You hear the phrase attached to too many names: “[Player X], one of the top 5 players in the NBA”. Only five players can have that phrase attached at any one time.
 
So instead of just critiquing those who say it, let’s figure out who is on that list and give pundits a pass any time they use it on the top 8-10, just to have some room for discussion.
 
I’ll include their plus/minus rank from ESPN as of today too.
  1. LeBron (1)
  2. Durant (18)
  3. The Claw (12)
  4. AD (23)
  5. Harden (17)
  6. Giannis (5)
  7. Steph (2)
  8. Dame (9)
  9. Jokic (8)
  10. Luka (58?!!)
  11. Embiid (6)
  12. Butler (43)
I really can’t arrange AD, Harden, and Giannis in any definitive manner. I look at each one and think “Yeah, he deserves 4.” So they all get it.
 
I should also admit a heavy bias for height. Is Steph worse than those six ahead of him? Argh. He’s lots better than the next six. I don’t know. Steph is magic. I don’t know if I could argue for the best three without including him. But am I knocking out Kawhi for Steph? I don’t know. Again, Steph is literally magic. You could put him #1 and I wouldn't argue. He's in his own category.
 
You could argue for any of those 12 and I won’t laugh at you. You’re wrong if you go lower than 7, but I won’t laugh at you.
 
Then I’ll hit a second tier. I don’t think these count, but I know they’re in someone’s list. A number of these aren’t in the top 40 plus/minus. (Note that Luka and Butler aren't either, though. Not the greatest season for Luka to date. Not sure what’s up with Jimmy.)
  1. Tatum (40)
  2. Beal (35!)
  3. Kyrie (20, but seems like he shares a lot of minutes with [see above])
  4. Jaylen Brown (19)
  5. KAT (59)
  6. Trae (60)
  7. Ja (143)
  8. Kyle Lowry (10!)
And then folks that are good, but probably don’t belong in anyone’s list for top 5...
  1. Middleton (45)
  2. Ben Simmons (49)
  3. Gordon Hayward (79)
  4. Chris Paul (36)
  5. LeMelo (37)
  6. Gobert (31)
  7. Donovan Mitchell (16)
  8. Zion (82; stop it)
If they’re not on any of those lists, I don’t see how you can argue. Most of those names are just to say, “Show me someone better than my top 7 from any of these names.” I don’t think you can.
 
 

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