Counting down the NBA's top 50 players for 2022-23 season: Nos. 50-26

A cornucopia of talent is flourishing in the NBA.

From around the world. Different heights, weights, backgrounds and ages.

One size does not fit all. Skill reigns supreme.

They are:

Sons (Steph Curry and Klay Thompson) of NBA players, both of whom altered the game with their 3-point shooting. A 6-11 center from Serbia (Nikola Jokic) who has a gifted touch on his passes and shots, unlike anything we’ve seen before. A 6-10 forward from Greece (Giannis Antetokounmpo) whose parents came from Nigeria and who developed into one of the most unique players in league history.

A kid from Akron, Ohio (LeBron James, and truth be told, now closer to grandpa than kid) entering his 20th NBA season, still playing at an All-NBA level and on the verge of passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer. An undrafted guard (Fred VanVleet) who turned into an All-Star. And a grinder (Jimmy Butler) who plays like his job is on the line but is one of the game’s best players.

The league is loaded with talent, from James at 37 years old to Anthony Edwards at 21.

This year, USA TODAY Sports staffers picked the top 50 players headed into the 2022-23 season.

Here are Nos. 50-26:

50. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

The No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft, Mobley, 21, made an impact as a rookie, especially on the defensive end where he established himself as a rim protector, shot-blocker and rebounder. At 6-11, he is versatile enough to guard on the perimeter and in the paint. With room to grow offensively (watch out if he develops a reliable 3-point shot), Mobley averaged 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocks and shot 50.8% last season and should only get better.

49. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Jackson, a first-team All-Defense selection in 2021-22, mostly likely won’t be available the first quarter of the season as he recovers from a stress fracture in his right foot. Last season, Jackson averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and a league-leading 2.3 blocks to help Memphis become a serious threat in the West. He could have added value as a viable outside threat but must get better than the 31.9% 3-point shooting he displayed last year.

48. Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics

The Celtics finished the 2021-22 season with the highest defensive rating in the league, thanks in large part to Smart. Smart was named the 2021–22 season’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year (the first guard to win since Gary Payton in 1996) and was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team. He averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals, while shooting 43.0% during the 2022 NBA Finals.

47. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors

The 32-year-old won his fourth NBA championship last season, the first year he returned from missing back-to-back seasons with separate ACL and Achilles tendon injuries. It took him nearly three months to get into game shape and find his rhythm upon his return, averaging 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists, shooting 42.9% from the field in 32 games. Now, he’ll have an entire season to show us what he’s capable of.

46. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Murray was playing himself into All-Star/All-NBA territory when he injured his knee late in the 2020-21 season, forcing him to miss the rest of that season and all of last season. Murray, 25, is back and hoping to recapture what made him one of the best young guards in the league. The season of his injury, he averaged 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 40.8% on 3s in 48 games.

45. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

Coming off his first All-Star Game in 2022, Allen, a 6-10 center, wants to build on that with his elite brand of defense and high-efficiency offense. Last season, he averaged 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds (3.4 on offense, 7.3 on defense) and 1.3 blocks while shooting 67.7% from the field, which was second-best in the league.

44. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns

Ayton got paid this summer after Phoenix matched a four-year, $133 million offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers to keep its versatile big man, who averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists and shot 63.4% from the field in 2022-23. The spotlight is on Ayton’s relationship with Suns coach Monty Williams. After reportedly not speaking to each other since the Suns’ Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals during which Ayton was benched, Ayton recently confirmed the two are on speaking terms again.

43. Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors

Eight seasons into his NBA career, Wiggins, the No. 1 selection in the 2014 draft, finally made the All-Star Game in 2022 and then proved what an important two-way player he has become by helping the Warriors win the title. During the Celtics-Warriors Finals, Wiggins may have been the second-best player on the court, averaging 18.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

42. De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

Sacramento has been waiting for a winner and its NBA record 16-year playoff drought will continue if Fox is not on the floor. Like many players with an injury history, Fox’s success as an offensive weapon is predicated on his speed and the ability to manipulate the pick-and-roll. Because he isn’t a threat with his outside shot, the evolution of Fox must come defensively.

41. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Green’s days of being relied on as a consistent scorer have been over for a while. What makes Green valuable in today’s NBA is his defense and ability to dictate the offense, plus the ability to guard all five positions. The Warriors are a different team defensively when Green is not on the floor, as evidenced by their defense allowing almost eight points more when he is not in the game.

GREEN OUT: Draymond Green apologizes to Jordan Poole, will step away from team

OPINION: Warriors' Draymond Green deserves harsher suspension for punching Poole

40. Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors

VanVleet is one of the great NBA success stories. Undrafted, VanVleet worked himself in as a rotational player, a starter and finally an All-Star guard for the first time last season when he averaged 20.3 points, 6.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds and shot 37.7% on 3s. The Raptors and VanVleet have the potential to be even better this season.

39. CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans

CJ McCollum's midseason acquisition instantly paid dividends for New Orleans in 2022. He averaged 24.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, shot 49.3% from the field and led the young team to the postseason. The Pelicans showed heart, grit and a promising future after taking the Phoenix Suns six games in the first round. The 31-year-old veteran will continue his leadership role in his 10th season with franchise star Zion Williamson back in the lineup.

38. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

One of the league’s most undefinable enigmas, Ingram showed he is capable of being a top option, whether Zion Williamson is on the floor or not. The Pelicans are betting their future both will contribute on both ends of the floor to ensure New Orleans is a consistent playoff performer. There isn’t much that Ingram can’t do, and it is only a matter of time before he achieves superstar status.

37. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

Injuries have restricted the development of Williamson, 22, early in his career, including his absence for all of the 2021-22 season due to a foot injury. But he looks fit and we know what Williamson can do when healthy. Two seasons ago, he averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists and shot 61.1% from the field, and the entire league — especially the playoff-hungry Pelicans — wants to see him healthy all season.

TOP STORYLINES: Who can dethrone Warriors in West? More Nets dysfunction?

MVP CANDIDATES: Nikola Jokic could enter rare air during 2022-23 season

36. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Gilgeous-Alexander had a down season in 2021-22 compared to what he did the season before. His shooting dipped to 45.3% from the field and 30% on 3s. Still, the 24-year-old guard averaged 24.5 points, 5.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals. The biggest compliment for Gilgeous-Alexander: Several playoff-calibers teams are interested in acquiring the budding All-Star before the trade deadline.

35. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Through Ball’s first two seasons, the NBA has learned what kind of player he is: a star. After playing professionally in Australia instead of going to college, Ball has dazzled with the ball as a scorer and passer, averaging 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds and shooting 38.9% on 3s last season. He made his first All-Star team in 2022, and it looks like it was just the first of many for the talented point guard.

34. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Edwards made a leap from his rookie season in 2020-21 to his second season in 2021-22 — improving his scoring average (21.3 from 19.3), assists per game (3.8 from 2.9) and steals per game (1.5 from 1.1), while lifting his shooting percentage (44.1% from 41.7%) and his 3-point shooting (35.7% from 32.9%). He is one of the talented young guards in the lead, and with his size, quickness and explosiveness, Edwards is in line to become a great defender.

33. Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks

Last season with the San Antonio Spurs, Murray was asked to a do the heavy lifting and it paid off — he averaged 21.1 points, 9.2 assists and 8.3 rebounds and became an All-Star for the first time. A triple-double threat and now teamed with Trae Young, Murray’s defensive skills can shine even more (he led the league in steals last year with 2.0 per game), while being a consistent scoring option.

32. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

Garland agreed to a five-year, $193 million contract extension over the summer, the largest in franchise history, following a superb season that ended with the Cavaliers falling in the play-in tournament. Garland, 22, averaged 21.7 points, 8.6 assists and 1.3 steals and helped Cleveland win 22 more games than the year before. Garland earned his first All-Star nod and finished third for Most Improved Player.

31. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks

Another player who is underappreciated because he doesn’t have style points like other stars, Holiday is a stellar two-guard whose addition to Milwaukee helped the Bucks win the title in 2021. He has made just one All-Star team and no All-NBA teams in his 13-year career, but he is model of professionalism and consistency at 18.3 points, 6.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.1% from the field and 41.1% on 3s last season.

30. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

A model of consistency, Sabonis provides production and in an efficient manner: 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 57.3% from the field. Entering his first full season with the Kings and seventh in the NBA, the 26-year-old two-time All-Star is trying to make an impact on a franchise that is desperate for success.

29. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

Middleton is the perfect second option on a championship-caliber team. Obviously talented, he has the right demeanor and mindset to play alongside a star and thrive offensively and defensively. He is reliable and, for the past five seasons, good for about 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal per game while shooting 45% from the field and 40% on threes.

28. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards

While Beal’s commitment to Washington is commendable — signing a five-year, $251 million supermax deal in the offseason — getting over his wrist injury is paramount for him to get back to scoring 30 points a game. The Wizards are obviously all in on Beal and getting him help to ease the scoring burden, like acquiring Kristaps Porzingis, can turn the team into a playoff contender. But their success this season starts and ends with Beal.

26. (tie) Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

The questions about LaVine don’t seem to be about his talent, but his left knee, which kept him out for stretches last season. Pairing him with DeMar DeRozan forced teams to pick their poison, leaving LaVine with wide open spaces to operate and showcase his supreme athleticism. He’s the kind of scorer who can average 25 points and approach 50% from the field, 40% on 3 and 90% from the foul line.

26. (tie) Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

Chris Paul looked like a man on a mission to win his first NBA championship. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 10.8 assists, shooting 49.3% from the field, during the Suns' 64-win year last season. But he appeared fatigued in Phoenix's Western Conference semifinals series against the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns took a 2-0 lead but lost four of the next five games, where Paul averaged just 9.4 points and 3.6 turnovers. Still, he’s a commanding presence for a title contender.

Contributing: Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman; Jim Owczarksi, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic; Marla Ridnour, Akron Beacon Journal; Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press; Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA's best players: Counting down top 50 stars right now