NBA players are among the best athletes in the world.
To rank among the best of the best in The Association is to truly be on top of the basketball mountain.
LeBron James is the oldest player in the NBA but still one of the best basketball players in the worldCredit: Getty
While Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Bill Russell constantly dominate the conversation for the greatest NBA players of all-time, all of those names have recorded their final minutes on the hardwood.
In the current NBA, 3-pointers are everything and high-paced offenses run the show.
LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are still making modern history, while rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama is changing the future of the league and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is crashing the MVP debate.
Here is talkSPORT’s inside look at the best NBA players in the world right now.
20. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Best known as Ant, the speedy and athletic guard has helped turn Minnesota from a cellar dweller into one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
Edwards’s leaping ability and aggressive offensive style are perfect for the contemporary NBA.
A big playoff run will move him higher on this list and he has the talent to shine in the playoffs.
19. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama will soon be in the top 10 of this loaded list if he keeps taking over the league.
While the Spurs have spent much of his rookie season as one of the worst teams in the NBA, Wemby has exceeded his draft hype to wow everyone from Durant to James.
There’s a long way to go for the 20-year-old from France.
But when you’re averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.8 percent from the field in year one, the only way to go for Wemby is up.
Victor Wembanyama has more than lived up to his huge rookie hypeCredit: Getty
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18. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
While Irving was wrong about the world being flat, he’s spent the last decade destroying ankles and shredding opposing defenses.
The 2011-12 Rookie of the Year already has a ring and has earned eight All-Star honors.
This season, he entered the All-Star break averaging 25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists, while pairing with superstar Luka Doncic in a deep Dallas backcourt.
Kyrie Irving can still be one of the league’s best players when he gives his all
17. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
It’s easy argue that Butler is one of the best all-around basketball players in the world.
He excels on defense, is an old-school team leader and almost carried Miami to an NBA Finals trophy.
Butler’s do-everything approach has also seen him score 56 points in a playoff game, which places him in rare air in basketball history.
16. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Brunson has evolved from a second-round pick into the new face of the Knicks.
He’s kept New York near the top of a strong Eastern Conference and is having a career year, which already resulted in an All-Star honor.
Once a backup for the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson’s attacking style has made him an MVP contender in 2023-24.
Jalen Brunson is making the New York Knicks relevant again and that’s not easy
15. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
A couple years ago, Booker was on the verge of becoming one of the best players in the league.
He’s still near the top, despite a few painful playoff letdowns by Phoenix.
Booker has a big-shot, big-game mentality and is one of the premier closers in the NBA.
After initially struggling with expectations, he’s widely regarded as one of the smoothest offensive stars on the planet.
14. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Williamson is still more hype than reality, and the start of his career has been wrecked by everything from injuries to a lack of effort.
But there is no doubt that when he’s on, the No. 1 pick in 2019 is a game-changing talent with a generational impact.
Williamson is averaging 24.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his career, while shooting a staggering 60 percent from the field.
If he truly dedicated himself to his craft, he could be one of the biggest names in the league.
Zion Williamson still hasn’t lived up to his hype but he’s having a breakout year
13. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Tatum is one of the smoothest and purest basketball players in the world.
He’s climbed up the annual MVP vote while carrying Boston to the precipice of an NBA championship.
The former Duke star can score from anywhere on the court and has an all-around game that should make Larry Bird proud.
12. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
James rivals Michael Jordan as the best player in NBA history.
Only one of the two was still averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists and shooting 52 percent from the field at age 39.
All hail The King.
It’s going to be hard for James to win another ring with the Lakers.
But he outscored the rival Los Angeles Clippers by himself in a recent thrilling fourth-quarter comeback.
James is also still a must watch every time he takes the court and has barely slowed down 21 years after entering the league.
James still has his ups and is defying normal expectations at his age
11. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
The greatest shooter of all-time needs a better supporting cast in 2023-24.
Curry is still playing at an exceptionally high level.
He also lifted up the men’s and women’s games by battling the WNBA’s Sabrina Ionescu in an All-Star Weekend 3-point shootout that could become one of his greatest contributions to the sport.
All that’s missing for Curry in 2023-24 is a Warriors team that can win another title.
10. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
The Klaw has a shot at an NBA championship again.
Leonard has already won two titles with two different teams and two NBA Finals MVPs.
Winning it all with the Los Angeles Clippers would be his biggest accomplishment.
He’s entering the second stage of his career but is still one of the most efficient — and impressive — players in the league.
Kawhi Leonard has become one of the most underrated players in the NBA
9. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Davis gives the Lakers two players on this list.
In 2023-24, he’s better than The King and is quietly having a monster season.
Davis entered the All-Star break averaging 24.9 points and 12.2 rebounds while shooting a sweet 55.3 percent from the floor and 81 percent from the line.
If the Lakers can make a second-half run, Davis can carry Los Angeles in the playoffs.
8. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
For all the time that Durant spends defending himself and his basketball legacy, no one doubts how talented he is.
He had a superb first half of the season, averaging 28.2 points while sinking 44.3 percent of his 3s and 87.1 percent of his free throws.
Even at 35, few players in the world are as skilled offensively as the Slim Reaper.
Kevin Durant is still competing at a high level in his 15th year
7. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Haliburton’s breakout year has Indiana in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.
He’s averaging career highs in points (21.8) and assists (11.7), a year after receiving Most Improved Player votes.
The 23-year-old Pacer is one of the bright new faces in the league, yet plays the game with a respectful style that old-school veterans can respect.
6. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell bet on himself by bouncing out of Utah.
He’s been even better with the Cavaliers, taking the next step in a career that has already featured five All-Star selections and an All-NBA second team honor.
This season, he’s averaging a career-high 28.4 points while Cleveland tries to catch Boston in the East.
Mitchell is a dynamic talent and has become the new face of the Cavs in a post-LeBron era.
Donovan Mitchell has lifted up Cleveland after being stuck in Utah too long
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
The surprise name on this list is leading the surprise team of the season.
Alexander is a scoring machine, building off a sparkling 2022-23 to ignite the Thunder’s surge this year.
His talent is matched by his confidence and charisma.
After spending years rebuilding and losing, OKC has serious hope with Alexander leading the charge.
The Thunder entered March with the best record in the West, while SGA was averaging an MVP-like 31.2 points, 6.5 assists and 5.6 rebounds on super-efficient 54.8 percent shooting.
4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
All that’s missing from Doncic’s early NBA résumé is a Finals run.
He has all the talent in the world and recently drew better-than-Dirk-Nowitzki comparisons.
Nowitzki won it all with the Mavericks and beat LeBron James for a world title, so Doncic still has big work to do.
But he’s almost unstoppable on offense and is still only 24-years-old.
Luka Doncic is too talented to keep falling short in the playoffs
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
In most worlds, the Greek Freak would be the best basketball player on the planet.
Antetokounmpo has already done it all, winning the NBA Finals and twice being named the league’s MVP.
Stick around long enough, though, and you see everything.
This year, Antetokounmpo has been shadowed by constant change on and off the court.
He needs Damian Lillard to step for the Greek Freak to dominate the world again.
2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
On any given night, Embiid is the true unstoppable force in the NBA.
His 70-points photo says it all, while the 76ers big man was set to win another MVP before another frustrating injury held him back.
What’s obvious is that during an era when speedy guards and constant 3s dominate the NBA, the true dominant force is the modern big man stretching the floor and dominating the paint.
Joel Embiid would be the No. 1 player in the world if he could stay healthy
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
The joke is on you if you still doubt Jokic.
He’s on pace for his third MVP and has kept the Nuggets near the top of the West, despite major injuries this season.
Jokic is an unbelievable shooter and passer, and plays basketball so smoothly it’s easy to miss how dominant he is.
He’s also one of the best stories in the NBA.
A young kid from Serbia evolved from a second-round draft pick into the greatest basketball player in the world.
