{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"Joel Embiid","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Embiid_J_USATSI_17087369.jpg","credit":"","published":1611606186,"caption":"

Joel "The Process" Embiid played at an MVP-caliber level throughout the 2020-21 season to lead the Sixers to the No. 1 seed in the East. Then this year he dragged the Simmons-less roster on his back before impressing a certain lefty also on this list enough to force his way out of Brooklyn. The 7-foot-2 center is in the best shape of his life and has more of an impact on both ends of the floor for his team than any other star in the NBA.

As the clear MVP frontrunner this season, Embiid gets the nod at No. 1.

"},{"index":2,"title":"Kevin Durant","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Durant_USATSI_17027917.jpg","credit":"","published":1611598560,"caption":"

Before getting sidelined with a torn Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals, Kevin Durant was the clear No. 2 in the league. After? Durant somehow proved to reach his elite form even after a heel injury that has changed the career trajectory of greats that have come before him.

Durant turned himself into the world's greatest scorer with the Thunder, became a gifted passer and more willing defender with the Warriors, and is now with the Nets is neck-and-neck to be known as the best player in the world.

"},{"index":3,"title":"Giannis Antetokounmpo ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Giannis_USATSI_16429223.jpg","credit":"","published":1611599433,"caption":"

After winning two MVPs, Giannis Antetokounmpo one-upped himself with an NBA Finals MVP award last season. His dominance on both ends stems from his incredible 7-foot-3 wingspan.

The Greek Freak's elite athleticism make him an unstoppable force in transition and on the defensive end, and now he's an NBA champion. In 2021-22, Giannis has showcased some impressive offensive moves to show that he still could be quite a way's away from his overall peak.

"},{"index":4,"title":"LeBron James","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/LeBron_USATSI_16179817.jpg","credit":"USA Today Sports Images","published":1611419734,"caption":"

LeBron James has entered the post-Space Jam era of his career.

He's the most well-rounded player of this generation and James' chase to be the greatest of all time keeps him motivated to still be among the best players in Year 19.

"},{"index":5,"title":"Stephen Curry","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/curry_s_USATSI_1537941.jpg","credit":"","published":1611602247,"caption":"

Steph Curry cemented himself as the best shooter of all time when he broke Ray Allen's 3-point record in December 2021.

He was winning games all by himself at times last season and is now leading the Warriors back to the top of the Western Conference in MVP form.

"},{"index":6,"title":"James Harden","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Harden_J_USATSI_17812777.jpg","credit":"","published":1611604043,"caption":"

Though James Harden's nine-year tenure with Houston ended distastefully, then did the same the next year with the Nets. Still, his scoring ability will never go overlooked. What does go overlooked, though, is his vision.

In his first season with Brooklyn, Harden was hampered with a persisting hamstring issue, but averaged almost 11 apg. Harden led the league in assists when he played primarily at the point for the Rockets during the 2016-17 season and his passing acumen will be an invaluable asset to a Philadelphia squad trying to capitalize on Joel Embiid's prime.

"},{"index":7,"title":"Nikola Jokic","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Jokic_N_USATSI_13988997.jpg","credit":"","published":1611607031,"caption":"

Nikola Jokic was instrumental during Denver's magical run to the Western Conference Finals in the bubble, but he took it to another level en route to his MVP campaign. From nailing clutch shot after clutch shot to passing his teammates open, Jokic has amassed one incredible combination of skills.

Like another center above him on this list, Jokic singlehandedly carries the team. Though he doesn't have as much of an impact on the defensive end, he's certainly disproven any notions of being a liability.

"},{"index":8,"title":"Ja Morant","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Ja-Morant-Yell-USA.jpg","credit":"","published":1611695819,"caption":"

Ja Morant's meteoric rise this season has been the most fun thing about this year. He has been playing at an MVP-level in his third season in the NBA, can jump out of the building and has steadily improved his field goal percentages from all over the court.

The time is now for Morant, who's beginning to challenge Embiid in the MVP race.

"},{"index":9,"title":"Luka Dončić","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Luka_Doncic_USATSI_15332646_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1611605916,"caption":"

It's been simply remarkable to see just how much the third pick in the 2018 NBA Draft has surpassed expectations so far in his NBA career.

Always playing at his own pace, Luka Dončić can do it all offensively and he's significantly improved his assists numbers each season with the Mavericks. His ability to take over games is up there with the best.

"},{"index":10,"title":"Kawhi Leonard","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/LEONARD_K_USATSI_15303268.jpg","credit":"","published":1611604633,"caption":"

The third multi-NBA Finals MVP honoree, Kawhi Leonard has proven he can win as the lone superstar while with Toronto and is looking to take the Clippers to those same heights.

Leonard takes more pride in his one-on-one defense than just about anyone and he's improved his offensive repertoire every year he's been in the league. As much as critics call out his preferential treatment and rest days, "The Claw" could once again have the last laugh before too long.

"},{"index":11,"title":"Anthony Davis","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Davis_Anthony_USATSI_15031574_1.jpg","credit":"","published":1611605210,"caption":"

Perhaps LeBron James' best sidekick, Anthony Davis' tenure with the Lakers is off to a blistering start as he helped the Gold and Purple win the title in his first season with the team.

Though injuries again reared its ugly head for the power forward last season, Davis is virtually indefensible on the offensive end; he's too quick with an excellent handle for normal big men and too strong and big for the smaller forwards that try to cover him. Oh yeah, and he can also block everything in sight as the last line of defense.

"},{"index":12,"title":"Damian Lillard ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/LILLARD_D_USATSI_15416256.jpg","credit":"","published":1611610378,"caption":"

Damian Lillard has been averaging north of 25 ppg ever since his fourth season in the NBA. He can score at will and has joined Steph Curry in the "players you have to pick up at half court" club because that's how special his range is.

"Dame Time" is also a big reason for Lillard being right outside the top 10, as he's among the clutchest performers in the league.

"},{"index":13,"title":"Jayson Tatum","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Tatum_Jayson_USATSI_15396019_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1611614477,"caption":"

Jayson Tatum has shown he has superstar potential in his first three seasons. With a tightened handle and his continued smooth stroke from outside, Tatum will continue to be a menace for defenses for years to come.

The 23-year-old has solidified himself as the go-to option in Boston and was a reliable scoring option for Team USA in Tokyo.

"},{"index":14,"title":"Devin Booker","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Booker_Devin_USATSI_16419709.jpg","credit":"© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports","published":1611696734,"caption":"

Booker helped propel the Suns to a commanding run to the NBA Finals and, though he wasn't able to get past the Greek Freak, he did prove how elite of a scorer he is.

The shooting guard has always been known as one of the best shooters in the league, but his ability to get to the rim and free-throw line has been a tremendous area of improvement.

"},{"index":15,"title":"Bradley Beal","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Beal_Bradley_USATSI_17440403.jpg","credit":"","published":1611612054,"caption":"

Now in his 10th NBA season, Bradley Beal was neck-and-neck with Steph Curry for the league scoring title last season. The Wizards, especially when shorthanded, don't have the personnel to keep up with opponents without Beal.

Now after general manager Tommy Sheppard traded away backcourt mate Russell Westbrook for a deeper surrounding cast, the impetus will be on Beal to lead the Wizards back to the postseason.

"},{"index":16,"title":"Jimmy Butler","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Butler_Jimmy_USATSI_16171728.jpg","credit":"","published":1611614888,"caption":"

After some turbulent stops in Chicago, Minnesota and Philadelphia, Jimmy Butler found the perfect fit in Miami as he helped the Heat advance to the NBA Finals in his debut season in South Beach.

As one of the best examples of how stats don't tell the whole story, Butler's stats don't jump off the page but his impact certainly translates to wins when his heart is in the right place.

"},{"index":17,"title":"Chris Paul","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Paul_Chris_USATSI_16389791.jpg","credit":"","published":1611695666,"caption":"

After a hamstring injury prevented the Chris Paul-James Harden partnership to miss out on the NBA Finals, CP3 proved his worth taking the Thunder to seven games in the first round against Houston a year later, earned a trade to Phoenix and immediately helped the Suns to the NBA Finals.

Paul has shown he can still control games and have an incredible impact on the game, and that won't change for the 36-year-old's 17th NBA season.

"},{"index":18,"title":"Trae Young","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Young_Trae_USATSI_16363675.jpg","credit":"© Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports","published":1611696376,"caption":"

The undersized scoring machine cemented his place in the NBA's Top-20 after upending the first-placed Sixers in the second round of the playoffs. An improbable Eastern Conference Finals appearance has made believers out of doubters for Trae Young.

Whether or not Young can prove this playoff run was a fluke or not remains to be seen, but his ability to score from anywhere and facilitate for his teammates has only increased with the Hawks pieces around him.

"},{"index":19,"title":"Donovan Mitchell","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/MITCHELL_D_USATSI_15399720.jpg","credit":"","published":1611615189,"caption":"

A scorer at will, a high-flyer, and a consistently improving playmaking skillset, Donovan Mitchell is one of the most entertaining players to watch in the NBA.

He's the focal point of everything positive offensively for the Jazz and did everything he could to will his squad's way to a second-round berth.

"},{"index":20,"title":"Jaylen Brown","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/headline/hero/brown_jaylen_usati_8.jpg","credit":"© Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports","published":1611697812,"caption":"

Jaylen Brown has turned himself into quite the one-two punch with Tatum for Boston. His handle has consistently improved each season as does his shot from beyond.

Notable ommissions: Paul George, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Russell Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell, Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Kyrie Irving

"}]}

2022: Ranking the top 20 NBA players right now