Ranking the Top 10 backcourts in the NBA for 2022-23 season
Anthony Edwards elevates Minnesota into one of best backcourts in the NBA
9. Minnesota Timberwolves. 86. Scouting Report. D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards. 9. player. Pick Analysis
D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards are dynamic scorers and can impose their will on just about any opposing defense.
Many are projecting Edwards to make an All-Star leap this season and catapult himself into the upper echelon of NBA guards. There are few players who can match his strength, athleticism, and size. He can score from anywhere on the court and absolutely take over games single-handedly. He’s had some growing pains in Minnesota, but the arrival of a winning veteran like Rudy Gobert will help him take the next step in his game.
Russell has been inconsistent at times, including crucially, against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs. But, when he’s “on,” he’s hard to stop.
8. Philadelphia 76ers. player. 93. Pick Analysis. Tyrese Maxey and James Harden. 8. Scouting Report
It seems like Tyrese Maxey is just barely scratching the surface with his NBA potential. He’s made a Desmond Bane-esque leap from Year 1 to Year 2 with the 76ers.
He increased his per-game scoring average by 9.5 points per game. What does a Year 3 leap look like for the former Kentucky standout? Anything beyond his 17.5 ppg, 4.3 apg, and 3.2 rebounds per game will be pure gravy.
How will Maxey coexist with a whole season of teammate James Harden? The early word is that Harden has been in the lab working on slimming down ahead of the new season and fine-tuning his skills for a hard push at a title in 2022-23.
Big man Joel Embiid runs this team and rightfully so. However, how well Maxey and Harden perform together over the course of an entire season will drastically impact if they are contenders or destined for an early-round exit in the playoffs. I’m buying stock in the 76ers putting it all together and having a really successful 2022-23.
Pick Analysis. Fred Van Vleet and Gary Trent Jr.. 7. 81. player. Scouting Report. 7. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors’ backcourt of Fred Van Vleet and Gary Trent Jr. are just simply outstanding. They’re both excellent players, but never seem to get the proper credit they deserve. Since Van Vleet’s arrival in the 2016-17 season, the Raptors have won 48 or more games in five out of his six seasons with the team.
Van Vleet is an NBA champion, a great leader, can stuff the stat sheet and he’s just simply put—a winner. He posted a career-best type of season in 2021-22 and helped the young Raptors to a playoff berth and pushed teammate Scottie Barnes enough to help him earn the 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Trent Jr. is still working on unlocking his full potential, but he’s well on his way. He erupted for 10 games of 30+ points last season— two of which were 40+ point games. He had two such games during the 2020-21 season.
This is a duo that can not just hang with any rival backcourt, they’re going to outplay them in most cases.