Explore the elite hierarchy of NBA greatness as we unveil the 25 best players categorized by tiers in the ever-evolving landscape of November 2023.
Welcome to the dynamic world of NBA talent assessment as we embark on a monthly journey through the 2024 season. In this evolving series, we’ll be delving into the intricate nuances of player performances, dissecting the ebbs and flows of the league to bring you the 25 Best NBA Players By Tiers for November 2023. This comes after our analysis of the current 2024 MVP favorites as we are approaching the new year.
As the hardwood narratives unfold, this running monthly ranking system promises to be a dynamic reflection of the ever-changing landscape of elite basketball prowess. Join us as we navigate the twists and turns of the season, breaking down the standout performances that shape the tiers of excellence in the NBA. Remember, a player’s status is not taken into account but rather the performance and impact over a month’s period.
Tier 5
Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, Paul George, Desmond Bane, Lauri Markkanen, Tobias Harris, Jaylen Brown, Damian Lillard
The Lakers have not been an exceptional team so far this season, holding a 5-5 record, but Anthony Davis has done enough when he has been on the court to earn a top-25 spot. He is posting 23.9 points and 12.0 rebounds per game for the Lakers and his impact on defense is unquestionably important for the team as they struggle without him.
Zion has been relatively healthy so far which is a good sign, and he has been the best player on the New Orleans Pelicans. The team has a 4-6 record, which isn’t great, but the big man has been efficient around the rim shooting 51.5% from the field and holding a solid 20.0 PER rating which is second on the team behind CJ McCollum who has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and only appeared in six games.
The Clippers have been faltering since the James Harden trade (anybody surprised?), losing four in a row. It is expected that they will pick it up as the players get used to Harden’s playing style, but so far, only Paul George has been playing up to par. He has been the best player on the Clippers posting 23.6 points per game on 39.4% from three but he is at risk of falling out of the November rankings if he can’t get the Clippers to .500.
Desmond Bane has been doing his thing, posting 26.5 points per game on 35.4% from three, but the problem is the team is severely struggling without Ja Morant who is currently suspended. Memphis holds a shockingly bad 2-8 record which is the worst in the league but that isn’t Bane’s fault. He is scoring at a high level but needs help from somewhere else while Morant is sidelined.
Lauri Markkanen is back to his All-Star best following last year’s breakout season. He is posting 24.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game on a scintillating 44.6% from three. His shooting has been surreal so far but the Utah Jazz don’t seem to be benefiting from it as they hold a 3-7 record which isn’t impressive, to say the least.
The first of three 76ers players to appear in the November rankings is Tobias Harris, the 6’8” forward who is thriving in his third-place role. He is averaging 19.7 points per game on 36.7% from three while also playing consistent defense right now. No doubt, Harris’ presence has been critical for the 76ers team that is on fire right now.
The Boston Celtics have been playing inspired basketball since acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, but Jaylen Brown is the one who cracks Tier 5. His numbers have been solid after a slow start (23.0 points per game on 38.2% from three), and his presence as a scorer and athlete has been extremely important for the Celtics.
Damian Lillard’s inclusion was a bit iffy, but his numbers have been solid and we already saw some clutch “Dame Time” performances with his new team. Averaging 24.3 points per game, Lillard has not been at his best but he is still a top-25 player in the world with regards to impact and pure skill
Tier 4
Donovan Mitchell, De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Tyrese Haliburton, Bam Adebayo, Trae Young
The Cleveland Cavaliers need to be better because their roster has immense talent and some big names headlined by Donovan Mitchell who is averaging 29.5 points per game on 48.6% from the field. The shooting guard is having another great year but the Cavs have not been great with a 4-5 record which does include a Saturday night victory against the Golden State Warriors to their credit.
De’Aaron Fox has had a blistering start to the season but is currently nursing an injury with no timetable for a return. Still, Fox’s incredible start (31.3 points per game) has given the Kings enough wins to start the season with a 4-4 record. The point guard is a top-25 player in the league based on impact and his quick start reflects that, but if he does not play enough games, he could miss next month’s power rankings.
With Fox out, Domantas Sabonis has been doing the heavy lifting, posting 17.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. The big man is at the center of everything the 4-4 Sacramento Kings are doing and he has been carrying them so far with all-around presence. The key for Sabonis is to continue this level of play once Fox returns and also start getting more wins to boost the team’s record to climb the rankings.
Tyrese Haliburton is a bonafide All-Star, proving last season was no fluke. The talented offensive star is off to a tremendous start by posting 23.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 12.2 assists per game on 40.9% from three. The Indiana Pacers have done very well, holding a 6-4 record, and Haliburton has been the best player on the team without a doubt. We could be seeing the rise of the next leading playmaker in the NBA landscape right now.
Tier 3
LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards
The King, LeBron James, is simply a top-10 player in the world again. Even though he is no longer in his prime and won’t be able to carry the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals again, he is doing what he does best in terms of using his leadership, basketball IQ, and experience to make a difference on the court. James is averaging 25.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game for the 5-5 Lakers.
Kevin Durant has not been able to make the 4-6 Phoenix Suns elite competitors so far since Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have played a combined four games. Durant is posting 30.0 points per game on 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from three so he has done his part. The Suns will be a far greater team with Booker and Beal healthy but so far, Durant has been exceptional offensively.
The second Philadelphia 76ers player to make the rankings is Tyrese Maxey, a player poised to make his first All-Star appearance. He is posting 28.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game on 50.5% from the field and 43.1% from three while owning that secondary role in the offense. It seems James Harden is not needed after all since Maxey has done a spectacular job as a top-10 player in the world right now.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one heck of a talent after arriving as a superstar player last year. He is off to the races again, averaging 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on 51.8% from the field and 90.0% from the stripe. He is hard to defend because of his athleticism and is only getting better as he gets acclimated to rookie Chet Holmgren.
Anthony Edwards will not settle for being the second-best shooting guard in the NBA behind Devin Booker. In fact, he wants that top spot. He can get there, realistically, because he has all the physical and mental tools to succeed. Edwards is posting 27.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 50-40-80 shooting splits and has the Minnesota Timberwolves sitting pretty with a 7-2 record.
Tier 2
Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum
Guess what, Stephen Curry is still the best point guard in the world. The sharpshooter has the Warriors in a decent position at 6-5 and it is mainly down to the incredible shooting we are seeing. Curry is averaging 30.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game on 49.5% FG and 45.2% 3-PT FG on incredible efficiency. Curry cannot be defended when he is moving around and coming off screens, and no team caters to his skills better than the Warriors. With two straight losses, the Warriors need to get back on track soon.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing his best for the Milwaukee Bucks who will likely have an average record by the time the new year arrives. That is down to the team building chemistry with Damian Lillard while also dealing with a very poor start for Khris Middleton who is working his way back to health (11.1 points per game). Giannis is averaging 28.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game but he is not in Tier 1 yet because the Bucks are only 5-4 right now.
Jayson Tatum is the final member of Tier 2 and that isn’t a knock against him by any means. Tatum is the best player on the 7-2 Celtics because no player can create offense like he can right now, and is averaging 27.7 points per game on 39.5% from three. As long as Tatum keeps the Celtics pushing for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, he will battle for a spot in Tier 1 but he just misses out behind the three Kings Of The NBA.
Kings Of The NBA
Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid
Is there any doubt that Luka Doncic is the MVP favorite and the best individual talent in the world in terms of impact? The Slovenian is going for the MVP award because the Dallas Mavericks are winning games simply because of him (32.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 8.5 assists per game). The Mavericks are 8-2 despite Kyrie Irving having somewhat of an average start to the season for his reputation (23.0 points per game). That goes down to the raw impact of Doncic who looks to be at the top of his game, and the number in the wins column is the main reason he headlines the Kings Of The NBA.
There might be some MVP voters who are already penciling in Nikola Jokic as this season’s MVP winner because he is right there with Luka Doncic in terms of raw impact. Jokic is posting a near triple-double again as a center with 29.8 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. The Denver Nuggets have only lost two games this season and the Serbian has been the key contributor. The slight edge does go to Luka in the MVP conversation because he does not have the quality of teammates that Jokic has.
The final member of the top tier is Joel Embiid. The 76ers have done better than anybody would have thought, winning eight games and having only one loss. Embiid is proving to be an MVP candidate even without James Harden and is averaging 32.4 points per game on 50.5% from the field and 36.4% from three. Embiid is the most unstoppable center in the game offensively because he has no weakness and his mid-range game cannot be stopped. Since the 76ers are winning despite losing their second-best player from last season, Embiid belongs as one of the Kings Of The NBA and there is no debate about that.
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