Ranking The Top 25 Players In The NBA After The 2023-24 Season

As the Boston Celtics clinched the franchise's 18th NBA Championship in Game 5 of the NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks, it marked the end of the 2023-24 NBA Season.

This season was the real first season where the youth started to take over the league while the veterans we watched growing up are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

With that in mind, here are my top 25 Players in the NBA at the end of the 2023-24 NBA Season.

Just Missed The Cut:

• Kyrie Irving, PG, Dallas Mavericks- Excellent career renaissance in Dallas thus far and has been a joy to watch him re-establish himself as one of the dynamic play-makers in the game.

• Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies- Expect Morant to be back in the top 25 after the 2024-25 season, but after missing a majority of the season due to injury and suspension, the athletic guard will have to earn his spot back among the elite.

• Tyrese Maxey, G, Philadelphia 76ers- Stepped into the playmaking guard spot filled by James Harden's departure in Philly by enjoying the best season of his young career.

25. Bam Adebayo, F/C, Miami Heat

Always a contender to win Defensive Player of the Year, Adebayo has gotten better on offence every year of his career. With questions surrounding Jimmy Butler's future in Miami, the Heat can feel comfortable having Adebayo in the fold who could help attract the franchise's next star.

24. Damian Lillard, PG, Milwaukee Bucks

Lillard's first year in Milwaukee likely did not go how he envisioned but he is still one of the premier shot-makers in the game today, and you can always feel more than comfortable with the ball in his hands at the end of a tight game. With a full off-season to back into shape, Lillard is a prime bounce-back candidate for the 2024-25 season as he looks to win his first title.

23. De'Aaron Fox, PG, Sacarmento Kings

One of, if not the fastest guard in the league today, Fox has gotten better at controlling the game every season as a true point guard. With an outside shot that also has consistently improved, Fox will be one of the great guards in the association for a while.

22. Domantas Sabonis, F/C, Sacramento Kings

One of the best play-making bigs in the league who can also score inside, Sabonis is one of the more versatile players in the league today and is the archetype of player who seems to become more valuable by the year.

21. Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans

Appearing in 70 games this season, we finally had gotten the healthy season from Williamson that fans had dreamed of for years... Until, the worst possible moment for the Pelicans and Williamson in the play-in game against the Lakers where Zion was having the best game of his career.

Williamson reminded the world in 2023-24 that he is still one most the best players in the world when healthy. That said, given his history, health or weight will be as big a concern as any for New Orleans and its unique All-Star forward.

20. Paolo Banchero, PF, Orlando Magic

No sophomore slump here. Banchero brought the Magic to the post-season for the first since 2020 in his second season and showed Orlando that he can be the face of the franchise moving forward. If the Magic can put enough talent around Banchero starting this off-season, watch out for Paolo to enter the top 10 conversations starting next season while the Magic look to begin the process of building a contender around their young star.

19. Donovan Mitchell, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers

One of the best shot-makers and creators in the league, Cleveland would love to retain their star guard for years to come, but one of the lingering questions around this summer will be does Mitchell feel the same way about committing to the Cavs for the long haul.

18. Paul George, G/F, Los Angeles Clippers

One of the few players who would thrive on any team you put him on, George enters free agency this summer still as one of the best two-way players in basketball. Still playing at an All-Star level, his looming decision will impact the league for several years given how he can help swing the balance of power across the association.

17. Jimmy Butler, SF, Miami Heat

One of the most fierce competitors in the league when on the floor, Butler has struggled to play games throughout regular seasons on a consistent level.

Due to injury, he was not able to bring out his "Playoff Jimmy" alter-ego that we love to watch every spring. Because of those factors, Butler will need to come back with a strong season next year to show he is still able to play at an All-NBA level whether that is in Miami or any other team that retains his services.

16. Victor Wembanyama, PF/C, San Antonio Spurs

Some may consider this a tad high for a player who has only played one NBA season, and most of the time that would be true, but not with Wemby. In fact, the rookie phenom could have been placed even higher.

If you somehow don't love this generational talent, enjoy this while you can because this will be the lowest Wembanyama will likely ever rank for the foreseeable as he starts his takeover of the NBA, while capturing awards such as Defensive Player of the Year, and MVP's as he looks to guide the Spurs back to the promise land.

15. Jaylen Brown, G/F, Boston Celtics

Richest contract in NBA history, on the team with the best record in the league while capturing your first championship and winning Finals MVP? Not a bad last twelve months for Jaylen Brown if I do say so myself.

The Finals MVP established himself as one of the elite two-way players in the NBA this season. Now, with a title on his resume, it is time to put some respect on Brown's name as he enters year 9 this fall.

14. Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns

One of the only players who can still thrive in the mid-range, Booker has become much more than an elite shooter throughout the years. With no legit point guard on the roster this season, Booker was asked to do a lot of the play making where he enjoyed a lot of success with the ball in his hands.

13. Jalen Brunson, PG, New York Knicks

The perfect New York Knick, Brunson enjoyed an even better season in 2024 than he did in his first season with the Knicks in 2023. His encore performance on Broadway showed off his dynamic playmaking and scoring ability which every fan wishes they had on their roster.

The perfect leader for this Knicks squad, which will attract stars to join him in the Big Apple going forward.

12. Kawhi Leonard, SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers

One of the best wing defenders of his generation, his inability to remain healthy for deep post-season runs has deprived us of his watching Leonard try to bring a title to a third franchise in his career.

11. Kevin Durant, SF/PF, Phoenix Suns

Perhaps still the best scorer in the game today, with a jump shot that is still pure as ever, Durant played the most games he’s played since his Warriors days and could still be argued as the most unguardable player in the league, even as he enters his late thirties

10. LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers

Not the player he was once but aging like fine wine as he battles Father Time.

With him on the back nine of his career, he is still one of the most consistent offensive threats in basketball and remains unstoppable driving to the hole.

It is still remarkable that LeBron can even remain in the top 10 conversation even if you do not believe he is still a top 10 guy.

9. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

Davis has finally taken the reign as the best player in Los Angeles.

His not being nominated for the Defensive Player of the Year award was one of the bigger award snubs this season. That said, as long as he can continue to stay on the floor as he did in 2023-24, the Lakers big man should have plenty of opportunity to claim a stake at that award going forward.

8. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors

For the first time in his legendary career, Curry did start to show some signs of his age over the second half of the season which saw his Warriors miss the postseason in 2024. Despite those facts, it is still not enough to take him out of my top 10 players.

Hopefully, the Warriors can fortify the roster around their franchise icon where he can look to add a fifth title to his resume before he hangs up the sneakers.

7. Anthony Edwards, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves

The future has started to arrive.

Ant-Man made fans across the league fall in love with him this past season with his charismatic charm and highlight reel dunks. If Edwards can continue to improve his outside shot to pair with the rare athleticism in his arsenal, he will become borderline unstoppable.

6. Joel Embiid, Center, Philadelphia 76ers

The best scorer big-man perhaps ever? Embiid is a weapon like we have never seen before and is also one of the game's best rim protectors.

Unfortunately for Embiid, fans no longer care about that, the NBA world will not give him the respect or credit he wants again until he takes the Sixers on a deep-post season run for the first time since 2001.

5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

The unlikely superstar- The rise of SGA has been a treasure to watch, his calm demeanour, along with his crafty ball skills make him one of the more special talents in the game today. OKC has the guy who be the driving force of the soon to be perennial contender.

4. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Boston Celtics

He will never be one with who all NBA fans agree on their opinions of him but one thing we can never question again is if he can win a championship. Tatum, throughout his prime, will forever be a top-tier player in this league with his ability to score to go along with his elite rebounding ability and improved playmaking skills.

With a championship under his belt, maybe we can expect Tatum's best moving forward with the pressure of not having a title no longer weighing heavy on his shoulders.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Antetokounmpo, still the best two-way player in the world, has lost his spot atop the top two simply because of his lack of team success over the last two post-seasons due to his health and offensive game staying stagnant.

Heading into their thirties, he is still a freak of nature, but it will be interesting to see how his game ages if and when his athleticism starts to dip.

2. Luka Doncic, PG, Dallas Mavericks

The best point guard in the league is an offensive wizard when the ball is in his hands. This basketball phenom will have his time, but this finals loss showed the flaws in his game such as his defensive effort and ball stopping tendencies. Hopefully, this experience can be a learning lesson for Doncic as he looks to be the next star to get their first ring.

1. Nikola Jokic, Center, Denver Nuggets

Until you clearly knock him off, Nikola Jokic will be the best player in basketball to me. The three-time MVP is a walking triple-double who is the best passer in basketball who as well as can score at will himself.

He is the reason why every Nuggets game you watch you feel like the team is always out executing their opponent which makes Denver feel inevitable who their opponents fear.