chivesmcgee
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Note: These rankings are based on pre-TC information. Historical performance was considered, but recent performance was given more weight. Team context, roster situation, and overall ratings were also taken into account when evaluating each player.
Honorable Mentions
A few players who narrowly missed the cut:
Derrick Williams, Marvin Bagley III, Jamal Murray, Obadiah Noel, C.J. McCollum, Tyus Jones, Deni Avdija, Dario Saric, Mario Hezonja, DeMar DeRozan, A.J. Hammons, Miles Bridges, Jaime Echenique
Top 30 Players (2023 Addition) — Rankings #25-21
#25 — Lauri Markkanen
SF | Age: 26 | 7'0" | 238 lbs
Grades: B- / B+ / D+ / C / C+ / B
I'm going to use this 25th spot and final spot to shout out who I feel is probably the most underrated player on the file.
The ratings don't necessarily scream elite, but Markkanen has been really good since his rookie season. He's consistently been a 20-21 PPG scorer per 36 minutes over the last four seasons while also pairing that with one of the lowest turnover rates in the league.
He already grades out as an elite efficiency scorer, and his teams have quietly overachieved throughout his career. Even during his time on the Wizards, with an owner who was barely involved and a team seemingly focused on rebuilding, he was a major reason they were still a 40+ win team.
Now he's part of a Sixers team that has been excellent for two straight seasons. He also provides above-average rebounding for his position.
Overall, Markkanen is a really good player. The defense is what keeps him from being a top 15-20 player, but I wanted to make sure he got recognition as one of the most underrated players on the file.
#24 — Emmanuel Mudiay
SG | Age: 27 | 6'5" | 200 lbs
Grades: B+ / B / C / B- / C / D
Honestly, I debated leaving him off the list entirely. It felt a little strange not including someone who averaged 27 PPG last season on a championship team, though.
I probably have a better feel for Mudiay's profile than most, having scouted and drafted him for years. The biggest thing that keeps him from climbing higher is the turnovers. He's an elite athlete and a tremendous volume scorer, but he isn't anything special defensively (although the rebounding certainly helps). While he's made noticeable strides in efficiency, he still has one of the higher turnover rates in the league.
It's more understandable given his role and offensive workload, but it's enough to keep him below some of the less flawed players ranked ahead of him.
That said, the contract is pretty sweet.
#23 — DeAndre Jordan
C | Age: 35 | 6'11" | 265 lbs
Grades: B / D+ / D- / B+ / B+ / C
This might be a little low for a 2x Defensive Player of the Year who remains one of the league's premier defenders and shot blockers.
Jordan is still a really good player. What keeps him from climbing higher is the offensive profile. The scoring volume itself doesn't concern me nearly as much as the efficiency. If he were just a slightly better free throw shooter or a little more efficient from the field, I think you could make a legitimate case that he's a top-10 player when you factor in his defensive impact.
After all, the Grizzlies finished with the league's #1 defensive rating at least twice during his tenure not too long ago.
Even so, his below-average offensive game keeps him just outside my top 20, despite arguably still being one of the top three defenders on the file.
#22 — DeMarcus Cousins
C | Age: 33 | 6'11" | 270 lbs
Grades: B+ / C / C- / B / A / B
Cousins is really good, and from a letter-grade standpoint it probably looks strange to see him this low.
That said, there are just a few too many flaws in the profile for me to rank him higher. The turnovers are a major red flag, as he consistently has one of the highest turnover rates in the league regardless of position.
The rebounding is phenomenal—arguably the best in the league—and he can handle a huge scoring workload. However, he doesn't block many shots, which limits his defensive impact, and his field goal percentage fluctuates much more from year to year than some of the other elite bigs.
Still a very good player, but I think there's a reason the Pacers have never accomplished much with him as their primary option.
#21 — Harrison Barnes
SF | Age: 31 | 6'8" | 225 lbs
Grades: B- / A / C- / A- / C+ / C
A really good player who certainly hasn't had the most straightforward career trajectory.
After looking like a potential bust early in his career, Barnes finally realized his potential in his late 20s and has developed into a genuinely high-level player. Even more surprising, he may have just had the best season of his career at age 31, nearly 11 years into the league.
He's become a very good defender, even sneaking in an All-Defensive Team selection despite never putting up eye-popping forced turnover numbers. Offensively, he's suddenly become incredibly efficient, shooting 46% from three while rarely turning the ball over.
He doesn't have the scoring volume of most of the players ranked above him, but he looks like the ideal #2 option on a championship-caliber team.
Top 30 Players (2023 Addition) — Rankings #20-11
#20 — Tyrese Haliburton
PG | Age: 23 | 6'5" | 185 lbs
Grades: C / A- / B / C+ / D+ / B
He's really good—and honestly, he's only going to get better.
The letter grades don't immediately jump off the page, but when you consider how successful the Sixers have been over the last two seasons (coming within inches of winning the East both years) and the fact that Haliburton has been their best player during that stretch, it makes a lot of sense.
Haliburton has an elite ability to carry offensive volume while almost never turning the ball over. The C+ defensive grade might stand out, but his steal rate is fairly average, and Philadelphia finished #1 in defensive rating last season, so it clearly isn't hurting them.
A terrific player with plenty of room to grow. If there were a "winner" trait, he'd probably have it. He was an easy max player in my mind.
#19 — Nikola Jokic
C | Age: 28 | 7'0" | 284 lbs
Grades: B+ / B / B- / B- / B+ / B
It's ironic because I love Jokic in real life.
He's an outstanding player—a 3x First Team All-League selection and NBA Champion—but I can't help feeling like he should be even better.
Defensively he's solid, but compared to other elite centers in this file he doesn't separate himself much. If anything, he's fairly average defensively by elite center standards.
Offensively he's excellent, but he doesn't quite have the volume scoring of the players ranked above him. The turnovers are manageable—not great, but not crippling either.
Overall, he's an excellent player, even if I don't think he's truly elite in any single area. Undoubtedly one of the best second options you could ask for.
#18 — John Wall
PG | Age: 33 | 6'3" | 210 lbs
Grades: B+ / A- / B+ / A- / C / D
I expect this to be one of the most polarizing rankings.
The ratings suggest he's elite, and on the surface it seems crazy to rank a Playoff MVP and All-Star MVP this low.
To me, though, Wall sits just below the elite point guards because of one major weakness: turnovers. As great as the scoring and playmaking have been, there have been too many recent seasons where the turnover numbers were simply too high for me to justify a top-10 ranking.
His field goal percentage also unexpectedly fell off last season, although to his credit he was excellent in the playoffs, so that may have just been a strange sample.
I also think playing alongside a couple of players who haven't been mentioned yet has helped boost his perception. He's never made an All-League team, so maybe this ranking isn't quite as far off as it initially looks.
#17 — Kyrie Irving
PG | Age: 31 | 6'2" | 191 lbs
Grades: C / A- / C+ / B / C / C
This ranking might surprise some people.
I've always viewed Kyrie as a very good point guard rather than a truly elite one, and I was actually surprised to see the index largely agreed, with no All-League appearances.
His counting stats probably make him look a little better than he actually is, considering he played nearly 40 minutes per game on a team that didn't really hit its stride until the second half of the season.
That said, he's still an excellent player to build around. His turnover rate is strong, he creates offense well, scores efficiently, and generally shoots the ball at a high level, even if his scoring can fluctuate more than some of the elite guards.
He peaked early with a championship and Finals MVP, but ideally he's the perfect #2 option—really good across the board without quite being elite in any one area.
#16 — Donald Sloan
PG | Age: 35 | 6'3" | 205 lbs
Grades: C+ / A- / A+ / C+ / D+ / D
I might be docking Sloan a bit because of his age, but he's also one of the biggest "how did this happen?" stories in this league.
Arguably the greatest second-round pick of all time, Sloan was arguably the best player on two championship Heat teams during his 20s. A 5x All-League selection and league MVP, his résumé more than speaks for itself.
He's the true all-time assist-to-turnover player in this league, consistently taking care of the basketball at an elite level while orchestrating high-level offenses.
Some of the cracks are beginning to show. His scoring volume has dipped slightly, and both his defensive grades and shooting efficiency have declined year over year.
Even so, he's still an outstanding player and one of the most unique stars I can remember since joining the league 11-12 seasons ago.
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#15 — Kevin Love
PF | Age: 35 | 6'8" | 247 lbs
Grades: C+ / A- / C- / B- / A- / D
Love is a slightly polarizing player because of his unique skill set.
Even entering his mid-30s, he's still an outstanding player. He hasn't made an All-League team in either of the last two seasons, but you could easily argue he deserved consideration thanks to his elite offensive efficiency and rebounding.
A 7x All-NBA selection, Love has essentially been Scottie Pippen to Derrick Rose's Michael Jordan throughout this iteration.
Four championships speak for themselves. He's unquestionably an all-time great.
#14 — Rodney Hood
SF | Age: 31 | 6'8" | 205 lbs
Grades: B+ / A- / C- / C / C / C
I'll mention my guy.
Some people might think he's overrated, but I don't care. Hood has made back-to-back All-League teams while averaging 26 points and 8 rebounds per 36 minutes over the last two seasons.
The defensive letter grades might not look impressive, but he's still made an All-Defensive team and has posted one of the better steal rates among wings during that stretch.
His biggest strength, though, is taking care of the basketball despite carrying a heavy offensive load. He was also the best player on a 58-win team not that long ago.
A very good rebounder and, in my opinion, one of the most underrated players in this iteration.
#13 — Jayson Tatum
SF | Age: 25 | 6'8" | 210 lbs
Grades: B+ / A / C / B+ / C / A
Tatum narrowly misses the top 10.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if he jumps into the top 5-6 as soon as next season.
He's only three years into his career and has already developed into an All-League caliber player, earning his first appearance last year.
There really isn't much to dislike. He has scoring volume, solid defense, and still has plenty of room to improve the non-athletic aspects of his game.
He should be a franchise cornerstone for years to come, and similar wings have historically aged very well into their 30s.
A future superstar is about to emerge.
#12 — Markelle Fultz
PG | Age: 25 | 6'4" | 210 lbs
Grades: C+ / A / A- / A- / C / C
Fultz also just misses the top 10.
He's a terrific player. From a points-created perspective, he's been roughly a top-five player over each of the last two seasons.
He's also an excellent defender, posting one of the highest steal rates in the league.
The only things keeping him from ranking higher are the turnovers and relatively average shooting efficiency compared to the elite point guards.
That said, two or three seasons from now, he'll probably be a consensus top-7 or top-8 player.
#11 — Michael Beasley
PF | Age: 34 | 6'9" | 235 lbs
Grades: A- / B- / D / B+ / A- / D
Beasley just misses despite another awesome season even if he's entering his mid 30s.
An all-time player, his 8x All-League appearances and 2 rings prove it. Beasley has been one of the top 3-5 bigs in this league for around a decade. He combines elite volume scoring with elite efficiency and pairs that with all-time rebounding ability.
The biggest knocks throughout his prime have been that he was a little more turnover-prone than the absolute best offensive engines and slightly worse defensively than some of the other elite players. Still, he is an all-time great and probably more underrated than he should be.
Top 30 Players (2023 Addition) — Rankings #10-1
#10 — Wayne Ellington
SG | Age: 35 | 6'4" | 207 lbs
Grades: B+ / A / C- / B / C- / C
Another personal favorite of mine. Two or three seasons ago, I think you could have legitimately argued Ellington was a top 3-4 player in the league.
Maybe I’m docking him a little too much because of the age next to his name. I think I'm subconsciously ranking him slightly lower as a result. The efficiency has dipped slightly, but he went from being ultra-elite to simply elite as a scorer.
He’s an all-time player in this league. Four First-Team All-League appearances are nothing to overlook. The Knicks have also consistently been a strong team with him as the centerpiece.
#9 — Luka Doncic
PG | Age: 24 | 6'7" | 230 lbs
Grades: B+ / A- / C+ / B / C+ / B
Despite a very strange beginning to his career (thanks Kong), Doncic has finally settled into superstar territory.
His handling will probably keep him from ever becoming a perennial top 2-3 player in my opinion, but you can absolutely win with him because he does everything else at an elite level. Rebounding, passing, shooting, you name it.
He has put up some ridiculous postseason performances and has carried some flawed Spurs teams on deep playoff runs over the last 3-4 seasons. His teams have done really really well so wouldn't be surprising to see him get a ring soon. Really good player.
#8 — Jahlil Okafor
C | Age: 27 | 6'11" | 275 lbs
Grades: A- / D+ / F+ / B+ / B / D
Maybe my personal favorite player on the file.
On a file where bigs consistently replicate efficient offensive seasons, Okafor has been elite on that end basically since he was drafted. He is consistently well above 50% from the field, which is extremely uncommon for bigs in this league. If you want a center who can take up volume and put up elite points-per-possession numbers he's your guy. Maybe the best in the league's history that I can recall.
He sometimes gets lost in the conversation with Giannis, Wall, and another player yet to be mentioned, but I think there is a legitimate argument that he is Toronto’s best player.
#7 — Anthony Davis
PF | Age: 30 | 6'10" | 253 lbs
Grades: B / C / D / A / B+ / C
This might honestly be too low.
You could probably place Davis anywhere from 3-7 and I wouldn’t have much of an argument. He drops to 7 mostly because his offensive production dipped slightly last season.
Even with that dip, he remains a fantastic offensive big and a true defensive anchor. A 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x Champion, and multiple-time All-League player. Elite defender with above-average offense.
He has been the best big I can remember in this iteration.
#6 — Donovan Mitchell
PG | Age: 27 | 6'3" | 215 lbs
Grades: A- / A / C- / C+ / C / B
A dynamite scorer entering his prime.
Mitchell probably has a few more flaws than the players ranked above him — mainly the lack of teammate creation and not being a true plus defender — but he is still an elite player.
I was honestly shocked to see he has never made an All-League team. That feels like something that should change soon.
He is a safe bet to outscore almost everyone on this file over the next five seasons.
#5 — Lonzo Ball
PG | Age: 25 | 6'6" | 190 lbs
Grades: C / A / A- / A / C / C
The highest-ranked player under 28 on this list.
The reigning MVP has a legitimate chance to be the favorite for another MVP after the upcoming season. His first three seasons were nothing special offensively, but he has been trending upward for the last three years.
He is the best defensive guard on the file thanks to elite steals and helped carry the Rockets to the #2 defensive rating last season.
If the offense continues improving, there is no reason he cannot win another one or two MVPs and make Houston one of the league’s premier teams for years.
#4 — Kawhi Leonard
SF | Age: 32 | 6'7" | 225 lbs
Grades: B / A- / C / A- / C / C
Maybe slightly underrated because he has spent the last two seasons on mediocre Suns teams, but he might be the best wing in this iteration.
A 5x All-Defensive player who has averaged around 23 PPG for nine straight seasons. He is an elite scorer and one of the easiest players in the league to build around.
That is why he has become a 9x All-League player.
He was a major piece of some excellent Hornets teams and could have another championship opportunity this season with a strong Grizzlies team.
#3 — Bobby Portis
PF | Age: 28 | 6'11" | 250 lbs
Grades: A- / C+ / D / C+ / B+ / C
This is one of those "what the hell happened?" things.
I don't remember Portis being viewed as a can't-miss prospect, but by his third season he completely broke out.
Portis is unbelievably good. His defense and rebounding probably keep him from ranking even higher, but I'm more than willing to overlook those shortcomings because of what he brings offensively.
He's absurdly efficient, an unquestioned elite scorer, and consistently posts elite points-per-possession numbers. He doesn't block many shots, but that matters a lot less when you're averaging 30 PPG while shooting over 51% from the field as a big.
I'm not surprised he won a championship so early in this iteration, and if he hadn't been injured last season, there's a real chance he would've won MVP.
He should be one of the favorites to win MVP heading into this upcoming season.
#2 — Stephen Curry
PG | Age: 35 | 6'3" | 198 lbs
Grades: C+ / A / C- / B- / D- / C
This might be a slightly controversial ranking because of his age and the fact that he has not won a championship this iteration.
However, his teams are consistently among the league’s best, even when the supporting cast is mediocre.
I’m a sucker for high-usage, efficient players who don’t turn the ball over, so I’m comfortable ranking someone who has averaged around 38-39 PPG per 36 minutes over the last two seasons while also having the lowest turnover rate on file.
He has also played on some excellent defensive teams with the Grizzlies and Nuggets and provides strong steal numbers, meaning he is not a liability defensively.
Honestly, he was extremely close to being #1.
#1 — Derrick Rose
PG | Age: 35 | 6'3" | 200 lbs
Grades: B- / A- / A / C+ / D+ / C
He has to be the GOAT of this league, at least from what I remember.
Four championships. Four MVPs.
Last season was the first year where we saw some minor decline in his grades and stats, and even then he was still one of the best players in the league.
He might be the best pure scorer and creator I can remember on the file. He has been a perennial leader in assist-to-turnover ratio, and I believe the Bucks have been a top-3 offense by rating in each of the last 7-8 seasons.
An all-time player, even if the defense is beginning to slip slightly.
Honorable Mentions
A few players who narrowly missed the cut:
Derrick Williams, Marvin Bagley III, Jamal Murray, Obadiah Noel, C.J. McCollum, Tyus Jones, Deni Avdija, Dario Saric, Mario Hezonja, DeMar DeRozan, A.J. Hammons, Miles Bridges, Jaime Echenique
Top 30 Players (2023 Addition) — Rankings #25-21
#25 — Lauri Markkanen
SF | Age: 26 | 7'0" | 238 lbs
Grades: B- / B+ / D+ / C / C+ / B
I'm going to use this 25th spot and final spot to shout out who I feel is probably the most underrated player on the file.
The ratings don't necessarily scream elite, but Markkanen has been really good since his rookie season. He's consistently been a 20-21 PPG scorer per 36 minutes over the last four seasons while also pairing that with one of the lowest turnover rates in the league.
He already grades out as an elite efficiency scorer, and his teams have quietly overachieved throughout his career. Even during his time on the Wizards, with an owner who was barely involved and a team seemingly focused on rebuilding, he was a major reason they were still a 40+ win team.
Now he's part of a Sixers team that has been excellent for two straight seasons. He also provides above-average rebounding for his position.
Overall, Markkanen is a really good player. The defense is what keeps him from being a top 15-20 player, but I wanted to make sure he got recognition as one of the most underrated players on the file.
#24 — Emmanuel Mudiay
SG | Age: 27 | 6'5" | 200 lbs
Grades: B+ / B / C / B- / C / D
Honestly, I debated leaving him off the list entirely. It felt a little strange not including someone who averaged 27 PPG last season on a championship team, though.
I probably have a better feel for Mudiay's profile than most, having scouted and drafted him for years. The biggest thing that keeps him from climbing higher is the turnovers. He's an elite athlete and a tremendous volume scorer, but he isn't anything special defensively (although the rebounding certainly helps). While he's made noticeable strides in efficiency, he still has one of the higher turnover rates in the league.
It's more understandable given his role and offensive workload, but it's enough to keep him below some of the less flawed players ranked ahead of him.
That said, the contract is pretty sweet.
#23 — DeAndre Jordan
C | Age: 35 | 6'11" | 265 lbs
Grades: B / D+ / D- / B+ / B+ / C
This might be a little low for a 2x Defensive Player of the Year who remains one of the league's premier defenders and shot blockers.
Jordan is still a really good player. What keeps him from climbing higher is the offensive profile. The scoring volume itself doesn't concern me nearly as much as the efficiency. If he were just a slightly better free throw shooter or a little more efficient from the field, I think you could make a legitimate case that he's a top-10 player when you factor in his defensive impact.
After all, the Grizzlies finished with the league's #1 defensive rating at least twice during his tenure not too long ago.
Even so, his below-average offensive game keeps him just outside my top 20, despite arguably still being one of the top three defenders on the file.
#22 — DeMarcus Cousins
C | Age: 33 | 6'11" | 270 lbs
Grades: B+ / C / C- / B / A / B
Cousins is really good, and from a letter-grade standpoint it probably looks strange to see him this low.
That said, there are just a few too many flaws in the profile for me to rank him higher. The turnovers are a major red flag, as he consistently has one of the highest turnover rates in the league regardless of position.
The rebounding is phenomenal—arguably the best in the league—and he can handle a huge scoring workload. However, he doesn't block many shots, which limits his defensive impact, and his field goal percentage fluctuates much more from year to year than some of the other elite bigs.
Still a very good player, but I think there's a reason the Pacers have never accomplished much with him as their primary option.
#21 — Harrison Barnes
SF | Age: 31 | 6'8" | 225 lbs
Grades: B- / A / C- / A- / C+ / C
A really good player who certainly hasn't had the most straightforward career trajectory.
After looking like a potential bust early in his career, Barnes finally realized his potential in his late 20s and has developed into a genuinely high-level player. Even more surprising, he may have just had the best season of his career at age 31, nearly 11 years into the league.
He's become a very good defender, even sneaking in an All-Defensive Team selection despite never putting up eye-popping forced turnover numbers. Offensively, he's suddenly become incredibly efficient, shooting 46% from three while rarely turning the ball over.
He doesn't have the scoring volume of most of the players ranked above him, but he looks like the ideal #2 option on a championship-caliber team.
Top 30 Players (2023 Addition) — Rankings #20-11
#20 — Tyrese Haliburton
PG | Age: 23 | 6'5" | 185 lbs
Grades: C / A- / B / C+ / D+ / B
He's really good—and honestly, he's only going to get better.
The letter grades don't immediately jump off the page, but when you consider how successful the Sixers have been over the last two seasons (coming within inches of winning the East both years) and the fact that Haliburton has been their best player during that stretch, it makes a lot of sense.
Haliburton has an elite ability to carry offensive volume while almost never turning the ball over. The C+ defensive grade might stand out, but his steal rate is fairly average, and Philadelphia finished #1 in defensive rating last season, so it clearly isn't hurting them.
A terrific player with plenty of room to grow. If there were a "winner" trait, he'd probably have it. He was an easy max player in my mind.
#19 — Nikola Jokic
C | Age: 28 | 7'0" | 284 lbs
Grades: B+ / B / B- / B- / B+ / B
It's ironic because I love Jokic in real life.
He's an outstanding player—a 3x First Team All-League selection and NBA Champion—but I can't help feeling like he should be even better.
Defensively he's solid, but compared to other elite centers in this file he doesn't separate himself much. If anything, he's fairly average defensively by elite center standards.
Offensively he's excellent, but he doesn't quite have the volume scoring of the players ranked above him. The turnovers are manageable—not great, but not crippling either.
Overall, he's an excellent player, even if I don't think he's truly elite in any single area. Undoubtedly one of the best second options you could ask for.
#18 — John Wall
PG | Age: 33 | 6'3" | 210 lbs
Grades: B+ / A- / B+ / A- / C / D
I expect this to be one of the most polarizing rankings.
The ratings suggest he's elite, and on the surface it seems crazy to rank a Playoff MVP and All-Star MVP this low.
To me, though, Wall sits just below the elite point guards because of one major weakness: turnovers. As great as the scoring and playmaking have been, there have been too many recent seasons where the turnover numbers were simply too high for me to justify a top-10 ranking.
His field goal percentage also unexpectedly fell off last season, although to his credit he was excellent in the playoffs, so that may have just been a strange sample.
I also think playing alongside a couple of players who haven't been mentioned yet has helped boost his perception. He's never made an All-League team, so maybe this ranking isn't quite as far off as it initially looks.
#17 — Kyrie Irving
PG | Age: 31 | 6'2" | 191 lbs
Grades: C / A- / C+ / B / C / C
This ranking might surprise some people.
I've always viewed Kyrie as a very good point guard rather than a truly elite one, and I was actually surprised to see the index largely agreed, with no All-League appearances.
His counting stats probably make him look a little better than he actually is, considering he played nearly 40 minutes per game on a team that didn't really hit its stride until the second half of the season.
That said, he's still an excellent player to build around. His turnover rate is strong, he creates offense well, scores efficiently, and generally shoots the ball at a high level, even if his scoring can fluctuate more than some of the elite guards.
He peaked early with a championship and Finals MVP, but ideally he's the perfect #2 option—really good across the board without quite being elite in any one area.
#16 — Donald Sloan
PG | Age: 35 | 6'3" | 205 lbs
Grades: C+ / A- / A+ / C+ / D+ / D
I might be docking Sloan a bit because of his age, but he's also one of the biggest "how did this happen?" stories in this league.
Arguably the greatest second-round pick of all time, Sloan was arguably the best player on two championship Heat teams during his 20s. A 5x All-League selection and league MVP, his résumé more than speaks for itself.
He's the true all-time assist-to-turnover player in this league, consistently taking care of the basketball at an elite level while orchestrating high-level offenses.
Some of the cracks are beginning to show. His scoring volume has dipped slightly, and both his defensive grades and shooting efficiency have declined year over year.
Even so, he's still an outstanding player and one of the most unique stars I can remember since joining the league 11-12 seasons ago.
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#15 — Kevin Love
PF | Age: 35 | 6'8" | 247 lbs
Grades: C+ / A- / C- / B- / A- / D
Love is a slightly polarizing player because of his unique skill set.
Even entering his mid-30s, he's still an outstanding player. He hasn't made an All-League team in either of the last two seasons, but you could easily argue he deserved consideration thanks to his elite offensive efficiency and rebounding.
A 7x All-NBA selection, Love has essentially been Scottie Pippen to Derrick Rose's Michael Jordan throughout this iteration.
Four championships speak for themselves. He's unquestionably an all-time great.
#14 — Rodney Hood
SF | Age: 31 | 6'8" | 205 lbs
Grades: B+ / A- / C- / C / C / C
I'll mention my guy.
Some people might think he's overrated, but I don't care. Hood has made back-to-back All-League teams while averaging 26 points and 8 rebounds per 36 minutes over the last two seasons.
The defensive letter grades might not look impressive, but he's still made an All-Defensive team and has posted one of the better steal rates among wings during that stretch.
His biggest strength, though, is taking care of the basketball despite carrying a heavy offensive load. He was also the best player on a 58-win team not that long ago.
A very good rebounder and, in my opinion, one of the most underrated players in this iteration.
#13 — Jayson Tatum
SF | Age: 25 | 6'8" | 210 lbs
Grades: B+ / A / C / B+ / C / A
Tatum narrowly misses the top 10.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if he jumps into the top 5-6 as soon as next season.
He's only three years into his career and has already developed into an All-League caliber player, earning his first appearance last year.
There really isn't much to dislike. He has scoring volume, solid defense, and still has plenty of room to improve the non-athletic aspects of his game.
He should be a franchise cornerstone for years to come, and similar wings have historically aged very well into their 30s.
A future superstar is about to emerge.
#12 — Markelle Fultz
PG | Age: 25 | 6'4" | 210 lbs
Grades: C+ / A / A- / A- / C / C
Fultz also just misses the top 10.
He's a terrific player. From a points-created perspective, he's been roughly a top-five player over each of the last two seasons.
He's also an excellent defender, posting one of the highest steal rates in the league.
The only things keeping him from ranking higher are the turnovers and relatively average shooting efficiency compared to the elite point guards.
That said, two or three seasons from now, he'll probably be a consensus top-7 or top-8 player.
#11 — Michael Beasley
PF | Age: 34 | 6'9" | 235 lbs
Grades: A- / B- / D / B+ / A- / D
Beasley just misses despite another awesome season even if he's entering his mid 30s.
An all-time player, his 8x All-League appearances and 2 rings prove it. Beasley has been one of the top 3-5 bigs in this league for around a decade. He combines elite volume scoring with elite efficiency and pairs that with all-time rebounding ability.
The biggest knocks throughout his prime have been that he was a little more turnover-prone than the absolute best offensive engines and slightly worse defensively than some of the other elite players. Still, he is an all-time great and probably more underrated than he should be.
Top 30 Players (2023 Addition) — Rankings #10-1
#10 — Wayne Ellington
SG | Age: 35 | 6'4" | 207 lbs
Grades: B+ / A / C- / B / C- / C
Another personal favorite of mine. Two or three seasons ago, I think you could have legitimately argued Ellington was a top 3-4 player in the league.
Maybe I’m docking him a little too much because of the age next to his name. I think I'm subconsciously ranking him slightly lower as a result. The efficiency has dipped slightly, but he went from being ultra-elite to simply elite as a scorer.
He’s an all-time player in this league. Four First-Team All-League appearances are nothing to overlook. The Knicks have also consistently been a strong team with him as the centerpiece.
#9 — Luka Doncic
PG | Age: 24 | 6'7" | 230 lbs
Grades: B+ / A- / C+ / B / C+ / B
Despite a very strange beginning to his career (thanks Kong), Doncic has finally settled into superstar territory.
His handling will probably keep him from ever becoming a perennial top 2-3 player in my opinion, but you can absolutely win with him because he does everything else at an elite level. Rebounding, passing, shooting, you name it.
He has put up some ridiculous postseason performances and has carried some flawed Spurs teams on deep playoff runs over the last 3-4 seasons. His teams have done really really well so wouldn't be surprising to see him get a ring soon. Really good player.
#8 — Jahlil Okafor
C | Age: 27 | 6'11" | 275 lbs
Grades: A- / D+ / F+ / B+ / B / D
Maybe my personal favorite player on the file.
On a file where bigs consistently replicate efficient offensive seasons, Okafor has been elite on that end basically since he was drafted. He is consistently well above 50% from the field, which is extremely uncommon for bigs in this league. If you want a center who can take up volume and put up elite points-per-possession numbers he's your guy. Maybe the best in the league's history that I can recall.
He sometimes gets lost in the conversation with Giannis, Wall, and another player yet to be mentioned, but I think there is a legitimate argument that he is Toronto’s best player.
#7 — Anthony Davis
PF | Age: 30 | 6'10" | 253 lbs
Grades: B / C / D / A / B+ / C
This might honestly be too low.
You could probably place Davis anywhere from 3-7 and I wouldn’t have much of an argument. He drops to 7 mostly because his offensive production dipped slightly last season.
Even with that dip, he remains a fantastic offensive big and a true defensive anchor. A 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x Champion, and multiple-time All-League player. Elite defender with above-average offense.
He has been the best big I can remember in this iteration.
#6 — Donovan Mitchell
PG | Age: 27 | 6'3" | 215 lbs
Grades: A- / A / C- / C+ / C / B
A dynamite scorer entering his prime.
Mitchell probably has a few more flaws than the players ranked above him — mainly the lack of teammate creation and not being a true plus defender — but he is still an elite player.
I was honestly shocked to see he has never made an All-League team. That feels like something that should change soon.
He is a safe bet to outscore almost everyone on this file over the next five seasons.
#5 — Lonzo Ball
PG | Age: 25 | 6'6" | 190 lbs
Grades: C / A / A- / A / C / C
The highest-ranked player under 28 on this list.
The reigning MVP has a legitimate chance to be the favorite for another MVP after the upcoming season. His first three seasons were nothing special offensively, but he has been trending upward for the last three years.
He is the best defensive guard on the file thanks to elite steals and helped carry the Rockets to the #2 defensive rating last season.
If the offense continues improving, there is no reason he cannot win another one or two MVPs and make Houston one of the league’s premier teams for years.
#4 — Kawhi Leonard
SF | Age: 32 | 6'7" | 225 lbs
Grades: B / A- / C / A- / C / C
Maybe slightly underrated because he has spent the last two seasons on mediocre Suns teams, but he might be the best wing in this iteration.
A 5x All-Defensive player who has averaged around 23 PPG for nine straight seasons. He is an elite scorer and one of the easiest players in the league to build around.
That is why he has become a 9x All-League player.
He was a major piece of some excellent Hornets teams and could have another championship opportunity this season with a strong Grizzlies team.
#3 — Bobby Portis
PF | Age: 28 | 6'11" | 250 lbs
Grades: A- / C+ / D / C+ / B+ / C
This is one of those "what the hell happened?" things.
I don't remember Portis being viewed as a can't-miss prospect, but by his third season he completely broke out.
Portis is unbelievably good. His defense and rebounding probably keep him from ranking even higher, but I'm more than willing to overlook those shortcomings because of what he brings offensively.
He's absurdly efficient, an unquestioned elite scorer, and consistently posts elite points-per-possession numbers. He doesn't block many shots, but that matters a lot less when you're averaging 30 PPG while shooting over 51% from the field as a big.
I'm not surprised he won a championship so early in this iteration, and if he hadn't been injured last season, there's a real chance he would've won MVP.
He should be one of the favorites to win MVP heading into this upcoming season.
#2 — Stephen Curry
PG | Age: 35 | 6'3" | 198 lbs
Grades: C+ / A / C- / B- / D- / C
This might be a slightly controversial ranking because of his age and the fact that he has not won a championship this iteration.
However, his teams are consistently among the league’s best, even when the supporting cast is mediocre.
I’m a sucker for high-usage, efficient players who don’t turn the ball over, so I’m comfortable ranking someone who has averaged around 38-39 PPG per 36 minutes over the last two seasons while also having the lowest turnover rate on file.
He has also played on some excellent defensive teams with the Grizzlies and Nuggets and provides strong steal numbers, meaning he is not a liability defensively.
Honestly, he was extremely close to being #1.
#1 — Derrick Rose
PG | Age: 35 | 6'3" | 200 lbs
Grades: B- / A- / A / C+ / D+ / C
He has to be the GOAT of this league, at least from what I remember.
Four championships. Four MVPs.
Last season was the first year where we saw some minor decline in his grades and stats, and even then he was still one of the best players in the league.
He might be the best pure scorer and creator I can remember on the file. He has been a perennial leader in assist-to-turnover ratio, and I believe the Bucks have been a top-3 offense by rating in each of the last 7-8 seasons.
An all-time player, even if the defense is beginning to slip slightly.
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