2018-19 NBA player rankings: 30-21
Ahead of the 2018-19 season, theScore's basketball editors ranked the top 30 players in the NBA. As a reminder, these rankings are based solely on how we project players to perform in the coming season.
Player Rankings 20-11
Player Rankings 10-1
Honorable mentions: DeMarcus Cousins (injury), Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Andre Drummond, Mike Conley
30. DeMar DeRozan - San Antonio Spurs
DeRozan may finally take a step forward defensively under Gregg Popovich. It'll be interesting to see if he can continue expanding his offensive skill set and become a more willing 3-point threat on a roster desperate for spacing. - Saghir
29. LaMarcus Aldridge - San Antonio Spurs
It's strange that Aldridge has become somewhat of an afterthought as one of the NBA's top players. He averaged 23.1 points on 51 percent shooting last season, willed the Spurs to the playoffs despite the Kawhi Leonard saga, and was named to the All-NBA second team. Pretty good resume for one of the Association's best forwards. - Saghir
28. Gordon Hayward - Boston Celtics
Hayward returns after fracturing his ankle just five minutes into his Celtics debut last season. If he can get back to 100 percent, Boston is adding a 20-plus point scorer and an overall elite talent to its already strong core. - Saghir
27. Bradley Beal - Washington Wizards
John Wall's injury-plagued season allowed Beal to become the Wizards' offensive focal point last year, as he played 82 games for the first time in his career and made his first All-Star team. Beal shouldn't have any trouble making his second All-Star appearance this season as Washington's top scoring option. - Saghir
26. Donovan Mitchell - Utah Jazz
A sensational rookie campaign has already placed Mitchell among the NBA's elite. He was the best player from a loaded 2017 draft class and his postseason play in Round 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder was special. Making the leap from an impressive first season will be difficult, but he's already helped Salt Lake City forget about losing Hayward. - Saghir
25. Jrue Holiday - New Orleans Pelicans
Finally healthy, Holiday proved last season that he's one of the premier two-way players in the league. He took charge as Anthony Davis' sidekick after DeMarcus Cousins' season-ending injury and helped the Pelicans win 20 of their final 28 games. Don't be surprised if he cracks the 20-points-per-game mark for the first time thanks to Alvin Gentry's uptempo offense. - Saghir
24. John Wall - Washington Wizards
Wall was forced to miss 41 games last season, most of which were after undergoing mid-season knee surgery. When he's 100 percent, the five-time All-Star is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the world. He's the Wizards' most talented all-around force and could keep them playing into May. - Saghir
23. Kyle Lowry - Toronto Raptors
Lowry's inevitably going to show greater signs of aging, but continuing to limit his minutes should keep the star point guard fresh for the Raptors' hopeful NBA Finals run alongside Kawhi Leonard. His numbers on the box score aren't a cause for excitement, but he's analytically one of the most effective and efficient players in the league. - Saghir
22. Al Horford - Boston Celtics
Boston's dramatic run to the Eastern Conference finals sans Hayward and Kyrie Irving exposed more fans to Horford's often overlooked brilliance. He was the anchor of the league's top-ranked defense and does everything on both ends of the court well. As part of one of the deepest rosters in all of basketball, Horford may be the Celtics' most valuable piece. - Walder
21. Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors
There's a lot of hoopla surrounding this Splash Brother's contract year, spurred on by those curious to see him in new surroundings. Thompson continues to be criminally underappreciated despite being an elite two-way wing and one of the greatest shooters we've ever seen. That's just the cards he was dealt playing alongside three (now four) overshadowing All-Stars. - Walder