The NBA is loaded with a ton of talented players across both the NBA Eastern and NBA Western conferences. As old faces continue to dominate the game, new faces are slowly emerging as the next wave of great talent for the NBA. 

While it is difficult to put an exact order on who are the Top 10 NBA Players as of December 12th, 2021 the top players in the game continue to dominate through the first month plus of the NBA season. 

 

One name that continues to dominate is the NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant who is averaging just below 30 points a game as he has averaged 29.4 points per contests to start the season. 

Meanwhile Stephen Curry has rebounded from an injury riddled 2020-21 NBA season to an MVP caliber level as the Golden State Warriors sit in second in the NBA to start the season. Other top NBA players to start 2021-22 include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and James Harden to name a few.

 

With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NBA Players for December 2021

Honorable Mention

Zach LaVine

Team: Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls shooting guard is sitting just outside of the Top 10 NBA Players as of December 12th, 2021 as he currently ranks seventh in the NBA in points per game averaging 26 points contest to start the season. In addition, LaVine ranks 80th in rebounds per game with 5.3 per contest and 50th in assists with 4.2 per game. 

The success of LaVine as well as teammate DeMar DeRozan has helped lead the Chicago Bulls to move among one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. In five games in December, LaVine has posted at least 31 points in three of those contests while grabbing at least seven rebounds in three of those contests. 

Jayson Tatum

Team: Boston Celtics

It is hard to look past the Boston Celtics small forward as one of the best players in the NBA as he continues to put together big numbers year in and year out. Entering play on Monday December 13th, 2021 the Celtics small forward is averaging 25.6 points a game while sitting ninth overall in scoring the NBA. 

Along with scoring, Tatum is tied for 20th in the NBA in rebounds per game with 8.7 per contests to go along with 3.6 assists. In December, Tatum is averaging 30.2 points a game to go along with 9.5 rebounds.

Top 10 NBA Players

10. DeMar DeRozan

Team: Chicago Bulls

When you look around at the top teams in the NBA, each of those teams have proven leaders and All-Star caliber players leading the charge. The same can be said for the Chicago Bulls who have both Zach LaVine as well as DeMar DeRozan. 

The Bulls star is averaging the second most points per game in his career with 26.4 points per game while also being a solid contributor averaging 4.1 assists per contests and grabbing 5.3 rebounds per game. Meanwhile DeRozan has come up big on the road this season averaging 27.6 points a game. 

9. Ja Morant

Team: Memphis Grizzlies 

The third year guard out of Murray State has landed at number nine in the Top 10 NBA Player Rankings after continuing his strong start to the 2021-22 NBA season. Morant has been brilliant for the Memphis Grizzlies to start the 2021-22 NBA schedule averaging 24.1 points a game to go along with 5.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists. 

His performance on the floor has helped the Grizzlies move to the fourth spot in the Western Conference after the team has won seven of their last ten overall contests including back to back contests. 

8. Chris Paul

Team: Phoenix Suns

Chris Paul just continues to play at a top level year in and year out despite being one of the aging veterans in the NBA. The Phoenix Suns guard leads the NBA in assists per game averaging 10.2 per contest to start the season. 

In December, Paul has helped guide the Suns to a 3-1 overall record while posting double doubles in the teams three wins. In the year the Suns have lost two of their four contests when Paul failed to record at least 10 assists and 14-2 in contests where Paul has posted double digit assists. Paul continues to make the players around him better night in and night out.

7. James Harden

Team: Brooklyn Nets

20.8 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game and 9.6 assists per game has helped land James Harden seventh on the Top 10 NBA players list to start the season. While the numbers are impressive, we have slotted him lower as he has struggled at times to get his shot going while his ability to set up his teammates including Kevin Durant has continued to improve. 

Despite coming in at number seven, Harden is still one of the top overall players in the NBA. In December Harden struggled shooting just 35.9 percent from the field and just 21.2 percent from three point territory.

6. Trae Young

Team: Atlanta Hawks

The future of the NBA is bright in Atlanta as the Atlanta Hawks fourth year guard continues to be one of the games top young stars year in and year out. The same can be said for the 2021-22 NBA season as Trae Young currently sits fifth in points per game averaging 26.6 per contests while also sitting third in the NBA in assists per game with 9.5 per contests. 

In the calendar month of December, Young is averaging 28.6 points per game to go along with 11.2 assists and six rebounds a game. His production continues to improve month over month as he looks to get the Hawks into playoff contention.

5. Luka Doncic

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Trae Young and Luka Doncic will always be connected after being traded for another on draft day to both of their rise of fame as two of the games top NBA stars. Much like Young, Doncic continues to improve year in and year out while showcasing his talents as one of the best in the NBA. 

The fourth year star is averaging 25.6 points a game to go along with eight rebounds and 8.5 assists per contest. In December Doncic shot 47.5 percent from the field while averaging 26 points a game, 7.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists. 

4. Nikola Jokic

Team: Denver Nuggets

The reigning NBA MVP is making a strong case to start the 2021-22 NBA schedule to repeat as back to back MVP award winner. The Denver Nuggets star is averaging 26.5 points a game to go along with 13.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists per contest. 

This year Jokic is the only player in the NBA to rank inside the top five in both points and rebounds while also ranking in the top 15 in assists per game. Jokic has been strong against the Western Conference as he has averaged 28 points per game in 13 conference matchups to go with 12.9 rebound and 6.8 assists. 

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

The Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo is by far one of the top three players in the NBA and one of the best basketball players in the world. The Milwaukee Bucks star is averaging 27.3 points a game to go along with 11.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game while ranking inside the top 20 for all three categories to start the season. 

In December Antetokounmpo guided his Bucks team to a 4-1 record while averaging 28.6 points a game to go along with 11.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.

2. Stephen Curry

Team: Golden State Warriors 

The two time NBA MVP and two time scoring champion has bounced back in 2021-22 to land near the top of the list as one of the top NBA players in the game. The Golden State Warriors star has helped lead the team to the second best record in the NBA while averaging 27.1 points a game to go along with 5.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. 

In addition to those numbers, Curry is shooting 43.3 percent from the field as well as 40.4 percent from behind the three point line while the team has posted a 21-4 record to start the season. With all that being said he is on the verge of breaking Ray Allen’s 3 point record as he will need 2 more 3 pointers to get to 2,974 for his career. 

1. Kevin Durant

Team: Brooklyn Nets

Coming in at number one for the second time this season is the Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kevin Durant who continues to put together one of his best seasons of his career. Durant is currently leading the NBA in points per game averaging a league high 29.4 points per game. 

Since the start of December, Durant is averaging 32.8 points a game to go along with 7.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while also recording 1.6 blocks over that stretch. Durant’s play on the floor has helped the Nets to the top of the Eastern Conference.

So who do you have as your leading candidate for Most Valuable Player in the 2021-2022 NBA Season? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Fanatics.com, or more that is specific to you. Join the contest by ranking below.

Related Links:

• Top 10 NBA Teams 2021 Rankings
• Top 10 NBA Season Preview 2021-2022 Team Rankings
• Top 10 NBA Teams – November 2021 Power Rankings
• Top 10 Best NBA Players – November 2021 Rankings
• Top 10 NBA Rookies of November 2021 Rankings