The ceaseless questions about NBA ratings have yet to be answered.<\/p>\n
For many, the problem is combination of the product itself and the coverage. This argument has merit in the sense that there have criticisms about schematic diversity and defensive performance. Furthermore, the NBA media tends to be overwhelmingly negative. However, there\u2019s also the possibility that fans just don\u2019t know which players to look for and why.<\/p>\n
In the betting age, players have largely become numbers to sports fans. They don\u2019t know their story or play style just how many fantasy points they typically produce. With this piece, Last Word on Sports<\/em> will identify the top player from each NBA franchise, providing a summary of their abilities and what makes them so important to their team.<\/p>\n Trae Young<\/a> has been with the Atlanta Hawks since being drafted fifth overall in 2018. A supremely confident scorer with extraordinary playmaking talent<\/a>, he\u2019s universally regarded as the face of the franchise. The three-time All-Star has the highest career assist average (9.7) among active players.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Jalen Johnson<\/a><\/p>\n Jayson Tatum<\/a> has been with the Boston Celtics since being drafted third overall in 2017. Though a well-rounded forward, Tatum is one of the most formidable scorers in the NBA. In fact, the five-time All-Star has the fourth-highest career scoring average (23.3) in Celtics history.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Jaylen Brown<\/a><\/p>\n Ben Simmons<\/a> is in his third season with the Brooklyn Nets after being traded by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022. Thanks to multiple back injuries, the former No. 1 pick is no longer in his prime. However, his assists per 36 minutes this season (9.9) is currently the second-highest in Nets history.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Cam Thomas<\/a><\/p>\n LaMelo Ball<\/a> was drafted third overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2020. At 6-foot-7, the 2021 Rookie of the Year and one-time All-Star is one of the most gifted scorers and facilitators that\u2019s ever been seen. His career scoring average (21.0) and assist average (7.4) both rank third in franchise history.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Brandon Miller<\/a><\/p>\n Zach LaVine<\/a>\u2019s days with the Chicago Bulls may be numbered. However, he\u2019s done plenty for the franchise since signing as a free agent in 2018. An aerial acrobatic with a knack for knocking down long jumpers, the two-time Slam Dunk champion is on pace to be one of just five players to score at least 10,000 points in a Bulls jersey.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Lonzo Ball<\/a><\/p>\n Donovan Mitchell<\/a> has been with the Cleveland Cavaliers since they traded for him in 2022. Blessed with exhilarating athleticism, the five-time All-Star can be an offensive engine on any given night. Notably, his scoring average since joining the Cavs (26.9) ranks second all-time in franchise history.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Darius Garland<\/a><\/p>\n Luka Doncic<\/a> landing with the Dallas Mavericks wasn\u2019t a guarantee<\/a> but the former EuroLeague star has been everything they could\u2019ve hoped for and more. He\u2019s a rare talent with elite scoring instincts and a prodigious passing game. A triple-double threat every time he steps into the court, the 25-year-old is already one of the faces of the NBA, and rightfully so.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Kyrie Irving<\/a><\/p>\n Nikola Jokic<\/a> will go down as an all-time great and the Denver Nuggets may not have considered that a possibility when they drafted him in the second round. A three-time MVP who led the Nuggets to their first championship in NBA history, there\u2019s very little he can\u2019t do<\/a> on the hardwood. His stained glass personality isn\u2019t always colorful, but it does highlight the beauty of his game.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Russell Westbrook<\/a><\/p>\n Cade Cunningham<\/a>, the No. 1 pick in 2021, is being tasked with leading the Detroit Pistons back to relevance. That\u2019s a tall order for anyone but the Arlington native looks like he has what it takes<\/a>. A complete point guard, Cunningham ranks second in Pistons\u2019 history in career triple-doubles (7), has the ninth-highest career scoring average (20.5), and the third-highest career assist average (6.9).<\/p>\n Runner-up: Tim Hardaway Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n Stephen Curry<\/a> and the Golden State Warriors have transformed the game itself. As the best shooter of all-time, the threat of his three-ball is so great that it bends space and defenses. The two-time MVP and four-time NBA champion is now 36 years old, but he\u2019s focused on winning another title<\/a>.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Draymond Green<\/a><\/p>\n Few young players are discussed as much as Houston Rockets high-flyer Jalen Green<\/a>, who recently made an appearance on ESPN<\/a>. The second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Green looks like a future Hall of Famer when he\u2019s at his best. As he continues to hone his skills<\/a>, he\u2019ll have a chance to leave an indelible mark on the game.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Alperen Sengun<\/a><\/p>\n Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> has been among the NBA\u2019s elite point guards since being traded to the Indiana Pacers in his second season. A true floor general with an unorthodox but effective jump shot, he\u2019s must-watch TV. His team\u2019s breakneck pace makes him that much more exciting.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Pascal Siakam<\/a><\/p>\n James Harden<\/a> isn\u2019t the best player on the Los Angeles Clippers when healthy. He\u2019s not their most efficient scorer either. However, after years of being an offense onto himself while with the Houston Rockets, he\u2019s been a double-double machine for the Clippers largely because of his under-discussed basketball IQ.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Kawhi Leonard<\/a><\/p>\n LeBron James<\/a>\u2019s archenemy used to be players and teams that yearned to knock him out of the playoffs. Now it\u2019s Father Time, as James will turn 40 years old on Dec. 30. A four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP, and the NBA\u2019s all-time leading scorer, James has no parallels among his contemporaries<\/a>.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Anthony Davis<\/a><\/p>\n Ja Morant<\/a> walked into the league as a human highlight reel<\/a>. Murray State\u2019s highest-ever draft pick, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Morant second overall in 2019. The showstopper is now looking to lead his team to their first championship in franchise history.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Jaren Jackson Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n Jimmy Butler<\/a> has played for four teams during his storied career and the Miami Heat may not be the last one<\/a>. Nonetheless, the six-time All-Star has helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals twice this decade. A lockdown defender with the ability to take over a game offensively, he\u2019s among the best two-way players in the NBA.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Bam Adebayo<\/a><\/p>\n Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> is one of the rare players who actually tapped into his full potential<\/a>. When the Milwaukee Bucks drafted him 15th overall out of Greece, he was a skinny kid with a big dream. Now he\u2019s one of the most dominant finishers in NBA history and a two-time league MVP.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Damian Lillard<\/a><\/p>\n Anthony Edwards<\/a> has already emerged as one of the leaders of the new school. As charismatic as he is skilled, the Minnesota Timberwolves pack leader is often compared to NBA icon Michael Jordan<\/a>. He doesn\u2019t have one ring yet let alone six, but he looks talented enough to lead the Timberwolves to their first.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Rudy Gobert<\/a><\/p>\n Zion Williamson<\/a> is more than just a devastating in-game dunker. The 2019 No. 1 pick was putting his playmaking ability on display before the New Orleans Pelicans drafted him. Nonetheless, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind when assessing Williamson\u2019s game is that the NBA is lucky backboards are shatterproof now.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Brandon Ingram<\/a><\/p>\n Jalen Brunson<\/a> is a former second-round pick who left the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent<\/a> in 2022. The shifty shot-creator has played so well for the New York Knicks that they named him the team captain<\/a>. Now looking to strike while the iron is hot, the Knicks have put together one of the best starting lineups in the NBA.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a><\/p>\n Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> has transformed into a MVP candidate over the last two seasons. There were fans singing his praises when he at Kentucky and drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers. However, with him leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top of the Western Conference standings in back-to-back seasons, nobody can ignore how good he is now.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Chet Holmgren<\/a><\/p>\n Paolo Banchero<\/a> going No. 1 was the biggest surprise of the 2022 NBA Draft. The Orlando Magic definitely don\u2019t regret making such an unexpected move though. Banchero isn\u2019t just a premier young player, he\u2019s on a superstar trajectory<\/a> that even his peers recognize.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Franz Wagner<\/a><\/p>\n Joel Embiid<\/a> has all but become synonymous with the Philadelphia 76ers. \u201cThe Process\u201d hasn\u2019t led the franchise to the type of postseason success they hoped for when they drafted him third overall in 2014. Nonetheless, \u00a0the big man has often been a one-man army, even winning an NBA MVP award in 2023.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Paul George<\/a><\/p>\n Kevin Durant<\/a> is even more talented than he is controversial and that\u2019s saying something. A generational shot-maker who inspires many young players<\/a>, it would be interesting to see what his reputation would\u2019ve been like had he never left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors. For now, the two-time Finals MVP is on the Phoenix Suns, who hope that he\u2019ll ride into the sunset<\/a> with them.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Devin Booker<\/p>\n Deandre Ayton<\/a> is often criticized in the media. However, for those who appreciate the nuances of the game, particularly at the defensive end, he\u2019s under-appreciated and perhaps misunderstood. An on-court technician, the 2018 No. 1 pick was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Scoot Henderson<\/a><\/p>\n DeMar DeRozan<\/a> has been a fixture in the league since 2009. Drafted ninth overall out of USC, he spent the first nine seasons with the Toronto Raptors. He\u2019s hopped around since then but the midrange maestro is now back in his home state, attempting to win his first ring.<\/p>\n Runner-up: De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a><\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama<\/a> and the San Antonio Spurs seemed like a match made in heaven before he was drafted first overall in 2023 and to this point the angels are still singing. A legitimate quintuple-double threat, many players are under the impression<\/a> he could go down as the greatest player of all-time. The Frenchman is still figuring out who he is<\/a> as a player, but he\u2019s truly dominant.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Chris Paul<\/p>\n RJ Barrett<\/a> has evolved into an All-Star-level player<\/a> since\u00a0being traded to the Toronto Raptors last December. He already had the potential to be that, which is one of the reasons the New York Knicks had such high expectations for him. Nonetheless, the freedom and empowerment that he\u2019s receiving in his hometown has been a game-changer.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Scottie Barnes<\/a><\/p>\n Kyle Kuzma<\/a> already has a title under his belt, winning one with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Bubble. Since then, he\u2019s been trying to level up with the Washington Wizards, who have allowed him to explore his potential. Now a somewhat underrated player, the former No. 27 pick could be headed to another contender<\/a>.<\/p>\n Runner-up: Jordan Poole<\/a><\/p>\n Lauri Markkanen<\/a> has become the apple of the Utah Jazz\u2019s eye since being traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022. Not many 7-footers have such a pristine jumper, which has led to him being compared to Hall of Fame big man Dirk Nowitzki<\/a>. After signing a lucrative contract extension<\/a> in the offseason, he looks like he\u2019ll be in Salt Lake City for the long haul.<\/p>\nWho\u2019s The Biggest Player On All 30 NBA Teams?<\/h2>\n
Atlanta Hawks<\/h3>\n
Boston Celtics<\/h3>\n
Brooklyn Nets<\/h3>\n
Charlotte Hornets<\/h3>\n
Chicago Bulls<\/h3>\n
Cleveland Cavaliers<\/h3>\n
Dallas Mavericks<\/h3>\n
Denver Nuggets<\/h3>\n
Detroit Pistons<\/h3>\n
Golden State Warriors<\/h3>\n
Houston Rockets<\/h3>\n
Indiana Pacers<\/h3>\n
Los Angeles Clippers<\/h3>\n
Los Angeles Lakers<\/h3>\n
Memphis Grizzlies<\/h3>\n
Miami Heat<\/h3>\n
Milwaukee Bucks<\/h3>\n
Minnesota Timberwolves<\/h3>\n
New Orleans Pelicans<\/h3>\n
New York Knicks<\/h3>\n
Oklahoma City Thunder<\/h3>\n
Orlando Magic<\/h3>\n
Philadelphia 76ers<\/h3>\n
Phoenix Suns<\/h3>\n
Portland Trail Blazers<\/h3>\n
Sacramento Kings<\/h3>\n
San Antonio Spurs<\/h3>\n
Toronto Raptors<\/h3>\n
Washington Wizards<\/h3>\n
Utah Jazz<\/h3>\n