Shaquille O'Neal's Top 50 Players Heading into 2024-25 NBA Season
The 2024-25 NBA season tips off this week, and outlets all over the internet are publishing their individual player rankings.
At Bleacher Report, we have the ultimate trump card: The official ranking from the legendary Inside the NBA crew.
Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith all made their own top 50s (you can see the aggregate version that combines all three here), and we're looking at Shaq's below.
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"You have to be a winner," O'Neal said when asked about his ranking process. "You have to win at that level."
For Shaq, especially near the top of his list, this exercise was clearly all about that team success. He repeatedly referenced the importance of either having a championship (as Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo do) or getting close (as Luka Dončić did).
He also noted that in the later portions of his ranking, placements weren't all that rigid. For example, the player at No. 22 isn't necessarily 20 spots better than the player at No. 42. And that makes sense, given the wealth of talent in the league right now.
Rankings like this are going to be fluid. And the margins between players this good can be razor-thin.
With that and plenty of subjectivity as his guides, here are all the names on The Big Aristotle's Top 50 list.
Shaquille O'Neal's Top 50-21 NBA Player Rankings
50. Donte DiVincenzo, Guard (Timberwolves)
49. James Harden, Guard (Clippers)
48. Dejounte Murray, Point Guard (Pelicans)
47. Scottie Barnes, Forward (Raptors)
46. Aaron Gordon, Forward (Nuggets)
45. Klay Thompson, Wing (Mavericks)
44. DeMar DeRozan, Wing (Kings)
43. Franz Wagner, Forward (Magic)
42. Domantas Sabonis, Center (Kings)
41. Jalen Green, Guard (Rockets)
40. Kristaps Porziņģis, Center (Celtics)
39. Tyrese Maxey, Guard (76ers)
38. Tyler Herro, Guard (Heat)
37. Alperen Şengün, Center (Rockets)
36. Pascal Siakam, Forward (Pacers)
35. Jaren Jackson Jr., Big (Grizzlies)
34. Jrue Holiday, Guard (Celtics)
33. LaMelo Ball, Point Guard (Hornets)
32. De'Aaron Fox, Point Guard (Kings)
31. Victor Wembanyama, Big (Spurs)
30. Bradley Beal, Guard (Suns)
29. Kawhi Leonard, Forward (Clippers)
28. Jamal Murray, Guard (Nuggets)
27. Zion Williamson, Forward (Pelicans)
26. Paolo Banchero, Forward (Magic)
25. Julius Randle, Forward (Timberwolves)
24. Karl-Anthony Towns, Big (Knicks)
23. Trae Young, Point Guard (Hawks)
22. Ja Morant, Point Guard (Grizzlies)
21. Jimmy Butler, Wing (Heat)
20. Bam Adebayo, Center (Heat)
19. Tyrese Haliburton, Point Guard (Pacers)
18. Paul George, Wing (76ers)
17. Kyrie Irving, Guard (Mavericks)
16. Damian Lillard, Point Guard (Bucks)
15. Donovan Mitchell, Guard (Cavaliers)
14. Jalen Brunson, Point Guard (Knicks)
13. Devin Booker, Guard (Suns)
12. Anthony Davis, Forward/Center (Lakers)
11. Jayson Tatum, Forward (Celtics)
10. Jaylen Brown, Wing (Celtics)
9. Anthony Edwards, Guard (Timberwolves)
8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Guard (Thunder)
7. Joel Embiid, Center (76ers)
6. Kevin Durant, Forward (Suns)
5. LeBron James, Forward (Lakers)
4. Stephen Curry, Guard (Warriors)
3. Luka Dončić, Guard (Mavericks)
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Forward (Bucks)
1. Nikola Jokić, Center (Nuggets)
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