Ranking the greatest NBA players in the world right now from LeBron James and Nikola Jokic to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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 during the 2024-25 season. LeBron James is hoping for another ring with the LakersGetty 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. Big men used to be everything in basketball, while some of the league’s greatest players have never won a ring. LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are still making modern history. But Victor Wembanyama is changing the future of the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crashed last year’s MVP debate, and Anthony Edwards is drawing MJ comparisons. With Joel Embiid falling out of the top 20 and Luka Doncic joining ‘The King’ on the Los Angeles Lakers, here is talkSPORT’s inside look at the best NBA players in the world right now. 20. 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 nine All-Star honors. Irving was mission critical for the Mavericks as they made the NBA Finals last season. But a frustrating ACL injury has put Irving’s immediate future into question. Kyrie Irving has a long road back to the court but is still an elite playerGetty 19. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks A strong All-Star campaign has reminded the NBA of ‘Dame Time’. One of the best scorers in the league struggled to live up to his name last year. But year two in Milwaukee had brought out the best in the 34-year-old Lillard, until a blood cot temporarily shut him down. NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals 18. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers There were several reasons that the 76ers moved on from a disgruntled James Harden. Maxey’s huge NBA upside was near the top of the list. With Joel Embiid suffering through a major down year, Maxey became the 76ers’ most trusted name. He was averaging 26 points and leading as Philly’s most dependable player before a frustrating finger injury shut him down. 17. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics Trae Young puts up bigger stats but Brown is a world champion for a reason. The Boston tough guy is a huge piece for the Celtics, teaming with Jayson Tatum to keep the reigning champs near the top of the Eastern Conference. Reigning Finals MVP Brown can do it all for Boston, and he’d put up even bigger numbers on a lesser team. Jaylen Brown finished on top last year 16. 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 surpassed 30,000 points in his career and is coming off a fourth gold medal with Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Even at 36, few players in the world are as skilled offensively as the Slim Reaper. His main drawback right now is that the Suns aren’t serious title contenders. 15. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns A couple of years ago, Booker was on the verge of becoming one of the best players in the league. He’s still near the top, despite another painful playoff letdown by Phoenix last season. Booker has a big-shot, big-game mentality and is one of the premier closers in the NBA. Phoenix faces big questions, though, and Booker still needs a ring. 14. Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks Davis is a force – when he’s healthy. A blockbuster trade to Dallas shook up the NBA. Davis wowed Mavericks fans in his debut, but then he was forced to leave the court and miss several weeks of action. His 26.5 PER, which ranks fifth in the league, is a reminder of Davis’ full-court talent. 13. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies Before he got into serious trouble with the NBA, Morant was one of the bright new stars in the league. He’s regained his flash this season, pushing Memphis near the top of the Western Conference. Morant is still only 25 and should be playing for another decade. All he has to do is stay on the court and keep putting up huge numbers. Ja Morant has All-NBA talent and is enjoying a rebound yearGetty 12. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks Brunson has evolved from a second-round pick into the new face of the Knicks. He kept New York near
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 during the 2024-25 season.
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.
Big men used to be everything in basketball, while some of the league’s greatest players have never won a ring.
LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are still making modern history.
But Victor Wembanyama is changing the future of the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crashed last year’s MVP debate, and Anthony Edwards is drawing MJ comparisons.
With Joel Embiid falling out of the top 20 and Luka Doncic joining ‘The King’ on the Los Angeles Lakers, here is talkSPORT’s inside look at the best NBA players in the world right now.
20. 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 nine All-Star honors.
Irving was mission critical for the Mavericks as they made the NBA Finals last season.
But a frustrating ACL injury has put Irving’s immediate future into question.
19. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
A strong All-Star campaign has reminded the NBA of ‘Dame Time’.
One of the best scorers in the league struggled to live up to his name last year.
But year two in Milwaukee had brought out the best in the 34-year-old Lillard, until a blood cot temporarily shut him down.
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Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama
Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone
10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus
Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
18. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
There were several reasons that the 76ers moved on from a disgruntled James Harden.
Maxey’s huge NBA upside was near the top of the list.
With Joel Embiid suffering through a major down year, Maxey became the 76ers’ most trusted name.
He was averaging 26 points and leading as Philly’s most dependable player before a frustrating finger injury shut him down.
17. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Trae Young puts up bigger stats but Brown is a world champion for a reason.
The Boston tough guy is a huge piece for the Celtics, teaming with Jayson Tatum to keep the reigning champs near the top of the Eastern Conference.
Reigning Finals MVP Brown can do it all for Boston, and he’d put up even bigger numbers on a lesser team.
16. 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 surpassed 30,000 points in his career and is coming off a fourth gold medal with Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Even at 36, few players in the world are as skilled offensively as the Slim Reaper.
His main drawback right now is that the Suns aren’t serious title contenders.
15. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
A couple of years ago, Booker was on the verge of becoming one of the best players in the league.
He’s still near the top, despite another painful playoff letdown by Phoenix last season.
Booker has a big-shot, big-game mentality and is one of the premier closers in the NBA.
Phoenix faces big questions, though, and Booker still needs a ring.
14. Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks
Davis is a force – when he’s healthy.
A blockbuster trade to Dallas shook up the NBA.
Davis wowed Mavericks fans in his debut, but then he was forced to leave the court and miss several weeks of action.
His 26.5 PER, which ranks fifth in the league, is a reminder of Davis’ full-court talent.
13. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Before he got into serious trouble with the NBA, Morant was one of the bright new stars in the league.
He’s regained his flash this season, pushing Memphis near the top of the Western Conference.
Morant is still only 25 and should be playing for another decade.
All he has to do is stay on the court and keep putting up huge numbers.
12. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Brunson has evolved from a second-round pick into the new face of the Knicks.
He kept New York near the top of a strong Eastern Conference last season and produced a career year, which resulted in an All-Star honor.
Once a backup for the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson’s attacking style made him an MVP contender in 2023-24.
Knicks fans love Brunson and he’s been perfect for New York.
But he must be healthy when the playoffs kick in.
11. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
A healthy and fit Doncic will soon be much higher on this list.
He has all the talent in the world and has drawn better-than-Dirk-Nowitzki comparisons.
Doncic can be unstoppable on offense and is still only 26-years-old.
Now he can learn the ways of the force from LeBron James in Los Angeles and become the next face of the Lakers.
10. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
James rivals Michael Jordan as the best player in NBA history.
Only one of the two averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists and shot 54 percent from the field at age 39.
All hail ‘The King’, who became the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 points.
Now he has Doncic in Los Angeles, while his son Bronny is also an occasional Laker.
It will be hard to rise to the top of the West.
But James should be even better with Doncic in purple and gold.
9. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
The greatest shooter of all-time recently added Jimmy Butler, and Curry is still playing at a very high level.
But whether Golden State can make another Finals run with No. 30 is a growing question.
The Warriors have lost Klay Thompson and Draymond Green can be unreliable.
Curry has spent years carrying Golden State.
He’s made more than 4,000 3-pointers, but another ring is his main goal.
8. 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, Mitchell is averaging 24. points while Cleveland is fighting for the best record in the NBA.
The former Jazzman is a dynamic talent and has become the new face of the Cavs in a post-LeBron era.
A $150 million extension last offseason ensured that Mitchell is staying in Cleveland.
7. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama will soon be in the top five of this loaded list if he keeps taking over the league.
While the Spurs spent 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 21-year-old from France.
But Wembanyama is already a unanimous Rookie of the Year, and he’s scored 50 points in a game.
The Spurs need to start winning nightly with De’Aaron Fox and Wemby.
But first Wembanyama must get healthy and find his way back to the court.
6. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
A recent 40-point outburst was a reminder of KAT’s power.
Pairing with Brunson, the Knicks duo are trying to climb past Cleveland and Boston in the East.
Towns spent years putting up big numbers with Minnesota.
A huge trade gave him a better shot at reaching the Finals with New York.
5. 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 an NBA championship.
The former Duke star can score from anywhere on the court and has an all-around game that makes Larry Bird proud.
Now, he finally has his elusive NBA title and gave the Celtics a record 18th championship.
Tatum even got to share the once-in-a-lifetime moment with his son.
4. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Best known as ‘Ant-Man’, the speedy and athletic guard has taken over the Timberwolves.
Edwards’s leaping ability and aggressive offensive style are perfect for the contemporary NBA.
A big playoff run moved him higher on this list and his talent shined in last year’s playoffs.
But with Towns in New York, the T-Wolves have been inconsistent this season.
Edwards is too talented to be fighting for the middle of the pack in the West.
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.
The Bucks have two stars with Antetokounmpo and Lillard wearing the same uniform.
A deep playoff run is a must this season.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
SGA is a scoring machine, and his talent is matched by his confidence and charisma.
After spending years rebuilding and losing, OKC has serious hope with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge.
The Thunder are one of the best teams in the NBA, while SGA is a serious MVP candidate.
No one is surprised by Shai anymore.
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
The joke is on you if you still doubt Jokic, who pulled off the first 30-20-20 in NBA history.
He’s already won three MVPs and again has the Nuggets near the top of the West.
‘The Joker’ 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.
