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My preseason rollout continues with the top 40 players coming into this season. Last year, I did a top 30, so I decided to bump it up to 40 and bump the number up every year until I reach 75, at least. The ranking is pretty basic, based on how they ended the last season and their potential impact on their team. Before we get into the top 40, here are my honorable mentions of those who missed the cut.
Honorable Mentions
Darius Garland
James Harden
Rudy Gobert
Alperen Sengun
Brandon Ingram
Jalen Green
Let’s examine this year’s top forty, starting with my number 40 player.
#40 Karl-Anthony Towns (Last year: Not ranked)
Why not start with the name buzzing over the past few weeks with Karl-Anthony Towns? Recently traded to the Knicks, KAT is expected to be the player to get this promising Knicks over the top. While I’m a skeptic of Towns, he did have his best season last season, which ended with him flaming out in the Western Conference finals, but maybe playing in New York with Jalen Brunson will unlock him to be what many believe he can be.
#39 Jamal Murray (Last year: #11)
One of the many drops from last year’s list starts here with Jamal Murray, who did not have the best season last year with injuries but had some glimpses of the excellent Jamal Murray we saw in the finals. Still healing from some injuries this offseason leaves a lot of concern for Nuggets fans this season, but hopefully, some good luck will lead to a bounce-back year for Murray.
#38 Damian Lillard (Last year: #16)
A universal theme with these rankings this year is drop-offs, and sadly, Damian Lillard’s last season fell off a bit. Joining the Bucks last season, Lillard and Milwaukee had high expectations but fell short with a season from hell we haven’t seen before. However, Dame Time should have a bounce back this season with an entire season and training camp under his belt, and coming into the year in shape should only mean positive things for the point guard and the bucks.
#37 Lauri Markkanen (Last year: #28)
The Utah Jazz certainly did not provide much to look forward to last season, but one of the few bright spots on that team was Lauri Markkanen. While Markkanen is not considered a superstar yet, he certainly is a desired player that many teams with deep playoff hopes will go after throughout this season because of his consistent improvement over the last few years.
#36 Pascal Siakam (Last year: #17)
Pascal Siakam was finally traded from my beloved Raptors to the exciting Indiana Pacers, where he was the ideal fit for that team. Siakam helped Indiana make the playoffs and have a surprisingly deep run, but because of the abundance of talent in the NBA right now, Spicy P took a bit of a fall on the list this year.
#35 Derrick White (Last year: Not ranked)
One of the critical parts of that championship Celtics team was and is Derrick White. What he does isn’t viral or highlight-worthy, but White’s defense and low maintenance on that talented team are why the Celtics were so overwhelming and are guaranteed to be in the finals mix this season.
#34 DeMar DeRozan (Last year: Honorable mention)
There are a few guarantees in life: Death, Taxes, Debt, and DeMar DeRozan being a consistent professional hooper. DeRozan made the best of that horrible situation in Chicago, and this summer, he went to a potentially dangerous team with the Kings, where his skill set is what Sacramento desperately needs if they want to return to the playoffs this season.
#33 Jimmy Butler (Last year: #12)
One of the most massive and disheartening on the list this year was Jimmy Butler, who had so much happened last year while being unavailable, so he fell this low compared to his top 15 spot last year. Hopefully, a highly motivated Butler will show up this season and remind many people how much of a gamer Jimmy Butler is.
#32 Zion Williamson (Last year: Not ranked)
Zion Williamson is perhaps the most frustrating young basketball superstar, but seeing his incredible summer form certainly provides much hope and excitement for what he can do this season, as long as he is healthy and stays on the floor.
#31 Ja Morant (Last year: Not ranked)
Sticking with the frustrating young superstar theme, we come to Ja Morant, who was suspended for the first portion of last season and then missed most of the year with a season-ending injury, continuing this weird odyssey his career has been over the previous couple of years. But Morant’s talent is undeniable, and the optimism of his availability this year is just outside the top 30 of this year’s rankings.
#30 Paul George (Last year: Not ranked)
Paul George leaps here, making this year’s rankings and the top 30. George indeed held the Clippers’ season together last year as well as he could, and his going to Philadelphia certainly is why he made this list. He will help the 76ers, being a massive upgrade from Tobias Harris, making him the perfect third man for a team built around Joel Embiid.
#29 Trae Young (Last year: #21)
Trae Young remains in the top 30 this year, but it is by a thin margin. Last year was injury-plagued, raising the question of potentially trading. However, expect Young to have a bounce-back season and turn the page as a player under Quin Snyder’s coaching.
#28 Domantas Sabonis (Last year: Not ranked)
One of the more under-the-radar players in the NBA is Domantas Sabonis, who has been quietly good and is a top-five center. He, along with Fox and DeRozan, certainly can get the Kings back into the playoffs and, if things go well, may make an all-star team this season.
#27 Kyrie Irving (Last year: Not ranked)
Kyrie Irving’s inclusion on the list is the biggest surprise in this year’s rankings. From being toxic to returning to the player, we enjoyed watching Irving be pivotal for the Mavs’ run to the NBA finals last season. Hopefully, last season wasn’t a flash in the pan, but it was something sustaining and will keep Dallas in title contention this season.
#26 Scottie Barnes (Last year: Not ranked)
Scottie Barnes leaped in the right direction last season on a confusing Raptors team but established himself as the team’s centerpiece. Being rewarded with a generous extension this summer certainly raised expectations for him to lead Toronto out of the bottom of the East. Still, it is doable for Barnes this season.
#25 Chet Holmgren (Last year: Honorable mention)
It was challenging not to overreact to how great Chet Holmgren’s rookie season was last year. Holmgren was impactful to the Thunder’s amazing season last year and their high hopes coming into this season, which Holmgren should continue to ascend in his sophomore season.
#24 Victor Wembanyama (Last year: Honorable mention)
The other rookie who found it hard not to overreact to his first season was Victor Wembanyama. He came on to the national scene late in the season last year but was the undeniable future force or star he will be. But the Spurs were terrible last season despite some of Wemby’s moments, so he lands at 24 and maybe motivates him this season (laughs).
#23 Kawhi Leonard (Last year: Not ranked)
Kawhi Leonard remains basketball’s paradox, so he is in the top 25 of my rankings. Availability is the best ability star players need to have, which makes it so complicated to rank or evaluate Leonard properly. When he plays, he is a top-10 player without question but rarely available, which makes him a frustrating subject in the NBA.
#22 De’Aaron Fox (Last year: #23)
De’Aaron Fox had a good season last year and continues to become the star point guard he can be. The Kings’ missing the playoffs certainly hurt his ranking this year. However, this season can be the breakout season people have been waiting for with Fox and become the driving force for Sacramento’s promising future.
#21 Jrue Holiday (Last year: #25)
Jrue Holiday is slightly bumped up in the rankings this year because of his role and impact on the Celtics’ winning the title last season. Like Derrick White, Holiday did the little stuff that many fans never notice, but that was why Boston was so dominant last season and is the favorite this season.
#20 Jalen Williams (Last year: Not ranked)
Jalen Williams was one of the three-headed monsters that led Oklahoma City to their breakout season last year. Williams showed that he was a top young talent who would only get better, especially with this core in OKC, which made him a best-kept secret option this season.
#19 Bam Adebayo (Last year: #22)
Bam Adebayo remains one of the more underrated big men in the NBA. While last season was forgetful for the Heat, Adebayo became an established defense force. Hopefully, this season, he will continue to evolve specifically on offense, which could place him among the top 15 or top 10 talents in the league.
#18 Paolo Banchero (Last year: #26)
Orlando Magic had a breakout season last year, and Paolo Banchero was the driving force behind it. Banchero carried Orlando into the playoffs. Banchero will undoubtedly be an all-star and all-NBA candidate this season while becoming one of the top elite young superstars in basketball.
#17 Tyrese Haliburton (Last year: #15)
Tyrese Haliburton was certainly a top-10 player last season before injuries derailed his potential incredible season. Haliburton did lead the Pacers into the playoffs to the conference finals, making Indiana a serious contender going forward, but his slight drop is because, again, the talent in the NBA is so incredible that everyone can’t be in the top ten or fifteen.
#16 Tyrese Maxey (Last year: Honorable Mention)
Last year’s most improved player splashes on my rankings here at sixteen. Tyrese Maxey was the saving grace for the 76ers while becoming the all-star caliber guard that may become the face of Philadelphia. This season could be another giant leap in Maxey’s career and possibly help Philadelphia overcome their embarrassing playoff struggles.
#15 Kevin Durant (Last year: #10)
Kevin Durant had one of his better seasons last year despite the mess that the Suns were ending with an embarrassing exit from the playoffs by Minnesota. Durant continues to be one of the ageless wonders who are still superstars, where, hopefully, he remains healthy and gets Phoenix back into the playoffs as legit contenders.
#14 Anthony Davis (Last year: #20)
My dislike of Anthony Davis is well documented, but last season, Davis was incredible and carried his share of the load, getting the Lakers into the playoffs. While Davis could have been defensive player of the year, he certainly earned his place as an all-NBA talent and big man that hopefully will be repeated this season.
#13 Donovan Mitchell (Last year: #19)
Donovan Mitchell continues to be another under-the-radar superstar but has made the Cavaliers legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. While the team’s core is a crowded fit, Mitchell is absolutely the franchise guy who will continue to keep Cleveland in the mix and possibly be in the conference finals this season.
#12 Jaylen Brown (Last year: #18)
Jaylen Brown had a massive breakout season last year, validating the large contract he got from Boston by helping lead the Celtics to the championship. Winning the Eastern Conference finals and finals MVP cemented Brown’s being considered and possibly becoming a top-ten player in the NBA, especially if he continues to improve and helps Boston get back to the NBA finals this season.
#11 LeBron James (Last year: #9)
The ageless wonder himself, LeBron James, continued to do the unthinkable for a player of his age and long career. James, along with Anthony Davis, dragged the Lakers back to the playoffs and still looked like one of the best players on the floor in most games. Hopefully, Father Time doesn’t catch up to him this upcoming season, and James can continue to lead and mentor his young Lakers in the winning direction.
#10 Joel Embiid (Last year: #4)
Now, to my absolute least favorite player in basketball with Joel Embiid. Embiid is easily the most annoying and frustrating subject in basketball because while his talent can be elite, his conditioning, availability, and undeniable embarrassing playoff flameouts are why the face of the Process went from #4 to #10 in these rankings.
The bottom line is that if Joel Embiid continues to have limited availability during the regular season because of his body and does not show up/perform like the elite talent many believe he is, then he cannot be considered for any top-five conversations and maybe even top ten. Embiid must come through this season when it matters because no more excuses exist for him and this team to fall short of expectations again.
#9 Stephen Curry (Last year: #3)
Stephen Curry made the best of a horrific season last year with another MVP-level performance. Curry is still one of the big game-changers, but the team around him puts a shallow ceiling on whether he can regain this version of the Warriors to title contention.
#8 Anthony Edwards (Last year: #13)
Last season, Anthony Edwards became one of the most exciting faces of the league with an explosive season that led the Wolves to the conference finals. The centerpiece in Minnesota, Edwards’s career can only go up since he is not even 25 years old, which means exciting things are still to come for Ant-Man.
#7 Jayson Tatum (Last year: #6)
Jayson Tatum is the face of the Boston Celtics and one of the driving forces for last year’s championship season. I think the gap between Tatum and Brown certainly got smaller. Still, Tatum’s talent can undoubtedly go another this season where the Celtics would be perennial title contenders but make a solid case for him being a top-five player going forward.
#6 Devin Booker (Last year: #8)
Throughout recent years, I have been quite critical of Devin Booker, but last season, he was incredible and made me change my mind about him as a player. Last year’s performance and his play in the Summer Olympics confirmed that Booker could be a top-five talent and potentially lead the Suns back to the Western Conference finals.
#5 Jalen Brunson (Last year: #14)
We now have reached the top five players coming into this season, and at number five is Jalen Brunson, who absolutely deserves to be this high in my and, honestly, any realistic player rankings after that magical season last year. Brunson has taken NYC by storm and made the Knicks likable again. Even though the Knicks fell short in round 2, it was crystal clear that Brunson is the star and player the Knicks must build around in order to get closer to the NBA finals legitimately.
#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Last year: #2)
It is weird that Giannis Antetokounmpo is not in the top three. While last season was not bad, injuries, disorganization from the franchise, and just a true season from hell hurt the Bucks and Giannis’ standing as one of the untouchable talents in the NBA. So, expect Antetokounmpo to have a monstrous revenge season this year as he leads the Bucks back to being genuine contenders in the league.
# 3 Nikola Jokic (Last year: #1)
Last year’s number-one player took a slight step down in these preseason rankings. Nikola Jokic is still, head and shoulders, the best big man in basketball, but the Nuggets certainly had an embarrassing defense of their championship last season. Even the questions about the team’s depth, Jokic, in his prime, will continue to be the unstoppable force and keep Denver contending in a highly competitive Western Conference.
#2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Last year: #7)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander arrived on a bigger stage in basketball last season, where he was an MVP finalist and led the Oklahoma City Thunder in having an incredible breakout season. He’s probably coming in as an odds-on favorite for MVP on a team that is favored to win the championship. SGA will only get better, barring some horrible health luck, but he is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NBA today.
#1 Luka Doncic (Last year: #5)
Our number one player in this year’s (2024) preseason ranking is Luka Doncic, who fell short of winning a championship against a highly talented Celtics team. Still, Doncic took over in the playoffs, reminding people he is a force. So, coming into this season, I expect Doncic to continue dominating, hopefully leading to his first regular-season MVP and leading Dallas back to the Western Conference finals, maybe even the NBA finals this year.
