Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid and the NBA's Best Players on February 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, 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 (1.2)
2. Luka Doncic (2)
3. Joel Embiid (4.8)
4. Jayson Tatum (7.1)
5. LeBron James (8)
6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8.3)
7. Damian Lillard (9)
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo (9.6)
9. Kevin Durant (9.7)
10. Stephen Curry (10.9)
11. Donovan Mitchell (14.1)
12. Jimmy Butler (15.4)
13. Lauri Markkanen (15.5)
13. Tyrese Haliburton (15.5)
15. Domantas Sabonis (15.8)
16. Anthony Davis (17)
17. Ja Morant (17.8)
18. Kyrie Irving (20.7)
19. James Harden (20.9)
20. Darius Garland (23.1)
21. Julius Randle (25.1)
22. Kristaps Porzingis (25.9)
23. Trae Young (27)
24. Paul George (27.1)
25. DeMar DeRozan (28.9)
26. Nic Claxton (30.4)
27. Kawhi Leonard (32.8)
28. Pascal Siakam (33.9)
29. Devin Booker (35.1)
30. Jaren Jackson Jr. (35.4)
31. Zion Williamson (35.6)
32. Bam Adebayo (36.9)
33. Aaron Gordon (37)
34. Jrue Holiday (37.3)
35. Fred VanVleet (38.1)
36. Anthony Edwards (39.1)
37. De'Aaron Fox (41.9)
38. Jalen Brunson (42.3)
39. Jarrett Allen (46.9)
40. Alperen Sengun (49.3)
41. Jaylen Brown (51.8)
42. Walker Kessler (53)
43. Franz Wagner (54.8)
44. Clint Capela (56.3)
45. Myles Turner (57)
46. Brook Lopez (58.2)
47. Mason Plumlee (60.3)
48. Dejounte Murray (60.6)
49. Bradley Beal (62.9)
50. Steven Adams (64.3)
51. Desmond Bane (64.7)
52. Zach LaVine (65.2)
53. Derrick White (65.5)
54. Jamal Murray (66.2)
55. Jerami Grant (66.5)
56. Mitchell Robinson (69)
57. Scottie Barnes (69.7)
58. Mikal Bridges (69.9)
59. Kevon Looney (70)
60. Chris Paul (71.1)
61. Buddy Hield (73)
62. CJ McCollum (73.6)
63. Nikola Vucevic (74.9)
64. Tyler Herro (78.9)
65. Rudy Gobert (79.8)
66. Malcolm Brogdon (80.4)
67. Tobias Harris (81.5)
68. Jusuf Nurkic (83.5)
69. Harrison Barnes (86)
70. Kyle Anderson (87.3)
71. Christian Wood (87.6)
72. Draymond Green (88.1)
73. Alex Caruso (89.7)
74. Immanuel Quickley (89.8)
74. Kevin Huerter (89.8)
76. Daniel Gafford (91.4)
77. Bobby Portis (91.5)
77. D'Angelo Russell (91.5)
79. Alec Burks (92.2)
80. De'Anthony Melton (92.4)
81. Gary Trent Jr. (92.8)
82. O.G. Anunoby (93.6)
83. Kyle Kuzma (94.4)
84. Mike Conley (95.4)
85. Tyus Jones (95.7)
86. Monte Morris (96.5)
87. Al Horford (97.8)
88. Isaiah Joe (99.1)
89. Evan Mobley (99.2)
90. Larry Nance Jr. (101.3)
91. LaMelo Ball (101.4)
92. Karl-Anthony Towns (101.6)
93. Anfernee Simons (102.5)
94. Jakob Poeltl (103.4)
95. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (103.5)
95. Marcus Smart (103.5)
97. Bojan Bogdanovic (105)
98. Spencer Dinwiddie (105.1)
99. Josh Hart (107.2)
100. Jordan Clarkson (108.3)
101. Andrew Wiggins (110.8)
102. Kyle Lowry (111.9)
103. Wendell Carter Jr. (121)
104. Tari Eason (121.3)
105. Brandon Clarke (122.2)
106. Kenrich Williams (122.4)
107. Klay Thompson (122.7)
108. Ben Simmons (123)
109. Thomas Bryant (123.1)
110. Grayson Allen (123.8)
111. John Konchar (124.4)
112. Kevin Porter Jr. (124.8)
113. T.J. McConnell (125)
114. Brandon Ingram (125.1)
115. Jose Alvarado (126.3)
116. Tre Jones (127.1)
117. Terry Rozier (128.5)
118. Donte DiVincenzo (129)
119. Cedi Osman (129.1)
119. Chris Boucher (129.1)
121. Paolo Banchero (132.2)
122. Jaden McDaniels (135.2)
123. Luguentz Dort (135.5)
124. Jordan Goodwin (136.7)
125. Russell Westbrook (137.1)
126. Kelly Olynyk (137.5)
127. Santi Aldama (138.6)
128. Michael Porter Jr. (140.5)
129. Kevin Love (140.8)
130. Norman Powell (141.2)
131. Herbert Jones (141.4)
132. Terance Mann (143)
133. Tyrese Maxey (143.2)
134. Drew Eubanks (143.5)
135. Trey Murphy III (143.7)
136. Naz Reid (144)
137. Devin Vassell (144.1)
137. Josh Giddey (144.1)
137. Onyeka Okongwu (144.1)
140. Quentin Grimes (144.4)
141. Dwight Powell (146.7)
141. Jock Landale (146.7)
143. Bruce Brown (151.2)
144. Dillon Brooks (151.4)
145. Jarred Vanderbilt (152.6)
146. Cole Anthony (153)
147. Deandre Ayton (153.1)
148. Mo Bamba (153.9)
149. Marcus Morris (154.4)
150. Hamidou Diallo (155.5)
151. Josh Okogie (155.6)
151. Malik Monk (155.6)
151. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (155.6)
154. Luke Kornet (156.6)
155. Nicolas Batum (158.8)
156. Georges Niang (159.1)
157. Tim Hardaway Jr. (160.6)
158. Jonas Valanciunas (161.2)
159. Cameron Payne (161.8)
160. Moritz Wagner (162)
161. Kelly Oubre Jr. (162.8)
162. Josh Green (163.2)
163. Nick Richards (163.6)
164. Royce O'Neale (164.3)
165. Dorian Finney-Smith (165.1)
166. Robert Covington (165.6)
167. Jevon Carter (166.1)
168. John Collins (166.7)
169. Collin Sexton (167.1)
170. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (167.6)
171. Wenyen Gabriel (170.9)
172. Isaiah Hartenstein (171.1)
173. AJ Griffin (171.3)
174. Keegan Murray (171.5)
174. Naji Marshall (171.5)
176. Keldon Johnson (172.4)
177. Jalen Duren (172.5)
178. Caris LeVert (172.6)
179. Grant Williams (172.7)
180. Devonte' Graham (173.3)
181. Austin Reaves (174.3)
182. Caleb Martin (175.5)
183. Ivica Zubac (175.9)
183. Markelle Fultz (175.9)
185. Montrezl Harrell (176.9)
186. Victor Oladipo (178.8)
187. Pat Connaughton (179.5)
188. Matisse Thybulle (181.7)
189. Anthony Lamb (181.9)
190. Jalen Johnson (183.8)
190. RJ Barrett (183.8)
192. Mike Muscala (184.1)
193. Jalen McDaniels (184.2)
194. Trey Lyles (184.3)
195. Damion Lee (184.5)
196. Precious Achiuwa (184.7)
197. Saddiq Bey (185.2)
198. Dean Wade (188.6)
199. Isaac Okoro (189.2)
200. Kenyon Martin Jr. (190.3)
201. Landry Shamet (190.9)
202. Sam Hauser (191.7)
203. Josh Richardson (194.5)
204. Jalen Suggs (194.6)
205. Torrey Craig (195.3)
206. Jordan Poole (195.6)
207. Derrick Jones Jr. (196.2)
208. Deni Avdija (198.3)
209. De'Andre Hunter (198.5)
210. Isaiah Jackson (199.1)
211. Max Strus (199.4)
212. Yuta Watanabe (200.2)
213. Aleksej Pokusevski (201.4)
214. Marvin Bagley III (202.2)
215. Bennedict Mathurin (203.6)
216. Bol Bol (204.3)
217. Dyson Daniels (204.8)
218. Bogdan Bogdanovic (204.9)
219. Malik Beasley (205)
220. Zach Collins (205.5)
221. Isaiah Stewart (206)
222. Gary Harris (206.3)
223. P.J. Washington (206.5)
224. Obi Toppin (207.6)
225. Thaddeus Young (207.9)
226. Dennis Smith Jr. (209.2)
227. Garrison Mathews (210.4)
228. Bones Hyland (210.8)
229. Coby White (212.2)
230. Jaylen Nowell (212.6)
231. Darius Bazley (212.9)
232. Talen Horton-Tucker (213.3)
233. Usman Garuba (214.3)
234. Jalen Green (215.4)
235. Bismack Biyombo (217.4)
236. Aaron Holiday (217.5)
237. Gabe Vincent (218.6)
238. John Wall (218.7)
239. Shake Milton (219.6)
240. Jalen Williams (220.1)
241. Jalen Smith (220.2)
242. Dennis Schroder (223.2)
243. George Hill (224.7)
244. Patrick Williams (224.9)
245. Killian Hayes (226.8)
246. Edmond Sumner (227)
247. Davion Mitchell (227.8)
248. Rui Hachimura (229.6)
249. Luke Kennard (229.7)
250. Andrew Nembhard (230.6)
251. Jericho Sims (230.8)
252. Keita Bates-Diop (232.4)
253. Aaron Nesmith (233.6)
254. Ish Wainright (233.7)
255. Justise Winslow (235.1)
256. Corey Kispert (235.8)
257. Ty Jerome (236.2)
258. Gordon Hayward (237.1)
259. Theo Maledon (237.2)
260. Romeo Langford (237.6)
261. Aaron Wiggins (237.8)
262. Haywood Highsmith (239.5)
263. Seth Curry (240.4)
264. Reggie Jackson (241.3)
265. Oshae Brissett (241.6)
266. Patrick Beverley (243.1)
267. Christian Koloko (243.7)
268. Eric Gordon (244.3)
269. Ayo Dosunmu (247.3)
270. Vlatko Cancar (247.4)
271. Joe Harris (248.9)
272. Lonnie Walker IV (250.6)
273. Maxi Kleber (251.6)
274. Jonathan Kuminga (252.1)
275. Miles McBride (256.1)
276. Cory Joseph (256.2)
276. Rudy Gay (256.2)
278. Taurean Prince (257.6)
279. Troy Brown Jr. (260.5)
280. Trendon Watford (260.6)
281. Jeremy Sochan (261.6)
282. Jabari Smith Jr. (261.8)
283. Tre Mann (263.6)
284. Goran Dragic (266.4)
285. Lamar Stevens (267.3)
286. Zeke Nnaji (267.4)
287. Kevin Knox (268)
288. Jaden Ivey (271.6)
289. Isaiah Livers (272.7)
290. Doug McDermott (273)
291. Chris Duarte (273.4)
292. Terrence Ross (276.1)
293. Will Barton (277.7)
294. Austin Rivers (279.4)
295. Jordan Nwora (281.6)
296. Daishen Nix (283.4)
297. Duncan Robinson (283.7)
298. Kendrick Nunn (285.4)
299. Reggie Bullock (286.1)
300. Moses Moody (286.2)
301. Malachi Flynn (286.4)
302. Juancho Hernangomez (287.3)
303. Jeff Green (288.9)
304. Danuel House Jr. (289.8)
304. MarJon Beauchamp (289.8)
306. P.J. Tucker (295.1)
307. Christian Braun (295.2)
308. Shaedon Sharpe (295.9)
309. David Roddy (298)
310. Amir Coffey (301.3)
311. Malaki Branham (302.7)
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 (2.2)
3. Joel Embiid (3)
4. Anthony Davis (5.4)
5. Stephen Curry (7.6)
6. Damian Lillard (8.4)
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo (9)
8. Kevin Durant (9.2)
9. LeBron James (9.8)
10. Jayson Tatum (11.4)
10. Jimmy Butler (11.4)
12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12.2)
13. Tyrese Haliburton (14.4)
14. Kawhi Leonard (14.8)
15. James Harden (16.6)
16. Donovan Mitchell (17)
17. Jaren Jackson Jr. (17.6)
18. Ja Morant (18)
19. Lauri Markkanen (20)
20. Domantas Sabonis (20.2)
21. Devin Booker (21.6)
22. Kyrie Irving (21.8)
23. Zion Williamson (22.2)
24. Paul George (22.6)
25. Kristaps Porzingis (25.6)
26. Darius Garland (27.6)
27. Nic Claxton (31.4)
28. Trae Young (32.4)
29. Julius Randle (35)
30. Jrue Holiday (36.2)