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NBA 2023-24 season: Counting down league's top 30 players, Nos. 30-16 – USA TODAY
A year ago, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was not among USA TODAY’s top 30 NBA players.
Neither was Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, New York’s Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, Denver’s Jamal Murray, Boston’s Jrue Holiday, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox nor Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Because of the seasons they had in 2022-23 – All-Star appearances, All-NBA recognition, a championship, career seasons – one year later, they are all ranked in USA TODAY’s list of top 30 NBA players including a phenomenal leap by Gilgeous-Alexander into the top 10.
With the 2023-24 season opening Tuesday between Denver-Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix-Golden State, here’s our list of the top 30 players in the league, starting with Nos. 30-16. And come back Tuesday to see who is ranked No. 1. USA TODAY Sports writers and USA TODAY Network writers voted for the players on this list:
2022-23 stats: 20.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, 49.0 FG% (56 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Just one of three players to average a double-double in points and assists last season, Haliburton, 23, emerged as a foundational player for the Pacers. Shooting almost 50% from the field, 40% on 3-pointers and 87.1% on free throws, he is headed toward the impressive 50-40-90 group.
Last season’s ranking: Not ranked in top 30
Why he moved up: Haliburton made the All-Star team for the first time in 2023, received an All-NBA vote and emerged as a point guard of the present and future.
2022-23 stats: 24.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 50.4 FG% (74 games)
Why he’s ranked here: DeRozan continues to put up points and continues to dazzle with his scoring inside the 3-point line and at the foul line. He had four 40-point games, including a season-high 49 points against Minnesota in March. He is consistent and dependable, playing in at least 83% of his team’s games for the eighth consecutive season. He was named to the All-Star team in 2023 for the sixth time.
Last season’s ranking: No. 21
Why he moved down: His points per game and 3-point shooting percentage fell just a bit, and the Bulls missed the playoffs.
2022-23 stats: 25.1 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 4.1 APG, 45.9 FG% (77 games)
Why he’s ranked here: After winning Most Improved Player in 2021, Randle took a step back in the 2021-22 season but rebounded with a stellar 2022-23 season, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds, finishing sixth in the league with 40 double-doubles.
Last season’s ranking: Not ranked in top 30
Why he moved up: In 2023, Randle made the All-Star team and was named All-NBA for the second time and helped the Knicks win a playoff series for the first time since 2013.
2022-23 stats: 19.1 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 7.3 APG, 61.5 FG% (79 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Just two players averaged at least 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while shooting at least 60% from the field last season: Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Sabonis, who led the league in double-doubles with 65 and was No. 2 in triple-doubles with 14. He also shot 37.3% on 3-pointers.
Last season’s ranking: No. 30
Why he moved up: Sabonis led the Kings to their first playoff appearance since 2006, made his third All-Star team and earned his first All-NBA selection.
2022-23 stats: 26.2 PPG, 10.2 APG, 3.0 RPG, 42.9 FG%, (73 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Young is a prolific scoring guard who can also facilitate – the only player in the league to average at least 25 points and 10 assists last season. He led all guards with 40 double-doubles last season.
Last season’s ranking: No. 14
Why he moved down: Young’s scoring, field-goal percentage and 3-point shooting percentage fell compared to his 2021-22 statistics and the seventh-seeded Hawks lost in the first round of the playoffs.
2022-23 stats: 21.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 10.7 APG, 44.1 FG% (58 games)
Why he’s ranked here: With his MVP days behind him, Harden still was just one of three players to average double figures in points and assists and is capable of producing game-changing performances.
Last season’s ranking: No. 25
Why he moved down: His inconsistent play, especially in the playoffs, coupled with missing the All-Star Game after 10 consecutive seasons dogged Harden.
2022-23 stats: 24.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 6.2 APG, 49.1 FG% (68 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Brunson averaged career highs in points and assists and shot a career high on 3-pointers and did so by a considerable amount, going from 16.3 points to 24 per game, 4.8 assists to 6.2 and 37.3% on 3s to 41.6%. While not an All-Star last season, he had an All-Star-type season.
Last season’s ranking: Not ranked in top 30
Why he moved up: Brunson helped the Knicks to their first playoff series win since 2013, earned a spot on Team USA’s FIBA World Cup team and has improved the Knicks.
2022-23 stats: 20.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.2 APG, 45.5 FG% (65 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Coming off a knee injury that sidelined him for the 2021-22 season, Murray returned with a strong season and then excelled in the playoffs, averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, 5.7 rebounds and shooting 47.3% from the field and 39.6% on 3-pointers in 20 games. He had a 34-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in the Finals.
Last season’s ranking: Not ranked in top 30
Why he moved up: Murray re-established himself as one of the top guards in the league with his production, especially in the postseason (eight 30-point games) as the Nuggets won the title.
2022-23 stats: 19.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 7.4 APG, 49.9 FG% (67 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Holiday’s production on offense and defense continues to get recognition, and it’s a reason the Celtics traded players and two future first-round picks to acquire Holiday — a major part of Milwaukee’s 2021 title team.
Last season’s ranking: Not ranked in top 30
Why he moved up: Last season, Holiday made his second All-Star team, a decade after making his first All-Star team, made the All-Defense team for the third consecutive season and was the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year for the third time.
2022-23 stats: 20.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 54 FG% (75 games)
Why he’s ranked here: He averaged 20 points for the first time in his career, and when he is on the court, the Heat possess one of the top defenses in the league. He can rebound, block shots, protect the rim and facilitate as a playmaker on the offensive end.
Last season’s ranking: No. 24
Why he moved up: Adebayo made the All-Star team for the second time and earned All-Defense honors for the fourth consecutive season as the Heat overachieved, reaching the Finals.
2022-23 stats: 25 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.1 APG, 51.2 FG% (73 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Fox had his best all-around season, just a fraction below his career high in scoring and posting career highs in rebounds, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage (.780). He had two 38-point games against Golden State in the playoffs.
Last season’s ranking: Not ranked in top 30
Why he moved up: Fox was named an All-Star and All-NBA performer for the first time in his career and the Kings reached the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
2022-23 stats: 24.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 45.9 FG% (79 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Headed into his fourth season, Edwards had a career season last year and at the arc he is on, he’s due for another one. Edwards increased his scoring, shooting percentage, 3-point shooting percentage, rebounds and assists season over season.
Last season’s ranking: Not ranked in top 30
Why he moved up: Just 22 years old, Edwards made his first All-Star team in 2023 and is on his way to becoming an annual All-NBA performer and MVP candidate.
2022-23 stats: 26.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 8.1 APG, 46.6 FG% (61 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Morant has displayed his superstar talent throughout his four seasons, including All-Star nods in 2022 and 2023 and an All-NBA selection in 2021-22. Just two players averaged at least 25 points, 8.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds last season – Luka Doncic and Morant. He’s a major part of Memphis’ rise.
Last season’s ranking: No. 12
Why he moved down: Morant starts the season on a 25-game suspension, a punishment delivered by the league after Morant was videoed on social media displaying a handgun in public for the second time.
2022-23 stats: 23.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.1 APG, 45.7 FG% (56 games)
Why he’s ranked here: George still produces and was among 12 players who averaged at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in at least 50 games last season. He also averaged 1.5 steals and had 12 games with at least 30 points including a season-high 45 against Indiana on Dec. 31.
Last season’s ranking: No. 13
Why he moved down: This has more to do with other players’ upward trajectory rather than a steep decline in George’s productivity – though games played, including no GPs in the first-round loss to Phoenix, didn’t help.
2022-23 stats: 27.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.5 APG, 49.4 FG% (60 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Irving is an elite scorer and shotmaker, and if you focus on his game, he had a really good season in 2022-23 – almost 50% from the field, almost 40% on 3s and above 90% on free throws. Also, he was just one of eight players to average 20-5-5 in at least 60 games played.
Last season’s ranking: No. 17
Why he stayed the same: The Mavs didn’t make the playoffs, and the Irving-Doncic pairing didn’t yield the results Dallas had hoped when it traded for Irving.
2022-23 stats: 26.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 49.1 FG% (67 games)
Why he’s ranked here: Brown was Boston’s second-leading scorer, No. 2 in assists, No. 2 in steals and No. 3 in rebounds. He averaged a career high in points, shooting percentage and minutes (35.9 per game) while earning All-NBA honors for the first time in his career.
Last season’s ranking: No. 18
Why he moved up: Another player with a career year, Brown continues to improve and helps make the Celtics annual title contenders.
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