Top 10 NBA Players Heading into Next Season

10. Jayson Tatum

Although last season was cut short for Tatum due to an Achilles injury forcing him to sit out a majority of the season, Tatum is still undeniably one of the best players in basketball. There are no holes in his game as he is an elite scorer, rebounder and defender while still passing the ball well. This will be his first season playing without his former teammate Jaylen Brown, so Tatum will have the Celtics all to himself trying to lead this team back to another championship.

9. Anthony Edwards

Everyone’s favorite guy Anthony Edwards. Known for talking a lot of smack but then backing it up. He averaged 28.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 3.7 RPG last year while playing great defense. He has had to carry a lot of the load for the Timberwolves in the past, leading them to the playoffs and multiple WCF’s but never a Championship. The Timberwolves just acquired LaMelo Ball however to help take some of the scoring pressure off of Anthony Edwards. Edwards 3-point shooting has also significantly improved throughout his career making him an all-around excellent player.

 8. Jaylen Brown

The man we just spoke about is leaving Boston and heading over to Philadelphia this upcoming season. This 76ers squad has been making headlines already as the legendary LeBron James just signed with them, making this team one of the best looking we’ve seen in a while. Jaylen Brown finished last season top 5 in MVP voting putting up an impressive 28.7 PPG with 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists. A disappointing playoff run with Boston against the 76ers hurt Browns ranking but he is still one of the best Small Forwards in the game and is on potentially the best team in the league.

7.  Cade Cunningham

After a lot of struggles, Cade Cunningham and the Pistons finally figured it out last season and were the number one seed in the eastern conference. Cade Cunningham led this team and finished top 5 in MVP voting last season. He averaged 23.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 9.9 APG. His scoring and play making combined were crucial to this team’s success. After a somewhat disappointing playoff run from Cade Cunningham, the Pistons are looking to level up and continue their success.

6. Jalen Brunson

The biggest name in basketball in last season's playoffs, and the king of New York. Jalen Brunson had an excellent regular season last year averaging 26 PPG 3.3 RPG and 6.8 RPG. His performance went to a whole new level in the playoffs though as all his averages went up and he led the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years. He was the most clutch player in the entire league, and he looks to continue this dominance into next year.

5. Giannis

In one of the biggest trades we’ve seen in a long time (forgetting about the Luka trade) Giannis is going to the Miami Heat for his next season of basketball. The 2-time MVP, DPOTY and Finals MVP, is still playing basketball at an extremely high level. The Bucks had not had a lot of success with Giannis since they won the finals back in 2021. The Heat can be a fresh start for Giannis. He missed a lot of last seasons with injury, but no one is doubting his ability to come back and be just as impactful as ever

4. Luka

We all know Luka. The Slovenian Superstar. It’s insane to think that he has never won an MVP in his career as he has consistently been one of the best offensive engines in the league. He averaged a staggering 33.5 PPG last year with 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists. The Lakers didn’t make it too far in the playoffs with him, but his stats alone prove enough why he is a top 5 player in the league. Concerns about Luka’s defense exist as his defensive ability does not match his offensive. With LeBron James no longer playing aside Luka, we’ll see what he does with this Laker team this year.

3. Victor Wembanyama

The top 3 of this list was difficult to place, as all 3 are incredible and could be at the number 1 spot. Wemby is one of if not the most unique player the NBA has ever seen. His offensive ability is incredible, as he is his team's primary scorer. However, it’s his defensive ability and physical stature that set him apart from the rest of the league. Not a single true NBA fan will tell you that Wemby is not the best defender in the league. He has averaged over 3 blocks a game since his rookie year. He stands at 7 feet 4 inches and plays the game like no one has ever seen. Last season he led his team to the NBA finals as just a 22-year-old. Wemby is so young and already so good. Everyone is waiting to see what the future has in store for him.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SGA won the NBA MVP last season and the season before. He is an elite scorer who scores at an unreal efficiency. He averaged 31.1 PPG last year on 55% shooting. There is no doubting his impact as he has already led the Thunder to a championship. Last season he led the Thunder to the best record in the league as-well. Although his season fell short last year to Wemby and the Spurs, nobody is doubting that the Thunder will be back in title contention next year and SGA may win his 3rd MVP.

1. Jokic

Jokic can be easy to forget about at times, as it seems he disappears when he’s not on the court. His playstyle also may not be too flashy, but the stats don’t lie. Jokic averaged 27.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG and 10.7 APG on 57% shooting. If those numbers don’t shock, you I don’t know what will. He’s nearly averaged a triple double for 4 straight seasons. Jokic already has a championship under his belt and he’s looking for another. His surrounding cast is not as good as some of these other teams around the league. But Jokic can carry the load for his team as he lands the number 1 spot on our list.