Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard and the NBA's Best Players on February 27, 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 (2.8)
3. Joel Embiid (3.8)
4. Damian Lillard (6.6)
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7.5)
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo (7.7)
7. Jayson Tatum (10.7)
8. LeBron James (11.0)
9. Jimmy Butler (11.6)
10. Donovan Mitchell (11.8)
11. Stephen Curry (15.1)
12. Kevin Durant (15.3)
13. James Harden (15.9)
14. Ja Morant (17.8)
15. Lauri Markkanen (18.3)
16. Kyrie Irving (19.4)
17. Anthony Davis (20.4)
18. Tyrese Haliburton (20.9)
19. Domantas Sabonis (22.1)
20. Darius Garland (22.2)
21. Julius Randle (22.3)
22. Trae Young (24.0)
23. Kawhi Leonard (24.5)
24. Kristaps Porzingis (25.8)
25. Paul George (30.3)
26. Jalen Brunson (31.3)
26. Jrue Holiday (31.3)
28. Pascal Siakam (33.7)
29. Nic Claxton (34.0)
30. DeMar DeRozan (34.4)
31. Jaren Jackson Jr. (34.9)
32. Aaron Gordon (35.2)
33. Bam Adebayo (36.9)
34. De'Aaron Fox (37.9)
35. Devin Booker (39.8)
36. Jarrett Allen (40.6)
37. Fred VanVleet (41.9)
38. Zion Williamson (42.4)
39. Derrick White (48.6)
40. Anthony Edwards (49.0)
41. Desmond Bane (50.4)
42. Brook Lopez (51.3)
43. Myles Turner (53.4)
44. Walker Kessler (55.1)
45. Zach LaVine (56.7)
46. Chris Paul (59.3)
47. Franz Wagner (59.6)
48. Jaylen Brown (59.8)
49. Alperen Sengun (59.9)
50. Bradley Beal (60.7)
50. Clint Capela (60.7)
52. Buddy Hield (66.1)
53. Kevon Looney (68.5)
54. Jamal Murray (68.9)
55. Dejounte Murray (69.6)
56. Mikal Bridges (73.1)
57. Mitchell Robinson (76.4)
58. Steven Adams (77.8)
59. Rudy Gobert (78.7)
60. Immanuel Quickley (79.7)
61. Mason Plumlee (80.2)
62. LaMelo Ball (81.0)
63. Kyle Anderson (83.1)
64. Tyler Herro (83.6)
65. Draymond Green (86.5)
66. Evan Mobley (86.6)
67. Scottie Barnes (87.9)
68. Nikola Vucevic (88.0)
69. D'Angelo Russell (88.4)
70. CJ McCollum (89.3)
71. Josh Hart (89.5)
72. Jusuf Nurkic (90.0)
73. Tobias Harris (91.8)
74. Alex Caruso (93.0)
75. Larry Nance Jr. (93.6)
75. Malcolm Brogdon (93.6)
77. Daniel Gafford (93.7)
78. Christian Wood (94.0)
79. Jerami Grant (95.7)
80. Jakob Poeltl (96.8)
81. Spencer Dinwiddie (98.0)
82. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (99.3)
83. Isaiah Joe (99.4)
84. Harrison Barnes (100.2)
85. Cameron Johnson (101.3)
86. Bobby Portis (101.6)
87. Alec Burks (102.6)
87. Karl-Anthony Towns (102.6)
89. Klay Thompson (103.0)
90. Kevin Huerter (104.3)
91. O.G. Anunoby (106.2)
92. Gary Trent Jr. (107.0)
93. Mike Conley (107.2)
94. Monte Morris (108.3)
95. Marcus Smart (110.8)
96. Delon Wright (111.6)
97. Andrew Wiggins (112.1)
98. De'Anthony Melton (112.5)
99. Kyle Kuzma (112.8)
100. Anfernee Simons (113.1)
101. Al Horford (113.5)
102. Chris Boucher (114.1)
103. Robert Williams (116.3)
104. Josh Okogie (117.3)
105. Terry Rozier (117.6)
106. Wendell Carter Jr. (118.4)
107. Tyus Jones (118.7)
108. Bojan Bogdanovic (119.5)
109. Kelly Olynyk (120.0)
110. Michael Porter Jr. (120.7)
111. Kenrich Williams (123.2)
112. Kyle Lowry (123.3)
113. Deandre Ayton (124.4)
114. Cole Anthony (125.3)
115. Luguentz Dort (129.5)
116. Brandon Clarke (130.3)
116. Terance Mann (130.3)
118. Moritz Wagner (131.9)
119. Jaden McDaniels (133.0)
120. Brandon Ingram (133.3)
121. Kevin Porter Jr. (134.3)
122. Russell Westbrook (134.6)
123. Cedi Osman (135.3)
124. Onyeka Okongwu (135.7)
125. Tre Jones (136.1)
126. Grayson Allen (136.2)
127. John Konchar (136.3)
128. Donte DiVincenzo (137.8)
129. Santi Aldama (138.3)
130. Jose Alvarado (138.7)
131. Norman Powell (140.5)
132. Dwight Powell (141.7)
133. Jordan Clarkson (142.4)
134. Andre Drummond (142.8)
135. Tari Eason (143.0)
136. Jock Landale (144.9)
137. Ben Simmons (145.1)
138. Mark Williams (145.2)
139. Tim Hardaway Jr. (145.8)
140. Hamidou Diallo (147.8)
141. Terence Davis (148.0)
142. Thomas Bryant (148.1)
143. Herbert Jones (148.6)
143. Tyrese Maxey (148.6)
145. Nicolas Batum (148.9)
146. Trey Murphy III (151.9)
147. Jarred Vanderbilt (152.7)
147. Jordan Goodwin (152.7)
149. T.J. McConnell (153.1)
150. Isaiah Hartenstein (154.4)
151. Kevin Love (155.0)
152. Devin Vassell (157.5)
153. Drew Eubanks (159.8)
154. Josh Giddey (159.9)
155. Malik Monk (161.4)
156. Jevon Carter (162.0)
157. Quentin Grimes (163.0)
158. Isaac Okoro (163.9)
159. Luke Kornet (164.4)
160. Josh Green (164.9)
161. Naz Reid (165.7)
162. Dillon Brooks (165.9)
163. Bruce Brown (168.0)
164. Mike Muscala (168.1)
165. Caris LeVert (169.9)
166. Xavier Tillman (170.3)
167. Paolo Banchero (172.0)
168. Ivica Zubac (172.2)
169. Sam Hauser (172.6)
170. Naji Marshall (172.8)
171. Jalen Johnson (173.6)
172. Mo Bamba (174.6)
173. Austin Reaves (175.1)
173. Josh Richardson (175.1)
175. Dorian Finney-Smith (175.6)
176. Robert Covington (175.9)
177. Saddiq Bey (176.0)
178. Matisse Thybulle (178.5)
179. Jalen Suggs (178.6)
180. Devonte' Graham (179.2)
181. Jonas Valanciunas (179.4)
182. Grant Williams (181.3)
183. Markelle Fultz (183.5)
184. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (183.7)
185. Keegan Murray (184.9)
186. Cameron Payne (185.3)
187. Deni Avdija (185.4)
188. Bogdan Bogdanovic (186.0)
189. Collin Sexton (186.5)
190. Cam Thomas (187.0)
191. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (187.1)
192. P.J. Washington (187.2)
193. Royce O'Neale (188.6)
194. Kelly Oubre Jr. (188.7)
195. John Collins (188.9)
196. Keldon Johnson (190.0)
197. Trey Lyles (191.4)
198. Coby White (191.5)
199. Anthony Lamb (192.6)
199. Kenyon Martin Jr. (192.6)
201. AJ Griffin (192.9)
202. Damion Lee (193.2)
203. Talen Horton-Tucker (193.4)
204. Wenyen Gabriel (193.9)
205. Jalen Duren (194.1)
206. Chimezie Metu (194.2)
207. Pat Connaughton (195.0)
208. Derrick Jones Jr. (195.1)
209. Caleb Martin (195.5)
210. Nick Richards (196.6)
211. Dean Wade (196.8)
211. Montrezl Harrell (196.8)
213. Marcus Morris (196.9)
214. Jalen McDaniels (197.8)
215. Georges Niang (199.4)
216. Dennis Smith Jr. (200.1)
217. Jalen Williams (201.8)
218. Zach Collins (202.4)
219. De'Andre Hunter (203.4)
220. Marvin Bagley III (204.0)
221. Yuta Watanabe (204.1)
222. Isaiah Jackson (205.7)
223. Landry Shamet (205.8)
224. Jaylen Nowell (206.2)
225. Ish Wainright (209.2)
226. Isaiah Stewart (211.6)
227. Precious Achiuwa (215.4)
228. Bol Bol (216.2)
228. Dennis Schroder (216.2)
230. Gary Harris (216.4)
231. Gordon Hayward (216.6)
232. Torrey Craig (216.8)
233. Dyson Daniels (217.0)
234. Thaddeus Young (217.3)
235. Edmond Sumner (218.5)
235. Gabe Vincent (218.5)
237. Aleksej Pokusevski (220.4)
237. RJ Barrett (220.4)
239. Malik Beasley (221.2)
240. Jordan Poole (222.1)
241. Victor Oladipo (225.1)
242. Usman Garuba (226.2)
243. Ty Jerome (227.2)
244. Max Strus (228.1)
245. Garrison Mathews (228.8)
246. Darius Bazley (229.0)
247. Keita Bates-Diop (229.4)
248. Bones Hyland (230.4)
249. Aaron Nesmith (231.2)
250. Bennedict Mathurin (231.3)
251. Jalen Green (231.6)
252. Eric Gordon (235.9)
253. Jalen Smith (236.8)
254. Obi Toppin (237.6)
255. Patrick Williams (238.3)
256. Luke Kennard (238.6)
257. Bismack Biyombo (240.8)
258. Christian Koloko (241.4)
259. Nassir Little (241.9)
260. Aaron Holiday (242.7)
261. Romeo Langford (243.6)
262. Andrew Nembhard (246.1)
263. John Wall (246.2)
264. Shake Milton (249.2)
265. Jericho Sims (249.5)
266. George Hill (249.9)
267. Rui Hachimura (250.3)
268. Joe Ingles (251.1)
269. Justise Winslow (251.8)
270. Oshae Brissett (253.6)
271. Reggie Jackson (255.2)
272. Taurean Prince (255.8)
273. Miles McBride (257.3)
274. Patrick Beverley (257.4)
274. Seth Curry (257.4)
274. Theo Maledon (257.4)
277. Killian Hayes (258.1)
277. Vlatko Cancar (258.1)
279. Jeremy Sochan (260.0)
280. Aaron Wiggins (260.2)
281. Cam Reddish (262.1)
282. Cory Joseph (262.3)
283. Maxi Kleber (263.6)
284. Corey Kispert (264.5)
285. Dario Saric (264.6)
286. Troy Brown Jr. (265.3)
287. T.J. Warren (265.9)
288. Davion Mitchell (266.7)
289. Joe Harris (269.4)
289. Lonnie Walker IV (269.4)
289. Wesley Matthews (269.4)
292. Ayo Dosunmu (269.7)
293. Haywood Highsmith (270.5)
294. Trendon Watford (271.4)
295. Rudy Gay (273.9)
296. JaMychal Green (277.1)
297. Lamar Stevens (277.4)
298. Chris Duarte (278.1)
299. Jonathan Kuminga (279.5)
300. Ochai Agbaji (279.8)
301. Zeke Nnaji (281.0)
302. Isaiah Livers (281.3)
303. Jaden Ivey (281.4)
304. Terrence Ross (289.5)
305. Tre Mann (291.0)
306. Goran Dragic (291.6)
307. Jabari Smith Jr. (291.7)
308. P.J. Tucker (292.4)
309. Kendrick Nunn (294.9)
310. Moses Moody (295.3)
310. Will Barton (295.3)
312. Reggie Bullock (295.7)
313. Christian Braun (296.0)
314. Jordan Nwora (296.6)
315. Malachi Flynn (296.7)
316. Payton Pritchard (296.9)
317. Kevin Knox (298.4)
318. Duncan Robinson (298.8)
319. Shaedon Sharpe (299.8)
320. Jeff Green (302.6)
321. Doug McDermott (302.7)
322. Caleb Houstan (302.9)
323. Daishen Nix (303.7)
324. Austin Rivers (304.8)
325. Juancho Hernangomez (305.5)
326. MarJon Beauchamp (311.2)
327. Malaki Branham (312.2)
328. Danuel House Jr. (313.8)
329. David Roddy (316.7)
330. Amir Coffey (320.4)
331. JT Thor (324.8)
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 Jokic (1.2)
2. Joel Embiid (2.6)
3. Luka Doncic (3.4)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.6)
5. Damian Lillard (7.2)
6. Stephen Curry (8)
7. Jimmy Butler (8.6)
8. Anthony Davis (9.4)
9. Kevin Durant (9.8)
10. Kawhi Leonard (10.6)
11. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11)
12. LeBron James (11.4)
13. James Harden (13.8)
14. Donovan Mitchell (15.2)
15. Jayson Tatum (16)
16. Ja Morant (17.2)
17. Jaren Jackson Jr. (19.4)
18. Kyrie Irving (20)
19. Zion Williamson (21.6)
20. Tyrese Haliburton (21.8)
21. Lauri Markkanen (23)
22. Devin Booker (25.4)
23. Kristaps Porzingis (25.8)
24. Darius Garland (27.8)
25. Domantas Sabonis (28.8)
25. Paul George (28.8)
27. Trae Young (29.8)
28. Jrue Holiday (31.4)
29. Julius Randle (31.6)
30. Aaron Gordon (32.2)