Top 10 NBA Superstars Dominating 2024

As we enter the second half of the 2023-24 NBA season, we can finally look back at 2023 with a bird's eye view. New players have showcased their inhuman abilities and old players consistently show us that their prime is not yet finished. With Victor Wembanyama breaking rookie records, Stephen Curry ending his reigning streak with over 250 consecutive games played with a three-pointer made, to Luka Doncic scoring an astounding 73 points against the Atlanta Hawks, the 2023-24 NBA season has been anything but boring.

Here are the top 10 NBA superstars who are dominating 2024.

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1. Lebron James

There is no ‘Greatest Players’ list without Lebron James. At 39 years of age, James is still dominating the court while averaging 24.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. Although the LA Lakers have not done well this past season, standing 9th in the Western Conference going 25-25, James has continued to perform outstandingly in both his play-making and shot creations.

Just last year, 2023, at the end of the 2022-23 NBA season, James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabar on the All-Time Scoring Leader list with 39,747 points made in his career. James also holds the Most All-NBA Team selections and Most All-Star Game selections. His movement and agility, explosive power, and ability to soar in the air toward the basket make him a leader in the GOAT conversation.

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2. Nikola Jokic

The superstar of the defending champions of the 2022-23 NBA season, Nikola Jokic is perhaps the greatest NBA player this season. Dubbed ‘The Joker’, Jokic is widely regarded as the best center of all time, and he has the statistics to reinforce it. Averaging 26-12-9, the Denver Nuggets' big man is in 4th place in the All-Time triple-doubles list and the 2nd player in NBA history to record multiple triple-doubles with 100% in field goal shooting, while also the Number 1 candidate to win the MVP this season.

Although deceptively large and slow, Jokic has incredible court awareness and can throw astonishing passes across the court toward open teammates. His size and strength allow him to push smaller opponents and gain an easy bucket. The Denver Nuggets are 4th in the Western Conference, winning 34 of their 50 games and Jokic is well on his way to becoming MVP of the 2023-24 NBA season.

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3. Luka Doncic

With smooth handles and a playful exterior, Luka Doncic, from the Dallas Mavericks, is arguably the greatest point guard playing currently in the 2023-24 NBA season (beating Stephen Curry as an NBA All-Star starter), and one of the greatest European basketball players of all time. Doncic is known for his bump-fade mid-range shooting as well as his effective three-pointers.

Now averaging 34.7 points this season, Doncic is off to a booming start. His points per game average is second to only Joel Embiid (who holds a record-breaking 35.3 points). Dropping a whopping 73 points on January 27th, 2024 against the Atlanta Hawks, a career-high, Doncic has cemented himself among the greatest players of all time.

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4. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry, the ‘Greatest Shooter of All Time’, is doing spectacularly this season, pulling off games short of miracles to keep the Golden State Warriors afloat amid superstar teams. His three-point game, shooting sometimes from over 30 feet from the basket, has not deteriorated but has increasingly improved, turning him into perhaps the most lethal point guard on the court.

Averaging 27.4 points this season, Curry holds a 40.9% shooting percentage from the three-point line. Although the Warriors are not doing well this season, going 21-24 at 12th seed as of February 3rd, with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green unable to step up, Curry continues to pull the Warriors ahead with incredible performances, dropping 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on February 4th. With younger players such as Jonathan Kuminga and Bradin Podziemski reinforcing Curry's deep-three shooting, the future for the Warriors looks bright.

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5. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo entered the league as a skinny Greek player with a long last name that no one could pronounce. Now, he is a 7x All-Star and 2x MVP with one NBA ring and 79 games in the playoffs. Universally known as the “Greek Freak” because of his speed, size, and strength, Antetokounmpo was drafted in 2013 by the Milwaukee Bucks and has remained ever since. His presence on the team turned the Bucks from a poverty team into one of the deadliest teams in franchise history.

Averaging 30.9 points per game, 11.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, Antetokounmpo was selected as the NBA All-Star starter and captain with an overwhelming number of votes (over 4.3 million votes). His wide smile and friendly demeanor make him one of the most likable players in the league but don't diminish his extraordinary skills. Almost nothing can stop the 6'11 superstar as he rampages down the court and finishes with a ground-shaking dunk. Antetokounmpo is on the path to becoming a future Hall-of-Famer, a name that will go down in history as one of the greatest players of all time.

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6. Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama, ‘Wemby’, was making headlines even before he was drafted into the NBA by the San Antonio Spurs. Although the Spurs are not doing well this season, Wembanyama is having a spectacular rookie season. Averaging 20-10-3, Wembanyama is the first teenager in NBA history to go at least 20-5-5 in a game.

Although we've seen dozens of 7-footers in the game, Wembanyama is extraordinary because of his insane agility and ball-handling skills. His 8-foot wingspan makes him a threat whenever he's in the paint, and gives him incredible blocking abilities. This 7-foot phenomenon can shoot 3-pointers, dunk with ease, and dribble the ball with masterful dexterity. Although Wembanyama is only a rookie, his learning ability and game sense show prodigious potential, and may end up being one of the greatest players of all time.

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7. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant has been dominating the court with his mid-range fadeaway and his deep threes for 16 years and this season has been no exception. Standing at 6 foot 11 inches, Durant has the makings of a center with his long wingspan and athletic movements but has the shooting abilities nothing short of a point guard. His mid-range jumper is nearly unstoppable and has become one of his signature moves.

Most remember Durant in the three seasons he played for the Warriors, winning 2 championships and barely winning another one, while going 67-15 in the regular season, just 6 games short of their record 73 wins. The 2016 Warriors, composed of Durant, Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, is dubbed a superstar team and is arguably the greatest NBA team of all time, perhaps second only to the 1996 Bulls. Durant is now the power forward for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 29-6-6, and shows no sign of slowing down.

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8. Jayson Tatum

Voted for his 5th NBA All-Star starter and only 7 years with the team that drafted him in 2017, the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum has made national headlines with his incredible plays, bringing back glory to the Celtics. Rated as one of the best prospects of 2016, Tatum was recruited to play for Duke University, then decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft a year later. In this rookie season, Tatum broke records and joined some of the greatest players of all time, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird, in points made and playoff appearances.

Averaging 29-8-4 this season, Tatum carries the Boston Celtics to 1st seed in the Eastern Conference in the highest win-loss ratio in the league: 37-12. With the likes of Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White reinforcing his control of the game, Tatum will make his 7th playoff appearance with the Celtics and, with his excellent play-making and long-range shooting, will make his mark as one of the greatest forwards in league history.

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9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The 25-year-old Canadian star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ('SGA'), is having a spectacular season this year. Averaging an impressive 31-6-6, SGA is starting the NBA All-Star 2024 over Stephen Curry, showing just how incredible he is this season. Tied with the Timberwolves at 1st seed in the Western Conference, Shai and some role players such as Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey are leading the OKC Thunder in a 2-game win streak.

Playing 54% from the field and 35% from the 3-point line, Shai leads the league at 3rd in points made per game and 1st in steals per game. His incredible agility and aggressive playstyle make him an offensive nightmare on the court, while his mid-range shots are nearly deadly. Drafted in 2018 as the 11th pick in the first round, Shai displays his court awareness and accurate shooting, showing that he has the potential to place his name among the greats.

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10. Anthony Edwards

Leading 1st in the Western Conference, Anthony Edwards is one of the greatest defensive players in the league and showcases his beautiful mid-range jumper while dominating the court. His team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, is leading at 34-15 with key players such as Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns backing up Edwards' players. Nicknamed ‘Ant' or more casually ‘Ant-Man’, Edwards was recruited as a five-star recruit, a top-five player, and a top shooting guard in the class of 2019.

Edwards has one of the smoothest shooting forms in the league, praised for being the most beautiful and aesthetic-looking form. Averaging 26-5-5, Edwards is taking his team to their 4th consecutive playoff appearance with him on the team. Drafted in 2019, Edwards, still young in his NBA career, has an incredible amount of potential and is unarguably one of the best players in the league in the 2023-24 NBA season.

Conclusion

Although this list, by far, does not include some of the other great players in the NBA including Lamello Ball, Zion Williamson, and Devin Booker, among many, many others, the players listed above have far outperformed themselves this season with incredible plays and magnificent court vision. Their abilities to handle the ball and dominate the court in every game they play make them some of the greatest players in league history.

With the likes of Lebron James and Stephen Curry holding history with them and continuing to dominate with ease, to Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic bringing in a new generation, the NBA shows no signs of slowing down. The future looks bright for basketball, and we cannot wait for what is to come!