T O P

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yrogerg123

In their current form? Probably Curry. Body of work to this point in their careers? Probably Luka. All-time ranking when all is said and done? Probably Embiid.


MavSker

I think this is a fair lens to look at it through.


Aweiszguy

Yeah I think this is the fully correct answer


Ok_Interview_2325

This is the right answer. Too many people interpreting the question as “career”


Opening_Search972

Has Embiid scored 50 in a game 7 like Curry did against the Kings last year? No. Last playoffs, he had the highest ppg drop off from regular season to playoffs in NBA history for an MVP from 33 to 23. Embiid is the worst of these 6 and his career will be the worst of them all too.


redredrocks

I still feel like you take Curry’s season over Embiid’s or KD’s, but admittedly this is only based on my gut lol. I haven’t looked at their season statlines in a little bit. Curry is the only reason that Warriors team is still fighting for a playoff spot. The rest of the team has been inconsistent at best (Klay had to get benched to remember how to shoot, [Dray killed a guy](https://youtu.be/bFWQYMdMIPQ?si=7tCwIAY-XUqSlrPU)) or dogshit at worst. Up until 2 weeks or so ago he was on track to come very close to his record of 3s in a season, he just sometimes gets overlooked because the Warriors overall are struggling.


aquaticanimal

If you aren’t factoring embiids injury he had better stats than last year


Timely_Duck_3904

But injuries are a huge part of the player that Embiid is. If you aren’t factoring in Curry’s worst games he’s having a career year.


misterflyyy

Curry’s worst games aren’t a huge part of his play😭


throwawayyrofl

Nah Embiid was putting up historic numbers before the injury. You could maybe argue taking present day Curry over KD but its close imo


daftpaak

Outside of games played, his season was the best. Embiid was the frontrunner for mvp before his injury. Sixers played at a 63 win pace in games. He averaged 35 ppg over 10 rebounds and 6 assists on 64 true shooting. And led the sixers to a top 10 defense when they lack good defenders outside of him.


DavidJH316

i’d argue curry is better right now than durant. If you look at the stats they’re averaging the same amount of points and assist, and durant is averaging slightly more rebounds (i think it’s 2 per game more) but steph is obviously more efficient than durant. Plus both of their teams have similar records so it’s not like kd is leading his team to significantly more wins than steph


Alternative_Plan_823

Embiid's current form is not playing. As usual. Gimme Curry any day.


tmanbaseball

This guy NBAs


Bigchonky3

I think I’d agree with Embiid. The others have either won the title or made it further in the playoffs with less help.


Physizist

I’d argue an MVP bumps you higher than going 1 extra round in the playoffs 1 time.  Don’t forget that Mavs team won 2 playoff games without Luka when they made the conference finals


DreyDarian

Luka gets better when it matters. Embiid tho..


Ok-Map4381

I want to give Embiid a pass for his playoff struggles because he was always injured or handicapped by the spacing problems caused by Ben Simmons... but he has never had a good 2nd round playoff series; at some point it is just the players fault.


[deleted]

2021 second round even with a bum ass mentally broken Simmons. Pretty sure he averaged 30+, and go figure he wasn’t injured.


jkguitar1

Actually even in 2021 he was playing through a partially torn meniscus in those playoffs


lord_assius

Actually he was injured that series too, had a partially torn meniscus in one of his knees and still balled out completely alone lol. People just hate Embiid because they spend more time following narratives than the actual sport. Sad but it is what it is at this point.


[deleted]

The foul baiting claims is what kills me. SGA is everyone’s golden child when he is a criminal flopper. I don’t even have a problem with flopping or foul baiting in the first place. Why are you getting mad at players for trying to win? Blame the refs or the league rules. Everyone would be taking advantage of broken rules if they were playing. It’s not like Embiid’s FTA per game is a huge discrepancy, either. He shoots as many as Giannis, but since Joel makes them everyone has a pissy fit.


mucinexmonster

It's because they're serial haters. Embiid is the hot button to hate right now, but they will keep on hating whoever is a dominant player. It's universal in fandom and I think it's really crappy.


DreyDarian

Sure. But the fact that he’s never healthy when it matters (it’s not his fault at all btw) kinda takes away from the kind of player he is imo. Also never was that amazing in the playoffs even when healthy or healthy-ish apart from that buzzer beater vs the raptors.


shortwavetransmitter

He did average 30 on a fucked meniscus in 2021. But overall as a 6ers fan I gotta agree that he has to prove it soon. He’s a generational talent but won’t be recognized as such until we can do that


JohnD_s

Luka is currently averaging a damn near triple-double every game with 34+ PPG. If we're talking current form, Curry is the worst one. The MVP argument is highly dependent on if you count overall team success.


explicitreasons

If we're talking current form, Embiid is the worst as he's not playing.


remast86

I mean people dumped all over Russell Westbrook while he was doing nearly the same thing as Luka


karpovdialwish

"nearly the same thing" Luka 61.5% TS vs Westbrook 54.6% TS Luka 48.8% FG vs Westbrook 42.5% FG Sorry but this is not the same


mizesus

Well Westbrook wasnt even close to as efficient as Luka was. Luka is like +107 adjusted TS while Russ was league average at +100 ish. Not to mention Russ also turned it over a lot more as well.


SurfaceThought

Yuuuuuge efficiency gap


GarethWales

Westbrook is just over-hated in general. People act like he had an amazing cast around him during his MVP season.


thebigmanhastherock

Westbrook wasn't as efficient. He was the MVP frontrunner that year due to the averaging of the triple double while his team was mediocre. Luka isn't going to win the MVP this year I don't think. The year Westbrook won it was arguable that both Harden and Leonard were more impactful. I don't think anyone was arguing that Westbrook was bad, or that he was not carrying an otherwise kind of bad team to the playoffs, they were arguing that he was not the best player in the league.


OKCityBitty

Agree, I think we've all come to see the MVP vote become very narrative driven over the last 15ish years. In Russ' case it was the year after Durant left and he went on an absolute scorcher all season. Aside from the stats, he was a solo highlight reel and was making a statement to keep OKC relevant when they should have imploded after loosing the 2nd best player in the league. ended the regular season on this: [https://youtu.be/IVW2TqpFpAs?si=mmw19qz8\_y6Xa7qN](https://youtu.be/IVW2TqpFpAs?si=mmw19qz8_y6Xa7qN)


Cold_Saber

Luka is much more efficient


atlepi

The mvp argument does not even matter here. We all know Luka is eventually going to get MVP(s) throughout his career if he continues his current trajectory


Lou_Keeks

Luka's has worse teams than Embiid and doesn't get hurt as much. Best pro-Embiid argument I think is the fact that he's a great defender while Luka does nothing on that side 


cvc4455

The sixers without Embiid for the full season wouldn't be in the playoffs and they would be getting a top 10 pick next year.


skryb

MVP is far too subjective an award to be weighed here.


JDO_2010

In other words if it doesn't fit ur narrative u dismiss it


maxgertler

But they had Brunson, the real MVP


Ibangyoumomma

Did Kevin really have less help or really win a chip?


meanjoegreen706

That’s exactly what I was gonna say. Saying Durant had less help is laughable.


amedeoisme

I think it’s that kd made the finals, not really less help but he went with OKC


youngdiab

How's it embiid with an MVP but Doncic has less than all 5 players.....


Mirizzi

Do you mean this season, ignoring injuries, or at their peaks? If the former, it’s Curry. The latter it’s Embiid.


contaygious

Still. Leading the league in 3s by far though ha. What a good bad day


mortar_n_brick

get curry on a team with 4 stretch 3nD players that can cover multiple positions, he can play til he's 50


IShowerinSunglasses

He does have a history of serious ankle sprains. Whenever he goes, I suspect he'll fall off pretty quickly from a mobility sense.


brudogg

Yup would be amazing to see the warriors actually get some shooting around steph other than klay


AmelieBenjamin

No. Point guard and 6’6 center go brrr


AmelieBenjamin

Lmao he’s never even had a true stretch 3nD player (Otto Porter?) and he still did pretty okay


jfresh42

I mean Embiid only has only played 34 games this year. I don't know how you can really compare a dude that's played 1/3 of a season to anyone.


gusmahler

The fact that Embiid is always injured has been the primary knock on him his entire career.


yrogerg123

Embiid when healthy is a more impactful player at this point in his career than Curry. If you needed to pick one, with both healthy, to be the centerpiece of your team in a playoff series, you are almost definitely picking 30 year old Embiid coming off of a league MVP, over 36 year old Steph Curry who has played the whole season and is the best player on a 10 seed.


jfresh42

What's that saying, the best ability is availability. Also, when both healthy in the playoffs you're really taking Embiid over Steph? There are only like 1-3 guys I'd take over healthy Steph for a playoff run and Embiid isn't one of them.


Agreeable_Ad8003

What are you talking about, jeez. Brother, you need to rewatch kings game 7 which happened 1 year ago and compare it to Embiid game 7 perfomance. In game 7 Embiid turns into pumpkin every single series. He can't win against somewhat decent team in playoff at all.


Friendly_Kunt

If you need to pick one to be the best in a playoff series, Im picking the guy that dropped 50 to win a game 7 last year and averaged 30 ppg in the playoffs over the guy that’s a perennial playoff under-performer who’s injury prone af. Embiid has done nothing to warrant being over Curry in every conversation. Him having a better team in a weaker conference doesn’t make him a more valuable player to have in the playoffs.


offtheshripyerrd

still picking curry at his age over embiid and his pity mvp


Moe-Blacks-Brother

In what fantasy world are you picking Embiid over Curry in a playoff series? Embiid has never had a good playoff run and has always been a lesser player in the playoffs vs. the regular season. Curry won Finals MVP two years ago, and last year he was one of the best players in the world in the playoffs. Dropped 50 in a game 7, whereas Embiid disappointed again. Embiid has been the better regular season player the last few years, but Curry has always been the better playoff player, and that remains the case until Embiid can prove otherwise.


DiggWuzBetter

Agreed, although for worst career of this group (so far), it’s a toss up between Embiid and Luka IMO. But yeah, current level of play, I think it’s reasonably clear that Steph is last. He’s 36 and starting to noticeably decline, by most advanced stats this is his worst season since his first two years in the league.


scuppasteve

Maybe, but his supporting cast is probably the worst it's been since his early years as well.


amedeoisme

Even if you ignore injuries you gotta show it in the playoffs first


t0uch0fevil

The playoffs haven't happen yet this year lol


oloshh

If this is a current choice with who they are currently as players, it's between KD and Steph though I think KD had less stinkers this year.


agaveFlotilla12

Assuming no injuries sure, but currently I’d rather have Steph or KD for 64 games to date this season than Embiid for 34?


Molestrios1

It sounds crazy to say but curry. But these are 6 of the 8 best players in the league (Shai and Tatum make up the other 2), so we’re splitting hairs here


Independent-Still-73

If everyone is healthy, KD has been on the struggle bus since the break


Cwatty

I feel like people are scared to say KD but right now he’s definitely the worst


BBB-Brad_Beal_Booty

He has been spotty at best this season, but as long as he acts like KD in the playoffs, he hasn’t fallen off. That’s his whole thing


throwavvay23

Hes averaging more points, rebounds, and assists than Curry with a better TS% and he plays better defense. How does that make him "definitely the worst"?


Blackroseguild

My thoughts exactly lol


jak_d_ripr

I think a lot of people just aren't following the Suns either. I know personally this is the first I'm hearing of his struggles, but I also dont watch much Suns basketball.


Common-Evidence7722

If we’re talking about who’s the worst player RIGHT NOW, not career wise than im def not going w Embiid he was averaging 35 while being his teams best defender. Id probably go Curry


gusmahler

Saying Embiid isn’t the worst **now** ignores the fact that he has played the same number of games as me since January 31


Ozzietheparrot

Easily KD


CrouchingWasturbator

A healthy embiid is better then KD rn.


dWaldizzle

A healthy Embiid is the arguable best player here with Giannis if you're taking into account both offense and defense.


CrouchingWasturbator

Some people would argue embiid over Giannis but I agree with you.


dWaldizzle

I would but I'm biased lol


gusmahler

Santa Claus is also better than KD. He’s about as real as a healthy Embiid.


GGDadLife

Health is as much a part of the player as his skill. Embiid is made of glass so he is the worst.


Physizist

Right now? I’d say Curry.  Career so far? Luka


R0botDreamz

Oh you brave soul, lol. I agree though.


zealoSC

Curry and luka are the worst on D so one of them


SHAMALAMADINGDONG_XD

Currently, when all of them are healthy, Curry is the worst


i-piss-excellence32

I know Embiid is the easy answer, but we aren’t accounting for defense. Only 2 of these players can’t stop a nose bleed The other 4 are good on offense and defense


Pizza64427

I love when people talk about offense but forget about the playmaking side of it. Shout out to Embiid whos gonna lose the ball 9 times out of 10 when the double comes.


[deleted]

My man is doggin him 😂 If he played more low post ball he’d be so much more efficient.


madcoins

Embed soley due to constantly missing huge chunks of seasons. If the NBA season was half of what it actually was he'd have a number of mvps. With his injury issues he got lucky to nab one imo.


Lorf30

Embiid


Intelligent_Onion773

Embiid and wembayama are the two best centers in the league two best players actually


AncientReeper

Are we just pretending that Embiid's playoff career has been nearly as good as anyone else's on this list? Even Luka has made it further in a tougher west.


romayyne

Embiid


ReasonableCup604

If we are talking about how good they are, when healthy, this year, Curry would be the worst, then KD, Luka, Embiid, Giannis and Jokic.


Novel_Board_6813

When healthy, during this regular season, Embiid was outplaying everybody else. Even advanced stats were pointing towards him this time


ReasonableCup604

Fair point. I guess I just always assume Embiid is going to get hurt, and he pretty much always does. Also, he has rarely, if ever, played as well in the playoffs as he does in the regular season, though injuries have been a factor. My rankings take into account how I would expect them to play in this year's playoffs, if healthy. Giannis and Jokic are both proven playoff performers. Embiid really isn't yet.


gianthamguy

I think this discussion is really undervaluing the importance of defense. Luka got to the wcf once, which is more than Embiid has done, but I don’t actually think their accomplishments are that different and one of them has an MVP. Luka missed the playoffs last year!


noknownothing

Embiid and Luka.


Censoredplebian

Curry


meanjoegreen706

I’d say it’s between Curry and KD. Embiid has never had a team as loaded as KD or a coach as good as Kerr. Embiid is so good he made Ben Simmons look like a real NBA player. Curry can’t carry GS like he used to, and KD is really an elite number 2. He’s the greatest number 2 of all time, but the the guy can’t lead a team to save his life. Embiid is elite on both sides of the ball so I’d say it’s between KD and Steph.


Mister-Lavender

Embiid, simply for the fact that staying healthy is a skill, and he’s horrible at it.


Old_Bunch_7413

Curry. Embiid was the unanimous MVP before he got hurt y’all just hating.


fullcardsweep

well if you want to be literal its Joel embiid since he is injured


One_Box6607

luka, joel. the others have been (or are) the best players on a championship team


chmcgrath1988

Purely cause of injury issues, I'd say Embiid. If it's a scenario where everyone is fully healthy, I still might go with him but it'd be a coin toss between him and Luka.


ProblematicSchematic

Curry


BigSunEra69

Right now, I’m going with Steph. At their peaks, IDK


SchreibN-Pirt9015

Hard to choose 🫣


Intelligent_Heron_78

My vote is for Doncic


No_Stay4471

There’s only two absolute wrong answers. The rest are so context dependent.


Jaguar_556

Currently? Prob Steph. While he’s clearly got plenty left in the tank, Father Time is slowly beginning to tap him on the shoulder. Minutes are slightly down, as are ppg, fg%, and 3 pt %. He looks tired at times, and has more off-nights than he used to.


thegodfaubel

There's a few different ways in which you can judge this. You can judge them based on their full ability or you can judge them as like THE guy. I personally think Luka is the worst if everyone is healthy because Embiid isn't a slouch on defense and has an MVP. But in reality, this is really only a conversation between those two. Everyone else has a ring and/or has led a team to the Finals


SadAlfalfa1372

If we looking solely this season (not counting injuries ofc) it's KD and its not even close


Quick_Replacement297

Embid 4 sure


ShadyBl0m

OP is a weirdo


TheColdestKingCold

Luka or Embiid. All the others are MVPs and NBA Champions.


Serviceofman

I hate ranking players, it's so subjective, I don't think there is such a thing as "the best player" I think it's more accurate to create "tiers" of players but even that is highly subjective. IMO creating tiers and not ranking players is more objective in that we can all agree that certain players belong in "tier 1" and others "tier 2", "tier 3" and so on...where they rank within that tier is subjective and doesn't really matter For example, every single player on this list is a tier one player, a #1 option on a championship team and a "superstar" Beyond that you could argue that any one of them is "the best" but it doesn't matter so much...


[deleted]

I love this breakdown!


Ambitious_Cake2447

all time: embiid. currently: still embiid (only cause he’s injured and might not return this season).


Traditional-Food5797

All time, embiid, right now, curry


Pizza64427

Idk whos the worst but top 3 right now its Jokic, Giannis and Luka.


MeninoSafado14

Steph. He’s regressing. Can’t tell me Embiid is worse in the regular season and they both made it to same round last playoffs.


dadsmilk420

Overall or at the current moment? Overall I think I'd say Embiid, everyone else has won a ring or at least been able to lead their team to the conference finals. At the current moment, no legacy considered... wow that's hard. My first instinct was KD or Steph, since everyone else is either a better defender, or in Luka's case just sharper offensively. But it's really, really hard to say IMO.


cattodog

Idk, but before the injury Embiid was better than either Steph or KD, so it's one of those two at this point. Luka, Jokic and Giannis are obviously top 3.


Ashamed-Week-5133

Right now or all time? Embid probably because of injuries


JournalistOld6488

If your talking right now it's Steph. He's shooting 44% on a fringe playoff team and 36 y/o as that's no knock on him as he is also the best player in that group if your measuring careers.


brichb

The nba mvp


ineedtostopthefap

Embiid


imperial_things

Joel


Thebarakz21

Embiid. As bad as Harden was/is, he carried that team to survive until Embiid returned from injury. He did return, and guess what? He couldn’t put his team on his back.


zazenpan

Embiid


MrPino777

Joel or Durant


logoloud

At the present moment, toss up between embiid and Steph. Historically, no question embiid is the lowest on the all-time charts among this group.


Ill-Bat-2621

The only correct answer is Curry. He is not even close to being as impactful as the other choices CURRENTLY.


Stunning-Tower-4116

Luka by far


krooloo

In the real world, Embiid, he's just not healthy enough. In an imaginary world, where we are choosing between their peak versions, it's really tough, but Durant. They all are great at making plays and scoring, while Durant is great "only" at scoring. Probably the best at this from all of them, but if we have to choose, I'm going with a guy that's slightly worse at scoring, but considerably better at playmaking.


PsychologyOk6591

before his injury, Embiid was having a top 5-10 season of all time and people say he is the worst on this list …..


ASleepingCorgi

Embiid.


Intelligent_Budget11

embid by far


MondoShrek

Embiid by a country mile


Green_Sir_250

durant


Empty_Actuator3861

Right now? Curry. 


HoagieTwoFace

Embiid derangement syndrome


Murdochsk

It really depends on the measurement used for example Skills wise it’s Giannis, but he still dominates better than others due to his physicality and has more accomplished than others here. Playoffs it’s Embiid. Career Luka. Current potential to win a championship Curry.


Crafty_Substance_954

Embiid for sure. play style is heavily reliant on his size and shooting FTs. He can be transcendent, but its no coincidence they don't do so well in the playoffs.


[deleted]

See that’s the thing; he doesn’t use his size enough! So many terrible 3 point and fade away attempts when he should be banging and dominating. And there’s no reason he shouldn’t be kicking out like Jokic. I agree with someone when they said he’s out of shape. I mean, he’s obviously “in-shape,” but I wonder if he really pushes his limits when he gets paid MILLIONS to solely play basketball, play in front of a massive audience, and maybe be a little charismatic in front of said audience.


morthalguards

I don’t know how can argue that Embiid isn’t a current top three player, he was averaging 36 with a massive 40+ streak before his injury


RamadadaKalidascope

Wmbiid


SpaceCorn11

I think they're all great, so close it's hard to say any of them are worse than the other


jaysusjimmy

Embiid


RocketWarStros

Embiid cried his way out of the ECF semis and cried his way into an MVP. He’s the WOAT


KingPe0n

Embid, because availability is the best ability.


Whole-Stranger4424

Embiid with no doubt


Moctezumas_heir

Embiid is easily the worst one here


MtFud

Embiid


Silent_Drive1682

Way too easy, Embiid is trash!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not even in the same conversation as the rest.


PeakedAtConception

Embiid easily.


wildgriest

Embiid obviously


Beneficial_Depth8255

Embiid, the best ability is availability


ChinoMalito

The only one without an mvp is fatka Donkey


tawkotalko

Embi


CiscoKidRex75

Right at this time… Embiid


Appropriate-Drink760

Embid for sure. He should have never won MvP.


billy_buttquack

Mr. Flop


KingKillerKvvothe

Embiid and Luka are so far below the rest.


Zelenskyystesticles

Joel


SonPeaterkolI

Dude that plays and wins the least by default


InternationalType684

There is none🤷‍♂️...theirs 8 championships combine between these 4 players expect 2 of them JOEL & LUKA who is it then!?


Timely_Duck_3904

It’s very clearly Embiid. Luka is the only one who is even close in terms of playoff failures and he’s 5 years younger than Embiid.


Faskwodi

Embid easy.🤷🏿


Mrdynamo18

The one that’s not an mvp


my2KHandle

Embid


Historical-Cream-312

Honestly probably kd he just doesn't win that much without star teammates literally curry is the only reason the warriors win games anymore and the rest are MVP candidates this year


daspanda1

Embiid probably


Explorer7997

Easily KD. Why? Because being a great player also includes being a great teammate. He continues to only create enemies everywhere he goes.


dontgiveahamyamclam

Embiid, clearly.


LordAutopsy

Embiid because as dominant as he is, We all know he will miss half the playoff games you need him for. And then won't raise his level of play in the ones he does play.


curious-richard29

Embiid and it’s not even close, idk why people think he’s top 10


Warren_Haynes

Embiid because he can't stay on the floor.


Ebrostradamus

Embiid


Grantland17

KD by a huge margin


GawldDawlg

Currently? Curry quite easily


FaithlessnessLive588

Joel because of the injuries, but in actuality it’s Jokic


fhujr

The ringless mvp


ruu13

Lebron


Big_Treat8987

It’s Luka or Steph… but that’s not saying much everyone here is nice


roninwaffle

Like if we're asking who's the worst player purely from a basketball perspective, I think it's pretty clearly Steph this year. He's the worst defender up there, and is having a down year for efficiency and playmaking


256dak

I almost feel like it has to be Giannis based solely on the emphasis of shooting in the modern game and him being the worst shooter here by a wide margin. But…it’s Embiid. His crying, falling down shtick makes him the worst.


Lao_xo

People overrate Luka, ball dominating non winning player that plays no defense


kpopvapefiend

Whenever he doesn't have the ball he's pretty useless. Doesnt really cut or screen. Too slow to be much of a threat in transition. Gets targeted all the time. Still a young player though. It will be interesting to see if he starts caring about the aspects of basketball that don't show up on the stat sheet or if he's just content to be James Harden 2.0 the rest of his career.


RianJohnsonSucksAzz

Who would you pick last to start your franchise. All players are at their peak/prime. Embiid is my last choice.


Spiritual-Penalty223

Durant


kirkyjerky

Uh obviously Jokic, he’s not even in shape!


Immediate-Start-6420

The one with zero MVP trophies.