The NBA Finals are set, with the top-seeded Nuggets taking on the Heat, who are only the second eighth seed to ever advance to this stage.
The Heat are big underdogs to win this series, but they do have some very talented players on their roster. Jimmy Butler has led them to this stage, alongside Bam Adebayo and a plethora of talented role players.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, have leaned on two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Which team has the talent edge, and who has the best player? Here is a ranking of the top 10 players who will be playing in the 2023 NBA Finals.
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Ranking the 10 best players in the 2023 NBA Finals
10. Tyler Herro, Heat
Herro is still recovering from two broken fingers in his shooting hand that have kept him out of most of these playoffs, but he is expected to return at some point in this series.
Herro was the Heat's third-leading scorer during the regular season, averaging 20.1 points per game. He's a good scorer and shooter, but he has struggled with defense and making the right reads under heavy ball pressure. It will be fascinating to see how the Heat reincorporate him with how well Duncan Robinson has been playing.
MORE: How long is Tyler Herro out? Hand injury timeline, return date, latest updates on Heat star
9. Duncan Robinson, Heat
Robinson found himself going from out of the rotation to one of the key players in the Heat's upset of the Celtics. He regained his shooting stroke, hitting 48.4 percent of his 3s during that series, and even added some playmaking on the ball. He's such a threat from deep that he opens up a lot of different options for teammates because of the constant movement that the Heat have him in.
Robinson's biggest flaw has been as a defender, but the Heat have mitigated that somewhat with their 2-3 zone. The Nuggets were the best team against zones during the regular season, so the Heat may have to figure out another way to make sure he doesn't get targeted every time down the floor.
8. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nuggets
Caldwell-Pope is one of the better 3-and-D players in the league. He will be tasked at times with trying to stop Jimmy Butler, which he has done well with in the past. And he's hit his open 3s in these playoffs, nailing 41.1 percent of his looks from deep. He's also got invaluable championship experience, winning a title with the Lakers back in 2020.
7. Aaron Gordon, Nuggets
Gordon generated some All-Star buzz for his season, although he eventually failed to make the roster. He's a great athlete and a good play finisher off the looks that Jokic creates.
Where Gordon brings a lot of his value, though, is on the defensive end. He's guarded the best player on opposing teams for much of the season. He can switch across multiple positions and hides a lot of the weaknesses of the more flawed defenders on the roster.
6. Caleb Martin, Heat
Martin is coming off a series in which he averaged 19.3 points per game and came one vote away from winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. He seemingly couldn't miss throughout that whole series, hitting 60.2 percent of his field goals and 48.9 percent of his 3s. On a Heat team that has struggled to score at times, his shot creation has been a godsend.
Martin is also a solid team defender and rebounder, finding ways to chip in wherever he can.
5. Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets
Porter is one of the best scorers in this series. His 6-foot-10 height allows him to get his fluid jumper off at any time, and he's been draining his 3s at a 40.8 percent clip.
Porter has always been classified as a poor defender, but he's improved on that end. The Nuggets' scheme requires perfect rotations from teammates behind Jokic, and Porter has been pretty good at being in the right place.
4. Bam Adebayo, Heat
Adebayo is one of the best defenders in the league, getting named to four consecutive All-Defensive teams. His mobility on the perimeter and switchability make him extremely valuable, as does his role quarterbacking the Heat's 2-3 zone.
Adebayo is less consistent on the offensive end. He is able to take over some games with his post moves and grab-and-go transition attack. But at other times, he has disappeared for stretches. The Heat will need him to be their second-best player in order to pull off the upset.
3. Jamal Murray, Nuggets
Murray has taken his game to another level in the playoffs, averaging 27.7 points per game. He's had some huge scoring outbursts, including dropping 23 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2 against the Lakers. Jokic has been the Nuggets' best player, but Murray has been their closer.
MORE: Jamal Murray's stats in the fourth quarter vs. Lakers prove he has the playoff clutch gene
Murray has perfected his two-man game with Jokic. Any time the Nuggets' offense starts to stall, those two can play off each other to get a good look. He's been able to get to his silky-smooth jump shot and he's been canning his 3s at a 39.8 percent clip in these playoffs.
2. Jimmy Butler, Heat
Playoff Jimmy was the best player in the postseason for much of the early rounds. He slowed down towards the middle stages of the Eastern Conference Finals, struggling with the length of the Celtics roster. But he still earned the MVP award for the series and scored 28 points in the closeout game.
Butler is the engine of the Heat's offense, using his strength to methodically get to his favorite spots on the floor. He's become a good playmaker and great at drawing fouls for efficient offense. And he's been named to five All-Defensive teams because of his terrific perimeter defense. He goes to another level when the pressure is on. He could easily win a handful of games by himself.
1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
Jokic won consecutive MVPs for good reason. He's the best offensive player in the league and has been unstoppable in the playoffs, averaging 29.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists. His midrange jumper is one of the best in the game, he's added good 3-point range and he can mash smaller players inside. It's no longer a stretch to suggest that he is the best passer in NBA history.
The Heat don't have great personnel to stop Jokic, which is why the Nuggets will be heavy favorites in this series. He is set up to put up historic numbers in these Finals.
