Top 20 NBA Players: The Best in the World Right Now

Introduction 

The NBA stands as a renowned and immensely popular basketball league on a global scale. Throughout its existence, it has showcased exceptional athletes competing at the pinnacle of their abilities, crafting unforgettable moments etched in the annals of sports history. Each season unveils a fresh generation of talent, with certain players consistently rising above their peers. This article delves into the top 20 players, examining the current frontrunners and those poised to captivate attention in the forthcoming season.

1. LeBron James

LeBron James, a prominent figure in basketball, is widely acknowledged as one of the most exceptional players in the sport’s history. Born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, James gained national acclaim during his time at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Subsequently, as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he swiftly solidified his position as one of the league’s premier talents. Throughout his career, James has garnered an impressive collection of accolades, including four NBA championships, four NBA MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. As of 2023, he stands third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, widely regarded for his versatility in being able to play across all five positions. Beyond his on-court achievements, James is renowned for his philanthropic endeavors, exemplified by the establishment of the LeBron James Family Foundation, which supports disadvantaged youth in his hometown of Akron.

2. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant, a distinguished professional basketball player, currently showcases his exceptional talent as a member of the Brooklyn Nets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on September 29, 1988, in Washington D.C., Durant pursued his collegiate basketball career at the University of Texas before being drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007, subsequently transitioning to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Throughout his illustrious career, Durant has accumulated an impressive array of accomplishments, including two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and four NBA scoring titles. He has been honored with All-NBA First Team recognition on six occasions and has achieved the prestigious title of NBA Most Valuable Player. Demonstrating his remarkable skill on the global stage, Durant has represented the United States in international competition, securing Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Durant’s contributions to the sport remain highly revered.

3. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry, an American professional basketball player, currently showcases his exceptional skills as a member of the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on March 14, 1988, in Akron, Ohio, Curry spent his formative years in Charlotte, North Carolina. His father, Dell Curry, boasts a notable NBA career, while his mother, Sonya Curry, excelled as a Division I volleyball player. Curry honed his basketball prowess during his college years at Davidson College and subsequently joined the Golden State Warriors after being drafted in 2009. Renowned for his extraordinary shooting prowess, particularly from beyond the three-point line, Curry has achieved multiple NBA championships and MVP honors over the course of his illustrious career. Evident from his remarkable achievements, Curry is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in the storied history of the NBA.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Greek professional basketball player who currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on December 6, 1994, in Athens, Greece, Antetokounmpo is known for his versatility and athleticism, earning him the nickname “The Greek Freak.” Standing at 6’11” with a wingspan of 7’3″, Antetokounmpo can play multiple positions, including point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013 and has since become one of the league’s most dominant players.

In the 2021-2022 NBA season, Antetokounmpo averaged 28.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 56.4% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range. He was also named the NBA Finals MVP for the second consecutive year, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their second championship in franchise history.

Antetokounmpo has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including two NBA MVP awards, four All-NBA First Team selections, and five NBA All-Star selections. He is also a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team four times. Antetokounmpo is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world and is expected to continue dominating the league for years to come.

5. James Harden

James Harden is a professional basketball player in the NBA. He currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets. He has previously played for the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harden is known for his impressive scoring ability and has won the NBA scoring title three times. He has also been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player once and has been selected to the NBA All-Star team ten times. Harden was born on August 26, 1989, in Los Angeles, California. He attended Arizona State University before being drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

6. Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on June 29, 1991, in Los Angeles, California. He attended Canyon Springs High School and later transferred to Martin Luther King High School, where he played his junior and senior years. For his college career, Leonard averaged 12.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game for the Aztecs as a San Diego State University player from 2009 to 2011. He played two seasons at San Diego State University (2009-11). Leonard was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 15th overall choice in the 2011 NBA Draft but was then traded that same night to the San Antonio Spurs for George Hill along with the rights to Erazem Lorbek and Davis Bertans. Leonard has won two NBA championships, been named Finals MVP twice, and is a five-time All-Star and a five-time member of the All-NBA Team, including three First Team. He signed a three-year, $103 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, which included a $36 million player option in the 2021-2022 season.

7. Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic is a professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Dallas Mavericks. He was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on February 28, 1999, and his guardianship was given to his mother following his parents’ divorce. Luka Doncic began playing organized basketball at the age of seven and became the MVP of the Vasas Intesa Sanpaolo cup in Budapest in September 2011, representing Olimpija at the age of 14. He then went on loan to the Spanish club Real Madrid in February 2012 for the Maricopa Endesa, an under-14 club championship.

Luka became the first teenager to record four career triple-doubles in NBA history and broke the record for hitting the most triple-doubles in a season before turning 22 years old, which was previously held by Ben Simmons. His estimated net worth in 2022 is $25 million, and he signed a five-year extension with the Mavericks worth about $207 million in 2021. Luka Doncic has a two-year contract with Nike and a multi-year endorsement agreement with Air Jordan, and he wears shoes like the Air Jordan 35 and the Jordan React Elevation. His girlfriend is Slovenian model and fashion influencer Anamaria Goltes.

8. Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is a professional basketball player in the NBA who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was born on March 16, 1994, in Cameroon. Embiid has overcome multiple injuries and personal tragedies to become one of the top players in the league. He has a net worth of approximately $35 million and is under contract with the 76ers through the 2021-2022 season. Embiid was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2022-2023 season, becoming the fifth player in franchise history to win the award. He has been ranked as high as the seventh-best player in the league.

9. Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard is a professional basketball player who was born on July 15, 1990, in Oakland, California. He has a sister named LaNae and a brother named Houston, who is a quarterback in the Indoor Football League. Lillard attended high school in San Lorenzo, California, where he played basketball and demonstrated his skills. In an effort to increase his playing time, he later changed to high schools in Alameda, and then transferred to Oakland High School after being placed on the bench.

Lillard made a big impact in his junior year when he averaged 19.4 points per game, and he helped the Oakland Wildcats to a 23-9 record by averaging 22.4 points and 5.2 assists per game as he advanced to the senior level. He eventually received a scholarship to play basketball at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, where he played for four years. In 2012, he was selected as the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Since then, he has become one of the top point guards in the league, earning numerous awards and accolades. Lillard is married to Kay’La Hanson, and they have three children together. His net worth is estimated to be $100 million, and he has several endorsement deals, including one with Adidas.

10. Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic is a Serbian professional basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets as a center. He was born on February 19, 1995, in Sombor, Serbia, and has two older brothers. He started playing basketball for Vojvodina Srbijagas and received interest from bigger clubs. He signed with Meg Leks in 2012 and played there for two seasons. Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014 but only signed a deal in 2015.

He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished 3rd in the Rookie of the Year voting. He achieved the NBA’s quickest triple-double in 14 minutes, 33 seconds, surpassing Jim Tucker’s previous record of 17 minutes. His passing and playmaking at the center position made him an intriguing prospect. Jokic has amassed a net worth of $30 million over his six-year NBA career. He married Natalija Mačešić on October 24, 2020, in his hometown of Sombor.

11. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Brooklyn Nets. Born March 23, 1992 in Melbourne, Australia. He played for the Duke team, after which in 2011 he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers team under the 1st number in the NBA draft. With the Cavaliers, he won an NBA championship in 2016 and was selected to the All-Star Game three times. In 2017, he joined the Boston Celtics and signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.

During his NBA career, he averaged 22.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. In the 2020-2021 season, he entered the club 50-40-90, making 50% of his shots, 40% of three-pointers and 90% of his free throws. He was also selected to the NBA All-Star Team six times. He signed a four-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets worth $136.5 million in 2019. Its current valuation is $43.3 million.

12. Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on March 11, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois. Davis attended Perspectives Charter School, where he played high school basketball. He then played for the Kentucky Wildcats in college before being drafted first overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets, now known as the New Orleans Pelicans. Davis has won several accolades throughout his career, including eight NBA All-Star selections, four All-NBA First Teams, four NBA All-Defensive Teams, and an NBA championship in 2020 with the Lakers. He was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. Davis is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time.

13. Chris Paul

Chris Paul is an American professional basketball player who was born on May 6, 1985, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is known for being one of the premier stars of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the early 21st century. He has played for several teams throughout his career, including the New Orleans Hornets, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Houston Rockets, and currently, the Phoenix Suns.

Paul is a highly skilled point guard, regularly ranking among the leaders in assists and steals. He has broken several records during his career, including being the only player in NBA history to record at least 20 points, 20 assists with 0 turnovers in a game and leading the league in assists per game and steals per game in the same season, three times. Paul is married to Jada and has two children, a daughter, Cameron Alexis, and a son, Christopher Emmanuel II.

14. Paul George

Paul George is an American professional basketball player who was born on May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California. He currently plays as a small forward for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). George attended Knight High School, where he played basketball for the school team and led the Knights to the Golden League championship in his senior year. He then went on to play two seasons of college basketball at Fresno State before being drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the 2010 NBA draft.

George has since played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers, earning numerous accolades such as being selected to the All-NBA First Team twice, the All-Defensive Team four times, and being named the NBA Most Improved Player in 2013. He has also played for the US national team, winning a gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. George is in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Daniela Rajic, and they have two daughters together. His net worth is estimated to be around $110 million as of 2022.

15. Devin Booker

Devin Armani Booker is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on October 30, 1996, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Booker played college basketball for one season with the Kentucky Wildcats before being selected by the Suns in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft with the 13th overall pick. Since then, he has become a two-time NBA All-Star and a gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Booker stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 206 pounds. He plays as a shooting guard and wears jersey number 1. In his NBA career, he has played a total of 395 games, averaging 22.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He has a career shooting percentage of 46.8% from the field, 35.6% from beyond the arc, and 86.2% from the free-throw line.

In 2021, Booker led the Suns to the NBA Finals, where they eventually lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. He averaged 28.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game throughout the playoffs. Booker’s net worth is estimated to be in the millions of dollars, and he is also known for dating popular celebrity Kendall Jenner.

16. Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell Jr. is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on September 7, 1996, in Elmsford, New York, Mitchell was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, but his draft rights were later traded to the Utah Jazz, where he played for four seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021.

Mitchell is a four-time NBA All-Star and has been recognized as one of the best players in the league since his breakout season in 2017-18. He is known for his athleticism, explosive scoring ability, and tenacity on defense. During his NBA career, Mitchell has averaged 23.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, with a career-high scoring average of 28.5 points per game in the 2020-21 season.

Off the court, Mitchell is also known for his charitable work and activism. He has been involved in various community outreach programs and has been a vocal advocate for social justice issues. As of 2022, Mitchell’s net worth is estimated to be between $10 to $20 million, with an annual salary of approximately $28 million.

17. Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert-Bourgarel is a French professional basketball player currently playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on June 26, 1992. Gobert is known for his impressive agility, intense tackles, defensive blocks, and tactical shots, which are complemented by his body size and height. He stands at 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m) tall and weighs 258 pounds (117 kg). Gobert was acquired by the Utah Jazz during the 2013 NBA draft and played for them until the 2022-23 season when he joined the Timberwolves.

Throughout his NBA career, Gobert has been recognized for his defensive skills. He has been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year three times (2018, 2019, and 2021) and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times (2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021). Gobert has also been named to the NBA All-Star Team twice (2020 and 2021) and the All-NBA Second Team once (2017). In the 2021-22 NBA season, Gobert averaged 16.9 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.

18. Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler III is an American professional basketball player born on September 14, 1989, in Houston, Texas. He currently plays for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is known by the nickname “Jimmy Buckets”. Butler is a six-time NBA All-Star, a four-time All-NBA Team honoree, and a five-time NBA All-Defensive Team honoree. He also won an Olympic gold medal in 2016.

Butler’s journey to the NBA was marked by adversity, growing up in an impoverished household and facing the abandonment of his father as an infant. Despite the challenges, he developed a passion for basketball and worked hard to overcome obstacles to achieve success in his career.

As of May 2023, Butler has played 12 seasons in the NBA and has a tremendous net worth of $60 million. In his career, he has made an estimated $218,065,231 and has been a marketing giant with multiple sponsors. Butler continues to be an important player for the Miami Heat, regularly contributing to the team’s success with his impressive stats and skills on the court.

19. Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Washington Wizards in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on June 28, 1993 [1]. Beal played college basketball for the Florida Gators before he was selected by the Washington Wizards with the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

Throughout his NBA career, Beal has earned several awards and achievements, including two All-NBA Third Team selections and two NBA All-Star Game selections. As of May 2023, he has career averages of 22.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Beal is also known for his outstanding shooting ability, with a career field goal percentage of 45.9% and a three-point shooting percentage of 38.1%.

Off the court, Beal has a net worth of $40 million. He has also made headlines with rumors of potential trade requests in the past. Despite the speculation, Beal has remained a key player for the Wizards and is widely regarded as one of the best shooting guards in the league.

20. Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum is an American professional basketball player who currently plays as a forward for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on March 3, 1998, in St. Louis, Missouri. Tatum was selected by the Celtics as the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and has since become one of the team’s key players.

Throughout his career, Tatum has shown tremendous scoring ability and has been named an NBA All-Star twice (2020, 2021). As of the 2021-2022 season, he has career averages of 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Tatum has also shown his clutch performance in the playoffs, leading the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2019-2020 season and to the NBA Finals in the 2021-2022 season.

Off the court, Tatum is known for his work ethic and dedication to improving his game. He has also been vocal about his desire to follow in the footsteps of his childhood hero, former Celtics player Paul Pierce.

Conclusion

The NBA is an incredibly competitive and talent-filled league, with some of the most talented players in the world. The 20 players listed above are all among the best in the world right now, and each one of them can be considered a true superstar. Whether it’s through their performance on the court, their impact off it, or both, these individuals have proven that they can compete at the highest level and cemented their legacies as some of basketball’s greats.