The NBA has had its fair share of famous teams and superstars throughout its roughly 68-year history. Do current superstars LeBron James and Kobe Bryant cut? Let’s find out by analyzing the top NBA players in history. Keep reading!
1. Giannis
Antetokounmpo reached the pinnacle of the NBA in 2021 after winning a championship and being named the Finals MVP.
Before the 2022 playoffs began, Khris Middleton had a knee injury that stopped him from winning again with Milwaukee.
2. Kevin Durant
Durant made a compelling argument to start the 2022 season as the best player in the world after going up against Giannis when injuries sidelined Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
Antetokounmpo, though, has now past him. Due to Durant’s injury, the Nets’ challenging regular season he has ended with a first-round elimination. With the aid of his new team, Durant could reclaim his position as the best player in the world.
3. Stephen Curry
Curry is still the best player on a championship squad. He won his first Finals MVP award after six straight games of great basketball defense.
Curry’s infamous shooting style terrorizes rival teams, and it’s hard to tell if he’ll slow down.
4. Nikola Jokic
in 2021–22, Jokic improved, playing nearly the entire regular season without Michael Porter Jr., to win the MVP award for the second year in a row.
Jokic may make this list as he bids to lead the championship, even if he might not garner the same MVP attention as Denver’s health improves.
5. Joel Embiid
One might argue that Embiid was to win MVP in each of the previous two seasons. It would be tough to argue with that given his output, but Nikola Jokic is tragically still alive.
Jokic has been a dominant force on both ends of the court for the Denver Nuggets and has helped lead his team to a top-four seed in the highly competitive Western Conference.
6. Jayson Tatum
Tatum made considerable strides in 2022, leading the Celtics to their first Finals trip in 12 years by defeating Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Jimmy Butler.
7. Luka Dončić
Luka Dončić is a rising star in the NBA, known for his impressive skill set and ability to lead his team to victory. The Slovenian-born player began his professional career in the EuroLeague, where he quickly gained a reputation as one of the most promising young players in Europe.
While Dončić focuses on basketball, his success in La Liga and the NBA has also made him popular in sports betting circles. Many fans are eager to place La Liga betting on his performances.
8. LeBron James
James has had a difficult couple of years since taking home the NBA championship, so it’s odd to see him ranked this low on a list of NBA players.
James continues to be a powerful elite. He scored an average of 30 points in 2022. He has significantly impacted the game in numerous ways throughout the last two seasons. In 2022–2023, we’ll find out if a renaissance took place.
9. Kawhi Leonard
When he’s in good shape, Leonard may be a certainty for the top five players in the world. To help the Clippers win every game, Leonard will need to return to the top of this list after missing the 2021–2022 season and the 2021 playoffs.
10. Ja Morant
The last spot on the list is taken by Ja Morant, who, in 2021–2022, emerged as one of the league’s most promising young players. He led the Grizzlies to the second-best regular-season performance in the NBA, won the Most Outstanding Player award, and finished seventh in the MVP voting.
11. Devin Booker
Booker is considered the best shooting guard in the league after guiding the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals and being selected as the first team of the 2022 NBA All-NBA.
The next stage is to triumph in everything. Booker will be discussed among the top five players if he becomes the best player on a championship squad.
12. Jimmy Butler
Butler has been fantastic since joining the Heat, but he could get fewer media attention than other athletes on this list.
Butler played in three seasons in Miami, making it to the Finals once and two Eastern Conference Finals. He has been their best player at every level, and he has become better in critical moments. Just Games 6 and 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals are of mention.
Bottom Line
The NBA has seen many dominant players throughout history, and the current superstars are no exception. The league’s future looks bright with the emergence of young talents like Luka Dončić and Ja Morant.
