Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid and the NBA's Best Players on January 14, 2023
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. Nikola Jokić (1.7)
2. Luka Dončić (1.9)
3. Joel Embiid (6.7)
4. Donovan Mitchell (7.9)
5. Kevin Durant (8.5)
6. Jayson Tatum (8.9)
7. Tyrese Haliburton (9.6)
8. Stephen Curry (10.6)
9. Domantas Sabonis (12.5)
10. Lauri Markkanen (12.9)
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo (13)
12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (13.7)
13. Anthony Davis (14.7)
14. Ja Morant (15.1)
15. Damian Lillard (16.6)
15. LeBron James (16.6)
17. Jimmy Butler (18.6)
18. James Harden (22.4)
19. Pascal Siakam (25.3)
20. Kristaps Porziņģis (25.8)
21. Julius Randle (26.7)
22. Trae Young (27.3)
23. Paul George (28.4)
24. Devin Booker (30.2)
25. Kyrie Irving (30.9)
26. DeMar DeRozan (32.8)
27. Zion Williamson (34.9)
28. Jalen Brunson (36.8)
29. Aaron Gordon (40.3)
30. Nic Claxton (40.9)
31. Jaylen Brown (41.1)
32. Brook Lopez (43.8)
33. Jaren Jackson Jr. (44.6)
34. Buddy Hield (45)
35. Jrue Holiday (45.1)
36. Bam Adebayo (48.3)
37. Darius Garland (48.4)
38. Zach LaVine (49.1)
39. De'Aaron Fox (49.5)
40. Fred VanVleet (49.6)
41. Franz Wagner (50.5)
42. Anthony Edwards (53.7)
43. Mitchell Robinson (54.4)
44. Jerami Grant (55.8)
45. CJ McCollum (60.4)
46. Kawhi Leonard (61.9)
47. Mason Plumlee (62.2)
48. Jarrett Allen (63.2)
49. Tyler Herro (63.6)
50. Rudy Gobert (65.3)
51. Myles Turner (65.9)
52. Bradley Beal (68)
53. Jusuf Nurkić (68.2)
54. O.G. Anunoby (69.8)
55. Clint Capela (70.9)
56. Bojan Bogdanović (71.2)
57. Dejounte Murray (72.5)
58. Derrick White (76.5)
59. Alperen Şengün (76.6)
60. Christian Wood (78.4)
61. Steven Adams (79.7)
62. Mikal Bridges (79.9)
63. Kevon Looney (80)
64. Chris Paul (80.3)
65. Walker Kessler (80.8)
66. Jamal Murray (81)
67. Harrison Barnes (83.2)
68. De'Anthony Melton (83.6)
69. LaMelo Ball (83.7)
70. Tobias Harris (84.4)
71. Andrew Wiggins (84.5)
72. Nikola Vučević (86.2)
73. D'Angelo Russell (86.3)
74. Jordan Clarkson (86.5)
75. Desmond Bane (87.6)
76. Kyle Kuzma (89.1)
77. Anfernee Simons (89.3)
78. Alec Burks (89.9)
79. Trey Murphy III (90.8)
80. Kevin Huerter (92.4)
81. Wendell Carter Jr. (92.7)
82. Jakob Poeltl (92.8)
83. Karl-Anthony Towns (95.2)
84. Draymond Green (95.6)
85. Al Horford (96.1)
85. Josh Hart (96.1)
87. Kevin Porter Jr. (96.9)
88. Kyle Lowry (97.4)
89. Bobby Portis (99.1)
90. Klay Thompson (100.5)
91. Immanuel Quickley (103)
92. Scottie Barnes (103.1)
93. Tre Jones (103.6)
94. Spencer Dinwiddie (104)
95. Tyus Jones (104.1)
96. Isaiah Joe (105.8)
97. Malcolm Brogdon (106.4)
97. Paolo Banchero (106.4)
99. Marcus Smart (106.7)
100. Ben Simmons (108)
101. Evan Mobley (109.5)
102. Gary Trent Jr. (110.9)
103. Kelly Olynyk (112.8)
104. Daniel Gafford (114.3)
105. Brandon Ingram (117.8)
106. Larry Nance Jr. (118.6)
107. Thomas Bryant (118.7)
108. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (119.6)
109. Jose Alvarado (125.4)
110. Kelly Oubre Jr. (125.5)
111. Santi Aldama (125.7)
112. Jaden McDaniels (125.8)
113. Dillon Brooks (126)
114. John Konchar (126.7)
115. Grayson Allen (127.2)
116. Monte Morris (127.6)
117. Tyrese Maxey (128.8)
118. Deandre Ayton (129.3)
118. Devin Vassell (129.3)
120. Quentin Grimes (129.8)
121. Kevin Love (130.7)
122. Naz Reid (132.7)
123. Tim Hardaway Jr. (134.3)
124. Jonas Valančiūnas (134.9)
125. Alex Caruso (135.7)
126. Russell Westbrook (135.9)
127. Michael Porter Jr. (138.1)
128. Luguentz Dort (139.4)
129. Terance Mann (141.2)
130. Kyle Anderson (142.2)
131. Jarred Vanderbilt (143.4)
132. Naji Marshall (144.4)
133. Javonte Green (145.4)
134. Marcus Morris (146.9)
135. Onyeka Okongwu (147.9)
136. Grant Williams (148.1)
137. Jordan Goodwin (148.3)
138. Royce O'Neale (149.6)
139. Dwight Powell (150.4)
140. Kenrich Williams (150.6)
141. Herbert Jones (150.8)
142. Bruce Brown (151)
142. Josh Giddey (151)
144. Brandon Clarke (151.6)
145. Terry Rozier (151.7)
146. Ivica Zubac (152.4)
147. Mo Bamba (152.8)
148. Mike Conley (153.9)
149. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (155)
150. Donte DiVincenzo (155.4)
151. Jock Landale (156)
152. Collin Sexton (156.4)
153. Torrey Craig (156.8)
154. Nicolas Batum (158.7)
155. Cameron Payne (159.3)
156. Josh Green (160.8)
157. John Collins (162.4)
158. RJ Barrett (162.5)
159. Caleb Martin (162.7)
160. Dennis Smith Jr. (163.6)
161. Isaiah Stewart (163.8)
162. Josh Okogie (164.8)
163. Caris LeVert (165.2)
164. Moritz Wagner (166)
165. Cedi Osman (166.7)
166. Keldon Johnson (168)
167. Terence Davis (168.1)
168. Chris Boucher (168.7)
169. T.J. McConnell (169.3)
170. Malik Monk (169.7)
171. Nick Richards (169.8)
172. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (170.2)
173. Austin Reaves (170.4)
174. Aaron Nesmith (171.3)
175. Malik Beasley (171.8)
176. Sam Hauser (172.7)
177. Hamidou Diallo (172.8)
178. Georges Niang (172.9)
179. Tari Eason (173.1)
180. Keegan Murray (173.2)
181. Norman Powell (173.5)
182. Jevon Carter (174.3)
183. Luke Kornet (174.7)
184. Max Strus (176.4)
185. Mike Muscala (176.8)
186. Wenyen Gabriel (178.8)
187. Anthony Lamb (179.4)
188. Markelle Fultz (179.7)
189. Jalen Green (179.9)
189. Landry Shamet (179.9)
191. Jordan Poole (180.2)
192. Drew Eubanks (180.7)
193. Montrezl Harrell (181.2)
194. Jalen McDaniels (181.3)
195. AJ Griffin (181.5)
196. Jalen Smith (183.1)
197. Damion Lee (183.6)
198. Dorian Finney-Smith (184.8)
199. Saddiq Bey (186.2)
200. Bol Bol (186.3)
201. P.J. Washington (187.2)
202. Jalen Johnson (190.5)
203. Bennedict Mathurin (192.4)
204. Dean Wade (192.5)
205. De'Andre Hunter (193.5)
206. Aleksej Pokusevski (195.2)
207. Killian Hayes (196.1)
208. Bones Hyland (197.1)
209. Devonte' Graham (197.2)
210. Cole Anthony (197.8)
211. Marvin Bagley III (198.2)
212. Kenyon Martin Jr. (198.4)
212. Victor Oladipo (198.4)
214. Garrison Mathews (200.7)
215. Andrew Nembhard (201.1)
216. Andre Drummond (201.3)
217. Derrick Jones Jr. (201.6)
218. Yuta Watanabe (202.1)
219. Isaiah Hartenstein (202.4)
219. Thaddeus Young (202.4)
221. Trey Lyles (204.4)
222. Corey Kispert (205.5)
223. Cade Cunningham (207.1)
223. Edmond Sumner (207.1)
225. Zach Collins (208.1)
226. Robert Covington (210.6)
227. Jalen Williams (211.7)
228. Dyson Daniels (212)
229. Matisse Thybulle (212.6)
230. Jalen Duren (212.9)
231. Josh Richardson (213.5)
232. Deni Avdija (213.6)
233. Patrick Williams (213.7)
234. Lonnie Walker IV (215.2)
235. Bogdan Bogdanović (216.4)
236. Darius Bazley (217)
237. Reggie Jackson (217.1)
238. Luke Kennard (221.3)
239. Obi Toppin (221.4)
239. Tre Mann (221.4)
241. John Wall (221.9)
242. Pat Connaughton (224.2)
243. Usman Garuba (224.9)
244. Jalen Suggs (225.1)
245. Isaiah Jackson (225.2)
246. Eric Gordon (225.3)
247. Shake Milton (226.4)
248. Dennis Schröder (226.6)
249. Jabari Smith Jr. (227.7)
250. Jaylen Nowell (227.8)
251. Oshae Brissett (229)
252. Talen Horton-Tucker (229.8)
253. George Hill (230.5)
254. Coby White (231.4)
255. Joe Harris (232.9)
256. Keita Bates-Diop (233.8)
257. Aaron Wiggins (236.4)
258. Rui Hachimura (237.4)
259. Vlatko Čančar (237.8)
260. Aaron Holiday (237.9)
261. Ayo Dosunmu (239.4)
262. Davion Mitchell (240.5)
263. Romeo Langford (240.6)
264. Justise Winslow (241.3)
265. Jaden Ivey (244)
266. Patrick Beverley (244.6)
267. Seth Curry (245.3)
268. Doug McDermott (245.4)
269. Isaac Okoro (245.8)
270. DeAndre Jordan (248.7)
271. Gordon Hayward (250.2)
272. Kevin Knox (251)
273. Théo Maledon (251.8)
274. Goran Dragić (251.9)
275. Maxi Kleber (252.1)
276. Troy Brown Jr. (253.8)
277. Ty Jerome (255.4)
278. Cam Reddish (256.9)
279. Cory Joseph (257.1)
280. Juancho Hernangómez (257.8)
281. Christian Koloko (259.5)
282. Jeremy Sochan (260.3)
283. Gabe Vincent (260.9)
284. Trendon Watford (262.6)
285. Miles McBride (263)
286. Bismack Biyombo (265.5)
287. Haywood Highsmith (266.5)
288. Jonathan Kuminga (269.2)
289. Lamar Stevens (269.7)
290. Rudy Gay (270.7)
291. Taurean Prince (272.3)
292. Terrence Ross (274.6)
293. Jeff Green (274.9)
294. Moses Moody (275.6)
295. JaMychal Green (275.8)
296. Isaiah Livers (275.9)
297. MarJon Beauchamp (278.8)
298. Austin Rivers (285.1)
299. Daishen Nix (286.1)
300. Danuel House Jr. (290.2)
301. Duncan Robinson (290.5)
302. Will Barton (291.2)
303. Jordan Nwora (292.4)
303. P.J. Tucker (292.4)
305. Malachi Flynn (293.5)
306. Kendrick Nunn (293.6)
307. Caleb Houstan (294)
308. Reggie Bullock (295.5)
309. David Roddy (297.6)
310. Shaedon Sharpe (299.3)
311. Amir Coffey (303.2)
312. Christian Braun (303.7)
312. Justin Holiday (303.7)
314. Malaki Branham (304.8)
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 (1.4)
2. Luka Dončić (2.4)
3. Joel Embiid (3.8)
4. Anthony Davis (4.6)
5. Stephen Curry (4.8)
6. Donovan Mitchell (10.2)
7. Kevin Durant (11.4)
8. Jimmy Butler (11.6)
9. Tyrese Haliburton (12.2)
10. Jayson Tatum (12.8)
11. Damian Lillard (13)
11. Ja Morant (13)
13. Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.8)
13. James Harden (13.8)
15. Domantas Sabonis (16.6)
16. LeBron James (17)
17. Jaren Jackson Jr. (17.2)
18. Lauri Markkanen (17.8)
19. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18.6)
20. Paul George (21.8)
21. Devin Booker (25)
22. Kawhi Leonard (25.8)
23. Pascal Siakam (27.4)
24. Zion Williamson (28.4)
25. Kyrie Irving (30.2)
26. Kristaps Porziņģis (30.8)
27. Trae Young (31.6)
28. Julius Randle (37.4)
29. Aaron Gordon (37.6)
30. Nic Claxton (38.6)