Debates about the best player in the NBA never really settle; they just evolve. One week it’s about stats, the next it’s about impact, rings, or who’s carrying their team the furthest. There’s rarely a unanimous answer, and that’s part of what makes the conversation so fun. But every now and then, someone with serious influence steps in and shifts the tone of the debate entirely.
That’s what happened recently when Rich Paul, the powerful agent behind LeBron James shared his personal pick for the league’s top player. The reaction was immediate, and not exactly quiet, especially considering the name he put forward wasn’t the one many fans expected to hear.
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Paul recently joined Max Kellerman for a conversation where he ruffled some feathers with his take. When asked who the best player in the league right now is, Paul said, “I still think it is a community, but I think that community is led by Anthony Edwards. I think Anthony Edwards is the best player in our league today. You can’t watch a game on any given night against anybody and look at that game and say, ‘Oh, that person is better than Anthony Edwards.’ I love Jokic, but no.”
Needless to say, Paul’s take did not sit well with fans who bashed the agent for take.
One fan said, “I love Ant, but he's hardly Top 10 in todays league.. let alone #1.”
Another fan pointed out, “Anything but give credit to the three European players who are obviously better.”
Sharing his opinion a fan said, “Ant isn't even a top 5 player lmao.”
“People forget Rich Paul is some random merchandise seller who Lebron made famous”- said a fan.
Fed up with Paul’s takes a fan said, “Why do we keep giving him a microphone.”
On the stat sheet this year, Jokic has been doing a bit of everything averaging around 28–29 points, 12+ rebounds and about 10–11 assists per game, showcasing his rare triple-threat impact on offense and playmaking.
Edwards, meanwhile, has been one of the league’s top scorers, putting up roughly 29 points, 5 rebounds and around 4 assists per game as a primary offensive option for the Minnesota Timberwolves. While Edwards leads in pure scoring punch, Jokić’s numbers reflect a more all-around game with control over rebounding and distributing as well.