The NBA Elite 100 list is out, showcasing the top players for the 2024-25 season, as analyzed by Matt Moore and Brandon Anderson.
Discussing Top Players:
In a recent episode of BUCKETS, an NBA podcast, Moore and Anderson talked about their rankings. They debated how close Luka Doncic was to surpassing Nikola Jokic for the top spot.
Analyzing Luka vs. Jokic:
Brandon Anderson asked Matt Moore how close he thought Luka was to overtaking Jokic and what it would take for that to happen by season’s end. Moore reflected on a past column where he predicted Luka might be seen as the best player after winning the Western Conference Finals. He admitted that while Doncic is amazing, most still see Jokic as number one.
Moore mentioned that while Jokic has had some lucky outcomes, like winning his third MVP despite some declines in performance areas like at-rim shooting, he’s still incredibly skilled. The offense around him feels stale now and needs fresh energy from both coaching and Jokic himself.
Fans often wonder if Luka can become number one because he does so much for his team. If his team improves around him, we might see him at the top by season’s end.
Differing Views on Team Impact:
Anderson believes there’s a bigger gap between Luka and Jokic than others think because building a successful team around Luka is challenging. He compared this situation to James Harden’s past teamsโstrong in regular seasons but unable to clinch championships with such high usage players.
Jokic makes everyone better in ways Luka doesn’t yet match. For Anderson, this puts Luka closer to being third rather than first on their list.
We think it’s fascinating how fans have different views on these two amazing players!
