There are habitual jobs that most people, including the ones who work them, take for granted. And then there are movie stars, celebrities, and sports people who get the most public acclaim. Agents go to extreme lengths to hire professional basketball players for their teams and boost their success chances in the next season. But employment prospects aside, who are the most promising NBA players in 2023? While there is no way to tell who will score the most points for their team this year, the public already has top ten favorites who will certainly get a lot of attention in the months to come. Here is our top ten pick of the most promising NBA players for 2023.
#10 Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson is a young player who started his career in 2019 but has shown impressive results in just a few years. In 2023, he will be playing the defense for New Orleans Pelicans, and considering his already long list of awards, we all can expect some spectacular performances this year.
#9 LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
For the past twenty years, LeBron James has been a living basketball legend — even people who have no interest in the NBA league have probably heard of him. Of course, professional sports is usually a short-term career, and James’ numbers are not as high as they used to be. But they are still in the top 99% of the whole league, which means that the greatest (or second-greatest, according to some) basketball player of all time will probably score quite a few points this year, too.
#8 Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Another promising LA Lakers player on our list, Anthony Davis, has had a few setbacks and injuries recently, which led many fans to believe his career could already be on the decline. But Davis was determined to prove them wrong and is now back, stronger than ever! In 2023, he will continue playing the Lakers’ defenses, and we hope no more injuries will follow this year.
#7 Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Many would claim that Jayson Tatum is the best player for the best team, and even though not everyone is equally enthusiastic about this statement, one thing is certain — Tatum’s technique, from footwork to jump, is very impressive to watch. He is certainly one of the top wing defenders in the NBA, and we are excited to see him in 2023.
#6 Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
According to NBA talent wealth, Kevin Durant ranks seventh. He is definitely one of the most impressive offense players who has proven his worth many times since the start of his professional basketball career in 2007. Durant has been playing for the Brooklyn Nets since 2019, and fans worldwide are eager to see his moves in 2023.
#5 Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid is another promising player who has been steadily getting better since his first NBA draft in 2014. Many fans note how much Embiid has improved in beating the defenses from pretty much any position on the floor. Some, of course, believe that there is still room for more improvement, but one thing is beyond dispute — Embiid is an expert in leveraging the public’s attention and is certainly one of the best team players in the Philadelphia 76ers.
#4 Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic has been getting so much attention lately that it looks like the whole Dallas Mavericks team depends on this young one-man-show player. Well, basketball is still about teamwork, so despite Luka Doncic’s amazing performance, it is really hard to tell how the events will unfold for the Dallas Mavericks. Whatever the cards may hold for this team, Slovenia-born Doncic has already proven his excellent performance in playing under high-pressure conditions, and he is one of the top-ranked performers at the age of 23. Good luck this season, Luka!
#3 Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry may have joined the NBA later than James LeBron, but in 2023, his stardom seems almost as timeless. Curry never switched teams and has been giving Golden State Warriors his best since 2009. By 2023, his list of awards has grown so long most people would have difficulty imagining Curry is physically capable of dropping off the map. We most certainly would not want this to happen any time soon because Curry’s level, game intelligence, and defense skills have few equals in the league.
#2 Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Serbian Nikola Jokic joined NBA in 2014 after only two years of playing for his home country. That is impressive all by itself, even considering how eager NBA is to find new talent, no matter where the promising players come from. The choice was a clear success, and Jokic has been scoring points for Denver Nuggets since 2015. His playing technique may come off slow at first glance, but that does not prevent Nikola from being one of the most successful players of the last decade. Right now, Jokic plays center, but he has also proven himself highly efficient from any position on the floor.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Our first spot goes to Giannis Antetokounmpo whose career started in Greece and found its way to Florida’s Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. Antetokounmpo, a Nigerian born and raised in Athens, may not necessarily be a stronger player than Jokic, Curry, or LeBron, but he is certainly the ‘bulldozer’ of the season. With a long series of trophies on his NBA award shelf, DPOY included, he will certainly win a few more in the years to come. And while all other players on our list have equally good chances of distinguishing themselves, we certainly think that 2023 will prove a very lucky year for one of the NBA’s strongest defenders.
Judging from this list, it is hard to predict which team will win the cup this year, but one thing is certain — the season should be exciting to watch. We can only wish the National Basketball Association (NBA) and all of its staff members the best of luck this year, knowing perfectly well that the strongest team with the best players is the one that ultimately wins!
