Hoops Tonight – Top-10 NBA Players SO FAR in 2025: Jokic, Shai, ????, Steph, Wemby, ????, Luka, Giannis, and More

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts, The Volume)
Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Hoops Tonight Host (Jason Timpf)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jason Timpf breaks down his current list of the Top 10 NBA players for the 2025 season, evaluating players solely based on this season’s performance so far. He also recaps the recent Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game before moving into a nuanced analysis of player performances, strengths, and areas for improvement.

Main Segments and Timestamps

• Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves Recap (02:45–18:34)
• Top-10 NBA Players SO FAR in 2025 (18:34–36:00)
  • Rankings from 10 to 1 with rationale and statistical highlights

Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves Recap

[02:45–18:34]

Key Points:

• Grizzlies' Recent Surge: Memphis beats Minnesota 116–110, marking their 9th win in 12 games.
• Defensive Prowess:
  • Timberwolves limited to 36 points over the final 21 minutes.
  • "Memphis really tightened the screws on defense and flipped the script." [03:30]
  • Despite Anthony Edwards missing, the Wolves’ offense was still capable.
• Jaren Jackson Jr. Shines:
  • Dominant performance on both ends: "Jaren Jackson was the best player on the floor last night... 28 and 12, 10 for 18 from the field." [07:23]
  • Consecutive monster games: 28 points vs. Wolves, 31 vs. Clippers two nights prior.
• Jock Landale’s Offensive Spark:
  • Landale hits three clutch threes in the final seven minutes.
  • “Each one of them felt like a shotgun blast to the chest to this Minnesota team as they were trying to get a win.” [06:23]
• Grizzlies’ Defensive Metrics:
  • “Third in defensive rating in their last 12 games.” [09:47]
  • Plus-10 in paint points per game, plus-7 in transition, plus-1.4 in second-chance points.
• Player Development & Roster Identity:
  • Front office praised for targeting “big guards and athletic wings with competitive motor and high basketball IQ.” [12:29]
  • Emerging talents: Jalen Wells, Cedric Coward, Vince Williams Jr., Cam Spencer, Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
  • "You can tell they have a clear basketball identity, a clear type of guy that fits their basketball culture." [11:13]
• Team Culture:
  • “It’s a proven formula. When you have a half-dozen guys who can really guard on the perimeter and you can really pressure the ball for 48 minutes, that makes for a super strong defensive foundation night tonight.” [13:54]

Top-10 NBA Players SO FAR in 2025

[18:34–36:00]

Jason evaluates the top 10 based purely on 2025 performance, factoring in availability, current impact, and team success.

Honorable Mention:

• Alperen Sengun would have been 11th: "I think he's been every bit as good as some of the guys ahead of him." [18:50]

10. Anthony Edwards

• Stats: 29 PPG / 50% FG / 42% 3PT / 83% FT / 64% TS
• Biggest leap in efficiency but has already missed more games this year than previous two seasons combined.
• Wolves’ struggles against top teams: "They're just 2 and 8 versus teams that are .500 or better." [19:40]
• “He’s just been more methodical on his drives.” [19:16]

9. Tyrese Maxey

• Stats: 32 PPG / 7 APG / 60% TS / 2.7 TOV
• "Just an insane year-over-year leap."
• Shooting a "preposterous 49% on catch and shoot threes." [20:29]
• Drawbacks: "I've been a little disappointed ... on defense, losing shooters, losing cutters, losing crashers." [20:53]
• Nevertheless, clear breakout as a primary offensive weapon.

8. Steph Curry

• Stats: 30 PPG / 66% TS
• Warriors disappoint overall, but “when Steph is on the floor, they have an offensive rating of 120.”
• Docked for availability: "He just keeps getting banged up and missing games." [21:43]
• “He is an elite offense in and of himself ... he's closer to like the sixth or fifth best player in the league...” [22:17]

7. Victor Wembanyama

• Stats: 26 PPG / 60% TS (in 13 games played)
• “The best defensive player in the league when healthy.” [23:05]
• Turnover issues emerging against swarming defenses; teams no longer letting him work one-on-one.
• Needs to manage double teams and physicality as next developmental step.

6. Jalen Brunson

• Stats: 29 PPG / 60% TS
• Elevated by Knicks new offensive system: “He’s just become one of the best offensive engines in the league.” [24:59]
• “The Knicks as a team ... are 5 points per 100 possessions better on offense than they were the year before.” [25:17]

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo

• Stats: 29 PPG / 67% TS / 44% 3PT (on low volume)
• Missing 10 games: "That's what's docking him in this situation." [26:17]
• “When he’s been healthy, he’s been an absolute monster ... most efficient scoring season of his career.” [26:27]
• Noting age and increased injury risk: “As he’s entered into his 30s, he’s just become more injury-prone than in years past.” [27:13]

4. Cade Cunningham

• Stats: 27 PPG / 9 APG / 57% TS
• “Quintessential offensive engine ... already the best player on a 21-5 number one seed in the Eastern Conference.” [28:28]
• 120 offensive rating when on the floor. "He’s been absolutely dominant in crunch time." [28:14]
• “Still just barely scratching the surface of his potential … and he’s already the best player...” [28:37]

3. Luka Doncic

• Early season: Hot start, but after the first three games, down to 43% FG / 32% 3PT / 4.5 TOV.
• "Just frankly a massive chasm in efficiency between him and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander..." [30:31]
• "To me, the turnovers and lack of efficiency ... is what's hurting him." [31:23]
• Still, remarkable stats: “He’s averaging an efficient 35 points per game with ... nine assists.”

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

• “Shea’s just considerably better than he was last year, fueled by an improved three-point shot ... and the drop in turnovers as well.” [29:49]
• True shooting up 5% YOY; turnovers down to 1.9 per game: "That's really the case for Shea." [33:08]
• “If you’re a guard and you’re scoring over 30 points per game and you’re up over 65% true shooting ... that’s the type of efficiency we’re getting from the guard position.” [33:54]
• “Shea’s been a better player than Luka this year. I don’t think he's been quite to Jokic's level, but I think he's the clear second best player in the league to start the season.” [35:09]

1. Nikola Jokic

• Stats: 30 PPG / 12 RPG / 11 APG / 72% TS
• “Best offensive player in the history of the league ... playing the very best basketball of his career.” [35:22]
• Nuggets +17 points per 100 when he's on the floor.
• Memorable Stat: "If you throw the ball to Nikola Jokic in the post... Nuggets have scored 61% of their possessions." [35:47]
• “He’s the most reliable individual play type in the league ... simply the best offensive player in the league.” [35:54]

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• On Jaren Jackson Jr.:
  “Jaren’s combination of size and power, but also really good touch and footwork going over both shoulders, just makes him really difficult to guard.” [08:01]
• On Memphis Grizzlies & Identity:
  “You can tell they have a clear basketball identity, a clear type of guy that fits their basketball culture.” [11:13]
• On Luka vs. Shai:
  “Shea’s just dramatically more efficient, and he’s still a very good playmaker. So, the gap ... is really small. Where Shea takes a massive leap over Luka is Luka’s shooting himself in the foot with damn near five turnovers a game...” [35:01]
• On Jokic’s Dominance:
  “To me, he’s the best offensive player of all time, playing at the peak of his powers. He’s been having a pretty good defensive season as well.” [35:57]

Summary Table – Top 10 NBA Players SO FAR (2025)

| Rank | Player | Key Stats / Notes | |------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Nikola Jokic | 30/12/11, 72% TS, Offensive anchor, all-time efficiency | | 2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Huge leap in TS%, low turnovers, elite play on both ends | | 3 | Luka Doncic | Stellar boxscore, but efficiency/turnovers, needs to trim the fat | | 4 | Cade Cunningham | 27/9, clutch dominance, cornerstone for Pistons | | 5 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Historic efficiency, season hampered by health | | 6 | Jalen Brunson | Offensive engine, Knicks’ leap, effective in new system | | 7 | Victor Wembanyama | Elite defense, major offensive step, limited by games played/turnovers| | 8 | Steph Curry | Still elite, let down by team/availability | | 9 | Tyrese Maxey | Massive improvement, shooting splits, defensive lapses | | 10 | Anthony Edwards | Career-best stats, availability and team record issues |

Takeaways

• Jokic and Shai are setting a new standard for offensive efficiency and impact.
• Availability remains a defining factor in separating season leaders from their talent tier peers (e.g., Giannis, Wemby, Steph).
• Player development and team identity are key narratives (exemplified by the Memphis Grizzlies).
• There's a notable shift in the pecking order, with Wembanyama rising, Cade Cunningham cementing his star status, and Maxey bursting onto the elite scene.