White NBA Players: Austin Reaves has responded to remarks made by teammate D’Angelo Russell in the past few days on how his race—whiteness—makes him untrustworthy and undervalued on the floor. Many players in NBA history have experienced similar things and gone on to become some of the league’s greatest players, including as Dirk Nowitzki, Rick Barry, and Jerry West, despite being viewed as less talented and unworthy due to the colour of their skin.
It has always been said, as long back as I can recall, that “White men can’t jump.” In NBA history, that has mostly been the case since there have been few outstanding white dunkers compared to the abundance of excellent NBA white players shooters. Any notions of racism should be set aside because that is not the purpose of this piece, despite the fact that it may appear that it is intended to be divisive in some manner.
The purpose of this essay is to simply honour a minority in basketball. If we were to rank the greatest American football players or black hockey players in NHL history, the results would be the same. These are underrepresented minorities who achieve greatness in a sport that isn’t normally associated with them. It is not racist to say that. It’s a celebration of going against the grain based on a historical pattern in that particular sport.
Now that we get that out of the way, there will be no more discussion of these athletes’ race. They are white. Once more, it’s a talent celebration for the 2023–2024 season.
The Top White NBA Players for 2023–2024
The top ten white NBA players for the 2023–2024 campaign are listed below.
1. Nikola Jokic
Since Nikola Jokic will be number one on this list of white NBA players, I don’t think you had any doubts about it before you started reading this or even now. Currently leading the NBA in scoring twice, Jokic is having maybe his best season to date with the Denver Nuggets. For the last four seasons, Jokic has been nothing short of extraordinary due to his natural ability to exploit defences with his playmaking, passing, shooting, and scoring. The greatest rewards the NBA could provide would be the result in 2022–2023.
Jokic almost became the third player in history to average a triple-double in a season, averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game during the regular season. Although Jokic did not win MVP for the third time in a row, his season did conclude with the Nuggets having the best record in the Western Conference and going even further in the NBA playoffs.
Jokic transformed into a buzzsaw during the NBA playoffs, slicing through every player that faced him in the paint. Jokic averaged 30.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in 20 postseason games. The Denver Nuggets ultimately won their first NBA title, and Jokic was named Finals MVP after their five-game series victory against the Miami Heat. Jokic, in my opinion at least, puts the Nuggets favourites to win the NBA again in 2023–2024. How, after all, is anyone supposed to halt something that has already shown itself to be unstoppable?
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2. Luka Doncic
It’s not even close between the following two guys, who are by far the best white NBA players in the NBA. Luka Doncic has been lighting up the NBA since his arrival in 2019 with his versatile abilities as a scorer, passer, and facilitator. With his deliberate but fluid approach to the hoop and his propensity to step up big in crucial situations, he has made the game appear straightforward and simple.
In 2022–23, Doncic’s tenure with the Dallas Mavericks was inconsistent. Even after obtaining Kyrie Irving in a trade with the Nets, the squad would experience a setback as they would miss the playoffs completely. If the club had performed as expected, Doncic would have been a strong contender for MVP. Luka averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game, which was a career-high. In addition, he scored a career-high 34.2% from three and 49.6% from the field.
For Doncic and the Mavericks, the 2023–24 campaign is crucial as they attempt to make it back to the postseason following the most dismal year in recent memory. To achieve that, Doncic’s well-being, reliability, and development as a team player will be crucial. Luka Doncic is a player who has the ability to right the ship.
3. Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis wasn’t anticipated to contribute much to the Sacramento Kings’ rapid turnaround going into his first full season as a player. That is just what he accomplished as he and fellow player De’Aaron Fox guided the Kings to their first postseason appearance in 17 years. With a career-high 12.3 rebounds per game, Sabonis would lead the NBA in rebounding. He recorded a career-high 7.3 assists in addition to being named an All-Star for the third time.
The pick-and-roll duo of Fox and Sabonis was one of the best in the NBA last season, and the Kings are now poised for success as a team for the first time in over 20 years. In order to lead the Kings to success and go past the opening round of the NBA playoffs, Sabonis will once again collaborate with Fox and other outstanding supporting players.
The only remaining concern is whether Sabonis and the Kings will be able to handle the strain of being expected to qualify for the playoffs. Although it would be preferable not to, stranger things have happened. They could be NBA title contenders this time, but if Domantas Sabonis has anything to say about it, they’ll be right back where they were in 2022–2023.
4. Lauri Markkanen
A year ago, going into 2022–2023, I couldn’t even promise that Lauri Markkanen would have made this list. Markkanen’s ascent to the All-Star level and his selection as the Most Improved Player propelled him into the top five for the 2023–24 season. In the deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland, Markkanen joined the Utah Jazz following dismal seasons with the Bulls and Cavaliers. Naturally, the transaction did not wind up on the record of the most unbalanced exchanges ever made; rather, it turned out to be beneficial to both sides.
In 2022–2023 Markkanen made his first participation on the All-Star team, averaging a career-high 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. In addition, he hit a career-high 49.9% from the field and 39.1% from three. He is probably going to be the Utah Jazz’s best option in 2023–2024 as they continue to rebuild and try to make it back to the NBA playoffs. Knowing what Markkanen is capable of, the team can now concentrate on developing around him to achieve that goal far more quickly than anticipated.
5. Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis, who made a rapid recovery throughout the season, found the 2022–23 season to be extremely pleasant. With the Washington Wizards, Porzingis played for his club for 65 games for the first time since 2017. It was a wise move for him. The average for Porzingis in 2022–2023 was 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He scored the most points in his career and pulled down the most rebounds in his campaign.
Porzingis would be dealt to the Boston Celtics earlier this offseason, providing him with his best opportunity to win a title in his career. Although the Celtics’ frontcourt has always put in a strong defensive effort, Porzingis will offer them an offensive weapon that can stretch the floor and score points whenever they want. The Celtics’ prospects of winning the NBA title have improved, but Porzingis doesn’t guarantee it.
6. Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves’s stock has increased more quickly and sharply than that of any other player in my opinion throughout the past 12 months. After the first part of the 2022–23 season, the Lakers appeared to be dead in the water. However, Reaves has given them a new life, and he will be their third-best offensive option in 2023–24.
In 64 games with the Lakers during the 2022–2023 regular season, Reaves averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He performed exceptionally well throughout their NBA playoff run to the Western Conference Finals. Reaves played in 16 postseason games and averaged 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He posted an amazing 44.3% three-point shooting percentage on 5.5 attempts. He volunteered to assist the Golden State Warriors lose the second round in pivotal moments, even adding a halfcourt heave.
Reaves will play a far bigger part for the squad in 2023–24 than he did in the previous two seasons. As the third-best scoring option for Los Angeles, he will be expected to support both LeBron James and Anthony Davis. I think he’s up for the job if his cool-headed play and capacity to perform under pressure are any clue.
7. Tyler Herro
For now, Tyler Herro’s NBA career has been as stable as it gets, but his future is uncertain for 2023–2024. He assisted the Heat in getting to the NBA Finals in 2020 while still a rookie. He has been one of Miami’s most dependable offensive weapons and a marksman from beyond the arc for the past three seasons.
Hero’s fractured wrist against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022–2023 kept him out of the NBA playoffs for the whole season. Who knows whether he’d been healthy? Perhaps the Heat win the NBA Finals against the Nuggets. Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in the regular season. In addition to leading the NBA in foul shooting percentage (93.4%), he shot 43.9% overall and 37.8% from three points.
Given the speculation that Herro would be leaving the Miami Heat in any trade for Damian Lillard, it seems doubtful that he will still be with the team in 2023–24. Herro is a player with enough swagger to fill any arena and a reliable attacking weapon for his new squad.
8. Nikola Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic would have been considerably higher on this list a few seasons ago. This is not to suggest that Vucevic has declined in quality or that he is no longer among the best European players in the NBA. Simply said, the quality surrounding him has improved significantly. In 2022-23, Vucevic averaged 17.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game as the Bulls starting centre for all 82 games.
Vucevic re-signed with the Bulls in the 2022–2023 summer, agreeing to a three-year, $60 million contract. Chicago anticipates the same output and figures from him in 2023–2024, according to this. Vucevic will carry a lot of responsibility as the starting centre for the Bulls, but he will also receive the assistance and support he needs to succeed in that role. With Vucevic probably averaging close to the same statistics in 2023–24, the Bulls should be back in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
9. Josh Giddey
One of the several reasons why the Oklahoma City Thunder are among the NBA clubs with the best prospects is because of Josh Giddey. Giddey made a significant improvement in 2022–2023 after dealing with a few injuries during his debut year. As the Thunder surprised everyone by making it to the play-in tournament, Giddey averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game in 76 games.
In 2023–2024, Giddey will play a role on the Thunder that is comparable to that of anybody other. With the ascent to superstardom of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the much-awaited return of Chet Holmgren following his absence for the whole rookie year. The arrival of another player who can score and set himself up to do so will strengthen Giddey’s role as a facilitator. One guy to keep a careful eye on as Oklahoma City attempts to take those enormous first steps towards an NBA title is Giddey.
10. Alex Caruso
Inside the NBA, Alex Caruso has developed a kind of folk hero status over the years. I’m not sure if his extraordinary athleticism, his time spent playing with LeBron James, or his constant commitment to giving his all on the pitch is what has made him such a folk hero, but he has nevertheless attained that reputation.
This is not to argue that Caruso hasn’t merited being praised by all true basketball enthusiasts. Caruso’s 2022–2023 game average was a pitiful 5.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals. But more than anything else, his defensive efforts were so great that the Chicago Bulls named him to their All-Defensive First Team.
Caruso hopes to provide the Bulls with the defensive edge they need to return to postseason play as they did in 2022 as they move into 2023–2024. Caruso is entering his third season with the Bulls and his sixth season overall. Once more, he will be a valuable member of the team both as a starter and off the bench.
