{"id":133,"date":"2022-10-25T16:38:01","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T16:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/?p=133"},"modified":"2025-10-04T12:44:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T12:44:05","slug":"top-5-nba-players-of-the-2021-2022-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/2022\/10\/top-5-nba-players-of-the-2021-2022-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 NBA Players of the 2021-2022 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(last updated on October 3, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2021-22 season featured a number of astonishing individual performances, with a lot of NBA superstars operating at the peak of their powers. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/curryst01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stephen Curry<\/a> led the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/GSW\/2022.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Warriors<\/a> to another NBA championship and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/BOS\/2022.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Boston Celtics<\/a> built a juggernaut around their stifling defense, one of the big stories of the regular season was how many players put up exceptional stat lines. Picking the top NBA players of 2021 is a challenge, so we\u2019re using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/about\/bpm2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Box Plus\/Minus<\/a> to find out who were the top five by statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/jokicni01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Nikola Joki\u0107\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\">Nikola Joki\u0107<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n    \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\ni-KOLA yo-kitch\\<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>Nikola Joki\u0107<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n  \n  \u25aa\n  Instagram:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/nikolajokicofficial\">nikolajokicofficial<\/a>\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(Joker, Big Honey, Cookie Monster, Yoke, Big Tipper)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Center\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>6-11<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>284lb<\/span>&nbsp;(211cm,&nbsp;128kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n    <p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/DEN\/2026.html\">Denver Nuggets<\/a><\/p>\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1995-02-19\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=2&amp;day=19\">February 19<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1995\">1995<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;30-226d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Sombor,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=RS&amp;state=\">Serbia<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-rs\" style=\"\">rs<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/DEN\/draft.html\">Denver Nuggets<\/a>, 2nd round (11th pick, 41st overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_2014.html\">2014 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/201510280HOU.html\">October 28, 2015<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Experience:<\/strong>&nbsp;10 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a>7x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>2023 NBA Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>7x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2015-16 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>3x MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2022-23 WCF MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2022-23 Finals MVP<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder bbr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=15\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#6ca6cd\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#000080\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#000080\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#000080\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">15<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=15\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#0d2240\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#f9c647\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#f9c647\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#f9c647\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">15<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2024-25<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>70<\/p>\n<p>745<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p>29.6<\/p>\n<p>21.8<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p>12.7<\/p>\n<p>10.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p>10.2<\/p>\n<p>7.2<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p>57.6<\/p>\n<p>56.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p>41.7<\/p>\n<p>36.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p>80.0<\/p>\n<p>82.4<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p>62.7<\/p>\n<p>59.6<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p>32.0<\/p>\n<p>28.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p>16.4<\/p>\n<p>128.0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The back-to-back MVP, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jokic<\/a> had a jaw-dropping statistical season in 2021-22. Clearly one of the best NBA players of that year, Jokic led the league in Box Plus\/Minus with a record-breaking 13.7. He also became the first player since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chambwi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wilt Chamberlain<\/a> to average 13 rebounds and 7 assists per game. The Joker added a third MVP with another typically dynamic performance in the 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/embiijo01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Joel Embiid\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/embiijo01.html\">Joel Embiid<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n    \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\jo-ELL em-BEAD\\<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>Joel Hans Embiid<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n  \n  \u25aa\n  Instagram:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/joelmbiid\">joelmbiid<\/a>\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(JoJo, The Process, Do-a-180, Troel, The Phantom of the Process, Big Fella)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Center\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>7-0<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>280lb<\/span>&nbsp;(213cm,&nbsp;127kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n    <p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/PHI\/2026.html\">Philadelphia 76ers<\/a><\/p>\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1994-03-16\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=3&amp;day=16\">March 16<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1994\">1994<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;31-201d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Yaounde,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=CM&amp;state=\">Cameroon<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-cm\" style=\"\">cm<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      College:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/colleges.fcgi?college=kansas\">Kansas<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      High Schools:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      Montverde Academy in Montverde, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/high_schools.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=FL\">Florida<\/a>, \n    \n      The Rock School in Gainesville, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/high_schools.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=FL\">Florida<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>Recruiting Rank: <\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/recruit_rankings_2013.html\">2013<\/a> (16)\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/PHI\/draft.html\">Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_2014.html\">2014 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/201610260PHI.html\">October 26, 2016<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Experience:<\/strong>&nbsp;9 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a>7x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2x Scoring Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>5x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2016-17 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>3x All-Defensive<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2022-23 MVP<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder bbr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=21\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#ff0000\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">21<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=24\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#ff0000\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">24<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2024-25<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>19<\/p>\n<p>452<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p>23.8<\/p>\n<p>27.7<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p>8.2<\/p>\n<p>11.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p>4.5<\/p>\n<p>3.7<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p>44.4<\/p>\n<p>50.1<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p>29.9<\/p>\n<p>33.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p>88.2<\/p>\n<p>82.8<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p>48.1<\/p>\n<p>53.4<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p>23.4<\/p>\n<p>28.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p>1.4<\/p>\n<p>64.9<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In almost any other year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/embiijo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joel Embiid<\/a>\u2019s season would have been more than enough to win an MVP award, but this year he came in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/awards_2022.html#all_mvp\">second in the voting<\/a>. Still, Embiid was clearly one of the top NBA players of 2021-22. He became the first big man to win the scoring title since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/o\/onealsh01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shaq<\/a> and the first player since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jordami01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michael Jordan<\/a> to average 30 points per game and 1.5 blocks per game. The Process got some revenge on his fellow dominant big by claiming the NBA MVP for the 2022-23 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/antetgi01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Giannis Antetokounmpo\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n    \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\YAHN-iss ah-dedo-KOON-bo\\<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n  \n  \u25aa\n  Instagram:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/Giannis_An34\">Giannis_An34<\/a>\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n<span class=\"desc\">(last name previously spelled Adetokunbo)<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n(The Greek Freak, The Alphabet)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Power Forward, Small Forward, Point Guard, and Shooting Guard\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>6-11<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>242lb<\/span>&nbsp;(211cm,&nbsp;109kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n    <p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/MIL\/2026.html\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/a><\/p>\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1994-12-06\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=12&amp;day=6\">December 6<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1994\">1994<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;30-301d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Athens,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=GR&amp;state=\">Greece<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-gr\" style=\"\">gr<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  <p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Brothers&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetth01.html\">Thanasis&nbsp;Antetokounmpo<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetko01.html\">Kostas&nbsp;Antetokounmpo<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetal01.html\">Alex&nbsp;Antetokounmpo<\/a> <\/p>\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/MIL\/draft.html\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>, 1st round (15th pick, 15th overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_2013.html\">2013 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/201310300NYK.html\">October 30, 2013<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Experience:<\/strong>&nbsp;12 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a>9x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>2021 NBA Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>9x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2013-14 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>5x All-Defensive<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2016-17 Most Improved<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2x MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2019-20 Def. POY<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2020-21 AS MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2020-21 Finals MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>NBA 75th Anniv. Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2024-25 IST MVP<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder bbr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=34\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#006400\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">34<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=34\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#004010\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#e4cda1\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#e4cda1\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#e4cda1\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">34<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2024-25<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>67<\/p>\n<p>859<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p>30.4<\/p>\n<p>23.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p>11.9<\/p>\n<p>9.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p>6.5<\/p>\n<p>5.0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p>60.1<\/p>\n<p>55.1<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p>22.2<\/p>\n<p>28.4<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p>61.7<\/p>\n<p>69.3<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p>60.7<\/p>\n<p>57.0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p>30.5<\/p>\n<p>25.8<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p>11.5<\/p>\n<p>120.8<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Greek Freak<\/a> celebrated his title with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01\/gamelog\/2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">season<\/a> that reminded everyone why he is one of the top players in the NBA. Giannis ranked second in Box Plus\/Minus, second in scoring, and ninth in defensive win shares. His 29.9 points per game were a career high and the most by a player also selected to the All-Defensive First Team since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bryanko01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kobe Bryant<\/a> in 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/doncilu01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Luka Don\u010di\u0107\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\">Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n    \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\LOO-kuh DON-chitch\\<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n  \n  \u25aa\n  Instagram:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/lukadoncic\">lukadoncic<\/a>\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(The Matador, El Matador, Cool Hand, The Don, Wonder Boy, El Ni\u00f1o Maravilla, Swaggy L, Luka Legend, Too Easy, Luka Magic)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Point Guard and Shooting Guard\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>6-6<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>230lb<\/span>&nbsp;(198cm,&nbsp;104kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n    <p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/LAL\/2026.html\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a><\/p>\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1999-02-28\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=2&amp;day=28\">February 28<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1999\">1999<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;26-217d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Ljubljana,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=SI&amp;state=\">Slovenia<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-si\" style=\"\">si<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/ATL\/draft.html\">Atlanta Hawks<\/a>, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_2018.html\">2018 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/201810170PHO.html\">October 17, 2018<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Experience:<\/strong>&nbsp;7 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a>5x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2023-24 Scoring Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>5x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2018-19 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2018-19 ROY<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2023-24 WCF MVP<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder bbr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=77\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#000080\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">77<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=77\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#800080\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">77<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2024-25<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>50<\/p>\n<p>450<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p>28.2<\/p>\n<p>28.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p>8.2<\/p>\n<p>8.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p>7.7<\/p>\n<p>8.2<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p>45.0<\/p>\n<p>46.8<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p>36.8<\/p>\n<p>35.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p>78.2<\/p>\n<p>75.1<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p>53.6<\/p>\n<p>54.2<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p>24.1<\/p>\n<p>25.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p>5.9<\/p>\n<p>57.1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> continued his meteoric rise, establishing himself as one of the top NBA players in the 2021-22 season. He averaged 28.4 points per game, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists. Luka was the first player in NBA history to make three All-NBA First Teams through age 22, and he has done it twice more since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/jamesle01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of LeBron James\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\">LeBron James<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>LeBron Raymone James<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n  \n  \u25aa\n  Instagram:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/kingjames\">kingjames<\/a>\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(King James, LBJ, Chosen One, Bron-Bron, The Little Emperor, The Akron Hammer, L-Train, Benjamin Buckets, Captain LeMerica)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Guard, Center, and Shooting Guard\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>6-9<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>250lb<\/span>&nbsp;(206cm,&nbsp;113kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n    <p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/LAL\/2026.html\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a><\/p>\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1984-12-30\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=12&amp;day=30\">December 30<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1984\">1984<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;40-277d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Akron,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=OH\">Ohio<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-us\" style=\"\">us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  <p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Son&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesbr02.html\">Bronny&nbsp;James<\/a> <\/p>\n  \n\n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      High School:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/high_schools.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=OH\">Ohio<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>Recruiting Rank: <\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/recruit_rankings_2003.html\">2003<\/a> (1)\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/CLE\/draft.html\">Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_2003.html\">2003 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/200310290SAC.html\">October 29, 2003<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Experience:<\/strong>&nbsp;22 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a>21x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2007-08 Scoring Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2019-20 AST Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>4x NBA Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>21x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2003-04 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2003-04 ROY<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>3x AS MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>6x All-Defensive<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>4x MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>4x Finals MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>NBA 75th Anniv. Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2023-24 IST MVP<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder bbr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=32\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#907d58\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#01553a\">32<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#907d58\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#01553a\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#8b0000\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=9\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#14325E\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">9<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#14325E\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#000000\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#14325E\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#8b0000\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#800080\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#800080\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#14325E\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+10<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2024-25<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>70<\/p>\n<p>1562<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p>24.4<\/p>\n<p>27.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p>7.8<\/p>\n<p>7.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p>8.2<\/p>\n<p>7.4<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p>51.3<\/p>\n<p>50.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p>37.6<\/p>\n<p>34.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p>78.2<\/p>\n<p>73.7<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p>57.1<\/p>\n<p>54.8<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p>22.7<\/p>\n<p>26.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p>7.7<\/p>\n<p>271.4<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite being 37 years old, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LeBron James<\/a> had one of the best statistical seasons of his career in 2021-22, average 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. He became the oldest player to average 30 or more and even played a substantial amount of minutes at center for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a remarkable year, there are many other players who deserve to be mentioned among the top NBA players of the 2021-22 season. The next five by Box Plus\/Minus are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kevin Durant<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/butleji01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jimmy Butler<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moranja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ja Morant<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stephen Curry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/williro04.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert Williams <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1666667125512\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Who was the best player in the 2021-2022 NBA season?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Most experts think the best player was Nikola Jokic, who won the MVP award and led in most stats. However, many others thought Joel Embiid was the best player, thanks to leading the league in scoring while playing dominant defense at center.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1666667140050\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Who was the best defensive player in the 2021-2022 NBA se<em>ason?<\/em><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smartma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marcus Smart<\/a> won the Defensive Player of the Year award for 2021-22, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> led the league in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/leaders\/dws_career.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Defensive Win Shares<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Join our Sports Reference Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3><strong><em>Of Statheads:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stathead.com\/sport\/basketball\">Subscribe to Stathead<\/a>, the most powerful research tools in sports, and find any player, team, season, game, and any play. With over 80 different search tools for baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, you\u2019ve got infinite answers at your finger tips.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stathead.com\/sport\/basketball\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Stathead-1024x180.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19\" width=\"271\" height=\"47\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Stathead-1024x180.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Stathead-300x53.png 300w, https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Stathead-768x135.png 768w, https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Stathead.png 1101w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 271px) 100vw, 271px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<h3><strong><em>With Our Email Newsletters:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>Sign up for our newsletter and get curated stats, recaps, and more from the Basketball Reference to your inbox every morning. No commitment, unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/email\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/BBR.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15\" width=\"161\" height=\"51\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/BBR.png 609w, https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/BBR-300x96.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 161px) 100vw, 161px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<h3><strong><em>On Social Media:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>Stay connected with Basketball Reference on social media! Bringing you stats, trivia, and more on all our channels daily.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bball_ref\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Twitter<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/basketball.reference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Basketball.Reference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@basketball.reference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TikTok<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/sportsreference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a> &#8211;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/SportsReference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reddit<\/a> &#8211; <strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/sports-reference-llc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>Follow the rest of the Sports Reference sites on social <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/blog\/sports-reference-social-media\/\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(last updated on October 3, 2025) The 2021-22 season featured a number of astonishing individual performances, with a lot of NBA superstars operating at the peak of their powers. While Stephen Curry led the Warriors to another NBA championship and the Boston Celtics built a juggernaut around their stifling defense, one of the big stories [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[3,18,17,20,19,16],"class_list":["post-133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-top-10-lists","tag-basketball","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-joel-embiid","tag-lebron-james","tag-luca-doncic","tag-nikola-jokic"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Top 5 NBA Players of the 2021-2022 Season - Basketball Reference Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"See the top NBA players of the 2021-202 NBA season based on their stats. Who was the #1 player for 2021-2022 NBA season? Find out here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/2022\/10\/top-5-nba-players-of-the-2021-2022-season\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top 5 NBA players of the 2021-2022 season\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"See the top NBA players of the 2021-202 NBA season based on their stats. Who was the #1 player for 2021-2022 NBA season? 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However, many others thought Joel Embiid was the best player, thanks to leading the league in scoring while playing dominant defense at center.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/2022\/10\/top-5-nba-players-of-the-2021-2022-season\/#faq-question-1666667140050","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/2022\/10\/top-5-nba-players-of-the-2021-2022-season\/#faq-question-1666667140050","name":"Who was the best defensive player in the 2021-2022 NBA season?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smartma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marcus Smart<\/a> won the Defensive Player of the Year award for 2021-22, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> led the league in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/leaders\/dws_career.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Defensive Win Shares<\/a>.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=133"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1028,"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133\/revisions\/1028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}