We'll spare you the suspense. The two guys pictured here are the two best players in the NBA. But what about the rest of the league's biggest stars? Here's how we rank them going into the 2012-13 season.

Finally, LeBron has it all. Not just the regular-season MVP (for the third time), but the Finals MVP and NBA championship trophy, not to mention another gold medal. At 27, James is a supreme talent at the height of his powers, which, like him or not, is a sight to behold. The question isn't whether he has become, at long last, the king of his sport. It's how long his reign will continue.

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Durant didn't hang his head for long after losing the 2012 Finals. Instead, as always, he focused on getting better. Already the owner of three scoring titles at the age of 24, Durant keeps improving at every facet of the game. At this rate, he may rule the NBA some day. But not quite yet.

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Howard doesn't need to be LA's leading scorer, but as the team's only superstar in his prime, he probably needs to be its best player in order to win the 2013 championship. That means dominating the glass and being the league's most intimidating defender, something that's well within his power. If he can do that, he'll be a worthy successor to Wilt, Shaq and Kareem. 

Paul, who averaged 19.8 points, 9.1 assists and 2.5 steals last season, puts up nice stats for a point guard. But what really sets him apart are his intangibles: his competitiveness, his leadership and his instinct for knowing exactly what his team needs at any given moment. No little man controls a game quite like Chris Paul.

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Assuming he eventually returns from knee surgery and regains the speed and explosiveness that made him great, Rose belongs among the top five players in the league. That's no sure thing, of course. But given his youth and voracious work ethic, the 2011 MVP deserves the benefit of the doubt.

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The 2012 playoffs were LeBron's show, but the Heat never would have sniffed the title without Wade. The league's best sidekick since Scottie Pippen, Wade deferred to James at times but also asserted himself when necessary. His defensive contributions, in particular, give him a slight edge over Kobe Bryant at this stage of their careers.

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He can still create his own shot like no one else, though most of those shots are long jumpers these days. Toughness, willpower and a still-burning passion for the game keep Kobe among the elite players. Now 34 and in his 17th season, he's the only player over 30 in the top 10.

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While limited athletically, Love keeps pushing his limits otherwise. He emerged as one of the NBA's best rebounders two seasons ago. Last year he turned himself into one of the top 3-point shooters. The result is a big man with a unique skill set, a tenacious rebounder and deadly shooter who is a double-double machine.

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Frustrated in New Jersey, Williams is on a better team in a new city this season – all without changing franchises! By staying with the Nets as they moved to Brooklyn, he has a chance to become an even bigger star than he was in Utah. And win more, too, thanks to his expensive new teammates.

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This powder keg of a point guard is always ready to erupt – usually in a good way. Yes, he probably should pass to Kevin Durant and keep his cool more often. But when he's in attack mode, which is every second, the Thunder are too aggressive and explosive for most opponents to handle.

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In his seventh season with the Lakers, Bynum emerged as the second-best center in the NBA, averaging 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. The real test of his character will come now that he's out of Kobe Bryant's shadow. Still just 25, will he be able to carry a team of his own? Is he ready to be a star?

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He finished 10th in the league in scoring and sixth in rebounding last season, but Griffin won't be a top-10 player until he improves his defense and free-throw shooting. At 23, there's plenty of time for that. Until then, let's all enjoy those dunks, OK?

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Always a superb penetrator, Parker stepped up as a playmaker and leader last season. He took the reins of the Spurs from Tim Duncan and kept them atop the West standings. And in typical Spurs fashion, he did it with little hype and total professionalism.

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He needs to be surrounded with talent because he's not a good enough shooter or scorer to carry a team. But is there a better floor leader in the league than Rondo these days? (Maybe Chris Paul.) Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce can thank Rondo for making their jobs easier as they age.

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Dirk was the best basketball player on the planet during the 2011 playoffs. He seems to have lost his edge since then, while developing knee problems. But until he completely breaks down, there won't be a big man alive with a sweeter shot.

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We all know 'Melo can score in every which way, from inside and out. What he stlll needs to prove in the prime of his career is that he can pass, rebound and defend well enough to make him a good teammate and a winner. This season will be critical to Anthony's legacy.

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An easy scapegoat when things aren't going well for the Heat, Bosh deserves his share of credit for Miami's championship. He willingly moved to center in the playoffs and did some of the dirty work down low. But his intermediate shooting ability also helps clear the lane for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade's drives to the basket.

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He can't fly all over the court like a crazed praying mantis anymore, but the 36-year-old Garnett remains a force on both ends of the court. The Celtics still feed off his passion and energy.

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The two-time NBA MVP will turn 39 this season but his shooting and passing skills, plus his basketball IQ, remain extraordinarily high. Now he gets to orchestrate a Lakers offense that includes Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.

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He's still not well-known outside of Portland, but he should be. A 6-11 forward with a soft touch, Aldridge was seventh in the NBA in scoring last season.

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