The best NBA players lead their teams to win the most games and championships. That isn’t complex analysis, but it’s objectively true. Ranking the best NBA players going into a season is essential in determining which teams are the favorites. It also forces one to think about the league’s superstars in agonizing detail. The difference between the best player and the 20th is obvious, but what about the difference between nos. 15 and 16?
We’ve attempted to figure out who the best NBA players are going into the 2022-2023 season. LWOS has conducted a staffwide survey, and we will be releasing profiles of the 20 best NBA players leading up to opening night on Tuesday, Oct. 18th.
Best NBA Players of the 2022-2023 Season by LWOS
The Best NBA Players Heading Into Opening Night
The NBA has as much high-end talent right now as any point in league history. Stephen Curry won Finals MVP and had the best postseason of his career. MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić are in their prime. Young up-and-comers like Luka Dončić, Ja Morant, and Jayson Tatum are coming off their best team postseason performances and must be eager to experience more winning.
Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lillard should be fully healthy and ready to prove (or improve) their rankings. Jimmy Butler established himself as one of the best playoff performers in the NBA; did that translate to our rankings? Did aging but effective guards Chris Paul and James Harden make the list? Who’s higher, LeBron James or Kevin Durant? And what did we do with Kyrie Irving?
Before those questions get answered, we’ve included a brief shoutout to five players who received votes but didn’t quite make our top 20. No. 20 drops soon…
The Best NBA Players – Nos. 25-21
T-25: Zach LaVine & DeMar DeRozan
24: Khris Middleton
23: Pascal Siakim
21: Bradley Beal
