Around The League 2024-2025 Season

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Brian Windhorst: I’m not sure that Trae Young’s value is as high as they’d like it to be. So this is a real pivotal year as you say for Trae Young. Number one: after this season he can extend his contract and in the current environment first off we know that he’s on the ‘fun max’, we know the next contract is ‘stress max’ time. It’s been dubbed the ‘stress max’ because it affects both sides. Sometimes it’s the stress on the team whether they can get the player to sign and sometimes it’s stress on the player about whether he can get that second max. In this environment where under the new rules, where you’ve got to watch the dollars being spent especially when you get to the 30 percent part of the max, Trae is going to have to have a big year, even if it’s to stay in Atlanta and sign a max deal.


Bob


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Ranking: The Top 30 centers for the 2024-25 season


By Frank Urbina | August 31, 2024



To this point, we have taken a look at the top point guards, top shooting guards, top small forwards and the top power forwards in the NBA ahead of the 2024-25 season.

We finally wrap up this offseason series today with the Top 30 centers in the NBA for the 2024-25 season, a list featuring the last two league MVPs, one of whom has won the prestigious honor three times, various All-NBA players, some elite defenders and even some promising up-and-coming pieces.

The center position in the NBA looked very bleak just 10 years ago but has seen a major resurgence over the past five campaigns or so, as the average big man has modernized his game to be much more versatile than the average big men of a decade ago.

Below, check out the Top 30 centers for the 2024-25 season, according to us.


1.  Nikola Jokic (Denver)


2023-24 stats: 26.4 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 9.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.9 bpg, 58.3 FG%, 35.9 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $51,415,938 (projected 2nd overall in salary)

Unquestionably the best basketball player in the world today, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is coming off a campaign in which he won his third MVP award in four seasons, in which he was named 1st Team All-NBA for the fourth time and in which he was named an All-Star for the sixth time.

Ultimately, Jokic wasn’t able to lead Denver to a second championship in a row but he did carry Serbia to a bronze medal in the Summer Olympics this offseason, so his year wasn’t empty of team hardware.

We already rank Jokic as a Top 30 player in NBA history and if anything, based on his accolades over the past five years, we might underrating him considering he has more MVP awards than a lot of the players just ahead of him on the list.

Regardless, Jokic hasn’t even turned 30 yet, so we’re excited to see where he lands in our all-time player ranking in five years based on how many more accolades he earns in his prime. The fact that Jokic’s game is not predicated on athleticism much at all makes us believe we could be looking at a LeBron James-esque peak by the Serbian center, who can score, rebound and create at elite levels.


2.  Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)


2023-24 stats: 34.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.7 bpg, 52.9 FG%, 38.8 3P% in 39 games
2024-25 earnings: $51,415,938 (projected 2nd overall in salary)

Had Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid been healthier in 2023-24, he might have been looking at a second MVP award in a row, his numbers in limited action were that impressive.

Embiid led the league in scoring, though he didn’t qualify for the scoring title due to games missed, while also posting 11 rebounds nightly, over five assists, one steal and nearly two blocks per game. And he did that all while shooting almost 53 percent from the floor (39 percent from three) and facing opposing teams’ best big-man defender every night, even often staring at double-teams. Those are the numbers a modern-day Wilt Chamberlain might be posting if his prime were taking place today.

Embiid’s had poor injury luck in his career, and he has not been able to step up in the playoffs to get Philadelphia past the second round yet, but there’s no question he’s one of the greatest centers ever. Plus, for how much flak he caught for some of his play on Team USA this summer, the Americans very likely would have lost to Jokic’s Serbia in the semifinal if not for Embiid’s 19 points on eight-for-11 shooting, which included multiple clutch fourth-quarter buckets in what was a tight game. (He outscored Jokic in that outing, by the way, with six fewer shot attempts at that.)

That Olympic outing gives us hope Embiid could make a deep playoff run at some point, perhaps as soon as this year if the replacement of Tobias Harris with Paul George by the Sixers is as impactful as it should be.


3.  Anthony Davis (LA Lakers)


2023-24 stats: 24.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.3 bpg, 55.6 FG%, 27.1 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,219,440 (projected 16th overall in salary)

Coming off the healthiest season of his career based on games played, Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis remains one of the best big men in the league, an absolute monster on both ends of the floor thanks to his very unique quickness in a 6-foot-10, 250-pound package.

Davis possesses guard-like skills at his size, can face-up and score on slower-footed big men, hit shots off the dribble, drive and finish over anyone thanks to his unreal length, block shots at an elite rate, rebound extremely well on both ends and even do some light playmaking.

The former No. 1 overall pick has lived up to his draft billing and then some in his NBA career, and is another future Hall-of-Famer already on this list, which has been loaded with top-end talent so far. Speaking of which, Davis ranked as roughly a Top 10 player in the league according to VORP, WS/48 and BPM last season, and looks primed to take over the mantle for LeBron James and keep the Lakers in borderline contention whenever the four-time league MVP does finally decide to call it quits.


4.  Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio)


2023-24 stats: 21.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 3.6 bpg, 46.5 FG%, 32.5 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,768,664 (projected 129th overall in salary)

It goes to show just how loaded the center position is in this day and age that we just went from two perennial MVP candidates and a third guaranteed future Hall-of-Famer to now, the most promising prospect in recent league history, San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama is special for so many reasons, particularly the fact he’s 7-foot-4 with a reported 8-foot wingspan to go with his unreal quickness for his size and otherworldly skill level. If you agree with what we wrote about Anthony Davis having guard-like skills, then Wembanyama might as well be a 7-foot-4 Chris Paul because his ball-handling and off-the-dribble scoring ability put pretty much every other player on this ranking to shame. He at times resembles an even bigger Kevin Durant out there on offense, able to knock down shots on pull-ups, step-backs and crossovers, all while defending at the level of Davis, a scary mix of two all-time greats.

Wembanyama just became the first rookie in league history to earn 1st Team All-Defense honors and he was even getting shouts to earn Defensive Player of the Year in his inaugural campaign, giving us little doubt he’ll eventually win that award, more than likely multiple times.

That’s not the only major accolade we see Wembanyama winning in the future, as the French center has potential league MVP written all over him, he should be that dominant on both ends of the floor. He’s got a great mentality, too, really seeming to value winning over personal glory, as evidenced by his reaction when his French national team fell to Team USA in the gold medal game at the Olympics this summer.


In all, the Spurs have a truly special talent on their hands and we can’t wait to see how his game grows from his rookie to his sophomore campaigns.


5.  Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento)


2023-24 stats: 19.4 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 8.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.6 bpg, 59.4 FG%, 37.9 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $40,500,000 (projected 26th overall in salary)

If he didn’t peak in the era of Jokic, Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis would be seen as one of the best playmaking centers of all time, as he’s putting up seven assists per contest over the past four seasons. That’s no easy feat for a center, we’ve just become desensitized to it due to Jokic’s utter playmaking brilliance.

On top of the plus-passing, Sabonis is also a monster rebounder, leading the league in nightly boards over the past two seasons at 12.3 and 13.7 respectively in 2022-23 and 2023-24. That’s to go with being a great face-up scorer with solid post moves down low; Sabonis can hit jumpers or drive by slower-footed bigs, or beat up smaller defenders in the post for easy lefty finishes.

The one area in which Sabonis is lacking is as a defender, as his quick first step doesn’t translate to the less glamorous side of the floor on switches, nor does he protect the rim one iota, which has made it difficult for the Kings to play good enough defense to really contend for anything but a playoff spot in the West.

For what it’s worth, the Kings were 2.1 points per 100 possessions worse with Sabonis on the floor last season.

Still, Sabonis is an All-NBA-level center, even earning MVP votes over the past two campaigns, so Sacramento is almost certainly still glad it made the Tyrese Haliburton-for-Sabonis swap.


6.  Bam Adebayo (Miami)


2023-24 stats: 19.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.9 bpg, 52.1 FG%, 35.7 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,848,340 (projected 39th overall in salary)

Right on the cusp of that All-NBA distinction over recent years, Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo has made back-to-back All-Star appearances, helped lead the Heat to the Finals two years ago and just won a gold medal with Team USA this summer. That’s to go with five straight All-Defensive Team honors and a Top 5 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the last five campaigns, peaking with a third-place finish in 2023-24.

What’s more, Adebayo is far from just a defender, as the former Kentucky Wildcat also has a blossoming offensive game, possessing the ability to hit pull-up, off-the-dribble jumpers and spot-up looks from the midrange. He can also grab a rebound and bring the ball down the court, can pass at a high level for a center – just maybe not on that Jokic/Sabonis level – and rebounds very well despite being just 6-foot-9.

All Adebayo is really missing is that reliable three-point jumper, though if his Team USA stint this summer is any indication, there’s a chance that could be coming at some point. If the 27-year-old can at least hit spot-up corner three-pointers, that would open up his already impressive offensive game even more.


7.  Rudy Gobert (Minnesota)


2023-24 stats: 14.0 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 2.1 bpg, 66.1 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,827,586 (projected 15th overall in salary)

The heavily criticized Rudy Gobert gave his detractors some ammunition this summer when he got benched during France’s run to the gold-medal game. With France struggling in exhibition games and early in the tournament, French head coach Vincent Collet went with Wembanyama and a smaller lineup around him, using Gobert as a deep bench piece who didn’t see that much action in the knockout rounds.

Still, that’s nowhere near enough for us to knock Gobert in this ranking, as the double-double machine is a fantastic finisher around the basket to go with his obviously elite defensive impact, which earned him the fourth Defensive Player of the Year award of his career in 2023-24. Gobert also played a large part in getting his Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals last season, so his last year has had plenty of team success despite his somewhat rough go with France.

The Gobert detractors will likely never lay off when it comes to the French big man, using his limited offensive game and poor defense on ball-handlers against him, but there’s no question the 32-year-old is one of the best defenders of all time and a future Hall-of-Famer.


8.  Alperen Sengun (Houston)


2023-24 stats: 21.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.7 bpg, 53.7 FG%, 29.7 3P% in 63 games
2024-25 earnings: $5,424,654 (projected 237th overall in salary)

A promising center with a decently high ceiling thanks to his offensive game, Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun has been described as a Jokic Lite in the past, a big man who can score at a high level in maybe not the most orthodox ways and also create for teammates with flashy passes.

Sengun has a funky offensive game, making him a tough cover for opponents who often have no clue which way he’s going to turn next. A face-up specialist with driving ability, Sengun finished third in the Most Improved Player vote last season and might have gotten more consideration if he didn’t miss nearly 20 games due to injury.

Houston should be getting huge value out of Sengun in 2024-25 considering he’s set to be paid just $5.4 million next season. If Sengun even just replicates his 2023-24 output next league year while earning that salary, the Rockets will be getting a steal value-wise when it comes to their starting center, who already got All-Star consideration last season.

We think All-Star for Sengun in 2024-25 is a perfectly reasonable expectation.


9.  Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)


2023-24 stats: 16.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 2.3 bpg, 53.0 FG%, 37.0 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $10,880,640 (projected 155th overall in salary)

The second-place finisher in Rookie of the Year voting in 2023-24, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren had a great inaugural campaign in the Association, flashing immense skills on both ends of the floor, primarily as a face-up scorer with driving ability but also as an elite shot-blocker, one who ranked in the Top 5 in nightly rejections last season.

Holmgren’s narrow shoulders and lack of strength could be a hindrance as far as projecting his overall ceiling but he does seem like a player who could be an All-Star one day. We’d just like to see what his Year 1 to Year 2 jump looks like before making any bold proclamations about him.

Overall, Holmgren, who’s basically a wing who plays center, does have plenty of upside and we’re excited to see what he looks like in his sophomore season, especially on the offensive end of the floor if his three-point shooting takes a leap.


10.  Kristaps Porzingis (Boston)


2023-24 stats: 20.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.9 bpg, 51.6 FG%, 37.5 3P% in 57 games
2024-25 earnings: $29,268,293 (projected 54th overall in salary)

2023-24 was pretty much a microcosm of big man Kristaps Porzingis’ career. He played like an All-Star but missed 25 regular-season games and then another 12 playoff games due to injury, ultimately sitting out most of the Boston Celtics’ championship run.

It was truly unfortunate as Pornzigis had acclimated beautifully to playing with Boston, scoring at a high level, rebounding, blocking shots and hitting deep threes to open up the rest of the Celtics’ potent offense, fitting in wonderfully to the team’s championship puzzle.

Here’s hoping for better health for Porzingis in 2024-25, as the original Unicorn was one of the first modern big men to revitalize the decaying center position eight years ago when he got drafted by the New York Knicks.


11.  Myles Turner (Indiana)


2023-24 stats: 17.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 1.9 bpg, 52.4 FG%, 35.8 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $19,928,500 (projected 87th overall in salary)

One of the NBA’s unicorns thanks to his ability to block shots and hit threes, the Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner has been playing some of the most impactful basketball of his career over the past few seasons, peaking in 2023-24 as he helped play an instrumental role in Indiana’s Eastern Conference Finals charge.

Turner isn’t a star but he’s a good starting center, more productive than a role player as he can do plenty of face-up scoring as opposed to needing to be spoon-fed finishes like some other big men. Roughly a Top 100 player according to just about every advanced analytic, Turner enters 2024-25 with it being a contract year for him, even more motivation for the former Texas standout to have a career season.


12.  Jarrett Allen (Cleveland)


2023-24 stats: 16.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.1 bpg, 63.4 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $20,000,000 (projected 85th overall in salary)

Veteran big man Jarrett Allen helps form a very athletic frontcourt alongside blossoming power forward Evan Mobley for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Mobley ranking as the No. 9 power forward in our recent ranking.

Allen is more limited offensively than Mobley, as he’s not even going to shoot midrange jumpers a lot of the time, let alone three-pointers, but he’s one of the best around-the-rim finishers in the league, shooting 63 percent from the field for his career. The big man is also a very adept pick-and-roll finisher, possessing good hands to catch passes in traffic, and the length and athleticism to finish above the rim over defenders. On the other end, Allen uses his quick hands and timing to block shots and pick up deflections leading to steals, so his value is very much on both sides of the floor.

The Cavs extended Allen’s contract this summer but that reportedly won’t stop teams from registering trade interest in him, so that will be something to keep an eye on with Allen in 2024-25.


13.  Nikola Vucevic (Chicago)


2023-24 stats: 18.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.8 bpg, 48.4 FG%, 29.4 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $20,000,000 (projected 85th overall in salary)

Two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic is now 33 years old, and although his production remains pretty decent – averaging an 18-and-10 double-double is no joke after all – his impact to winning has been pretty poor over recent seasons, particularly due to his bad outside shooting and lackluster defending.

Over the past three seasons combined, Vucevic is shooting just 33.2 percent from three, hitting rock bottom in 2023-24 at 29.4 percent. Vucevic used to be able to score and rebound well enough to be hugely impactful on a nightly basis but that hasn’t been the case over the past two campaigns, as the Chicago Bulls have been 7.2 points per 100 possessions worse with their starting center on the floor since 2022-23.

Still, not many centers can match Vucevic when it comes to face-up scoring and rebounding, so he remains one of the better starting pure centers in the Eastern Conference. Maybe he’ll rediscover his outside shooting stroke in 2024-25 – offseason pickup Josh Giddey and his playmaking might be able to help with that.


14.  Naz Reid (Minnesota)


2023-24 stats: 13.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.9 bpg, 47.7 FG%, 41.4 3P% in 81 games
2024-25 earnings: $13,986,432 (projected 117th overall in salary)

One of the best utility bigs in the league, Minnesota’s Naz Reid can either come off the bench and make high-level plays or even start from time to time, where he handles the complementary role quite well thanks to his ability to space the floor from three or drive and finish around the rim on hard closeouts by defenders.

Reid won Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24 (he’s that effective coming off the bench), thanks in large part to his career-high 41.4 percent shooting accuracy from beyond the arc. The former LSU Tiger even saw a lot of minutes in closing lineups in the playoffs last season, at times in favor of Karl-Anthony Towns, which will be something to keep an eye on as Minnesota’s payroll is set to get pricey over the coming years. (The Wolves project to have the second-highest payroll in the league this upcoming season.)

All in all, Reid is a smooth scorer, much more comfortable purely getting buckets than a lot of other centers, and we expect another great year out of him in 2024-25.

The fact he’ll be earning just under $14 million next season makes us think he’ll be one of the best value contracts in the league this upcoming campaign, as most of the advanced metrics had Reid as a Top 75 player in the league last year, while he won’t be even Top 115 in salary in 2024-25.


15.  Deandre Ayton (Portland)


2023-24 stats: 16.7 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.8 bpg, 57.0 FG%, 10.0 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,005,126 (projected 43rd overall in salary)

Former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton has had a pretty disappointing NBA career all things considered.

On one hand, he did play a part in his former team, the Phoenix Suns, making it all the way to the NBA Finals in 2020-21. On the other hand, that didn’t stop the Suns from trading him just a few years later to the Portland Trail Blazers, pretty much giving up on their former top overall draft pick.

Physically and skill-wise, Ayton has a ton of potential, as he’s quite athletic and has great size for a center, with the quickness needed to thrive in the modern NBA, as well as a solid shooting touch from the short midrange. But his feel for the game just isn’t all that great (whenever he touches the ball, he’s either looking to score or kick it out to reset the offense, rarely making high-level passes leading to assists), for his solid midrange stroke he doesn’t shoot threes and he doesn’t defend anywhere near as well as he should considering his length and leaping ability.

Maybe 2024-25 will be the year Ayton can put it all together more consistently, as he does have All-Star potential, is still just 26 years old and will still be on a Portland team with next-to-no expectations. But it’s gotten to the point where we’re going to have to see it to believe it when it comes to Ayton starting to reach that higher ceiling.


16.  Dereck Lively (Dallas)


2023-24 stats: 8.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.4 bpg, 74.7 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $5,014,409 (projected 248th overall in salary)

After a very strong rookie season, Dallas’ Dereck Lively heads into 2024-25 with heightened expectations, potentially even to earn a starting job for the Mavericks depending on if he can outplay Daniel Gafford in training camp and the preseason.

Lively is an explosive athlete around the rim with quick feet and elite finishing touch, a monster of a big man perfectly suited to finish lobs and dump-offs from a playmaker as great as Luka Doncic. Lively produced a beastly 1.39 points per possession (PPP) as the pick-and-roll roll man in 2023-24 to place him in the league’s 86th percentile. The Duke product should be able to improve on that mark as a sophomore in the NBA, too, as he gets stronger and more accustomed to the league’s physicality, a scary proposition for Mavs opponents in 2024-25.

In all, we’re pretty high on Lively even if his upside is diminished by his lack of outside-the-paint scoring. When you’re as good as he is at finishing near the rim while also swatting away shots and protecting the paint on the other end, that’s the kind of player you can win a lot of games with, as Dallas hopes to find out over the coming years.


17.  Nicolas Claxton (Brooklyn)


2023-24 stats: 11.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.6 spg, 2.1 bpg, 62.9 FG%, 20.0 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $27,556,817 (projected 57th overall in salary)

A mobile big man on defense who almost has the Adebayo quality of being able to defend guards as a center, the Brooklyn Nets’ Nicolas Claxton was rewarded by the team for his development by signing a $100 million deal with the franchise this summer.

Claxton is a great rebounder, an underrated passer, especially out of the short roll, a top-notch shot-blocker and he can even hit short midrange jumpers from time to time.

He does lack some of the size to battle it out with bigger centers on some nights but overall, he’s a positive-impact player and one of the better starting centers in the East, one who just does his job, makes energy plays and won’t try to do too much beyond his capabilities.


18.  Isaiah Hartenstein (Oklahoma City)


2023-24 stats: 7.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg, 64.4 FG%, 33.3 3P% in 75 games
2024-25 earnings: $30,000,000 (projected 48th overall in salary)

Although his raw scoring and rebounding numbers might not reflect it, new Oklahoma City Thunder player Isaiah Hartenstein had a great 2023-24 season, consistently making winning plays for New York to the point he made the team an almost preposterous 11.0 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor.

Hartenstein can do a bit of everything besides score at a high level, as he rebounds, boxes out, does the dirty work, sets hard screens, moves the ball well and even racks up steals and blocks, making it clear why the Thunder were interested enough in him to sign him to a contract worth nearly $90 million this offseason despite his averaging under eight points last season.

His low-usage style will fit in perfectly with what the Thunder were lacking last season, as the team appeared one starter-level center away from making a deeper playoff run. Hartenstein should adapt wonderfully to the project Oklahoma City has going on, finishing plays set up by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and helping Chet Holmgren, who’s a bit lacking in the strength department, man the frontcourt a bit more physically.


19.  Brook Lopez (Milwaukee)


2023-24 stats: 12.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.5 spg, 2.4 bpg, 48.5 FG%, 36.6 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $23,000,000 (projected 73rd overall in salary)

The ageless Brook Lopez continues to trek along as a solid starting center, posting a decent 2023-24 season after reportedly spurning the Rockets last summer to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks. Lopez’s two main skills are as a shot-blocker and a three-point shooter from the 5-spot, ranking third in the NBA in blocks per game at 2.4 while hitting a solid 36-plus percent of his three last year.

Lopez, now 36, isn’t as quick as he once away (and he was never that quick to begin with), limiting his impact a bit, and we might be getting closer to the point where he’s no longer a 30-minute-per-game player like he has been over the last two seasons.

But even if he goes to a smaller role, we think he can still make a good impact in 20-minute spurts considering how great of a shot-blocker he remains to this day.


20.  Daniel Gafford (Dallas)


2023-24 stats: 11.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.9 spg, 2.1 bpg, 72.5 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 74 games
2024-25 earnings: $13,394,160 (projected 119th overall in salary)

Another highly efficient finisher out of the Dallas frontcourt, Daniel Gafford led the NBA in field-goal percentage in 2023-24 at an astounding 72.5 percent. As a member of the Mavericks, that number was actually 78.0 percent over 29 games, an astonishing mark that makes us think Gafford could have a big 2024-25, at least when it comes to finishing plays.

Gafford is athletic and has good length and strength, which helps him finish around the basket, even against bigger defenders. He also uses his athleticism and length well on defense, where he blocked over two shots nightly last season, which played a large part in Dallas making that trip to the Finals.

With a full training camp and preseason with the team, Gafford should have an even better 2024-25 and we’re excited to see what that might look like both for the former Arkansas standout and the Mavericks as a whole.


21.  Jusuf Nurkic (Phoenix)


2023-24 stats: 10.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 51.0 FG%, 24.4 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $18,125,000 (projected 96th overall in salary)

When the Sunsgave up on Ayton, they brought in veteran big man Jusuf Nurkic to replace him in the starting lineup, and Nurkic acquitted himself nicely in his first season with the team, averaging a double-double while doing some nice things as a playmaker and shot-blocker.

Still, Phoenix struggled on the year mostly due to its lack of a pure point guard on the roster, which the team went out and fixed this summer by adding Tyus Jones and Monte Morris to the rotation. Perhaps those additions will help Nurkic focus less on playmaking from the elbow and more on finishing around the rim.


22.  Jonas Valanciunas (Washington)


2023-24 stats: 12.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.8 bpg, 55.9 FG%, 30.8 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $9,900,000 (projected 164th overall in salary)

If there has ever been a player who could see a bounce-back production-wise after joining a new team, it’s Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas, who joined the Washington Wizards this summer after two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Valanciunas just two seasons ago was putting up 18 and 11 per night in New Orleans but saw his role diminish greatly since then. But now joining a Wizards team so lacking in frontcourt depth and overall talent, Valanciunas, who’s still just 32, should start to get way more looks on a nightly basis.

Will it lead to many wins for the Wizards? Almost certainly not but if nothing else, it will be fun to watch a throwback post-up big man like Valanciunas go to work on the low block in 2024-25.


23.  Bobby Portis (Milwaukee)


2023-24 stats: 13.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.4 bpg, 50.8 FG%, 40.7 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,578,286 (projected 133rd overall in salary)

One of the better floor-spacing centers in the league, Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis hit nearly 41 percent of his triples last season while further contributing off-the-dribble buckets for the Bucks.

Portis is also a solid rebounder on the offensive end and plays with a good amount of energy. He’s also a great pest who can really get under opponents’ skin with his antics – and we mean that as a positive, at least if you’re a Bucks fan.

On the other end, his defense is pretty nonexistent as he doesn’t block shots nor does he move his feet well enough to defend positively on switches but even so, his offense is good enough that he’s a positive-impact player when he’s out there.


24.  Mark Williams (Charlotte)


2023-24 stats: 12.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.8 spg, 1.1 bpg, 64.9 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 19 games
2024-25 earnings: $4,094,280 (projected 272nd overall in salary)

A back injury limited second-year center Mark Williams to just 19 games for the Hornets last season, which is a shame because he was playing some very solid basketball before going down, averaging nearly a double-double while rejecting over one shot per game and hitting almost 65 percent of his field-goal attempts.

Williams is like an early 2010s throwback center in that he’s not going to post up much or space the floor but he is quite athletic and long, so he can finish out of the pick-and-roll, above the rim and over defenders with strength, he’s just not going to grab a rebound and bring the ball down or launch threes.

And that’s perfectly fine as Williams is athletic enough to excel in his role as a rim-diving center who protects the rim on the other end. We think Williams could have a solid third season if he can stay healthy, especially with playmakers as adept as LaMelo Ball and Vasilije Micic throwing him lobs.
 

25.  Clint Capela (Atlanta)


2023-24 stats: 11.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.6 spg, 1.5 bpg, 57.1 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 73 games
2024-25 earnings: $22,265,280 (projected 79th overall in salary)

It feels like yesterday that the Atlanta Hawks acquiring big man Clint Capela from the Rockets was huge news. And early on, the hype was warranted, as Capela’s first season in Atlanta saw him average 15.2 points, a league-leading 14.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks on over 59 percent shooting from the floor. Capela earned Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year award votes that year.

Now, Capela has been the subject of what feels like annual trade talks. If the Hawks do want to deal the still-just-30-year-old center, they might have an easier time of it at this upcoming deadline considering Capela is about to be on the last year of his contract.

Capela might have lost a step athletically but he’s still a good rebounder and finisher around the basket, and could help out a contender in need of some toughness down low.


26.  Ivica Zubac (LA Clippers)


2023-24 stats: 11.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.3 spg, 1.2 bpg, 64.9 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 68 games
2024-25 earnings: $11,743,210 (projected 142nd overall in salary)

What does it say about the strength of the center position these days that we’re outside of the Top 25 and still listing solid-starter-level players like Los Angeles Clippers big man Ivica Zubac? (For comparison’s sake, just go look at our Top 30 power forwards and peep No. 26 through No. 30 and compare it to the next players on this list, including Zubac.)

Regardless, Zubac is more of a limited big man but can be quite effective in his role, rebounding well, setting elite screens and blocking shots down low. He may not be able to close games every single night due to his limitations but in 25-minute spurts, he can do some damage.


27.  Jalen Duren (Detroit)


2023-24 stats: 13.8 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.8 bpg, 61.9 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 61 games
2024-25 earnings: $4,536,840 (projected 261st overall in salary)

One of the lone bright spots over recent years for the Detroit Pistons has been the early emergence of big man Jalen Duren, who already averaged a double-double in his second season, doing so while shooting nearly 62 percent from the floor.

Oh, and even though the season ended months ago at the time of this writing, Duren still hasn’t even turned 21 years old yet, indicating he’s got huge promise as a player. The fact Duren can even pass the ball a bit out of the short roll is yet another reason to buy stock in him as a player now before it gets too pricey.


28.  Al Horford (Boston)


2023-24 stats: 8.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.6 spg, 1.0 bpg, 51.1 FG%, 41.9 3P% in 65 games
2024-25 earnings: $9,500,000 (projected 168th overall in salary)

One of the few remaining players from the 2007 draft class along with Kevin Durant and Mike Conley, Boston’s Al Horford is still an impactful player when he’s out there, a big man who can hit threes, especially from the corners, as well as keep the ball moving, battle on the glass and provide great leadership. That Horford started so many games during the Celtics’ recent championship run – as a 38-year-old, no less – just speaks to how solid of a role player he remains at this point in his career.


29.  Wendell Carter Jr. (Orlando)


2023-24 stats: 11.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.5 bpg, 52.5 FG%, 37.4 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $11,950,000 (projected 141st overall in salary)

Despite being in the NBA since 2018-19, the Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr. is still just 25 years old. Now, that doesn’t mean we think he’s got some huge untapped ceiling that he’s going to reach at this point but as is, he’s a pretty solid starting center, a big man who can space the floor a bit and do some face-up scoring.


30.  Steven Adams (Houston)


2024-25 earnings: $12,600,000 (projected 132nd overall in salary)

Veteran big man Steven Adams missed all of 2023-24 due to injury but looks set to return in 2024-25. We expect to see the same ole’ Adams when he gets back, an elite screen-setter who boxes out extremely well even if he doesn’t always nab rebounds at high numbers himself. Adams is also a solid finisher around the basket and an all-around well-liked player in the NBA.


Bob


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MY NOTE:  Zach Lowe wrote this article for The Athletic.  I couldn't find the original link to post, but I cannot take credit for this.



Hunters or Gatherers?

 
Is free-agent whale hunting dead forever?


Back in 2008, the Knicks decided to gut their roster, decrease bloated salaries and prepare for the 2010 summer. Why that summer? Well, wouldn’t you know it? LeBron James was to be a free agent in 2010. It’s a crazy coincidence. Oh, Amar’e Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson were also due to hit the market. The summer of 2010 was going to be one of spending. The Cavaliers, Knicks, Heat, Clippers, Nets and Bulls were all hoping to sign LeBron, and maybe even one of his friends. As we all know now, he went on TV, picked South Beach and melted the internet.


Other seasons have also been defined by their subsequent free-agency classes. The Magic signed Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill in 2000 as some wondered if they’d also land Tim Duncan that summer. In 2019, the Knicks and Nets cleared space for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. When the Lakers paired LeBron and Anthony Davis in 2019, they made room for Kawhi Leonard. This summer, we saw the 76ers create max cap space and then some to bring in a significant signing to put next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.


My fear is that this was the last summer we’ll see something like that occur. The Sixers weren’t chasing a specific free-agent superstar when Daryl Morey set up this summer to add the requisite help around Embiid. That was more about technicality. He had a bit of a cap-hold loophole due to Maxey’s low figure before his max deal. While some wondered if Leonard would be Philly’s target, the extension he signed earlier this year made this moot.


The new collective bargaining agreement has sucked the fun out of free agency. Is that my knee-jerk reaction after just one summer under this new CBA? Possibly! But if I end up being right, then it’s a justified dramatic reaction. Superstars aren’t really incentivized to let things play out in free agency anymore. We’re seeing more and more stars sign extensions before executing an exit strategy down the road if they want to move on. While the NBA can pretend things are set up to keep players in their incumbent markets, I don’t think that’s happening. The shift has been about hopefully getting traded to where you want to be, rather than having teams pursue you via unrestricted free agency.


The transaction is what makes the NBA a 12-month sports league now. But the new CBA’s penalties include the dreaded second apron. This new wrinkle will likely cause future salary shedding as teams seek to escape the tax/penalties instead of clearing space for a major signing.


R.I.P. to year-round free-agency hype for star chasing: 1988-2024



Maverick Trading

 
Dallas used to make some wild deals

There was a time when the Mavericks were moving players like someone in a video game. You just keep adding players to balance out salaries and entice the computer to complete the trade with you before your screen says “approved.” Becoming a video game trade genius is a million times more satisfying than just being lazy and forcing a trade through. Or maybe some of us are just built different.


As I went through some old player transaction data from the '90s, I was reminded of how big these Mavericks deals used to be. Brace yourself for the tidal wave of nostalgia these names are about to bring to your screen. It's insane how routinely Dallas completed trades with seven or more players.




This came three days after Dallas moved Jamal Mashburn to the Heat for Kurt Thomas, Sasha Danilović and Martin Muursepp. That’s six players out and seven players in during a season.




This newsletter has a subtle rule: If I can find an angle that allows me to seamlessly use the name “Danny Fortson,” I will absolutely do it. This was a deal that brought Eisley to Dallas on one of those fabled seven-year contracts. Mark Cuban had purchased the team by this point, with wild transactions a result.




To this day, I still believe Alexander will be an All-Star, and I completely forgot Vaught played for either of these teams. I would have sworn up and down he played for the Clippers his entire career. I blocked out these years along with the Detroit years. Eight-plus players in a trade was just becoming the norm.




At this point, the Mavs were a lock to make a massive splash every calendar year. Cuban was the kid trying to be a maestro of the trade feature in any franchise mode in a video game. Extensive trades with a ton of players to completely overhaul half the roster.




They finally unloaded Eschmeyer’s contract (remember that from last Thursday?), reacquired Fortson and brought in a bona fide scorer in Jamison. Dallas would also flip Mills and Welsch with LaFrentz a couple months later in the trade for Antoine Walker. Toine and Tawn were one!



The Mavericks would make another big deal on draft night in 2004 by acquiring Erick Dampier and bringing Eschmeyer back into the mix while sending Laettner and Eduardo Najera to the Warriors. But that was the end of their big-deal madness. In 2008, Dallas made another eight-player deal with New Jersey to get Jason Kidd, but big swings were no longer a yearly occurrence. Thank you, Mark Cuban and the Mavericks, for testing the bottom-line ticker’s capacity for so many years.



Nickname Games

 
Elephant Drawers is only the beginning

Last week, when I was hosting SiriusXM NBA Radio, Dale Ellis’ name came up on the show. I was a big Dale Ellis guy. Every time I saw his highlights, I was a big fan. If I was lucky enough to see him in a live game, I was enthralled. He could flat-out shoot the ball, and I would often find myself using him in any basketball video game I played. In one of the NBA Live versions (it might have been '95 or '96), the game offered up a nickname for players who had them on their page.


For Ellis, I always remembered they had his nickname as “Lamar Mundane.” This was how teenage me learned what the word “mundane” means. It’s stuck with me ever since. Whenever Ellis’ name comes up, I mention his nickname, but nobody ever believes me. I mentioned this on the radio to my co-host Amin Elhassan, who also refused to believe it. I checked Basketball Reference, which, sure enough, had it there. During the show, we also discovered a couple other nicknames for some nostalgic players …


You can see Lamar Mundane there for Ellis, along with Silent Assassin, which came from this incredible poster. Ellis was once traded for Ricky Pierce, and it prompted me to look up his nickname. I cackled at the idea of “Big Daddy Paper” being anybody’s moniker if they’re not running numbers for a Chicago mob boss in the ‘40s. We also discussed Mark Aguirre. Reading the five ridiculous nicknames for him on air prompted an investigation.


We reached out to Eddie Johnson, who grew up with Aguirre. He had never heard of most of these nicknames for Aguirre, but did confirm they used to call him “Drawers” or “Fat Boy,” which tracks for at least two of these nicknames. We also learned Drew Gooden’s nickname is “Recede Wallace,” which might be the funniest one of all. Stay tuned to this space in the future for random Basketball Reference nicknames.


Bob


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“Rudy Gobert. Ben Simmons is another bum… If you sign a contract for 250. Show me 250. So you got guys like him that f*ck the system over there making all this money & they can’t f*cking play.”

Shaq on the worst NBA player of all time

https://x.com/i/status/1831474719964397681


Bob


.

Shaq off on Gobert but dead on with Simmons.

Yeah, dboss. I'm with you here. Shaq may be wearing out his welcome and sounding like he's trying to blow up his TNT job on the side. Why would his son ask hm a question like that anyway unless he was trying to start something. Dumb question. No one has ever asked that question for a reason. There is never a worst player in the NBA IMHBAO. There are a lot of ones that do suck, but they are infinitely better than the rest of us!

Simmons has had some bad luck with injuries along with a couple of brain farts. A lot was/has been expected of him and he didn't show up, but that's a good portion of the league at any point and time. I believe he thinks quite a bit more of himself than he is able to deliver. You want cocky/confident yet be able to deliver. He has the first part, needs the second part. Where is he BTW?! Talk about falling off the face of the earth.

db

We’re ranking the NBA’s 15 Eastern Conference teams. No. 1 won’t surprise you, but how do the rest shake out?


By Gary Washburn Globe Staff,Updated September 7, 2024, 1:29 p.m.



Believe it or not, we’re about three weeks from the beginning of NBA training camps, and besides various camp invites, teams have their rosters set for the season. Free agency is essentially over and players are starting to report to their cities for informal workouts.

We will rank all 30 teams, starting this week with the Eastern Conference. With the season about six weeks away — the opening game is Knicks at Celtics on Oct. 22 — it’s time to begin projecting how the East will shape up. There will be surprises and disappointments, but it was apparent that several teams were chasing the Celtics with their free agency moves. Here are the rankings:


1. Boston Celtics. They are the defending champions and return all their key players for another run. They also added former first-round pick Lonnie Walker IV to potentially fill their final roster spot. The major difference between this club and last year’s edition will be the absence of Kristaps Porzingis for three months. The Celtics will not rush their big man and hope to compensate by committee with Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown return with extra motivation after being dissed by Team USA.


2. New York Knicks. It’s been 51 years since the Knicks won a championship and they’ve been to the Finals only twice in that span, but this may be their best chance to return. OG Anunoby was re-signed with the express purpose of defending Tatum and Brown. Mikal Bridges was acquired from the Nets to defend elite shooting guards and small forwards. Jalen Brunson is coming off a brilliant second season in New York and Julius Randle is healthy and should be a major factor. The only issue is center, where Isaiah Hartenstein signed with the Thunder, leaving oft-injured Mitchell Robinson to man the middle.


3. Philadelphia 76ers. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey used his cap space to add key pieces, including nabbing 34-year-old Paul George from the Clippers. The 76ers also brought back Kelly Oubre, signed Celtics nemesis Caleb Martin, and added Eric Gordon and former Boston College standout Reggie Jackson. As usual, Philadelphia is banking on the health of former MVP Joel Embiid, who played for the United States in the Olympics and may report to camp in the best shape in years. Tyrese Maxey is coming off a breakout season and is setting his sights on being the best shooting guard in the East. The 76ers are loaded but also aging.


4. Indiana Pacers. Indiana brought in former second overall pick James Wiseman and re-signed Andrew Nembhard (who sparkled in the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics), Pascal Siakam, and Obi Toppin. Indiana is not a free agent destination, so its best plan was to retain the core of its roster. The Pacers are young and athletic and Tyrese Haliburton, coming off an Olympic gold medal, is ready for perennial All-Star status. Again, the issue with the Pacers is defense and whether they can make a deep playoff run with their run-and-gun style. But they’ll be fun to watch and tough to play.


5. Miami Heat. The primary issue in Miami is health. Perhaps the good thing for the Heat is Jimmy Butler is entering a contract year and he’ll be motivated to play in more games, put up big numbers, and lead the Heat back to prosperity as he seeks his final significant contract. A key addition is rookie center Kel’el Ware, who looked like an NBA starter in the Las Vegas Summer League and will move Bam Adebayo to power forward. Tyler Herro has battled health problems the past few years and needs to be on the floor for Miami to remain significant. Terry Rozier also dealt with injuries, but he’ll be back along with Josh Richardson.


6. Cleveland Cavaliers. New coach Kenny Atkinson inherits a quality team that needs more help from the bench to become a true contender. But they accomplished a lot this summer in re-signing Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. But the question remains whether Mitchell can play with the creative but diminutive Darius Garland. That was an issue last season, but the Cavaliers decided to keep Garland. President of basketball operations Koby Altman did not address the bench and Isaac Okoro remains a restricted free agent. Atkinson gets a second chance to lead a club, and the Cavaliers have one of the better interior defenses in the NBA.


7. Milwaukee Bucks. Why have the Bucks fallen this far? Well, they didn’t do much to address their needs besides nabbing the inconsistent Gary Trent Jr. from the Raptors on a minimum deal. Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley are gone and the Bucks will have to rely heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo, almost 30, to lead the charge along with aging veterans Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. They’re going to have to rely on players such as Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, and Delon Wright to have strong seasons, and they’ll need Andre Jackson and MarJon Beauchamp to revitalize the roster with youth and athleticism. Doc Rivers will have a difficult time leading this roster back to serious contention.


8. Orlando Magic. The Magic are an elite defensive team, but they really didn’t address their offensive issues in the offseason. They signed 3-and-D specialist Kentavious Caldwell-Pope but still don’t have a proven point guard. Markelle Fultz remains a free agent and Cole Anthony is a combo guard. Coach Jamahl Mosley will have to depend on second-year guard Anthony Black for floor leadership. Orlando will win its share of games with its size and athleticism, but besides Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who is going to score consistently? The Magic have the same problems as last season when they wasted a chance to reach the second round.

Paolo Banchero is a rising star, but the Magic didn't address their weaknesses in the offseason.Paolo Banchero is a rising star, but the Magic didn't address their weaknesses in the offseason.Jason Miller/Getty


9. Charlotte Hornets. The reason the Hornets are here is the presence of new coach Charles Lee and a roster that is young and actually decent when healthy. There will be a lot of teams tanking in the East, looking to draft Cooper Flagg, but the Hornets need to take a step forward. Brandon Miller had a strong rookie year, while Mark Williams is a difference maker on defense when healthy. The key is LaMelo Ball, who is gaining the reputation as a gifted player who doesn’t love the game as much as he should. He has to stay healthy. Former Celtic Grant Williams will add bulk and effort, while Miles Bridges has to put his personal issues aside and become a leader in that locker room.


10. Toronto Raptors. Toronto is rebuilding but still has enough talent to compete for a play-in spot in a top-heavy East. Scottie Barnes is an emerging star who should take the next step, and RJ Barrett should be more comfortable in his home country after a difficult season with the Knicks and Raptors. The Raptors made a sneaky-good move in acquiring former first-round pick Davion Mitchell, while Immanuel Quickley should assume duties as the starting point guard. Bruce Brown and Gradey Dick should give the Raptors a lift off the bench.


11. Atlanta Hawks. Hard to tell what the Hawks are up to. They won the lottery and selected Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher, who should help immediately. Trae Young is still the franchise’s central figure, but that run to the Eastern Conference finals was three years ago and the Hawks haven’t been successful since. Jalen Johnson is an emerging standout who needs to stay healthy and the Hawks are going to need standout seasons from Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter to make a play-in run.


12. Chicago Bulls. The Bulls sent DeMar DeRozan to the Kings in a sign-and-trade deal and added flawed but promising guard Josh Giddey from the Thunder in exchange for Alex Caruso. The issue is the status of Zach LaVine. The Bulls have tried to move him for years but he’s untradeable because of his contract. Is LaVine motivated to return to All-Star status after being floated? The Bulls aren’t a bad team, but they have yet to play up to their potential despite loading their roster with lottery picks. Coby White is coming off the best year of his career, but it meant nothing in team wins. Patrick Williams needs to stay healthy. Lonzo Ball has missed the last two seasons and there’s no timetable on his return.


13. Detroit Pistons. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff is coming over after upgrading the Cavaliers into playoff contenders. But an uneven relationship with Mitchell cost him his job. The Pistons have been a train wreck and fired coach Monty Williams one year into a six-year, $78 million deal. Cade Cunningham has improved but needs to stay on the floor. Jalen Duren is a beast in the paint but needs to improve his offense. Jaden Ivey has to be more consistent. Detroit brought back Tobias Harris for leadership and added Tim Hardaway Jr. for shooting. There’s too much young talent not to take a step forward, but it’s not likely to be this year.


14. Washington Wizards. The Wizards are in the middle of their multiyear tankathon and they’ll be scouting Flagg heavily during his freshman year at Duke. But until then, coach Brian Keefe will see what the franchise has in players such as second overall pick Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Carlton Carrington, and Bilal Coulibaly. Jordan Poole returns for the second year of that mammoth four-year, $120 million deal he signed with the Warriors. Kyle Kuzma is also back but could be traded because of his rather economical contract.


15. Brooklyn Nets. New coach Jordi Fernandez is one of the league’s rising leaders, but he will be hard pressed to get the Nets to 30 wins in this rebuilding season. Brooklyn’s best player is former Suns swingman Cameron Johnson and he’s not close to All-Star caliber. Ben Simmons is still on the roster and we’ve all seen his summer workout videos, but it’s unlikely he’ll make much of an impact. Fernandez will tutor the team’s young core, such as Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead, Jalen Wilson, and Keon Johnson. Nic Claxton re-signed to remain a cornerstone in the middle, but the Nets will spend this season figuring out who goes and who stays after botching opportunities to become a conference power.



Bob


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It's always about catching number 1, of course.

The Knicks and 6ers have made roster moves specifically to stack up against the Celtics lineup.

It should make for some fun contests this coming season.

Ranking: The Top 100 players in the NBA for 2024-25



By Frank Urbina and Raul Barrigon | September 10, 2024


Today we wrap up our offseason player ranking series with the most important piece of them all: our projection for the Top 100 players in the NBA for 2024-25.

The upper echelons of the ranking are again dominated by foreign-born players (the first American-born one comes at No. 6) and point guards (nine in the Top 25).

Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic remains at No. 1, though it wasn’t a unanimous decision among HoopsHype staffers. Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama skyrocketed up the ranking, while LeBron James climbed three spots compared to this same list one year ago (which shouldn’t happen at age 39, but here we are).

Below, check out our Top 100 players in the NBA for 2024-25.


100 - Klay Thompson (Dallas)

2023-24 stats: 17.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.6 spg, 43.2% FG%, 38.7% 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $15,873,016 (projected 107th overall in salary)

Looking for a renaissance with the Dallas Mavericks, four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson might have a tough time of it simply based on his injury history and the fact that an NBA player bouncing back in his mid-30s is not all that common.

Thompson may not be his prime self but he’s still on that low-level starter, high-level reserve tier thanks to his ability to space the floor. Despite how much was made of his 2023-24 struggles, the 34-year-old still nailed 38.7 percent of his three-pointers on the year, a very healthy mark. And perhaps playing with a more spaced-out offense led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Thompson will get better looks than he was getting with the Golden State Warriors last season.

At the same time, Thompson’s also going to have to cut down on his at-time poor shot selection. Last season, there seemed to be times when he’d get frustrated with his jumper not falling and start chucking away from deep or on awkward off-the-dribble fadeaway attempts with little chance of success.

Regardless, we believe Thompson has it in him to post a solid season as a role player in Dallas in 2024-25, and we look forward to seeing his fit with two other all-time guards leading the way for the Mavericks.


99.  Dereck Lively (Dallas)

2023-24 stats: 8.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.4 bpg, 74.7 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $5,014,409 (projected 248th overall in salary)

After a very strong rookie season, Dallas’ Dereck Lively heads into 2024-25 with heightened expectations, potentially even to earn a starting job for the Mavericks depending on if he can outplay Daniel Gafford in training camp and the preseason.

Lively is an explosive athlete around the rim with quick feet and elite finishing touch, a monster of a big man perfectly suited to finish lobs and dump-offs from a playmaker as great as Luka Doncic. Lively produced a beastly 1.39 points per possession (PPP) as the pick-and-roll roll man in 2023-24 to place him in the league’s 86th percentile. The Duke product should be able to improve on that mark as a sophomore in the NBA, too, as he gets stronger and more accustomed to the league’s physicality, a scary proposition for Mavs opponents in 2024-25.

In all, we’re pretty high on Lively even if his upside is diminished by his lack of outside-the-paint scoring. When you’re as good as he is at finishing near the rim while also swatting away shots and protecting the paint on the other end, that’s the kind of player you can win a lot of games with, as Dallas hopes to find out over the coming years.


98.  Collin Sexton (Utah)

2023-24 stats: 18.7 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.6 rpg, 0.8 spg, 48.7% FG%, 39.4% 3P% in 78 games
2024-25 earnings: $18,350,000 (projected 93rd overall in salary)

The fiery and competitive Collin Sexton had a very good season in 2023-24 for the Utah Jazz, averaging nearly 19 points and five assists per game on 48.7 percent shooting from the floor and 39.4 percent from three as both a starter and bench piece.

With two years left on his contract at a reasonable price (he’s owed under $40 million combined over that span, a borderline steal considering today’s salaries) and with Utah not all that close to contention, that could make Sexton a trade target for NBA teams this summer, though teams may be wary of meeting Jazz shot-caller Danny Ainge’s asking prices.


97.  Deandre Ayton (Portland)

2023-24 stats: 16.7 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.8 bpg, 57.0 FG%, 10.0 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,005,126 (projected 43rd overall in salary)

Former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton has had a pretty disappointing NBA career all things considered.

On one hand, he did play a part in his former team, the Phoenix Suns, making it all the way to the NBA Finals in 2020-21. On the other hand, that didn’t stop the Suns from trading him just a few years later to the Portland Trail Blazers, pretty much giving up on their former top overall draft pick.

Physically and skill-wise, Ayton has a ton of potential, as he’s quite athletic and has great size for a center, with the quickness needed to thrive in the modern NBA, as well as a solid shooting touch from the short midrange. But his feel for the game just isn’t all that great (whenever he touches the ball, he’s either looking to score or kick it out to reset the offense, rarely making high-level passes leading to assists), for his solid midrange stroke he doesn’t shoot threes and he doesn’t defend anywhere near as well as he should considering his length and leaping ability.

Maybe 2024-25 will be the year Ayton can put it all together more consistently, as he does have All-Star potential, is still just 26 years old and will still be on a Portland team with next-to-no expectations. But it’s gotten to the point where we’re going to have to see it to believe it when it comes to Ayton starting to reach that higher ceiling.


96.  Khris Middleton (Milwaukee)

2023-24 stats: 15.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.3 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.3 bpg, 49.3 FG%, 38.1 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $31,666,667 (projected 47th overall in salary)

A player who might be on the downturn of his career, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton has appeared in just 88 regular-season games over the past two seasons combined, averaging just 15.1 points on 35.5 percent shooting from three over that stretch, not quite looking the All-Star he was just three seasons ago when he put up a 20/5/5 stat line.

On the other hand, Middleton just turned 33, and although not everyone is going to put up a LeBron-type performance against Father Time, that’s still young enough to think Middleton could have a resurgence in 2024-25 and make our current ranking of him look silly.

We saw a major glimpse of that in the 2024 playoffs when, with Bucks superstar Giannis Anteetokounmpo out injured, Middleton stepped up to average 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 48.2 percent shooting over six games.

Of course, Middleton following that up by needing surgery on both ankles in the offseason once again raises questions about whether we’ll see that peak Middleton consistently over a full season again.


95.  RJ Barrett (Toronto)

2023-24 stats: 20.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 49.5% FG%, 36.0% 3P% in 26 games
2024-25 earnings: $25,794,643 (projected 61st overall in salary)

One of the finest players at the Summer Olympics in 2024, it’ll be interesting to see if Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett can carry over that momentum in 2024-25 in the NBA. That’s not to say Barrett has been disappointing in his NBA career because he has been solid overall, averaging 19.9 points and 5.4 rebounds on 44.1 percent shooting over the past three seasons combined.

Barrett’s issue is with efficiency, as he’s a career 34.6 percent shooter from three and a surprisingly poor finisher from around the basket, perhaps due to having just-decent athleticism.

Perhaps promising for the Raptors is the fact Barrett made the team 1.5 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor with his new team and perhaps that, plus newfound confidence from a great run with Canada this summer could be enough to get Barrett to reach a higher level as an NBA player.


94.  PJ Washington (Dallas)

2023-24 stats: 12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.8 bpg, 43.6 FG%, 32.0 3P% in 73 games
2024-25 earnings: $15,500,000 (projected 110th overall in salary)

What a difference a change of scenery can make, as last season, former Kentucky standout PJ Washington went from toiling away on a bad Charlotte team to playing an important role for a Dallas Mavericks squad that made a somewhat surprising run to the Finals.

The Mavericks had a 21-8 record with Washington in the lineup last season, as his athleticism and floor-spacing ability were really able to shine playing in lineups with table-setters as elite as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Washington has some versatility in that he can stand in the corner and hit shots or set screens, roll hard and finish above the rim, making him a great complementary piece alongside Dallas’ superstar backcourt duo.

Another great role player on this list, Washington can slide his feet some on defense and provide an impact on the less glamorous end of the floor, too. In all, Dallas did great in picking up the 26-year-old, who should have an even better campaign in 2024-25 after a full offseason and training camp with the Mavs.


93.  Jalen Suggs (Orlando)

2023-24 stats: 12.6 ppg, 2.7 apg, 3.1 rpg, 1.4 spg, 47.1% FG%, 39.7% 3P% in 75 games
2024-25 earnings: $9,188,385 (projected 174th overall in salary)

One of the main breakout players of 2023-24, Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs finally looked like the player many were expecting when was selected in the Top 5 of the 2021 draft, earning 2nd Team All-Defense honors while finishing eighth in Most Improved Player voting and 10th in the Defensive Player of the Year vote.

A dynamite defender thanks to his elite foot quickness and his great strength and tenacity, Suggs was able to perform well on and off the ball on offense, too, shooting a career-high 39.7 percent from three and getting some buckets slashing to the rim.

If Suggs is able to take another leap in 2024-25 to go with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner’s expected growth, the Magic might have something to say in the Eastern Conference come playoff time.


92.  Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City)

2023-24 stats: 10.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.6 bpg, 43.8 FG%, 39.4 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $16,500,000 (projected 105th overall in salary)

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Lu Dort surprisingly doesn’t have any defensive accolades under his belt to this point in his career but is widely considered one of the better defenders in the league, at least for guards and smaller wings.

Dort is tenacious and isn’t afraid to square up to anyone on the perimeter, making life very difficult for opposing point guards trying to bring the ball down the court or for bigger opponents who think they can just bully him, as the Canadian forward has plenty of strength to battle back.

Dort has also developed a lot offensively since getting to the NBA, going from averaging 6.8 points as a rookie to 17.2 points in his third season. However, now that the Thunder have so much scoring power in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and even Chet Holmgren, Dort is more of just a play-finisher on offense, a capable spot-up shooter from three and a decent slasher off the ball.


91.  Naz Reid (Minnesota)

2023-24 stats: 13.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.9 bpg, 47.7 FG%, 41.4 3P% in 81 games
2024-25 earnings: $13,986,432 (projected 117th overall in salary)

One of the best utility bigs in the league, Minnesota’s Naz Reid can either come off the bench and make high-level plays or even start from time to time, where he handles the complementary role quite well thanks to his ability to space the floor from three or drive and finish around the rim on hard closeouts by defenders.

Reid won Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24 (he’s that effective coming off the bench), thanks in large part to his career-high 41.4 percent shooting accuracy from beyond the arc. The former LSU Tiger even saw a lot of minutes in closing lineups in the playoffs last season, at times in favor of Karl-Anthony Towns, which will be something to keep an eye on as Minnesota’s payroll is set to get pricey over the coming years. (The Wolves project to have the second-highest payroll in the league this upcoming season.)

All in all, Reid is a smooth scorer, much more comfortable purely getting buckets than a lot of other centers, and we expect another great year out of him in 2024-25.

The fact he’ll be earning just under $14 million next season makes us think he’ll be one of the best value contracts in the league this upcoming campaign, as most of the advanced metrics had Reid as a Top 75 player in the league last year, while he won’t be even Top 115 in salary in 2024-25.


90.  Tobias Harris (Detroit)

2023-24 stats: 17.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.7 bpg, 48.7 FG%, 35.3 3P% in 70 games
2024-25 earnings: $25,365,854 (projected 63rd overall in salary)

The highest-paid player of all time without an All-Star appearance, new Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris catches a lot of flak from fans but is a better starting power forward than he’s given credit to because of his floor-spacing and off-the-dribble scoring ability, as well as his versatile defense, as he can do some battling down low against big men while having quick enough feet to defend on some wings, too.

Harris has some versatile two-way ability to him, he’s just not someone who’s ever going to be some high-scoring star or a huge game-changer. Really, he’s just a solid starter at the 4 with some shooting prowess that helps him be effective in lineups with more paint-bound centers.

Now that he’ll be heading to a Detroit team still in the early stages of a rebuild, his numbers could improve as he’ll probably be the Pistons’ second- or third-best offensive weapon.


89.  Nikola Vucevic (Chicago)

2023-24 stats: 18.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.8 bpg, 48.4 FG%, 29.4 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $20,000,000 (projected 85th overall in salary)

Two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic is now 33 years old, and although his production remains pretty decent – averaging an 18-and-10 double-double is no joke after all – his impact to winning has been pretty poor over recent seasons, particularly due to his bad outside shooting and lackluster defending.

Over the past three seasons combined, Vucevic is shooting just 33.2 percent from three, hitting rock bottom in 2023-24 at 29.4 percent. Vucevic used to be able to score and rebound well enough to be hugely impactful on a nightly basis but that hasn’t been the case over the past two campaigns, as the Chicago Bulls have been 7.2 points per 100 possessions worse with their starting center on the floor since 2022-23.

Still, not many centers can match Vucevic when it comes to face-up scoring and rebounding, so he remains one of the better starting pure centers in the Eastern Conference. Maybe he’ll rediscover his outside shooting stroke in 2024-25 – offseason pickup Josh Giddey and his playmaking might be able to help with that.


88.  Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston)

2023-24 stats: 13.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.8 bpg, 45.4 FG%, 36.3 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $9,770,880 (projected 166th overall in salary)

The Houston Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. has gotten off to a slightly slow start to his career, averaging just 13.3 points on 43.0 percent shooting from the floor over his first two NBA campaigns.

However, he has shown some impressive skills as an outside shooter, as an off-the-dribble scorer, athletically around the basket and on defense – where he can rack up steals and blocks – which leads us to believe in his upside. Plus, despite his two years of NBA service, Smith Jr. is still just 21 years old, giving him so much time to match his output and impact with his impressive physical gifts, i.e. his near-7-foot-height, his 7-foot-1 wingspan and his leaping prowess.

We think Smith Jr. is another player who could very well break out in 2024-25 and make his place in this ranking look bad, as he has more potential than some of the players ahead of him on this list.


87.  Anfernee Simons (Portland)

2023-24 stats: 22.6 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.6 rpg, 0.5 spg, 43.0% FG%, 38.5% 3P% in 46 games
2024-25 earnings: $25,892,857 (projected 60th overall in salary)

Portland Blazers 2-guard (for now) Anfernee Simons might not even be in Portland by the time the season starts, as the 25-year-old has been the subject of various trade rumors this offseason, which makes sense since the team still in the early stages of a rebuild and not all that close to even playoff contention.

Simons has quietly been quite effective for the past couple of seasons, averaging 21.7 points and 4.7 assists on 38.1 percent shooting from three over the past two campaigns combined. Further boosting his potential trade value for the Blazers is the fact that he can play on- or off-ball guard, making him a versatile weapon on offense.

We’ll see what the future holds for the exciting IMG Academy product but be it in Portland or elsewhere, the explosive Simons with good off-the-dribble scoring chops should continue to put up good numbers in 2024-25.


86.  Donte DiVincenzo (New York)

2023-24 stats: 15.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 44.3% FG%, 40.1% 3P% in 81 games
2024-25 earnings: $11,445,000 (projected 144th overall in salary)

Coming off the best season of his career, New York Knicks 2-guard Donte DiVincenzo heads into 2024-25 with a lot of momentum. DiVincenzo probably won’t ever be a star but he can certainly be a star role player as he displayed last season in New York, putting up a career-high 15.5 points per game on a career-best efficiency from three of 40.1 percent.

Playing off of the genius of Jalen Brunson at point guard, DiVincenzo was fantastic at his role as a spot-up shooter for the Knicks, ranking in the NBA’s 91st percentile as a spot-up shooter as he produced 1.23 points per possession (PPP) on the play type.

DiVincenzo also plays with good effort defensively and isn’t afraid to put his body on the line to make winning plays, hence his ascension into being one of the more solid starting shooting guards in the league.


85.  Cam Thomas (Brooklyn)

2023-24 stats: 22.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 0.7 spg, 44.2% FG%, 36.4% 3P% in 66 games
2024-25 earnings: $4,041,249 (projected 275th overall in salary)

A potential good-stats-on-a-bad-team player, the Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas can get buckets as he proved beyond any doubt last season when he averaged a career-high 22.5 points per game after putting up 10.6 points the campaign prior. Thomas did so on 44.2 percent shooting from the floor and 36.4 percent shooting from three, solid marks when taking into account the usual degree of difficulty on his shot attempts.

Thomas’ impressive numbers weren’t enough to earn him an extension this summer, however, which could put a chip on his shoulder for 2024-25 and lead to another impressive individual campaign for the former LSU Tiger, who’s quick and can really shoot it from three and off the dribble.


84.  Malik Monk (Sacramento)

2023-24 stats: 15.4 ppg, 5.1 apg, 2.9 rpg, 0.6 spg, 44.3% FG%, 35.0% 3P% in 72 games
2024-25 earnings: $17,405,203 (projected 99th overall in salary)

The runner-up in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2023-24, 26-year-old Malik Monk signed a new deal with the Sacramento Kings this summer for $78 million over four years, a worthy investment for the Kings considering how effective Monk has been for the team.

Monk is an explosive athlete who can shoot it from very deep, though his shot selection and efficiency leave a lot to be desired, hence why he’s been at his best playing off the bench for Sacramento over the past few seasons.

The one problem that might arise for Sacramento is that Monk has been pretty vocal about wanting to be a starter once again, which could be tricky, although perhaps Kevin Huerter’s starting job might not be totally locked up after his relatively disappointing 2023-24.

As a reserve or starter, however, Monk is a fun player to watch and should continue being effective for the Kings now that he’s fully healthy again.


83.  Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State)

2023-24 stats: 16.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.5 bpg, 52.9 FG%, 32.1 3P% in 74 games
2024-25 earnings: $7,636,307 (projected 202nd overall in salary)

An athletic slasher who really advanced his off-the-dribble midrange scoring game last season, Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga finally started to look like the player Golden State drafted seventh overall in 2021, as he took a huge leap from his second to third season.

Kuminga got to the NBA quite young – he’s still just 21 at the time of this writing – meaning he’s got so much time to develop and take another leap or two before really peaking. If that is the case, the Warriors might have a potential future All-Star on their hands if things continue on this trajectory.

There’s a reason why Golden State was so against trading Kuminga this offseason and last deadline despite the team being in such desperate need of another star to take some of the scoring load off of new Olympic gold medalist Stephen Curry.

Of course, not everyone is totally sold on Kuminga being a surefire future star even despite the jump he just made. According to Warriors beat writer Anthony Slater, views on Kuminga’s trade value around the league are somewhat mixed, although Golden State itself does value on him:

“Jonathan Kuminga is still a trade asset. It depends on who you talk to because you’re going to have to pay him. He’s enough of a talent that teams will want him. Just like Chicago would have loved to have Josh Giddey and will probably pay him, teams view Kuminga similarly. Kuminga’s trade value varies based on team cycles and front office opinions. However, he’s very desired internally by the Warriors. We’ll likely discuss his extension talks in September and October.”

Regardless, all eyes in Northern California will be on Kuminga this upcoming season to see if he’s able to make another leap as a player, which could be huge for Golden State’s future one way or the other. Another leap out of Kuminga could mean the Warriors can either keep and build around him for the future or, perhaps, sell high and trade him for an established star to give Curry another shot at a ring.


82.  Keegan Murray (Sacramento)

2023-24 stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.8 bpg, 45.4 FG%, 35.8 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $8,809,560 (projected 180th overall in salary)

After a very promising rookie season, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray took a slight step back in 2023-24, seeing his three-point percentage fall from 41.1 percent in his inaugural campaign to 35.8 percent last year. However, he’s too talented of a scorer – specifically as a shooter – for us not to think his third season will look more like his rookie year as far as three-point accuracy.

As a first-year player, Murray produced 1.20 points per possession (PPP) as a spot-up shooter to place him in the NBA’s 86th percentile, an extremely impressive mark for a rookie. Last season, he fell to 1.11 PPP on the play type, which put him in the league’s 71st percentile. Again, we think he’ll get back to his early-career form in 2024-25 as far as three-point spot-up shooting, something that would help him rise in these rankings.

There’s a reason Murray has been made unavailable in trade talks by Sacramento thus far in his career and we think that’s the right decision, as the 24-year-old still has upside as a scorer. After all, Murray’s more than a spot-up shooter, displaying a smooth off-the-dribble scoring game, as well as using his length very well defensively, so we think he could be a breakout player soon for the Kings.


81.  Josh Hart (New York)

2023-24 stats: 9.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.1 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.3 bpg, 43.4 FG%, 31.0 3P% in 81 games
2024-25 earnings: $18,144,000 (projected 95th overall in salary)

One of the best rebounding wings in the game today, which is especially impressive considering he’s listed at just 6-foot-4, seven-year veteran Josh Hart is one of the best role-playing wings in the game today, a player who makes a huge impact nightly despite poor shooting marks and a mundane scoring average.

Hart consistently makes winning plays, battling bigger players for rebounds as well as defending at a high level, which allows New York to play small and in a versatile – and quite effective – manner.

Hart made the Knicks 5.5 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor last season, and that’s even despite his shooting a career-low 31.0 percent from three. If he gets that number closer to his career 34.4 percent from three, Hart’s notable positive impact could get even more impressive for the Knicks next season.


80.  Jerami Grant (Portland)

2023-24 stats: 21.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.6 bpg, 45.1 FG%, 40.2 3P% in 54 games
2024-25 earnings: $29,793,104 (projected 50th overall in salary)

Portland Trail Blazers power forward Jerami Grant is another versatile player, a face-up big man who can shoot from the outside, hit shots off the dribble or handle the ball, drive and put pressure on the basket.

He’s a bit of a one-dimensional player on offense in that if he touches the ball, he’s usually just looking to score, nor is he a great rebounder, but he did up his three-point accuracy to 40.2 percent last season. He can also score off the dribble or on post-ups on fadeaways, giving him some variety to his bucket-getting, which will continue to make him a coveted trade asset.

With Grant 30 years old but the Blazers nowhere even close to contending for a playoff spot, the rumors regarding his future will only get hotter in 2024-25.


79.  Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota)

2023-24 stats: 10.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.6 bpg, 48.9 FG%, 33.7 3P% in 72 games
2024-25 earnings: $23,017,242 (projected 72nd overall in salary)

Another role-playing defensive extraordinaire on the wing, Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Jaden McDaniels finished with 2nd Team All-Defense honors last season.

His issue is that his offense isn’t quite on the level of the other defensive-minded wings just ahead of him on this ranking, as Daniels shot just 33.7 percent from three last season. He also made Minnesota 5.6 points per 100 possessions worse during his time on the floor in the regular season.

On the other hand, he did up his offensive output in the playoffs to 12.2 points over 16 games while hitting 42.9 percent of his threes, as he helped play a large part in Minnesota’s run to the Western Conference Finals. What’s more, in the postseason, his swing rating flipped, improving to a huge +9.0 mark that was vital in the Timberwolves’ deep postseason run.

That just goes to show how important McDaniels’ three-point shooting, a skill he’s surely worked on at length this summer, will be to his overall impact. His defense is elite, especially one-on-one on the wing, including against opposing stars. McDaniels’ offensive game just remains inconsistent, though he’s still just 23 and could very well use the momentum from his positive playoff run to have a stronger 2024-25 on offense.


78.  Herb Jones (New Orleans)

2023-24 stats: 11.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.8 bpg, 49.8 FG%, 41.8 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,976,362 (projected 123rd overall in salary)

We might be underrating New Orleans swingman Herb Jones a bit with his position on this list, as he took a sizable leap from his second to his third season in the NBA.

Jones averaged a career-high 11.0 points per game last league year and, more importantly, he put up a career-best mark from three, hitting 41.8 percent of his triples on the campaign. If the 25-year-old can keep up that level of accuracy from beyond the arc to go with his freakish athleticism and length, New Orleans will have – at worst – a special role player on its hands.

Jones finished with 1st Team All-Defense honors and fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, highlighting his special abilities on the defensive end of the floor as a one-on-one defender and as a disruptor jumping passing lanes, picking pockets and blocking shots.

If the former Alabama standout was just a bit younger, we might have ranked him higher on this list, as it’s unclear just how much upside he has remaining. But either way, the fact he put up such an impressive season from three indicates he could have another level in him.

As is, Jones has made the Pelicans 4.2 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor in his career, and we expect a lot more of that positive impact in 2024-25.


77.  Immanuel Quickley (Toronto)

2023-24 stats: 17.0 ppg, 4.9 apg, 3.8 rpg, 0.7 spg, 43.4% FG%, 39.5% 3P% in 61 games
2024-25 earnings: $32,500,000 (projected 45th overall in salary)

When he was still with the Knicks, former Kentucky Wildcat Immanuel Quickley was a player many believed could put up bigger numbers if he had a larger role on another team. And we got a glimpse of that in 2023-24 over 38 games once Quickley was moved to the Toronto Raptors, as the 25-year-old averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists on 39.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc over that stretch

If Quickley is able to keep that up over the entirety of 2024-25, he might actually outpace this ranking. As is, he’s a solid starter thanks to his quickness, his crossover and his stop-on-a-dime, off-the-dribble shooting ability.


76.  Devin Vassell (San Antonio)

2023-24 stats: 19.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.8 rpg, 1.1 spg, 47.2% FG%, 37.2% 3P% in 68 games
2024-25 earnings: $29,347,826 (projected 51st overall in salary)

Underrated at this point due to how bad the San Antonio Spurs have been for the past few seasons, former Florida State standout Devin Vassell is a very good shooter both from three and from the midrange with a smooth midrange pull-up game, making him a load to defend when he’s got it going.

Vassell is also a capable wing defender who can defend guards or wings thanks to his foot quickness and length. As the legend of Victor Wembanyama continues to grow, Vassell is a name that should start to get more popular among casual fans, as he’s both productive and impactful on a nightly basis.


75.  D'Angelo Russell (LA Lakers)

2023-24 stats: 18.0 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3.1 rpg, 0.9 spg, 45.6% FG%, 41.5% 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $18,692,307 (projected 92nd overall in salary)

Los Angeles Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell is a divisive player, as he catches a lot more flak than maybe he deserves to considering that he posts good numbers and is clearly a skilled point guard with flair.

The problem is, he’s not all that reliable when it matters most, which is come playoff time. 2023-24 was no different, as Russell averaged just 14.2 points and 4.2 assists on 38.4 percent shooting (31.8 percent from three) over five games in the Lakers’ first-round defeat to the Nuggets. That included a zero-point, zero-for-seven performance in Game 3 in what was a 112-105 defeat for L.A.

Russell might just simply be a player who raises a team’s floor but not necessarily its ceiling, which should continue to help the Lakers in 2024-25, at least in the regular season. However, if the team wants to make the most of James’ last few seasons in the NBA, Russell, who is entering a contract season, might need to be moved for players who can help Los Angeles’ championship potential.


74.  Trey Murphy (New Orleans)

2023-24 stats: 14.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.5 bpg, 44.3 FG%, 38.0 3P% in 57 games
2024-25 earnings: $5,159,854 (projected 247th overall in salary)

A career 39.2 percent shooter from three, New Orleans swingman Trey Murphy is one of the best spot-up shot-makers in the league, ranking in the NBA’s 84th percentile in spot-up shooting last season as he produced 1.18 points per 100 possessions (PPP) on the play type.

Murphy can knock down shots off the dribble, too, when defenders run him off the three-point line, and he also has great length and quick feet that he uses very effectively on the defensive end, making him an impactful 3-and-D weapon for the Pelicans.

He’d rank higher on this list if he didn’t stagnate from his second to his third season, but we could see the Virginia product take a step forward in his development in 2024-25. As is, though, he’s a very productive role player and an above-average starter on the wing.


73.  Bradley Beal (Phoenix)

2023-24 stats: 18.2 ppg, 5.0 apg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 spg, 51.3% FG%, 43.0% 3P% in 53 games
2024-25 earnings: $50,203,930 (projected 5th overall in salary)

The Suns took a huge swing when they traded for former All-Star Bradley Beal and his enormous contract, which runs through 2026-27, fully guaranteed and with an almost inexplicable no-trade clause on it. And they did so while having one of the best shooting guards in the league already on their roster.

The results were less than glowing, as Phoenix struggled all season in part due to not having a traditional point guard on its roster before getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs, a sweep at the hands of the Timberwolves.

Phoenix did well to address its lead-guard needs this summer, adding Tyus Jones and Monte Morris to the roster, a coup considering how badly the Suns needed point-guard help while only having minimum salaries to offer.

Might we be looking at a future with Beal as the Suns’ Sixth Man?

Maybe not right away, but it just seems like a possibility now that Phoenix has a serviceable low-level starter in Jones, which could allow Beal to come in as a reserve and dominate second-unit defenders.

That might not happen right away in 2024-25 or at all, but if we don’t see an improvement in the ball-handling, chemistry and defense from the Suns’ projected starting 1-3 – Beal, Booker and Grayson Allen – it might be something Phoenix’s new head coach Mike Budenholzer considers.


72.  Josh Giddey (Chicago)

2023-24 stats: 12.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 6.4 rpg, 0.6 spg, 47.5% FG%, 33.7% 3P% in 80 games
2024-25 earnings: $8,352,367 (projected 187th overall in salary)

While White will need to maintain his breakout-season-level form, his new backcourt mate Josh Giddey will need to bounce back from arguably his worst pro season, one that saw him lose a ton of playing time in the postseason due to ineffectiveness.

Now playing for the Bulls, Giddey will be faced with less pressure as Chicago is nowhere near as close to contention as the Thunder were, nor will he have to share so much of the ball now that he’s no longer sharing a backcourt with an MVP candidate like Gilgeous-Alexander. Perhaps that will help the Australian ball-handler regain the form he had from earlier in his career when he looked like he might have an All-Star ceiling.

That may seem like a stretch now but in his age-20 campaign, Giddey did average 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists on 48.2 percent shooting. Maybe one can blame today’s high-scoring era of basketball for this – and it feels borderline blasphemous to even point out – but… only LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Luka Doncic averaged 16/7/6 in their age-20 seasons like Giddey did in 2022-23.

So although he took a lot of heat for his play in 2023-24, Giddey is a very unique player with impressive upside, and the still-21-year-old has plenty of time to bounce back from his third-season slump.


71.  CJ McCollum (New Orleans)

2023-24 stats: 20.0 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.3 rpg, 0.9 spg, 45.9% FG%, 42.9% 3P% in 66 games
2024-25 earnings: $33,333,333 (projected 44th overall in salary)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum has had an interesting career in that outside of winning Most Improved Player in 2015-16, he has never gotten a single other accolade or earned votes for any other accolade, which is surprising since he’s a 19.5-point-per-game scorer for his career with nearly 40 percent shooting accuracy from three since getting to the NBA.

McCollum was his usual effective self this past season, putting up a 20/4/4 stat line while shooting a career-best mark from beyond the arc at 42.9 percent. And that was while having to play a lot of lead guard, which will no longer be the case in 2024-25 after the Pelicans’ acquisition of Dejounte Murray.

McCollum may not be a star but he’s a very tidy scorer from all three levels and a solid rebounder and playmaker for his position, perhaps to the point that fans and media are underrating him a bit these days, and he’s surely one of the better starting shooting guards in basketball.


70.  Coby White (Chicago)

2023-24 stats: 19.1 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.5 rpg, 0.7 spg, 44.7% FG%, 37.6% 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,000,000 (projected 140th overall in salary)

There were some questions about Chicago Bulls guard Coby White’s ceiling in the NBA and whether or not he had reached it already heading into last season before the former UNC standout had a breakout campaign, averaging a career-high 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game on 44.7 percent shooting from the floor and placing second in the Most Improved Player Vote.

2024-25 will be about White maintaining that level of play or improving upon it to prove he’s a legitimately good starter-level point guard in the NBA.

With so much quickness, off-the-dribble scoring prowess and such solid rebounding and playmaking, we think White will – at the very least – be able to hover around the production he posted last season, which would be huge in comparison to the slow start he got off to in his career.


69.  Tyler Herro (Miami)

2023-24 stats: 20.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.5 apg, 0.7 spg, 44.1% FG%, 39.6% 3P% in 42 games
2024-25 earnings: $29,000,000 (projected 54th overall in salary)

If he were more reliable as far as staying healthy and with his playoff performances, Miami Heat shooting guard Tyler Herro would surely rank higher on this list, as his counting stats – 20/5/4 averages on 39.0 percent shooting from three over his past three seasons combined – are impressive.

But the unfortunate reality is that Herro has missed over 30 percent of his possible games since getting to the NBA and even then, when he’s been healthy in the playoffs, his postseason performances have been lacking. Without counting Miami’s bubble run to the Finals, Herro is averaging 12.9 points and 3.1 assists on 39.5 percent shooting (28.7 percent from three) over his 25 most recent playoff appearances.

Of course, staying healthy and not having to miss large chunks of the season before the playoffs might have helped Herro as far as not having to shake off rust seemingly every postseason.

Who knows?

Maybe 2024-25 will be the year the former Kentucky Wildcat – a talented three-point and midrange scorer with good playmaking vision – has better injury luck, which could translate to more postseason success for him. If that is the case, the former Sixth Man of the Year could be able to outpace his place on this ranking.


68.  Jalen Johnson (Atlanta)

2023-24 stats: 16.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.8 bpg, 51.1 FG%, 35.5 3P% in 56 games
2024-25 earnings: $4,510,905 (projected 264th overall in salary)

Another breakout young swingman with big potential, Atlanta Hawks 3-man Jalen Johnson just posted the best season of his career, putting up career-highs in every single category and looking like a potential building block for Atlanta.

Despite heading into his fourth season, Johnson is still just 22 years old, so there is still plenty of room for more growth out of the former Duke Blue Devil. Johnson might even have potential future All-Star in him, especially if he takes another leap in 2024-25, which we think he is capable of. After all, putting up a 16/8/3 stat line while shooting over 51 percent from the floor at 22 years old is no easy feat, as evidenced by the fact Johnson is one of just 14 players ever to manage that, a list that features some very big names.

That’s probably why reports came out this summer that Johnson is the only untouchable player on the Hawks roster, which is impressive considering that same roster still has three-time All-Star Trae Young on it.

Clearly, Atlanta sees big-time potential in the fourth-year pro. It’ll be interesting to find out what kind of leap Johnson is able to take in 2024-25. Based on his athleticism, freakish scoring around the rim and off-the-dribble bucket-getting ability from the midrange, there could be another level for Johnson to hit in the upcoming campaign, an exciting proposition for Hawks fans.


67.  Miles Bridges (Charlotte)

2023-24 stats: 21.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.5 bpg, 46.2 FG%, 34.9 3P% in 69 games
2024-25 earnings: $27,173,913 (projected 58th overall in salary)

An explosive, strong player on the wing, Charlotte Hornets power forward Miles Bridges can play some 3 or 4, making him a versatile piece greatly suited to succeed in the modern NBA.

His outside shooting leaves something to be desired but he’s a very effective slasher and a beast in transition, one who also rebounds and creates for teammates at a solid level.

Bridges might be similar to Kuzma in that he could be a very good role player on a contender but as a team’s top scorer, he’ll put up numbers but they won’t really lead to team success.


66.  Fred VanVleet (Houston)

2023-24 stats: 17.4 ppg, 8.1 apg, 3.8 rpg, 1.4 spg, 41.6% FG%, 38.7% 3P% in 73 games
2024-25 earnings: $42,846,615 (projected 20th overall in salary)

Fred VanVleet has one All-Star appearance under his belt and remains just 30 years old so his earning the honor again in the future is not totally impossible, especially if the Rockets hit on draft picks and start to win more in the regular season, but it will be far more difficult now that he’s playing in the Western Conference.

Regardless, the beauty of a player like VanVleet is that he doesn’t care about personal accolades but rather winning, playing with great effort on both ends of the floor and providing great leadership for a young Rockets team.

We don’t necessarily expect a huge elevation in individual production out of VanVleet in 2024-25 but we do think he’ll continue to make a great impact as a leader in Houston, particularly as the young squad continues to mature. Don’t get us wrong, though, VanVleet can still get buckets, create for teammates and rack up steals and deflections, so he’s far from being just a leader for the team – he can still put up impressive numbers, too.


65.  Jalen Green (Houston)

2023-24 stats: 19.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 0.8 spg, 42.3% FG%, 33.2% 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,483,048 (projected 137th overall in salary)

One of the big question marks in the NBA. Former No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green looked like a max player for a stretch of games late in the season. Our own Mark Deeks even wrote about it back in late March, saying on Green:

Since March began, Green has averaged 28.5 points per game, fourth in the league behind only Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum, and ahead of the greats such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic. He has done so on 50.8 percent shooting and with a .631 true shooting percentage, playing with unbridled confidence and coming up with big plays in the clutch, often against quality opposition. He has for three weeks been the nightly game-changing factor that the Rockets always hoped he would be.

Green eventually cooled off as the Houston Rockets missed the Play-In Tournament but even so, it was a very impressive – and important – stretch for the G League Ignite product, who played some of the best basketball of his career during that hot run.

And yet, Houston still opted not to extend him this summer. And we still have mounds of evidence that Green, a career 42.1 percent shooter from the floor, isn’t all that efficient of a player.

Regardless, we’re choosing to believe in that elite run of form for Green as evidenced by where we have him ranked, and think he might be able to tap into that efficient stretch from late last season more often in 2024-25. After all, he’s an explosive athlete with good length and skill – he just needs to get much more adept with his scoring to truly take the next step.


64.  Michael Porter (Denver)

2023-24 stats: 16.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.7 bpg, 48.4 FG%, 39.7 3P% in 81 games
2024-25 earnings: $35,859,950 (projected 34th overall in salary)

Denver Nuggets swingman Michael Porter Jr. may be somewhat limited in that he’s mostly just going to be looking to shoot the basketball when he’s out there but he’s efficient enough as a bucket-getter for that not to be a huge problem.

With massive size at 6-foot-10 for a small forward, Porter Jr. can really knock shots down from the outside, hitting 41.0 percent of his threes for his career. He’s also able to score over good defending thanks to his high release point. The problem is, he’s going to go to that well a little too often, averaging barely over one assist per game since getting to the NBA.

On the other hand, Porter Jr. can at times play some defense when he really locks in on that end, and he’s also a very good rebounder for a wing, a skill that was hugely impactful for Denver during its 2022-23 title run, as Porter Jr. gobbled up offensive rebounds over smaller defenders.

In all, Porter Jr. is a positive-impact player, he could just be so much more with better shot selection and passing vision.


63.  Austin Reaves (LA Lakers)

2023-24 stats: 15.9 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.3 rpg, 0.8 spg, 48.6% FG%, 36.7% 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,976,362 (projected 123rd overall in salary)

If this ranking proves true for Los Angeles Lakers 2-guard Austin Reaves, that would provide a huge boost for Los Angeles as the team would be getting a Top 8 shooting guard in the league at a huge discount considering Reaves is set to be just the 59th-highest-paid guard in the league in 2024-25.

Reaves improved on his numbers last season but didn’t take quite the jump that some may have expected from his second and third years. His three-point accuracy falling to 36.7 percent and the NBA changing the way they officiated foul-calling certainly did not help matters in that regard.

But we think Reaves is talented enough and works hard enough to adjust and improve upon his 2023-24 campaign next season. As is, he’s a solid scorer from three and the midrange and a very good playmaker for his position, as well as a high-effort defender.


62.  Zach LaVine (Chicago)

2023-24 stats: 19.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.9 apg, 0.8 spg, 45.2% FG%, 34.9% 3P% in 25 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,031,940 (projected 17th overall in salary)

A classic example of a player being worse than his contract but better than his reputation, Chicago Bulls 2-guard Zach LaVine may find himself an unhappy camper in Chicago once again this season, as the team tried and failed to trade him both at last year’s deadline and this summer. LaVine also reportedly doesn’t have a great relationship with his head coach Billy Donovan, which would only further muddy matters for the former UCLA standout and Chicago.

The first priority for both the Bulls and LaVine in 2024-25 will be for him to get healthy and prove he can remain on the floor for at least the majority of a season because right now, his value as a trade asset could not be lower.

Many forget that LaVine was an Olympic starter for USA Basketball in 2021 and an All-Star as recently as 2021-22. What’s more, when healthy, he still put up nearly 25 points nightly to go with over four rebounds and four assists per contest in 2022-23. LaVine is a very good player when healthy, he just needs to get healthy for both his and Chicago’s sake.

Best case scenario in 2024-25, LaVine regains All-Star form and things get less contentious between him and the Bulls, which we think is possible. If not, we wouldn’t have him ranked this high.


61.  Kyle Kuzma (Washington)

2023-24 stats: 22.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.7 bpg, 46.3 FG%, 33.6 3P% in 70 games
2024-25 earnings: $23,522,727 (projected 69th overall in salary)

A face-up floor-spacing power forward, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma can do some scoring one-on-one on the perimeter, although not the most efficiently a lot of the time.

Still, Kuzma can make some tough shots and drive the basketball very well for a power forward, so he does have plenty of positive value. Even if his shooting marks aren’t that efficient, averaging over 22 points per contest is nothing to scoff at, even in today’s high-scoring NBA.

Plus, Kuzma has already proven he can be a role player on a championship-level team during his time with the Lakers. Maybe once his salary is back under $20 million in 2026-27, a contender will try to trade for him so he can get back to that role-player-on-a-great-team level he is most effective at.


60.  Jarrett Allen (Cleveland)

2023-24 stats: 16.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.1 bpg, 63.4 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $20,000,000 (projected 85th overall in salary)

Veteran big man Jarrett Allen helps form a very athletic frontcourt alongside blossoming power forward Evan Mobley for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Mobley ranking as the No. 9 power forward in our recent ranking.

Allen is more limited offensively than Mobley, as he’s not even going to shoot midrange jumpers a lot of the time, let alone three-pointers, but he’s one of the best around-the-rim finishers in the league, shooting 63 percent from the field for his career. The big man is also a very adept pick-and-roll finisher, possessing good hands to catch passes in traffic, and the length and athleticism to finish above the rim over defenders. On the other end, Allen uses his quick hands and timing to block shots and pick up deflections leading to steals, so his value is very much on both sides of the floor.

The Cavs extended Allen’s contract this summer but that reportedly won’t stop teams from registering trade interest in him, so that will be something to keep an eye on with Allen in 2024-25.


59.  Aaron Gordon (Denver)

2023-24 stats: 13.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.6 bpg, 55.6 FG%, 29.0 3P% in 73 games
2024-25 earnings: $22,841,455 (projected 75th overall in salary)

Denver Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon is one of the best role-playing 4s in the NBA, an elite defender with ridiculous strength and athleticism who can defend just about any position and finish explosively around the basket.

Gordon is a perfect fit for what Denver needs in a power forward alongside three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic, as Gordon is able to mask Jokic’s sometimes slightly shaky defense while Jokic can make up for Gordon’s poor outside shooting and all-around meager offensive game outside of slashing.

Jokic does a magnificent job of finding Gordon on off-ball cuts, allowing the soon-to-be-29-year-old to do what he does best on offense: finish with aplomb at the rim. On the other end, Gordon can guard ball-handlers, wings or big men, letting Jokic focus on just defending his man without having to worry that much about help defense as a rim-protector, which is his weakest suit.

Overall, if Gordon were on a team where he wasn’t such a great fit, he might not rank where he does in this article. But that he plays for a Nuggets team so perfectly suited for what he does best, a team that he helped win a title in 2022-23, gives us the confidence to say Gordon is a Top 10 power forward based on his nightly impact on his team.


58.  Brandon Miller (Charlotte)

2023-24 stats: 17.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.6 bpg, 44.0 FG%, 37.3 3P% in 74 games
2024-25 earnings: $11,424,382 (projected 145th overall in salary)

Bradon Miller is a three-level scorer with athleticism, skill and length who is almost like a throwback forward in that he should be able to score at a high level one day while also contributing as a rebounder and playmaker, a true do-it-all swingman with defensive potential, too.

Still just 21 years old, Miller flashed huge promise in his rookie season, including a 32-point game on April 5 against a Magic team that features two excellent forwards in Wagner and Paolo Banchero, and who had a Top 3 defense in the league last season. Miller lit them up that night for 11-of-13 shooting to go with six rebounds, a steal and a block in what was a 124-115 win for Charlotte over a good Orlando squad.

2024-25 should be a fun season for Hornets fans to watch the former Alabama standout continue to blossom.


57.  OG Anunoby (New York)

2023-24 stats: 14.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.7 bpg, 48.9 FG%, 38.2 3P% in 50 games
2024-25 earnings: $36,637,932 (projected 31st overall in salary)

Bridges’ partner on the wing next season will be another star role player in OG Anunoby, one of the best defensive wings in the league when healthy and a very solid offensive player who can space the floor from three and slash to the cup for athletic finishes.

The popular stat regarding Anunoby’s half-season with the Knicks so far is the team’s record being 20-3 with him in the lineup, and his absence was hugely felt during New York’s second-round playoff defeat to the Indiana Pacers.

Anunoby does historically have poor injury luck, which is another reason why the Bridges pickup may prove important for New York in case Anunoby does go down again. Bridges hasn’t missed a game since 2019-20, even playing in 83 games two seasons ago between his time in Phoenix and Brooklyn. Anunoby, on the other hand, has only played in 63.4 percent of his potential games over the last four seasons combined, which will be something to keep an eye on with him.

Regardless, with some good injury luck, New York should have the best defensive forward tandem in the league and it might not be all that close. And the fact that both Bridges and Anunoby are tidy scorers, too, who can play well off of the likes of Brunson and Julius Randle, could make the Knicks a top contender in the East in 2024-25.


56.  Mikal Bridges (New York)

2023-24 stats: 19.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.4 bpg, 43.6 FG%, 37.2 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $23,300,000 (projected 71st overall in salary)

The New York Knicks had to feel they were one very good starting wing away from true title contention considering what they gave up for former Villanova standout Mikal Bridges this summer, acquiring him from the Brooklyn Nets for four unprotected first-round picks, an unprotected pick swap and a Top 4-protected first-round pick in 2025 via the Milwaukee Bucks, among other smaller assets.

That’s a huge haul for Bridges, one that at first glance can arguably be labeled an overpay.  However, considering how close the Knicks appear to be to title contention behind the magnificent play of new team captain Jalen Brunson, the Bridges pickup might be the final piece of the championship puzzle for New York, especially considering he’ll be sharing the wing with the next player on our list, giving the Knicks two almost-elite forwards.

Bridges wasn’t able to keep up the All-Star-level pace he showed in his first half-season in Brooklyn, regressing to being merely a good starter last season, albeit not one impactful enough to prevent the Nets from going 32-50.

But it’s possible – if not likely – that Bridges going back to being a third option on offense like he projects to be in New York next season will help him get back to his most impactful version, a star role player who can score from three or the midrange, space the floor or slash and, most importantly, defend at a high level on the defensive end.


55.  Dejounte Murray (New Orleans)

2023-24 stats: 22.5 ppg, 6.4 apg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 spg, 45.9% FG%, 36.3% 3P% in 78 games
2024-25 earnings: $29,283,801 (projected 52nd overall in salary)

The New Orleans Pelicans swung a big move this summer in trading for one-time All-Star Dejounte Murray, a point guard with two-way prowess who can rebound at a very high level for his position and who is very adept at picking up steals and defending one-on-one.

Murray proved not to be all that great of a fit alongside Trae Young but there’s no question he remains a high-level player. In games that Young missed in 2023-24, Murray was monstrous, averaging 25.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 28 such games on 44.3 percent shooting.

Obviously, it’ll be tough for Murray to replicate those exact numbers playing on a far more talented Pelicans team this upcoming season, hence why he’s not sitting a bit higher up these rankings, but overall, his fit should be much better in New Orleans where he’ll be tasked with scoring late in clutch games, something he’s proven to excel at, as well as defending, rebounding and getting out in transition alongside the explosive Zion Williamson.


54.  Jrue Holiday (Boston)

2023-24 stats: 12.5 ppg, 4.8 apg, 5.4 rpg, 0.9 spg, 48.0% FG%, 42.9% 3P% in 69 games
2024-25 earnings: $30,000,000 (projected 49th overall in salary)

The Celtics were so great in 2023-24 in large part thanks to having not just one excellent role-playing two-way point guard on the roster in White, but a second even more proven one in Jrue Holiday, who’s also so good in his role that he likewise earned a Team USA spot in the summer of 2024.

Despite now being 34, Holiday remains one of the best defensive guards in the NBA while still being a capable scorer and playmaker when called upon. He’s even got an adept off-the-ball slashing game perfect for a team as loaded as Boston’s, as well as spot-up shooting prowess from beyond the arc.

Holiday, a two-time All-Star, might not be able to reach that All-Star level again while with the Celtics – and we only say that due to how unselfish he is that he won’t score enough to get consideration for the distinction – but in his role, he’s without a doubt a star, a player who only cares about winning and has the talent on both ends to make a huge nightly impact towards that happening.


53.  Myles Turner (Indiana)

2023-24 stats: 17.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 1.9 bpg, 52.4 FG%, 35.8 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $19,928,500 (projected 87th overall in salary)

One of the NBA’s unicorns thanks to his ability to block shots and hit threes, the Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner has been playing some of the most impactful basketball of his career over the past few seasons, peaking in 2023-24 as he helped play an instrumental role in Indiana’s Eastern Conference Finals charge.

Turner isn’t a star but he’s a good starting center, more productive than a role player as he can do plenty of face-up scoring as opposed to needing to be spoon-fed finishes like some other big men. Roughly a Top 100 player according to just about every advanced analytic, Turner enters 2024-25 with it being a contract year for him, even more motivation for the former Texas standout to have a career season.


52.  Darius Garland (Cleveland)

2023-24 stats: 18.0 ppg, 6.5 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 spg, 44.6% FG%, 37.1% 3P% in 57 games
2024-25 earnings: $36,725,670 (projected 27th overall in salary)

We had one-time All-Star Darius Garland projected as high as the  No. 12 point guard ahead of the 2022-23 season but things have not panned out like he might have hoped lately, not with Donovan Mitchell really having his way with the team. There was even talk of Garland asking for a trade out of Cleveland this summer if Mitchell got extended (which he did), though things have been quiet on that front for a while.

Either way, Garland has seen a drop-off in impact and production since Mitchell’s arrival, at one time looking like a future multi-time All-Star but now looking more just like a very good starter-level player.

What’s particularly concerning is that Garland had a very poor playoff run for Cleveland in 2023-24 even despite the team getting to the second round of the potseason, averaging just 15.7 points and 5.8 assists on 42.7 percent shooting over 12 games, including single-game performances that saw him post plus/minuses of -17, -22 and -27.

All in all, Garland still has loads of talent as a slippery scorer with good shooting touch from the outside and solid playmaking chops, he just might be hindered for the foreseeable future by playing alongside the ball-dominant Mitchell.


51.  Evan Mobley (Cleveland)

2023-24 stats: 15.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 1.4 bpg, 58.0 FG%, 37.3 3P% in 50 games
2024-25 earnings: $11,227,657 (projected 148th overall in salary)

A power forward with huge upside thanks to his high skill level to go with elite physical traits, Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley is still just scratching the surface of what he can become after putting up 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists last season.

The 23-year-old power forward has been in the NBA for three seasons now while his numbers have pretty much stagnated since Year 1, hovering around 15 points and nine rebounds nightly. It should also be noted that Mobley made the Cavaliers 2.1 points per 100 possessions worse while on the floor last season, a somewhat concerning mark considering it’s now Year 3 for the former USC standout.

On the bright side, Mobley’s BPM and WS/48 marks have improved in each of his NBA campaigns, with the former ranking the big man as the No. 38 player in the NBA last season and the latter having him in the Top 25, both impressive placings that indicate Mobley’s making a large impact than the raw numbers would have you believe.

Either way, Cleveland has to be thrilled to have Mobley locked up to a long-term extension, as not only has he already produced somewhat impressive numbers but he also still has a lot of potential thanks to his length, quickness, shot-blocking and skill as a shooter (with his feet set or off the dribble). It’ll just be interesting to find out if the No. 3 overall pick from 2021 has a major jump in him in 2024-25.


Bob


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50. Derrick White (Boston)

2023-24 stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.2 apg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 spg, 46.1% FG%, 39.6% 3P% in 73 games
2024-25 earnings: $20,071,429 (projected 82nd overall in salary)

A fringe All-Star caliber type who excels in his role, Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White is a low-maintenance player who competes hard on both ends and helps his team win in ways not shown on the stat sheet.

White moves the ball well, is never stagnant and won’t take bad shots, which helps him fit in perfectly with star-studded teams like the Celtics. That ability to be an elite role player even earned White a spot on the loaded 2024 USA Basketball team, no small accomplishment when you see just how stacked that roster was with future first-ballot Hall-of-Famers.

White is also an elite guard defender with good quickness laterally, great toughness and ridiculous shot-blocking chops that have helped turn him into the best shot-blocking guard the NBA has seen since a prime Dwyane Wade.

White ranked as nearly a Top 20 player in the NBA for 2023-24 according to VORP and BPM, and when you look back at the impact he made for what was an excellent Celtics team that season, it’s easy to see why. We expect more big things out of White in 2024-25.


49. Desmond Bane (Memphis)

2023-24 stats: 23.7 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 spg, 46.4% FG%, 38.1% 3P% in 42 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,005,250 (projected 41st overall in salary)

He missed a lot of games while the Memphis Grizzlies tanked the season so people were probably not paying much attention but Desmond Bane put up numbers last season that would have warranted All-NBA consideration with a bigger body of work and Memphis winning.

Bane only played in 42 games last season but shined in those contests, putting up career marks in points per game and assists per game while still shooting 38.1 percent from three despite having defenses be able to key in on stopping him much more often than in seasons prior.

A usually-elite three-point shooter with an off-the-dribble scoring game from the midrange and underrated playmaking, Bane remains a top-notching shooting guard and an important piece for a Grizzlies team that should be back in the playoff mix in 2024-25.


48. Franz Wagner (Orlando)

2023-24 stats: 19.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.4 bpg, 48.2 FG%, 28.1 3P% in 72 games
2024-25 earnings: $7,007,092 (projected 209th overall in salary)

One of the fastest-rising swingmen in the league, the Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner has future All-Star written all over him – if not future All-NBAer if he gets his jumper figured out.

The former Michigan standout started off decently in that department, hitting nearly 36 percent of his threes over his first two seasons but really fell off in 2023-24, shooting 28.1 percent from three in the regular season and 26.5 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs.

Even without the three-point accuracy (for now), Wagner has so much potential thanks to his slashing ability with and without the ball, as the athletic 6-foot-10 forward can get to the basket with aplomb and finish thanks to his size and athleticism. He can even occasionally hit tough jumpers from the midrange or from three off the dribble via pull-ups or step-backs, so a lot of the tools are there for Wagner to become a legit star-level scorer.


47. James Harden (LA Clippers)

2023-24 stats: 16.6 ppg, 8.5 apg, 5.1 rpg, 1.1 spg, 42.8% FG%, 38.1% 3P% in 72 games
2024-25 earnings: $33,653,846 (projected 43rd overall in salary)

Can James Harden be the one to carry a team on his shoulders? Most certainly not. And if he’s your No. 2, you’re probably not a legit championship contender… which pretty much defines the 2024-25 Los Angeles Clippers.

Regardless, with Paul George now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Harden will get a chance to be the more ball-dominant player he was prior to his Clippers stint.

We got a glimpse of that in the 2024 playoffs when Kawhi Leonard was out with injury. Harden responded in the Clippers’ first-round playoff defeat by putting up 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists on 44.9/38.3/90.6 percent shooting splits. He just lacked consistency, having a 33-point and 28-point performance in the first-round series but also having a seven-point, 2-for-12 showing in Game 5 and a five-for-16 Game 6, which saw the Clippers get eliminated by Dallas after a 114-101 defeat.

Harden can still put up good numbers (though he’s no longer the scorer he was in his prime, as he has clearly lost a step athletically), but it’s just starting to look quite doubtful that that’ll lead to much playoff success at this point in his career.


46. Brandon Ingram (New Orleans)

2023-24 stats: 20.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.7 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.6 bpg, 49.2 FG%, 35.5 3P% in 64 games
2024-25 earnings: $36,016,200 (projected 32nd overall in salary)

Based on his growth early on in his career, many believed New Orleans Pelicans swingman Brandon Ingram would at least be a perennial All-Star player by this point. Instead, Ingram seemingly maxed out his potential by his fourth season back in 2021-22, the lone All-Star campaign of his career, never really improving his impact or production since then, instead hovering around the same level.

Granted, that level is pretty impressive, as Ingram just put up a 21/5/6 season on 49.2 percent shooting from the floor. It just felt like the former Duke standout could have been more by now, leading many to be disappointed in what Ingram has turned out to be, which might not be all that fair. After all, if Ingram played in the Eastern Conference, he might be an All-Star every year – he just has the misfortune of playing in a Western Conference so loaded with star wings.

Even so, there’s no question Ingram seemed like he’d be further along by now. The Pelicans must feel that way, too, as Ingram was one of the most bandied-about names in trade rumors this past summer.

Maybe a change of scenery would be good for Ingram, as he is supremely talented, with great size, length, skill and quickness for a small forward, a player who can give you 20 points every night with some rebounds, some plays made for others and some takeaways racked up.

But right now, playing for a New Orleans team loaded up with so many wings, including a former No. 1 pick in Zion Williamson, Ingram has stagnated, there’s no doubt about that. (On top of Williamson, Ingram also has to share the wing with two other players coming up later on this very list, by the way.)

That leads us to believe maybe Ingram’s potential change of scenery could come by February’s trade deadline.


45. DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento)

2023-24 stats: 24.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.6 bpg, 48.0 FG%, 33.3 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $23,400,000 (projected 70th overall in salary)

After finishing Top 3 in Clutch Player of the Year voting each of the last two seasons, six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan remains arguably the top midrange assassin in the game today, a player at his finest getting throwback buckets from the area where the numbers say the least efficient baskets come from.

DeRozan is doing well in fighting that belief, shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor over the past six seasons and averaging 23.6 points and 5.6 assists in that span, all in all making him an elite offensive player. Last season, the Compton native ranked No. 10 overall in Offensive Win Shares in case anyone wants to argue how elite DeRozan is on offense, by the way.

Of course, there’s also the other end of the floor to discuss as DeRozan doesn’t provide much in the way of defense, nor is he a very good three-point shooter, limiting his impact in the modern NBA.

However, overall, he’s a plus for his team when he’s on the floor, putting up very impressive numbers and, at 35 years old, not showing much signs of age-related regression. His numbers could finally take a hit in 2024-25, though, his first season with the Sacramento Kings, considering he’ll have to share a lot of the ball with two recent All-NBA players in De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.

But his fit on the team should be fun, another weapon for the team’s offense which was surprisingly in need of a boost, as the Kings ranked just 13th last season in points scored per 100 possessions. And if he can help Sacramento get back into the playoffs, DeRozan will have a chance to prove he can be a high-level playoff performer, too, something he hasn’t quite been able to do thus far in his career.


44. Kristaps Porzingis (Boston)

2023-24 stats: 20.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.9 bpg, 51.6 FG%, 37.5 3P% in 57 games
2024-25 earnings: $29,268,293 (projected 54th overall in salary)

2023-24 was pretty much a microcosm of big man Kristaps Porzingis’ career. He played like an All-Star but missed 25 regular-season games and then another 12 playoff games due to injury, ultimately sitting out most of the Boston Celtics’ championship run.

It was truly unfortunate as Pornzigis had acclimated beautifully to playing with Boston, scoring at a high level, rebounding, blocking shots and hitting deep threes to open up the rest of the Celtics’ potent offense, fitting in wonderfully to the team’s championship puzzle.

Here’s hoping for better health for Porzingis in 2024-25, as the original Unicorn was one of the first modern big men to revitalize the decaying center position eight years ago when he got drafted by the New York Knicks.


43. Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City)

2023-24 stats: 19.1 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 spg, 54.0% FG%, 42.7% 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $4,775,760 (projected 255th overall in salary)

Jalen Williams has displayed an All-Star ceiling (if not a potential All-NBA one) through two NBA seasons, especially if he takes another leap or two as he did from his rookie to sophomore campaigns.

We think Williams, a talented scorer from the midrange with much-improved three-point accuracy, is due for another leap in 2024-25. He’ll just need to maintain those great shooting marks from three and the free-throw line with higher volume and learn how to draw more fouls.

That last part shouldn’t be a problem considering his superstar backcourt mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a master of that craft.


42. Jaren Jackson Jr (Memphis)

2023-24 stats: 22.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.6 bpg, 44.4 FG%, 32.0 3P% in 66 games
2024-25 earnings: $25,257,798 (projected 64th overall in salary)

Former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. is a pretty unique big man in that he’s got extremely quick feet and the agility to aptly defend guards on switches, as well as good length and great timing to defend the rim at an elite level. Jackson Jr. led the league in blocks back-to-back years in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He’s also a big man who can at least somewhat space the floor, shooting 34.5 percent from beyond the arc for his career.

On the other hand, he’s an extremely poor rebounder for his position and not efficient enough of an outside shooter to make up for it, meaning Memphis has to play him alongside a great rebounding center for him to be at his most effective. That worked out well for the team in 2022-23 when the Grizzlies had veteran big man Steven Adams at the 5, but his subsequent injury that season (he then missed all of 2023-24) pretty much ended their chances at contention.

That’s at least part of the reason why the Grizzlies opted to draft two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey ninth overall this summer, to replace the void left behind by Adams, who’s now with the Houston Rockets.

If Edey can at least reach Adams-level impact on the glass, that’ll help get Jackson Jr. back to top form, as he was an All-Star not that long ago and should be able to reach that level again with a healthier Memphis squad around him.


41. LaMelo Ball (Charlotte)

2023-24 stats: 23.9 ppg, 8.0 apg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 spg, 43.3% FG%, 35.5% 3P% in 22 games
2024-25 earnings: $35,147,000 (projected 36th overall in salary)

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was a tricky player to rank for this exercise as he’s a bit of a wild card – he’s great when he plays but he misses a lot of time due to injury and his team success, even when he’s playing, is quite lacking.

Ball has played in just 58 games over the past two seasons combined and has played more than 51 games in a full season just once in his four-year career.

When Ball was out there in 2023-24, he was impressive once again, averaging 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 43.3 percent shooting, making him one of five players to put up a 23/5/8 stat line last season along with the likes of Doncic, Morant, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic.

That’s a pretty notable list of names Ball found himself alongside last season with his averages.

It’s mostly just health missing from Ball’s game, as the bombastic scorer and visionary playmaker looks like a perennial All-Star when he is on the floor for Charlotte.


40. Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)

2023-24 stats: 16.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 2.3 bpg, 53.0 FG%, 37.0 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $10,880,640 (projected 155th overall in salary)

The second-place finisher in Rookie of the Year voting in 2023-24, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren had a great inaugural campaign in the Association, flashing immense skills on both ends of the floor, primarily as a face-up scorer with driving ability but also as an elite shot-blocker, one who ranked in the Top 5 in nightly rejections last season.

Holmgren’s narrow shoulders and lack of strength could be a hindrance as far as projecting his overall ceiling but he does seem like a player who could be an All-Star one day. We’d just like to see what his Year 1 to Year 2 jump looks like before making any bold proclamations about him.

Overall, Holmgren, who’s basically a wing who plays center, does have plenty of upside and we’re excited to see what he looks like in his sophomore season, especially on the offensive end of the floor if his three-point shooting takes a leap.


39. Alperen Sengun (Houston)

2023-24 stats: 21.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.7 bpg, 53.7 FG%, 29.7 3P% in 63 games
2024-25 earnings: $5,424,654 (projected 237th overall in salary)

A promising center with a decently high ceiling thanks to his offensive game, Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun has been described as a Jokic Lite in the past, a big man who can score at a high level in maybe not the most orthodox ways and also create for teammates with flashy passes.

Sengun has a funky offensive game, making him a tough cover for opponents who often have no clue which way he’s going to turn next. A face-up specialist with driving ability, Sengun finished third in the Most Improved Player vote last season and might have gotten more consideration if he didn’t miss nearly 20 games due to injury.

Houston should be getting huge value out of Sengun in 2024-25 considering he’s set to be paid just $5.4 million next season. If Sengun even just replicates his 2023-24 output next league year while earning that salary, the Rockets will be getting a steal value-wise when it comes to their starting center, who already got All-Star consideration last season.

We think All-Star for Sengun in 2024-25 is a perfectly reasonable expectation.


38. Julius Randle (New York)

2023-24 stats: 24.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 5.0 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.3 bpg, 47.2 FG%, 31.1 3P% in 46 games
2024-25 earnings: $28,939,680 (projected 56th overall in salary)

Tough injury luck ended what was looking to be a special season for New York Knicks big man Julius Randle after just 46 games. Randle was one of just five players this season putting up a 24/9/5 stat line, with the other four being Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid, i.e. four MVP candidates and Randle, one of the best power forwards in the game today.

Randle’s being out played a large role in New York falling in the second round of the playoffs once again, as the absence of the former Kentucky standout’s scoring, rebounding and playmaking proved too much for the Knicks to overcome against the Pacers in the conference semifinals.

The lefty big man has a quick first step, a very strong left shoulder, good athleticism around the rim, a solid shooting touch as a floor-spacer and underrated vision as a playmaker. He may not be the most efficient outside shooter but he at least needs to be guarded out there, opening up driving lanes for the Randle to do what he does best: Attack the basket.


37. Cade Cunningham (Detroit)

2023-24 stats: 22.7 ppg, 7.5 apg, 4.3 rpg, 0.9 spg, 44.9% FG%, 35.5% 3P% in 62 games
2024-25 earnings: $13,940,809 (projected 118th overall in salary)

Rewarded with an All-Star salary before coming close to becoming one, Cade Cunningham will be given every chance to shine on a Detroit Pistons team that will be focused only on developing young talent this season (and for the foreseeable future).

The good news for Pistons fans is that the former No. 1 overall pick has improved every year he’s been in the NBA, peaking so far in 2023-24 at 22.7 points and 7.6 assists per game on 44.9 percent shooting and 35.5 percent shooting from three. Cunningham ranked roughly as a Top 100 player in the NBA according to BPM and VORP.

The 22-year-old still has all the tools that made him so enticing as a draft prospect – great size for a guard, three-level scoring, good playmaking vision and the ability to hit tough shots – he just has to learn to put it all together on a more consistent and efficient basis before he can take the next step up the point guard hierarchy.


36. Jamal Murray (Denver)

2023-24 stats: 21.2 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.0 spg, 48.1% FG%, 42.5% 3P% in 59 games
2024-25 earnings: $36,016,200 (projected 31st overall in salary)

For the first time in his career, Playoff Murray did not make an appearance in 2023-24, as Denver Nuggets bucket-getter Jamal Murray struggled in the postseason, averaging 20.6 points on 40.2 percent shooting – just 31.5 percent from three – for easily the worst playoff showing of his career. With the Nuggets taking another step back talent-wise again this offseason, now is the time for Murray to become a full-blown star in the regular season.

We think he has a chance to do it, as the Canadian point guard is a very talented scorer who can hit shots from all over the floor and even finish around the basket thanks to his underrated athleticism.

Murray is just too talented to have no All-Star and no All-NBA appearances in his career, so 2024-25 is really the time the former Wildcat has to take his game to another level.


35. Scottie Barnes (Toronto)

2023-24 stats: 19.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.5 bpg, 47.5 FG%, 34.1 3P% in 60 games
2024-25 earnings: $10,130,980 (projected 161st overall in salary)

A Swiss Army knife on the court, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes can do a bit of everything on both ends of the floor – and at a high level, too. On top of being named an All-Star for the first time in his career last season, Barnes also became just the fourth player ever to post a 19/8/6 stat line at 22 years old or younger, joining a prestigious list featuring Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson, two Hall-of-Famers and one player on his way to first-ballot Hall-of-Fame honors.

Not bad company there for Barnes.

On top of his ability to score, rebound and bring the ball down to create for teammates, the former Florida State standout is also an extremely versatile defender who has long arms, quick feet and a tenacity to him on the less glamorous end of the floor. Barnes can pick pockets, block shots and jump passing lanes, as well as defend one-on-one on the perimeter, making him a very unique weapon on defense with All-Defensive Team potential in the future.

Barnes will need to continue working on his jumper if he’s to hit that next level of a player – the All-NBA tier – but even on that end, things look promising for the Raptors, as Barnes went from 28.1 percent from three as a second-year player to 34.1 percent this past season. Another leap like that for Barnes could really change things for him.

Even as is, though, Barnes is quite the talent, one Toronto is likely thrilled to be able to build around for years to come.


34. Lauri Markkanen (Utah)

2023-24 stats: 23.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.5 bpg, 48.0 FG%, 39.9 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $42,176,400 (projected 21st overall in salary)

A much-bandied-about trade target this summer, the Utah Jazz instead agreed to a long-term extension with rising power forward Lauri Markkanen just one season removed from his 2022-23 All-Star season.

Things sort of fell apart for Utah this past campaign with the team’s lack of talent and experience finally really catching up to them, with the Jazz going 31-51 and Markkanen suiting up in just 55 games. But in those 55 games, Markkanen was still impressive, putting up 23 points and eight rebounds per night on nearly 40 percent shooting from three.

He may not be much of a defender but the 27-year-old is an elite face-up, floor-spacing power forward, making him a top target for various teams this past summer, namely the Golden State Warriors.

Even despite proving he can be an All-Star as a team’s No. 1, Markkanen might actually be best suited to be a second or third option on a playoff contender, something he would have been able to display in Golden State. Instead, though, at least for 2024-25 (the Finnish big man is ineligible to be traded for all of next season), we’ll get to see Markkanen continue to put up big numbers on a rebuilding team.

That’s not the worst thing for Utah fans, at least, who will be able to enjoy watching Markkanen’s tough bucket-getting from the 4-spot and his floor-spacing ability from beyond the arc.


33. Kyrie Irving (Dallas)

2023-24 stats: 25.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 spg, 49.7% FG%, 41.1% 3P% in 58 games
2024-25 earnings: $41,000,000 (projected 24th overall in salary)

It may be surprising to see 2016 NBA champion Kyrie Irving rank this low among the top point guards in the league, especially after his recent playoff run in which he helped guide the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010-11.

His 2024 Finals performance left something to be desired but prior to the championship series, Irving was fantastic, averaging 22.8 points, 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals on 48.5 percent shooting, 42.1 percent from beyond the arc, over 17 games.

Irving would rank him higher on talent alone or based on recent playoff performance, but his body of work in the regular season usually falls a bit short. Irving has only made one All-NBA Team since 2019, a 3rd team appearance in 2021, three full seasons ago now.

Irving’s play itself is impressive in the regular season, as the former No. 1 overall pick has averaged 26.6 points and 5.4 assists on 49.0 percent shooting over the past three seasons combined, he just misses a lot of time, with Irving failing to play more than 60 regular-season games since 2018-19.


32. Rudy Gobert (Minnesota)

2023-24 stats: 14.0 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 2.1 bpg, 66.1 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,827,586 (projected 15th overall in salary)

The heavily criticized Rudy Gobert gave his detractors some ammunition this summer when he got benched during France’s run to the gold-medal game. With France struggling in exhibition games and early in the tournament, French head coach Vincent Collet went with Wembanyama and a smaller lineup around him, using Gobert as a deep bench piece who didn’t see that much action in the knockout rounds.

Still, that’s nowhere near enough for us to knock Gobert in this ranking, as the double-double machine is a fantastic finisher around the basket to go with his obviously elite defensive impact, which earned him the fourth Defensive Player of the Year award of his career in 2023-24. Gobert also played a large part in getting his Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals last season, so his last year has had plenty of team success despite his somewhat rough go with France.


The Gobert detractors will likely never lay off when it comes to the French big man, using his limited offensive game and poor defense on ball-handlers against him, but there’s no question the 32-year-old is one of the best defenders of all time and a future Hall-of-Famer.


31. Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota)

2023-24 stats: 21.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.7 bpg, 50.4 FG%, 41.6 3P% in 62 games
2024-25 earnings: $49,205,800 (projected 6th overall in salary)

It’s hard to believe Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns has already been in the NBA for nine years, as it feels like yesterday Minnesota drafted him No. 1 overall out of Kentucky. The 28-year-old has already been in the NBA for so long that he can say he played with Kevin Garnett, Tayshaun Prince and Kevin Martin as a rookie, which feels crazy to even type out but is 100 percent true.

Towns remains one of the better big men in the NBA, though it could be seen as a bit of a disappointment he’s not farther along in his career by now considering he was averaging 25 points and 12 rebounds as a second-year player and earning 3rd Team All-NBA honors in his third season.

Still, the level Towns has seemingly stagnated at is still an impressive one. After all, he’s a productive scorer as a face-up big man, as a driver and as a post-up threat – a borderline All-Star on a yearly basis with good rebounding and solid playmaking numbers. What’s more, he played a huge role in Minnesota’s Western Conference Finals run last season for the franchise’s best finish to a campaign in 20 years.

Then again, Towns going ice cold late in the postseason pretty much ended the Wolves’ bid at a Finals trip, as the talented power forward shot just 20.9 percent from three (40.5 percent from the floor) over his last seven playoff games last season.

Regardless, overall, Towns is an All-Star-level big and should continue to help the Timberwolves make a push to legit title contention over the upcoming seasons, especially after finally fully acclimating to playing alongside behemoth center Rudy Gobert.


30. Jimmy Butler (Miami)

2023-24 stats: 20.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.3 bpg, 49.9 FG%, 41.4 3P% in 60 games
2024-25 earnings: $48,798,677 (projected 11th overall in salary)

The season may have ended poorly for six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, with Butler getting hurt in Miami’s first play-in game and missing the rest of the playoffs after he sort of slept-walked through the regular season. The Heat would be eliminated in five games in the first round of the postseason by the Celtics after their surprising Finals trip the year prior.

It’s unclear how hand in hand that is with Miami choosing not to sign Butler to the max extension he was eligible for this summer but either way, the star forward chose not to make a fuss about it, reportedly telling teams he was happy to stay in South Florida despite interest league-wide in his services this offseason.

With all that said, Butler sleepwalking through a campaign still led to him ranking Top 20 in BPM and Top 8 in WS/48 for 2023-24 while putting up a 21/5/5 stat line. So, clearly, Butler remains an elite two-way player when he’s out there, particularly thanks to his midrange scoring, much-improved three-point output (Butler shot a career-high 41.4 percent from three last season) and his ability to get to the foul line and knock down freebies at a high rate.

For Butler, 2024-25 will be about proving he can stay healthy and not miss so much regular-season time, especially if the soon-to-be-35-year-old is expecting to get one more huge contract in Miami.


29. Trae Young (Atlanta)

2023-24 stats: 25.7 ppg, 10.8 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 spg, 43.0% FG%, 37.3% 3P% in 54 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,031,940 (projected 17th overall in salary)

One of just two players in league history to lead the NBA in total points and in total assists in the same season, which happened back in 2021-22, Atlanta Hawks lead guard Trae Young remains extremely productive, putting up over 25 points and 10 assists per game this season, a campaign in which he was named an All-Star for the third time in his career.

But the Hawks haven’t won over 43 games since 2015-16 (they were on pace to in 2020-21 but that was the post-COVID shortened season), with things really bottoming out last year as Atlanta went 36-46 and missed out on the playoffs. Maybe things will be better now that Young’s backcourt mate Dejounte Murray was traded but truth be told, the soon-to-be-26-year-old’s stock is pretty low right now. (That was reportedly reflected with his trade market this summer, too.)

Young may be a great player on offense – a huge scorer with excellent playmaking abilities – but he’s just not that efficient with his buckets, shooting 43.6 percent from the floor for his career and 35.5 percent from three, and his defense is next to non-existent.

Right now, it looks like it would take some very impressive roster-building for the Hawks to be able to build a contender around Young, with Atlanta’s 2020-21 march to the Eastern Conference Finals – led by Young – looking more and more like an aberration.

Regardless, his production is impossible to ignore so even with all that said, we still believe Young to be roughly a Top 10 point guard in the NBA today.


28. Bam Adebayo (Miami)

2023-24 stats: 19.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.9 bpg, 52.1 FG%, 35.7 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,848,340 (projected 39th overall in salary)

Right on the cusp of that All-NBA distinction over recent years, Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo has made back-to-back All-Star appearances, helped lead the Heat to the Finals two years ago and just won a gold medal with Team USA this summer. That’s to go with five straight All-Defensive Team honors and a Top 5 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the last five campaigns, peaking with a third-place finish in 2023-24.

What’s more, Adebayo is far from just a defender, as the former Kentucky Wildcat also has a blossoming offensive game, possessing the ability to hit pull-up, off-the-dribble jumpers and spot-up looks from the midrange. He can also grab a rebound and bring the ball down the court, can pass at a high level for a center – just maybe not on that Jokic/Sabonis level – and rebounds very well despite being just 6-foot-9.

All Adebayo is really missing is that reliable three-point jumper, though if his Team USA stint this summer is any indication, there’s a chance that could be coming at some point. If the 27-year-old can at least hit spot-up corner three-pointers, that would open up his already impressive offensive game even more.


27. Paul George (Philadelphia)

2023-24 stats: 22.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.5 bpg, 47.1 FG%, 41.3 3P% in 74 games
2024-25 earnings: $49,205,800 (projected 6th overall in salary)

An All-Star in each of the last two seasons, new Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George hasn’t earned All-NBA honors since 2020-21, though, who knows? Maybe the change of scenery can fix that, as George remains an excellent two-way swingman with elite scoring ability.

George was hugely efficient last season, shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 41.3 percent from three and 90.7 percent from the foul line. The problem for George and what in part keeps him off All-NBA discussions for now is that he doesn’t get to the foul line enough to take advantage of that ridiculous accuracy from the charity stripe.

Still, George can knock down hugely difficult shots even over the best defending to put him right in that star tier with some of the game’s best shot-makers. He just depends on those difficult shots a little too often, which can end up proving costly late in tight games. When he goes cold with his shooting, George’s impact on offense also greatly dwindles as he’s not the type of player who can get to the basket or the foul line whenever he wants for easy points.

What could also hurt George’s ability to earn another All-NBA nod is the fact he’ll be joining a team with an MVP candidate in Joel Embiid and an up-and-coming potential superstar in Tyrese Maxey, so shot attempts might be even less available than they were in Los Angeles for him, especially when Leonard was out injured.

Regardless, we’re going to bank on his past production and his most recent season to say he’ll remain a Top 5 small forward in basketball in 2024-25 thanks to his tough bucket-getting and impactful defense. And if that is the case, the 76ers could make major noise in the Eastern Conference, as the one thing that the team has lacked since the departure of the next player on this list is a star bucket-getting swingman alongside Embiid.

George should very ably fill that role next season to potentially finally make Philadelphia a real contender.


26. Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)

2023-24 stats: 23.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.9 bpg, 52.5 FG%, 41.7 3P% in 68 games
2024-25 earnings: $49,205,800 (projected 6th overall in salary)

Coming off a campaign in which he suited up in 68 regular-season games, his highest total since 2016-17, two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard still wasn’t the epitome of good physical health as he missed all of April and nearly all of May while his Los Angeles Clippers fell in the first round of the playoffs.

When healthy, Leonard was still a beast, putting up great numbers very efficiently – his shooting splits were 52.5/41.7/88.5, even more impressive considering how difficult his usual shot attempts are – he just once again wasn’t all that available. And despite the fact there was some back and forth between the Clippers and Team USA as to why Leonard was sent home after doing training camp with the national team, the fact USA brass felt they’d be better off with Celtics role player Derrick White over Leonard might be a bit telling.

Still, we’ll choose to turn a blind eye to Leonard’s last four months and expect him to bounce back for another big 2024-25 season. The fact that the next player on this list has departed Los Angeles also leads us to believe Leonard could put up even more impressive numbers next season with more of the ball in his hands.

At the end of the day, though, it’s just about getting Leonard healthy come playoff time for the Clippers, as individual player accolades don’t matter that much for the team that’s spending so much of owner Steve Ballmer’s money. Based on financial investment, the Clippers surely want to make a deep playoff run in 2024-25 more than anything else.


Bob


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25.  Pascal Siakam (Indiana)

2023-24 stats: 21.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.3 bpg, 53.6 FG%, 34.6 3P% in 80 games
2024-25 earnings: $42,176,400 (projected 21st overall in salary)

A whirlwind of energy, Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam enjoyed a solid half-season debut with his new team after a mid-season trade from the Toronto Raptors, putting up 21.3 points and 7.8 rebounds with Indiana on 54.9 percent shooting, 38.6 percent from three. Siakam also played a strong part in Indiana’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, putting up a 21/8/4 stat line in the postseason while hitting 54.1 percent from the floor.

Alongside a playmaker as elite as star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and fitting perfectly with a floor-spacing center like Myles Turner, Siakam’s production should only continue to grow with the Pacers, as his skills in transition and as a slasher will be able to shine in Indiana after a full offseason with the team.

Siakam also has an underrated midrange pull-up game and has the ability to hit tough shots, which will help the Pacers late in tight games. All in all, Siakam is a great fit for what Indiana needed and will continue to produce at a high level with the Pacers for years to come now that he’s signed a big extension with the team.


24.  De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento)

2023-24 stats: 26.6 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 spg, 46.5% FG%, 36.9% 3P% in 74 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,848,340 (projected 38th overall in salary)

Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox had a good season in 2023-24, upping his scoring average from 25.0 points to 26.6 points per game to go with 5.6 assists and a league-leading 2.0 steals per contest on 36.9 percent shooting from three – the highest mark of his career in a season where he shot more than three triples nightly.

His VORP and BPM likewise improved this season but with how loaded the guard position is in the NBA, especially in the Western Conference, Fox was snubbed from any accolades in 2023-24. The one slightly disappointing part is that his for Fox is that his improved production didn’t lead to the team success many had hoped, as the Kings went a somewhat disappointing 46-36 on the year.

Regardless, Fox remains one of the top point guards in the NBA, a lightning-quick attacker with much-improved off-the-dribble scoring chops as a shooter, and we expect another explosive year out of the former Kentucky Wildcat in 2024-25.


23.  Paolo Banchero (Orlando)

2023-24 stats: 22.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.6 bpg, 45.5 FG%, 33.9 3P% in 80 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,160,800 (projected 139th overall in salary)

Another former No. 1 pick who went to Duke, if Williamson disappoints again in 2024-25 relative to expectations, it will be blossoming Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero who we believe will be the second-best power forward in the NBA this season.

Banchero’s got a unique game, towering at a listed 6-foot-10, 250 pounds, but replete with skill as a face-up tough-shot-maker, a spot-up or pull-up shooter or as a rim attacker, and if that wasn’t enough, he’s also got a great basketball IQ as a playmaker and is a solid rebounder as well. Banchero can play bully ball driving the ball and also has soft touch around the rim and from the midrange to make him extremely difficult to defend.

The still-21-year-old will just need to keep improving upon his three-point accuracy, which he already did from Year 1 to Year 2, going from 29.8 percent from three as a rookie to 33.9 percent last season. A similar leap in 2024-25 could have Banchero getting All-NBA consideration as soon as his third season, which, based on his first two pro campaigns, wouldn’t be all that surprising at this point.

Orlando’s got a special talent on its hands.


22.  Zion Williamson (New Orleans)

2023-24 stats: 22.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.7 bpg, 57.0 FG%, 33.3 3P% in 70 games
2024-25 earnings: $36,725,670 (projected 28th overall in salary)

With former No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson looking as slim as he has in quite some time…


… the excitement is starting to build about what 2024-25 could look like for the two-time All-Star.

The way Williamson ended his 2023-24 season, with arguably the best performance of his career in the Play-In Game against the Los Angeles Lakers, also leads us to believe this campaign coming up could be the best of Williamson’s career. Williamson went off for 40 points to go with 11 rebounds and five assists against L.A., keeping the New Orleans Pelicans alive in the huge game before getting injured late in the contest.

Of course, Williamson finally having an All-NBA season will depend on his health, as the South Carolina native hasn’t had the best injury luck in his career, missing all of 2021-22 due to a foot injury and then only playing in 29 games in 2022-23. However, the former Duke Blue Devil did play in 70 regular-season games last season, and the weight loss should continue to help him stay healthy going forward, too.

Here’s hoping for a healthy Zion in 2024-25, as the explosive lefty is one of the most freakish athletes in all of sports, a high-flying behemoth who can finish over anyone with monster dunks, and who possesses a soft touch to finish around the basket when need be.


21.  Damian Lillard (Milwaukee)

2023-24 stats: 24.3 ppg, 7.0 apg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 spg, 42.4% FG%, 35.4% 3P% in 73 games
2024-25 earnings: $48,787,676 (projected 12th overall in salary)

2022-23 was a year of change for Damian Lillard, who had to acclimate to not just being on a team other than the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time in his career, but also had to do so for a Milwaukee Bucks squad in which he wasn’t the team’s best player. Lillard hasn’t been a team’s second-best player since early on in his career when he’d play some Robin to LaMarcus Aldridge’s Batman and even then, Aldridge wasn’t as ball-dominant – or as good – as former league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is.

As such, Lillard struggled to an extent, posting the third-worst VORP and BPM of his career while averaging 24.3 points and 7.0 assists on 42.4 percent shooting from the floor. It speaks to how brilliant Lillard has been in his career that those numbers are seen as a drop-off in play for him. What was concerning was seeing Lillard’s three-point percentage falter to 35.4 percent from the floor last season, also the third-worst mark of his career.

Regardless, we expect Lillard’s three-point accuracy to return to more normal rates next season (he’s at 37.1 percent for his career), which will help him return to previous borderline All-NBA levels. Further buoying our belief in a Lillard bounce-back is the fact that he shot 67.7 percent from within three of the basket in 2023-24, the highest mark of his career and one indicative that he’s still got something left in the tank athletically.


20.  Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento)

2023-24 stats: 19.4 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 8.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.6 bpg, 59.4 FG%, 37.9 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $40,500,000 (projected 26th overall in salary)

If he didn’t peak in the era of Jokic, Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis would be seen as one of the best playmaking centers of all time, as he’s putting up seven assists per contest over the past four seasons. That’s no easy feat for a center, we’ve just become desensitized to it due to Jokic’s utter playmaking brilliance.

On top of the plus-passing, Sabonis is also a monster rebounder, leading the league in nightly boards over the past two seasons at 12.3 and 13.7 respectively in 2022-23 and 2023-24. That’s to go with being a great face-up scorer with solid post moves down low; Sabonis can hit jumpers or drive by slower-footed bigs, or beat up smaller defenders in the post for easy lefty finishes.

The one area in which Sabonis is lacking is as a defender, as his quick first step doesn’t translate to the less glamorous side of the floor on switches, nor does he protect the rim one iota, which has made it difficult for the Kings to play good enough defense to really contend for anything but a playoff spot in the West.

For what it’s worth, the Kings were 2.1 points per 100 possessions worse with Sabonis on the floor last season.

Still, Sabonis is an All-NBA-level center, even earning MVP votes over the past two campaigns, so Sacramento is almost certainly still glad it made the Tyrese Haliburton-for-Sabonis swap.


19.  Ja Morant (Memphis)

2023-24 stats: 25.1 ppg, 8.1 apg, 5.6 rpg, 0.8 spg, 47.1% FG%, 27.5% 3P% in 9 games
2024-25 earnings: $36,725,670 (projected 27th overall in salary)

After missing basically all of 2023-24 due to suspension and then injury, stock in two-time All-Star Ja Morant couldn’t be much lower heading into 2024-25. Even so, we believe he’ll remain one of the best point guards in the league once he gets back out there next season, as Morant is just so explosive and energetic he’ll still be borderline unguardable once he gets back out there for the Memphis Grizzlies.

In his last fully healthy season, the Murray State product averaged 26.2 points on 46.6 percent shooting to go with 5.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Morant didn’t get All-NBA honors in 2022-23 but he was an All-Star, and we think he’ll get right back to that borderline All-NBA level in 2024-25.


18.  Jaylen Brown (Boston)

2023-24 stats: 23.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 49.9% FG%, 35.4% 3P% in 70 games
2024-25 earnings: $49,205,800 (projected 7th overall in salary)

Now, that previous statement from the Mitchell section might not sound fair to a player like Celtics star Jaylen Brown considering he just won a title with Boston and earned Finals MVP honors. But was he really the team’s best player? After all, he didn’t exactly have to carry the Celtics in the 2023-24 postseason, as Boston was a clear cut above every other team in the league last year.

Regardless, Brown had a fantastic 2023-24 season, silencing the naysayers who questioned the size of his contract, which was once the largest in NBA history. The fact Brown had a Finals MVP-level run in the playoffs after how the previous season ended for Boston, no less, makes his 2024 postseason run all the more impressive.

Lest we forget, Brown averaged 19.0 points on 41.8 percent shooting (16.3 percent from three) to go with 3.4 assists to 3.6 turnovers in that 2022-23 Eastern Conference Finals series defeat against the Heat the year prior, so the fact he bounced back all the way to win a ring and a Finals MVP is borderline inspirational, and speaks to Brown’s mental fortitude.

Along with playing elite defense, Brown put up 23.9 points and 5.9 rebounds on 51.6 percent shooting last postseason, helping guide Boston to its first championship since 2008. And for that, Brown – an elite two-way player with great off-the-dribble scoring prowess and fantastic athleticism around the rim – earned his spot in these rankings.


17.  Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland)

2023-24 stats: 26.6 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 spg, 46.2% FG%, 36.8% 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $35,410,310 (projected 35th overall in salary)

After signing an extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer despite so many rumors in prior seasons indicating that that wouldn’t happen, five-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell enters 2024-25 with some good momentum after helping lead Cleveland to the second round of the playoffs last season.

Mitchell once again had an explosive playoff run in 2023-24 (at least prior to getting hurt and missing Games 4 and 5 against the Boston Celtics), averaging 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 47.6 percent shooting from the floor. The Cavaliers won a tough seven-game series against the Orlando Magic to open the postseason before falling to the eventual champion Celtics.

No big deal but Mitchell ranks seventh all-time in playoff scoring average at 28.1 points per game, by the way.

Mitchell, entering his age-28 season, is one of the best shooting guards in the NBA thanks to his deep shooting range from three and explosiveness around the basket.

Can you win a championship with him as your best player? The Cavaliers apparently plan to find out. But even if you can’t, in this NBA era, that’s not abnormal considering the shooting guard position isn’t as loaded as it was during the Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade days. Among the players in this ranking, only Edwards seems like the type who can unquestionably be the best player on a championship team as a shooting guard.

The other 2-guards in the league just aren’t at that level, and that includes Mitchell.


16.  Devin Booker (Phoenix)

2023-24 stats: 27.1 ppg, 6.9 apg, 4.5 rpg, 0.9 spg, 49.2% FG%, 36.4% 3P% in 68 games
2024-25 earnings: $49,205,800 (projected 7th overall in salary)

Regardless of Edwards taking the mantle of Best Shooting Guard in the NBA Today, Devin Booker had a great 2023-24 season, averaging over 27 points per game and nearly seven assists nightly while being asked to be the Suns’ star 2-guard, as well as their point guard a lot of the time due to the team’s poor roster construction. It’s not like Booker no-showed in the playoffs, either, as he put up 27.5 points, 6.0 assists and 1.8 steals on 49.2 percent shooting against what was a very strong Minnesota team.


15.  Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia)

2023-24 stats: 25.9 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 45.0% FG%, 37.3% 3P% in 70 games
2024-25 earnings: $35,147,000 (projected 36th overall in salary)

The reigning Most Improved Player, Philadelphia 76ers lead guard Tyrese Maxey just missed out on All-NBA honors in 2023-24 despite averaging 25.9 points, 6.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game on 45.0 percent shooting.

Maxey ranked as roughly a Top 35 player in the league last season according to VORP and BPM, helping the Philadelphia 76ers finish the season 47-35 despite being without then-reigning MVP Joel Embiid for much of the campaign.

With Maxey still just 23 years old and coming off the first All-Star nod of his career, his lofty place in this ranking is based in part on projection by us, as we fully believe he’ll take another leap in 2024-25 thanks to his elite quickness, ability to get buckets off the dribble and nail shots from deep beyond the arc.


14.  Stephen Curry (Golden State)

2023-24 stats: 26.4 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.5 rpg, 0.7 spg, 45.0% FG%, 40.8% 3P% in 74 games
2024-25 earnings: $55,761,216 (projected 1st overall in salary)

This may seem like a bit of a low ranking for superstar point guard Stephen Curry. After all, he’s coming off 3rd Team All-NBA honors, just won Clutch Player of the Year, was an All-Star and put up over 26 points and five assists per contest on 40.8 percent shooting from three.

But despite his impressive production, the Golden State Warriors missed the playoffs for the second time in the last four seasons. Plus, Curry’s next season will be his age-36 campaign, so if we project a slight drop-off for the former two-time league MVP and progression from other promising young point guards like Haliburton and Brunson, Curry’s place on this ranking starts to make more sense.

Even so, we expect Curry to remain among the elite of the position in 2024-25 and challenge for All-NBA honors once more. We just think that the next campaign might be a bit of a passing-of-the-guard season in the point-guard hierarchy in the NBA.


13.  LeBron James (LA Lakers)

2023-24 stats: 25.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 8.3 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.5 bpg, 54.0 FG%, 41.0 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $48,728,845 (projected 14th overall in salary)

What’s there left to say about the player we recently declared the GOAT that hasn’t been said so many times already? LeBron James‘ battle against Father Time going so well in his favor continues to be awe-inspiring as he just finished with 3rd Team All-NBA honors in his age-39 campaign to become the first player ever to receive an All-NBA distinction that old.

It was very much deserved, too, as James hit a career-high 41.0 percent of his triples on the season while putting up a huge 25/7/8 stat line. And despite his Los Angeles Lakers getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs in just five games, James went into the summer as Team USA’s leader ahead of a very important Olympic tournament and more than stepped up, winning Olympic Tournament MVP honors despite this being the most talent-laden FIBA tourney in the sport’s history.

His game has just aged so well, as although he might have lost a touch of his alien-like athleticism from his youth, he’s more than made up for it by playing a hybrid power forward-point guard mix at the 3, by becoming a nearly elite shooter from three and by remaining an absolute load to stop once he has a head of steam heading to the basket.

All in all, just enjoy the time we have left watching James – it might not be that much more but what we do have left to see out of him should continue to be special.


12.  Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana)

2023-24 stats: 20.1 ppg, 10.9 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 47.7% FG%, 36.4% 3P% in 69 games
2024-25 earnings: $42,176,400 (projected 21st overall in salary)

The league leader in assists per game last season at 10.9 nightly dimes to go with 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals, Indiana Pacers floor general Tyrese Haliburton looks like the best pure passing lead guard in the NBA right now.

He’s also more than capable of scoring 20-plus points on any given night, as was the case in 2023-24 even with Haliburton having an uncharacteristically poor season shooting from beyond the arc. Over Haliburton’s first three seasons, he shot 40.8 percent from three, even despite his funky-looking jumper. In 2023-24, that mark dropped down to 36.4 percent, which could very well have been injury-related.

Even with the mediocre deep shooting marks, Haliburton helped lead Indiana back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2013-14, an incredibly impressive feat for the former Iowa State standout. Haliburton might not quite be in that MVP tier but we fully expect him to have another All-NBA-level campaign in 2024-25.


11.  Kevin Durant (Phoenix)

2023-24 stats: 27.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 1.2 bpg, 52.3 FG%, 41.3 3P% in 75 games
2024-25 earnings: $51,179,020 (projected 4th overall in salary)

Now unquestionably the Team USA GOAT after becoming the first player to win four Olympic gold medals while also becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer, Phoenix Suns small forward Kevin Durant remains nearly at the top of his game, placing Top 10 in the MVP vote last season and earning 2nd Team All-NBA honors.

Durant is clutch, can get buckets over anyone thanks to his otherworldly size and length for a forward, and is also a solid rebounder and playmaker. He’s also as efficient as they come for a high-volume shooter, posting shooting splits of 52.3/41.3/85.6 last season despite so many of his shot attempts coming with an elite degree of difficulty.

We’re just hoping Phoenix’s point-guard acquisitions this summer help fix the Suns’ rotation and position issues from last year because few players are as fun to watch on a deep playoff run as Durant is, as evidenced by his two championships and two Finals MVPs.


10.  Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio)

2023-24 stats: 21.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 3.6 bpg, 46.5 FG%, 32.5 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,768,664 (projected 129th overall in salary)

Victor Wembanyama is special for so many reasons, particularly the fact he’s 7-foot-4 with a reported 8-foot wingspan to go with his unreal quickness for his size and otherworldly skill level. He at times resembles an even bigger Kevin Durant out there on offense, able to knock down shots on pull-ups, step-backs and crossovers, all while defending at the level of Anthony Davis, a scary mix of two all-time greats.

Wembanyama just became the first rookie in league history to earn 1st Team All-Defense honors and he was even getting shouts to earn Defensive Player of the Year in his inaugural campaign, giving us little doubt he’ll eventually win that award, more than likely multiple times.

That’s not the only major accolade we see Wembanyama winning in the future, as the French center has potential league MVP written all over him, he should be that dominant on both ends of the floor. He’s got a great mentality, too, really seeming to value winning over personal glory, as evidenced by his reaction when his French national team fell to Team USA in the gold medal game at the Olympics this summer.

In all, the Spurs have a truly special talent on their hands and we can’t wait to see how his game grows from his rookie to his sophomore campaigns.


9.  Anthony Davis (LA Lakers)

2023-24 stats: 24.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.3 bpg, 55.6 FG%, 27.1 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,219,440 (projected 16th overall in salary)

Coming off the healthiest season of his career based on games played, Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis remains one of the best big men in the league, an absolute monster on both ends of the floor thanks to his very unique quickness in a 6-foot-10, 250-pound package.

Davis possesses guard-like skills at his size, can face-up and score on slower-footed big men, hit shots off the dribble, drive and finish over anyone thanks to his unreal length, block shots at an elite rate, rebound extremely well on both ends and even do some light playmaking.

The former No. 1 overall pick has lived up to his draft billing and then some in his NBA career, and is another future Hall-of-Famer already on this list, which has been loaded with top-end talent so far. Speaking of which, Davis ranked as roughly a Top 10 player in the league according to VORP, WS/48 and BPM last season, and looks primed to take over the mantle for LeBron James and keep the Lakers in borderline contention whenever the four-time league MVP does finally decide to call it quits.


8.  Jalen Brunson (New York)

2023-24 stats: 28.7 ppg, 6.7 apg, 3.6 rpg, 0.9 spg, 47.9% FG%, 40.1% 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $24,960,001 (projected 65th overall in salary)

New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson had already shown signs of being a great player in 2022-23. In 2023-24, however, the two-time national champion at Villanova proved that he’s unquestionably an elite one, finishing Top 5 in the MVP vote, leading the Knicks to the second round of the playoffs and earning 2nd Team All-NBA honors.

There may still be some discourse on whether or not Brunson can be the best player on a championship team, but considering his selflessness in taking less money now to sign an extension in New York, which will help the Knicks keep contending in the East for years to come, Brunson might be able to shut that talk down and prove it without a doubt in the coming seasons.

Brunson’s strong 2023-24 regular season and his even more impressive playoff run, in which he averaged 32.4 points and 7.5 assists over 13 games, has us thinking big things for soon-to-be-28-year-old in 2024-25.


7.  Anthony Edwards (Minnesota)

2023-24 stats: 25.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 46.1% FG%, 35.7% 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $42,176,400 (projected 21st overall in salary)

Who else but the highly entertaining, highly skilled and explosive Anthony Edwards at No. 1 on this list?

The former No. 1 overall pick has developed into the best shooting guard in the NBA, one who puts up huge numbers on a nightly basis – efficiently, at that – and leads a Minnesota Timberwolves team that has turned into a contender. Edwards was the focal part of Minnesota’s run to the Western Conference Finals this past season, averaging 27.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists on 40.0 percent shooting from three in the playoffs, a run that included the Wolves knocking off the then-reigning champion Denver Nuggets.

All in all, Edwards is a spectacular player, a three-level scorer with insane athleticism and length who plays with a tough mentality, and who has an old-school flair to his game in that he’ll let an opponent know when he’s lighting him up, and he’ll do so loudly.

Without question, one of the most entertaining players in the game today.

Edwards entered 2023-24 as a potential contender to earn the best-shooting-guard-in-the-game mantle and ended the season as pretty much the consensus pick for that title.


6.  Jayson Tatum (Boston)

2023-24 stats: 26.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.6 bpg, 47.1 FG%, 37.6 3P% in 74 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,848,340 (projected 39th overall in salary)

Finishing sixth in the MVP vote last season and with his third straight 1st Team All-NBA nod – as well as with the first NBA championship of his career – Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum also somehow has the luxury of entering 2024-25 with a chip on his shoulder, which for a player of his caliber can legitimately help provide a boost in the motivation department.

That’s because Tatum still has detractors after the excellent season and summer he just had. Those detractors will be quick to point out that not only did Tatum not win Finals MVP to cap Boston’s 2023-24 dominant championship run, but he also was very much a role player for Team USA, at times not seeing the floor at all for entire games as the Americans marched to their fifth straight Olympic gold medal.

Tatum has taken notice, too, recently posting on social media the following:

Regardless of the trolling, Tatum in our eyes will enter next season as the best small forward in the NBA, an elite scorer from all three levels, as well as a very good rebounder, playmaker and defender with excellent size for the position. He may not have a Finals MVP yet nor was he able to unseat the next two players on this list for minutes on Team USA this summer but Tatum remains just 26 with so much of his prime left to go.

Many more accolades are sure to come for the Celtics star.


5.  Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)

2023-24 stats: 34.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.7 bpg, 52.9 FG%, 38.8 3P% in 39 games
2024-25 earnings: $51,415,938 (projected 2nd overall in salary)

Had Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid been healthier in 2023-24, he might have been looking at a second MVP award in a row, his numbers in limited action were that impressive.

Embiid led the league in scoring, though he didn’t qualify for the scoring title due to games missed, while also posting 11 rebounds nightly, over five assists, one steal and nearly two blocks per game. And he did that all while shooting almost 53 percent from the floor (39 percent from three) and facing opposing teams’ best big-man defender every night, even often staring at double-teams. Those are the numbers a modern-day Wilt Chamberlain might be posting if his prime were taking place today.

Embiid’s had poor injury luck in his career, and he has not been able to step up in the playoffs to get Philadelphia past the second round yet, but there’s no question he’s one of the greatest centers ever. Plus, for how much flak he caught for some of his play on Team USA this summer, the Americans very likely would have lost to Jokic’s Serbia in the semifinal if not for Embiid’s 19 points on eight-for-11 shooting, which included multiple clutch fourth-quarter buckets in what was a tight game. (He outscored Jokic in that outing, by the way, with six fewer shot attempts at that.)

That Olympic outing gives us hope Embiid could make a deep playoff run at some point, perhaps as soon as this year if the replacement of Tobias Harris with Paul George by the Sixers is as impactful as it should be.


4.  Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)

2023-24 stats: 30.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg, 61.1 FG%, 27.4 3P% in 73 games
2024-25 earnings: $48,787,676 (projected 12th overall in salary)

The best power forward in the game and a player who’d be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer if he retired today, the Milwaukee Bucks’s Giannis Antetokounmpo finished fourth in the MVP vote last season while earning 1st Team All-NBA and All-Star honors after putting up monstrous numbers once again.

He now totals two MVP awards, eight All-Star appearances, eight All-NBAs (six 1st Teams, two 2nd Teams), one Defensive Player of the Year award and four All-Defensive 1st Teams. Oh, and he already has an NBA championship and a Finals MVP under his belt, too.

Even at just 29 years old, we already rank Antetokounmpo as the 22nd-greatest player of all time and he’ll have a great shot to be Top 15 if his career continues at this pace, which we fully expect it to considering he ranked third in VORP, BPM and WS/48 league-wide just last season and hasn’t shown any sign of decline.

2024-25 should be another huge season for Antetokounmpo individually, though the Greek superstar will likely be hoping for more team success, which should be fully possible as last season’s big addition, Damian Lillard, will be more acclimated to his new team situation.


3.  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)

2023-24 stats: 30.1 ppg, 6.2 apg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 spg, 53.5% FG%, 35.3% 3P% in 75 games
2024-25 earnings: $35,859,950 (projected 33rd overall in salary)

Doncic finished third in the MVP vote last season, as stated above. The player who finished second in that very same vote? That was Canadian superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just had the best season of his career, putting up 30.1 points per game along with 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.0 steals per contest on absurdly efficient 53.5 percent shooting from the floor.

Gilgeous-Alexander has become one of the toughest players to guard in the NBA (former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart actually believes he’s tougher to defend than Doncic)…

…and that’s due to his midrange shot-making prowess, his impossible-to-predict moves, his shiftiness and his ability to draw fouls. He draws some ire from fans for that last thing but it’s impossible to deny how effective the Oklahoma City Thunder star is at getting to the foul line and scoring easy points that way.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished second league-wide in WS/48 last season and with the way his game has progressed over recent seasons – and with how talented this current Thunder team is – he’s another player who could very well be in line for his first career MVP award in 2024-25.


2.  Luka Doncic (Dallas)

2023-24 stats: 33.9 ppg, 9.8 apg, 9.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 48.7% FG%, 38.2% 3P% in 70 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,031,940 (projected 17th overall in salary)

Luka Doncic ended up third in the 2023-24 MVP vote, the highest finish of his career, after leading the league in scoring at 33.9 points per game to go with 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.4 steals per contest. He did that on 48.7 percent shooting from the floor and 38.2 percent accuracy from three, the latter being a career-best rate for him.

Doncic finished second league-wide in BPM and VORP and, post-trade deadline, had Dallas looking like a full-blown contender. That wound up being true, too, as Doncic led the Mavericks all the way to the NBA Finals through a crowded and tough Western Conference.

All in all, the 25-year-old continues to somehow improve year over year, an even more impressive feat considering he’s coming off of five straight 1st Team All-NBA nods.

For the record, the only players to make 1st Team All-NBA five years in a row since the year 2000 are Doncic, Lebron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard, putting Doncic is some very prestigious company. Out of that group, only Doncic and Howard have not or did not win MVP, and Howard made 1st Team All-NBA so many times in part due to how weak the center position was in the NBA at the time, so Doncic doing it in this loaded era and while so young is all the more notable.

It would not be surprising in the least to see Doncic win the first MVP award of his career now that he has the right supporting cast around him.


1.  Nikola Jokic (Denver)

2023-24 stats: 26.4 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 9.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.9 bpg, 58.3 FG%, 35.9 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $51,415,938 (projected 2nd overall in salary)

Unquestionably the best basketball player in the world today, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is coming off a campaign in which he won his third MVP award in four seasons, in which he was named 1st Team All-NBA for the fourth time and in which he was named an All-Star for the sixth time.

Ultimately, Jokic wasn’t able to lead Denver to a second championship in a row but he did carry Serbia to a bronze medal in the Summer Olympics this offseason, so his year wasn’t empty of team hardware.

We already rank Jokic as a Top 30 player in NBA history and if anything, based on his accolades over the past five years, we might underrating him considering he has more MVP awards than a lot of the players just ahead of him on the list.

Regardless, Jokic hasn’t even turned 30 yet, so we’re excited to see where he lands in our all-time player ranking in five years based on how many more accolades he earns in his prime. The fact that Jokic’s game is not predicated on athleticism much at all makes us believe we could be looking at a LeBron James-esque peak by the Serbian center, who can score, rebound and create at elite levels.


Bob

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