrett Allen (88.2)
72. Marcus Smart (88.4)
73. Tyrese Maxey (89.9)
74. Anthony Edwards (90.2)
75. Mitchell Robinson (90.3)
76. Jaren Jackson Jr. (91.1)
77. Larry Nance Jr. (93.1)
78. CJ McCollum (93.3)
79. Wendell Carter Jr. (93.6)
80. Devin Vassell (93.7)
81. Tyler Herro (93.9)
82. Malcolm Brogdon (94.5)
83. Cameron Johnson (94.7)
84. Franz Wagner (94.8)
85. Mike Conley (95.9)
86. Jonas Valančiūnas (96.9)
87. Jakob Poeltl (97.7)
88. Malik Monk (98.1)
89. Sam Hauser (98.2)
90. Grayson Allen (100.1)
91. D'Angelo Russell (102)
92. Buddy Hield (102.5)
93. Jose Alvarado (103.3)
94. Harrison Barnes (105)
95. De'Anthony Melton (105.1)
96. Bobby Portis (105.9)
97. Terence Davis (107.2)
98. Jusuf Nurkić (108.1)
99. Evan Mobley (108.2)
100. Javonte Green (109.2)
101. Steven Adams (109.4)
102. Isaiah Stewart (109.6)
103. Deandre Ayton (110.2)
104. Caleb Martin (110.3)
105. Josh Hart (112.6)
106. Dennis Smith Jr. (114.5)
107. Walker Kessler (115.2)
108. Tre Jones (115.8)
109. Alec Burks (116.4)
110. Kevin Porter Jr. (116.9)
111. John Konchar (117.2)
112. Gary Trent Jr. (118.3)
113. Dillon Brooks (119.5)
114. Luguentz Dort (119.6)
115. Marcus Morris (122.4)
116. Malik Beasley (123.6)
117. Scottie Barnes (125.8)
118. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (126.8)
119. Cameron Payne (127.1)
120. Nick Richards (128.5)
121. Paolo Banchero (129.4)
122. Ivica Zubac (129.5)
123. Christian Wood (129.6)
124. AJ Griffin (130.2)
125. Klay Thompson (130.3)
126. Monte Morris (131.5)
127. Austin Reaves (132.2)
127. Immanuel Quickley (132.2)
129. Jarred Vanderbilt (133.4)
130. Josh Green (133.5)
131. John Collins (134.7)
132. Michael Porter Jr. (134.9)
133. Santi Aldama (135.8)
134. Dewayne Dedmon (137.4)
135. Jevon Carter (138.1)
136. John Wall (138.9)
137. Mason Plumlee (141.8)
138. Alex Caruso (142.6)
139. Royce O'Neale (143.3)
140. Marvin Bagley III (143.9)
141. Yuta Watanabe (145.9)
142. Bol Bol (146.9)
143. Lonnie Walker IV (147.3)
144. Bruce Brown (148.1)
145. Jordan Goodwin (149)
146. Caris LeVert (149.5)
146. Dalano Banton (149.5)
148. Tari Eason (151.2)
149. Jock Landale (151.6)
150. Bennedict Mathurin (151.7)
151. Grant Williams (154.8)
152. Chris Boucher (155.7)
152. Wenyen Gabriel (155.7)
154. Thaddeus Young (156.2)
155. Damion Lee (156.5)
156. Jaden McDaniels (156.9)
157. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (157.6)
158. Isaiah Hartenstein (158)
159. Usman Garuba (158.3)
160. Ben Simmons (158.8)
161. Collin Sexton (159)
161. Kenyon Martin Jr. (159)
163. Cole Anthony (159.5)
164. Corey Kispert (160.4)
165. Dean Wade (160.9)
166. Jordan McLaughlin (161.2)
167. Herbert Jones (161.9)
168. Max Strus (162.2)
169. Reggie Jackson (162.8)
170. Daniel Gafford (164.3)
171. Russell Westbrook (165)
172. Torrey Craig (167)
173. Georges Niang (167.6)
174. Terry Rozier (168.1)
175. Cedi Osman (169.7)
176. Dyson Daniels (170.3)
177. Jalen Green (170.4)
178. Jalen Smith (171.3)
179. Luke Kornet (171.7)
179. Onyeka Okongwu (171.7)
181. Jaylen Nowell (173)
182. Dorian Finney-Smith (176.7)
183. Cade Cunningham (177.2)
184. Norman Powell (178)
185. Terance Mann (178.1)
186. Aleksej Pokusevski (179.1)
187. Shake Milton (179.3)
188. Dwight Powell (180.1)
188. Keldon Johnson (180.1)
190. P.J. Washington (180.5)
191. Jordan Poole (181.4)
192. Isaiah Jackson (181.8)
193. Paul Reed (182.2)
194. Andrew Nembhard (182.4)
194. Naz Reid (182.4)
196. Kyle Anderson (183.5)
197. Drew Eubanks (183.8)
198. Goran Dragić (184.2)
199. Anthony Lamb (184.4)
200. Obi Toppin (185.1)
201. Jalen Johnson (187)
202. T.J. McConnell (188.2)
203. Bones Hyland (188.7)
204. Edmond Sumner (189.2)
204. R.J. Hampton (189.2)
206. Derrick Jones Jr. (192.5)
207. Jaden Ivey (195.8)
208. Mike Muscala (196.2)
209. Darius Bazley (198.3)
210. Andre Drummond (201.3)
211. Jericho Sims (201.5)
212. Mo Bamba (202.7)
213. Zach Collins (203)
214. Tim Hardaway Jr. (203.4)
215. Charles Bassey (203.6)
216. Devonte' Graham (205.7)
217. Kenrich Williams (206.3)
218. Tre Mann (206.9)
219. Brandon Clarke (207.1)
220. Vlatko Čančar (207.2)
221. Jalen Suggs (209.1)
222. Garrison Mathews (209.8)
223. Nicolas Batum (210.5)
224. Montrezl Harrell (210.7)
225. Eric Gordon (210.9)
226. Derrick Rose (211.2)
227. Cam Reddish (212)
228. Naji Marshall (212.3)
229. Robert Covington (213.8)
230. Gordon Hayward (214.4)
231. Justise Winslow (215.5)
231. RJ Barrett (215.5)
233. Ayo Dosunmu (216.5)
234. Saddiq Bey (218.7)
235. Aaron Wiggins (220.2)
236. Patty Mills (220.6)
237. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (220.7)
238. Oshae Brissett (222.1)
239. Kevin Knox (222.4)
240. Juancho Hernangómez (222.6)
241. Quentin Grimes (222.7)
242. Talen Horton-Tucker (224.3)
243. Tyus Jones (224.6)
244. Chimezie Metu (224.9)
245. Jalen McDaniels (225)
246. Théo Maledon (228.6)
247. Jabari Smith Jr. (229)
248. De'Andre Hunter (230.1)
249. DeAndre Jordan (230.3)
250. Hamidou Diallo (230.5)
251. Seth Curry (231.2)
252. Deni Avdija (232)
253. Trey Lyles (232.2)
254. Joe Harris (232.9)
255. Landry Shamet (233.2)
256. Gabe Vincent (233.3)
257. Keita Bates-Diop (236.1)
258. Donte DiVincenzo (237.3)
259. Gary Harris (237.6)
260. Josh Giddey (237.9)
261. Patrick Williams (238.3)
262. Davion Mitchell (238.4)
263. Malachi Flynn (238.9)
264. George Hill (243.2)
265. Coby White (243.6)
266. Chuma Okeke (246.7)
267. Cory Joseph (247.1)
268. Payton Pritchard (250.3)
269. Precious Achiuwa (250.8)
270. Jalen Duren (251)
271. Furkan Korkmaz (251.4)
272. Isaiah Roby (255.8)
273. Matisse Thybulle (256.4)
274. Nikola Jović (256.6)
275. Taurean Prince (257.3)
276. Nassir Little (258.3)
277. Luke Kennard (259.8)
278. Jalen Williams (261.1)
279. Isaiah Livers (262.2)
280. Rudy Gay (264)
281. Anthony Gill (266.9)
282. Troy Brown Jr. (267.3)
283. Trendon Watford (268.1)
284. Jeremy Sochan (269.2)
285. Lamar Stevens (271.2)
286. Killian Hayes (271.9)
287. Bismack Biyombo (272.9)
288. Terrence Ross (273.1)
289. Aaron Holiday (273.3)
290. Maxi Kleber (273.4)
291. Haywood Highsmith (273.5)
292. Rui Hachimura (273.7)
293. Jake LaRavia (273.8)
294. Chris Duarte (273.9)
295. Aaron Nesmith (274.5)
296. Doug McDermott (277.6)
297. Serge Ibaka (278.2)
298. Robin Lopez (279)
299. Keegan Murray (279.3)
300. Josh Richardson (280.4)
301. Cam Thomas (280.7)
302. P.J. Tucker (282.1)
303. Ousmane Dieng (282.6)
304. Romeo Langford (283.8)
305. JaMychal Green (287.3)
305. Jeff Green (287.3)
307. Patrick Beverley (289.5)
308. Zeke Nnaji (290.1)
309. Kevon Harris (290.4)
310. Isaac Okoro (291.1)
311. Daishen Nix (293.2)
312. Amir Coffey (293.3)
313. Wesley Matthews (294.9)
314. Caleb Houstan (295.5)
315. Evan Fournier (296.3)
316. Danuel House Jr. (297.8)
317. Christian Koloko (298.5)
318. Will Barton (299.5)
319. MarJon Beauchamp (299.7)
320. Dennis Schröder (300.6)
321. Duncan Robinson (302.8)
322. Christian Braun (303.4)
323. Shaedon Sharpe (304.4)
324. Jordan Nwora (305.3)
325. Justin Holiday (307.3)
326. Moses Moody (309.2)
327. David Roddy (310.3)
328. Jonathan Kuminga (313)
329. James Bouknight (313.7)
330. Austin Rivers (314.8)
331. Reggie Bullock (317.6)
332. Malaki Branham (318.4)
333. Davon Reed (326.7)
334. Kendrick Nunn (327.7)
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 (2)
2. Luka Dončić (2.2)
3. Stephen Curry (2.8)
4. Joel Embiid (5.2)
5. Anthony Davis (5.6)
6. Jayson Tatum (7.8)
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo (9.6)
8. Devin Booker (11.4)
9. Donovan Mitchell (13)
10. Kevin Durant (13.8)
11. Ja Morant (14)
12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (14.6)
13. James Harden (17.8)
14. Zion Williamson (19)
15. Tyrese Haliburton (20)
16. Kristaps Porziņģis (22.8)
17. Pascal Siakam (23.2)
18. Desmond Bane (23.6)
18. Jimmy Butler (23.6)
20. De'Aaron Fox (24.2)
21. Trae Young (26.8)
22. Damian Lillard (27.2)
23. Domantas Sabonis (28)
23. Jaren Jackson Jr. (28)
25. Paul George (28.2)
26. Jalen Brunson (31.8)
26. Lauri Markkanen (31.8)
28. Jrue Holiday (35.4)
29. Brook Lopez (37)
30. Darius Garland (39.6)