2023-24 NBA: The 9 most important players this NBA season

Fubo News ranks the nine most important players in the NBA for 2023-24. Watch the NBA on Fubo all season long.

The NBA is a star-driven league, where the best players in the game work to drive their teams to reach their individual goals and compete for a championship. Every team has their own individual goals and will need these players to step up to achieve them.

These players aren’t necessarily All-NBA or even All-Stars in the league, but they are difference-makers. This season these are the most important players for teams as they look to meet their individual goals, make a leap and for some, to contend for a championship.

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Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers

Heading into this season, Philadelphia could be a championship-level contender led by MVP Joel Embiid alongside former MVP James Harden and rising star Maxey. Unfortunately, Harden, who is known for step-back threes and triple-doubles is going to be known for another three: quitting on three teams. 

That opens up a massive scoring and playmaking void for the team, which will have to be filled in by Maxey, who proved last year he is more than ready for a larger role. 

With new head coach Nick Nurse, Philadelphia will play a more open, attacking style that will take advantage of Maxey’s speed. Maxy jumped from 8.0 to 17.5 to 20.3 points per game over the last three seasons. Another jump this year could finally give Embiid a reliable, consistent star teammate in Philadelphia.

Eric Gordon – Phoenix Suns

This season, Phoenix went all-in on a Big 3 in former MVP Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the oft-injured Bradley Beal. The most consistent role player they have around them is Eric Gordon, who has been the consummate professional for each team he has played on.

Now, he will likely be the first man off the bench every game and asked to close most nights for this Phoenix team.

Gordon brings a floor-spacing shooter who can fill it up as a scorer. He has also become a quality team defender who can hold his own on the perimeter against stars like Stephen Curry and defend up against forwards in the post.

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Jonathan Kuminga – Golden State Warriors

This is it. This is the year for Kuminga to carve out his role and reach the potential that Golden State saw in him during the 2021 NBA draft. Golden State needs his infusion of youth, length, athleticism and scoring off the bench to contend for a fifth NBA Championship in 10 seasons.

Kuminga has always shown flashes. This preseason, he looked the most complete averaging 21.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on 54-45-75 percent shooting splits.

Playing off of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, with Draymond Green and Chris Paul making plays is the best situation a young wing can be in to be successful. It is time for Kuminga to make his mark.

Keegan Murray – Sacramento Kings

Last season, Sacramento surprised the league as the best offensive team and the third-seed in the Western Conference. They have an All-Star pairing in De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis but need a third option to take the next step.

Murray finished his rookie season averaging 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 45-41-76 percent shooting splits. In the playoffs, he was up and down, averaging just 9.7 points on 45-37-67 percent shooting splits.

For Sacramento to take the next step as a team, someone has to be a third option on offense, taking the pressure off Fox and Sabonis. Murray has that potential as a shooter and playmaker with his combination of size, athleticism and skill.

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Evan Mobley – Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland is sneaking in under the radar coming into this season despite winning 51 games last year, making the playoffs and improving its main weakness during the offseason. 

Heading into this season, Mobley has the opportunity to start with the paint less clogged with All-Star Jarrett Allen out with injury. Those form one of the best defensive frontcourts, but a slow, plodding and predictable offense.

This season, Mobley will get the opportunity to flex his shooting and playmaking muscles more alongside Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and all the new shooters. Cleveland will have significantly better spacing and offensive flow with just Mobley on the court.

Long-term, this is an important year for Mobley, Garland and Cleveland as an organization with only one more year on Mitchell’s contract and the All-Star guard wanting to leave becoming the worst-kept secret in the NBA.

Josh Giddey – Oklahoma City Thunder

As this Oklahoma City team continues to develop talent and to it in the draft there are going to be some players that need to make sacrifices for ultimate team success. That player might be Giddey, who could be added by statistical subtraction. 

Last season, Giddey was second on the team in usage behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With the rise of Jalen Williams and the addition of Chet Holmgren, Giddey will see that drop.

Giddey developing as a connective piece, rebounder, defender and most importantly, as a shooter, will be a key in unlocking the best version of this young Oklahoma City team. Giddey is a career 46-29-73 percent shooter, which will have to improve this season.

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Desmond Bane – Memphis Grizzlies

Over the past two seasons, Bane has grown as a player, becoming a fringe All-Star. This season, he opens up as unquestionably Memphis’ best offensive player with Ja Morant suspended. 

Bane finished last season averaging 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game on 48-41-88 percent shooting splits. 

With Morant out, as well as Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke there will be a major load on Bane’s shoulders. If he can maintain that efficiency and production, Bane could make his first All-Star game while keeping this Memphis team in the playoff mix.

Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III – Portland Trail Blazers

The Damian Lillard trade set up Portland with a lot of picks as well as very talented, impactful players to spin off to other teams.

Reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Brogdon has been linked to the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers to bring his leadership to a contending team. Williams has not been in any trade rumors but would be a massive addition to any contending team.

Where those two land if they are traded could shift the balance of the playoff race. Neither player fits the timeline for Portland setting the team up to take the best offer for the veteran guard and big man.

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