Top 10 – Each Position: ’23-’24

Top 10 best players at each position

*For this exercise, though nearly every player in the league plays multiple positions or redefined positions or nontraditional positions or positionless basketball, we’ll be basing this list on the standard roles of Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward, & Center.

*This list is fluid. It will change each season, and often midseason.

*Also important to this exercise, we need to define what “best” actually means. So let me first explain what it does NOT mean.

• Most valuable player to their team
• Most physically talented player
• Best all-around player
• Most dominant player
• Player I’d want taking a last second shot
• Player I’d want in a must win game
• Player I’d start my organization with

All of those definitions are fine, but each is flawed. Additionally, we must eliminate variables that can influence the decision, such as contract, organizational situation, head coach, etc. However, variables that are included in consideration are things like proneness to injury and off-court issues, as these issues directly affect on-court availability.

Here is the most accurate way to define what “best” means in the NBA, and therefore, the criteria I use in formulating this list:

• The BEST PLAYER is the first player I would pick – from the entire pool of available NBA players – if I were starting a team today – with the goal of winning a championship THIS SEASON. 

So, based on this rule, and with the understanding that the answer will be different for anyone and everyone, here is my list.

-As of 10/24/23-

POINT GUARDS

1. Steph Curry
2. Luka Doncic
3. Damian Lillard
4. Jamal Murray
5. Tyrese Haliburton
6. De’Aaron Fox
7. LaMelo Ball
8. Darius Garland
9. Jrue Holiday
10. Tyrese Maxey

SHOOTING GUARDS

1. Devin Booker
2. SGA
3. Donovan Mitchell
4. Anthony Edwards
5. Desmond Bane
6. Jaylen Brown
7. Dejounte Murray
8. Zach Lavine
9. Klay Thompson
10. Bradley Beal

SMALL FORWARDS

1. Jayson Tatum
2. LeBron James
3. Kawhi Leonard
4. Jimmy Butler
5. Paul George
6. OG Anunoby
7. Mikel Bridges
8. Franz Wagner
9. Scottie Barnes
10. Demar DeRozen

POWER FORWARDS

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Kevin Durant
3. Aaron Gordon
4. Lauri Markkanen
5. Pascal Siakam
6. Jaren Jackson Jr.
7. Paolo Banchero
8. Evan Mobley
9. Zion Williamson
10. Julius Randle

CENTERS

1. Nikola Jokic
2. Joel Embiid
3. Anthony Davis
4. Bam Adebayo
5. Domas Sabonis
6. Karl-Anthony Towns
7. Rudy Gobert
8. Kristaps Porzingis
9. Nikola Vucevic
10. Myles Turner