Ranked! Top 10 NBA Players Ahead of 2023/24 Season, From Nikola Jokic to Stephen Curry

• The NBA is back after a long offseason
• Lakers vs Nuggets and Suns vs Warriors open the 2023/24 season tonight, October 24
• Sports Brief looks at the top 10 players in the NBA

The new NBA season tips off on October 24, with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors locking horns with the Phoenix Suns.

Fans and analysts have been making their predictions on who will lift the title this season and ranking their top 100 players in the league.

Leading publications ESPN and Ringer recently published their top 100 NBA players ahead of the new season, which has kept fans talking.

Several players were considered the "best players in the world" last season. Joel Embiid won the MVP award, Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA title, and Giannis Antetokounmpo had a season to remember.

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Each of these three players has a strong case for the title. Sports Brief looks at the top 5 players according to Ringer and ESPN.

Top 5 NBA players for the 2023/24 season

5. Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors

The veteran point guard had a phenomenal postseason, but he couldn't get his team over the line in the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers. His 2022/23 season was hampered by injuries, which limited him to just 56 games. At 35, he's shown he's still capable of making a difference to a contending team.

He averaged 29.4 points last season, and with an injury-free campaign, the Warriors' point guard should produce the same or better numbers, especially considering he will be playing with Chris Paul.

4. Luka Doncic - Dalla Mavericks

Doncic had the best season of his career last season. He averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists in the NBA last season. The Slovenian earned a first-team All-NBA selection in the last four seasons, and it seems he is getting better. Both ESPN and Ringer ranked him fourth.

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His Dallas Mavericks failed to make the playoffs last season, but with a better supporting cast this season, the 24-year-old has been tipped to continue with his impressive performances.

3. Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid won his first MVP award last season after averaging a career-best 33.1 points per game, the best in the NBA. He beat Nikola Jokic to win the MVP, the first African to do so since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994.

His performances in the playoffs were heavily criticized as they lost in the second round again to the Boston Celtics. With the James Harden conundrum, Embiid will be required to carry the load for the Sixers this season.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks

Ringer has Antetokounmpo second, while ESPN ranked him first. He averaged a career-best 31.1 points per game, but his Milwaukee Bucks were stunned in the first round by Miami Heat. He will play alongside Damian Lillard this season, the first time he gets to play with a superstar.

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It will be interesting to see how the two stars play together.

1. Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets

The Serbian has been regarded as the best player in the NBA in the last few seasons. Jokic nearly won his third straight MVP award last season, but that didn't matter as he led the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA title.

He averaged 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the postseason. His 10 playoff triple-doubles were the most in a single postseason ever. Can he go back-to-back with the Nuggets?

On the ESPN list, Jayson Tatum was 6th, Kevin Durant 7th, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 8th, LeBron James 9th, and Anthony Davis 10th.

Paul on playing with Curry

Sports Brief previously reported on Paul discussing playing alongside Curry, a player he's known for a long time.

The 18-year veteran, considered one of the best point guards of all time, said his wife attended Curry's wedding.

Paul said he was excited at the chance to play at the Warriors with Curry, Thompson, and their other veterans.