Top 10 rds –– Each Position: ’223-’242424

Top 10 best players at each position *For this exercise, though nearly every player in the league plays multiple…

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 teamMost physically talented playerBest all-around playerMost dominant playerPlayer I’d want taking a last second shotPlayer I’d want in a must win gamePlayer 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

Steph CurryLuka DoncicDamian LillardJamal MurrayTyrese HaliburtonDe’Aaron FoxLaMelo BallDarius GarlandJrue HolidayTyrese Maxey

SHOOTING GUARDS

Devin BookerSGADonovan MitchellAnthony EdwardsDesmond BaneJaylen BrownDejounte MurrayZach LavineKlay ThompsonBradley Beal

SMALL FORWARDS

Jayson TatumLeBron JamesKawhi LeonardJimmy ButlerPaul GeorgeOG AnunobyMikel BridgesFranz WagnerScottie BarnesDemar DeRozen

POWER FORWARDS

Giannis AntetokounmpoKevin DurantAaron GordonLauri MarkkanenPascal SiakamJaren Jackson Jr.Paolo BancheroEvan MobleyZion WilliamsonJulius Randle

CENTERS

Nikola JokicJoel EmbiidAnthony DavisBam AdebayoDomas SabonisKarl-Anthony TownsRudy GobertKristaps PorzingisNikola VucevicMyles Turner