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The NBA preseason has started which means it is time to do some preseason ranking and predictions. Last year I experimented with a top 50 preseason player ranking and felt I did not put much into why people were ranked, so this year I did 30 which was more of a challenge but exciting. But before we get into the preseason 30 here are my honorable mentions and players excluded because of how long they were out last season and suspensions.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Gordon, Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembenyama, Scoot Henderson, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, DeMar DeRozan, Darius Garland, Julius Randle, Dejounte Murray
Excluded Names: Kawhi Leonard (injury), Paul George (injury), Bradley Beal (injury), Zion Williamson (injury), LaMelo Ball (injury), Ja Morant (suspension)
Preseason Top 30 for 2023-24 Season
30) Josh Giddey (OKC Thunder)- Entering his third year OKC’s swingman Josh Giddey has steadily improved and has become part of that exciting young core for the Thunder who have a lot of buzz coming into the season. Not ranked last year to being in the top 30 is a vote of confidence that Giddey’s improvement will make a huge impact that can lead an all-star bid, worst case scenario he’s top ten in assists while helping Oklahoma City make it back to the playoffs.
29) Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets)- After the chaos that happened in Brooklyn as a result of ending the disappointing Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving but one of silver linings from all of that is that gained a future star and face of the franchise in 3 and D wing Mikal Bridges. Bridges stepped into a lead role that many thought he wasn’t capable of making the best of last season by getting the Nets into the playoffs. Coming into this season expect Bridges to continue succeeding in that role leading this tough, blue-collar team in Brooklyn.
28) Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)- Last year’s most improved player winner Lauri Markkanen came out of nowhere along with the Jazz who were expected to basically throw the season away but instead were competitive to their ability. Markkanen also made an all-star team and was in all NBA discussions, expect Markkanen to continue this play while making the Jazz one of the frisker teams this season.
27) Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic)- One of basketball twitter’s darlings from last season was Magic point forward Franz Wagner who was one of the high points of the magic season giving that fanbase hope for this year. Wagner is one of the more coveted young prospects league wide, year three should be the time where Wagner breaks into the national conversation and hopefully the all-star game to give us basketball nerds validation for believing in his amazing talent.
26) Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)- Staying in Orlando with the rookie of the year stud Paolo Banchero, who certainly belonged on the floor with the best of them last season. His sophomore year should be the next step in Banchero’s development that hopefully will result in at least the play-in discussion in the rather top-heavy eastern conference along with fellow big wing Franz Wagner.
25) Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)- This player has been on the move quite frequently the past month or so, Jrue Holiday was the centerpiece in the Damian Lillard trade sending him to Portland which we expected not to be long term that led to him going to Boston. Joining the Celtics, Holiday now fills in the void left from trading Marcus Smart this offseason and larger perimeter player who can defend multiple positions like their two stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum which should be an effective role for Holiday this season.
24) Jaren Jackson Jr (Memphis Grizzlies)- After last year’s breakout season Jared Jackson Jr became the major player many expect him to be. Winning defensive player of the year leading the NBA in blocks, Jackson Jr is in position to be in the same conversation as Laker big man Anthony Davis that I feel he will someday surpass. With Morant’s suspension starting the first 25 games expect Jackson Jr to carry the load and lead the Grizzlies back to their success this season.
23) De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings)- The Kings were a pleasant surprise last season for fans and the lead man behind that surprise was point guard De’Aaron Fox. Fox has always been revered for his talent and last season the talent rightfully put Fox in the top point guard conversation. After a great competitive outing in the playoffs against the Warriors last season, Fox will continue his ascent that hopefully leads the Kings to some postseason success this year.
22) Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)- Once of the league’s best kept secrets is not a secret anymore, heat big man Bam Adebayo was incredible despite missing time last year. With superstar Jimmy Butler, Adebayo help lead the low seeded Heat not only to a successful playoff run but the NBA finals. Sadly, he met his match going against Nikola Jokic coming up short but certainly put people on notice if healthy Adebayo should be the runaway pick for defensive player of the year and a vital piece to the Heat’s success.
21) Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)- One of the more controversial names on this list is the point guard enigma himself Trae Young. This season means a lot for the Hawks and Young’s future. Young is under the microscope this season when it comes to his performance, attitude, and leadership after last season’s chaotic situation that unfolded in Atlanta. Hopefully an offseason and full season with coach Quin Synder will do some good and unlock another level to Young’s game if he is open to that and empowering his teammates.
20) Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)- The player at number twenty apparently has elite talent it does not show constantly especially always being in street clothes. Anthony Davis last season had a stretch where he could have been the best in the NBA, but of course injury kept that from being a dominant force carrying the Lakers. Twenty to me seems fair for Davis coming into the new season because you can’t ignore the frailness of his body and not a question of when he gets hurt but how long he will be out.
19) Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)- The prize of last summer Donovan Mitchell certainly lifted this Cavs team to a potential deep playoff run and certainly did his best to make that possible. But the performance against the Knicks wasn’t the best for Mitchell and the Cavs but hopefully Mitchell can finally break into top tier player conversation and goes to another level.
18) Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)- After last season’s breakout performance Jaylen Brown was rewarded with a massive contract and next to his superstar teammate Jayson Tatum will continue to be the face of this new Celtics era. Despite an injury to his hand that hindered him in the postseason, Brown made a leap to being one of the top 20-25 players in the NBA that hopefully will rise in the ranking and conversation amongst us fans.
17) Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors)- Despite the disappointing season, Pascal Siakam did everything to finally solidify his place as one of the league’s top forwards. Even with his time in Toronto is unclear, Siakam will be an all-star and hopefully all-NBA this upcoming season whether its in Toronto or somewhere else.
16) Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks)- It is weird writing a new team next to Damian Lillard’s name, but we finally can because he was finally traded to Bucks being the perfect partner for Giannis Antetokounmpo making Milwaukee a front runner for a title. We know Portland held Lillard out at the end of the year to be high in the draft, so Lillard should be recharged and motivated to play competitive basketball in April, May, and June for a shot at a championship.
15) Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)- One of the NBA’s ascending stars play for the Pacers; Tyrese Haliburton came into his own last year becoming an all-star while making last season interesting and optimistic. Expect Haliburton to break out more and into the top players conversation like my number seven choice and the Pacers to be in the mix of the eastern conference.
14) Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)- Being the most beloved Knick since Carmelo Anthony, Latrell Sprewell, and Patrick Ewing, Jalen Brunson embraced the part, the city, and led a tough Knicks team to the playoffs and a first round series win. Brunson will continue to lead the Knicks to more playoff success and becoming New York’s favorite point guard.
13) Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)- This next player can absolutely explode and be a mega star despite the team around him. Anthony Edwards has been on the brink of superstardom and with this past summer performance in the FIBA world tournament that seems to be more certain this upcoming season, I may be getting ahead of myself but if that happens Edwards can easily be the next Dwayne Wade.
12) Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)- If the phrase “Put some respect on my name” was actual player look no further than Jimmy Butler. Butler again showed us that playoff Jimmy is a real thing, and that you can not count out a team led by Butler. Expect the same from Jimmy but the team’s success depends on the health and potential of his supporting cast to determine if a return to the NBA finals is possible.
11) Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)- Playoff Jamal Murray came back last postseason being one of the pivotal players in winning the championship for the Nuggets. Murray certainly has placed himself in the top point guard conversation but hopefully staying healthy is in the cards and continues upward.
10) Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)- KD had an interesting year last season from demanding a trade to start, to getting traded to a new team with title hopes in the Suns. Durant of course was injured for a bit that held up any chemistry issues until the playoffs that fell short to the Nuggets. This year with a training camp and another major player like Bradley Beal to put him with Durant and Devin Booker has put the Suns in win now mode and deliver.
9) LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)- One of the three greatest players of all-time continues to defy Father Time entering year 22 of his career. Of course, there was a time where anything that wasn’t in the top 3 would be insane for LeBron James but the NBA just has an abundance of young talent that simply are ahead of him, but James is still the most dangerous on this list because simply it’s LeBron James.
Expect James to lead the way for Laker Nation and of course come in with title aspirations but expect James to pick his spots during the regular season to gear up for the playoffs and hopefully add to his legacy this season.
8) Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)- Being in win now mode the Suns have good reason to believe because Devin Booker is the face of the Suns. Booker certainly has expanded his game from being a scorer to being playmaking lead guard who is top 10 scorer, yes, it is a lot to ask but Booker could possibly live up to that promise.
7) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)- I mentioned him earlier but the clear-cut breakout star last season was Shail Gilgeous-Alexander. Honestly, I have not hidden my fandom or bias for SGA because he is that talented where it can’t be ignored because he plays in the Prairie. All-star starter, top five in the MVP votes, and first team all-NBA was only the beginning of Gilgeous-Alexander’s stardom going forward while leading the young, promising Thunder to a playoff appearance this season.
6) Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)- Jayson Tatum took another step to being in that hallowed Celtic lure like so many before him. Falling short against the Heat in the conference finals, Tatum continued to become a no question top tier player and can only go up while giving Celtics fans a championship also.
5) Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)- Not putting Luka Doncic in the top 3 hurt for me to do but I am fair and realest, so Doncic landed at five. Part not making the playoffs, part his style of play coming into question, and part roster construction he doesn’t have control over concerns me when it comes to Doncic and the future in Dallas.
Despite all of that I still have Doncic winning MVP this season (Got to try this again) but I can’t see him falling off a cliff this season unless it’s a major injury so expect Luka to make the best of the situation in Dallas leading to a return to the postseason.
4) Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)- Some of you might be asking “Ray how is the reigning MVP not in the top 3?” and my answer is look at the track record but more importantly go back and watch that game 7 against the Celtics last year where that dominant MVP absolutely no showed and failed again. Finally, after seasons of complaining the voters and powers that be gave Embiid what he’s been wanting the MVP after coming in second or third in recent years.
Embiid got every accolade he wanted for the regular season but in the playoffs again fell incredibly short of being anything close to a MVP, especially in game 7 against the Celtics where multiple role players outscored him but yet the process himself blamed others and not himself. For me I need real leadership, accountability, and care to be in the best shape possible to give Philadelphia some sort of return past the second round on the very much cursed era that is “The Process”.
3) Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)- This is not going to be a long flowery thing on Stephen Curry, he is not the greatest point guard of all time, but he certainly is the reason why the Warriors are still considered dangerous in the West. Green and Thompson are aging, Jordan Poole is gone, and the young talent seem to be not ready a lot falls on Curry’s back to be true contenders. But Curry has shown us he can handle it and do it so expect the Warriors to be in the mix of the top of the West and Curry remains the gold standard of consistency amongst league’s biggest stars.
2) Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)- As a proud ground floor from the start investor in Giannis Inc, Giannis could not do anything more than he did last year with the Bucks. An unfortunate back injury derailed the Bucks from making a title run along with the looming fear of Antetokounmpo leaving when his extension is up made Bucks management go all in on the now when they acquire Blazer star Damian Lillard last month.
That move told Giannis that his goals and the teams are the same, which is to win another championship and make Milwaukee one of the gold standard franchises in the NBA while remaining loyal and staying with the team who drafted him.
1) Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)- My number one choice hopefully became a household name for casual basketball fans, as Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was simply magnificent last season. What would have been an MVP season any other year, Jokic finished second in the MVP race but showed why he is the better big between him and Embiid in the playoffs and finals leading Denver to a championship. Expect the Joker to do the same thing if not go to another level in defending the title and proving last year was not some flute.
