3NBA Top Big 3s: Without a Big 3, it’s almost hard to compete at a high level every night in the NBA of today.
Each NBA club has its top players who have the luxury of shooting the ball pretty much anytime they want. While not every team in the league has the conventional Big 3 made up of All-Stars and superstars, every team in the league has its own top players.
We choose to study the top Big 3s in the NBA, starting with the Eastern Conference, because the 2023–24 season is about to start.
Ranking The Eastern Conference Top Big 3s In The NBA
1. Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Top Big 3s: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton
Damian Lillard was acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks from the Portland Trail Blazers, shocking the NBA community. They now possess the finest Big 3 in the East and maybe the NBA.
For the Blazers past season, Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while shooting 46.3% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc, and 91.4% from the line. He will replace Jrue Holiday.
Khris Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game in 2022–2023. The forward had successful surgery on his right knee just after the 2023 postseason, and he will be ready to go once training camp starts.
Last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo played 63 games for the Bucks, averaging 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists while shooting 55.3% from the field, 27.5% from beyond the arc, and 64.5% from the line. The seven-time All-Star amassed six triple-doubles and 46 double-doubles.
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2. Boston Celtics
Big 3: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis
One of the NBA top Big 3s is the Boston Celtics. It will be interesting to watch how far the team progresses in 2023–24.
In 74 games last season, Jayson Tatum averaged 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. In his career, the 25-year-old has already been selected to four All-Star teams and three NBA All-NBA teams.
This offseason, Jaylen Brown agreed to a five-year, $304 million supermax agreement with the Celtics. The NBA has never had a contract this lucrative. In 2022–2023, Brown’s averages were 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Because he was named to the All-NBA team last season, he was qualified to sign a designated veteran deal.
For the Wizards in 2022–23, Kristaps Porzingis averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks. Despite having to part ways with Marcus Smart, Boston acquired Porzingis in a trade, who now leads the NBA in active games with three or more 3-pointers and three or more blocks.
3. Miami Heat
Big 3: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro
Damian Lillard put up a trade request to go to the Miami Heat. The Heat was unable to sign the Weber State player, therefore their Big 3 will remain the same as they did in the previous year.
For the Heat in 2022–23, Jimmy Butler, one of the top players in the NBA, averaged 22.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. Since joining the team in 2019, he has helped Miami reach the NBA Finals twice.
During the previous season, Bam Adebayo averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. As a four-time All-NBA defender, the two-time All-Star is one of the NBA’s best two-way players.
Tyler Herro believed the Heat would trade him in exchange for Lillard. It appears that the Kentucky product will remain in South Beach, nevertheless. In 2022–2023, Herro’s averages were 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Big 3: James Harden, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey
James Harden reportedly asked the Philadelphia 76ers for a trade. Harden won’t ever play for the Sixers again, and even if he is, he has no intention of participating in training camp, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. It will be interesting to watch how this issue develops. In the previous season, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. The NBA’s top assist-maker.
One of the best young players in the league is Tyrese Maxey. In 2022–2023, he had an average of 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. In the event that Harden was dealt, his use would soar.
Last season, Joel Embiid averaged 10.2 rebounds and 33.1 points. Over Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, he was awarded the MVP trophy. Embiid has played with the Sixers for 394 regular-season games, averaging 27.2 points and 11.2 rebounds. He has earned one MVP Award and has been selected to six All-Star teams, five NBA All-Star teams, and three All-Defensive teams.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Big 3: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a fantastic regular season in 2022–23; they won 51 games and made the playoffs for the first time since 2018. The Donovan Mitchell trade was extremely advantageous for the Cavaliers, who were the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Mitchell is one of the best NBA players. He averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists during the previous season, earning him a spot on the All-NBA Second Team.
Darius Garland has a 2022–2023 scoring average of 21.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. He’s registered 18 double-doubles in 69 starts.
For the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley has star potential. He was selected for both the 2022–23 All–Defensive First Team and the 2021–22 All–Rookie Team. Even though Mobley struggled against the Knicks in the 2023 playoffs, averaging only 9.8 points, his greatest basketball is still ahead of him because he is only 22 years old. Last season, Mobley averaged 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.
6. New York Knicks
Big 3: Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, RJ Barrett
The 2022–23 New York Knicks season was noteworthy. They defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the 2023 playoffs’ opening round after winning 47 games during the regular season. The Knicks won their first postseason series since 2013.
Jalen Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the Knicks last offseason after leaving the Dallas Mavericks. In 2022–2023, the lefty was outstanding for New York. His scoring, rebounding, and assist totals were all above average at 24.0.
During the previous season, Randle averaged 25.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He was selected to the NBA Third Team.
In the 2019 NBA Draught, the New York Knicks chose RJ Barrett with the third overall pick. The Duke product participated in 73 games during the regular season of 2022–23, appearing in 19.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
7. Toronto Raptors
Big 3: Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby
Since Fred VanVleet is no longer a member of the Toronto Raptors, a new Big 3 has been assembled. The team’s current captains are OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, and Pascal Siakam.
In the previous season, Siakam averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. The Raptors have the option to extend Siakam’s deal for a maximum of four years and $192 million. There haven’t been any significant discussions on an extension so far. In addition, NBA champion Siakam has never asked to be traded.
In 2022–2023, Barnes played in 77 games with the Raptors. He had a 15.3 point, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assist scoring average. Since VanVleet is gone, the usage rate of the former Rookie of the Year will significantly increase.
In the previous season, Anunoby averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He extended his rookie contract for four years and $72 million in December 2020, and he is currently able to extend his deal with the Raptors for another four years and $116 million.
8. Atlanta Hawks
NBA Top Big 3s: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela
The Atlanta Hawks have just finished a second brief postseason journey. The Hawks fell to the Boston Celtics in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs after winning 41 games during the regular season of 2022–2023 (six games). After making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, Atlanta has fallen in the first round of the playoffs in the last two years.
Atlanta’s top players are once again Clint Capela, Trae Young, and Dejounte Murray. The Hawks will advance as far as those three individuals can.
Young’s averages from the previous season were 26.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. The two-time All-Star finished ninth overall and tenth in points per game while compiling 40 double-doubles, leading the NBA in total assists and assists per game, respectively.
Murray averaged 20.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in his debut year with the Hawks. The 26-year-old was given a four-year, $120 million agreement by Atlanta this summer.
If Capela isn’t traded, the Hawks will have him start the next season. The former big man for the Houston Rockets averaged 11.0 rebounds and 12.0 points while shooting 65.3% from the field the previous season.
9. Chicago Bulls
Big 3: DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic
After qualifying for the playoffs in 2022 for the first time since 2017, the Chicago Bulls had a huge setback the following season. In 2022–23, they only managed a 40–42 record and missed the postseason.
DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic are still on the Bulls’ roster, contrary to popular belief across the NBA that they will undergo a rebuild this summer.
In 2022–2023, the Bulls’ top scorers for the team were LaVine (24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists), DeRozan (24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists), and Vucevic (17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists).
Don’t be shocked if LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic are moved if the Bulls falter in the months leading up to the 2024 trade deadline in February.
10. Brooklyn Nets
Big 3: Mikal Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie, Cameron Johnson
Last season, the Brooklyn Nets dealt Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving after both marquee players asked to be dealt. The top offensive option in 2023–24 will be Mikal Bridges, who will be followed by Spencer Dinwiddie and Cameron Johnson.
After being traded to the Nets last season, Bridges upped his game, playing in 27 games and averaging 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. In 2023–24, many NBA observers think Bridges will have a chance to make his first All-Star squad.
Dinwiddie averaged 16.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists over the course of 26 games during his second tenure with the Nets. In the Irving deal, Brooklyn received the Californian from Dallas.
In 25 games with Brooklyn last season, Johnson averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc. He began each game for the Nets, and the same is likely to be true next year.
11. Indiana Pacers
NBA Top Big 3s: Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Benedict Mathurin
The Indiana Pacers had a 35-47 record at the end of the 2022–23 season. They finished 11th in the Eastern Conference standings and missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
The good news is that Tyrese Haliburton, one of the NBA’s finest guards, plays for the Pacers. Last season, he became the first player to average at least 20.0 points and 10.0 assists while shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc, making NBA history. This summer, Haliburton and the Pacers came to an agreement on a five-year deal for up to $260 million. In 2022–2023, the All-Star point guard averaged 10.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 20.7 points.
Bennedict Mathurin was selected by the Pacers as the sixth overall choice in the 2022 NBA Draught. In 78 games last season, the Arizona native averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, earning a spot on the All-Rookie First Team.
Myles Turner is a superb defender and rebounder. With his improved shooting, he can spread the field and has twice led the NBA in blocks per game. During the 2022–23 season, Turner averaged 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 54.8% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc, and 78.3% from the foul line.
12. Orlando Magic
NBA Top Big 3s: Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
A 34-48 record and a 13th-place finish in the Eastern Conference standings were the Orlando Magic’s results during the previous campaign. Since Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, and Aaron Gordon were still on the team in 2020, the Magic have not been in the postseason.
Despite not making the playoffs the previous season, the Magic finally have a franchise player in the post-Dwight Howard era. After Paolo Banchero had an outstanding debut season, Orlando’s front office surrounded the burgeoning star with a strong supporting cast.
For the Magic, Banchero had a noteworthy debut campaign. In 72 games, he averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Shaquille O’Neal, Mike Miller, and Banchero are the only players in the history of the Magic franchise to have earned the Rookie of the Year Award.
Last season, Wendell Carter Jr. participated in 57 games for the Magic. With an average of 15.2 points per game, the former Chicago Bulls centre led the club. Carter Jr. averaged 8.7 rebounds per game, 21 double-doubles, and 2.3 assists per game.
Franz Wagner, who shot 36.1% from outside the arc in 2022–23, averaged 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He is a rising star in the NBA and last season, in December, he scored 34 points while shooting 12-of-15 overall against the Toronto Raptors.
Ranking The Eastern Conference Top Big 3s In The NBA. Let us know you thoughts in the comment section below.
