27. Joe Johnson

NBA Player Rankings: Top 30

Johnson has adjusted well to a leadership role in the Nets locker room. If his strong play continues, the Nets should make the playoffs in their inaugural season in Brooklyn. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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NBA Player Ranki... John Butler, XFINITY Sports

I ranked the teams earlier this week. Now I’m ranking the top 30 active NBA players. Please note the word “active,” as in, the top 30 players peaking early in 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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30. Anderson Var... Varejao is posting the best numbers of his career so far this season. He currently ranks second in the league in rebounding with 15 RPG. He’s contributing 14 points a night as well. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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29. Joakim Noah Joakim Noah is holding down the fort in Chicago. With Derrick Rose sidelined, he has become a clutch performer for the Bulls. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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28. Anthony Davi... Davis is the only rookie to make the top 30. He has earned his way on the list with a low post presence that has veterans on the lookout. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)

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27. Joe Johnson Johnson has adjusted well to a leadership role in the Nets locker room. If his strong play continues, the Nets should make the playoffs in their inaugural season in Brooklyn. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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26. Josh Smith The Hawks' hometown star is finally putting all of his talent to good use. Entering the prime of his career at 26, Smith is a double-double threat every night. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)

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25. Paul Pierce Pierce hasn’t lost his touch. The NBA veteran is averaging 20 PPG and 6 RPG through nearly two weeks of play. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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24. LaMarcus Ald... Aldridge is Portland’s first option on offense. Sunday’s 22-point performance against the Rockets proved it. (AP Photo/Jim Weber)

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23. Marc Gasol The "other" Gasol has clawed his way to the top of the player power rankings. His 21 PPG this season is just what the Grizzlies will need to secure home-court advantage in the first round this spring. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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22. Andre Iguoda... The former 76er has been the only defender to shut down James Harden this season. Iguodala prides himself on his ability to prevent scoring. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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21. Tim Duncan "The Big Fundamental" remains true to his nickname. Duncan’s near-flawless post game remains tough to guard. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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20. Blake Griffi... Griffin’s highlight reel dunks often overshadow his overall ability. His athleticism and superior strength make him a nightmare for opposing power forwards. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

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19. Kyrie Irving Irving is dodging the sophomore jinx so far this season. His 23 points and 6 assists per game are impressive considering his supporting cast in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

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18. Tony Parker Parker poses a threat to NBA defenses on a nightly basis. His 16 points and 8 assists per game have the Spurs sitting atop the NBA standings. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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17. Pau Gasol Gasol is adjusting to playing alongside big man Dwight Howard. The seven-footer still poses as a viable option for the Lakers' offense. Gasol is averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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16. Deron Willia... Williams was one of the summer's most prized free agents. He’s proving that the Nets made the right decision with 18 points and 11 assists per game. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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15. Dwight Howar... It's been a slow start for the Lakers this season. That does not negate the fact that Dwight Howard is the most dominant big man in the NBA. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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14. Jamal Crawfo... It’s not often that a bench player has the green light to shoot the ball at will. Then again, most NBA subs don’t average 24 points per game. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

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13. Zach Randolp... Undersized and overweight was the general viewpoint on Randolph early in his career. Now he is the leader of a Grizzlies team with legitimate playoff expectations. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

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12. Brandon Jenn... Jennings is giving fans a reason to watch the Bucks this season. The unselfish guard leads the league in assists with 13 per game. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

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11. O.J. Mayo With Dirk sidelined in Dallas, O.J. Mayo has been a scoring machine. Back-to-back 30-point outings have led to back-to-back to victories for the Mavs. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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10. Rajon Rondo Ray Allen has left the Celtics. Kevin Garnett’s numbers are on the decline. Rondo is the glue that keeps the C's in championship contention. The feisty guard has bagged double-digit assists in 28 consecutive games. That's balling. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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9. Dwyane Wade The reigning NBA champion has sacrificed personal statistics for a more balanced game alongside LeBron James. Still, Wade can fill the stat sheet on any given night. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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8. Chris Bosh Bosh is often the forgotten member of Miami’s "Big Three." He refreshed critics’ memory with the 40-point performance he had on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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7. Kobe Bryant Nevermind age, Kobe Bryant will be one of the top 30 NBA players as long as he’s in the league. Father time refuses to affect Kobe’s abilities. He’s second in the league in scoring with 26.8 PPG. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

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6. James Harden It only took Harden the first week of the season to enter the NBA record books. He scored more points in his first two games with a new team than anyone in history (including Wilt Chamberlain). (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

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5. Chris Paul Chris Paul is the first Clipper to make the All-NBA First Team since 1975. His drive to win has infused new life into the Clippers after just one season. (AP Photo/Richard Hartog)

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4. Russell Westb... Some think his game is too volatile. So be it. Westbrook is in attack mode whenever he gets the ball, and his 20 PPG average leads all NBA point guards. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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3. Carmelo Antho... 'Melo has the smooth jumper of a shooting guard, he can post up against the game’s best power forwards, and he’s even playing defense this season. The Knicks might be for real this year, and they can thank 'Melo. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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2. Kevin Durant Durant is a deadly shooter from anywhere on the floor. Guard him too closely and it’s straight to the basket for the three-time scoring champ. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

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1. LeBron James LeBron has the size of an All-Star power forward with the court vision of an elite point guard. He's lethal and arguably the best all-around player in the league. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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