Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard and the NBA's Best Players on March 10, 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 (1.2)
2. Luka Doncic (3.0)
3. Joel Embiid (3.4)
4. Damian Lillard (6.4)
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (7.5)
6. Jimmy Butler (8.0)
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9.5)
8. Jayson Tatum (11.6)
9. Donovan Mitchell (12.7)
10. James Harden (14.4)
11. LeBron James (15.1)
12. Tyrese Haliburton (16.1)
13. Kevin Durant (16.3)
14. Ja Morant (17.2)
15. Stephen Curry (17.3)
16. Anthony Davis (17.9)
17. Darius Garland (19.7)
18. Kyrie Irving (20.0)
19. Lauri Markkanen (20.8)
20. Trae Young (22.2)
21. Domantas Sabonis (23.4)
22. Kristaps Porzingis (23.9)
23. Julius Randle (24.4)
24. Kawhi Leonard (26.1)
25. Jalen Brunson (27.4)
26. Paul George (28.3)
27. Jrue Holiday (28.7)
28. Devin Booker (30.3)
29. Jaren Jackson Jr. (35.3)
29. Nic Claxton (35.3)
31. Aaron Gordon (35.4)
31. Fred VanVleet (35.4)
33. DeMar DeRozan (36.9)
34. Bam Adebayo (39.7)
35. De'Aaron Fox (39.9)
36. Pascal Siakam (41.4)
37. Jarrett Allen (44.0)
38. Desmond Bane (46.2)
39. Brook Lopez (47.9)
40. Zion Williamson (48.1)
41. Zach LaVine (49.1)
42. Derrick White (52.6)
43. Anthony Edwards (52.8)
44. Chris Paul (55.2)
45. Walker Kessler (56.4)
46. Clint Capela (59.1)
47. Jaylen Brown (60.6)
48. Franz Wagner (61.3)
49. Alperen Sengun (61.6)
49. Mikal Bridges (61.6)
51. Myles Turner (62.1)
52. Bradley Beal (62.2)
53. Jamal Murray (62.5)
54. Immanuel Quickley (68.0)
55. Buddy Hield (70.1)
56. Dejounte Murray (70.2)
57. Kevon Looney (70.5)
58. Jakob Poeltl (73.0)
59. Mitchell Robinson (74.4)
60. Josh Hart (78.1)
60. Mason Plumlee (78.1)
62. LaMelo Ball (78.3)
63. Evan Mobley (78.9)
64. Draymond Green (79.5)
65. Rudy Gobert (79.6)
66. Kyle Anderson (80.1)
67. Nikola Vucevic (82.5)
68. Steven Adams (83.5)
69. Spencer Dinwiddie (84.3)
70. Kevin Huerter (87.0)
71. Scottie Barnes (88.7)
72. Cameron Johnson (90.2)
73. Tobias Harris (91.1)
74. Alex Caruso (93.9)
75. CJ McCollum (94.3)
76. Delon Wright (94.4)
77. Alec Burks (95.3)
78. D'Angelo Russell (96.1)
79. Klay Thompson (96.2)
80. Jusuf Nurkic (98.0)
81. Larry Nance Jr. (98.3)
82. Tyler Herro (98.8)
83. Malcolm Brogdon (99.0)
84. Jerami Grant (100.9)
85. Al Horford (101.2)
86. O.G. Anunoby (102.2)
87. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (102.4)
88. Mike Conley (102.9)
89. Harrison Barnes (103.3)
90. Isaiah Joe (103.9)
91. Daniel Gafford (104.0)
92. Tyus Jones (105.9)
93. Chris Boucher (107.3)
94. Karl-Anthony Towns (108.7)
95. Michael Porter Jr. (110.0)
96. Christian Wood (111.5)
97. De'Anthony Melton (113.3)
98. Wendell Carter Jr. (113.8)
99. Marcus Smart (115.4)
100. Bojan Bogdanovic (116.0)
101. Monte Morris (117.1)
102. Gary Trent Jr. (117.2)
103. Anfernee Simons (117.3)
104. Robert Williams (117.4)
105. Bobby Portis (117.5)
106. Kyle Kuzma (117.6)
107. Tyrese Maxey (118.4)
108. Andrew Wiggins (118.7)
109. Josh Okogie (120.3)
110. Deandre Ayton (123.4)
111. Kelly Olynyk (124.8)
112. Terry Rozier (125.0)
113. Kenrich Williams (125.2)
114. Kyle Lowry (125.6)
115. Donte DiVincenzo (126.6)
116. Moritz Wagner (128.1)
117. Tim Hardaway Jr. (130.0)
118. Brandon Clarke (130.1)
119. Grayson Allen (130.3)
120. Tari Eason (131.1)
121. T.J. McConnell (131.7)
122. Cole Anthony (131.8)
123. Jaden McDaniels (132.1)
124. Kevin Porter Jr. (133.4)
125. Herbert Jones (135.4)
126. Brandon Ingram (136.3)
127. Onyeka Okongwu (137.3)
128. John Konchar (141.0)
129. Dwight Powell (141.2)
130. Russell Westbrook (141.6)
131. Jordan Clarkson (143.0)
131. Luguentz Dort (143.0)
133. Terance Mann (144.3)
134. Jock Landale (145.4)
135. Jose Alvarado (145.8)
136. Trey Murphy III (146.5)
137. Hamidou Diallo (147.7)
138. Khris Middleton (148.5)
139. Jarred Vanderbilt (148.7)
140. Jevon Carter (149.7)
141. Jordan Goodwin (150.1)
142. Xavier Tillman (150.2)
143. Ben Simmons (150.8)
144. Naz Reid (151.1)
145. Cedi Osman (151.2)
146. Isaiah Hartenstein (152.9)
147. Kevin Love (153.2)
148. Markelle Fultz (153.7)
148. Tre Jones (153.7)
150. Jalen Williams (155.5)
151. Austin Reaves (156.1)
152. Josh Giddey (157.8)
153. Devin Vassell (159.5)
153. Thomas Bryant (159.5)
155. Devonte' Graham (159.6)
156. Andre Drummond (160.2)
157. Santi Aldama (160.3)
158. Caris LeVert (160.9)
158. Ivica Zubac (160.9)
160. Malik Monk (161.4)
161. Jalen Johnson (161.9)
162. Nicolas Batum (162.8)
163. Bogdan Bogdanovic (163.9)
164. Isaac Okoro (164.2)
165. Trey Lyles (167.0)
166. Quentin Grimes (167.4)
167. Keegan Murray (167.6)
167. Norman Powell (167.6)
169. Sam Hauser (168.4)
170. Drew Eubanks (171.3)
171. Mark Williams (172.7)
172. Kelly Oubre Jr. (172.9)
172. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (172.9)
174. Dillon Brooks (175.0)
175. Saddiq Bey (176.0)
176. Mo Bamba (177.8)
177. Jonas Valanciunas (178.2)
178. Terence Davis (178.8)
179. Matisse Thybulle (178.9)
180. Dennis Smith Jr. (179.1)
181. Robert Covington (179.6)
182. Paolo Banchero (179.7)
183. Bruce Brown (181.0)
184. Royce O'Neale (181.3)
185. Mike Muscala (181.6)
186. Luke Kornet (183.0)
187. Dorian Finney-Smith (183.9)
188. Caleb Martin (185.1)
189. Naji Marshall (185.7)
190. Josh Richardson (185.9)
191. Kenyon Martin Jr. (186.1)
192. Zach Collins (187.3)
193. Jalen Suggs (188.8)
194. Jalen McDaniels (189.4)
195. Collin Sexton (190.9)
196. P.J. Washington (192.3)
197. Chimezie Metu (192.4)
197. Pat Connaughton (192.4)
199. Marvin Bagley III (194.3)
200. Grant Williams (194.5)
201. Anthony Lamb (196.8)
202. Deni Avdija (196.9)
203. Coby White (197.5)
204. Paul Reed (198.2)
205. Derrick Jones Jr. (200.0)
205. Josh Green (200.0)
207. John Collins (200.2)
208. Talen Horton-Tucker (200.8)
209. Damion Lee (200.9)
210. Keldon Johnson (201.7)
211. Cameron Payne (202.1)
212. Marcus Morris (203.2)
213. AJ Griffin (203.7)
214. Dennis Schroder (203.9)
215. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (204.9)
216. Montrezl Harrell (205.0)
217. Ish Wainright (208.0)
218. Georges Niang (208.3)
219. Jordan Poole (210.4)
220. Jalen Duren (211.6)
221. Landry Shamet (212.1)
222. De'Andre Hunter (212.8)
223. Gordon Hayward (213.1)
223. Nick Richards (213.1)
225. Jaylen Nowell (215.3)
226. Isaiah Stewart (215.5)
226. Usman Garuba (215.5)
228. Wenyen Gabriel (215.9)
229. Malik Beasley (216.6)
230. Gary Harris (217.2)
231. Edmond Sumner (218.9)
232. Isaiah Jackson (221.0)
233. Cam Thomas (221.2)
234. Jalen Green (223.4)
235. Dyson Daniels (224.1)
236. Keita Bates-Diop (225.2)
237. Bol Bol (225.9)
238. Dean Wade (226.4)
239. Yuta Watanabe (226.9)
240. Aleksej Pokusevski (227.5)
240. RJ Barrett (227.5)
242. Dario Saric (230.9)
243. Precious Achiuwa (232.5)
244. Torrey Craig (232.8)
245. Eric Gordon (233.0)
246. Garrison Mathews (235.1)
247. Ty Jerome (236.4)
248. Bennedict Mathurin (236.5)
249. Jalen Smith (237.6)
250. Thaddeus Young (237.8)
251. Darius Bazley (238.6)
252. Joe Ingles (239.9)
253. Troy Brown Jr. (241.1)
254. Patrick Williams (241.7)
255. Gabe Vincent (242.3)
256. Obi Toppin (243.2)
257. Max Strus (244.0)
258. Patrick Beverley (245.3)
259. Bones Hyland (245.8)
260. Bismack Biyombo (246.4)
261. Jeremy Sochan (247.3)
262. Shake Milton (247.4)
263. Jaxson Hayes (248.9)
264. John Wall (249.1)
265. Cory Joseph (250.2)
266. Aaron Holiday (250.5)
266. Aaron Nesmith (250.5)
268. Christian Koloko (250.7)
269. Davion Mitchell (251.1)
270. Victor Oladipo (251.9)
271. Luke Kennard (252.3)
272. Oshae Brissett (252.7)
273. Jonathan Kuminga (253.2)
274. Justise Winslow (254.2)
275. George Hill (254.4)
276. Corey Kispert (255.1)
277. Cam Reddish (255.3)
278. Andrew Nembhard (255.9)
279. Aaron Wiggins (256.9)
280. Jericho Sims (258.8)
281. Miles McBride (259.3)
282. Killian Hayes (259.8)
282. Theo Maledon (259.8)
284. Maxi Kleber (259.9)
285. Rui Hachimura (260.2)
286. Jaylin Williams (260.5)
287. Taurean Prince (261.0)
288. Romeo Langford (262.5)
289. Reggie Jackson (266.7)
290. Vlatko Cancar (269.0)
291. Nassir Little (270.7)
292. Seth Curry (271.9)
293. T.J. Warren (272.8)
294. Lamar Stevens (273.6)
295. JaMychal Green (274.6)
296. Chris Duarte (275.4)
297. Joe Harris (276.2)
297. Wesley Matthews (276.2)
299. Haywood Highsmith (276.5)
300. Patty Mills (278.2)
301. Lonnie Walker IV (280.0)
302. Ayo Dosunmu (280.7)
303. Jordan Nwora (281.2)
304. Terrence Ross (281.8)
305. Jae'Sean Tate (283.9)
306. Isaiah Livers (284.9)
307. Zeke Nnaji (286.8)
308. Trendon Watford (287.5)
309. Rudy Gay (287.9)
310. Tre Mann (288.2)
311. Jaden Ivey (290.3)
312. Ochai Agbaji (296.2)
313. Reggie Bullock (298.3)
314. Jabari Smith Jr. (298.4)
315. Duncan Robinson (299.0)
315. Goran Dragic (299.0)
317. Moses Moody (302.5)
318. Christian Braun (304.3)
319. Max Christie (304.6)
320. P.J. Tucker (304.8)
321. Will Barton (305.0)
322. Malachi Flynn (306.4)
323. Kendrick Nunn (307.0)
324. Kevin Knox (307.4)
324. Payton Pritchard (307.4)
326. Doug McDermott (309.6)
327. Jeff Green (310.3)
328. Shaedon Sharpe (311.3)
329. Juancho Hernangomez (313.2)
330. Caleb Houstan (313.5)
331. Austin Rivers (314.8)
332. Danuel House Jr. (315.3)
333. Josh Christopher (318.0)
334. Daishen Nix (319.5)
335. David Roddy (319.8)
336. Malaki Branham (320.6)
337. MarJon Beauchamp (321.0)
338. Justin Holiday (322.7)
339. Ziaire Williams (325.3)
340. Amir Coffey (331.5)
341. JT Thor (334.8)
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 (4.0)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.0)
4. Jimmy Butler (6.0)
6. Damian Lillard (7.2)
7. Anthony Davis (8.8)
7. Stephen Curry (8.8)
9. Kevin Durant (9.6)
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12.2)
11. LeBron James (12.8)
12. James Harden (13.2)
13. Kawhi Leonard (13.4)
14. Ja Morant (15.8)
15. Donovan Mitchell (16.2)
16. Tyrese Haliburton (16.6)
17. Devin Booker (17.6)
18. Jayson Tatum (17.8)
19. Kyrie Irving (21.4)
20. Zion Williamson (21.8)
21. Jaren Jackson Jr. (23.0)
22. Darius Garland (24.0)
23. Kristaps Porzingis (24.2)
24. Lauri Markkanen (26.6)
25. Paul George (28.2)
25. Trae Young (28.2)
27. Domantas Sabonis (29.6)
27. Jrue Holiday (29.6)
29. Aaron Gordon (32.2)
30. Jalen Brunson (34.6)
Can you comment the rest of the list of average of ranks in rate catch-all metrics (31 and above)?