The 2024-25 NBA season was one for the ages. Individual talent and competitive balance were off the charts league-wide. The Oklahoma City Thunder took home the championship, but all 30 teams had their time to shine throughout the year. In celebration of such a fun chapter in NBA history, it’s time to deliver my annual top 100 players list. 

Making these rankings proved to be a difficult task. I started with a pool of 184 players and had to painstakingly whittle it down to 100, plus 10 honorable mentions. The list is based solely on performance in the 2024-25 season. Past years and future potential were not factored in. 

A quick note: over a dozen players here have already switched teams this offseason, but none of that movement will be mentioned in this piece. 

Here we go!

Injury Leaveoffs: Joel Embiid, Brandon Ingram, Cam Thomas, Brandon Miller, Herb Jones, Mitchell Robinson, Jared McCain

The above players did not appear in at least 30+ regular season contests and therefore did not qualify for the list. Had they not been injured, they likely would have made it.

Honorable Mentions (110-101):

110: Toumani Camara 

109: Luguentz Dort

108: Andrew Nembhard

107: Aaron Nesmith

106: Mark Williams

105: Devin Vassell 

104: Nic Claxton

103: Walker Kessler

102: Brook Lopez

101: Deandre Ayton

There are some GOOD players in this honorable mention section. Lopez, Claxton, Ayton, and Vassell have all been much higher on this list before. Nembhard, Dort, and Nesmith made important contributions to Finals teams. Toumani Camara, member of the 2024-25 All-Defensive Second Team, is one of the best stoppers at his position. While these guys didn’t end up in the Top 100 itself, they deserve lots of love for the years they had. 

100: Shaedon Sharpe

Kicking off the list is one of Portland’s many promising young guys, Shaedon Sharpe. The Abnormality, as he was dubbed during the season’s nickname craze, averaged a career-high 18.5 points in what was just his third year in the league. He’s one of the best athletes in the game— he threw down the best dunk of 2024-25 according to the NBA itself and had multiple other mind-boggling posters throughout the year. Sharpe played like a future star in 2024-25 and it won’t be long before we see him soar even higher. 

99: De’Andre Hunter

De’Andre Hunter was on a heater in 2024-25. He led the league in points per game off the bench, averaging 18.9 with the Hawks and 13.8 with the Cavaliers. The former fourth overall pick finished fourth in actual Sixth Man of the Year voting but was a finalist on the Bench Mob Blog ballot. Unfortunately, he couldn’t push Cleveland over the top and into the Conference Finals, but injuries also played a part in their demise.

98: Naz Reid

Two words: Naz Reid. 

The 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year had arguably an even better year in 2024-25. Reid is a one-of-one versatile baller at the big man spot whose shooting and driving abilities are integral for the Timberwolves. The Big Jelly earned a serious bag this summer for a reason. 

97: Khris Middleton

Not to put bad omens in the air, but this may be the last we see of Khris Middleton: Top 100 player. The 33-year-old’s lower body is starting to fail him— he was held to just 22.8 minutes in 37 games this past season due to injury. Still, Khash Money was capable of heating up and dropping a smooth 20 on any given night. More importantly, he was a leader, helping the 18-64 Wizards go 6-8 in his 14 games with the team.

96: Alex Caruso

What better word is there to describe Alex Caruso than champion? Now a two-time champ, the Bald Mamba is one of the premier role players in all of sports. His linchpin defense and unwavering willingness to do the dirty work are the stuff coaches dream of. Without him, Oklahoma City wouldn’t have a new banner in their rafters. 

95: Payton Pritchard

Payton Pritchard took the league by storm off the bench after finally being given the bigger role he requested back in 2023. He averaged career-highs in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, and steals on his way to winning Sixth Man of the Year. He wasn’t always able to impact the game in high-leverage contests, but Pritchard was a crucial part of Boston’s 61-win campaign.  

94: Quentin Grimes

After a really disappointing 2023-24 season, Quentin Grimes started to bounce back at the beginning of 2024-25 with the Mavericks, rediscovering his confidence and three-point stroke. The seed was planted in Dallas for the colossal jump he took with the 76ers. In 28 games (25 starts) with Philly, Grimes put up 21.9 points and 4.5 assists on good efficiency. The Texas native showed the world what he could do with a green light, fulfilling the prophecy written here on the Bench Mob Blog back in 2023. 

93: Malik Monk

For years, Malik Monk has been an electric microwave scorer, but he’s gotten better and better as a playmaker throughout his time in Sacramento. Now, he’s a guy you can trust to lead your offense for stretches off the bench or as a starter. Monk averaged career-highs in points (17.2) and assists (5.6) in 2024-25. 

92: Christian Braun

Braun complements three-time MVP Nikola Jokic as well as any wing in the league could. He’s an opportunistic off-ball mover, he runs like a track star in transition, and he cares about winning more than anything else. All of those qualities set the table for his breakout 2024-25 campaign, in which he posted career-bests in all major statistical categories. Braun was Bench Mob Blog’s pick for Most Improved player.  

91: Malik Beasley

No reserve was more important to their team than Malik Beasley last season. He had an all-time shooting year, becoming one of five players ever to knock down 300+ triples in a single season. Without the spark Beasley provided off the bench, Detroit wouldn’t have been in the playoffs. He was Bench Mob Blog’s pick for Sixth Man of the Year. 

90: Jakob Poeltl

Jakob Poeltl has been one of basketball’s most underrated big men for what’s felt like a decade. The Austrian seven-footer is a textbook traditional center who holds things down in the paint on both ends. Poeltl averaged the most points, rebounds, assists, and steals of his career in 2024-25. His contributions are never flashy but always valuable. 

89: Tobias Harris

Every young team needs a vet to stabilize things in big moments. Tobias Harris played that “unc” role for the Pistons admirably last season. He deferred to the squad’s up-and-coming stars most of the time, but asserted himself as a leader in the clutch and the playoffs. Harris scored less than he has since his third season as a pro (13.7 PPG), but his winning impact was felt as much as ever. 

88: Isaiah Hartenstein

The Thunder overpaid to get their guy, Isaiah Hartenstein, in 2024 free agency, and the bet paid off. The big fella solved rebounding and rim protection issues the team had in the past, and he fit into their culture phenomenally overall. Hartenstein is the ultimate grinder. It’s why he’s grown from a G Leaguer to a top-100 player, and now, an NBA champion. 

87: Dyson Daniels

Daniels made a meteoric rise last season, putting himself on the shortlist of the best perimeter defenders in the league while also finding a groove as an offensive player. His growth earned him a ton of new hardware: the Australian won Most Improved Player, made All-Defensive First Team, and led the NBA in steals per game. He’s like the ying to Trae Young’s yang in Atlanta’s backcourt, and that pairing is sure to terrorize opponents on both ends for years to come. 

86: Jalen Suggs

Injury held Jalen Suggs to just 35 games played in 2024-25, but when he was on the court, he was building off his breakout 2023-24 campaign. The Gonzaga product is a total bulldog on defense. He looks like Jrue Holiday out there at times with his ability to quarterback his team and cover all five positions on that end. Suggs also has continued to grow on offense. He averaged a career-high 16.2 points last season.

85: Immanuel Quickley

IQ has smoothly transitioned from microwave sixth man to full-time starter since arriving in Toronto. The speedy combo guard can effectively oscillate between being an on-ball playmaker and an off-ball scorer, which makes him well-suited to play next to his point forward teammates (Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Brandon Ingram). Quickley posted career-highs in points (17.1) and assists (5.8) while shooting 37.8% from deep on high volume in 2024-25, although he played just 33 games.

84: Fred VanVleet

Houston’s takeoff season wouldn’t have been possible without Fred VanVleet. He wasn’t the All-Star on the team, or the leading scorer, but he was the steady presence at the point that kept things chugging along. The former champion elevated his game in the playoffs, pouring in some impressive shotmaking performances when the Rockets needed it most. He averaged 18.7 points and made 3.9 threes per game against Golden State in the first round.

83: Anfernee Simons

While he hasn’t blazed the same trails as his mentor, Damian Lillard’s former heir apparent has become an offensive star in his own right. Simons can catch fire faster than a handheld lighter, and when he does, then look out because it’s bombs away. The 26-year-old finished 12th in the league in threes made per game and 17th in total triples while averaging 19.3 points.

82: Jaden McDaniels

“They got KD, but we got Jaden McDaniels” resonated more than ever in 2024-25, because McDaniels had the best two-way season of his young career. He took some massive strides on offense, becoming someone Minnesota can trust to create something out of nothing with the ball in his hands. In the postseason, he dropped 14.7 points a night while shooting 51.5% from the field and 38.2% from deep. All that scoring only amplified the impact of his all-league-caliber defense.

81: Michael Porter Jr.

MPJ was the most well-rounded version of himself last season. He got after it on the glass, dished out over two assists per game for the first time in his career, had some solid defensive moments, and, of course, drained a ton of jumpers. Unfortunately, a lingering shoulder injury haunted him in the playoffs, and his production dropped off significantly.

80: Andrew Wiggins

Wiggins shouldered serious responsibility for the Heat after joining the team in February, and he didn’t fold under the pressure. According to BBall Index, he defended stars 21.6% of the time (a 93rd percentile rate), and he still had the energy to score 19 points a night on the other end. The former All-Star may just be a role player, but he’s one of the best in basketball.

79: John Collins

Although he only played 40 games, John Collins quietly had his best season since 2021, when he helped the Hawks make the Conference Finals. The Utah native notched 19.0 points per game in 2024-25, the third highest mark of his career, while chipping in 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists on 52.7% from the field and 39.9% from deep. His combination of two-way versatility and size will only become more valuable as jumbo front courts continue to become cool again.

78: Cam Johnson

Brooklyn was a land of opportunity last season, and Cam Johnson prospered in it. On the back of the highest usage rate of his career, the steady shooter turned himself into one of the most coveted players on the trade market. Johnson was highly efficient as a scorer and a decision maker despite his embiggened role, showing why he’s the type of guy every team would want playing for them.

77: Josh Giddey

Chicago was a much better situation for the still-developing Josh Giddey than OKC was towards the end of his time there. The SLOB Wizard had the freedom to run the offense, and with that privilege, he fueled a high-octane attack that started a culture shift in Chi-Town. After the trade deadline, when Zach LaVine was gone, Giddey averaged a jaw-dropping 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists. On top of that, he drained a half-court game winner against the Lakers that was maybe the best highlight of the year.

76: Miles Bridges

Outside of the efficiency department, Bridges’ numbers from last year are strikingly close to those of his 2021-22 breakout campaign. He was as reliable of a contributor as anyone on Charlotte’s roster (which isn’t really saying much), appearing in 64 games (20 more than LaMelo Ball, 40 more than Brandon Miller) and filling up the stat sheet no matter who he was sharing the court with. Defensive lapses and occasional bone-headed offense blemish his resume, but on his best nights, Bridges is a low-tier star. 

75: Bradley Beal

Nobody talks about Bradley Beal anymore unless they’re bringing up his contract, which has killed his reputation. However, money aside, the former All-NBA guard is still a cream-of-the-crop third option. He gave Phoenix 17.0 points a game last season on nearly 50/40/80 splits. Beal could really surprise some people on his next team.

74: Aaron Gordon

Every contender needs a heart and soul, and Aaron Gordon is the definition of that for Denver. He means so much to the franchise that fans dubbed him Mr. Nugget. Gordon did all the junkyard dog work he’s known for last season while sprinkling in timely triples throughout the regular season and into the playoffs. His 43.6% mark from beyond the arc was far-and-away a career high.

73: Amen Thompson

Nobody in the current NBA, or even all of history, is quite like Amen Thompson. The third-year phenom is essentially a real-life video game character. Thompson was the anchor of an elite defense as a 22-year-old 6’7” wing and rightfully earned an All-Defensive First Team nod. Oh, and he averaged 14.1 points in the regular season and 15.7 in the playoffs. In the words of Michael Jordan, the ceiling is the roof for this kid, and he’s destined to achieve the XLNC his middle name has prophesied.

72: Deni Avdija

Deni Avdija was Portland’s all-around best player last season. After a slow start to the year, Turbo took off and played like a future stud. He dropped 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists a night post-All-Star-break while shooting 50.8% from the field and 41.7% from three. Avdija has very few holes in his game and he’s just 24 years old. It would be unwise to put a limit on what he can be by the time he hits his prime. 

71: Paul George

Paul George might be the most memed player ever. His 2024-25 season certainly didn’t help change that reputation. In fact, he’s now one of the poster children for being washed. However, despite fighting through multiple injuries, PG13 gave Philly low-tier-star-level play most of the time. He’s definitely not his OKC self anymore, but he’s far from completely washed up.

70: Jrue Holiday

Jrue isn’t the All-Star he once was, but he’s found comfort being a star in his role. He hasn’t lost much of a step on defense, and he’s a crisp connector that greases Boston’s motor on both sides of the ball. However, his scoring can be a little rough at times. His 35.3% three-point clip last season was by far his lowest since he left New Orleans, as was his 9.5 points per game in the playoffs. 

69: Dejounte Murray

Dejounte Murray’s first season with the Pelicans was dampened by injuries. He played only three games in October and November combined, which threw off his game, but he started to find a rhythm in January. That month, the former All-Star averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists before he suffered a ruptured Achilles mid-season that ended his year prematurely. 

68: Mikal Bridges

Was Mikal Bridges worth five first-round picks? No. But, was he super important to New York’s first Conference Finals run in over two decades? Absolutely. The Warden shifted the tides of games when he had a hot shooting night, and he came up huge defensively in big moments in the playoffs. Bridges wasn’t quite as inconsistent as people seemed to think, either, as he averaged 17.6 points on 50% shooting across the regular season. 

67: Draymond Green

People discounted Draymond’s DPOY case because it was self-advertised, but he should have been in the running the whole time. He anchored the league’s seventh-best defense with his unmatched versatility and crushed it across the board analytically. Green brought some juice on offense this year too, hitting backbreaking threes in the clutch and even walking down Rudy Gobert for a dagger dunk. Most impressive is the fact he did it all at 34 years old. 

66: Myles Turner

Indiana’s mainstay big man was finally able to help his squad go on a deep playoff run this past spring. Turner’s renowned pick-and-pop shooting and formidable shot blocking were indispensable for the Pacers all year. His 39.6% success rate from deep on 5.5 attempts per game was a career-high. There’s a reason why the Texas native has constantly been in trade rumors throughout his career: everyone would be stoked to have him on their team. 

65: Lauri Markkanen

Markkanen got his bag and got complacent. The seven-foot sniper has become known for his hyper-efficient play finishing, but he shot just 42.3% from the field and 34.6% from three last season. His 19 PPG was a significant drop off from the 25.6 points he averaged in his All-Star year. The Marksman hasn’t been to the playoffs once in his career, and that needs to change because he’d look a lot better on a competitive team. 

64: Collin Sexton

Collin Sexton needs more respect. He’s an offensive star who scores with superb efficiency and never backs down in big moments. He’s an unselfish leader who elevates those around him. Best of all, he cares about winning above all and gives 110% effort night in and night out, even for a bad Utah Jazz squad. Sexton averaged 18.4 points and 4.2 assists on 48% from the field and 41% from three last season.

63: CJ McCollum

There’s consistency, and then there’s CJ McCollum-level consistency. The veteran just averaged over 20 points for the 10th season in a row. He’s a steady hand on and off the ball who can fill up the scoring column as the third option or the first. Every year McCollum excels as a pro just further cements his spot amongst the league’s all-time best zero-time All-Stars. 

62: Norman Powell

Norman Powell is a quintessential example of opportunity being everything in the NBA. His eyes lit up when Paul George left LA last summer, and he ended up putting together a Most Improved-worthy campaign despite being a 10-year vet. Stormin’ Norman dropped 21.8 points per game on 48.4% shooting in 2024-25, stepping up as a scorer when the Clippers needed it most. 

61: Nikola Vucevic

Montenegro’s finest came out of the gates last season playing like an All-Star. While he eventually slowed down, he still broke out of an extended shooting slump, connecting on 40.2% of his triples for the year while adding 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds. Overall, Vucevic was one of the main reasons Chicago was so mediocre. Yes, that’s a complementary statement, because without him, they would have been awful. 

60: Jordan Poole

While he’s known for his AAU-esque street ball flair, Jordan Poole played with more maturity in 2024-25, and he was better because of it. The 25-year-old shot 37.8% from deep on nine attempts a game, a level of efficiency on considerable volume we’ve never seen from him. He also put more effort in on defense and became a leader in the locker room for a super young Wizards team.

59: Rudy Gobert

His lacking offensive aptitude can be a problem, but Gobert remains an all-powerful defensive presence. Teams try time and time again to hunt him on switches, but he rarely concedes advantages. As a rim protector, he’s still close to peerless. Without the Stifle Tower, Minnesota wouldn’t have back-to-back Conference Finals appearances under their belt. 

58: OG Anunoby

The ultimate switchblade stopper, OG Anunoby can shut down anybody. Guards, wings, bigs, whoever. He wasn’t named to an All-Defensive team, but there aren’t more than twelve defenders on the planet better than him. Anunoby has also made leaps and bounds as an offensive player over time. He posted a career-high 18.0 points in 2024-25 and scored 30+ six times, the most of any of his professional seasons. 

57: RJ Barrett

Playing in his home country has given RJ Barrett the comfort to ascend his game to another level. He averaged the most points (21.1) and assists (5.4) of his career last season on his second-highest field-goal percentage (46.8%). When Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and others missed time for Toronto, Star-J stepped up as a leader. His long-term future with the Raptors has been put in jeopardy, but Barrett has become a player who can succeed anywhere. 

56: Trey Murphy III

A new star emerged from the basketball dystopia that was the 2024-25 Pelicans. Trey Murphy rose from the flames like a phoenix, giving hope to the organization with his growth on both ends. The rangy forward scored 21.2 points per game, filling it up at every level while also averaging a career-high in assists (3.5). 

55: Jalen Johnson

A torn labrum unfortunately cut short what was on track to be a Most Improved, or even All-Star, level campaign for Jalen Johnson. The Duke product is the epitome of a modern power forward. He’s an imposing 6’9” force of nature with a mind teeming with hoops IQ and hands graced with silky touch. Johnson recorded 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks last season. Very few players in basketball can match that type of production, and most of those who can are superstars. 

54: Jalen Green

Jalen Green is as polarizing as anyone in the sport, and that’s because of his polar play. Some nights he’s unstoppable, making scoring 30 look like the easiest thing ever, and others, he’s barely noticeable on the court because his shot isn’t falling. Even though we saw more of the latter in the playoffs, Houston wouldn’t have been there in the first place without him. 

53: Austin Reaves

Reaves, who was undrafted (in case you forgot), has become an exceptional third banana for the Lakeshow. He complements LeBron and Luka off-ball with his knockdown shooting (37.7% on 7.3 attempts in 2024-25), and he can take over with the ball in his hands whenever it’s needed. Reaves is poised, measured, and precise in his approach, and he’s a cold-blooded killer, justifying his Hillbilly Kobe moniker. 

52: Scottie Barnes

Toronto holds the highest belief in their former Rookie of the Year, but Barnes hasn’t yet become the franchise-altering star that the team envisioned. His production has plateaued, and his jumper hasn’t come around (27.1% from deep on 4.3 attempts last season), leaving questions in the air surrounding his ceiling. Still, we’re talking about one of basketball’s most ferocious free safety defenders and keenest point forwards. Barnes is a star in this league, just probably not a top dog. 

51: Coby White

White’s late-bloomer breakout in 2023-24 wasn’t just a flash in a pan. The bouncy guard with bouncy hair was even better last season, putting up a career-high 20.4 points by bombing deep threes and lacerating the lane. Most importantly, though, he’s given downtrodden Bulls faithful something to believe in. 

50: Desmond Bane

If you still think Desmond Bane is just a shooter, you’ve been living under a rock for the past three years. The former 30th overall pick has honed his ancillary skills and become a complete offensive star. In 2024-25, he averaged 5.3 assists and graded out as a 94th percentile finisher, per BBall Index. He struggled in the playoffs, shooting a measly 31.7% from the field, but many guards would have met the same fate if they ran into OKC’s buzzsaw perimeter defense. 

49: Jamal Murray

Year in and year out, Jamal Murray proves he’s an All-Star talent despite not ever officially earning the title. He and Jokic put the dynamic in dynamic duo, and that’s in large part due to Murray’s breathtaking craft as a creator and movement scorer. The Blue Arrow balled out in the playoffs as always last year, putting up some especially huge performances in Denver’s hard-fought series win over the Clippers. 

48: Zach LaVine

Although he was trapped on mediocre rosters, LaVine’s individual play was nothing short of fantastic last season. He shot 51.1% from the field and 44.6% from deep, some absurd efficiency considering his volume, shot diet, and size. Young Hollywood is one of the game’s best shooters— he finished eighth in the league in total 3PM (239) and fourth in games with 7+ threes (six). Here’s hoping he can get the chance to play postseason hoops again soon.

47: DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan is one of the most reliable stars in the league. He doesn’t create drama, rarely misses time (70+ GP in the last four seasons, 77 in 2024-25), and never shows up without his trusty mid-range jumper. The six-time All-Star averaged 22.2 points while being the only player in the league to make over 100 shots between 15-19 feet, and he also finished fifth in total clutch points. 

46: Kristaps Porzingis

The Unicorn’s year was ravaged by injuries— he checked in to just 42 games in the regular season and barely made a difference in the ‘offs. When he did play, though, Porzingis was a human cheat code. Only two seven-footers (Wemby and Markkanen) connected on more threes per game than him, and he was a mismatch nightmare inside the arc with his ability to shoot over anybody. 

45: Chet Holmgren

2024-25 was set to be a major breakout year for Chet Holmgren, but then he fractured his pelvis in November and was forced to sit out for three months, which halted his momentum. Even so, we got a glimpse of peak Chet during both the first month of the season and OKC’s championship run. The former second-overall pick is almost a game-breaking defender already at age 23, and the sky is the limit for him offensively as well. 

44: Derrick White

Derrick White’s evolution from rock-solid role player to 3&D star has been one of the coolest stories of the last few seasons. In 2024-25, he posted a career-high 16.4 points while shooting 38.4% from three on 9.1 attempts and finishing top-ten in DPOY voting. White’s the prototypical winning player in today’s NBA, and he would instantly elevate the floor of any team in the association. 

43: Tyler Herro

Former freshman-phenom-turned-Sixth-Man-of-the-Year Tyler Herro is now an All-Star, and that title was well earned. The 25-year-old averaged career-highs in points (23.9) and assists (5.5) while placing sixth in the league in total threes made (251). His leap was key in Miami ending up in the playoffs despite Jimmy Butler’s departure and Bam Adebayo’s down season. 

42: Jarrett Allen

Allen’s only All-Star appearance came in 2022, but he’s been worthy of a nomination every year since. The big fella is the anchor for Cleveland on both ends of the floor, and his immovable interior presence was an essential part of the team’s 64-win season. Allen started all 82 contests in the regular season while leading the league in field goal percentage (70.6%). 

41: Ivica Zubac

The Clippers were one of the most complete teams last season and Ivica Zubac was at the center of all their success. He didn’t win the award, but his season was the definition of Most Improved. He went from a decent starting center to a borderline All-NBA guy (in the eyes of some). Zubac’s game isn’t flashy at all, but he checks all the boxes for a classic big man. He’s an elite rebounder, an All-Defensive rim protector, and a trusty rolling threat for James Harden. 

40: Bam Adebayo

It was a weird year for three-time All-Star Bam Adebayo. He shot below 50% from the field for the first time in his career, struggling offensively for a large portion of the season, but he also pulled his usual heavy weight on defense and put together some strong play in March and April. Overall, even though Tyler Herro picked up a lot of slack for Miami, Adebayo was still the team’s most complete player. 

39: Julius Randle

Julius Randle showed the world just how valuable a second creator next to Anthony Edwards can be. The bruising power forward found great synergy in Minnesota’s lineup, willingly playing the role of Robin and opening things up for the offense with his gravity. In the playoffs, Randle shed his “dropper” title to the tune of 21.7 points a night on 50/38/88 splits. 

38: Ja Morant

Injuries (and suspensions) have impeded Ja Morant’s ability to find a rhythm throughout the past two years. In 2022, he was a top 10 player, an unrelenting downhill force, but now he’s a sporadic scorer with shooting and turnover pains. On his best nights, Morant is incredible, but he didn’t reach those heights as much as Memphis would have hoped in 2024-25.

37: Jimmy Butler

The drama that Jimmy Butler stirred in Miami leading up to the trade deadline was obnoxious, but thankfully he tightened things up once he landed in Golden State. The grizzled superstar lifted the Warriors into dark horse contender status, but he was a cause of their downfall too, as his waning aggression stuck out like a sore thumb when Steph Curry went down with injury in the postseason. His playmaking was on point, but he was unselfish almost to a fault. 

36: Alperen Sengun

Alperen Sengun was the best player on a 50-win two-seed at 23 years old. The first-time All-Star’s rugged-but-graceful post play and improved interior defense were the key to unlocking Houston’s playoff form earlier than anyone expected. He has his flaws, and likely won’t be the number-one option on a championship team in the future, but that doesn’t change the fact that Aply, who was picked 16th overall, has exceeded all expectations already in his career. 

35: Tyrese Maxey

Undeterred by the chaos of Philly’s season, Tyrese Maxey cemented himself as an All-Star talent in 2024-25. He exploded for 26.3 points and 6.1 assists per game despite being the only true offensive threat on the court for the 76ers many nights (the team’s most-played lineup was Maxey, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr., Justin Edwards, and Guerschon Yabusele). Like most of his teammates, Maxey missed some time with injury, but when he hooped, he hooped. 

34: LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball plays like a middle schooler on the playground and it’s delightful to watch (most of the time). He takes shots and makes moves that nobody else would dare attempt. He’s like an off-the-dome freestyle song in basketball form. Ball averaged 25.2 points and 7.4 assists last season (although he shot just 40.5% from the field) and many thought he deserved the All-Star nod he didn’t receive. 

33: Franz Wagner

Only so many guys in the league make an All-Star impact on both ends of the floor, and Franz Wagner is one of them. On offense, he’s a point forward and a phenomenal finisher who can take over as a number one option for long stretches. Defensively, he’s a stable stopper on the wing who fits right into Orlando’s lockdown lifestyle. Some people already think Wagner is the best player on the Magic, but his concerning perimeter scoring package is too much to gloss over in the modern NBA. He shot 18.9% from three on 7.4 attempts in the playoffs. 

32: Darius Garland

After struggling to stay healthy in 2023-24, DG the PG was back in full form last season. He dished slick dimes, bombed deep threes, and sunk clutch shots night after night for the 64-win Cavs, earning his second All-Star appearance for his efforts. Unfortunately, the injury bug caught him again in the postseason, and he played just five games as his team fell short in the second round. 

31: Jalen Williams

Not enough praise can be heaped on Jalen Williams for the year he had. The former 12th overall pick contributed at a high level in every possible way to an all-time great Thunder team in just his third NBA season. J-Dub lengthened his resume by a page or two, adding the titles of All-Star, All-NBA, All-Defense, and, above all, champion. The next step for the 24-year-old will be to find more consistency in his scoring efficiency and aggression, especially in the playoffs. 

30: Jaren Jackson Jr.

In a year where Ja Morant’s play was up-and-down, Jaren Jackson Jr. held things down for the Grizzlies as their best player on both sides of the ball. He averaged 22.2 points, just 0.3 shy of the career-high he set in 2023-24, while scoring as efficiently as ever (48.8% FG, 37.5% 3P) and stonewalling the rim on defense. Jackson made his second All-Star game and an All-Defensive team, but he had All-NBA and a top-three DPOY finish virtually locked up before Memphis went 10-13 to end the regular season. 

29: Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley made an astronomical leap in 2024-25, and the Cavs wouldn’t have been as good as they were without it. He terrorized opponents with his size and versatility on defense, and his extraordinary play on that end earned him his first Defensive Player of the Year award. The 24-year-old also hit a new gear on offense, ramping up his belligerence as a scorer and averaging a career-high 18.5 points. If Mobley keeps adding to his offensive bag, he may just hit the top ten within a few years. 

28: Domantas Sabonis

The Kings may be a forgettable franchise, but Domantas Sabonis is far from a forgettable player. The Lithuanian big man stuffs the stat sheet in a way few players can match. In 2024-25, he led the league in rebounds at 13.9 a game while notching 19.1 points and 6.0 assists on 59/42/75 shooting splits. Sabonis is tough-as-nails and much more of a winner than his team’s record suggests. 

27: Jaylen Brown

We know what to expect from Jaylen Brown at this point. It felt like he sleepwalked his way to his fourth All-Star appearance, and that’s a testament to just how dependable he is. Brown is the model second option, a complete three-level scorer who can play off-ball but also spearhead an offense when he gets hot. He’s also one of the most driven defenders amongst his star peers— he took on a 91st percentile matchup difficulty workload last season, per BBall Index. 

26: De’Aaron Fox

De’Aaron Fox is one of the most slept-on stars in the sport. He has only one All-Star game to his name, but he should have three. In 2024-25, he averaged 23.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 steals while becoming the fifth player in Kings history to score over 10,000 points for the franchise. On November 15th, he scored 60 points, making him one of two players to do so last season (with the other being Nikola Jokic). Fox lost his groove a bit after being traded to the Spurs, but injury was the main cause. 

25: Kyrie Irving

Season after season, Kyrie Irving is one of the most thrilling watches in the league. His dazzling bag has barely gotten shallower with age. Even without Luka on the court last year, Uncle Drew got his game off. He averaged 24.7 points on 47/40/92 splits through 50 games, earning him his 9th All-Star nod, before he tragically tore his ACL. 

24: Zion Williamson

Zion barely qualified for this list, as he played exactly 30 games. However, in that small sample size, he was an effectively unstoppable force. In just 28.6 minutes a night, Williamson put up 24.6 points and 5.3 assists on 56.7% from the field. The Pelicans were 10-20 with their All-Star in the lineup last season. Without him, they were 11-41. Healthy Zion will always be a problem. 

23: Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero catches a lot of flak on social media, but he’s done pretty much everything a team could want from their first-overall pick through his first three seasons. In 2024-25, he posted 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists a night, commanding a second consecutive playoff push for the Magic. In the postseason, he stepped up his game, averaging 29.4 points and accounting for an insane 31.4% of his team’s points in their series against Boston. In a few years, Banchero will be a consensus top-ten player, and we’ll be seeing a lot of people go back to retract the doubt they’re casting on him currently. 

22: Devin Booker

He’s usually a quiet, let-the-game-speak-for-itself type of player, but last season felt like an extra under-the-radar one for Devin Booker. Despite dropping 25.6 points and a career-high 7.1 assists a night, showing a seasoned feel for playmaking that we haven’t always seen from him, Book missed out on both the All-Star game and an All-NBA nod. Much of that can be attributed to his team only being in the headlines for the wrong reasons, though, and the Suns GOAT should make his presence felt again very, very soon. 

21: Trae Young

A one-man offense, Trae Young dragged yet another underwhelming Hawks roster to a play-in appearance. He shouldered the second-largest usage rate of his career, leading the league in that category, and distributed 11.6 assists a night (another league-pacing average) along with 24.2 points. His efficiency was as down as it’s ever been, but he made the most out of a ridiculous workload. 

20: Cade Cunningham

What a year it was for Cade Cunningham. After spending his first three seasons stuck on dysfunctional rosters and being slandered by “experts”, he finally got the chance to wake the world up to his talent. Cunningham attained his first All-Star and All-NBA plaques while taking the Pistons to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The 23-year-old gave the city of Detroit something to believe in, and made it clear as day that he’s going to be a superstar. 

19: Damian Lillard

A lot can be said about Damian Lillard’s tenure in Milwaukee, both good and bad, but one thing that can’t be denied is that he gave it his all. He’s an all-time player and an all-time professional. Even after battling a blood clot, a potential life-changing condition, Dame came back to play in the 2025 playoffs. Across last season as a whole, he averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists, earning his 9th All-Star berth. 

18: Karl-Anthony Towns

In his first season as a non-Timberwolf, Karl-Anthony Towns needed almost no time to adjust, and ultimately put together one of his best individual seasons. The Big Bodega scored as well as he ever has inside the arc while still shooting the ball at an elite clip. He made his third All-NBA team, started in the All-Star game, and helped bring the Knicks to their first Conference Finals appearance in a long time. 

17: Pascal Siakam

Long underappreciated, Pascal Siakam got some deserved recognition when he was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP. The Pacers couldn’t have made the run they did without their best scorer (and arguably true best player), who imposed his will on many a game in the postseason with his remarkable combination of strength, savvy, and feel. The All-Star averaged an efficient 20-ball a night in both the regular season and the playoffs. 

16: James Harden

James Harden hasn’t fallen off yet. He was 35 years old last season and was still able to show why they call him The System. His scoring isn’t where it was in his MVP days, but Harden still applies heavy pressure on defenses off the dribble while being a world-class quarterback. He played all but three games for the 50-win Clippers, registering 22.8 points and 8.7 assists (fifth in the NBA) a night and cracking his 8th All-NBA squad. 

15: Tyrese Haliburton

“What the Hellyburton?” is the corny but appropriate reaction to the year, specifically the playoffs, Tyrese Haliburton just put together. He started 2024-25 off cold, costing him an All-Star salute, but he went on to make All-NBA Third Team and take Indiana to the Finals. A large chunk of the craziest moments of 2024-24 belong to Haliburton, as he was laughably clutch from opening night to game seven of the championship series. His Achilles tear in that last contest was a heartbreaking and undeserved ending for one of the game’s future great point guards. 

14: Donovan Mitchell

Few players rise as much in the playoffs as much as Donovan Mitchell does. When most of his teammates were injured or struggling last spring, Spida-Man did his best to save the day, delivering some Herculean performances against Indiana in a series where he detonated for 34.2 points a game. His regular season was amazing too, as he finished fifth in MVP voting and made All-NBA first team for the best-in-the-East Cavaliers. 

13: Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard made his season debut in January, but it didn’t take long for him to find a rhythm after his delayed start. By the time the playoffs started, we were seeing dashes of prime Klaw. His 39-point, 15/19 shooting outing in Game 2 against Denver was one of the paramount individual performances of the entire year. He chalked up 25.0 points a game in the playoffs as a whole, showing us that he’s still an all-timer when healthy. 

12: Anthony Davis

The Brow has been one of basketball’s supreme two-way forces for a decade now, and he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. With both Dallas and Los Angeles last season, AD turned the paint into his playground on both ends, swatting shots mercilessly and converting layups and turnaround middies at video-game rates. Davis capped off a 24.7-point, 2.2 block-a-game campaign with a 40-point venture in the play-in against Memphis, although his team lost that game.

11: LeBron James

LeBron may not have been a top-ten player last season, but he’s a top-one 40 year old (and player, period) ever. In 70 games played, The King nearly averaged a 24-point triple-double, and he even got his old-man feet moving enough to be a key cog in an undersized but competent Lakers defense. At this point, the GOAT’s legacy is already cemented, and all we can do is just appreciate his greatness while he’s still around.  

10: Victor Wembanyama

There never has been, and never will be, another player like Victor Wembanyama. The 21-year-old extraterrestrial is already fulfilling the illustrious prophecies written about him. He’s doing things we’ve never seen before on a basketball court. Wemby was casually tallying 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 3.8 blocks, and 3.1 threes before a blood clot robbed him of the rest of his season. The dude is going to be a top-five player as soon as next November, and anyone who isn’t ready will be abducted. 

9: Stephen Curry

The Steph Curry show is still the greatest on Earth. In the words of Kevin Harlan, the stuff he does shouldn’t be geometrically possible. After all, he’s an unfathomably good shooter with an uncanny sixth sense for moving off the ball. Entertainment value aside, though, Curry’s armor has cracked a little as a player. He had an uncharacteristically tough time offensively during the non-Klay, non-Butler stretch of the year, being held to some tour date shooting nights, plus an unthinkable zero-3PM outing. 

8: Kevin Durant

The greatest scorer to ever lace ‘em up had another marvelous bucket-getting crusade in 2024-25. Durant dropped 26.6 points a game on 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from deep. He’s still unguardable when he’s on a heater and it will probably stay that way until he’s well into his 60s. KD was in MVP talks early in the season before the Suns went cattywampus, and he was just three games short of eligibility for a well-deserved All-NBA merit. 

7: Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson’s mid-career ascension to superstardom has been an unprecedented one. He’s a small guard with no strong physical advantages, and yet he embarrasses defenders of all sizes with his mastery of the fundamentals and hilariously elite shotmaking. He’s an offense unto himself with his ability to score 30 like it’s nothing on any night, even in the playoffs. He’s fully earned the crown of King of New York. 

6: Luka Doncic

Anything Luka did last season was always going to be overshadowed by the trade he was involved in. That may have been a slight blessing for him, because he operated a little below his lofty standards. His efficiency as a scorer was up and down with the Lakers, and the Wolves figured out a way to exploit his weaknesses in the postseason and dismantle his team in five quick games. Still, we know the type of talent Doncic is, and his 28.2 PPG, 7.7 APG averages are nothing to scoff at. 

5: Anthony Edwards

Not much can be said about Anthony Edwards other than he’s that guy. His personality, his game, and everything in between scream future face of the league. His on-court feats in 2024-25 were otherworldly, as he shot a magnet-ball from beyond the arc while still looking to tear the rim off the basket whenever he could. Ant is one of the league’s best scorers, and he’s starting to figure out the playmaking side of things too. Once everything clicks, he’s going to be an all-timer. 

4: Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum has been a pillar of excellence for the entirety of the 2020s. He’s a flat-out winner, and he was practically built in a lab to be the prototypical wing star in the modern game. Tatum scores from everywhere on the court, manages the offense like a point guard, and defends up and down the lineup. There’s no ceiling on where he could have taken Boston had he not popped his Achilles against New York in the second round. 

3: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Nobody accomplished more than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2024-25. He won MVP, Finals MVP, led the league in scoring, and much more. His season was the stuff of legends, which makes it easy to forget that he wasn’t supposed to be here. Shai was the 11th pick in 2018, far from a guaranteed star. The journey he underwent to become who he is today was a long one, but he finished it, and now he’s a Hall of Fame lock at age 27. 

2: Giannis Antetokounmpo

The word dominant can only rightfully be used to describe one player on this list: Giannis Antetokounmpo. He makes averaging 30 points on 60% shooting (while playing at an all-league level on defense) look pedestrian, which can be said about literally no one else in league history. We got to see the Greek Freak healthy for the playoffs last spring for the first time since 2022, and he didn’t disappoint, cooking Indiana for 33.0 points and 15.4 rebounds a game, with both figures leading all players in the postseason. Anyone who believes Giannis is the best in the world absolutely has a case. 

1: Nikola Jokic

29.6 points. 12.7 rebounds. 10.2 assists. 58/42/80 shooting splits. Irrepressible post scoring. Magical passing. Nikola Jokic is so good it feels like it shouldn’t be possible. Some already think he’s a top 20 player ever, and it’s tough to disagree with that. Despite a marginally subpar playoffs, Jokic was the best player in hoops in 2024-25.