Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the NBA's Best Players of 2022-23
It's time for a final look at how the NBA's 2022-23 players stacked 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…
“Nikola Jokić is first in Basketball Reference’s box plus/minus, first in Dunks and Threes’ estimated plus-minus, first in FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR, first in Basketball Index’s LEBRON and second 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 only appeared in 63 games. Nineteen absences 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 (2.2)
3. Luka Doncic (4.4)
4. Jimmy Butler (6.0)
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.4)
6. Damian Lillard (8.0)
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8.5)
8. Anthony Davis (11.0)
9. Donovan Mitchell (12.1)
10. Jayson Tatum (12.6)
11. Stephen Curry (13.3)
12. LeBron James (17.0)
13. James Harden (17.8)
14. Kawhi Leonard (19.1)
14. Kyrie Irving (19.1)
16. Tyrese Haliburton (20.4)
17. Ja Morant (21.2)
18. Kristaps Porzingis (22.1)
19. Kevin Durant (22.7)
20. Lauri Markkanen (22.9)
21. Domantas Sabonis (23.0)
22. Jrue Holiday (24.6)
23. Trae Young (26.3)
24. Darius Garland (27.0)
25. Fred VanVleet (28.4)
26. Devin Booker (30.2)
27. Paul George (32.3)
28. Julius Randle (32.5)
29. DeMar DeRozan (33.5)
30. Jalen Brunson (33.9)
30. Jaren Jackson Jr. (33.9)
32. De'Aaron Fox (34.6)
33. Nic Claxton (36.8)
34. Brook Lopez (38.1)
35. Desmond Bane (42.5)
36. Aaron Gordon (43.6)
37. Pascal Siakam (44.0)
38. Derrick White (45.5)
39. Zach LaVine (50.1)
40. Bam Adebayo (52.2)
40. Jarrett Allen (52.2)
42. Chris Paul (52.8)
43. Walker Kessler (52.9)
44. Immanuel Quickley (53.3)
45. Anthony Edwards (53.6)
46. Mikal Bridges (56.3)
47. Clint Capela (61.1)
48. Zion Williamson (62.6)
49. Jaylen Brown (62.9)
50. Evan Mobley (64.4)
51. Franz Wagner (65.7)
52. Kevon Looney (66.4)
53. Alperen Sengun (67.6)
54. Jamal Murray (68.7)
55. Bradley Beal (68.8)
55. Spencer Dinwiddie (68.8)
57. Buddy Hield (70.4)
58. Jakob Poeltl (73.4)
59. Josh Hart (73.9)
60. Rudy Gobert (74.6)
61. Mitchell Robinson (75.2)
62. Myles Turner (76.3)
63. Cameron Johnson (78.5)
64. Kyle Anderson (79.1)
65. D'Angelo Russell (80.1)
66. Mike Conley (81.5)
67. Draymond Green (82.1)
67. O.G. Anunoby (82.1)
69. Malcolm Brogdon (83.9)
70. Scottie Barnes (85.1)
71. Nikola Vucevic (85.3)
72. Kevin Huerter (86.5)
73. Tyrese Maxey (87.1)
74. Brandon Ingram (88.2)
75. LaMelo Ball (89.2)
76. Dejounte Murray (90.7)
77. CJ McCollum (91.1)
78. Austin Reaves (91.8)
79. Tyler Herro (93.1)
80. Delon Wright (95.1)
81. Wendell Carter Jr. (96.3)
82. Steven Adams (96.7)
83. Tobias Harris (97.4)
84. Al Horford (98.6)
84. Mason Plumlee (98.6)
86. Alex Caruso (99.3)
86. Harrison Barnes (99.3)
88. Onyeka Okongwu (104.3)
89. Larry Nance Jr. (104.8)
90. Klay Thompson (105.1)
91. Trey Murphy III (105.7)
92. Christian Wood (107.4)
93. Michael Porter Jr. (107.5)
94. Kevin Porter Jr. (109.3)
95. Karl-Anthony Towns (111.1)
96. Herbert Jones (112.0)
97. Alec Burks (112.4)
97. T.J. McConnell (112.4)
99. Kelly Olynyk (114.5)
100. Tyus Jones (116.1)
101. Monte Morris (117.5)
102. Bojan Bogdanovic (118.1)
103. Kyle Lowry (118.7)
104. Robert Williams (119.4)
105. De'Anthony Melton (119.7)
106. Khris Middleton (119.9)
107. Tre Jones (120.2)
108. Cole Anthony (120.5)
109. Jerami Grant (120.7)
110. Daniel Gafford (122.0)
111. Isaiah Joe (122.9)
112. Marcus Smart (123.3)
113. Jusuf Nurkic (124.4)
114. Donte DiVincenzo (124.5)
115. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (126.3)
116. Josh Okogie (128.8)
117. Terry Rozier (129.5)
118. Chris Boucher (131.8)
119. Russell Westbrook (132.8)
120. Ivica Zubac (134.5)
121. Malik Monk (134.7)
122. Moritz Wagner (135.7)
123. Caris LeVert (135.9)
124. Quentin Grimes (136.3)
125. Tim Hardaway Jr. (136.5)
126. Anfernee Simons (136.8)
127. Gary Trent Jr. (136.9)
128. Deandre Ayton (137.5)
129. Bobby Portis (138.2)
130. Kyle Kuzma (138.6)
131. Brandon Clarke (139.0)
132. Kenrich Williams (139.3)
133. Andrew Wiggins (140.9)
134. Jaden McDaniels (141.4)
135. Xavier Tillman (143.1)
136. Jalen Williams (144.7)
137. Isaiah Hartenstein (144.8)
138. Grayson Allen (145.9)
139. Bogdan Bogdanovic (146.0)
140. Markelle Fultz (146.2)
141. Dwight Powell (146.4)
142. Saddiq Bey (146.5)
143. Jock Landale (148.9)
144. Tari Eason (149.1)
145. Kevin Love (149.4)
146. Cedi Osman (152.1)
147. Coby White (153.3)
148. John Konchar (153.4)
149. Naz Reid (154.3)
150. Andre Drummond (154.8)
150. Sam Hauser (154.8)
152. Luguentz Dort (155.4)
153. Jonas Valanciunas (155.7)
154. Zach Collins (157.5)
155. Nicolas Batum (157.7)
156. Paul Reed (158.7)
157. Jordan Goodwin (159.6)
158. Josh Giddey (160.0)
159. Jose Alvarado (162.4)
160. Jordan Clarkson (162.5)
161. Hamidou Diallo (164.9)
162. Jalen Suggs (167.0)
163. Jalen Johnson (167.4)
164. Santi Aldama (168.9)
165. Bruce Brown (169.5)
166. Ben Simmons (170.1)
167. Kelly Oubre Jr. (171.3)
168. Jarred Vanderbilt (171.4)
169. Keegan Murray (171.5)
170. Terance Mann (171.8)
171. Kris Dunn (177.6)
172. Robert Covington (179.3)
173. Keita Bates-Diop (179.9)
174. Royce O'Neale (180.8)
175. Devin Vassell (181.9)
176. Charles Bassey (182.9)
177. Luke Kennard (183.2)
178. Jalen Green (183.7)
179. Mike Muscala (185.2)
180. Jevon Carter (186.3)
181. Paolo Banchero (186.7)
182. Dennis Smith Jr. (186.8)
183. Drew Eubanks (188.3)
184. Keldon Johnson (189.9)
185. Norman Powell (190.7)
186. Dillon Brooks (191.3)
187. Isaac Okoro (192.0)
188. Thomas Bryant (192.2)
189. Devonte' Graham (192.3)
190. Blake Griffin (192.5)
191. Caleb Martin (192.7)
191. Talen Horton-Tucker (192.7)
193. Mo Bamba (192.9)
194. Derrick Jones Jr. (193.6)
195. Mark Williams (194.5)
196. Chimezie Metu (195.9)
196. Dorian Finney-Smith (195.9)
198. Luke Kornet (196.2)
199. Jalen Duren (196.6)
199. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (196.6)
201. P.J. Washington (197.6)
202. Gordon Hayward (197.7)
203. Matisse Thybulle (198.0)
204. Dennis Schroder (198.6)
204. Grant Williams (198.6)
206. Trey Lyles (199.4)
207. Cameron Payne (200.4)
208. Jordan Poole (201.3)
209. Jalen McDaniels (201.4)
210. Terence Davis (202.2)
211. Marvin Bagley III (202.6)
212. Obi Toppin (202.9)
213. Montrezl Harrell (204.0)
214. AJ Griffin (204.2)
215. Kenyon Martin Jr. (204.6)
216. John Collins (205.3)
217. Collin Sexton (208.1)
218. Deni Avdija (210.6)
219. Torrey Craig (212.0)
220. Landry Shamet (213.7)
221. Anthony Lamb (215.5)
222. Lindy Waters III (216.0)
223. Jordan McLaughlin (217.3)
224. Naji Marshall (217.7)
225. Wenyen Gabriel (218.4)
226. Pat Connaughton (219.6)
227. Nick Richards (219.7)
228. Josh Richardson (220.9)
229. Gary Harris (222.2)
230. Jalen Smith (223.1)
231. Isaiah Stewart (225.7)
232. Bones Hyland (225.8)
233. Bismack Biyombo (227.3)
234. Isaiah Jackson (227.5)
235. Joe Ingles (229.0)
236. Damion Lee (233.5)
236. Dario Saric (233.5)
238. Josh Green (233.7)
239. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (234.6)
240. Victor Oladipo (234.7)
241. Ish Wainright (235.1)
242. Jonathan Kuminga (235.7)
243. Eric Gordon (235.9)
244. Patrick Beverley (236.5)
245. Raul Neto (237.6)
246. Jaylen Nowell (237.8)
247. Garrison Mathews (238.0)
248. Precious Achiuwa (238.6)
249. Marcus Morris (239.5)
250. Shake Milton (240.7)
251. De'Andre Hunter (240.8)
252. Yuta Watanabe (241.6)
253. Aaron Holiday (244.2)
254. Bol Bol (244.3)
255. RJ Barrett (244.8)
256. Darius Bazley (245.0)
257. Troy Brown Jr. (246.8)
258. Aaron Wiggins (247.5)
259. Aleksej Pokusevski (249.0)
260. Cory Joseph (249.3)
261. Dean Wade (250.1)
262. George Hill (250.5)
263. Christian Koloko (251.8)
264. Gabe Vincent (253.0)
265. Rui Hachimura (253.8)
266. Patrick Williams (254.0)
267. Jeremy Sochan (254.7)
268. Malik Beasley (254.9)
269. Davion Mitchell (255.0)
270. JaMychal Green (255.7)
270. Ricky Rubio (255.7)
272. Jaylin Williams (256.6)
273. Thaddeus Young (256.8)
274. Joe Harris (257.4)
275. Edmond Sumner (258.0)
276. Ty Jerome (258.7)
277. Rodney McGruder (258.8)
278. Cam Thomas (259.4)
279. Max Strus (259.6)
280. Corey Kispert (260.5)
281. John Wall (263.4)
282. Dyson Daniels (263.9)
282. Jae'Sean Tate (263.9)
284. Eugene Omoruyi (265.2)
285. Aaron Nesmith (265.8)
286. Miles McBride (266.1)
287. Trendon Watford (268.5)
288. Usman Garuba (269.3)
289. Oshae Brissett (269.5)
290. Bennedict Mathurin (270.5)
291. Georges Niang (271.6)
292. T.J. Warren (271.9)
293. Justise Winslow (274.8)
294. Jaden Hardy (275.7)
295. Jaxson Hayes (276.5)
296. Andrew Nembhard (277.8)
297. Sandro Mamukelashvili (278.5)
298. Jericho Sims (280.2)
299. Theo Maledon (280.9)
300. Ayo Dosunmu (281.2)
301. Ochai Agbaji (283.6)
302. Terrence Ross (284.6)
303. Day'Ron Sharpe (285.6)
304. Reggie Jackson (288.0)
305. Killian Hayes (288.1)
306. Seth Curry (288.7)
307. Taurean Prince (289.5)
308. Payton Pritchard (293.2)
309. Lonnie Walker IV (294.6)
310. Moses Moody (295.1)
311. Haywood Highsmith (296.5)
312. DeAndre Jordan (296.8)
313. Isaiah Livers (297.8)
314. Vlatko Cancar (299.2)
315. Jordan Nwora (299.5)
316. Lamar Stevens (301.1)
317. Tre Mann (301.2)
318. Chris Duarte (301.8)
319. Zeke Nnaji (302.9)
320. Romeo Langford (303.0)
321. Christian Braun (304.2)
322. R.J. Hampton (304.3)
323. Anthony Gill (304.6)
324. Kendrick Nunn (304.7)
325. Rudy Gay (305.1)
326. Jabari Smith Jr. (306.6)
327. Wesley Matthews (307.7)
328. Patty Mills (308.0)
329. James Wiseman (309.2)
330. Shaedon Sharpe (311.0)
331. P.J. Tucker (311.7)
332. Jaden Ivey (312.4)
333. Cam Reddish (313.3)
334. Chuma Okeke (313.4)
335. Ousmane Dieng (315.8)
336. Kai Jones (316.3)
337. Maxi Kleber (317.7)
338. Max Christie (318.0)
339. Kevin Knox (318.6)
340. Goran Dragic (319.6)
341. Duncan Robinson (319.7)
342. Reggie Bullock (320.4)
343. Doug McDermott (322.5)
344. Jeff Green (323.8)
345. Danuel House Jr. (324.5)
346. Nassir Little (325.3)
347. Will Barton (326.4)
348. Malachi Flynn (329.6)
349. Ziaire Williams (330.1)
350. David Roddy (331.4)
350. Juancho Hernangomez (331.4)
352. Josh Christopher (332.8)
353. Austin Rivers (334.5)
354. Juan Toscano-Anderson (338.0)
355. Malaki Branham (340.2)
356. Caleb Houstan (341.5)
357. Frank Ntilikina (342.7)
358. Jabari Walker (343.7)
359. MarJon Beauchamp (346.3)
360. James Bouknight (348.0)
361. Justin Holiday (351.3)
362. Bryce McGowens (352.9)
363. Daishen Nix (353.1)
364. Amir Coffey (353.2)
365. JT Thor (354.5)
366. Simone Fontecchio (356.0)
367. Blake Wesley (366.2)
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 (2.0)
3. Luka Doncic (5.2)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (5.4)
4. Jimmy Butler (5.4)
6. Damian Lillard (7.0)
7. Anthony Davis (7.6)
8. Stephen Curry (9.6)
9. Kawhi Leonard (10.0)
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11.2)
11. Kevin Durant (12.4)
12. LeBron James (13.4)
13. Tyrese Haliburton (14.6)
14. Donovan Mitchell (15.0)
15. Ja Morant (16.8)
16. James Harden (17.4)
17. Jayson Tatum (18.0)
18. Kyrie Irving (20.0)
19. Kristaps Porzingis (20.8)
20. Devin Booker (23.4)
21. Zion Williamson (23.6)
22. Lauri Markkanen (25.0)
23. Jaren Jackson Jr. (26.0)
24. Jrue Holiday (26.4)
25. Paul George (27.6)
26. Domantas Sabonis (31.0)
27. Trae Young (33.0)
28. Darius Garland (33.2)
29. Desmond Bane (36.0)
30. Fred VanVleet (37.0)