Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 30. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance has been somewhat buried by a poor situation in OKC. He’s the centerpiece of an egregiously bad team, which makes it hard to build up hype as a top-30 player. But that’s exactly what SGA is. He’s already among the best of the best in the NBA, with elite three-level scoring and positional versatility at 6-foot-6.
On offense, Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the NBA’s best slashers. He puts immense pressure on the rim, using long, sweeping steps to weave inside and finish at the rim. Last season, he averaged 23.7 points and 5.9 assists while slashing .508/.418/.808 from the field. That efficiency is even more impressive when you consider Gilgeous-Alexander was often the only offensive player worth caring about for OKC, meaning the defense tuned in to his every move.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 29. Khris Middleton
The Bucks won the NBA championship behind the immense productivity of an elite “big three.” Yes, there were contributions across the roster, but last postseason finally put to bed questions of whether or not Khris Middleton was a true No. 2 offensively. He’s not only a true No. 2, but arguably one of the best No. 2s in the entire sport.
Middleton is a mid-range savant, with deep pull-up range out to the 3-point line and a crafty set of finishing moves inside. He takes a page out of the Kobe book and does a damn good impression, showcasing a real knack for tough jumpers in big moments. In the past, the main concern with Middleton has been “why isn’t he shooting more?” Last season, he averaged 20.4 points and 6.0 rebounds on .476/.414/.898 shooting while taking a “back seat” to Giannis and Jrue Holiday.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 28. Klay Thompson
It’s impossible to predict where Klay Thompson will land after two years off and two major knee surgeries. He could land well below this range when all is said and done, but for now, let’s move forward with the optimistic view. Thompson is probably the second-greatest shooter of all time, behind only his backcourt teammate. If anything can survive two knee injuries, it’s that honey-sweet stroke.
Modern medicine has made recoveries easier and more effective than ever. Even if his movement isn’t 100 percent restored, Thompson’s mere presence on the court should compromise defenses. He’s one of the league’s elite off-ball movers, and understands how to impact a game without dribbling the ball better than anyone (except maybe his backcourt teammate). Thompson is well suited for a strong season, so long as he’s on the floor.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 27. Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine made “The Leap” last season, going from a fun-but-flawed scoring guard to a bona fide All-Star and franchise leader. He averaged 27.4 points and 4.9 assists (both career highs) while slashing an absurd .507/.419/.849 from the field. There’s really not much else to say about the offense. LaVine might lead the NBA in scoring next season, for all we know.
Where the problems start (and pretty much end) for LaVine is defense. He’s just not a good defender, nor does he really put forth the effort to become a good defender. The Bulls have bad or flawed defenders up and down the rotation, which could prove problematic next season.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 26. Jamal Murray
A torn ACL removed Jamal Murray from the playoff picture and doomed Denver to a second round exit. Knee injuries are tricky, but if he can get back to form, it shouldn’t take Murray long to remind fans why he’s a burgeoning All-Star and one of the best perimeter creators in the NBA.
Some considered last season a disappointment for Murray, even before the injury. That was despite him playing the best defense of his career and putting up monster numbers as the yin to Nikola Jokic’s yang in the Nuggets’ starting five. The “struggling” Murray averaged 21.2 points and 4.8 assists while slashing .477/.408/.869 — he’s absurdly good.