Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid and the NBA's Best Players on January 28, 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, third in ESPN’s real plus-minus, second in Basketball Index’s LEBRON and fourth 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 Jokic (1.75)
2. Luka Doncic (2.17)
3. Joel Embiid (6.25)
4. Jayson Tatum (6.5)
5. LeBron James (9.08)
6. Damian Lillard (9.33)
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9.83)
8. Donovan Mitchell (11.58)
9. Kevin Durant (12.42)
10. Stephen Curry (13)
11. Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.25)
12. Lauri Markkanen (13.58)
13. Tyrese Haliburton (13.92)
14. Domantas Sabonis (17.67)
15. Jimmy Butler (18)
16. Ja Morant (18.83)
17. Anthony Davis (20)
18. Kyrie Irving (20.08)
19. James Harden (22.08)
20. Julius Randle (22.33)
21. Darius Garland (26.5)
22. Paul George (27.67)
23. Kristaps Porzingis (28.58)
24. Pascal Siakam (29.17)
25. Nic Claxton (30)
26. Trae Young (31.17)
27. DeMar DeRozan (32.67)
28. Aaron Gordon (37.67)
29. Jaren Jackson Jr. (38.08)
30. Devin Booker (39.08)
31. Jrue Holiday (39.17)
32. Bam Adebayo (39.25)
33. Kawhi Leonard (40.67)
34. Anthony Edwards (41.08)
35. Zion Williamson (41.67)
36. Fred VanVleet (41.83)
37. Jalen Brunson (45.08)
38. Franz Wagner (45.42)
39. De'Aaron Fox (49.17)
40. Jaylen Brown (50.58)
41. Brook Lopez (51.58)
42. Alperen Sengun (52.5)
43. Myles Turner (52.92)
44. Jarrett Allen (53.17)
45. Mason Plumlee (55.92)
46. Jerami Grant (59.75)
47. Buddy Hield (60.25)
48. Zach LaVine (61.92)
49. Desmond Bane (62)
50. Clint Capela (62.67)
51. Dejounte Murray (64.08)
52. Mitchell Robinson (64.17)
53. Steven Adams (66)
54. Walker Kessler (66.5)
55. Jamal Murray (66.83)
56. Kevon Looney (68.58)
57. Derrick White (69.58)
58. Mikal Bridges (71.75)
59. Tyler Herro (72.08)
60. Scottie Barnes (72.75)
61. Rudy Gobert (73.75)
62. Tobias Harris (74)
63. CJ McCollum (74.58)
64. Kevin Huerter (75.25)
65. Nikola Vucevic (75.42)
66. Kyle Kuzma (75.67)
67. Chris Paul (75.75)
68. Bradley Beal (76.33)
69. Jusuf Nurkic (76.58)
70. Harrison Barnes (81)
71. D'Angelo Russell (81.08)
72. Draymond Green (84.17)
73. O.G. Anunoby (85.08)
74. De'Anthony Melton (87.5)
75. Christian Wood (87.75)
76. Spencer Dinwiddie (90)
77. Bojan Bogdanovic (92.25)
78. Jakob Poeltl (94.83)
79. Kyle Lowry (94.92)
80. Al Horford (96.67)
81. Anfernee Simons (97.42)
81. Gary Trent Jr. (97.42)
83. Isaiah Joe (97.75)
84. Immanuel Quickley (98.42)
85. Bobby Portis (99)
86. Evan Mobley (99.25)
87. Malcolm Brogdon (99.33)
88. Marcus Smart (99.5)
89. Andrew Wiggins (99.75)
90. LaMelo Ball (100.5)
91. Karl-Anthony Towns (100.67)
92. Monte Morris (100.92)
93. Jordan Clarkson (102)
93. Tyus Jones (102)
95. Daniel Gafford (104.75)
96. Kyle Anderson (105.92)
97. Wendell Carter Jr. (106.17)
98. Josh Hart (106.5)
99. Grayson Allen (110.08)
100. Mike Conley (110.67)
101. Alec Burks (111.17)
102. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (113.08)
103. Alex Caruso (114.17)
104. Tre Jones (114.42)
105. Larry Nance Jr. (115.17)
106. Klay Thompson (118.58)
107. Kevin Porter Jr. (121.5)
107. Paolo Banchero (121.5)
109. Tyrese Maxey (126.42)
110. Ben Simmons (127.92)
111. Jose Alvarado (128.25)
112. Terry Rozier (128.75)
113. Brandon Ingram (128.83)
114. John Konchar (129.58)
115. T.J. McConnell (129.75)
116. Luguentz Dort (130.08)
117. Brandon Clarke (130.42)
118. Trey Murphy III (131.33)
119. Thomas Bryant (132.17)
120. Kelly Olynyk (132.5)
121. Santi Aldama (134)
122. Dillon Brooks (134.17)
123. Jaden McDaniels (134.58)
124. Kenrich Williams (135.25)
125. Jonas Valanciunas (136.5)
126. Terance Mann (136.92)
127. Josh Giddey (137.17)
128. Donte DiVincenzo (137.42)
129. Chris Boucher (138.75)
130. Michael Porter Jr. (139.75)
131. Herbert Jones (140.67)
132. Devin Vassell (141.25)
133. Russell Westbrook (143.08)
134. Bruce Brown (143.92)
135. Kevin Love (144.25)
136. Tim Hardaway Jr. (144.75)
137. Dwight Powell (144.92)
138. Jarred Vanderbilt (145.17)
139. Jock Landale (145.75)
140. Quentin Grimes (147.17)
141. Nicolas Batum (147.5)
142. Naz Reid (147.75)
143. Kelly Oubre Jr. (148.67)
144. Tari Eason (149)
145. Marcus Morris (149.58)
146. Norman Powell (150)
147. John Collins (150.33)
148. Jordan Goodwin (151.17)
149. Deandre Ayton (151.5)
150. Keegan Murray (152.33)
151. Josh Okogie (154.75)
152. Mo Bamba (155.58)
153. Onyeka Okongwu (158.17)
154. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (162.08)
155. Drew Eubanks (162.33)
156. Cedi Osman (164)
157. Ivica Zubac (164.25)
158. Cameron Payne (164.42)
159. Naji Marshall (164.5)
160. Royce O'Neale (164.67)
161. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (165.92)
162. RJ Barrett (167.25)
163. Jalen McDaniels (167.33)
164. Dorian Finney-Smith (167.75)
165. Caleb Martin (167.92)
166. Robert Covington (168.33)
167. Caris LeVert (170.42)
168. AJ Griffin (170.5)
169. Nick Richards (170.58)
170. Keldon Johnson (171.25)
171. Georges Niang (171.42)
172. Saddiq Bey (171.83)
173. Cole Anthony (174)
174. Jevon Carter (174.58)
175. Grant Williams (174.83)
176. Markelle Fultz (175.25)
177. Wenyen Gabriel (175.83)
178. Hamidou Diallo (175.92)
179. Pat Connaughton (176.67)
180. Josh Green (177.08)
181. Montrezl Harrell (177.17)
182. Trey Lyles (177.33)
183. Malik Monk (178.33)
184. Luke Kornet (180.5)
185. Isaiah Stewart (181.83)
185. Moritz Wagner (181.83)
187. Torrey Craig (182.5)
188. Isaiah Hartenstein (182.92)
189. Jordan Poole (183.25)
190. Austin Reaves (183.33)
191. Collin Sexton (183.92)
192. Anthony Lamb (184)
193. Devonte' Graham (184.58)
194. Jalen Duren (185.58)
195. Bol Bol (186.33)
196. Victor Oladipo (186.67)
197. Max Strus (187)
198. Jalen Johnson (187.83)
199. Mike Muscala (188)
200. Sam Hauser (188.83)
201. P.J. Washington (189.25)
202. Andre Drummond (190.92)
203. Kenyon Martin Jr. (191.42)
204. Jalen Green (193.67)
205. De'Andre Hunter (194.33)
206. Damion Lee (196)
207. Derrick Jones Jr. (197.92)
208. Landry Shamet (198.83)
209. Obi Toppin (199.25)
210. Isaac Okoro (200.5)
211. Aleksej Pokusevski (201.25)
212. Malik Beasley (202.42)
213. Marvin Bagley III (203.08)
214. Matisse Thybulle (203.75)
215. Jalen Smith (203.83)
216. Josh Richardson (204.08)
217. Dean Wade (204.75)
218. Dennis Smith Jr. (205.17)
219. Talen Horton-Tucker (206.83)
220. Isaiah Jackson (207.83)
221. Bones Hyland (211.5)
222. Deni Avdija (212.08)
222. Jalen Williams (212.08)
224. Precious Achiuwa (212.25)
225. Jaylen Nowell (212.42)
226. Edmond Sumner (213.58)
227. Jalen Suggs (214.58)
228. Dyson Daniels (214.75)
229. Patrick Williams (215.25)
230. Garrison Mathews (215.75)
231. Thaddeus Young (215.83)
232. Bennedict Mathurin (218)
232. Bogdan Bogdanovic (218)
234. Dennis Schroder (218.67)
235. Killian Hayes (219)
236. Gabe Vincent (221.25)
236. Zach Collins (221.25)
238. Darius Bazley (221.83)
239. Shake Milton (222.17)
240. Coby White (222.58)
241. Gary Harris (223.92)
242. John Wall (225.25)
243. Yuta Watanabe (225.92)
244. Corey Kispert (226)
245. Luke Kennard (227.33)
246. Reggie Jackson (227.5)
247. Bismack Biyombo (228.92)
248. George Hill (229.5)
249. Aaron Wiggins (230.42)
250. Jericho Sims (231.25)
251. Seth Curry (232.83)
252. Eric Gordon (233.08)
253. Andrew Nembhard (233.25)
254. Aaron Nesmith (233.58)
255. Usman Garuba (233.92)
256. Lonnie Walker IV (235.58)
257. Davion Mitchell (235.67)
258. Keita Bates-Diop (236.17)
259. Rui Hachimura (236.5)
260. Aaron Holiday (236.75)
261. Joe Harris (237.5)
262. Ty Jerome (238.25)
263. Jabari Smith Jr. (238.33)
264. Patrick Beverley (240.17)
265. Oshae Brissett (241.83)
265. Romeo Langford (241.83)
267. Ish Wainright (242.83)
268. Justise Winslow (243.58)
269. Ayo Dosunmu (245.92)
270. Gordon Hayward (246.67)
271. Theo Maledon (248.42)
272. Troy Brown Jr. (248.83)
273. Haywood Highsmith (249.42)
274. Jeremy Sochan (250)
275. T.J. Warren (251.67)
276. Christian Koloko (252.92)
277. Tre Mann (253.25)
278. Jaden Ivey (256.67)
279. Maxi Kleber (256.92)
280. Kevin Knox (258.83)
281. Rudy Gay (259.08)
282. Jonathan Kuminga (260.75)
283. Cory Joseph (261.08)
284. Zeke Nnaji (261.17)
285. Taurean Prince (262.5)
285. Trendon Watford (262.5)
287. Miles McBride (262.58)
288. DeAndre Jordan (264.58)
289. Vlatko Cancar (264.67)
290. Goran Dragic (269.5)
291. Doug McDermott (273.33)
292. Lamar Stevens (273.83)
293. Chris Duarte (275.92)
294. JaMychal Green (276.17)
295. Isaiah Livers (276.92)
296. Jeff Green (279)
297. Terrence Ross (281.42)
298. Duncan Robinson (282.92)
299. Kendrick Nunn (284.08)
299. Moses Moody (284.08)
301. Juancho Hernangomez (284.5)
302. Max Christie (285.42)
303. Will Barton (285.5)
304. MarJon Beauchamp (287.25)
305. Austin Rivers (288.83)
306. Jordan Nwora (290.17)
307. Danuel House Jr. (292.33)
308. Malachi Flynn (292.58)
308. Reggie Bullock (292.58)
310. Daishen Nix (293.5)
311. Caleb Houstan (297.58)
312. P.J. Tucker (298.83)
313. Christian Braun (301.25)
314. Shaedon Sharpe (302.67)
315. David Roddy (304.92)
316. Amir Coffey (307.42)
317. Malaki Branham (310.25)
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 (1.17)
2. Luka Doncic (2.5)
3. Joel Embiid (4)
4. Anthony Davis (5.33)
5. Damian Lillard (8.17)
6. Stephen Curry (8.5)
7. Jayson Tatum (10.17)
7. LeBron James (10.17)
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo (12.17)
10. Jimmy Butler (12.5)
11. Kevin Durant (13.33)
12. Tyrese Haliburton (13.67)
13. Donovan Mitchell (14.5)
13. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (14.5)
15. James Harden (14.83)
16. Kawhi Leonard (17.33)
17. Jaren Jackson Jr. (18)
17. Lauri Markkanen (18)
19. Ja Morant (18.67)
20. Kyrie Irving (20)
21. Paul George (20.67)
22. Domantas Sabonis (22.67)
23. Devin Booker (27.17)
24. Kristaps Porzingis (28.83)
25. Nic Claxton (29.17)
26. Zion Williamson (29.5)
27. Darius Garland (31.5)
27. Julius Randle (31.5)
29. Pascal Siakam (33.67)
30. Jrue Holiday (37.17)