At 4:00 PM ET on September 24, 2024. read for 17 minutes Our yearly CBS Sports Top 100 NBA player rankings were released last week, and we have now whittled down the league-wide list to the top 25 players in the Eastern Conference. We will now proceed in the same manner with the Western Conference. It is well known that, overall and from a team and individual perspective, the West is and has always been the better conference. Though nine of the top 12 players are still from the West, it’s coming closer, at least at the top, with five players in the top 30 moving from the West to the East during the past three years: Paul George, Damian Lillard, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, and Tyrese Haliburton.

In our Top 100, there were 54 players from the West and 46 from the East overall. Among the top-30 players who have switched from East to West during the last three years are Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Domantas Sabonis. Naturally, the league’s best player is a member of the Western Conference. However, we won’t begin there. Rather, we will move backward, beginning with a guard for the Memphis Grizzlies who, in his last 100 games, has averaged more than 22 points. Now, based on their anticipated results in 2024–25, our panel of ten analysts has selected your top 25 Western Conference players.

25. The Memphis Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane One of the best shooters in the league, Bane has made 41.5% of his career threes, including 43.4% of his catch-and-shoot efforts. In Year 4, he advanced as a creator even further, upping his usage to 27.3% (although with a minor decline in efficiency). It’s also noteworthy that, despite the need for the on-ball surge during Ja Morant’s absence, the franchise player for the Grizzlies was occasionally prepared to yield to Bane when they were on the same court. Bane averaged 24.6 points in the nine games that Morant participated in, which is marginally higher than his season average. A few days before Christmas, Bane scored 37 points in a single game. While it’s unfortunate that back and ankle ailments ended his 2023–24 season, Memphis will have much more offensive firepower available, so there will be more to come. — James Herbert

24. Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden Last season, Harden traveled to Los Angeles on his basketball odyssey, joining his fourth team in four years. Again, a change of setting did not prevent the campaign from ending as many others had. Harden finished with 23 points on 28 shots in the Clippers’ final two first-round series losses, which set them up for a six-game elimination match against the Mavericks. Paul George is leaving the Clippers for Philadelphia this summer, so in order for the team to compete in the Western Conference, Harden will have to score more points than he has in the past. — Maloney Jack

23. Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. Is there one bright spot in Memphis’ recent losing season? Jaren Jackson Jr. had a ton of opportunities to practice making his own shots as a result. Last season, he had assists on less than half of his 2-point shots. He had never been anywhere near that before, and his career-high number of post-ups was almost doubled. He completed these tasks quite ineffectively since Memphis was so worn out, but maybe the Grizzlies at full strength can capitalize on all of the repetitions Jackson received. He can defend, as we know. Even if he’s not as good with the gun, he can still fire long range. He can return to the All-Star mix if he can generate some of his own offense within the arc. — Quinn, Sam

22. Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert So much for the Timberwolves’ disastrous Gobert trade. With his fourth Defensive Player of the Year victory last season, the Frenchman recovered his crown and tied Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most all-time. He also assisted the Wolves in reaching their first Western Conference finals since 2004. Though last season showed that the Gobert-Karl-Anthony Towns combination can be successful, there will always be some games when it makes more sense for the Wolves to start Naz Reid. — Maloney Jack

21. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns Karl-Anthony Towns has appeared in prior CBS top-100 lists as high as No. 11. That ranking’s fundamental tenet has generally held true. Towns is one of the all-time great big man shooters. That is still the same. He is still a tremendous athlete and rebounder, and he deserves credit for changing his approach in response to Minnesota’s roster additions. He has reduced his own scoring in consideration of Anthony Edwards. To fit Rudy Gobert, he is adopting a more conventional defensive power forward role.

While there is something to that adaptability, Towns was far too frequently overlooked during critical moments during the previous year. During significant portions of the Western Conference finals, when Minnesota desperately needed scoring, he was invisible. To get back up to his previous range on the list, he will need to regain his balance. Towns needs to be able to find buckets when the Timberwolves need them most, but he doesn’t need to be the all-around offensive monster of the past. — Quinn, Sam

20. OKC Thunder’s Jalen Williams Williams’ statistics from the previous season, when he didn’t have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, were uncannily comparable to those of Kevin Durant. This is not to suggest that Williams, 23, is a hidden gem; after all, being able to consistently produce big numbers while being the target of rival teams’ top defenders and ranked #1 in their scouting reports is a big part of being a superstar, not just against second units and as the number two player. But come on, man. Watch out if Williams’ relative failures in the playoffs against the Mavericks provide him with a blueprint for offseason development. This man is already a skilled playmaker, a knockdown shooter, a versatile defender, and a scorer at all three levels. He will make appearances as an All-Star in the future. — James Herbert

19. Denver Nuggets legend Jamal Murray It’s almost tough to rank Jamal Murray. Murray has never averaged 22 points or seven assists in a season, so forget about making an All-Star team; he’s up against some of the NBA’s top guards. His two postseason runs have brought him here, but they are also the best runs any active guard has ever had. He flirted with 50-40-90 shooting splits but averaged over 26 points per game in the 2020 and 2023 postseasons. His best is on par with players twenty places higher in the rankings. His floor may justify a 20-slot dip, as we seen repeatedly in the 2024 postseason and even more in the Olympics. The Nuggets, who are now thinner than ever and without Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, will need Murray to produce excellent play for the entire season, not just a few games. — Quinn, Sam

18. Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen I hate having to write this blurb since I’m a Warriors fan and I think Markkanen would have been a great player for Golden State to have for a high price. Rather, he receives a $238 million, five-year deal to remain in Utah. Although 27-year-old Markkanen is just starting to reach his peak, the Jazz aren’t even close to contending. Though the compatibility of those timetables raises questions, you can bet Danny Ainge has a plan, and Markkanen—a seven-foot sniper who outperformed Kevin Durant in true shooting percentage last season—is a key component of it. — Brad Botkin

17. OKC Thunder’s Chet Holmgren Holmgren’s delayed debut was definitely worth the wait, as he blended in perfectly with an Oklahoma City club destined for long-term success for at least the ensuing ten years. Even at 7 feet 1 inch, he has the guard’s handle. He can back someone down in the paint and nail a 3-point shot with equal ease. His ability to time blocks flawlessly sets him apart from other players his age, and he has already proven to be one of the league’s finest rim protectors. Holmgren’s career path calls for him to be a regular at both the All-Star Game and post-season honors like All-Defense and All-NBA. — Jasmyn Wimbish

16. Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis Last season, Sabonis ranked eighth in assists and led the league in rebounds. Nikola Jokic was the only other player to rank in the top 10 in both categories. In addition, he became the only player in history to average at least 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists in a season, together with Wilt Chamberlain. Of course, those are artificial cutoffs, but it highlights how different Sabonis’ game is for a large man. In addition to being a potent scorer in the paint and a force on the boards, he is a true playmaking hub for the Kings. Defense, meanwhile, is still a problem for him and far too many of his colleagues. — Maloney Jack

15. The Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox Remember when Fox couldn’t shoot? He most definitely doesn’t. While his 36.9% 3-point shooting percentage is certainly nothing to laugh at, is he really able to maintain that pace on 7.8 attempts per game? That was almost unthinkable when he first started his career, and it has exposed weaknesses in almost every tactic his opponents have tried to employ to stop him. When the fastest guard in the NBA can pull up from 28 feet with ease, how are you meant to stay in front of him when you try to hide behind a screen? It’s no longer simple to defend Fox. Either he will beat you from deep or he will beat you at the rim. Choose what you want. — Quinn, Sam

14. Irving Kyrie, the Dallas Mavericks Despite all the doubts about Irving’s compatibility with the Mavericks, both on and off the court, he quietly pulled together one of his best seasons to date. Irving has served as a reminder to all of us of why he is one of the greatest backup options in NBA history. Irving is still the league’s finest handler; he can score from all three levels and get to the rim with ease. Without him, the Mavericks never would have advanced to the NBA Finals, and he and Luka Doncic together form one of the league’s most formidable backcourts. — Jasmyn Wimbish

13. The New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson When the Pelicans’ 2023–24 season came to a conclusion, Williamson was injured once more, but this time it felt different. His play during the previous two months had entirely transformed the debate, so it wasn’t that his absence in the playoffs was a bummer, even though it did lead to awkward conversations about his commitment and conditioning. In a crucial play-in game against the Lakers, Williamson made a floater over Anthony Davis to tie the game, but in the process, he pulled his hamstring. He had played one of his best games on one of the biggest stages of his career, leading a fourth-quarter comeback that would fall short when he checked out, and the shot had given him 40 points.

Williamson shown that he could play a lot of minutes, make plays, and compete fiercely on defense even when he was in peak form. He participated in 70 regular-season games, a career high, and towards the very end, when opponents were tiring of him, he even made a few jump shots. All the Pelicans are asking of him right now is to play like an MVP contender for the entire season while they work to assemble a team that can surround him with the shooters and defenders they need to take the next step. — James Herbert

12. The Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard It’s easy to forget that Leonard was able to participate in 68 games the previous season, despite the fact that he was once again unable to remain healthy throughout the playoffs. At 23 PPG and better than a 62% true shooting clip, he appeared to be one of the league’s finest players for the majority of that time. With his ability to break late, he remains one of the league’s most lethal pull-up shooters. His 1.2 points per possession in isolation is the most efficient figure among all players with a frequency of isolation of at least 15%. From the beginning of the year to the end of February, Leonard made 46% of his 3-pointers on nearly five different occasions every game’s attempts. — Brad Botkin

11. Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant It’s been a while since we’ve seen Morant perform on the court, but at his best, his daring imagination and stunning skills make him one of the league’s most entertaining guards. The high flyer has only participated in 70 games overall over the past two seasons due to injuries and suspensions. One of the most intriguing plots to follow this season is whether or not Morant can reach an All-NBA level again. The Grizzlies might pose a serious danger in the Western Conference if he does. — Maloney Jack

10. Phoenix Suns player Devin Booker Arguably, Booker has emerged as one of the league’s most efficient and underappreciated players. He can score 40+ points on you if he gets hot, and he doesn’t even need to take many threes. He is a deadly mid-range player. Any championship-contending team would love to have someone like Booker on staff. Last season, he finally showed off his versatility, having spent the previous two years solely playing point guard for a Suns team that was deficient in that area. As a result, Booker had a career-high assist year, demonstrating that he is not just one of the league’s top shooting guards but also one of the best point guards. — Jasmyn Wimbish

San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, ninth After the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama averaged 23.5 points, 12 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 4.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. I doubt it will surprise you to learn that no one has ever carried out that task for an entire season. Nobody has even approached this. Even if you take 10% off each of those figures, only one person—peak Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—has ever accomplished it.

Recall that Wembanyama was inexperienced. He was participating for a team that was destined to fail. This is much more than just the next big NBA player. We are discussing the next evolution of this sport, a player like never before. He is the pinnacle of what our sport has been striving for the last ten years—the perfect union of size and talent. Not how amazing that crazy post-break stat line is going to be, but rather how meek it will appear in contrast is what’s most concerning. That’s probably the worst he’s going to get for a very long time. We may wait fifteen years before we publish another list of these that includes him outside of the top ten. — Quinn, Sam

8. Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis For Anthony Davis, the 2023–24 campaign was one of acceptance. He attempted about 75 percent of his shots in the paint. That was his greatest point total during his time with the Lakers; in other years, he hardly made it above 50%. During his Lakers prime, Davis attempted over five mid-range shots per game on average; however, he only made three or fewer last season. Though it appears that he has finally accepted that the Lakers need him to play like a center, he may still wish to be a power forward. The outcomes spoke for themselves, even though he would suffer physical consequences from the role. After winning the 2020 title, Davis had his strongest season ever. He controlled the interior and saved the day for the otherwise dismal Laker defense. — Quinn, Sam

7. Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards Edwards’ remarkable rise to prominence is highlighted by the fact that he moved up the list from 22nd to 10th place the previous year. Last season, he set career highs in every statistical category, was selected to his first All-NBA team, and helped the Timberwolves defeat the Nuggets, the reigning champions, to advance to the Western Conference finals. There were a lot of similarities to Michael Jordan, at least visually, early in the Wolves’ playoff run. He solidified his reputation as one of the greatest players in the game throughout the summer by spearheading Team USA’s gold medal effort. — Maloney Jack

6. Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant Durant is still essentially operating at peak performance levels. Arguably the most significant thing about his season was that he participated in 75 games, which was by far his best total since leaving Golden State. He averaged 27-6-5 on 41% 3-point shooting. There were allegations that he didn’t like how Frank Vogel was using him. It will be intriguing to observe what impact Mike Budenholzer has on Durant’s places and shoots as well as how he receives the ball—that is, whether he receives it off of more of his favorite pin-down screens or in stationary situations. In any case, Durant led the NBA in solo scoring during the previous campaign. — Brad Botkin

5. Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James When LeBron James was voted the most valuable player of the 2024 Olympics, he recently became the oldest player in history to receive an MVP award in any competition involving active NBA players. This surpasses a record he himself set in the first-ever in-season NBA competition. Although it is unrealistic to expect the soon-to-be quadragenarian to be the NBA’s top player throughout the course of an 82-game season, James may still be the only player in all of basketball who instills greater terror in his opponents in smaller samples. It’s unclear how many MVP honors of any kind he still has left in his ailing body, but he still possesses the skill and fire that brought him his first. — Quinn, Sam

4. The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry With his unique style of movement and unmatched shooting ability, Curry remains a one-man offensive machine. Even though Curry is still a fantastic player at 36, it’s difficult to see where his offensive game has decreased at all. Instead, what we’ve seen is that Curry needs stronger players around him in order to contend for titles again. LeBron understands. — Brad Botkin

3. OKC Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s MVP runner-up from the previous season, continues to rise in these rankings. In 2023–24, the 26-year-old guard led the NBA in drives for the fourth consecutive year. With more spacing around him, opponents found it more difficult to break his quirky rhythm. Gilgeous-Alexander shot a career-high 69% at the rim and 51% from midrange, according to Cleaning The Glass.

On defense, SGA doesn’t always get the most difficult individual assignments, but few players are more committed and disruptive than him. Only two players recorded more deflections and no one stole more than Gilgeous-Alexander did the previous season. Oklahoma City projects to have a historically great defense and a more diverse offense after adding one of those two players (Alex Caruso) and Isaiah Hartenstein, a center who will both protect the rim and act as an offensive hub, this offseason. This makes the task facing the team’s franchise player very clear: lead the team to a place it hasn’t been since 2012. — James Herbert

2. The Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic “How is he doing this?” is a common thought that comes to mind even after Doncic has been in the league for six years. Even the best defenders were unable to stop him during the Mavericks’ journey to the NBA Finals, despite the fact that he plays at the speed of paint drying on a wall. If you try to double team Doncic, he will make you pay. If you switch bigs on him outside, he will probably make a spectacular 3-pointer. He has some of the greatest assists in NBA history, handles the ball with grace, and intimidates you in the paint. After topping the league in statistics the previous year, he is coming off of his best-ever year even though he is still only 25 years old, in scoring. — Jasmyn Wimbish

1. Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic Jokic is the only player on the planet who can almost assure his team of a good shot on every possession. His dominance is evident on both visible and invisible margins. He can take advantage of any matchup, inside or out, as a facilitator or scorer. His defense has advanced significantly. In actuality, part of what makes him the greatest player in the world is that he has no desire to be acknowledged as such. He writes plays that are devoid of ego and agenda. Jokic embodies everything that makes a basketball player great. — Brad Botkin