Players who found themselves among the best just a short calendar year ago are not longer on the radar. Los Angeles Lakers veteran Russell Westbrook being an example. Meanwhile, youngsters such as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards continue to make waves.
Below, we look at the 5 best NBA players of 2023 with the season about to start.
5. Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors
Jordan Poole is turning into a star right in front of our eyes. The 23-year-old guard might not be a starter for the Warriors, but an argument can be made that he’s their third most-important player behind Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins. Last season saw Poole average 18.5 points on 36% shooting from distance. He upped his game late in the regular season (25.4 PPG in final 20 games) and the playoffs to help Golden State win the title.
4. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Acquired from Sacramento during February’s NBA trade deadline, Haliburton is among the best young point guards in the NBA. In limited action with the Pacers, the 22-year-old guard averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.6 assists while shooting 50% from the field. He should be able to team up with Chris Duarte to form a tremendous young backcourt duo for the rebuilding Pacers in 2022-23.
3. Cade Cunningham, guard, Detroit Pistons
Cunningham missed training camp and the start of his rookie season after the Pistons made him the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. However, he closed out said season strong by averaging 21.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists in his final 21 games. With Jaden Ivey joining him in Detroit’s backcourt, Cunningham should continue to excel in 2022-23.
2. RJ Barrett, New York Knicks
At just 22, Barrett is well on his way to becoming one of the better young players in the game. The former Duke standout averaged 20.0 points and 5.8 rebounds as a third-year player in 2021-22. He’s now the face of the Knicks’ franchise in New York now that New York opted to extend Barrett rather than include him in a trade for Donovan Mitchell.
1. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
A first-round pick of the Nets back in 2017, Allen displayed flashes of brilliance in Brooklyn before heading to Cleveland in the James Harden trade. Since joining the Cavaliers, he’s been an elite force for this up-and-coming squad.
That included Allen averaging 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds on 68% shooting during the 2021-22 regular season.
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