We are ranking the top NBA players for the 10th year.
Who will be the best players this season?
To get the final NBArank prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players: LeBron James vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Stephen Curry vs. James Harden. Zion Williamson vs. Ja Morant.
We asked, "Which player will be better in 2020-21?" Voters had to predict what they expected from each player in the 2020-21 regular season and postseason.
Here are the next 40 players, from No. 50 down to No. 11:
NBArank: Top 10 players | Players 100 to 51 | Rookies to rise
NBArank: 50 to 11
50. Domantas Sabonis
Indiana Pacers | PF
Previous rank: 63
2020-21 projected RPM: -0.3*
One big question: The lowest-rated 2020 All-Star, Sabonis must prove he can continue to play at the high level he reached last season as one of just three players to average a point-rebound double-double with at least five assists per game (Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo were the others). But will Sabonis maintain that playmaking role with Victor Oladipo healthy? -- Kevin Pelton
*Real Plus-Minus (RPM) is a player's estimated on-court impact on team performance, measured in net point differential per 100 offensive and defensive possessions.
49. Spencer Dinwiddie
Brooklyn Nets | PG
Previous rank: 76
2020-21 projected RPM: 0.2
One big question: What is his role? Last season, Dinwiddie began the year expecting to be the sixth man, but wound up starting 49 games as injuries hit the team. Dinwiddie said heading into this season that he envisions his role to be similar to Draymond Green's role on the Warriors: "If we're gonna liken ourselves to Golden State, the glue -- the multipurpose utility guy." -- Malika Andrews
48. Kemba Walker
Boston Celtics | PG
Previous rank: 17
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.0
Cause for concern: There may be no bigger question in the Eastern Conference than what shape Walker's knee will be in when the playoffs arrive. Walker will miss the start of the season after getting a stem cell injection in the knee and undergoing a 12-week strengthening program. He declared he won't be rushing back, but all Boston is concerned about is whether he will be ready for the postseason. -- Tim Bontemps
47. Victor Oladipo
Indiana Pacers | SG
Previous rank: 33
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.6
Cause for concern: After a devastating quad tendon injury 23 months ago, Oladipo hasn't regularly shown the ability to influence the game at both ends as he did his first season in Indy. His half-in, half-out stance on playing in the Orlando bubble didn't inspire confidence. Neither did his overall performance there once he decided to play. This is a contract year and, perhaps, the most important season of his career. -- Brian Windhorst
46. Caris LeVert
Brooklyn Nets | SG
Previous rank: 60
2020-21 projected RPM: 0.5
One thing to watch for: Before the Nets signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, LeVert was arguably the face of their young, tenacious squad. Now, with Durant and Irving healthy, LeVert is poised to emerge as a third star. "I feel like every single year I've gotten better," LeVert said. "And I want to continue with that trend." -- Andrews
45. Gordon Hayward
Charlotte Hornets | SF
Previous rank: 65
2020-21 projected RPM: 0.5
One big question: How close is Hayward to being the Hayward of old? The Hornets made a $120 million bet that the answer to that question is "pretty close." This past season, Hayward showed flashes of being the All-Star he was prior to the gruesome leg injury he suffered in 2017. But a separate ankle injury stopped him from getting all the way back. -- Nick Friedell
44. Draymond Green
Previous rank: 38
2020-21 projected RPM: -1.5
One thing to watch: The question hovering over Green is just how driven he will be during another potentially trying year for a Warriors team that lost Klay Thompson. Green was a steady presence for a young Warriors group early last year after they lost Stephen Curry, but his play fluctuated during a lost season. It will be up to Green to set the tone emotionally for Golden State. -- Friedell
43. Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis Grizzlies | PF
Previous rank: 54
2020-21 projected RPM: -0.5
One big question: Will Jackson ever become the rebounder that his size and athleticism suggest he should be? A mobile, 6-foot-11, 242-pound starter should average more than 4.6 rebounds per game. When healthy, Jackson has all the other ingredients you'd want in a modern-day big man: He is an efficient, high-volume 3-point shooter who also impacts both ends of the floor above the rim. -- Tim MacMahon
42. Nikola Vucevic
Orlando Magic | C
Previous rank: 40
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.7
Secret skill: Vucevic is a 20-10 big man and the first offensive option on the Magic. However, Vucevic is more well-rounded than you realize. He is a solid defender, with a Defensive Real Plus-Minus of 2.0 last season that tied Joel Embiid and put Vucevic in the 92nd percentile in that defensive impact metric. Vucevic is also a good passer whose 3.7 assists per game ranked him fourth among pure centers last season. -- André Snellings
41. Kristaps Porzingis
Dallas Mavericks | C
Previous rank: 34
2020-21 projected RPM: 3.7
Cause for concern: Porzingis has yet to finish an NBA season healthy, and he won't be ready to start this one due to knee surgery. His durability issues are a primary reason that doubts persist. Porzingis, who averaged 24.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game after becoming a full-time center in late January, can be the second-best player on a championship team. -- MacMahon
40. Fred VanVleet
Toronto Raptors | SG
Previous rank: 88
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.3
One thing to watch for: VanVleet has made famous his "Bet On Yourself" mantra with his rapid improvement on the court. His next goal is to make the All-Star team -- something he thought he deserved to do last year in his hometown of Chicago. It's a goal he can attain if he continues to improve and the Raptors remain in the mix atop the East. -- Bontemps
39. Malcolm Brogdon
Indiana Pacers | PG
Previous rank: 57
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.4
One thing to watch for: Last year brought a new role for Brogdon as a leader in Indiana following three seasons in Milwaukee. Now that he's earned the trust of teammates, look for Brogdon to become more vocal in his approach. He also spent this offseason working on his 3-point shot (after shooting a career-low 32.6% 3s in 2019-20) and being able to go left more comfortably. -- Eric Woodyard
38. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Previous rank: 64
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.0
One big question: Gilgeous-Alexander was the leading scorer on the 5-seed in the West, building on his promising rookie season with the Clippers. He got better as a shooter, working out a quicker off-dribble release. He slashed, played off-ball and improved defensively. He has the keys to the car. How does Gilgeous-Alexander handle the responsibility of producing nightly and the frustrations and failures that come with it? -- Royce Young
37. Marcus Smart
Boston Celtics | SG
Previous rank: 87
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.0
Secret talent: Despite public perception to the contrary, Smart has become a respectable 3-point shooter, hitting 36.4% of his triples two years ago and 34.7% (on 6.6 attempts per game) last season. While Smart has always been a willing shooter, now he's a capable one. And, with Gordon Hayward gone and Kemba Walker injured, there will be more shots for Smart this season than ever. -- Bontemps
36. Russell Westbrook
Washington Wizards | PG
Previous rank: 12
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.9
Cause for concern: For the Wizards' new point guard, it has always been his health. Westbrook's knees have been operated on each offseason for the last seven years; he's not the same athlete he once was. Westbrook was still an All-NBA player last season and, for all the analysis of his supposed decline, produced two of the best, most efficient months of his career before the season shut down. -- Young
35. Khris Middleton
Milwaukee Bucks | SF
Previous rank: 36
2020-21 projected RPM: 3.2
One thing to watch for: Middleton can seem laid-back, but he gets buckets. Witness his career-best 51-point game against Washington last season. Now the two-time All-Star is looking to shake the disappointment of last season's finish. Middleton is highly motivated going into this season, having yet to prove that the Bucks can reach the Finals with him as a second option. -- Woodyard
34. De'Aaron Fox
Sacramento Kings | PG
Previous rank: 25
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.4
Swing skill: For Fox to make the jump to superstar status, he'll have to rediscover his jump shot after dropping to just 29% on 3s last season. According to Second Spectrum data, Fox's defender went under the screen 312 times last season, the fourth-most in the NBA. Fox ranked just 18th in points per chance among 28 high-volume ball-handlers. If Fox can force teams to defend him above screens, he's close to unguardable. -- Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz is an NBA draft expert and a contributor to DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams.
33. Jrue Holiday
Milwaukee Bucks | PG
Previous rank: 31
2020-21 projected RPM: 3.0
One big question: Is Holiday the missing piece in Milwaukee? He represents the Bucks' biggest upgrade after they fizzled in the past two playoffs despite winning the most regular-season games in the NBA. Though he's never played deep into a postseason run, Holiday's combination of tough-minded two-way play, adequate range, and poise/professionalism could be the missing ingredients for a team that needs all of the aforementioned when the lights shine bright this postseason. -- Kevin Arnovitz
32. Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics | SF
Previous rank: 51
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.4
One thing to watch for: With Gordon Hayward in Charlotte and Kemba Walker sidelined temporarily, the chance for Brown to take another step forward and put himself in position to be named an All-Star is there for the taking. If Brown is able to do so, the Celtics will remain a team capable of getting home court in the East quarterfinals. If not, their ceiling is probably a level below that. -- Bontemps
31. Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies | PG
Previous rank: 93
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.2
One thing to watch for: Can Morant lead the NBA in assists? Despite ranking 37th in usage as a rookie, Morant finished ninth in helpers at 7.3 per game in 31 minutes a night. While LeBron James and high-usage stars like Luka Doncic and James Harden figure to finish ahead of Morant, I'd expect the 21-year-old guard to work his way into the mix as one of the NBA's best facilitators this season. -- Schmitz
30. Kyle Lowry
Toronto Raptors | PG
Previous rank: 39
2020-21 projected RPM: 4.1
Cause for concern: At some point, Lowry has to experience the pull of his age (34) ... right? After two down seasons as a scorer, Lowry shifted back to a primary role with Kawhi Leonard's departure, averaging 19.4 ppg and helping the Raptors post the best winning percentage in franchise history. He remains a determined defender and savvy playmaker whose streak of six consecutive All-Star appearances is tied for fourth longest in the NBA. -- Pelton
29. Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks | PG
Previous rank: 28
2020-21 projected RPM: -0.9
Cause for concern: In each of his two seasons, Young has ranked dead last in defensive plus-minus among more than 500 qualified players. Young needs to decide whether he wants to be a floor general for an annual contender or an electrifying individual performer who leads the league in SportsCenter Top 10 highlights. The best-case scenario for the Hawks is both of the above. -- Arnovitz
28. Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans | SF
Previous rank: 56
2020-21 projected RPM: -0.3
One thing to watch for: A healthy Ingram showed a lot on the offensive end last season as he jumped to career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists, and shooting from the 3-point line and the free-throw line. If Ingram wants to establish himself as one of the league's best players, he has to improve on defense, something he's committed himself to doing this season. -- Andrew Lopez
27. CJ McCollum
Previous rank: 13
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.6
Secret skill: Damian Lillard has the clutch-time reputation, but don't overlook McCollum as one of the league's best closers. He slammed the door on the Nuggets in Game 7 two seasons ago with a flurry of midrange mastery, and did it again to beat the Grizzlies in the play-in last summer. McCollum understands his role, but he also has a knack of rising to the occasion. -- Young
26. Rudy Gobert
Utah Jazz | C
Previous rank: 14
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.4
Cause for concern: No news is not good news when it comes to Gobert's potential contract extension. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year insists that he's focused solely on basketball -- "That's why I have an agent," he said -- but issues could arise if Gobert enters the season feeling unappreciated without a long-term commitment from the Jazz. -- MacMahon
25. Kyrie Irving
Brooklyn Nets | PG
Previous rank: 11
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.0
One thing to watch for: How will Irving and Kevin Durant look next to each other on the court? We will find out soon. Irving had season-ending surgery to repair a right shoulder injury in February. Teammates such as Durant, Caris LeVert and DeAndre Jordan said he seems fully healthy and his lethal handles look as impressive as they did before the injury. -- Andrews
24. Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors | PF
Previous rank: 22
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.0
Swing skill: If Siakam's shooting can take one more leap, he will go from star to franchise centerpiece. While Siakam shot a respectable 35.9 percent last season, he shot just 24.8 percent from behind the arc in the postseason. If Toronto wants to go beyond another East semifinals exit, Siakam needs to find one more big leap with his shot. -- Bontemps
23. Karl-Anthony Towns
Previous rank: 18
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.9
One thing to watch for: Towns is a prototypical modern big, with shooting, passing and handling skills. He can flex between the 4 and the 5, he can play the roll man alongside a stretch big, or he can space and play alongside a traditional 1. But as he enters his sixth season, that big bag of tools needs to translate to the most important skill: consistent winning. -- Young
22. Bradley Beal
Washington Wizards | SG
Previous rank: 19
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.1
One big question: Beal probably just had the best season in his career but was perturbed, and rightly so, when he wasn't recognized as an All-Star or All-NBA performer. Which goes to the deeper root: How much longer will Beal tolerate mediocrity from the Wizards? With two seasons left on his contract before he can become a free agent, it's a real question and probably should be the central issue on the franchise's mind. -- Windhorst
21. Jamal Murray
Denver Nuggets | PG
Previous rank: 27
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.5
One thing to watch for: We saw how lethal Murray can be during Denver's playoff run, and I think he'll take his game to even greater heights thanks to the addition of Facundo Campazzo. The former Real Madrid floor general will allow Murray to focus more on scoring efficiently, as opposed to creating so much of the perimeter offense, which should lead to fewer tired-leg nights. -- Schmitz
20. Paul George
LA Clippers | SG
Previous rank: 10
2020-21 projected RPM: 3.2
One big question: Can Paul George bounce back to being a top-10 player? Two seasons ago, George had his best campaign ever and finished third in MVP voting. Then George had offseason surgeries on both shoulders and never quite felt like himself. His struggles during the postseason in the bubble were profound. The Clippers hope he feels more comfortable and ready to thrive in his second season with the team. -- Ohm Youngmisuk
19. Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans | PF
Previous rank: 42
2020-21 projected RPM: 4.3
One thing to watch for: Williamson was very good last season in his 24 games of work, showing historic levels of efficiency when he was on the court. This season, the Pelicans envision getting Williamson into more of a slashing and playmaking role, which could unlock what Pelicans executive VP of basketball operations David Griffin calls "the real Zion." -- Lopez
18. Donovan Mitchell
Utah Jazz | SG
Previous rank: 20
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.6
One big question: Whether it's his finishing, pick-and-roll passing or shooting consistency, Mitchell seems to add something new every offseason. This year, generating more free throws should be a priority. Among the 13 players to average at least 24 points last season, Mitchell ranked dead last in free throw rate. Having to rely less on deep pull-up 3s and finesse finishes will make him one of the tougher covers in the NBA. -- Schmitz
17. Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns | SG
Previous rank: 30
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.6
One thing to watch for: All-NBA honors are the next milestone for Booker, who made his first All-Star Game as a replacement and was even better in Phoenix's 8-0 run in the seeding games (30.5 ppg, 6.0 apg, one game-winning shot). To reach the top 15 of these rankings, Booker will need to show his game translates to the postseason, an opportunity he should get with Chris Paul joining him in the backcourt. -- Pelton
16. Ben Simmons
Philadelphia 76ers | PG
Previous rank: 15
2020-21 projected RPM: -0.1
What to watch for: Toward the end of last season, Simmons saw much of his time on the floor as functionally a power forward in Philadelphia's half-court possessions, while still igniting the team as its primary ball handler in transition. Will Doc Rivers deploy Simmons similarly, moving the All-Star around the chessboard situationally, taking advantage of his versatility on both ends, and mitigating his shortcomings as a long-range shooter? -- Arnovitz
15. Chris Paul
Phoenix Suns | PG
Previous rank: 32
2020-21 projected RPM: 3.6
Swing skill: Paul's leadership is legendary, and now he's headed to Phoenix to try to lift the young Suns into serious playoff contention in the Western Conference. After two first-round picks and two pick swaps were attached to his deal to facilitate a trade to Oklahoma City, Paul quieted the critics by leading the Thunder to the playoffs with an All-NBA Second Team performance. Can he do it again in Phoenix? -- Lopez
14. Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers | C
Previous rank: 8
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.8
Causes for concern: Philly's dominant big man gets a fresh start in Philly with Doc Rivers, but still this is a make-or-break campaign for the Embiid-Simmons combo. And from Embiid's perspective, the causes for concern are clear: health and compatibility. He needs to both stay healthy and prove once and for all that he can mesh with Simmons on offense, or else one of them might be gone soon. -- Kirk Goldsberry
13. Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat | C
Previous rank: 81
2020-21 projected RPM: 1.9
Secret talent: Did you know that Adebayo executed far and away the most fake handoffs in the NBA last season? The Heat scored a handsome 1.14 points per possession on "Bam Scams," which is no surprise. Adebayo has evolved into one of the craftiest, most versatile big men in the game, a defensive stalwart who can also function as an offensive fulcrum in Miami's offense. -- Arnovitz
12. Jimmy Butler
Miami Heat | SF
Previous rank: 21
2020-21 projected RPM: 2.7
One big question: After expending so much physical and emotional energy during Miami's unexpected run, how will Butler look after just a two-month break? Heat coach Erik Spoelstra recently acknowledged that the team would watch Butler's minutes closely early in the year. Butler has to play up to the same level of greatness if the Heat are going to have a realistic chance to repeat as Eastern Conference champions. -- Friedell
11. Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics | PF
Previous rank: 35
2020-21 projected RPM: 3.9
One big question: Now with a signed max deal and as the franchise cornerstone, is Tatum the kind of player who can tilt a playoff series his team's direction or is he ultimately a great No. 2? You could argue the future of the Celtics is bound in this question. He has all the tools -- the size, the talent, the multipositional skill and the instinct -- to rise to this level. But he's been inconsistent enough for questions to linger. -- Windhorst
NBA debate: Overrated, underrated and Harden trade candidates
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