The 25 Best Players in the NBA Today

The 2013-14 NBA season tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 29, and there will be no shortage of star power across the league this year. While injuries have robbed fans of Kobe Bryant and Russell Westbrook to start the season, the returns of Derrick Rose and Kevin Love will return to the league two of the game’s brightest young stars. Of course, old mainstays like Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Durant will be there, and each will surely be taking aim at the individual and team success of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat.

While the big names get much of the recognition, several players have made huge individual strides in recent seasons, and this year will continue their rise to among the league’s elite. Still others will continue their steady production, flying under the radar despite being among the world’s best players. While there are numerous players who just missed out being considered among them, these are the 25 Best Players in the NBA Today.

Team: Indiana Pacers
2012-13 stats: 11.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 2.6 BPG

While it may be easy to remember Roy Hibbert as the awkward kid from Georgetown with the baggy t-shirt under his jersey, it's safe to say he has completely shed that former image of himself. He has emerged as one of the preeminent defensive players in the NBA. The Pacers' center was a dominant, game-altering force in the paint last season as he swatted a career-best 2.6 shots per game.

His 206 total blocks were second in the league only to Serge Ibaka, and despite a shaky start offensively he managed to stay right on his career average in points per game. After a particularly strong playoff run in which he averaged 17.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, the 26-year-old Hibbert appears poised to make the leap to perennial All-Star status.

Team: Washington Wizards
2012-13 stats: 18.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG

We wanted to put Josh Smith here, but we couldn't deny John Wall. After returning to the Wizards lineup after missing the first half of the season, they were a different team. His all-around play and speed make things difficult for anybody to guard him. Him, Tony Parker, and Deron Williams were the only three players to average at least 18 points and 7.5 assists last season. In the top heavy East, look for Washington to battle for the eighth seed this year (barring that Wall stays healthy, of course).

Team: Los Angeles Clippers
2012-13 stats: 18.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Some may fancy Blake Griffin as nothing but a gimmicky leaper whose spectacular dunks have blinded us to numerous holes in his game, but the improvements he has made in just a few short years indicate a player who is keen on expanding his game. While his overall shot attempts went down, he made vast improvements in his mid-range game that have to be an encouraging sign for Clippers fans. Per HoopData.com, Griffin's shooting percentages from three to nine feet (.502) and ten to fifteen feet (.400) were huge improvements from his first couple years in the league, and with a full, healthy summer under his belt those numbers will only grow in 2013-14 and beyond.

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
2012-13 stats: 18.3 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Kevin Love's value really snapped into focus last season when he wasn't on the court for the Timberwolves. With their hugely valuable power forward either struggling or out altogether due to a broken hand, Minnesota limped to a 22-42 mark without their star and fell way short of the playoff sleeper buzz they had been getting in the buildup to the season. The struggles can be traced directly to the absence of Love, whose superlative 2011-12 effort (39.0 minutes, 26.0 points, 13.3 rebounds per game) earned him an All-NBA Second Team spot and a sixth place finish in MVP voting. Having just turned 25 years old in September, it's essentially a lock that Love return to form this year and reassert his dominance.

Team: Portland Trail Blazers
2012-13 stats: 21.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG

Maybe it's something about playing in the Pacific Northwest, but LaMarcus Aldridge has blossomed into a star for the Trail Blazers in relative obscurity. His name doesn't come up a whole lot when discussing the league's elite power forwards, but few players can match Aldridge's consistency. He was the only player in the NBA last season to average 20-plus points and nine-plus rebounds per game, and for his effort was named to his second consecutive All-Star team. While his Blazers have missed the playoffs in each of the last two campaigns, the 28-year-old Aldridge is just entering his prime and along with Damian Lillard figures to form a formidable duo in Rip City for years to come.

Team: Atlanta Hawks
2012-13 stats: 17.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG

There's a reason that Atlanta has happily let Joe Johnson and Josh Smith skip town, yet have held onto Al Horford. The center out of Florida provides incredible effort and ability every night on both ends of the court, and other than a torn pectoral muscle that limited him to 11 games in 2011-12 has been highly durable. The two-time All-Star was among the game's elite centers last season, and was the only one to average at least 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists per contest (David Lee was the only other player in the NBA to match that criteria). Partnering with Paul Millsap down low in 2013-14, Horford figures to have another big year and very well could make his third All-Star team.

Team: Chicago Bulls
2012-13 stats: 11.9 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.1 BPG

Playing without former MVP Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah emerged as a star last season for the Bulls. The outspoken center put up career highs in pretty much every statistical category, and for his effort was named to his first All-Star team at midseason and the All-Defensive First Team at the end of the year. Perhaps more importantly, he came to represent the high-intensity Bulls squad that exceeded practically all expectations and (especially by the playoffs) seemed to be running on fumes all season. While Noah's individual highlights (such as a ridiculous 23 point, 21 rebound, 11 block triple-double in February) were certainly plentiful, his ability to be a key cog on a successful team is really what makes him such a valuable player.

Team: Dallas Mavericks
2012-13 stats: 17.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.5 APG

Thanks to his championship in 2011, Dirk Nowitzki has no longer had to worry about the "yes, but he never won a ring" argument that seemed destined to follow any positive comment about his career. Now all he has to worry about is being the focal point of the Mavericks' offense as they try to get back to the upper echelon of the Western Conference. The big German was limited by injuries in 2012-13, putting up the fewest points per game (17.3) since his rookie year and playing in just 53 games after returning in late December following October knee surgery. Now healthy and poised to return to his 20-plus points per game form, Nowitzki will need to quickly blend with his new, high-volume shooting teammate Monta Ellis if Dallas hopes to contend in 2013-14.

Team: Memphis Grizzlies
2012-13 stats: 14.1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG

Even though he didn't make the All-Star team in 2012-13, Marc Gasol still managed to assert himself as perhaps the best center in the NBA. He was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, although curiously was also only named to the All-Defensive Second Team in favor of both Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler. Nevertheless, Gasol was and continues to be the anchor at the heart of the Grizzlies' defense, and he has refined has offensive game as well, becoming a reliable option down low. Last season, he was one of just five players in the NBA to average at least 14.0 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and 1.5 blocks per game, and of that group he was the only one who spends the majority of his time down on the block.

Team: San Antonio Spurs
2012-13 stats: 17.8 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.7 BPG

Tim Duncan is amazing. The guy simply keeps cranking out double-doubles even though the sheer volume of games he has played have robbed him of some of his skills. As we saw in the first half of Game 6 of the Finals where he had 25 points, Timmy is still capable of taking over a game if necessary. While his pursuit of a fifth ring may have ended in bitter disappointment both for himself and his team (remember the back-to-back misses in the last minute if Game 7?), it doesn't change the fact that Duncan continues to be a vital asset for his team and one of the most skilled big men in the entire NBA.

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
2012-13 stats: 22.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG

The newest superstar to emerge is probably Kyrie Irving, who despite being the No. 1 overall pick has managed to exceed everyone's expectations and quickly blossom into a star with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After taking Rookie of the Year honors in 2012, Irving continued his rapid ascension by being named an All-Star in 2013, and at just 21 years old has plenty of room to continue to grow in the coming seasons. While he only played 59 games last season due to injuries to his index finger, face, and shoulder, he also made his mark on the history books when he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 points in Madison Square Garden when he scored 41 against the Knicks on Dec. 15, 2012.

Team: Brooklyn Nets
2012-13 stats: 18.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG

After the Nets' big offseason acquisitions of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry, it just got a whole lot harder for Deron Williams to stand out among the cavalcade of stars parading around Brooklyn. However, it should not be a debate about who is the best player on the team; it's Williams. The sweet-shooting point guard saw his shots per game dip a bit in 2012-13, but he nevertheless managed to post a per game average over a point better than his career mark (17.8) thanks to a strong shooting percentage from the floor (.440) and the second-best mark from three point land (.378) of his career. At just 29, Williams can expect several more highly productive seasons.

Team: Miami Heat
2012-13 stats: 21.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Dwyane Wade may not grab all the headlines out of Miami anymore, but he is still an incredibly dangerous player and when healthy is one of the league's best at finishing at the rim. He can still score with the best of them, and is one of just four players to average at least 20 points per game in each of the past nine seasons. Last year he was also able to pull off something very few players can; in his 10th NBA season, he set a career best for shooting percentage by making 52.1 percent of his attempts from the floor. He also has done a nice job accepting his limitations, attempting only 66 three pointers all season and sparing Heat fans the agony of watching him brick another long range effort.

Team: Indiana Pacers
2012-13 stats: 17.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.8 SPG

Paul George was yet another player who made a big leap last season, bursting into the spotlight thanks in part to an injury to Danny Granger that cost him all but five games. In Granger's absence, George confidently stepped into the spotlight and led the Pacers to 49 wins, their most since 2003-04. He got it done on all ends of the floor, scoring 17.4 points, grabbing 7.6 rebounds and handing out 4.1 assists per game while often having to guard the other team's best player on defense. He was named an All-Star at midseason for his effort, earning the league's Most Improved Player award, a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team, and an All-NBA Third Team selection at season's end.

Team: Houston Rockets
2012-13 stats: 25.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.8 SPG

Imagine if Oklahoma City had just decided to keep James Harden. Would we be talking about the bearded guard in the same esteem, or would he still just be the hot-shooting sixth man playing in Durant and Westbrook's shadows? While it's impossible to know, what we can say for sure is that Harden was an absolute warrior for his new team, jumping from the typical 26.7 minutes per game he averaged over the first three years of his career all the way up to 38.3 last year. The increase in responsibility didn't diminish his shooting stroke; Harden's shooting percentages (.438 from the floor and .368 on three pointers) remained largely the same as his total from the previous three years (.444 and .370, respectively), despite him taking an average of 8.5 more shots per game.

Team: San Antonio Spurs
2012-13 stats: 20.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 7.6 APG

The climb may have been gradual, but Tony Parker has officially ascended to the title of San Antonio Spurs' best player. He is about to enter his 13th season in the league despite just turning 31 in May, and given the increase in his production in recent years it's fair to assume he's got several high-caliber seasons left. Parker's 20.3 points and 7.6 assists per game were both the second-highest of his career, as was his stellar .522 shooting percentage and 2.94 assist-to-turnover ratio. If the Spurs have any visions of returning to the Finals, they'll have to do so on the strength of another great Parker season.

Team: Golden State Warriors
2012-13 stats: 22.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.6 SPG

The darling of the 2012-13 playoffs, Stephen Curry has officially landed among the NBA's elite players. Possessing the kind of jump shot that should be the envy of anybody who has ever touched a ball, Curry led the NBA in three pointers both made (272) and attempted (600) last year, finishing third in percentage (.453) and setting the record for threes made in a regular season. After reaching such success during the Warriors' thrilling playoff run (his 44-point game against San Antonio was one of the playoffs' best individual performances), how he handles the burden of expectation will give us a nice measurement of how good Curry really is. And now with Iguodala as a legit No. 2, Golden State has high expectations this year.

Team: Houston Rockets
2012-13 stats: 17.1 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.4 BPG

Hopefully, for at least this season, we'll finally be free of any free agency-related drama and can get back to watching Dwight Howard dominate in the paint. While he had a slightly down year in 2012-13, let's not kid ourselves; D12 was still an absolute beast. Not only did he win his fifth rebounding title, but he also managed to play 35.8 minutes per night even as he was suffering through all manner of physical ailments for a Lakers team embroiled in a whole lot of drama. Now away from the circus and finally healthy, Howard figures to pair with James Harden to make the Rockets instant contenders in a talent-laden Western Conference.

Team: New York Knicks
2012-13 stats: 28.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

While he hasn't had the playoff success of some of his fellow Class of 2003 draftees, Carmelo Anthony has certainly proven that he is one of the most dangerous scorers in the NBA. Playing largely as a power forward in 2012-13 due to the injury problems of Amare Stoudemire, Melo won his first scoring title after just barely losing out to Kevin Durant the year before, carrying the Knicks for large stretches during the season. His most memorable run occurred in April, wherein the Knicks won 13 games in a row and Melo became the first Knick since Bernard King to score at least 35 points in five consecutive games.

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
2012-13 stats: 23.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.8 SPG

It will be very interesting to see not only when Russell Westbrook returns from his knee injury (he is now out the first four to six weeks of the season after having a second surgery in late September), but how this incredibly explosive point guard looks when he does. He has made great strides in his offensive game every season, and last year submitted the most complete statistical effort of his career before suffering a torn meniscus in their first round playoff series with the Rockets. Expect a big bounce back effort from the Thunder star when he does return, and a quick return among the league's elite players seems a given.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2012-13 stats: 27.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.4 SPG

One little torn Achilles' tendon can't slow down Kobe Bryant, whose incredible recovery from this normally year-long injury has him aiming to play as early as mid-November. While both Kobe and the Lakers have been mum on predicting an exact return date, it's a safe bet that when he returns Bryant will be ready to attack as he always does. He enjoyed an incredible 2012-13 season prior to his injury, scoring 27.3 points per game while tying a career high with 6.0 assists per game. His value will likely be even more appreciated when we see what the Lakers look like on the floor without Kobe, whose mere presence has caused opposing teams to alter their entire game plan for over a decade.

Team: Los Angeles Clippers
2012-13 stats: 16.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 9.7 APG, 2.4 SPG

While he may be a little too strong-willed sometimes, Chris Paul is exactly the kind of player franchises should be built around. The point guard has the uncanny ability to get all his Clippers teammates involved for the majority of the game, only to take over himself in the final five minutes. His possibly career-altering knee injury has become a thing of the past, and now it seems the only question that dogs CP3 is whether her can get his Clippers squad to the next level. How his relationship with new coach Doc Rivers (who is notoriously tough on point guards) evolves will go a long way towards determining both Paul and L.A.'s success this season.

Team: Chicago Bulls
2012-13 stats: N/A (Injured)

One of the biggest—if not the biggest—storylines to start the 2013-14 NBA season will be the return of Derrick Rose, the only man not named LeBron James to win an MVP since 2008. Rose's much-anticipated return to the court after suffering a torn ACL in the 2012 playoffs has been the subject of constant analysis and debate for practically an entire calendar year, and in the preseason this year he has looked every bit the dynamic player he was before getting hurt. His return makes the Bulls one of the East's elite, and a legitimate threat to Miami's reign atop the NBA.

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
2012-13 stats: 28.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Kevin Durant certainly gets a lot of love, but if not for a certain superstar who tends to overshadow everyone, KD would be known as one of the best pure scorers of the last decade. He has led the NBA in points scored in each of the last four seasons, winning three consecutive scoring titles before being nipped last year by Carmelo Anthony. He's also a remarkably consistent player, having played 74-plus games every season (except for the lockout year, in which he played in all 66), averaging between 38.5 and 39.5 minutes a game, and playing more minutes than anybody in the NBA (14,827) since 2008-09.

Team: Miami Heat
2012-13 stats: 26.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Were you expecting someone else? LeBron James has continued to amaze while continuing to play under perhaps the most scrutiny any NBA player has ever faced. Last season he led the NBA in field goals made and led all non-post players in field goal percentage. He also became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1988-89 to average 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists per game, and cruised to a remarkable fourth MVP award. While his performance was occasionally spotty, LeBron was his usual self in the Finals, winning the MVP after averaging 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists over the Heat's seven game battle with the Spurs. Quite simply, there is nobody better on the planet.