The 2021-22 NBA season is nearing the end and we're back with an updated edition of our top 30 player rankings ahead of the NBA Playoffs.
It's been over three months since The Sporting News last released a top 30 list — the most recent edition came to usher in the new calendar year. As one could imagine, a few things have changed since then.
This time around, we're including players sidelined due to injury, and for good reason. What if Kawhi Leonard returns for the playoffs and changes the tide in the Western Conference? How do season-ending injuries impact the league-wide standing of players like Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal? Including everyone — regardless of their current status — gives a more comprehensive snapshot of the NBA as it stands right now.
These rankings are a collaborative effort from TSN's global NBA staff, with 11 writers and editors representing five different continents. Each voter ranked their top 30 players in the league, with a sliding scale of points attached to each ranking. Players were ranked in order of total points received.
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Here is the top 10 presented with more context around their season along with the highest and lowest ranks from our panel of voters. For those interested in simply seeing the entire top 30 list, you can click here to skip down.
10. James Harden, 76ers
Highest rank: 9
Lowest rank: 15
New scenery, same ranking.
Harden again rounds out the top 10, reaffirming his status as a top-10 talent in the NBA, regardless of location. Now a member of the Sixers, Harden's pursuit of a title continues in Philadelphia, where he's averaging 22.0 points and 9.8 assists while getting acclimated to new teammates and a new system.
9. Chris Paul, Suns
Highest rank: 8
Lowest rank: 15
Paul, who will turn 37 during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, is doing it all in his 17th NBA season. Despite missing time with an injury, CP3 is averaging 14.9 points and a league-leading 10.7 assists for a Suns team that has the league's best record by a mile.
MORE: Chris Paul, Devin Booker's clutch dominance separates Suns from other title hopefuls
After coming two wins shy of that elusive NBA title, Paul and the Suns are primed for another deep run in 2022.
8. Luka Doncic, Mavericks
Highest rank: 4
Lowest rank: 9
Doncic has dropped a few spots since the last time around but don't let that fool you.
Look at Doncic's season averages of 28.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists and you'd be hard-pressed to believe he got out to a rough start to the season. Doncic is peaking and the Mavs have figured out the winning formula, which should only mean good things in the postseason.
Don't forget the fact that he's only 23.
7. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers
Highest rank: 4
Lowest rank: 10
We haven't seen Kawhi play since last June but he lands at seven this time around. Do you know how good you have to be to earn that high of a ranking without playing in nearly a year?
Kawhi's that good.
LA hasn't ruled out Leonard potentially returning for postseason action, which would immediately make the Clippers one of the scariest lower seeds in NBA history.
MORE: The latest on Kawhi Leonard's potential return
6. LeBron James, Lakers
Highest rank: 4
Lowest rank: 9
LeBron has fallen out of the top five this time around but a sixth-place ranking for the fourth-oldest player in the league is nothing short of impressive.
In his 19th (!) season, James could take home the NBA scoring title as he's currently averaging a career-best 30.3 points per game, though it hasn't been enough for his Lakers team, who could miss the postseason altogether.
MORE: LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo entrenched in historic scoring title race
Team struggles aside, LeBron continues to defy logic, gravity and Father Time by playing at an All-NBA level ahead of his 20th NBA season.
5. Stephen Curry, Warriors
Highest rank: 4
Lowest rank: 7
As his shooting cooled down, so did MVP talks surrounding Curry, but that's not enough to drop him out of the top five.
This is the part where I remind you that "cooled down" is relative for Curry, who is knocking down a league-leading 4.5 3s per contest at a 38.0 percent clip this season.
Injury has put a halt to Curry in the regular season but should he and a healthy Golden State team click in the playoffs, the team could be primed for a deep run.
MORE: The latest on Steph Curry's return from injury
4. Joel Embiid, 76ers
Highest rank: 2
Lowest rank: 8
After an MVP-caliber season in 2020-21, Embiid has gotten even better as an encore.
As such, he is sure to be an MVP finalist again this season.
MORE: James Harden makes case for 76ers' teammate Joel Embiid for MVP: 'I already see his mindset'
Embiid has been the personification of dominance this season, averaging a career-high 30.2 points per game to go along with 11.6 rebounds and a career-best 4.2 assists per contest. In addition to his offensive dominance, Embiid continues to be a difference-maker on the defensive end, where he anchors things for Philly.
With Harden by his side, Embiid is eyeing an NBA title. The only top-10 duo on this list is clearly talented enough to get it done.
3. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
Highest rank: 1
Lowest rank: 5
Speaking of getting better, the reigning MVP has tapped into another level, improving upon an incredible MVP campaign in 2021.
Not only does Jokic have the counting stats with 26.8 points, 13.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game, but he also is an advanced stats darling, leading the league in several categories including Win Shares, BPM, PER and On/Off margins.
The most important stat is that because of Jokic's play the Nuggets are 47-32 despite being without Jamal Murray all season and Michael Porter Jr. playing in just nine games.
Jokic makes it look easy for himself while somehow making life easier for his teammates at the same time. It's no wonder why he earned first-place votes.
2. Kevin Durant, Nets
Highest rank: 1
Lowest rank: 5
After landing at first on the preseason list, Durant comes in a No. 2 for the second straight time.
Considering he missed a large chunk of the season with a knee injury, that's saying something.
Durant is so much more than a scorer, but this season he continues to remind us that he can score the ball in ways that no one else that has ever played the game can. He's turned in three 50-point games this season, including a career-high 55 points against the Hawks on April 2.
BY THE NUMBERS: Kevin Durant's 53 points against the Knicks
This is when we focus on the "so much more than a scorer" part, as Durant is averaging a career-best 6.1 assists per game, displaying a willingness to put on any hat the team needs him to wear on any given night.
Durant and the Nets could give the Clippers a run for the "scariest low seed" title.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Highest rank: 1
Lowest rank: 3
Giannis claimed the throne in 2021 and it's going to take a lot for anyone to take it away from him.
After a historic performance in the 2021 NBA Finals, Giannis entered a new plane where extraordinary is the baseline expectation — it's the ultimate compliment yet it sometimes causes accomplishments to go overlooked. Could he do it again in 2022? Our voters think so as he finished with eight of the 11 first-place votes.
For a Bucks team that has a shot at the East's top seed, Giannis is coolly averaging 30.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, firmly planting himself within discussions for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.
MORE: This Bucks' go-to play in the clutch could lead to another NBA Finals
Antetokounmpo doesn't necessarily acknowledge the narratives with his words but rather with statement performances like:
- 44 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists against the Lakers on Feb. 8
- 40 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks against the 76ers on March 29
- 44 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists against the Nets on March 31
That's three huge performances against some of the guys that also land on this top 10 and the numbers don't acknowledge the game-winning block against Philly or the 3 that sent it into overtime against Brooklyn.
Giannis is that dude. He could be holding this No. 1 spot down for a while.
The Final List
Here is an entire breakdown of the top 30 along with previous ranks. In all, 39 different players received a top-30 vote. The nine players also receiving votes are listed at the bottom.
| Rank | Player | Team | Previous Rank |
| 1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | 1 |
| 2 | Kevin Durant | Nets | 2 |
| 3 | Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | 4 |
| 4 | Joel Embiid | 76ers | 7 |
| 5 | Stephen Curry | Warriors | 3 |
| 6 | LeBron James | Lakers | 5 |
| 7 | Kawhi Leonard | Clippers | — |
| 8 | Luka Doncic | Mavericks | 6 |
| 9 | Chris Paul | Suns | 11 |
| 10 | James Harden | 76ers | 10 |
| 11 | Ja Morant | Grizzlies | 19 |
| 12 | Jayson Tatum | Celtics | 14 |
| 13 | Devin Booker | Suns | 13 |
| 14 | Jimmy Butler | Heat | 8 |
| 15 | Damian Lillard | Trail Blazers | 12 |
| 16 | Kyrie Irving | Nets | — |
| 17 | DeMar DeRozan | Bulls | 18 |
| 18 | Anthony Davis | Lakers | 15 |
| 19 | Paul George | Clippers | 9 |
| 20 | Trae Young | Hawks | 17 |
| 21 | Donovan Mitchell | Jazz | 16 |
| 22 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves | 26 |
| 23 | Bam Adebayo | Heat | 21 |
| 24 | Draymond Green | Warriors | 24 |
| 25 | Zach LaVine | Bulls | 23 |
| 26 | Rudy Gobert | Jazz | 20 |
| 27 | Bradley Beal | Wizards | 25 |
| 28 | Khris Middleton | Bucks | 22 |
| 29 | Jrue Holiday | Bucks | 27 |
| 30 | Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 29 |
Also receiving votes: Darius Garland, Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Pascal Siakam, Klay Thompson, Brandon Ingram, LaMelo Ball, Fred VanVleet, Jarrett Allen
