Who is the best player in current NBA?

[RoyceDa59]

It’s comfortably Giannis at this point.

There’s no chance he isn’t the 1st overall pick in a full NBA redraft.

[Emhoward]

Joker swept by cp3 and Booker. Guards.

I think that series loss might have had something to do with the fact that Phoenix had the next 4 best players in the series after Jokic.

Paul, Booker, Aayton and Bridges are easily better than the 2nd best Nugget at the time: Will Barton, I guess. You can still be the best player in the league and lose a series if you have absolute dreck for teammates.

I agree, Jokic had very little to work with, that said Kevin Durant was in a similar position in which he was the best player in the series and the Bucks had the next 4 best players - Giannis, Middleton, Jrue, Lopez - and Durant was still able to steal a game. If Jokic is the best in the league you'd like to see him steal one at least -- unfortunately they got beat by double digits in every game except game 7, the game he was ejected. Kyrie got hurt that very series, and Harden the series before, so Durant had to adjust on the fly, at least Jokic had adjusted to the players he was playing with.

None of this means Jokic isn't the best, but if I were to go Durant>Jokic (playoffs only), this would be one reason why.

[Emhoward]

I'd go Greek Freak -- my only hesitation is how much better Durant looked head to head -- but that doesn't always tell the whole story, who knows maybe the Nets were somehow a bad match up for Giannis.

But with the way he performed in the finals and also having a great regular season, I'd go him.

[nate33]

Joker swept by cp3 and Booker. Guards.

I think that series loss might have had something to do with the fact that Phoenix had the next 4 best players in the series after Jokic.

Paul, Booker, Aayton and Bridges are easily better than the 2nd best Nugget at the time: Will Barton, I guess. You can still be the best player in the league and lose a series if you have absolute dreck for teammates.

I agree, Jokic had very little to work with, that said Kevin Durant was in a similar position in which he was the best player in the series and the Bucks had the next 4 best players - Giannis, Middleton, Jrue, Lopez - and Durant was still able to steal a game. If Jokic is the best in the league you'd like to see him steal one at least -- unfortunately they got beat by double digits in every game except game 7, the game he was ejected. Kyrie got hurt that very series, and Harden the series before, so Durant had to adjust on the fly, at least Jokic had adjusted to the players he was playing with.

None of this means Jokic isn't the best, but if I were to go Durant>Jokic (playoffs only), this would be one reason why.

Fair enough. I can't fault anyone for taking any of Jokic, Durant or Giannis. They are all incredible and can single-handedly dominate games.

Curry can dominate too, but he's dominates with his gravity in a way that isn't always as noticeable when you watch. His mere presence makes his team better on every single possession, even when he isn't playing well, and even when he doesn't touch the ball. But he doesn't really have the ability to create a high percentage shot at will on a given crunch time possession, which detracts from his impact in the eyes of some (not me).

[NyKnicks1714]

As asked, probably Jokic. If I had to pick a 100% healthy player for a playoff run or series, give me LeBron or Durant, with Giannis 3rd.

[life_saver]

Giannis and then Jokic

[Jadoogar]

In the playoffs:
KD, Giannis, Jokic

Regular season:
Giannis, Jokic, Steph

[Dino353]

LeBron James.

[Salieri]

As of right now, this very moment, the best player has to be either Giannis or Jokic. I'd lean towards Jokic because of his historic season, checking absolutely all boxes, some of them at unprecedented levels.

But, as I've said many times before, the most valuable player in the world is Curry until he declines so much that opposing coaches stop fearing him so much.

Nobody warps the defense even when having a horrid game. Nobody forces rival coaches to choose a defensive system that's clearly subpar just because it is slightly better at slowing down Curry, diminishing returns be damned. Nobody changes the very dynamic in which the game is gonna be played just by putting his jersey on. Nobody, only Curry. And that's why, to me, he's the most valuable player.

But yeah, in terms of stats and pure performance, I'd vote Jokic. I wouldn't be upset if anyone picked Giannis, or even Embiid. The rest cannot be the correct answer to "the best CURRENT player in the NBA". This season so far, it has to be one of those three.

[Hobo4President]

Embiid? joker? Lol sorry but they are 5s in a scoring wings world. Talented and great players. Regular season MVPs. Great stats but when it comes down to winning when it matters they ain't in the class as the top 3 players.
Embiid got beat by Trae a guard.
Joker swept by cp3 and Booker. Guards.

Luka without his 2nd and 3rd players has more winning impact in a serious game as seen recently vs embiid or against Kawhi and pg13.

Playoffs gimme KD Curry or Giannis(only cause he drives like a guard and has Middleton)
Hell even LeBron over embiid or joker. No offense to their skill which I'm not doubting. I'm a big fan of both love embiids post game and footwork. Love joker's vision and patience. They should be leading in MVP convos. But it's just the nature of the game right now. I personally rather trust a team led by curry KD or Giannis+Middleton.

um...they lost to teams that were better than their own, not because theyre not guards.

i cant believe people post on a basketball forum for this long and have this poor level of thinking about the game

How’s traes hawks (exposed this year) better than the 76ers with Simmons Tobias curry and a deep bench?

Joker got swept as mvp and supposed clear best player vs an old known choker in cp3 and a “chucker who didn’t know how to win” booker
Ofc the suns are better as a team. But the nuggets would’ve lost if one of cp3 or booker was out IMO in 6.

Giannis warps defenses like curry does. But isn’t doing slow post moves where the defense can recover like embiid.

Giannis does not warp defenses like Curry, actually no one in the league does. Curry just had his worst slump in like 8 years and he still dominated the league in impact stats.

[VanWest82]

I would still rather have KD than any of those guys in a playoff series.

[falcolombardi]

I would still rather have KD than any of those guys in a playoff series.

after giannis finals i am not sure of that anymore

[jc23]

for the season its Giannis. for the playoffs give me KD.

[Packbuckman]

Giannis is the best combination of size speed power and athleticism that just keeps working and getting better.
His shot is looking so much better from even the start of the season with his free throws I can see him hitting 80% for a season. His high 77% which he’s been hitting since December 5th.

Jokic
Durant
Curry
Embiid

[DaPessimist]

RIGHT NOW;

Giannis
Joker
Embiid
Curry
Durant


BUT, if we're going into a playoff series, and KD is 100%... I'd probably take KD over all these guys.

[SoulJah]

Its Jokic and Giannis as 1A and 1B but this season is Jokic for me. He is having a historic season while carrying literally a nobodys on his own. On top of that, I have never see anybody as good offensively as Jokic, ever!

[Funcrusher]

Assuming everyone is healthy...

KD
Giannis
Embiid
Jokic
LBJ/Steph

If Kawhi was healthy I'm not sure where I'd place him. He was still doing pretty damn well the last Playoffs (minus the Game 7 stinker) but haven't seen him hit the lights out level he was playing at during his one year as a Raptor. He gets back to that level (bit skeptical he will) then I'd be very torn of where he is on that list but right now he obviously doesn't deserve any real consideration right now.

But come Playoffs out of everyone on that list, give me KD. He just relishes the moment and burying teams.

KD is so overrated it's absurd frankly

[Roscoe Sheed]

What's up with this list? Not a fan of either player, but Doncic and LeBron belong on any top 5-10 list

[Bmaasse]

um...they lost to teams that were better than their own, not because theyre not guards.

i cant believe people post on a basketball forum for this long and have this poor level of thinking about the game

How’s traes hawks (exposed this year) better than the 76ers with Simmons Tobias curry and a deep bench?

Joker got swept as mvp and supposed clear best player vs an old known choker in cp3 and a “chucker who didn’t know how to win” booker
Ofc the suns are better as a team. But the nuggets would’ve lost if one of cp3 or booker was out IMO in 6.

Giannis warps defenses like curry does. But isn’t doing slow post moves where the defense can recover like embiid.

Giannis does not warp defenses like Curry, actually no one in the league does. Curry just had his worst slump in like 8 years and he still dominated the league in impact stats.

I don't see any warping going on tonight.

[bubonicphoniks]

Its Durant