Who is the best player in the NBA? Ranking Top 30 Players Entering 2022

It’s time again.

As we wrap up the book in 2021, TSN is back with our updated list of the top 30 players in the NBA. Our first roster arrives ahead of the 2021-22 season, but a lot has changed in the past few months.

Before we get to the standings, here’s a reminder that this is a standings of the players who’ve hit the floor so far this season, so Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, Ben Simmons, Klay Thompson and Zion Williamson were among the players ineligible for the vote.

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As always, the rankings are a collaborative effort, with 11 members of our staff ranking their top 30 players in the league, with a sliding scale accompanying each ranking from 1-30. From there, the players are sorted by total score.

Understood? Perfect. Let’s get on the leaderboard!

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10. James Harden, Nets

Highest ranking: 7

Lowest rating: 16

It’s no secret that Harden has gone through his fair share of struggles to get the 2021-22 campaign started, a fact that has resulted in our staff having many ideas on where to place the former MVP. (The high-ranked Harden is seventh and the low-ranked 16th.)

THAN: Harden impresses in Christmas Day comeback

That said, Harden’s talent is too much for most people to overlook, as evidenced by his breaking into the top 10. Harden closed December with a back-to-back home performance against the Lakers. and Clippers could be a sign of things. will arrive in 2022.

9. Paul George, Clippers

Highest ranking: 7

Lowest rating: 14

George has risen on occasion this season.

THAN: How long will George be out?

In Kawhi’s absence, George did a good job keeping the Clippers afloat, averaging 24.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and a career-high 5.5 assists per game. . George will miss the first few weeks of the new year with a UCL tear in his right elbow but he will make an immediate impact when he returns to the floor.

8. Jimmy Butler, Heat

Highest ranking: 6

Lowest rating: 17

Negotiations over the early-season MVP may have subsided but Butler is still firmly in the top 10 despite also receiving multiple slots among voters. (The high-ranked Butler was sixth and the low-ranked 17th.)

When it comes to the ring, Butler has done it all for Miami this season, averaging 22.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals while shooting 50% farther. The Heat have faced a string of injuries to start the season but 2022 looks more promising, as Butler tops out in what Miami hopes is another Finals.

7. Joel Embiid, 76ers

Highest ranking: 6

Lowest rating: 11

Embiid has the same spot as his pre-season ranking, and for good reason.

Philly’s all-NBA center is as dominant as ever, averaging 20 plus and 10 plus for the fifth consecutive season. Among Embiid’s most dominant performances this season were a 42 point performance, 14 recoveries from a rough match with COVID, a 43 point performance, 15 recoveries capped with one dagger and 41 points, 10 bounces the night before the opponent split. Take into account the defensive impact of Embiid and you’ve got the league’s seventh best player.

6. Luka Doncic, Mavericks

Highest ranking: 6

Lowest rating: 9

A consensus top 10 pick, Doncic was in sixth place once again.

Dallas’ wunderkind has been in and out of the lineup with nagging knee and ankle injuries and a time of league health and safety regulations but when it’s on the field, it’s easy to forget that he is still only 22 years old. In a slumping year for Doncic and the Mavericks, he helped his team win a solid playoff spot with a near-doubled average of 26.5 points, 8.5 assists and 8.0 rebounds. Just imagine what happens when everything looks for Doncic and Mavs.

5. LeBron James, Lakers

Highest ranking: 3

Lowest rating: 5

At 37 years old, LeBron is still the best player of the 5 players in the NBA.

Let it marinate for a moment.

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Things have not been going well for the Lakers this season but it’s not the fault of James, who has continued to fight despite facing a few injuries earlier in the season. Despite the extended miss, James has been one of the league’s leads in 30-point games this season, having recently become youngest to surpass 36,000 career points.

At this point, we shouldn’t be wondering if – or when – Father Time will get James to slow down and just enjoy the ride. We’ll never see anything like him again.

4. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

Highest ranking: 2

Lowest rating: 4

Defending MVP rose one place to land in fourth this time around.

Despite the fact that the Nuggets have been decimated by injury, Jokic has kept them competitive and hit the .500 mark for the entire 2021-22 season. Somehow, he seems to be even better than he is in his MVP campaign 2020-21.

THAN: Jokic is breaking records and cementing his MVP case

Jokic has the innate ability to control the game from a central position, excelling as a goalscorer, playmaker and assister, a fact evidenced by an average of 25.9 points, 13 .8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.

With uncertainty in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference, Jokic could spur a deep run if Denver gets fitter at the right time.

3. Stephen Curry, Warriors

Highest ranking: first

Lowest rating: 5

The 3-point king of the NBA is in 3rd place.

Curry, who also somehow got better over time, was at the forefront of the Warriors’ revival back to the top of the NBA. After two seasons of missing out on the NBA Playoffs, Golden State seems like one of the best-fit teams to win the NBA title, and Curry is a major reason why.

THAN: Curry’s remarkable journey to a record of 3 points

It’s always been more than just shooting, but it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Curry is sinking more than five by three per game and battling Durant for the tournament’s scoring title.

2022 could see Curry add more hardware, be it another MVP title, another NBA title, or both.

2. Kevin Durant, Nets

Highest ranking: first

Lowest rating: 3

Not much has changed at this time, KD continues to rise to 2nd place.

After a brief appearance in 2021, Durant went on a mission this season, as scheduled. Despite Harden’s significant time miss and Irving’s inability to join the team so far this season, the Nets are still at the top of the Eastern Conference thanks to Durant’s dominance.

THAN: Relive Durant’s 51 point performance

When you talk about MVP racing, Durant has a strong case like anyone, and it should only get stronger.

Even in his 14th season, Durant is still making progress, while he continues to display a superb ability to get the ball into the box. At the end of the season, Durant can claim to overtake the No.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

Highest ranking: first

Lowest rating: 3

Who is better, who else?

Antetokounmpo once again hit No. 1 as he grafted the momentum of his All-Time Finals performance into a dominant start to the 2021-22 season. In today’s game, no player can dominate at both ends of the ring like Giannis can.

THAN: Giannis is on his way to a rare level of greatness

In a year where availability was high for most teams, Milwaukee has faced a number of obstacles for key players, including Antetokounmpo. That said, at full strength, the Bucks still look ready to defend their crown and it all starts with Giannis.

He’s already achieved this much at the age of 27, who can say that the “backward champ” isn’t next?

Final list