The NBA is made up of the absolute best players in the world. Luckily for the Miami Heat, they happen to have some of the best of the best.
Being in the league is one thing, but being a top 50 player in the NBA is another. It’s difficult to be one of the best in a league comprised of the best talent on earth.
When making these rankings, it was very hard to choose once the list got towards the back-end, so lots of these rankings are obviously debatable. There were two main factors that constantly finalized decisions – team success and individual talent.
Who are the top 50 players in the NBA going into this season? Do the Miami Heat have any players that belong on that list?
50. John Collins – Atlanta Hawks
John Collins just got paid a bunch of money, and his playoff performance certainly warranted that. He has an important season ahead of him to prove that he is worth the amount he got paid.
49. Collin Sexton – Cleveland Cavaliers
Collin Sexton put up All-Star numbers on a bad team, but that doesn’t fully represent how good he is. If put in the right situation, he could be a pivotal piece on a high-end playoff team.
48. Malcolm Brogdon – Indiana Pacers
The Pacers had a down year last season, but Malcolm Brogdon still performed well. He’s a super-efficient shooter who can also play make for others at a high level.
47. Draymond Green – Golden State Warriors
It’s always super tough to evaluate Draymond Green on these lists. Even this feels a bit low, but his impact always stretches far beyond his rankings in these sorts of lists.
46. Fred VanVleet – Toronto Raptors
Fred VanVleet had a fairly underrated season this year. He could have legitimately been an All-Star, and will now play a huge role with the Raptors’ new and evolving core.
45. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s hard to gauge where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should be ranked because he’s on such a bad team. However, he played well with both the Clippers and Thunder in the playoffs, so he deserves his spot in the top 50.
44. Tobias Harris – Philadelphia 76ers
Tobias Harris actually played super well in the playoffs last year. He was the second-best player on the 76ers and almost led them to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
43. Mike Conley – Utah Jazz
The Jazz just re-signed Mike Conley to a pretty huge contract, but he deserves it. He’s a great two-way guard who had a fantastic bounce-back season this year and even made his first All-Star game.
42. Nikola Vucevic – Chicago Bulls
Nikola Vucevic may have been higher on people’s lists to start the year, but he didn’t do too much to help Chicago once he was traded. Regardless, he’s still an elite big man on the offensive end.
41. Clint Capela – Atlanta Hawks
The former Rockets big man was finally able to prove his worth this year with the Hawks. He can defend, is an elite rebounder, and is the perfect roll man next to Trae Young in Atlanta.
40. CJ McCollum – Portland Trailblazers
CJ McCollum struggled when it mattered in the playoffs, but he’s still an elite shot creator. He may not fit perfectly next to Damian Lillard, but he would thrive in a different setting.
39. Gordon Hayward – Charlotte Hornets
Gordon Hayward couldn’t stay on the court long enough to help Charlotte in the playoffs, but he still had a solid season. His all-around game makes him a very valuable player to have.
38. Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets
This list assumes everyone is healthy, and when healthy, Jamal Murray is a great NBA point guard. He can shoot, pass, and he pairs super well alongside Nikola Jokic.
37. De’Aaron Fox – Sacramento Kings
De’Aaron Fox had a breakout year this season that went fairly unnoticed. He does a little bit of everything on the court, so all he has to do now is lead the Kings to the playoffs to get the recognition he deserves.
36. Kyle Lowry – Miami Heat
Kyle Lowry may be getting older, but he is still a great defender, lights-out shooter, and elite playmaker. He’ll be the starting point guard for the Miami Heat and will, hopefully, lead them to a deep playoff run.
35. Brandon Ingram – New Orleans Pelicans
Brandon Ingram is an absolute bucket, there’s no denying that. Once he and Zion Williamson lead the Pelicans to the playoffs, he’ll skyrocket up these rankings.
34. Zach LaVine – Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls made a ton of moves to improve this summer, and Zach LaVine will still be their best player. If he can prove that he can lead a team to the playoffs, just like Ingram, he’ll soar up this list.
33. Julius Randle – New York Knicks
Recency bias is real, and just because Julius Randle struggled in the playoffs doesn’t mean he’s not a great player. He had a fantastic regular season and does a bit of everything for the Knicks.
32. Domantas Sabonis – Indiana Pacers
Domantas Sabonis and Randle are very similar players, but Sabonis has been doing it for a couple of years longer. He’s a special player, but he still has a ton of room to grow.
31. Ja Morant – Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant showed out in the playoffs and even managed to take a game off of the one seed. If he can make the playoffs again, he might be a top 20 player in the league next year.
30. Zion Williamson – New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson has the talent to be a top 10 player in the NBA, but he just doesn’t have the team success yet. He needs to lead the Pelicans to the playoffs before jumping much higher on this list.
29. Ben Simmons – Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons gets made fun of for his poor offense and free throw shooting, but his defense alone warrants a spot on this list. He’s arguably the best defender in the NBA and, all jokes aside is still an amazing player.
28. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown’s phenomenal season was somewhat overshadowed by Jayson Tatum and an unfortunate injury to end the year. He’ll have a chance to bounce back this year and prove he deserves a higher spot on this list.
27. Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors
It was hard to rank Klay Thompson on this list considering he’s coming off such a rough injury. At his peak, Thompson was a top 15 player in the league, so now he has to prove that he can still play like it.
26. Karl-Anthony Towns – Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite missing the All-Star game for a couple of years now, Karl-Anthony Towns is still a top-five center in the NBA. Hopefully, he can lead the Timberwolves to the playoffs this season.
25. Russell Westbrook – Los Angeles Lakers
Russell Westbrook had arguably one of the best years of his career last season. The stretch he went on to drag the Wizards to the playoffs was absolutely incredible, and his value is undeniable, regardless of his shooting abilities.
24. Rudy Gobert – Utah Jazz
It may seem disrespectful to put the reigning Defensive Player of the Year this low, but Gobert got effectively played off the court last season. He’s still a great player, but that just can’t happen.
23. Bradley Beal – Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal might be the best pure bucket getter in the league. Even though it isn’t completely his fault, he just hasn’t been able to replicate the same team success as some of the players around him on this list.
22. Jrue Holiday – Milwaukee Bucks
Offensively, Jrue Holiday isn’t always on, but defensively, he’s one of the best in the league. His value on that end showed up when it mattered most last season, as he won his first ring with the Bucks.
21. Donovan Mitchell – Utah Jazz
Donovan Mitchell is sometimes seen as the second-best player on his own team, but considering how he played last year, that seems absurd. He has proven that he can lead a team to the one seed and a deep playoff run, so he certainly deserves this place on the list.
20. Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young just led the Hawks on an amazing run to the ECF. His lack of defense hurts him on this list, but it’s undeniable how great of a player he truly is.
19. Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat
Bam Adebayo is one of the best defenders in the league and is often underrated by some casual fans. The Miami Heat have the pieces to win a title this year, so hopefully, he’ll start to get the respect he deserves.
18. Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks
When the Bucks needed him most, Khris Middleton stepped up to the plate. He’s the epitome of an elite two-way player, and his shot-making helped lead the Bucks to an NBA championship.
17. Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker nearly won the Suns their first-ever NBA title last year. Chris Paul certainly helped him out, but he’ll be leading Phoenix on title runs for years with his unreal offensive arsenal.
16. Paul George – Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers managed to make their first-ever WCF last season behind Paul George. When Kawhi Leonard went down, he stepped up and led his team when it mattered most.
15. Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum went from an All-Star caliber player to a superstar last season. He had multiple 50-point playoff games and even tied Larry Bird’s franchise record with 60 points in a regular-season game.
The Celtics dealt with a ton of injuries in the playoffs, and he still managed to take a game off the Nets. Tatum could be a top 10 player by the end of this year.
14. Chris Paul – Phoenix Suns
What Chris Paul was able to do for the Phoenix Suns last year was incredible. He helped them go from missing the playoffs to making the NBA championship.
Though they fell short, it was still an amazing run for the aging point guard. He got paid the big bucks this offseason, so the Suns will be looking to repeat that same success this year.
13. Kyrie Irving – Brooklyn Nets
Kyrie Irving may be on a super team, but he is still one of the best point guards in the NBA. His handle is the best in NBA history, and he even managed to join the elusive 50-40-90 club last year.
If he didn’t get injured, the Nets might have won it all last season. They’ll be ready to rock next year and looking to win an NBA championship.
12. Jimmy Butler – Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler struggled in the playoffs last year, but that doesn’t take away from how good he is. People seem to forget that he led the Miami Heat to the Finals less than a year ago.
With a revamped roster, the Miami Heat will be looking to capitalize on Butler’s talent this year. Hopefully, he can lead them on a deep playoff run and silence the doubters.
11. Anthony Davis – Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis may have gotten bounced in Round 1 last season, but he won an NBA championship less than a year ago. His talent on both ends of the floor is undeniable.
If he opened up to the idea of playing center, he might be a top-five player in the league. For now, though, he’ll focus on helping lead the Lakers back to the Finals this season.
10. Damian Lillard – Portland Trailblazers
The rumors surrounding Damian Lillard are only so intriguing because of how great he truly is. He is one of the best point guards in the game and arguably the most clutch player in the NBA right now.
The Trailblazers have been unable to win with Lillard at the helm, but that won’t stop him from trying. He’ll look to carry Portland to the playoffs once again this season, barring any unforeseen blockbuster trade.
9. Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid is the most dominant true big man since Shaquille O’Neal. Some even believe he deserved to win the MVP award last year.
Despite this, he still couldn’t lead the 76ers to the ECF, though it wasn’t completely his fault. The big man clearly has championship aspirations, and after getting paid this summer, will look to capitalize on them in the coming years.
8. Luka Doncic – Dallas Mavericks
What Luka Doncic is able to do on the offensive end is absolutely incredible. He led Slovenia to their first-ever Olympics and was one win away from earning them a Bronze Medal.
He almost upset the Clippers in the playoffs last year and was by far the best player on the court. Doncic will be dominating the league for years to come.
7. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers
As previously mentioned, this list assumes that all players are at full health. When Kawhi Leonard is fully healthy, he is one of the best players in the NBA.
When Leonard went down, the Clippers still managed to reach the WCF, but they certainly missed him once they got there. He’ll sit out this year, but the massive contract he just signed proves how dominant he can be.
6. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets
The reigning MVP is the best center in the NBA and led the Nuggets to the second round last season. His offensive abilities are unlike anything the NBA has seen from a center.
If Jamal Murray didn’t get hurt, he may have been able to bring Denver to the NBA Finals. With Murray out for a while again this year, Jokic will have to put the team on his back once again.
5. James Harden – Brooklyn Nets
When he was consistently on the court, James Harden was an MVP candidate last season. As soon as he got to Brooklyn, it was clear that they would be the Finals favorites.
Unfortunately, injuries derailed that plan. Harden is arguably the best pure scorer in the NBA, and might just be the best playmaker as well.
4. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry is the best shooter in the history of basketball. On top of that, he had one of the best seasons of his career last season.
Despite the fact that the Warriors just fell short of the playoffs, he still finished third in MVP voting. That alone should put into perspective just how amazing he really is.
3. LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers
By the end of this season, LeBron James might just be the best player in the world again. However, as of now, he just falls short of that title.
James got eliminated in Round 1 for the first time in his career, and though it wasn’t completely his fault, it did happen. With the roster LA put together, however, he’ll be primed for a bounce-back season.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years. He won Finals MVP, two regular-season MVPs, a DPOY, and a ring all in the span of three years.
He is already one of the best power forwards in the history of basketball, and he’s only 26 years old. There are plenty more years of greatness to come for Antetokounmpo.
1. Kevin Durant – Brooklyn Nets
Kevin Durant is the best basketball player on the planet right now. He may have been eliminated in Round 2, but what he was able to do in the playoffs was absolutely incredible.
He’s arguably the best offensive player ever to play the game, and when he wants to be, he can be one of the best defenders on the court. There’s just no one else like him.
So, the Miami Heat ended up having three different players among the top 50 players in the NBA. How many players does your favorite team have?