Who are the Best NBA Players in 2022
From college basketball hoping to make it to the NBA, players are always trying to improve their performance in hopes of being selected in the NBA draft and then eventually being signed onto an official team. As one of the top professional men’s basketball leagues in the world, it’s no wonder that it’s every college player’s dream and goal to go big!
The NBA draft occurs annually and there is always new talent to look out for and each team is looking for players who can bring something new to the table. Given the competitive nature, each year guarantees better players than the year gone by and 2022 isn’t any different. So, whether you’re a long-term NBA fan wanting to know who the next big players could be for the current year, or you’re just starting out with basketball and have no idea who DeMar DeRozan or LeBron James are but want to brush up on your basketball player knowledge, here are some of the best NBA players for the current season!
1. LeBron James
Seeing the Space Jam actor on the list shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, and even in 2022, the 37-year-old is once again, anticipated to be one of the top players in the NBA 2022. We’re wondering if or when he ever plans to slow down? Although the Lakers haven’t had the best of terms, James has consistently been on his A-game and is one of the league leaders in 30-point games this season. Most notably, he’s surpassed the 36,000 points mark and is the youngest player ever to do so!
2. Kevin Durant
Despite missing quite a large part of the season due to a knee injury, Durant has still managed to make his mark and his three 50-point games this season are proof of that. To add to his personal best, he even managed to score 55 points against the Hawks at the beginning of April, meaning we can only expect bigger and better things from Durant. His comradery was evident when Irving and Harden haven’t been able to play and despite that, the Nets have still managed to remain at the top, a lot of which can be owed to Durant.
3. Stephen Curry
Although Curry missed two seasons of the NBA Playoffs due to an injury, he’s back and better than before, giving the Golden State a good chance of winning an NBA title. Getting at least 5 triples per game, Curry is a big reason the Warriors are doing so well and with his recovery, we can hope to see him a lot more frequently on the court.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
He already made his mark in the NBA 2021 Finals, and Giannis Antetokounmpo seems to have no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Almost effortlessly, Giannis averages about 30 points per game, as well as 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists to go along with those 30 points. If he keeps this up (which we’re all expecting him to do anyway), it will be a good reason why it seems likely that he’ll be crowned Defensive Player of the Year.
5. Nikola Jokic
With an already impressive MVP 2020-21 campaign under his belt, Jokic has shown no signs of stopping or slowing down and has instead continued to impress well into 2022. One of the key skills that people have picked up on is his ability to steer the game to where he wants it to be from the center position. He has also proven himself to be an all-rounder as he has shown up as both a scorer and a rebounder. Stats wise he averages about 25.9 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game.
6. Joel Embiid
If there’s one player who’s shown consistency, it’s Embiid, and it’ll continue to come in handy for him later into the season as well. Despite being away from the court due to health reasons, Embiid has averaged over 20 points per game and over 10 boards for the 5th season running. He hit his own personal best too with 30.2 points per game, 11.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, something he hasn’t hit before. Embiid has truly become an anchor for the 76ers and could really turn things around in terms of defense if he continues in this way.