This list of the best basketball players in the NBA today ranks all of the league's current standout top players and NBA stars currently playing. It's common to see lists of the greatest basketball players of all time, but considerably more difficult to consider athletes' relative strengths while their careers are still ongoing. Looking back on the career of a Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Magic Johnson once it's complete, there are many factors to consider: number of championships, overall contribution to great teams, even just looking at the statistics. But who can say while an athlete still plays whether their good years are in front of them or behind? And harder still to compare their merits in comparison to other players who may be injured, have overall less experience playing professionally or are just going through a slump.
This list attempts to sort through all the NBA's most popular and famous current all stars to find the most talented, and the players who are the most essential to have on a winning team to truly determine who is the best active player in the NBA today. LeBron James and Stephen Curry, two of the most iconic and celebrated players to ever compete, dominated in the early rankings, but a number of other challengers for the title—such as Houston Rockets phenom James Harden and the legendary Russell Westbrook—have become favorites as well.
Who's the best player in the NBA today? More than just the top 10 NBA players right now, this list has all the league's currently greatest athletes. Vote up your own favorite basketball stars, and if your favorite player isn't represented, make your own list and add them to the rankings. Then head over and vote on the best NBA players of the 2010s.
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36,6225,564Giannis Antetokounmpo
Power forwardTeams: Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo (born December 6, 1994) is a Greek professional basketball player for... more2
38,50012,333Kawhi Leonard
Small forwardTeams: Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs
Kawhi Anthony Leonard (, born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for... more3
53,31322,603LeBron James
Power forwardTeams: Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball... more4
15,5015,962Joel Embiid
CenterTeams: Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Hans Embiid (born 16 March 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the... more5
11,5254,350Nikola Jokić
CenterTeams: Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokić (born February 19, 1995) is a Serbian professional basketball player for the... more6
9,0971,846Luka Dončić
Small forwardTeams: Dallas Mavericks
Luka Dončić (born February 28, 1999) is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the... more7
20,2609,423Damian Lillard
Point guardTeams: Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard is an American professional basketball player for the Portland... more8
29,46314,101Anthony Davis
Power forward, CenterTeams: Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. (born March 11, 1993) is an American professional basketball player... more9
34,40116,922James Harden
Shooting guardTeams: Brooklyn Nets
James Edward Harden Jr. (born August 26, 1989) is an American professional basketball player... more10
6,3552,641Jayson Tatum
Small forwardTeams: Boston Celtics
Jayson Christopher Tatum (born March 3, 1998) is an American professional basketball player... more11
7,7373,395Devin Booker
Shooting guardTeams: Phoenix Suns
Devin Armani Booker (born October 30, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for... more12
7,3553,066Donovan Mitchell
Shooting guardTeams: Utah Jazz
Donovan Vernell Mitchell Jr. (born September 7, 1996) is an American professional basketball... more13
3,0351,183Pascal Siakam
Power forwardTeams: Toronto Raptors
Pascal Siakam (born April 2, 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the... more14
10,3654,828Karl-Anthony Towns
CenterTeams: Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. (born November 15, 1995) is a Dominican-American professional... more15
8,5293,831Ben Simmons
Point guard/forwardTeams: Philadelphia 76ers
Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for... more16
2,250816Trae Young
Point guardTeams: Atlanta Hawks
Rayford Trae Young (born September 19, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for... more17
10,2414,864Kemba Walker
Point guardTeams: Boston Celtics
Kemba Hudley Walker (born May 8, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the... more18
1,991729Jamal Murray
Point guard, Shooting guardTeams: Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray (born February 23, 1997) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the... more19
9,2584,393Victor Oladipo
Shooting guardTeams: Houston Rockets
Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo (born May 4, 1992) is an American professional basketball... more20
4,0031,685D'Angelo Russell
GuardTeams: Golden State Warriors
D'Angelo Danté Russell (born February 23, 1996) is an American professional basketball player... more21
6,8483,458Bradley Beal
Shooting guardTeams: Washington Wizards
Bradley Emmanuel Beal (born June 28, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for... more22
2,9601,362Khris Middleton
Small forward, ForwardTeams: Milwaukee Bucks
James Khristian Middleton (born August 12, 1991) is an American professional basketball player... more23
21,11011,488Paul George
Shooting guard, Small forwardTeams: Los Angeles Clippers
Paul Cliftonantho George (born May 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for... more24
37072Ja Morant
Point guardTeams: Memphis Grizzlies
Temetrius Jamel "Ja" Morant (born August 10, 1999) is an American professional basketball... more25
2,7161,229De'Aaron Fox
Point guardTeams: Sacramento Kings
De'Aaron Fox (born December 20, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the... more
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