18. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Parker is reportedly ahead of schedule with his quad rehab, meaning the Spurs could have him back on the court as soon as next month. Even though he’s clearly on the back end of his career, Parker’s quick twitch playmaking is still a valuable cog on a perennial playoff team in the ever-challenging Western Conference.
On a more concerning note, Parker has seen his scoring drop in four consecutive seasons. He also bottomed out at 33.3 percent from deep last year, a sharp decline from the 41.5 percent clip he had during the 2015-16 season. That isn’t a great trend for someone who’s now 35 years old, which could mean Parker takes a dip in these rankings by the end of next season.
Part of this ranking is out of respect, though, and he’s still capable of producing with the occasional scoring burst and plenty of smarts as a playmaker. Being reliable for a potential top-four team is enough to hold onto No. 18.