Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard and the NBA's Best Players on March 3, 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, 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. Luka Doncic (2.5)
3. Joel Embiid (4.3)
4. Damian Lillard (6.6)
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7.4)
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo (7.5)
7. Donovan Mitchell (11.1)
8. Jayson Tatum (11.2)
8. Jimmy Butler (11.2)
10. LeBron James (12.3)
11. James Harden (14.7)
12. Ja Morant (15)
13. Kevin Durant (15.5)
14. Stephen Curry (16)
15. Kyrie Irving (18.5)
16. Lauri Markkanen (18.7)
17. Anthony Davis (19.7)
18. Darius Garland (21.1)
19. Tyrese Haliburton (21.2)
20. Domantas Sabonis (21.6)
21. Julius Randle (22.3)
22. Kawhi Leonard (23.9)
23. Kristaps Porzingis (26.7)
23. Trae Young (26.7)
25. Jalen Brunson (28.5)
26. Paul George (30.8)
27. Jrue Holiday (31.3)
28. Nic Claxton (34.4)
29. Jaren Jackson Jr. (35.9)
30. DeMar DeRozan (36.2)
31. Aaron Gordon (36.5)
32. Pascal Siakam (36.9)
33. Devin Booker (38.2)
34. De'Aaron Fox (39)
35. Bam Adebayo (39.7)
36. Jarrett Allen (41.5)
37. Fred VanVleet (44)
38. Desmond Bane (44.1)
39. Zion Williamson (45)
40. Anthony Edwards (49.6)
41. Brook Lopez (50.1)
42. Derrick White (50.7)
43. Zach LaVine (53.1)
44. Myles Turner (54.9)
44. Walker Kessler (54.9)
46. Clint Capela (58.2)
47. Bradley Beal (60.3)
48. Franz Wagner (61.7)
49. Kevon Looney (62.6)
50. Jaylen Brown (63.1)
51. Chris Paul (63.3)
52. Buddy Hield (63.6)
53. Alperen Sengun (64)
54. Jamal Murray (66.6)
55. Dejounte Murray (70.8)
56. Mikal Bridges (71.4)
57. Mitchell Robinson (73.3)
58. Immanuel Quickley (73.5)
59. LaMelo Ball (74.2)
60. Draymond Green (78.7)
61. Steven Adams (79.8)
62. Jakob Poeltl (80.4)
63. Rudy Gobert (82.1)
64. Josh Hart (82.2)
65. Kyle Anderson (83.1)
66. Nikola Vucevic (83.2)
67. Mason Plumlee (84.2)
68. Scottie Barnes (86.1)
69. Daniel Gafford (86.9)
70. Evan Mobley (88.3)
71. CJ McCollum (88.8)
72. Cameron Johnson (90.1)
73. Tyler Herro (90.4)
74. Jusuf Nurkic (92.6)
75. D'Angelo Russell (92.7)
76. Alex Caruso (93.6)
77. Malcolm Brogdon (95.5)
78. Tobias Harris (96)
79. Harrison Barnes (96.2)
80. Larry Nance Jr. (96.3)
81. Spencer Dinwiddie (97.3)
82. Klay Thompson (97.7)
83. O.G. Anunoby (99.3)
84. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (99.4)
85. Jerami Grant (99.5)
86. Isaiah Joe (100.5)
87. Christian Wood (103.2)
88. Alec Burks (104)
89. De'Anthony Melton (104.3)
90. Mike Conley (104.5)
91. Kevin Huerter (104.7)
92. Delon Wright (106.2)
93. Al Horford (106.4)
94. Karl-Anthony Towns (107.1)
95. Bobby Portis (108.5)
96. Kyle Kuzma (108.6)
97. Marcus Smart (109.7)
98. Monte Morris (109.9)
99. Chris Boucher (111.5)
100. Robert Williams (113.8)
101. Bojan Bogdanovic (114)
102. Gary Trent Jr. (114.3)
103. Andrew Wiggins (115.3)
104. Wendell Carter Jr. (116.5)
105. Anfernee Simons (118.6)
106. Terry Rozier (119.5)
107. Michael Porter Jr. (119.7)
108. Josh Okogie (121)
109. Tyus Jones (123)
110. Brandon Ingram (123.2)
111. Deandre Ayton (124.7)
112. Kyle Lowry (124.9)
113. Kelly Olynyk (125.1)
114. Kenrich Williams (125.3)
115. Cole Anthony (127.2)
116. Jaden McDaniels (128.8)
117. Grayson Allen (128.9)
118. Donte DiVincenzo (129.4)
119. Brandon Clarke (131)
120. Dwight Powell (133.1)
121. Tyrese Maxey (133.3)
122. Moritz Wagner (133.4)
123. Luguentz Dort (137.8)
124. Tari Eason (138.2)
125. Santi Aldama (138.5)
126. Kevin Porter Jr. (138.6)
127. Jose Alvarado (139.5)
128. Onyeka Okongwu (140)
129. Cedi Osman (140.3)
130. Russell Westbrook (141.1)
130. Tre Jones (141.1)
132. Terance Mann (141.6)
133. Jordan Clarkson (143.3)
134. Hamidou Diallo (144.5)
134. T.J. McConnell (144.5)
136. Jock Landale (144.8)
137. John Konchar (145.4)
138. Ben Simmons (146.6)
139. Herbert Jones (147.5)
140. Jordan Goodwin (148.1)
140. Tim Hardaway Jr. (148.1)
142. Thomas Bryant (151.4)
143. Trey Murphy III (152.1)
144. Mark Williams (153.7)
145. Isaiah Hartenstein (153.9)
145. Norman Powell (153.9)
147. Xavier Tillman (154.9)
148. Devin Vassell (155.2)
148. Nicolas Batum (155.2)
150. Jarred Vanderbilt (155.5)
151. Kevin Love (157)
152. Terence Davis (157.8)
153. Andre Drummond (157.9)
154. Naz Reid (160)
155. Jevon Carter (160.1)
156. Quentin Grimes (161.1)
157. Dillon Brooks (163.3)
158. Matisse Thybulle (163.8)
159. Drew Eubanks (164.7)
160. Austin Reaves (164.8)
161. Devonte' Graham (166.3)
162. Ivica Zubac (166.8)
163. Malik Monk (167.6)
164. Isaac Okoro (167.7)
165. Luke Kornet (168)
166. Caris LeVert (168.2)
167. Bruce Brown (169.1)
168. Josh Giddey (169.3)
169. Josh Green (169.4)
170. Naji Marshall (171.2)
170. Paolo Banchero (171.2)
172. Sam Hauser (171.4)
173. Markelle Fultz (171.8)
174. Mo Bamba (172.9)
175. Jalen Johnson (174.3)
176. Mike Muscala (176.7)
177. Josh Richardson (177.5)
177. Saddiq Bey (177.5)
179. Keegan Murray (178.3)
179. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (178.3)
181. Robert Covington (178.8)
182. Dorian Finney-Smith (182.5)
183. Jonas Valanciunas (182.8)
184. Bogdan Bogdanovic (183)
185. Kelly Oubre Jr. (183.5)
186. Jalen Suggs (184.7)
187. Jalen Williams (185.3)
188. Grant Williams (185.8)
189. Collin Sexton (187.1)
190. Cameron Payne (187.5)
191. Keldon Johnson (187.9)
192. Deni Avdija (188.8)
193. Talen Horton-Tucker (190)
194. John Collins (190.1)
195. Caleb Martin (190.7)
196. Kenyon Martin Jr. (191)
197. Trey Lyles (191.7)
198. Pat Connaughton (192)
198. Zach Collins (192)
200. Coby White (193.1)
201. Chimezie Metu (194)
202. P.J. Washington (194.5)
203. Jalen Duren (195)
204. Marcus Morris (195.2)
205. Derrick Jones Jr. (195.7)
206. Wenyen Gabriel (196.6)
207. Marvin Bagley III (196.7)
208. Montrezl Harrell (197)
209. Dennis Smith Jr. (197.3)
210. Damion Lee (197.9)
211. AJ Griffin (198)
212. Anthony Lamb (198.5)
213. Royce O'Neale (199.5)
214. De'Andre Hunter (200.2)
214. Jalen McDaniels (200.2)
216. Nick Richards (200.4)
217. Cam Thomas (204.9)
218. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (205.7)
219. Georges Niang (205.9)
220. Landry Shamet (206.1)
221. Yuta Watanabe (207.3)
222. Dean Wade (207.4)
223. Gordon Hayward (207.8)
224. Jaylen Nowell (209.3)
225. Ish Wainright (209.9)
226. Jordan Poole (211.2)
227. Dennis Schroder (212.2)
228. Isaiah Jackson (212.3)
229. Isaiah Stewart (213.7)
230. Torrey Craig (216)
231. Dyson Daniels (216.5)
232. Victor Oladipo (217.1)
233. Bol Bol (217.7)
234. Gary Harris (218.5)
235. Thaddeus Young (221)
236. Usman Garuba (221.1)
237. Malik Beasley (221.8)
238. Edmond Sumner (222.1)
239. Aleksej Pokusevski (222.5)
240. RJ Barrett (226)
241. Jalen Green (226.8)
242. Precious Achiuwa (227.8)
243. Darius Bazley (229.6)
244. Ty Jerome (230)
245. Garrison Mathews (230.9)
245. Keita Bates-Diop (230.9)
247. Bennedict Mathurin (231)
247. Gabe Vincent (231)
249. Max Strus (231.1)
250. Aaron Nesmith (232.9)
251. Bones Hyland (235.9)
252. Jalen Smith (236.9)
253. Joe Ingles (237.2)
253. Patrick Williams (237.2)
255. Jaylin Williams (237.7)
256. Obi Toppin (238.1)
257. Bismack Biyombo (241.7)
258. Christian Koloko (242.4)
259. Aaron Holiday (243)
260. Eric Gordon (244.1)
261. Romeo Langford (244.9)
262. Patrick Beverley (245.2)
263. John Wall (246.2)
264. Jeremy Sochan (246.9)
265. Dario Saric (247.6)
266. Shake Milton (248.3)
267. Rui Hachimura (248.5)
268. George Hill (251.5)
269. Justise Winslow (252.2)
270. Jericho Sims (253.2)
271. Nassir Little (253.8)
272. Killian Hayes (254.3)
273. Reggie Jackson (254.4)
274. Luke Kennard (254.7)
275. Oshae Brissett (255.7)
275. Taurean Prince (255.7)
277. Andrew Nembhard (256.9)
278. Corey Kispert (257.7)
279. Theo Maledon (258.5)
280. Aaron Wiggins (258.9)
281. Davion Mitchell (260)
282. Cam Reddish (260.4)
283. Miles McBride (261.3)
284. Troy Brown Jr. (261.7)
285. Vlatko Cancar (261.8)
286. Maxi Kleber (262.5)
287. Cory Joseph (264.2)
288. Lonnie Walker IV (266.4)
289. T.J. Warren (267.9)
290. Seth Curry (269)
291. Trendon Watford (269.9)
292. Wesley Matthews (271.9)
293. Jonathan Kuminga (272.6)
294. Haywood Highsmith (273.3)
295. Ayo Dosunmu (274.1)
296. Joe Harris (274.5)
297. Ochai Agbaji (277.7)
298. Rudy Gay (278.9)
299. JaMychal Green (280.2)
300. Chris Duarte (280.4)
301. Lamar Stevens (280.6)
302. Isaiah Livers (280.7)
303. Zeke Nnaji (282.6)
304. Jaden Ivey (282.8)
305. Tre Mann (287.6)
306. Reggie Bullock (290.5)
307. Terrence Ross (290.6)
308. Jordan Nwora (293.7)
309. Kendrick Nunn (294)
310. Moses Moody (295.1)
311. Goran Dragic (296.3)
312. Jabari Smith Jr. (296.7)
313. Christian Braun (297.6)
314. Duncan Robinson (298.2)
315. Malachi Flynn (298.6)
316. Will Barton (299.4)
317. P.J. Tucker (299.8)
318. Max Christie (300.7)
319. Kevin Knox (301.9)
320. Shaedon Sharpe (302.1)
321. Jeff Green (303.2)
322. Caleb Houstan (303.6)
322. Doug McDermott (303.6)
324. Payton Pritchard (303.7)
325. Austin Rivers (305.8)
326. Juancho Hernangomez (306.4)
327. Daishen Nix (308)
328. Malaki Branham (314.3)
329. Danuel House Jr. (314.5)
330. MarJon Beauchamp (315.9)
331. David Roddy (317.9)
332. Amir Coffey (321.9)
333. JT Thor (326.3)
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. Nikola Jokic (1)
2. Luka Doncic (3)
3. Joel Embiid (3.6)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.2)
5. Damian Lillard (7.2)
6. Jimmy Butler (8)
7. Stephen Curry (8.2)
8. Anthony Davis (9.8)
9. Kevin Durant (10)
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10.2)
11. Kawhi Leonard (11.2)
12. LeBron James (11.8)
13. James Harden (13.8)
14. Donovan Mitchell (14)
15. Ja Morant (15.2)
16. Jayson Tatum (17.2)
17. Kyrie Irving (19.2)
18. Jaren Jackson Jr. (21.8)
19. Tyrese Haliburton (22)
20. Zion Williamson (22.6)
21. Lauri Markkanen (23.8)
22. Devin Booker (24.8)
23. Darius Garland (25.8)
24. Kristaps Porzingis (26.8)
25. Domantas Sabonis (27.8)
26. Paul George (29.8)
27. Desmond Bane (30.6)
28. Julius Randle (31.6)
29. Jrue Holiday (32)
30. Trae Young (32.4)