2016-17 NBA player rankings: 10-6

Who were the top 30 players of the 2016-17 campaign, and how does the end-of-season list compare to preseason expectations? theScore's seven NBA editors cumulatively ranked the league's stars based solely on their 2016-17 performances, and came up with the following:

Related - 2016-17 NBA player rankings: 30-21, 20-11

10. Isaiah Thomas (Preseason rank: Honorable mention)

With his flame-throwing offensive exploits and crunch-time heroics, Thomas was the inexhaustible engine driving the top-seeded Celtics all year. Whatever your feelings are on their legitimacy - as compared to No. 1s of years past - the Celtics were the best team in the East during the regular season, despite failing to muster even a 76ers-level offense without Thomas on the floor (they scored nearly 15 more points per 100 possessions when he played).

Using his combination of waterbugging forays to the hoop and his ability to get his deadeye pull-up threes off with even a smidgen of daylight, Thomas is one of the league's most electric, most terrifying scorers. - Joe Wolfond

9. Jimmy Butler (Preseason: 14)

Simply put, Butler was Chicago's savior. Devoid of shooting, consistency, and stability, the Bulls needed Butler to be one of the best players in the NBA just to squeak into the playoffs - and he delivered. The 2015 Most Improved Player took another leap this season, earning his first All-Star starting nod in the process.

Butler was one of just seven players to rank in the top 15 in both offensive and defensive win shares, finishing third overall behind Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Most impressive of all, despite his nightly defensive assignments and the highest offensive usage of his career, Butler managed to score more efficiently than ever. - Victoria Nguyen

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Preseason: Honorable mention)

After a couple of impressive all-around seasons, not even the biggest Greek Freak supporter could've predicted his meteoric rise in 2016-17.

The 22-year-old averaged 22.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.6 steals on 52 percent shooting, becoming the first player ever to rank top 20 in all five major categories, while joining an exclusive list of legends (Dave Cowens, Scottie Pippen, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James) who've led their team in all five.

Antetokounmpo can get to the rim at will, and when he develops even a semblance of a reliable jumper, he'll possess a truly unstoppable two-way arsenal. - Joseph Casciaro

7. Stephen Curry (Preseason: 2)

It took 20 games without Kevin Durant to remind people that the reigning two-time MVP is still a soul-devouring monster. Curry rediscovered his swagger with Durant on the shelf by averaging 26.9 points and 7.8 assists, hitting four-and-a-half 3-pointers per game, and leading the Warriors on a 14-game win streak.

It was all too easy for Curry's impact to get shrouded on a team with so much talent, but he led all NBA players in net rating, ranked third in Real Plus-Minus, and hit 324 threes - a mark only bested in NBA annals by the 402 he hit last year. The Warriors are a combined 207-39 across the past three regular seasons, and in each one they've been outscored while Curry is on the bench. - Joe Wolfond

6. Anthony Davis (Preseason: 8)

It's such a shame that the New Orleans Pelicans can't ever seem to surround Anthony Davis with healthy and competent supporting pieces.

Davis led New Orleans in minutes played this season, while Jrue Holiday ranked third. The rest of the top 10 featured Solomon Hill, E'Twaun Moore, Dante Cunningham, Tim Frazier, Terrence Jones, Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway, and Alexis Ajinca. Take Davis off the roster and that crew would struggle to win 10 games.

The Pelicans are wasting prime seasons from a superstar. Amid all the losing, The Brow quietly pieced together a campaign for the ages. He ranked fourth in scoring at 28 points per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field, dominating the glass, and anchoring a top-10 defense. No other big in the league makes as many positive contributions on both ends of the floor as Davis. - William Lou