Best NBA Players Right Now 2023-2024 Season Preview

The 2023-2024 NBA Season is set to tip off on October 24th, 2023, with an exciting lineup of NBA games. With the excitement level building for the upcoming NBA schedule, the one debate that continues around the NBA this off-season is who are the 10 Best Players in the NBA and who are deserving of a spot among the Top 10 NBA Players 2023-2024 Rankings Preview list. 

As you look around the NBA the league is loaded with talented All-Stars and game changers. One of those players headlining the list of the best NBA players entering the upcoming season is the Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

Jokic who has won two of the last three NBA MVP is coming off an unbelievable performance last season while helping to lead his Nuggets to the NBA Championship. The All-Star center enters the 2023-2024 regular season coming off a campaign averaging a near triple double, missing out by averaging just 9.8 assists per game while also adding 24.5 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game.

As Jokic headlines the top NBA players, he is also joined on the preview list by fellow All-Stars including 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. Here is a look at the Top 10 Best NBA Players 2023-2024 Rankings Preview

Honorable Mention

Anthony Davis

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Position: Center

Landing just outside of the Top 10 NBA Players 2023-2024 Rankings Preview is the Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis. Injuries have slowed down Davis over the past few seasons however, when healthy on the floor he ranks among the best players in the NBA.

The veteran big man is as dynamic as any big man in the NBA while being a terrific player on both ends of the floor. Davis is coming off a season averaging 1.1 steals and two blocked shots per game on the defensive side of the floor while also adding 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds to his NBA stat sheet last season. In addition, while on the floor, his presence and talents increase the overall play of the entire Lakers roster.

Kevin Durant

Team: Phoenix Suns

Position: Power Forward

Since arriving in the NBA back during the 2007 NBA Draft, the former Texas Longhorns star has been one of the faces of the NBA. This includes for the upcoming 2023-2024 NBA Season as expectations are set high for the Phoenix Suns as well as for Kevin Durant.

Durant is coming off averaging 29.1 points per game last season while also adding 6.7 rebounds and five assists per game.

While Durant has the talent to stack up against any of the best players in the NBA, injury concerns and age slides him down just a few spots as the 2023-2024 NBA Season approaches. That said the success of the Suns will start and finish with the play of Durant for the upcoming season.

Top 10 Best NBA Players

10. Jaylen Brown

Team: Boston Celtics

Position: Shooting Guard

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 NBA Players 2023-2024 Rankings Preview is the Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown. Brown alongside Jayton Tatum forms one of the best guard combos in the NBA while also landing among the best players in the league.

Brown, who is coming off his second NBA All-Star selection, finished last season averaging 26.6 points per game while also adding 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

In addition, Brown is a strong defensive player who can slow down opposing guards and force turnovers including averaging at least one steal per game in four straight seasons.

9. Steph Curry

Team: Golden State Warriors

Position: Point Guard

Only thing slowing down Steph Curry has been injuries over the past few seasons. Despite missing time, the veteran point guard remains one of the top shooters in the NBA while ranking among the best shooters of all time.

Curry who is coming off his third straight season averaging at least 25 points per game, finished last season averaging 29.4 points per game while also adding 6.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.

The Warriors point guard also connected on 42.7 percent of his three point shots while being nearly unguardable from behind the three point line. Over his career Curry has averaged at least 42 percent shooting from behind the three point line in 11 of his 14 NBA seasons.

8. Damian Lillard

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: Point Guard

No matter where Damian Lillard lands for the upcoming season the veteran NBA point guard will continue to build to an All-Star resume while ranking among the best point guards in the league year in and year out.

The seven time NBA All-Star is coming off one of his best in-season performances of his career while posting his second 30 point per game mark of his career. Lillard finished off last season averaging 32.2 points per game while also adding 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.

The former sixth overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft finished the season ranked 3rd in the league in scoring as well as 10th in total assists per game. If Lillard lands with a contender, look for him to take his game to the next level while continuing to produce at a high level.

7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: Point Guard

One of the emerging faces of the NBA who continues to develop into an NBA All-Star is the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Since arriving in Oklahoma City after his rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander has improved each season while averaging the fourth most points in the NBA last season with 31.4 points per game.

With the Thunder one of the promising young teams in the NBA entering the upcoming season, the former Kentucky Wildcats star has the talent to put together another big season while also leading the Thunder to the NBA Playoffs.

6. LeBron James

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Position: Small Forward

The debate could be made that there is a long list of younger stars well deserving of a spot among the best players in the NBA. However, when you look at the success James had last season and the success the Lakers have when James is on the floor.

It is hard not to include him among the best players in the NBA. James was stellar within the postseason last year for the Lakers while helping the Lakers reach the Western Conference Finals.

The 38 year old small forward is coming off his second straight season averaging at least 28 points per game including finishing the season averaging 28.9 points per game. James stuffs the stat sheet each night while having the ability to bring up the players around him.

Entering the 2023-24 NBA Season, James has averaged at least 25 points per game along with seven rebounds and six assists in eight straight seasons and 16 of his seasons in the NBA.

5. Jayson Tatum

Team: Boston Celtics

Position: Small Forward

Rounding out the top five on the Top 10 NBA Players 2023-2024 Rankings Preview is the Boston Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum. The former McDonald’s All-American and Duke Blue Devils star has developed into one of the stars of the NBA while anchoring down the Celtics roster since arriving during the 2017 NBA Draft.

Since entering the NBA, Tatum has earned four NBA All-Star selections, an NBA All-Star Game MVP Award, and been named as an All-NBA First Team selection in each of the last two NBA seasons. The Celtics star will enter the upcoming season looking to repeat his success from last season including averaging 30.1 points per game to go along with 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. 

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

Position: Power Forward 

When you start to look around at the top players in the NBA one of the first names that appears is the Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo who is often referred to as the Greek Freak is a dynamic two way player who is nearly unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor while being a force on the glass. The Bucks power forward has averaged a double double in each of the past six seasons.

The long time NBA veteran despite making his debut during the 2013-14 NBA Season enters the season at just 28 years old while continuing to rank among the best all-around players to play.

3. Luka Doncic

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Position: Point Guard

It is hard to look past Luka Doncic as one of the top players in the NBA while ranking among the best points guards to play the game. Doncic is as dominant as any player in the NBA while having the ability to shoot from nearly anywhere on the floor, run the floor with the best guards in the league, as well as being a terrific passer who can set up any teammate for an open look. 

The Mavericks All-Star point guard is coming off averaging over 30 points for the first time in his young NBA career last year after finishing averaging 32.4 points per game.

Since arriving in the NBA back during the 2018 NBA Draft, Doncic has averaged no fewer than 21 points per game (rookie season) while averaging at least 27.7 points in each of the past four seasons. In addition, Doncic has averaged at least 7.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists in each of his five NBA seasons.

2. Joel Embiid

Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Position: Center

Coming off winning his first NBA MVP Award, Joel Embiid continues to rank among the best players in the NBA year in and year out.

The Philadelphia 76ers big man enters the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season coming off leading the NBA in scoring in back to back seasons while earning his first All-NBA First Team selection as well as his sixth NBA All-Star selection. 

Embiid is a dynamic force on both ends of the hardwood averaging 33.1 points last season while also adding 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. In addition, Embiid is a strong defender downlow while averaging 1.7 blocks last season. 

1. Nikola Jokic

Team: Denver Nuggets

Position: Center

In at number one on the Top 10 NBA Players 2023-2024 Rankings Preview is the Denver Nuggets center, NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. Some could argue that Jokic put together the best in-season performance among all NBA players last season while also being well deserving of his third straight NBA MVP Award.

Jokic finished last season averaging a double double including posting 24.5 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game while also adding 9.8 assists per game.

Even more impressive, Jokic finished ranked in the top 20 in scoring (18th), top two in rebounds (2nd), and top three in assists (3rd). Only question entering the upcoming season is can Jokic pick up his third NBA MVP award and lead the Nuggets to a repeat championship?

How would you rank the best NBA players going into the 2023-2024 NBA Season? Rank below to be added in the NBA Power Rankings.

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