Rich Paul Makes Bold Pick Over Nikola Jokic As Best NBA Player

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Rich Paul talks with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on January 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

NBA agent Rich Paul was among the first to anoint Anthony Edwards as the “best player in the world” for his recent success leading the Minnesota Timberwolves. Paul’s podcast with Max Kellerman featured them having an in-depth conversation breaking down the top active player. Names like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the superstars usually named first.

Kellerman took the most popular stance of Jokic, but Paul decided to chime in with a different perspective:

“I still think it’s a community (of multiple names at the top), but I think that community is led by Anthony Edwards. Anthony Edwards is the best player in the world today. He is the best player. You can’t watch a game on any given night against anybody and look at that game and say, ‘Oh, that person is better than Anthony Edwards.’ I love Jokic – no question about it, but no.”

Paul took the stance of Edwards’ currently successful season putting him over the top as the best choice. The recent All-Star Game MVP performance showed that Edwards can shine brightest against the best talent in the world. Some fans took exception and felt Paul was “disrespecting” players like Jokic and SGA who’ve accomplish more.

Did Rich Paul Disrespect Jokic?

The main reason for Jokic getting the respect of being called the “best in the world” comes back to his greatest accolades. Jokic has won three MVP Awards and one NBA Championship for the Denver Nuggets to give him the resume needed for such a level of greatness.

Edwards has yet to win an NBA Championship or truly contend for an MVP Award yet in his career. However, some credit should be given for Edwards for leading his team to two consecutive Western Conference Finals with less expectations than the other players on higher-seeded teams.

Paul could have a fair argument of Edwards being a better two-way player than Jokic since he plays significantly better defense. Gilgeous-Alexander is also a good defender, but Paul feels like Edwards shouldering more responsibility to carry his team makes Ant the best player in the league right now.

Can Anthony Edwards Prove Rich Paul Right?

Edwards is starting to get more respect around the league and many view him as a top five player actively. However, it is considered a hot take to have Edwards as number one, which is why Paul is getting some criticism for his opinion.

NBA Championships and MVP Awards are how the elite class of the NBA gets judged. Players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant had to accomplish both before getting anointed as the class of the league during their respective ascensions. Edwards must do the same and get at least one of the two elusive honors that represent the highest success.

Minnesota is considered a secondary contender this season, but their deep playoff success may help them out. Unfortunately for Edwards, an MVP Award is extremely unlikely this season. A shocking NBA Championship win is the only way most fans and pundits would officially rank Edwards above Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander.

Joey Haverford Joey Haverford is a seasoned sports content writer with over 12 years of experience. He has covered the NBA, WNBA, MLB, NFL, and professional wrestling in the sports industry. More about Joey Haverford