Is Ant now a Top 5 Player?

[Who]

After out-dueling both Luka & LeBron, has Ant established himself as a top 5 player in the NBA?

I feel good about my top 4 choices - SGA, Jokic, Tatum, Giannis, in that order. I am unsure who my 5th choice would be.

I don't feel comfortable putting Embiid in there after the season he just had. He never looked right physically and I think he has to re-prove himself next season before I slot him as a top 5. He would have been the previous choice.

The main contenders for me are Luka, Ant, Steph, Donovan Mitchell, Kawhi, Durant. AD?

Who are your top 5 players? Do you have the same 4 in your top 5?

[Goldstar88]

Ant or Luka. I?d put last year?s version of Doncic ahead of Edwards. Ant was better this year. Will be interesting to see if LeBron and Reddick can get Luka in better shape.

[slamtheking]

would have been Luka hands down until the Finals last year where the C's exposed him badly on D.  Now, I'd say top 10 for certain but maybe not top 5 but the others that have the talent to be top 5 have real health issues - Kawhi, Durant, Embiid.  This year, I might go with Mitchell even though his D is nowhere near as good as his O but he doesn't seem to be as much of a liability on that end as Luka.

It's probably just me but I put Ant ahead of 2 guys I consider similar to him in Ja and Trae (who are not top 5) because his D is better. 

[Birdman]

Jokic
Tatum
SGA
Giannis
Ant

James is old and slow, Luka just slow on defense, Embiid, Davis and Leonard cant stay healthy, Curry and Durant on their last leg, Morant is trouble

Players that are coming:
Maxey
Wemby
Cade
Pablo is very close to 5
Mitchell

[Who]

Ant vs Donovan Mitchell is an interesting comp.

Scoring = Ant 27.6ppg on 44.7% FG 39.5% 3PT and 83.7% on FTs for a TS% of 59.5%. Donovan Mitchell scores 24ppg on 44.3% FG 36.8% 3PT 82.3% FTs for a TS% of 57.5%. It is interesting how close all those shooting figures. Ant a bit more efficient overall due to better 3PT shooting. D Mitchell had a cold streak late in the season which dropped his numbers down a bit. Ant scores more but D Mitchell sacrifices some of his stats for the good of the team. I would rate them as quite comparable if not small advantage Ant.

Ball-Handling & Passing = I'd give Donovan Mitchell the advantage here. He is better PG skills. Ant averages 4.5 assists to DM's 5.0 assists per game. However, Ant averages significantly more turnovers at 3.2 per game vs 2.1 for DM. Donovan Mitchell can operate as a full time PG if need be. Ant is dodgy there. Better as a secondary ball-handler and playmaker. Not full time ball-handler & playmaker.

Defense & Rebounding = DM has improved his defense a lot but Ant is still superior. Ant is just bigger and longer. He is a very good all-round defensive player who can play 3 positions defensively. He also averages more rebounds at 5.7 per game vs 4.5 per game making Ant one of the best rebounding SGs in the league.

[perks-a-beast]

1. Jokic
2. Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Giannis
4. Doncic
5. Tatum

At this point, i'd still be more worried against Doncic in a series than Edwards. Maybe that'll change in the next couple years.

I still think Edwards has tremendous upside and won't be surprised if when it's all said and done he's the 3rd best shooting guard of all-time. That's how good the dude is.

[Donoghus]

1. Jokic
2. Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Giannis
4. Doncic
5. Tatum

At this point, i'd still be more worried against Doncic in a series than Edwards. Maybe that'll change in the next couple years.

I still think Edwards has tremendous upside and won't be surprised if when it's all said and done he's the 3rd best shooting guard of all-time. That's how good the dude is.

Doncic over Tatum?

[slamtheking]

1. Jokic
2. Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Giannis
4. Doncic
5. Tatum

At this point, i'd still be more worried against Doncic in a series than Edwards. Maybe that'll change in the next couple years.

I still think Edwards has tremendous upside and won't be surprised if when it's all said and done he's the 3rd best shooting guard of all-time. That's how good the dude is.

I don't know how anyone can have Luka ahead of Tatum at this point.  Tatum may not be Luka's equal in terms of shooting or an offensive engine but he's not that far behind at this point and his rebounding/defense leaves Luka in the dust.

[perks-a-beast]

1. Jokic
2. Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Giannis
4. Doncic
5. Tatum

At this point, i'd still be more worried against Doncic in a series than Edwards. Maybe that'll change in the next couple years.

I still think Edwards has tremendous upside and won't be surprised if when it's all said and done he's the 3rd best shooting guard of all-time. That's how good the dude is.

I don't know how anyone can have Luka ahead of Tatum at this point.  Tatum may not be Luka's equal in terms of shooting or an offensive engine but he's not that far behind at this point and his rebounding/defense leaves Luka in the dust.

Not to turn this into a Luka vs. Doncic debate, I just think that if I?m going into a must win game 7 game, I?d rather have Luka.

[Donoghus]

1. Jokic
2. Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Giannis
4. Doncic
5. Tatum

At this point, i'd still be more worried against Doncic in a series than Edwards. Maybe that'll change in the next couple years.

I still think Edwards has tremendous upside and won't be surprised if when it's all said and done he's the 3rd best shooting guard of all-time. That's how good the dude is.

I don't know how anyone can have Luka ahead of Tatum at this point.  Tatum may not be Luka's equal in terms of shooting or an offensive engine but he's not that far behind at this point and his rebounding/defense leaves Luka in the dust.

Not to turn this into a Luka vs. Doncic debate, I just think that if I?m going into a must win game 7 game, I?d rather have Luka.

FWIW, Luka is 1-1 in Game 7s while Tatum is 5-2 with one of those losses occurring where he got hurt on the first play of the game. 

[blink]

Luka gives up almost as many points on def as he generates.   I don't know how he is considered a top 5 player in the NBA. 

[slamtheking]

1. Jokic
2. Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Giannis
4. Doncic
5. Tatum

At this point, i'd still be more worried against Doncic in a series than Edwards. Maybe that'll change in the next couple years.

I still think Edwards has tremendous upside and won't be surprised if when it's all said and done he's the 3rd best shooting guard of all-time. That's how good the dude is.

I don't know how anyone can have Luka ahead of Tatum at this point.  Tatum may not be Luka's equal in terms of shooting or an offensive engine but he's not that far behind at this point and his rebounding/defense leaves Luka in the dust.

Not to turn this into a Luka vs. Doncic debate, I just think that if I?m going into a must win game 7 game, I?d rather have Luka.

FWIW, Luka is 1-1 in Game 7s while Tatum is 5-2 with one of those losses occurring where he got hurt on the first play of the game.

Exactly.  Tatum's been through more Game 7s with more success.  He'll do the dirty work to win.  Luka, not so much. 

[keevsnick]

I think the top four guys are pretty clear: Jokic, Giannis, Shai and Tatum.

After that there are like 5-10 guys you could make an argument for #5. Its a tough call, i wouldn't Edwards there just yet, but there's no obvious choice. 

[SparzWizard]

I've lost track how many Game 7s Tatum has been in, but wow he does have good showing. Still upset that we should've beaten the Heat if Tatum didn't roll his ankle.

My most memorable Game 7s with Tatum involves the Celtics being down 3-2, to win Game 6 force Game 7 and win Game 7. And then can't forget the early days with the Scary Terry Bucks and the defending champ Raptors.

[Phantom255x]

I personally would still have Curry ahead of Ant, but funny enough both guys could likely face off next round. I do agree with @keevsnick, in whatever order I do firmly think the Top-4 is SGA, Jokic, Tatum and Giannis. After that there's some debate between 5-10 and the order.

Ant is definitely not better than the Top-4