Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic and the NBA's Best Players on November 20, 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, 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, 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.
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 (1.5)
2. Stephen Curry (1.7)
3. Jayson Tatum (5.7)
4. Nikola Jokić (6.1)
5. Donovan Mitchell (7.3)
6. Kevin Durant (8.1)
7. Tyrese Haliburton (9.7)
8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10.8)
9. Ja Morant (11.8)
10. Devin Booker (12)
11. Joel Embiid (12.2)
12. Kristaps Porziņģis (14.6)
13. Giannis Antetokounmpo (16.4)
14. De'Aaron Fox (18.9)
14. Jimmy Butler (18.9)
16. Anthony Davis (20.5)
17. Paul George (20.8)
18. Lauri Markkanen (21.8)
19. Dejounte Murray (25)
20. Desmond Bane (25.7)
21. Brook Lopez (25.8)
22. Domantas Sabonis (28)
23. James Harden (28.4)
24. Damian Lillard (29.4)
25. Trae Young (29.9)
26. Pascal Siakam (30.5)
27. Jalen Brunson (33.9)
28. Jrue Holiday (41.5)
29. Karl-Anthony Towns (42)
30. Fred VanVleet (42.3)
31. Mikal Bridges (44.3)
32. DeMar DeRozan (44.4)
33. Kevin Love (45.4)
34. Clint Capela (47.1)
35. Buddy Hield (48.6)
36. Jerami Grant (55.2)
37. O.G. Anunoby (56.5)
38. Chris Paul (56.6)
39. Darius Garland (58)
40. Spencer Dinwiddie (59.5)
41. Larry Nance Jr. (60.3)
42. Derrick White (61)
43. Andrew Wiggins (62.6)
44. Kyrie Irving (63)
45. Zion Williamson (65.4)
46. Tobias Harris (65.9)
47. Anfernee Simons (66.7)
48. Kevin Huerter (68)
49. Jordan Clarkson (68.1)
50. Bradley Beal (69.6)
51. Mike Conley (69.8)
51. Nic Claxton (69.8)
53. Marcus Morris (70.2)
54. LeBron James (70.4)
55. Bojan Bogdanović (70.6)
56. Keldon Johnson (71.2)
57. Tyrese Maxey (71.8)
58. Aaron Gordon (71.9)
59. Kyle Lowry (72.4)
60. CJ McCollum (73)
61. Myles Turner (73.2)
62. Wendell Carter Jr. (73.9)
63. Paolo Banchero (74)
64. Tyler Herro (74.1)
65. Al Horford (76)
66. Jaylen Brown (76.7)
67. Cameron Johnson (77.4)
68. Terence Davis (79)
69. Rudy Gobert (79.7)
70. Jakob Poeltl (79.9)
71. Kelly Oubre Jr. (82.3)
72. Isaiah Stewart (83)
73. Franz Wagner (83.1)
74. Christian Wood (83.2)
75. Kevon Looney (83.5)
75. Sam Hauser (83.5)
77. Alperen Şengün (87.1)
78. Bobby Portis (90.2)
79. Brandon Ingram (90.4)
79. Kelly Olynyk (90.4)
81. Trey Murphy III (92.1)
82. Santi Aldama (94.5)
83. Jarrett Allen (95.6)
84. Dennis Smith Jr. (95.7)
85. De'Anthony Melton (95.9)
86. Devin Vassell (97.1)
87. Scottie Barnes (97.9)
88. Bam Adebayo (98.4)
89. Zach LaVine (98.9)
90. Julius Randle (99.4)
91. Malik Beasley (100.7)
92. Jonas Valančiūnas (101.2)
93. Michael Porter Jr. (104.2)
94. Draymond Green (105.8)
95. Bol Bol (106.1)
96. D'Angelo Russell (109)
97. Javonte Green (110.2)
98. Grant Williams (111.7)
99. Nikola Vučević (112.9)
100. Jordan Goodwin (113.6)
101. Chris Boucher (114.7)
102. Anthony Edwards (115.9)
103. Nick Richards (116.1)
104. Walker Kessler (118.8)
105. Jose Alvarado (119)
106. Max Strus (120.4)
107. Naz Reid (121.6)
108. Josh Hart (121.8)
109. Malcolm Brogdon (122.3)
110. Kyle Kuzma (122.8)
111. John Wall (122.9)
112. Tre Jones (125)
113. Bennedict Mathurin (125.9)
114. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (128.3)
115. Jusuf Nurkić (129.7)
116. Immanuel Quickley (129.9)
117. Evan Mobley (130)
118. Tari Eason (130.4)
119. Mason Plumlee (130.5)
120. John Konchar (130.7)
121. Obi Toppin (130.8)
122. Jock Landale (132.5)
123. Malik Monk (133.7)
124. Dean Wade (134.3)
125. Luguentz Dort (135.3)
126. Cameron Payne (135.4)
127. Josh Green (135.9)
127. Usman Garuba (135.9)
129. Yuta Watanabe (136.5)
130. Kenyon Martin Jr. (137.4)
131. Jevon Carter (137.6)
132. Thaddeus Young (138.2)
133. Jalen Green (138.9)
133. Marcus Smart (138.9)
135. Aleksej Pokusevski (139.9)
135. Bruce Brown (139.9)
137. Kevin Porter Jr. (140.1)
138. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (140.2)
139. Zach Collins (142.4)
140. Harrison Barnes (143.2)
141. Ivica Zubac (143.8)
141. Mitchell Robinson (143.8)
143. Isaiah Hartenstein (144.1)
144. Dalano Banton (144.2)
145. Jarred Vanderbilt (145.2)
146. R.J. Hampton (146.5)
147. Goran Dragić (146.9)
148. Kyle Anderson (149.9)
149. Jamal Murray (150.4)
150. Lonnie Walker IV (151.3)
151. Gary Trent Jr. (151.7)
152. Corey Kispert (152.7)
153. AJ Griffin (153.4)
154. Darius Bazley (154.2)
155. Onyeka Okongwu (154.7)
156. Dillon Brooks (154.8)
157. John Collins (155.8)
157. Mo Bamba (155.8)
159. Malachi Flynn (156.2)
160. Cade Cunningham (157)
161. Steven Adams (157.1)
162. Anthony Lamb (157.8)
163. Monte Morris (158.6)
163. Torrey Craig (158.6)
165. Talen Horton-Tucker (160.4)
166. Luke Kornet (161.2)
167. Wenyen Gabriel (161.5)
168. Russell Westbrook (163.3)
169. Caris LeVert (164.7)
170. Terry Rozier (164.8)
171. Grayson Allen (165)
172. Dwight Powell (165.4)
173. Andrew Nembhard (165.7)
174. Isaiah Jackson (166.7)
175. Caleb Martin (167.2)
176. Jaden McDaniels (168)
177. Georges Niang (169.3)
178. Jalen Smith (169.7)
179. Herbert Jones (169.8)
180. Alex Caruso (170.2)
181. P.J. Washington (170.8)
182. Tre Mann (170.9)
183. Austin Reaves (171.6)
183. Royce O'Neale (171.6)
185. Terance Mann (174)
186. Dewayne Dedmon (174.7)
187. Jaden Ivey (175.9)
188. Jordan McLaughlin (176.2)
189. Brandon Clarke (176.7)
190. Deandre Ayton (176.8)
191. Jalen Suggs (177.1)
192. Bones Hyland (177.5)
193. Klay Thompson (178.4)
194. Collin Sexton (178.5)
195. Gordon Hayward (178.6)
196. Cole Anthony (181.1)
197. Edmond Sumner (181.4)
198. Jaylen Nowell (182.2)
199. Dorian Finney-Smith (182.9)
200. Tim Hardaway Jr. (183.5)
201. Derrick Jones Jr. (184.1)
202. Daniel Gafford (184.8)
203. Drew Eubanks (185.5)
204. Cam Reddish (187.6)
205. Nassir Little (188)
206. Damion Lee (188.7)
206. Jordan Poole (188.7)
208. Justise Winslow (189)
208. Mike Muscala (189)
210. Eric Gordon (189.1)
211. Dyson Daniels (189.6)
212. Derrick Rose (190.6)
213. Saddiq Bey (191.7)
214. Patty Mills (192.2)
215. Reggie Jackson (196.1)
216. Ty Jerome (196.2)
217. Jalen McDaniels (196.6)
218. Jericho Sims (198.6)
219. Andre Drummond (202)
220. Trey Lyles (203.7)
221. Otto Porter Jr. (205.6)
222. Aaron Wiggins (206.1)
223. Ayo Dosunmu (206.9)
224. Keegan Murray (208)
225. Keita Bates-Diop (208.9)
226. Landry Shamet (209.1)
227. Payton Pritchard (209.6)
228. Gabe Vincent (209.7)
229. Cam Thomas (212.2)
229. Patrick Williams (212.2)
231. Cedi Osman (212.6)
231. Montrezl Harrell (212.6)
233. Naji Marshall (214.4)
234. Ben Simmons (214.6)
235. Chuma Okeke (215.6)
235. Tyus Jones (215.6)
237. RJ Barrett (216.3)
238. Kenrich Williams (217.5)
239. Jalen Johnson (217.8)
240. Joe Harris (218.2)
241. Goga Bitadze (221)
242. Josh Giddey (221.3)
243. Taurean Prince (222.2)
244. Hamidou Diallo (224.1)
245. Devonte' Graham (224.8)
246. Charles Bassey (225)
247. De'Andre Hunter (225.7)
248. Norman Powell (229.1)
249. Chimezie Metu (230.9)
250. Jake LaRavia (231.1)
251. Precious Achiuwa (231.4)
252. DeAndre Jordan (232.3)
253. Nicolas Batum (234.3)
254. Shaedon Sharpe (238.1)
255. Anthony Gill (238.5)
256. Théo Maledon (240.8)
257. Jalen Williams (241.7)
258. Bismack Biyombo (241.8)
259. Matisse Thybulle (242.8)
260. Juancho Hernangómez (243.3)
261. Robert Covington (243.8)
262. Deni Avdija (245)
263. Seth Curry (246.3)
264. Isaiah Roby (246.7)
265. George Hill (248.5)
266. Luke Kennard (249.3)
267. Troy Brown Jr. (250.7)
268. Rudy Gay (250.9)
269. P.J. Tucker (251.1)
270. Serge Ibaka (252.6)
271. Garrison Mathews (254.3)
272. Cory Joseph (254.7)
273. Jalen Duren (256.4)
274. Paul Reed (257.3)
275. Terrence Ross (260.2)
276. Rui Hachimura (261.2)
277. James Wiseman (262.1)
278. Trendon Watford (262.7)
279. Oshae Brissett (262.9)
280. Jeremy Sochan (263.6)
281. Chris Duarte (264.2)
282. Isaiah Livers (264.3)
283. Josh Richardson (264.8)
284. Donte DiVincenzo (265)
285. Coby White (265.1)
286. Davion Mitchell (265.6)
287. Aaron Holiday (266.4)
288. JaVale McGee (267.1)
289. Aaron Nesmith (267.5)
290. Christian Braun (272.6)
290. Daishen Nix (272.6)
292. JaMychal Green (273.6)
293. MarJon Beauchamp (273.9)
294. Ousmane Dieng (274.9)
295. Kevon Harris (275)
296. Doug McDermott (276.2)
297. Jabari Smith Jr. (280.4)
298. Evan Fournier (281.1)
299. Matt Ryan (281.9)
300. Wesley Matthews (282)
301. Jeff Green (282.1)
302. Duncan Robinson (282.3)
303. Jordan Nwora (283.7)
304. Christian Koloko (284.5)
305. Moses Moody (285.9)
306. Richaun Holmes (287.4)
306. Will Barton (287.4)
308. Maxi Kleber (288.1)
308. T.J. McConnell (288.1)
310. Lamar Stevens (289)
311. JT Thor (291.9)
312. Terry Taylor (292.7)
313. Romeo Langford (295.1)
314. Day'Ron Sharpe (295.7)
315. David Roddy (297.4)
316. Reggie Bullock (297.5)
317. Patrick Beverley (298)
318. Shake Milton (298.2)
319. Amir Coffey (299)
320. Noah Vonleh (299.7)
321. Danuel House Jr. (300.4)
322. Keon Johnson (300.5)
323. Killian Hayes (304.1)
324. Justin Holiday (304.3)
325. Caleb Houstan (306.5)
326. James Bouknight (308.4)
327. Juan Toscano-Anderson (311.5)
328. Jonathan Kuminga (316)
329. Kendrick Nunn (322.7)
330. Isaac Okoro (325.3)
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. Luka Dončić (1.6)
2. Stephen Curry (1.8)
3. Nikola Jokić (3)
4. Donovan Mitchell (7.2)
5. Jayson Tatum (7.6)
6. Joel Embiid (10.2)
7. Ja Morant (10.8)
8. Tyrese Haliburton (11.4)
9. Kevin Durant (11.6)
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (13.6)
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo (14.2)
12. Kristaps Porziņģis (14.8)
13. Devin Booker (15.8)
14. James Harden (16.8)
15. De'Aaron Fox (17.6)
16. Pascal Siakam (18.4)
17. Jimmy Butler (20)
18. Anthony Davis (22.8)
19. Desmond Bane (23)
20. Damian Lillard (26.4)
21. Paul George (27.8)
22. Brook Lopez (29.2)
23. Domantas Sabonis (30.4)
24. Jrue Holiday (31.4)
25. Kevin Love (31.6)
26. Lauri Markkanen (32.2)
27. Dejounte Murray (34.6)
28. Terence Davis (36.4)
29. Chris Paul (38.2)
30. Trae Young (38.6)