Who were the top 30 players of 2017-18? 20-11

For the regular season's final week, theScore's eight NBA editors cumulatively ranked the top 30 players of 2017-18 in a four-part series. These rankings are based solely on performance during the season in question, with no consideration of past or future projections.

Related: Who finished 30-21?

20. Kyle Lowry

Lowry's numbers have taken a significant hit, as he averages six points less than he did last season. But the four-time All-Star has been great on both ends of the floor, sporting a net rating of plus-7.3 per 100 possessions, and should enter the postseason fresher than ever after averaging just 32.2 minutes per game - his lowest since his first year in Toronto. - Wael Saghir

19. Ben Simmons

With all due respect to Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum, the Rookie of the Year is Ben Simmons. Here's a 20-year-old coming off a broken foot to lead the Sixers to their first 50-win season in nearly two decades while averaging 16-8-8-2-1 and switching across four positions. - William Lou

18. Paul George

Although George spent the season working on his chemistry with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, he essentially put up the same numbers he did as the top dog in Indiana. Averaging 21-5-3, he's also shooting 38.7 percent from 3-point range on a career-best 7.6 attempts each night. George's defense has been outstanding too, as his 2.1 steals per game are second in the NBA behind, ironically enough, Victor Oladipo. - Mitch Robson

17. Rudy Gobert

Gobert's going to finish with roughly 55 games played, but he's left little room for debate about who should be this season's Defensive Player of the Year. The Jazz are 36-18 with the Stifle Tower patrolling the paint - including an absurd 28-5 over their last 33 games - and Utah's defensive rating of 97.8 when Gobert's on the court would rank second over the last four years.
- Joseph Casciaro

16. Jimmy Butler

Before a major injury setback, Butler was in the mix for MVP, leading a Minnesota franchise that hasn't reached the postseason since 2004 to one of the best records in a competitive Western Conference. Butler is averaging 22.1 points, 5.4 boards, and 4.9 assists, and the Timberwolves are 12.8 points per 100 possessions better when he's on the floor. Without him, they've won just 10 of 22 games. - Saghir

15. Victor Oladipo

Oladipo proved all the critics wrong with a breakout season. Not only is he a monster on offense (23.1 points on 57.7 true shooting), but he's the rare leading scorer that competes just as hard on defense. Oladipo leads the league in steals and should earn All-Defensive votes. - Lou

14. Chris Paul

Paul missed more than a quarter of the season and has taken a backseat to an MVP front-runner, but the Point God still impacts the game far more than his already stellar base statistics (18.6 points, 7.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals on 46-38-92 shooting) would indicate. An all-time advanced stats darling, Paul leads the league in real plus-minus, with the NBA's best team playing eight points per 100 possessions better when he's on the court.
- Casciaro

13. Kyrie Irving

Irving was carrying Boston's offense on the strength of a career-high 49.1 field-goal percentage, as well as 40.8 percent from distance and 88.9 at the free-throw line. He nearly entered the exclusive 50-40-90 club in his first season out of LeBron James' shadow. He also benefited from playing in Brad Stevens' defense, posting a career-high 103.4 defensive rating. - Robson

12. LaMarcus Aldridge

Aldridge is having a resurgent year with Kawhi Leonard out, averaging 23.4 points and 8.4 boards. The Spurs' offense is 6.7 points per 100 possessions worse when Aldridge is off, with no reliable secondary scorer on the roster. The next-best option? Rudy Gay at 11.4 points per game off the bench. Looks like that $50-million extension was a solid investment. - Saghir

11. Karl-Anthony Towns

It's crazy that Towns is only the second or third option on the Timberwolves considering his otherworldly efficiency. He's averaging 21 points per game off just 14 shots a night, with shooting splits of 54.1/42.1/85.9 that would make Dirk Nowitzki proud. The sky's the limit for Towns, especially when he's locked in on defense. - Lou

10-6: Wednesday, Apr. 11
The top five: Thursday, Apr. 12

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)