10 Best Basketball Players in the World

In honor of NBA training camps opening, let’s have some fun. I’ve put together my list of the top 10 players in the NBA whom I would want for this upcoming season. Not just for one game or one series, but projecting ahead for the 82 + postseason.

1. Nikola Jokic

SGA had a season for the ages, winning the MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP. Yet, most still say Jokic is the best player on Earth. Big Honey has a legitimate shot to end up as a top-5 player ever, in the Bird/Magic range, if he can win another 1-2 championships. With added depth, the Nuggets might be the only team that can challenge the Thunder.

Hobby Implications: His pricing doesn’t seem to do a whole lot because he’s already so cemented. If he wins another championship, he’ll continue to rise, but I doubt a big spike would be in play.

2. Luka Doncic

I watched him bring the Lakers to a 3-seed, and that was when he was out of shape, recovering from an injury, and on a brand-new team. I see him returning to his old ways of 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Running next to LeBron and with a decent supporting cast? I think he’ll be in the convo for best player in the world. Oh, and if you haven’t heard, he’s in shape! (lol)

Hobby Implications: They (probably) won’t win the championship, but I think he should be the MVP favorite. Even if he doesn’t win the award, his prices will rise significantly just being in the conversation.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

He’s neck-and-neck with Luka, but I think there’s a “run the entire offense” element that Luka commands better than SGA. He’s as slippery and smooth as it gets, and he feels unstoppable at times.

Hobby Implications: I think there’s an incredible chance the Thunder win again. If he wins another championship and Finals MVP… the historical conversation around him starts getting scary. He wouldn’t see a bump like last season, but I predict steady growth as they play well and advance deep into the playoffs.

4. Victor Wembanyama

I was telling my dad a few nights ago that one of these years, everyone will go “Oh, so now Wemby is the best player in the world.” It’s possible it’s this year. He’s the best defensive player by far, and 28-12-5 is in play.

Hobby Implications: Honestly, he’s got so much hype that he’s already priced like a multi-time MVP. Plus, lots of his cards have a high pop count. I haven’t really considered buying his stuff, but I may have to get one nice piece.

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Honestly, there’s a chance he goes scorched Earth and puts up a stupid statistical season. I shouldn’t knock him for his team…but he has some of the worst guards/wings in the league, and that makes his life harder. Plus, he has a few limitations that other top players don’t (shooting, FTs). Picking nits, honestly.

Hobby Implications: I think people have grown numb to his stats. His pricing has steadily decreased for a long while, but he puts up 30-12-6 every year. He’d probably have 1-2 more MVPs if his ownership put better teams around him.

6. Anthony Edwards

At barely 24 years old, he’s 3 years younger than SGA (which feels strange). He’s coming off 28 PPG, on a team that’s made the Western Finals 2 years in a row. Still, it feels like there’s a drop-off on my list between 5 and 6. He’s got the chops to close the gap, though.

Hobby Implications: He’s the first player on this list where I’d be shocked if he won MVP. Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I just can’t imagine him being better than the top guys. His pricing is a little down at the moment (so it’s not a bad buying opportunity), but the upside is a bit limited without legit MVP or championship odds.

7. Donovan Mitchell

I’ve always been higher on him than most. Did you know he’s averaged 28 PPG in the playoffs (7th all-time)? He’s on a stud team, and he’s the offensive engine. His regular-season stats were down, but that’s because he played waaaay fewer minutes on a well-rounded 1-seed. He made All-NBA 1st Team last year.

Hobby Implications: I know they flamed out of the playoffs last year, but they were dealing with some injuries and going against the storybook Pacers. They probably have the best shot to represent the East in the Finals this year. If that happens, Mitchell’s pricing will rise dramatically.

8. Steph Curry

I left KD and LeBron off this list because of durability concerns…but Steph has played 70+ the last 2 years. He’s still a lock to be the best shooter in the league and is crafty with the handle and finishing. You don’t need me to tell you why he’s amazing, even at 37.

Hobby Implications: I don’t think much will change his pricing. I’m not high on the Warriors because their best 3 players are all old, so something like a 7-seed with a typical Steph year doesn’t move the needle.

9. Jalen Brunson

How can you not love this guy? I debated putting him as high as 7, but he’s more prone to having down shooting nights in the playoffs and doesn’t play defense. He is an absolute gamer, and the best player on a possible 1 or 2 seed.

Hobby Implications: Most of his cards have pretty choppy pricing, so it’s hard to get a read on him. His cards did increase last May as they advanced, so look for that to happen again in a severely weakened Eastern Conference. Just be patient and buy in at a good price.

10. Cade Cunningham

He’s got 2 years now shooting 35%+ on 3s, which was my biggest concern early on for him. It somehow feels like he went under the radar with averages of 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists, on a pretty good team.

Hobby Implications: What’s next for him? There’s a legitimate chance for the Pistons to win 50 games in (I’ll say it again) a weak Eastern Conference. He could have Doncic-like numbers next year, and I think we see a real boost in his pricing as he legitimately is talked about as one of the guys in the league.

Hardest cuts: LeBron, Durant, Booker, Jalen Williams, Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley

Whew, that was fun! Any thoughts? What would you change?

Buy/Sell

This doesn’t constitute investment advice, more just a window into my overall strategy as well as for entertainment purposes. All pricing and screenshots are taken from Card Ladder—the only pricing & inventory tool I use.

✔ Cade Cunningham 🏀 - Right now, a Prizm PSA 10 sells for around $40 - $45, with a pop count of 1,508. For someone who could legitimately be a top-10 player next year in a very weak Eastern Conference… I just love that pricing right now. I wasn’t sure if he’d be a superstar, but last year proved that he’s knocking on the door.

✔ Deandre Ayton 🏀 - Most of his cards have had a bump since signing with the Lakers, and rightfully so. However, I think there’s still skepticism suppressing his pricing. He’s not a star, but he’s always been a strong double-double player. And he’s playing off 3 perimeter players who are all stellar passers. Ayton’s been passive at times, but I think he’s going to have a ton of opportunities around the hoop to put up good stats. I’m in on a hobby revival.

✔ Joe Burrow 🏈 - His pricing has dropped around 40% (on his Prizm PSA 10) in the past month. With injuries, pricing often drops immediately, then recovers slightly, and remains stable until they return. If you’re looking for an opportunity to buy him low, I have a feeling this might be the best time.

❌ Josh Allen 🏈 - Seems counterintuitive with him playing so well, but here’s my thinking. The hobby is smart, and they’re seeing that he’s probably going to win 14+ games (according to Tankathon, they have the 6th easiest remaining schedule). He’s also clearly the MVP favorite—FanDuel has Allen as a minus favorite. That’s insane after just 4 weeks. His pricing is skyrocketing, so he’s already priced like he’s winning the MVP. He may go up a bit more, but he’s at an all-time high, and I think he realistically needs a Super Bowl win to keep going up. The problem? Football is unpredictable, so unless you’re the Chiefs, I don’t like investing based on a player’s need to win the Lombardi Trophy.

Quick Hits

News From Around the Hobby

+ Baseball/Football Crossover - Here’s a great list of “players who have baseball cards that made it pro in the National Football League.” I probably wouldn’t have started this list with Brandon Weeden, but the rest of the list is solid.

+ WNBA PSA - “From January to September of 2024, Professional Sports Authenticator graded 58,000 WNBA cards, according to data provided by the company. During the same time in 2025, PSA has graded nearly three times that amount, about 159,000.” We call this the “Caitlin Clark Effect.” It’s cool to see!

+ MLB Hobby Awards - “But before we say goodbye to the regular season, it's time to look back at the best and worst players from 2025 ... in the hobby.” Jac Caglianone is a worthy entrant.

How to Know When to Sell Sports Cards for Maximum Profit

The best times to sell sports cards are when the players you’ve collected are on a hot streak, win a big award, win championships, have a ton of hype, or are in the news (retirement, hall of fame, or even passing away)…[Keep Reading]

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The content in this newsletter is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be actual financial or investment advice.