Before we jump into the top 10, though, let’s take a look at a handful of players who, at the very least, have an argument to be in that group.

Given the postseason he just had (27.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists at 22 years old and on the way to a conference finals appearance) and the fact that he was just ahead of a notable Boston Celtic in Team USA’s Olympic rotation, there’s a case to be made for Ant.

He just finished fifth in MVP voting and made Second Team All-NBA, two honors that suggest Brunson is a top-10 player. He’s a bit more shoot-first than Chris Paul, but he may have officially taken the mantle of the league’s best feisty, undersized 1.

He was eliminated in the first round by Edwards’ Minnesota Timberwolves, but Booker may still be the smoothest, steadiest 2 in the NBA. He has career postseason averages of 28.0 points, 5.3 assists and 2.3 threes, while shooting 38.9 percent from deep.

Yes, injuries are always a concern with Kawhi, but they probably shouldn’t be to the degree that his overall rating comes in lower than all of the above. When healthy, he’s about as influential on winning as anyone in the league.

There is certainly a bit of projection here, but it’s hard to avoid with Wemby. As a 20-year-old rookie, he played at an All-NBA level and posted a basic statline (21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals) we’ve literally never seen from a rookie before. Would it really be all that shocking if we get a few weeks into the season and he’s a consensus top-10 player?

Beyond those five, there might also reasonable debates to be had over Jimmy Butler, Tyrese Haliburton, Zion Williamson or a handful of others, but this isn’t an easy top 10 to crack. And we already have 15 or so worthy candidates.

So, with apologies to anyone who deserved a shout but didn’t get one, it’s time to take a look at the actual list.