Like every year before the start of the season, ESPN gradually reveals its ranking of the 100 best players in the current NBA. Enough to fuel the debates until the resumption on October 22. Small spoiler: Nikola Jokic is pretty well placed.
Ranking the 100 best NBA players before a season is quite a challenge. But this is the challenge that we want to take up ESPN each year, by interviewing its different members.
The question to establish this classification is very simple: “Who will be the best player in 2024-25?”. This ranking is therefore above all a prediction concerning the players who will perform the best during the upcoming campaign. In summary, the one who is ranked number 1 is the player who – according to ESPN – will be the strongest this year.
The complete ranking
- 1. Nikola Jokic
- 2. Luka Doncic
- 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
- 4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- 5. Jayson Tatum
- 6. Stephen Curry
- 7. LeBron James
- 8. Joel Embiid
- 9. Kevin Durant
- 10. Anthony Edwards
- 11. Victor Wembanyama
- 12. Jalen Brunson
- 13. Anthony Davis
- 14. Jaylen Brown
- 15. Devin Booker
- 16. Tyrese Haliburton
- 17. Donovan Mitchell
- 18. Bam Adebayo
- 19. Tyrese Maxey
- 20. Ja Morant
- 21. Paul George
- 22. Kawhi Leonard
- 23. Damian Lillard
- 24. Paolo Banchero
- 25. Kyrie Irving
- 26. De’Aaron Fox
- 27. Zion Williamson
- 28. Jimmy Butler
- 29. Domantas Sabonis
- 30. Karl-Anthony Towns
- 31. Jamal Murray
- 32. Chet Holmgren
- 33. Lauri Markkanen
- 34. Rudy Gobert
- 35. Scottie Barnes
- 36. Jrue Holiday
- 37. Trae Young
- 38. Mikal Bridges
- 39. Derrick White
- 40. Brandon Ingram
- 41. James Harden
- 42. Pascal Siakam
- 43. Dejounte Murray
- 44. Jalen Williams
- 45. DeMar DeRozan
- 46. Kristaps Porzingis
- 47. Evan Mobley
- 48. Julius Randle
- 49. Aaron Gordon
- 50. LaMelo Ball
- 51. AND Anunoby
- 52. Franz Wagner
- 53. RJ Barrett
- 54. Alperen Sengun
- 55. Years Jackson Jr.
- 56. Dereck Lively II
- 57. Darius Garland
- 58. Coby White
- 59. Alex Caruso
- 60. Desmond Bane
- 61. Josh Hart
- 62. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- 63. Khris Middleton
- 64. Immanuel Quickley
- 65. Malik Monk
- 66. Draymond Green
- 67. Cade Cunningham
- 68. Brandon Miller
- 69. Jalen Green
- 70. Bradley Beal
- 71. Klay Thompson
- 72. Austin Reaves
- 73. Jarrett Allen
- 74. Zach LaVine
- 75. Donte DiVincenzo
- 76. Tyler Herro
- 77. Jaden McDaniels
- 78. Brandin Pod Ziemia
- 79. Fred VanVleet
- 80. Jerami Grant
- 81. Myles Turner
- 82. Mitchell Robinson
- 83. Marcus Smart
- 84. CJ McCollum
- 85. Luguentz There
- 86. Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- 87. Naz Reid
- 88. Isaiah Hartenstein
- 89. Michael Porter Jr.
- 90. Andrew Wiggins
- 91. Jonas Valanciunas
- 92. Jabari Smith Jr.
- 93. Brook Lopez
- 94. Keegan Murray
- 95. Jalen Suggs
- 96. Al Horford
- 97. Herbert Jones
- 98. Mike Conley
- 99. Chris Paul
- 100. Anfernee Simons
Three times MVP over the last four years, and NBA champion in 2023, Nikola Jokic remains on the throne. The justification forESPN :
“Jokic has the opportunity to become a legend by becoming the sixth player to win four (or more) MVP awards if he wins again this season. Considering that only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James have accomplished this, it’s easy to see why Jokic is the best player in the world right now.
Considered the best passer and smartest player in the NBA in the recent GMs poll, Jokic may be asked to do even more this season with different players around him. But given Jokic’s greatness, that might not matter.”
Despite the doubts that may surround the Nuggets squad this season (departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, state of health of Jamal Murray, depth, etc.), we know that Nikola Jokic will do Nikola Jokic. He remains in a new historic season in terms of versatility with stats of 26 points – 12 rebounds – 9 assists. And even if his efficiency (just as exceptional) declined a little in 2023-24, the Serbian genius seems destined to release a new MVP caliber campaign at 29 years old.
Enough to make him the best NBA player in 2024-25 according to ESPNahead of Luka, Giannis and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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Source text: ESPN
