Who is the actual best player in the NBA in 2024

[kawhileonard2]

Kawhi no doubt

[Street Hunger]

I guess the moral of the story is the best player in the league also is probably the MVP of the league?

[Mask the Embiid]

Whoever it is, is on borrowed time. Cause its gonna be wemby soon

[beasted]

Embiid.

[j3lademaster]

Jokic by every measure. Highest dpm, opm, vorp, per.

It's weird too, because guys with high opm usually have their dpm suffer because they're usually playing in a faster pace lineup, and vice versa for guys with high dpm(the second highest dpm guy has a -3 opm) since they're typically in slower pace lineups; but Jokic just dominates in every way possible. Tied for 2nd in defensive winshares behind Gobert, who is always a monster in the regular season. Because he's a 'slow white guy' people still think he's a bad defender.

[Xiao Yao You]

Jokic by every measure. Highest dpm, opm, vorp, per.

It's weird too, because guys with high opm usually have their dpm suffer because they're usually playing in a faster pace lineup, and vice versa for guys with high dpm(the second highest dpm guy has a -3 opm) since they're typically in slower pace lineups; but Jokic just dominates in every way possible. Tied for 2nd in defensive winshares behind Gobert, who is always a monster in the regular season. Because he's a 'slow white guy' people still think he's a bad defender.

some think Gobert is a cumbersome white guy too though

[FultzNationRISE]

Jokic by every measure. Highest dpm, opm, vorp, per.

It's weird too, because guys with high opm usually have their dpm suffer because they're usually playing in a faster pace lineup, and vice versa for guys with high dpm(the second highest dpm guy has a -3 opm) since they're typically in slower pace lineups; but Jokic just dominates in every way possible. Tied for 2nd in defensive winshares behind Gobert, who is always a monster in the regular season. Because he's a 'slow white guy' people still think he's a bad defender.

To be fair, it's also because unlike most centers he RARELY even bothers to contest guys who are coming to the basket with a head of steam and a good angle that they're likely to score from. He basically just gives those baskets up to avoid foul trouble. So you can often directly see him looking like a traffic cone. Whereas most centers will try to contest, and they might get a block here or there, and maybe alter another couple of shots, but they'll also give up more And-1's as well as get into foul trouble. It's an interesting tactical tradeoff, but what Joker and the Nuggets have become very good at is taking defensive angles that rarely GIVE defenders those "straight to the basket" drives. Guys often end up taking awkward angles to the basket vs the Nuggets which makes beating Jokic, a true seven footer, at the rim a much harder task than if they get to their usual angles.

So he gives up the basket once guys already get a high probability shot, but he reduces the frequency they get those high probability chances relative to other teams. Which makes mathematical sense and explains why the numbers say he is a good defender, even if you only see the matador instances and never see him erasing guys with blocks from the weak side etc. His use of shrewd body positioning keeps defenders from getting as many good looks in the paint as theyre used to. When they do, he concedes it and goes and scores at the other end.

[elementally morale]

To be fair, it's also because unlike most centers he RARELY even bothers to contest guys who are coming to the basket with a head of steam and a good angle that they're likely to score from. He basically just gives those baskets up to avoid foul trouble. So you can often directly see him looking like a traffic cone. Whereas most centers will try to contest, and they might get a block here or there, and maybe alter another couple of shots, but they'll also give up more And-1's as well as get into foul trouble. It's an interesting tactical tradeoff, but what Joker and the Nuggets have become very good at is taking defensive angles that rarely GIVE defenders those "straight to the basket" drives. Guys often end up taking awkward angles to the basket vs the Nuggets which makes beating Jokic, a true seven footer, at the rim a much harder task than if they get to their usual angles.

So he gives up the basket once guys already get a high probability shot, but he reduces the frequency they get those high probability chances relative to other teams. Which makes mathematical sense and explains why the numbers say he is a good defender, even if you only see the matador instances and never see him erasing guys with blocks from the weak side etc. His use of shrewd body positioning keeps defenders from getting as many good looks in the paint as theyre used to. When they do, he concedes it and goes and scores at the other end.

This is very true. He does this also to save energy and be very quick with the inbounds pass. After a basket you described the ball is in play within half a second most of the time and the Nuggets run. However, Jokic defends differently as the game progresses. In the first half he usually runs and tries to assist teammates. In the second he slows down, defends more and tends to shoot more. In the 4th quarter it is rare people score easy baskets on him because he is not in foul trouble and will take the foul. There is a concept.

[Jasper]

30ppg and 60% shooting (never been done in the NBA)

[Soundwave]

Probably Jokic. If Kawhi was ever actually 100% healthy it would probably be him, he's basically a poor man's, slower, more robotic version of Jordan.

But it just goes to show in this supposed "super athletic era", that the best player is probably a dude with terrible athletic ability.

[imdaman99]

It's Jokic. It's funny as hell because he doesn't exactly have sexy moves but he doesn't need them. His skill level is insane.

[FKAri]

Probably Jokic. If Kawhi was ever actually 100% healthy it would probably be him, he's basically a poor man's, slower, more robotic version of Jordan.

But it just goes to show in this supposed "super athletic era", that the best player is probably a dude with terrible athletic ability.

He's also less creative than Jordan. Worse playmaker than Jordan. Worse passer. Worse game manager. Worse at getting into the paint. Worse at drawing fouls.

But he does have a better shooting touch. His shooting touch is unbelievable.

But even 100% healthy I don't think he has the stamina to sustain what he does on both ends to be the best in the league. For short bursts he can go toe to toe with anyone in terms of game impact. Same as true of Jimmy but to a lesser extent.

[NBAGOAT]

for now its jokic, i think luka will have a few years after and then its wemby

[beasted]

I don't have any stake in the matter, but can someone explain to me why Jokic who scores 10 less points per game than Embiid on roughly the same efficiency, and 5 less points than Giannis on lower efficient and averages only 3 more assists than both is so head-and-shoulders better? Especially considering the mollywhopping comparison on defense?

I've heard it said SEVERAL times it's not close as well. How on earth can it not be close?

[FultzNationRISE]

I don't have any stake in the matter, but can someone explain to me why Jokic who scores 10 less points per game than Embiid on roughly the same efficiency, and 5 less points than Giannis on lower efficient and averages only 3 more assists than both is so head-and-shoulders better? Especially considering the mollywhopping comparison on defense?

I've heard it said SEVERAL times it's not close as well. How on earth can it not be close?

First of all it’s about more than numbers, but lets focus on just the numbers for the moment. Where are your numbers from? The regular season?

Thats cute.