In a Friday episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast for The Ringer last week, Simmons and guest Joe House discussed and debated which players should be considered the NBA’s best at this point, ultimately putting together a top-20 list.
The rankings were for the 2017/18 season only, so factors like contract status and long-term potential weren’t taken into account. That means Karl-Anthony Towns, whose defensive game is still a work in progress, didn’t make the cut, even though virtually every NBA general manager would take him over many of the players on this list if they were starting a franchise from scratch.
The podcast is worth listening to in full to hear Simmons’ and House’s arguments for and against certain players, but here’s the list they ultimately settled on (they mistakenly included 21 players instead of 20):
- LeBron James (Cavaliers)
- Kevin Durant (Warriors)
- James Harden (Rockets)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
- Kawhi Leonard (Spurs)
- Stephen Curry (Warriors)
- Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
- Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
- Kyrie Irving (Celtics)
- DeMarcus Cousins (Pelicans)
- Draymond Green (Warriors)
- Klay Thompson (Warriors)
- Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks)
- Ben Simmons (Sixers)
- Blake Griffin (Clippers)
- Joel Embiid (Sixers)
- Paul George (Thunder)
- Marc Gasol (Grizzlies)
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
- Chris Paul (Rockets)
- Andre Drummond (Pistons)
In addition to Towns, players who missed the cut included John Wall (Wizards), DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Jimmy Butler (Timberwolves), Mike Conley (Grizzlies), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Isaiah Thomas (Cavaliers), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), and many others.
As Simmons noted several times during the podcast, the list is subject to change over the course of the season, and it’s possible they might make a few tweaks to it already, just a few days after the fact — by season’s end, it will likely look much different. If Embiid stays healthy for the full season, for instance, it’s easy to envision him moving up a few spots. For now though, those are their picks for the NBA’s 20 (or 21) best players.
What do you think? Do you agree in general with the list, perhaps quibbling with a few rankings here and there, or would your own top-20 list look drastically different? Which players in Simmons’ and House’s list do you think are undeserving of inclusion, and which players who missed the cut should be added?
Jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Wall and Lillard getting left off is a joke
Exactly. Simmons might deserve to be on a list like this ONE DAY, but he has played all of 15 games. Embiid has played not much more. Wall, Towns, and Lillard DEFINITELY belong ahead of them.
If green is a top 20 player then so is gobert
Wall for Griffin and Lillard for Drummond.
If you can’t play down the stretch bc your a foul liability then you can’t be on a top 20(1) list
I agree with those changes and I also have PG13 ahead of Simmons right now.
Chris Paul, Embid, Drummond, Green and Gasol shouldn’t b on this list. Paul is slowing down, Embiids first season healthy, Drummond isn’t that good, Green is a role player, and Gasol isn’t even as good as his brothers prime. I’d take Towns over all 5. I’d take Wall over all 5. And I’d take Dame over all but the top 10. DeRozen is the best midrange player in the game. The only one I’m leaving that most ppl are taking out is Simmons. He’s a generational talent at 6’10 with point guard skills
Embiid is top 10 right now.
Are u kidding how the hell is donkey on there over wall and dame
Towns and Lilliard over oft injured CP3 and overrated Drummond!
Harris and Bradley are reason for Pistons winning,n ot Drummond. Lilliard belongs on list based on him outscoring Lonzo Ball 32-0. Do it again, and again! Watching OKC trounce the Warriors, George and Anthony are risers, especially if they decide who gets ball in crunch time!
Quit promoting this hack! This list is a huge joke and anyone who watched a lick of basketball knows it. His podcast and articles are all just a way for him to pat himself on the back.
Amen
LeBron James has passed the torch to Kevin Durant and Kyrie too!