Ranking the Top 50 NBA Players 2023-24 Part 1 (#50-41)
Who are the best basketball players in the world?
With the dust settled on the 2023-24 NBA season, I am going to attempt to rank the top 50 performers across it. Please bear in mind that this is based on their performances this season, not necessarily how good I think they are or have been in the past. This takes into account both the regular season and playoffs, though gives more weight to the latter as the postseason is the most important stage. This also focuses on individual performances, though also takes into account how much players contributed to their teams winning (especially in the playoffs).
Honorable Mention: Joel Embiid
Unfortunately, Joel Embiid was only able to play 39 regular season games this season due to injuries so he is not eligible for this list. Nevertheless, he is deserving of an honorable mention due to his incredible performances this season. He averaged 34.7 points, 11 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 blocks in the regular season - he would have won the scoring title and probably MVP too if he had been eligible. He tied Kareem’s record with 16 consecutive 30-point, 10-rebound games, and became the third player to score at least 30 in 20 straight games. The pinnacle of his season was a 70-18-5 performance against San Antonio, where he became the ninth player ever to score 70 plus points, and the first ever with a 70-15-5 statline. Philadelphia went 31-8 when Embiid played this season, so if he stayed healthy, there was a good chance they could have won over 60 games.
In the playoffs, he averaged 33 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks - including a 50-point game - despite struggling with injuries and Bell’s Palsy. Nevertheless, the 76ers lost to the New York Knicks in six games in the first round, meaning he is still yet to make it past the second round. Whilst Embiid is obviously a great player, he continues to garner a lot of criticism for his (lack of) playoff success, his injury record, his dirty play, and his foul-baiting. Will he be able to stay fit and prove the critics wrong next season?
#50: PJ Washington Jr.
Starting the season in Charlotte, I doubt anyone - not even himself - would have envisaged PJ Washington being a key player on a Finals team this year. He wasn’t even a solidified starter for the Hornets, only starting 17 out of the 44 games he played for them this season. Everything changed though when he was traded to Dallas, where he spent much of his childhood, at the deadline. Alongside fellow acquisition Daniel Gafford, Washington helped transform Dallas into a contender; after going 29-23 before the deadline, the Mavericks went 21-9 afterwards.
Despite never having played in the playoffs before, the postseason was where Washington really shone, especially in the second round against the top-seeded Thunder. Washington averaged 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds against OKC whilst providing great defense and shooting an incredible 46.9% from three-point range on over eight attempts per game (after shooting just 32% from range in the regular season). He won Game Six for the Mavs with two late free-throws, and he was their second best player throughout that series. Without PJ Washington, Dallas would not have made it to the finals this year.
#49: Jaren Jackson Jr.
With the Grizzlies being devastated by injuries this season, Jaren Jackson Jr. has had to carry them. He was the only Memphis player to start more than 42 games, and while 16 different players started over 10 games, star player Ja Morant was not one of them. In his absence, JJJ stepped up, averaging 22.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. The 2023 All Star and Defensive Player of the Year was also elite defensively this season, recording 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Memphis was unable to make the playoffs this season but it will be interesting to see how well the Grizzlies will do next year when their roster is (hopefully) more healthy.
#48: Scottie Barnes
Scottie Barnes, the 2022 Rookie of the Year, became an All Star for the first time this season. He recorded 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game, registering career-high averages in all five major statistical categories. He did all of this despite this being a turbulent year for the Toronto Raptors who completely transformed their team. Barnes was only able to play 60 games this year to injury, but hopefully will be healthier in the upcoming seasons where he will be looking to lead this young Raptors team to success.
#47: Lauri Markannen
In 2023, Lauri Markanen became an All Star for the first time, also being named the NBA Most Improved Player and Finnish Athlete of the Year. This season, he proved that he is not a flash in the pan; he averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and nearly a steal per game. While he is a seven-footer, he is a sharpshooter, managing to shoot 39.9% from three-point range on eight attempts per game. Unfortunately, he struggled with injuries and was only able to play 55 games. He will hopefully be more fit next season, though it could be on another team as he has been linked with a move away from Utah.
#46: Mikal Bridges
Mikal Bridges is the epitome of reliability; he has not missed a single NBA game since being drafted, playing 474 consecutive times. He started all 82 games this season for the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and a steal per game whilst being one of the best wing defenders in the league. He also finished joint-12th for total three-pointers made this season with 220. Having been traded across town to the Knicks in the offseason, he has been reunited with his former Villanova teammates, and will have the opportunity to be on a genuine contender next year.
#45: Brandon Ingram
Brandon Ingram was an important part of an overperforming New Orleans team this season. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. Sadly he is another player who has been plagued by injuries - he started just 64 times this year, which is actually the most games he has ever started in a season. A midrange maestro, he made 2.6 midrange field goals per game, the fifth most in the league.
In the play-in game against Sacramento, Ingram had to step up in the absence of the injured Zion, and he did so impressively - putting up 26 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and a block to send the Pelicans to the playoffs. He did struggle however as New Orleans were then swept by OKC. Ingram is another player that could be on the move this summer so it will be interesting to see where he ends up, or if he stays in New Orleans.
#44: Franz Wagner
Franz Wagner has been a crucial part of an Orlando Magic team which has punched above its weight this year. Few predicted the Magic to do well this season but they clinched the fifth seed with 47 wins, just three wins behind the second-seeded Knicks. Wagner averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks in the regular season, recording career high averages in all five major statistical categories.
The German then averaged 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 blocks per game in the playoffs as the Magic pushed the Cavaliers to seven games. However he had an awful performance in Game Seven, shooting 1/15 from the field. It was a huge disappointment but will hopefully be a learning experience - Wagner is still just 22 and his Orlando team is also very young so hopefully they will be able to continue improving over the next few seasons.
#43: James Harden
Ever controversial, James Harden’s early season move to the LA Clippers received a lot of criticism, especially after they went 5-9 in November. However, after they finally clicked, the Clippers went 23-5 across December and January. They ended up winning 51 games, thanks in no small part to Harden who averaged 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. While the former MVP may not be the scoring machine he once was, he is still an elite playmaker and ranked fourth in the league for assists.
In the playoffs, with Kawhi injured and Paul George misfiring, Harden was arguably the Clippers’ best player. He averaged 21.2 point, 4.5 rebounds, 8 assists plus a steal and a block per game whilst shooting 38.3% from range. Though it wasn’t enough to defeat the Dallas Mavericks - who went on to reach the Finals - the Clippers’ defeat shouldn’t be blamed on Harden. 35 going into next season, will he have another chance to contend for a championship?
#42: Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler is notorious for reaching a new level in the playoffs but nevertheless, he is still a great performer in the regular season. This year, he averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.3 steals per game whilst shooting 41.4% from three-point range - not bad for someone who supposedly only turns up in the playoffs. Due to injuries and personal issues, he was only able to play 60 games but he still managed to help Miami clinch the eighth seed. Unfortunately, he became injured again in the play-in, so we weren’t able to see playoff Jimmy this year. Like Harden, he will be 35 by the time next season starts - will he finally be able to win an NBA championship?
#41: Darius Garland
2022 All Star Darius Garland had another good season this year. He averaged 18 points, 6.5 assists and 1.3 steals in the regular season, helping Cleveland win 48 games and clinch the fourth seed in the East despite injuries to their star Donovan Mitchell. Garland suffered from his own injuries and was only able to play 57 regular season games. In the playoffs, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game as the Cavaliers defeated the Magic in seven games before losing in five to eventual champions Boston. It seems there are still fit issues between Garland and Mitchell, but if Cleveland can sort that out - and stay healthy - who knows how far they can go next season?
What do you think of my selections? Do you think these players should be ranked higher? Or not here at all? Who do you think was the best NBA player this season? Please let me know in the comments. Also stay tuned - a lot more basketball and sports content will be coming soon!