Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler and the NBA's Best Players on March 17, 2023
Happy St. Patrick's Day! 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, third in Dunks and Threes’ estimated plus-minus, second in FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR, sixth in Basketball Index’s LEBRON and third in Basketball Reference’s game score per possession…”
…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 missed several 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. Nikola Jokic (1.1)
2. Joel Embiid (3.2)
2. Luka Doncic (3.2)
4. Damian Lillard (6.6)
4. Jimmy Butler (6.6)
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo (7.6)
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8.4)
8. Jayson Tatum (12.5)
9. James Harden (13.6)
10. Donovan Mitchell (14.8)
11. LeBron James (15.3)
12. Stephen Curry (16.5)
13. Anthony Davis (17.0)
14. Tyrese Haliburton (17.3)
15. Kevin Durant (17.8)
16. Ja Morant (17.9)
17. Trae Young (19.4)
18. Kyrie Irving (20.3)
19. Darius Garland (20.7)
19. Lauri Markkanen (20.7)
21. Domantas Sabonis (21.0)
22. Kawhi Leonard (24.0)
23. Julius Randle (25.9)
24. Kristaps Porzingis (26.4)
25. Paul George (27.1)
26. Jalen Brunson (28.3)
27. Jrue Holiday (28.7)
28. Fred VanVleet (31.4)
29. Devin Booker (31.6)
30. DeMar DeRozan (36.5)
31. De'Aaron Fox (37.3)
32. Nic Claxton (37.9)
33. Jaren Jackson Jr. (38.1)
34. Aaron Gordon (38.2)
35. Bam Adebayo (42.6)
36. Pascal Siakam (44.3)
37. Brook Lopez (44.4)
38. Jarrett Allen (45.0)
39. Desmond Bane (46.6)
40. Zion Williamson (50.1)
41. Anthony Edwards (50.6)
42. Zach LaVine (51.0)
43. Derrick White (52.1)
44. Bradley Beal (54.2)
44. Walker Kessler (54.2)
46. Jaylen Brown (55.4)
47. Mikal Bridges (57.5)
48. Chris Paul (58.7)
49. Clint Capela (63.4)
50. Alperen Sengun (65.2)
51. Franz Wagner (65.5)
52. Myles Turner (65.9)
53. Immanuel Quickley (66.0)
54. Jakob Poeltl (67.4)
55. Kevon Looney (69.2)
56. Buddy Hield (72.2)
57. Rudy Gobert (72.4)
58. Kyle Anderson (74.1)
59. Jamal Murray (76.4)
59. Josh Hart (76.4)
61. Scottie Barnes (77.7)
62. Spencer Dinwiddie (78.9)
63. Mason Plumlee (79.9)
64. LaMelo Ball (80.3)
65. Mitchell Robinson (80.8)
66. Draymond Green (81.3)
67. Dejounte Murray (82.5)
68. Kevin Huerter (83.2)
69. Nikola Vucevic (83.5)
70. Evan Mobley (83.7)
71. Steven Adams (85.8)
72. D'Angelo Russell (87.7)
73. Klay Thompson (90.8)
74. O.G. Anunoby (91.5)
75. Cameron Johnson (95.3)
76. Alex Caruso (95.4)
77. Tyler Herro (95.6)
78. CJ McCollum (96.1)
78. Larry Nance Jr. (96.1)
80. Malcolm Brogdon (98.2)
81. Alec Burks (98.4)
82. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (98.5)
83. Delon Wright (99.8)
84. Tobias Harris (100.0)
85. Al Horford (100.3)
86. Daniel Gafford (101.1)
87. Mike Conley (102.0)
88. Jerami Grant (103.5)
89. Harrison Barnes (104.3)
90. Michael Porter Jr. (105.8)
91. Christian Wood (108.5)
92. Isaiah Joe (109.6)
93. De'Anthony Melton (109.7)
94. Jusuf Nurkic (110.1)
95. Wendell Carter Jr. (111.7)
96. Karl-Anthony Towns (111.8)
97. Tyus Jones (115.4)
98. Bojan Bogdanovic (115.8)
99. Anfernee Simons (116.4)
100. Monte Morris (116.9)
101. Chris Boucher (117.2)
102. Josh Okogie (118.5)
103. Robert Williams (118.8)
104. Kyle Kuzma (121.2)
105. Tyrese Maxey (121.9)
106. Terry Rozier (123.0)
107. Bobby Portis (123.1)
108. Andrew Wiggins (124.0)
109. Kelly Olynyk (124.3)
110. T.J. McConnell (124.5)
111. Gary Trent Jr. (125.3)
112. Kyle Lowry (125.9)
113. Donte DiVincenzo (127.3)
114. Kenrich Williams (127.6)
114. Kevin Porter Jr. (127.6)
116. Moritz Wagner (128.2)
117. Onyeka Okongwu (128.7)
118. Deandre Ayton (130.1)
119. Khris Middleton (130.3)
120. Herbert Jones (131.1)
121. Brandon Clarke (131.9)
122. Jaden McDaniels (133.2)
123. Marcus Smart (134.4)
124. Tim Hardaway Jr. (134.8)
125. Dwight Powell (135.0)
126. Grayson Allen (136.6)
127. Caris LeVert (137.1)
128. Trey Murphy III (137.2)
129. Tari Eason (138.8)
130. Luguentz Dort (139.5)
131. Jalen Williams (140.0)
132. Jock Landale (141.0)
133. Russell Westbrook (141.1)
134. Cole Anthony (141.5)
135. Malik Monk (142.1)
136. Brandon Ingram (142.8)
137. Austin Reaves (143.3)
138. Xavier Tillman (144.0)
139. Isaiah Hartenstein (144.2)
140. John Konchar (146.1)
141. Cedi Osman (146.3)
142. Jordan Clarkson (148.8)
143. Jose Alvarado (149.4)
144. Terance Mann (149.7)
145. Tre Jones (150.5)
146. Hamidou Diallo (150.9)
147. Jarred Vanderbilt (151.3)
148. Markelle Fultz (151.4)
149. Devonte' Graham (152.2)
150. Ben Simmons (153.6)
151. Ivica Zubac (154.5)
152. Naz Reid (155.6)
153. Kevin Love (157.0)
154. Josh Giddey (158.5)
155. Andre Drummond (160.0)
156. Jordan Goodwin (162.7)
157. Jevon Carter (164.1)
158. Trey Lyles (164.5)
159. Nicolas Batum (165.6)
160. Santi Aldama (165.7)
161. Jalen Johnson (166.5)
162. Zach Collins (168.1)
163. Thomas Bryant (169.4)
164. Isaac Okoro (169.7)
165. Norman Powell (170.3)
166. Kelly Oubre Jr. (171.1)
167. Matisse Thybulle (171.4)
168. Saddiq Bey (172.2)
169. Bogdan Bogdanovic (172.4)
170. Charles Bassey (173.8)
171. Mark Williams (175.3)
172. Chimezie Metu (175.5)
173. Devin Vassell (176.3)
174. Quentin Grimes (176.5)
175. Sam Hauser (176.6)
176. Dennis Smith Jr. (176.9)
177. Mo Bamba (177.5)
178. Jalen Suggs (178.4)
179. Dillon Brooks (179.1)
180. Caleb Martin (179.8)
181. Drew Eubanks (180.1)
182. Robert Covington (180.8)
183. Royce O'Neale (181.3)
184. Dorian Finney-Smith (181.5)
185. Jonas Valanciunas (181.9)
186. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (183.2)
187. Luke Kornet (183.8)
188. Keegan Murray (184.1)
189. Mike Muscala (184.8)
190. Josh Richardson (185.9)
191. Kenyon Martin Jr. (186.3)
191. Terence Davis (186.3)
193. Paolo Banchero (186.8)
194. Bruce Brown (188.4)
195. Talen Horton-Tucker (189.3)
196. Jalen McDaniels (194.7)
197. Cameron Payne (195.7)
198. Naji Marshall (196.1)
199. Jalen Duren (196.9)
199. Josh Green (196.9)
201. Collin Sexton (197.3)
202. Pat Connaughton (198.1)
203. Coby White (200.4)
204. Deni Avdija (200.5)
205. Grant Williams (201.9)
206. Anthony Lamb (202.2)
207. Derrick Jones Jr. (202.6)
208. Keldon Johnson (202.8)
209. Jordan McLaughlin (202.9)
210. Dennis Schroder (203.9)
211. AJ Griffin (204.0)
212. Paul Reed (204.3)
213. P.J. Washington (204.4)
214. Marcus Morris (205.3)
215. Keita Bates-Diop (205.5)
216. Damion Lee (205.8)
217. John Collins (208.3)
217. Marvin Bagley III (208.3)
219. Montrezl Harrell (208.9)
220. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (209.3)
221. Georges Niang (210.2)
222. Gordon Hayward (214.9)
223. Nick Richards (215.3)
224. Usman Garuba (216.6)
225. Landry Shamet (217.0)
226. Wenyen Gabriel (217.3)
227. Ish Wainright (217.5)
228. Isaiah Jackson (218.4)
229. Gary Harris (219.2)
230. Jaylen Nowell (219.4)
231. De'Andre Hunter (220.0)
232. Jordan Poole (220.2)
233. Isaiah Stewart (221.7)
234. Malik Beasley (221.9)
235. Edmond Sumner (222.7)
236. Bol Bol (227.1)
237. Miles McBride (227.4)
238. Joe Ingles (228.0)
239. Yuta Watanabe (228.4)
240. Jalen Green (229.0)
241. Aleksej Pokusevski (229.3)
242. Torrey Craig (230.1)
243. Jalen Smith (230.3)
244. Obi Toppin (231.2)
245. Dean Wade (233.7)
245. Eric Gordon (233.7)
247. Cam Thomas (235.9)
248. RJ Barrett (237.6)
249. Dario Saric (237.9)
250. Gabe Vincent (238.7)
251. Jeremy Sochan (239.8)
252. Shake Milton (240.0)
253. Bennedict Mathurin (240.4)
253. Patrick Williams (240.4)
255. Garrison Mathews (240.6)
255. Patrick Beverley (240.6)
257. Cory Joseph (240.7)
258. Darius Bazley (242.1)
259. Precious Achiuwa (243.4)
260. Dyson Daniels (244.2)
261. Thaddeus Young (244.5)
262. Troy Brown Jr. (245.0)
262. Ty Jerome (245.0)
264. Aaron Nesmith (245.2)
265. Max Strus (245.9)
266. Victor Oladipo (247.9)
267. Bones Hyland (249.5)
268. Luke Kennard (249.8)
269. George Hill (251.3)
270. Christian Koloko (252.0)
271. Jaxson Hayes (252.7)
272. Jaylin Williams (252.9)
273. Corey Kispert (254.5)
274. John Wall (254.7)
275. Bismack Biyombo (256.6)
276. Aaron Holiday (256.7)
277. Justise Winslow (257.7)
278. Rui Hachimura (260.5)
279. Jonathan Kuminga (261.3)
280. Romeo Langford (261.5)
281. Andrew Nembhard (262.3)
282. Oshae Brissett (263.1)
283. JaMychal Green (263.4)
284. Davion Mitchell (263.5)
285. Jericho Sims (263.9)
286. Theo Maledon (265.2)
287. Lamar Stevens (265.9)
288. Aaron Wiggins (266.9)
289. Seth Curry (267.9)
290. Jae'Sean Tate (268.1)
291. R.J. Hampton (269.1)
292. Haywood Highsmith (273.8)
293. Killian Hayes (274.2)
294. Cam Reddish (276.2)
295. Joe Harris (277.1)
296. Vlatko Cancar (277.5)
297. Taurean Prince (279.1)
298. Jordan Nwora (279.7)
299. Reggie Jackson (279.8)
300. Patty Mills (281.8)
301. Maxi Kleber (282.1)
302. T.J. Warren (284.9)
302. Trendon Watford (284.9)
304. Terrence Ross (285.7)
305. Ayo Dosunmu (286.6)
306. Wesley Matthews (287.3)
307. Lonnie Walker IV (287.5)
308. Nassir Little (287.8)
309. Isaiah Livers (288.0)
310. James Wiseman (288.9)
311. Chris Duarte (289.5)
311. Zeke Nnaji (289.5)
313. Rudy Gay (290.4)
314. Tre Mann (290.5)
315. Jabari Smith Jr. (293.9)
316. Jaden Ivey (298.0)
317. Ochai Agbaji (299.3)
318. Reggie Bullock (300.4)
319. Christian Braun (302.1)
320. Jaden Hardy (303.2)
321. Goran Dragic (304.1)
322. Duncan Robinson (304.7)
323. Kevin Knox (305.0)
324. P.J. Tucker (305.2)
325. Moses Moody (306.3)
326. Doug McDermott (308.1)
327. Max Christie (309.1)
328. Malachi Flynn (311.2)
329. David Roddy (311.4)
330. Payton Pritchard (312.0)
331. Kendrick Nunn (312.1)
332. Will Barton (312.9)
333. Jeff Green (313.1)
334. Shaedon Sharpe (316.6)
335. Caleb Houstan (317.2)
336. Juancho Hernangomez (317.7)
337. Danuel House Jr. (318.8)
338. Josh Christopher (319.0)
339. Austin Rivers (320.8)
340. Daishen Nix (324.0)
341. Ziaire Williams (325.5)
342. Malaki Branham (325.6)
343. MarJon Beauchamp (327.1)
344. Justin Holiday (331.4)
345. Bryce McGowens (335.0)
346. Amir Coffey (337.4)
347. JT Thor (338.0)
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 Jokic (1.2)
2. Joel Embiid (2.6)
3. Luka Doncic (4.0)
4. Jimmy Butler (5.8)
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.2)
6. Damian Lillard (7.2)
7. Anthony Davis (9.0)
7. Stephen Curry (9.0)
9. Kevin Durant (9.8)
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10.4)
11. Kawhi Leonard (11.8)
12. LeBron James (12.4)
13. James Harden (13.0)
14. Ja Morant (14.8)
15. Tyrese Haliburton (16.4)
16. Jayson Tatum (18.0)
17. Donovan Mitchell (19.0)
18. Kyrie Irving (20.0)
19. Devin Booker (20.2)
20. Zion Williamson (21.2)
21. Trae Young (24.4)
22. Darius Garland (24.8)
23. Paul George (25.6)
24. Lauri Markkanen (26.0)
25. Jaren Jackson Jr. (26.6)
26. Domantas Sabonis (27.6)
26. Kristaps Porzingis (27.6)
28. Jrue Holiday (30.8)
29. Jalen Brunson (33.4)
30. Desmond Bane (35.2)