Ranking The Top 100 NBA Players For The 2023-24 Season: 30-11

• The following NBA Players rank 30-11 for the upcoming 2023-24 season

• There is only one former Finals MVP among the players ranked 30-11 for the 2023-24 season

• The list of NBA players ranked 30-11 for the 2023-24 season features players that have a total of 12 NBA Finals appearances

As we continue our countdown of the top 100 NBA players for the 2023-24 season, we have arrived at the beginning of our top 30. Up to this point, we have covered 70 NBA players worthy of recognition heading into this NBA season for what they have done or are expected to do on the court. Now, it is time to begin to break down the elite players and difference-makers for their respective teams and the top 30-11 players for this upcoming year. 

As you go through this list, it will be important to remember a few things. What each player has done in their career definitely holds weight, but not as much as you think it does. If a player was an MVP and champion five years ago, that’s great, but it doesn’t mean much when it comes to 2023-24. This is about the top 100 players for this season not for players in their prime. If a player has begun to show signs of decline, that will be reflected in their rankings.

For those of you unfamiliar with our rankings thus far, they can be found below so you know what to expect moving forward:

Ranking The Top NBA Players For The 2023-24 Season: 100-51

Ranking The Top 100 NBA Players For The 2023-24 Season: 50-31

Now that you are familiar with our previous rankings, let’s get into the top 30-11 NBA players for the 2023-24 season.

30. Brandon Ingram

2022-23 Stats: 24.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG

For the past few seasons, we have all been patiently waiting for Brandon Ingram to take that next leap into superstardom with the New Orleans Pelicans. With a build and game similar to that of Kevin Durant, the expectations put on Brandon Ingram may have been a little too far-fetched at this point in his career. That doesn’t mean he won’t get there though.

Ingram dealt with injuries for most of 2022=23, missing 37 games altogether on the year. It was the least amount of games he has ever played in a season in his career and a concerning trend that has continued since arriving in New Orleans in 2019-20. Ingram has all the talent in the world on the offensive side of the ball, especially as a three-level scorer and shot-creator with exceptional handles and soft touch on his mid-range shots.

In 2023-24, the Pelicans need Ingram to be healthy whether Zion Williamson is or not. If healthy, they could have one of the best trios in the NBA and coast to the NBA playoffs. If they struggle with injuries again, a healthy Ingram is good enough to get them to the playoffs on his own. If both unhealthy and missing games, they are doomed for another underwhelming year.

29. Bradley Beal

2022-23 Stats: 23.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG

For the first time in his career, Bradley Beal will begin the 2023-24 season in a uniform other than the Washington Wizards. After 11 seasons in DC, Beal finally waived his no-trade clause and approved a deal that sent him to the Phoenix Suns to join Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The trade comes just one year after signing a massive extension with Washington that will pay him over $50 million annually starting in 2024-25.

Beal has slowed in recent years in Washington, missing a combined 74 games since the start of the 2021-22 season. When healthy, he has been the same old scoring machine who would be a number-one option almost anywhere else he went. Since 2021-22, Beal has averaged 23.3 points per game on 48.0% shooting from the field. In 2023-24, I expect those numbers to remain consistent and here’s why.

Beal enters the Suns rotation as a third option for the first time at any point in his career. As talented of an iso scorer as he is, he will get many opportunities to showcase those skills with all of the defensive focus on Durant and Booker. Beal has never been surrounded by this much firepower which will also give him a more consistent route to tapping into his playmaking skills which we know can be great if given the chance. Beal may miss out on an All-Star selection this season but I think he would gladly trade that for a legitimate chance at an NBA title.

28. Pascal Siakam

2022-23 Stats: 24.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Since 2019, it seems as if Pascal Siakam has been one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He became an NBA champion that year and since then has made two All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams. In 2022-23, he was an All-Star for the Toronto Raptors averaging a career-high 24.2 points per game and a career-high 5.8 assists per game.

Siakam is clearly one of the NBA’s best all-around offensive talents and he gives the Raptors a solid 1-2 punch with him and Scottie Barnes taking centerstage. The 2023-24 season is going to be the most important and most scrutinized of Siakam’s career as rumors continue to swirl about his future with the team and whether or not he will leave in free agency or be traded before it gets to that point.

On the court, this will clearly be Siakam’s team to at least start the season. He will be asked, at minimum, to keep this team in a playoff chase and alive in the play-in hunt as they transition to a new coaching staff and roster. As the longest-tenured player on the Raptors remaining, all the blame, or credit will fall into his lap. The only thing that remains to be seen is how he will respond to it.

27. Domantas Sabonis

2022-23 Stats: 19.1 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 7.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

The 2022-23 season was one of the best of Domantas Sabonis’ career so far as the 27-year-old from Lithuania helped break a 17-year playoff drought in Sacramento. Sabonis, along with his teammate De’Aaron Fox, willed the Kings to their best season since the days of Chris Webber and Vlade Divac as they won 48 games and pushed the defending champion Golden State Warriors to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.

Sabonis was the perfect complement to Fox as he took home the NBA’s rebounding title with 12.3 rebounds per game, averaged a career-high 7.3 assists per game, and shot a career-high 61.5% from the field. Sabonis’ offensive play out of the pick-and-roll both as a scorer who can put the ball on the floor and a talented passer, put the Kings over the top as one of the better teams the West had to offer.

With great achievements come greater expectations and that is exactly what Sabonis will face in 2023-24. Coming off an All-Star season, I am expecting Sabonis to have this Kings team right back in the thick of the playoff picture in 2023-24. Sabonis’ playmaking from the center position is something that can clearly be successful in today’s NBA and is what the Kings need to turn to this season in order to take their team to the next level.

26. Paul George

2022-23 Stats: 23.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG

There is no doubt that when it comes to pure skill, Paul George is a top-15 talent in the NBA. His offensive game tape should be hung in a museum after his career is over with his ability to create space and knock down difficult shots from every range and every spot on the court. However, the past few seasons have hurt George’s stock as injuries begin to pile up and big games are constantly missed.

After missing over 50 games due to an elbow injury in 2021-22, George would miss 26 regular season games and the entire playoffs for the Clippers in 2022-23 effectively cutting their season short. Had George been on the floor, there is no doubt in my mind they could have pushed Phoenix to seven games.

Obviously, the number-one concern for George in 2023-24 is to stay on the court and have the Clippers in a position to compete in a very competitive Western Conference. He has shown that he can lead this team with or without Kawhi Leonard on the court but they are much more of a powerhouse when they are both there. They need his offense just as badly as they will need his elite perimeter defense if they wish to advance past the first round this season.

25. Karl-Anthony Towns

2022-23 Stats: 20.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG

The 2022-23 season was very unkind to Karl-Anthony Towns in his first full season of giving the power forward position a shot. When healthy, Towns looked initially uncomfortable with the more soaked-out role but by the end of the season, had looked more comfortable and more sharp from the spot on the offensive end at least.

I know that many fans have been clamoring for Towns to add a more physical nature and aggression to his game that we historically see from NBA big men. At this point, we need to realize that Towns is a finesse big, which is something the Timberwolves can work around if they get the other four players sharing the court on the same page.

Towns will have to get used to being a second option on offense now that Anthony Edwards has molded into the better offensive player. Rudy Gobert will have to be the Timberwolves’ defensive anchor on the interior with Towns stepping out and taking on assignments with more perimeter-based power forwards becoming the norm. With Towns healthy and the team in rhythm, Minnesota can surprise some people and make some noise this season in the West and beyond.

24. Trae Young

2022-23 Stats: 26.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 10.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG

For Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, the last two seasons have been filled with doubt and despair following a run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. Despite elite point guard play from Young, the Hawks have failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. Somehow, Young wasn’t an All-Star or All-NBA Team consideration in 2022-23 which will be a chip on his shoulder considering the numbers he has put up.

For the second season in a row, Young led the NBA in total assists with 300 on the season. He fell just shy of 2,000 points as well but was clearly still among the best point guards in the entire NBA. He is particularly dangerous in the pick-and-roll where he either attacks and finishes with his patented floater or finds his bigs on the roll or other open teammates regularly.

The 2023-24 season will not only be a test of Young’s consistency as a passer and scorer. His efficiency as a shooter has dropped over the last two seasons and the Hawks have had no real leader come forward and take the reins of this team. With new coach Quin Snyder at the helm and Young heading into his sixth season, the Hawks look to get back on track with Young embracing that role completely.

23. Anthony Edwards

2022-23 Stats: 24.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Anthony Edwards is not only one of the best young shooting guards in the NBA but, in just his fourth season, is heading into the year ranked among the top 25 players in the entire league. Edwards has earned that distinction thanks to his continued development and improvement at every facet of the game.

In 2022-23, Edwards averaged a career-high 24.6 points per game and increased his efficiency across the board. He elevated his overall field goal percentage to 45.9%, up from 44.1% in 2022, and he improved his three-point shooting to 36.9%. Edwards also added a fantastic all-around defensive game that helped him average a career-high 1.6 steals per game and led to Minnesota having the 10th-ranked defense in the NBA.

The one thing I wish to see from Edwards in 2023-24 is to assert himself as the clear primary option for this team moving forward. We know he doesn’t lack the confidence to do so but now we just need to see it in action for an entire season. The Minnesota Timberwolves are clearly a much better team when things are run through Edwards and I think with an All-NBA leap in year four, he will have them fighting for much more than a first-round series win.

22. Kyrie Irving

2022-23 Stats: 27.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG

I am sure that the 2022-23 season is one that Kyrie Irving would like to put in the rearview mirror as quickly as possible. From the fall of the Big 3 in Brooklyn to his arrival in Dallas doing nothing to save their season from utter collapse, Irving is desperate to hit the court and change the narrative about his impact on the game.

Despite missing 22 games for various reasons, Irving had a great season individually for the Nets and Mavericks last season. He averaged 27.1 points per game on 49.4% shooting overall and 37.9% shooting from three. Thanks to other issues, the potential pairing of himself and Luka Doncic as a star backcourt left much to be desired thanks to their failure to even qualify for the play-in tournament.

Now, it is put up or shut up time for the Mavericks and Irving. Dallas showed they believed in Irving with a three-year, $126 million deal that includes a player option for 2025-26. Irving has to make the investment worth it if things are going to change around how important he can be to team success. Kyrie Irving is an All-Star and All-NBA level talent. If that is his focus this season, the Mavericks should be in good shape heading toward a playoff run in 2024.

21. Zion Williamson

2022-23 Stats: 26.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Ah yes, the ever-controversial ranking of one Zion Williamson. No matter where I put him heading into the 2023-24 season, it will be seen as too high by many and too low by others. You cannot seem to get it right with Williamson and that has everything to do with his potential but inability to stay on the court.

Williamson got off to a very promising start in 2022-23, averaging 26.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in his first 29 starts. He shot over 60.0% from the field once again as well, showcasing his extremely efficient touch around the basket and intelligent shot selection. However, injuries to his foot and hip would sideline him for the Pelicans’ remaining 53 games as they once again tapped out early in a season filled with high expectations.

For Williamson, obviously, his health and fitness are what come first. When healthy, he is among the top 10 players in the game at just 23 years old. His talent is so polarizing that he can single-handedly be the reason the Pelicans compete for a chance at a championship, or he can be the reason they miss the playoffs completely if not on the court. I am rooting for 60 games or more out of him in 2023-24 and if we get that, this ranking will prove to be too low, and Williamson will prove to be a true difference-maker in this league.

20. Ja Morant

2022-23 Stats:26.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 8.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG

I have seen various ratings for Memphis’ Ja Morant heading into 2023-24 but anything outside the top 20 is absolutely crazy to me. I completely understand that the off-the-court antics that find him suspended for the first 25 games of the season are concerning but at the same time, I am willing to overlook that for now when strictly evaluating his basketball talent.

On the court, Ja Morant is a bonafide leader and as talented as any other player in the NBA. His athleticism speaks for itself but his overall game has developed as a three-level scoring threat, playmaker, and defender. His willingness to involve his teammates and get away from hero ball has allowed Memphis to take strides as a unit despite back-to-back early exits in the NBA playoffs in 2022 and 2023.

After returning from suspension, it is going to be very important for Morant to show the world he has matured enough to take Memphis to the next level. Some may say that the distractions caused by Morant the last two seasons have been a big part of the problem of why the Grizzlies have fallen short in their pursuit of a championship. With his talent and skill clearly intact, Morant can lead Memphis to new heights as a franchise with some simple maturity.

19. Bam Adebayo

2022-23 Stats: 20.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG

The 2022-23 season performance from Bam Adebayo lifted his stock to new heights as a top 20 player in the NBA. Adebayo showed once again why he is one of the best defenders in the game with his second All-Star selection and his fourth career selection to the All-Defensive Second Team. Adebayo also had the best offensive season of his career with a career-high 20.4 points per game on 54.0% shooting.

His performance got even better as the Miami Heat made their way through the play-in tournament and through the NBA playoffs for their second Finals berth since 2020. Adebayo averaged 17.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game during Miami’s most recent Finals run and should be one of the heavy favorites to take home Defensive Player of the Year in 2023-24.

Adebayo will be Miami’s defensive anchor once again in 2023-24 but with much more of an offensive workload coming his way. The Heat missed out on Damian Lillard this offseason while also losing impactful role players such as Max Strus and Gabe Vincent. The days of doubting Adebayo or Miami’s ability as a whole are over and I believe Adebayo has reached the level where he and Jimmy Butler are enough to make them a championship contender.

18. Jamal Murray

2022-23 Stats: 20.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG

The 2022-23 season was one for the history books for Jamal Murray both on a personal and professional level. Toward the end of 2020-21, Murray tore his ACL which would cost him the rest of that season and the entire 2021-22 season. He begged the Nuggets not to give up on him and when he returned in 2022-23, after a brief adjustment period, he helped lead them to their first NBA title in team history.

Murray was one of the closers for the Nuggets throughout their entire 2023 championship run. On multiple occasions, Murray took over fourth quarters and was able to control the offense. This gave the Nuggets yet another elite weapon outside of Nikola Jokic. The results were 26.1 points and 7.1 assists per game on 47.3% shooting for Murray and a championship ring.

Coming off an NBA championship, Murray should be motivated to show there are no signs of a hangover for him or for the Nuggets as a team. I expect Murray to be at least in consideration for his first All-Star selection and to have the Nuggets back in contention for their second NBA title.

17. Jaylen Brown

2022-23 Stats: 26.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Coming off one of the best seasons in his young career, Jaylen Brown was rewarded handsomely by the Boston Celtics. This summer, Boston inked Brown to a five-year, $304 million deal, the richest in NBA history. The Celtics have made it clear they are investing in him for the foreseeable future along with superstar teammate Jayson Tatum.

Brown finished 2022-23 with the second All-Star selection of his career and the first All-NBA Team selection of his career. He averaged a career-high 26.6 points per game as well as a career-high 6.9 rebounds per game and a career-high 49.1% shooting percentage. Brown also helped lead the Celtics to their fourth berth in the Eastern Conference Finals since he arrived in 2016-17.

What I am hoping to see from Brown this season is a more controlled sense of urgency. What I mean by that is not forcing the issue and giving up simple possessions by dribbling into traffic or forcing bad passes. Rather, Brown attacks when he can and defer to the weapons around him when his opportunities are not there. Boston has done everything they can to show they believes in Jaylen Brown, now he has to make their large investment worth it.

16. De’Aaron Fox

25.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG

De’Aaron Fox has made one of the largest jumps from last year’s rankings to this year’s after having a career year with the Sacramento Kings in 2022-23. Fox earned his first All-Star and All-NBA Team selections averaging 25.0 points per game on 51.2% shooting overall and 32.4% shooting from three. Fox would also be honored with the NBA’s inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award for his torrid fourth-quarter scoring late in games.

Fox’s incredible play resulted in the Kings’ first playoff appearance in 17 years as they pushed the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the first round but ultimately fell thanks to 50 points from Stephen Curry. Fox’s two-way play was finally seen by a national audience for more than one game at a time during the series as he averaged 27.4 points, 7.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game on 42.4% shooting.

Now that Fox and the Kings have gotten a taste of playoff basketball, it is time to prove that it wasn’t a fluke and pick up where they left off. Fox has to completely embrace being the top guy in Sacramento this season but keep utilizing his teammates as often as possible. Where he really improved was his movement away from the ball and slashing to the hoop. The Kings will continue to shine as long as Fox is running things for years to come.

15. Donovan Mitchell

2022-23 Stats: 28.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Although his first season as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers came to a disappointing end in the NBA playoffs, Donovan Mitchell had a season to remember as an individual. Mitchell averaged a career-high 28.3 points per game on 48.4% shooting from the field which included a 71-point performance earlier in the season that was tied for the season-high with Damian Lillard.

Mitchell brought an offensive weapon to a team desperate for one outside of Darius Garland, and it ultimately led to their best season since LeBron James left town in 2018. Mitchell was a three-level force of nature on the offensive side of the ball, particularly as a scorer with much improved defensive effort and impact.

Despite the success he has found in Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell’s future with the team is uncertain as he will not sign any extension or deal with Cleveland during the year. Although this will be looming above their heads, the Cavaliers are hoping they can convince him to stay in town with a deep playoff run in 2023-24. The way they will do that is with their great team defense and Mitchell leading their offense.

14. Kawhi Leonard

2022-23 Stats: 23.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Let’s get the obvious concerns out of the way first when it comes to Kawhi Leonard. He has not played a full playoff run since 2020 nor has he played 60 games in a season since he led the Toronto Raptors to an NBA title in 2019. In four full seasons since arriving with the Clippers in 2019, Leonard has missed 167 games out of a possible 328 games which is never a good sign in such a pivotal season ahead.

Leonard has a chance to impact the Clippers in such a way that would make them immediate championship contenders if he can remain healthy for an entire regular season and playoff run. He is very clearly the best two-way player on the court when healthy and the Clippers are clearly championship material. As one of the best offensive and defensive forwards in the game, all Leonard has to do is be on the court and the Clippers will be in the thick of the race for the Western Conference.

13. Jimmy Butler

2022-23 Stats: 22.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Once again in 2022-23, Jimmy Butler proved to everyone watching the NBA playoffs that he was built for the big moments. After leading the Heat to a modest regular season where they won 44 games and had to navigate through two play-in games, Butler found a different gear in the NBA playoffs. He led the Miami Heat to their third Conference Finals appearance and second NBA Finals appearance since he joined the team in 2019-20.

After a regular season that saw him fail to be selected as an All-Star or as a member of the All-NBA Team, Butler averaged 26.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game in the playoffs as the Heat were crowned Kings of the East once again. Butler’s impact as a clutch performer and defender were prevalent through the entire run as Miami showed they can never be counted out again.

There is clearly a chip on Butler’s shoulder heading into 2023-24 with virtually the same roster as 2022-23. It is championship or bust in his mind and eyes and a motivated Jimmy Butler is a scary Jimmy Butler. I would say I did not expect the Heat to make any noise this season but Jimmy Butler continues to show me that counting him out is a terrible idea.

12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

2022-23 Stats: 31.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG

The 2022-23 season was a coming out party for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 25-year-old- guard earned the first All-Star and All-NBA First Team honors of his career with an incredible season that saw him average 31.4 points per game on 51.0% shooting from the field overall and 34.5% from three.

In a season where it was almost considered a throwaway after rookie Chet Holmgren was ruled out for the season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dug deep and led them to a play-in berth. The Thunder have developed far ahead of schedule and it is all thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander’s development into a legitimate superstar.

As a scorer and playmaker, Shai was among the elite in 2022-23 and shows no signs of slowing down heading into 2023-24. Whether people like it or not, he is here to stay among the best players in the game today and the Thunder may finally have arrived as a legitimate contender once again in 2023-24.

11. Damian Lillard

2022-23 Stats: 32.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Although Damian Lillard had one of the best individual seasons of his career in 2022-23 with the Portland Trail Blazers, you could tell we were approaching the end of an era within the organization. Lillard confirmed the suspicions this summer when he requested a trade out of Portland after 11 seasons with the team. After drama and tension filled the offseason, Lillard was finally dealt to the Miami Bucks where he will form one of the best duos in the NBA for 2023-24.

In 2022-23, Lillard averaged a career-high 32.2 points per game while trying to single-handedly carry Portland to a playoff spot. They would fall short as a team but Lillard had shown he was still a superstar in this league with All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selections. Lillard showed he was also still a show-stopping scorer and three-point shooter with a 71-point outburst, and a 60-point game as well.

Now the focus shifts to Milwaukee and the partnership yet to be formed with fellow superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. This is possibly Lillard’s best shot at an NBA championship in his career. If he can embrace the fact that he is no longer the go-to guy on offense as much as he was in Portland, the Bucks should have zero issues getting close to their championship goal as the season goes on. Although defense may be a concern, the firepower from a Lillard/Giannis duo may be too much for any opponent to handle in 2023-24.