Top 100 NBA players for 2021-22 season

We are less than two weeks from the beginning of training camp. NBA basketball is on the horizon, and with it comes the return of the greatest basketball players in the world.

Before last season, we ranked the top 50 NBA players. It’s safe to say a lot has changed since then. This time around, we are expanding the list to 100 in an effort to show more love to more excellent players.

For comparison’s sake, here are the top 10 players from last preseason:

1. LeBron James
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
3. James Harden
4. Luka Doncic
5. Kawhi Leonard
6. Stephen Curry
7. Kevin Durant
8. Nikola Jokic
9. Jimmy Butler
10. Damian Lillard

Given the relative uncertainty around rookies, we did not put rookies on the list. Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and the like will probably join the top 100 soon enough, but we haven’t seen them in NBA action yet.

Here are the top 100 NBA players entering the 2021-22 season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 100. Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins made the best of his new situation in Golden State, becoming a genuinely impressive wing defender and a useful complementary scorer. He’s still prone to some brutal decision-making on offense, but if he can keep hitting 38.0 percent of his 3s, Golden State will be more than happy.

The Warriors will be right back in contention next season if Klay Thompson is healthy. Golden State has loaded up on a couple strong free agents, and with Kelly Oubre presumably out of the way, Wiggins should have more room to play to his strengths as a downhill driver and cutter.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 99. Larry Nance Jr.

Larry Nance Jr. is best known for his dunks, but he’s more than a vertical spectacle. He’s one of the best defensive forwards in the NBA, supplying elite versatility to any rotation. His quick hands, dynamic athleticism, and advanced instincts allow him to guard multiple positions, and he’s a force off the ball, where he racks up deflections.

On offense, Nance has rounded into form as a strong complementary talent. He processes the game at a high level, and generally knows where and when he should be. He doesn’t domineer possessions, but instead thrives as a rim runner and occasional spot-up shooter, with the passing chops necessary to connect all the dots.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 98. Devonte’ Graham

The Pelicans will benefit from Devonte’ Graham’s arrival, even if it stems from unfortunate asset mismanagement. He’s a pretty perfect fit next to Zion Williamson — a high-I.Q. playmaker and one of the NBA’s most prolific spot-up shooters. He can play off the ball, or keep the offense zipping when he’s at the controls.

Graham struggled at times last season, but he was also buried in a deep Charlotte backcourt. For better or worse, the Pelicans will put his talent on full display. He’s essentially the No. 3 option behind Williamson and Brandon Ingram at this point.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 97. Steven Adams

Steven Adams is universally accepted as the strongest player in the NBA. That has its inherent benefits. He’s possibly the best offensive rebounder in the game, not to mention a pretty darn great defensive rebounder. He can also impose his will defensively in certain matchups, especially when harassing the league’s more post-bound centers.

A rough year in New Orleans has dulled the excitement around Adams as a player, but he’s still quite useful, and should find a more amiable home in Memphis. He can feast on dump-offs from Ja Morant and bring his physicality to the city of Grit n’ Grind.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 96. Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk experienced a renaissance of sorts in Houston, seeing his workload expanded tenfold for a losing team short on NBA talent. While Olynyk’s numbers in Houston probably overstate his value — 19.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, .542/.392/.844 — he is no doubt a very useful, versatile offensive weapon.

We should see Olynyk produce fruitfully in Detroit, even if he will now take a backseat to Cade Cunningham and Jerami Grant. He brings immense value as a floor-spacer at center, with the quickness and face-up ability to torch slower bigs on the perimeter. He’s also a physical, smart team defender, if not a great rim protector.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 95. Dillon Brooks

The Grizzlies probably need to demote Dillon Brooks from the No. 2 scoring role at some point, but even so, he was an invaluable two-way contributor on a playoff team last season. He averaged 17.2 points and showed real juice creating off the dribble.

While Brooks’ offensive flourishes are somewhat magical, his real talent is defense. There aren’t many better wing/guard defenders in the NBA. He was an underrated All-Defense candidate, as his physical, high-I.Q. approach makes him a nice counter to the opposition’s lead scorer. He is a great third or fourth piece on a contender. Memphis just needs to get another guy.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 94. Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jaren Jackson Jr. played only 11 games last season, making it hard to gauge his production with any real certainty. He took a step back, yes, but in a COVID-warped season, coming off injury, it’s hard to put stock in his rocky 3-point shooting or defensive inconsistency. Expect a bounce-back season.

At some point, Memphis should transition to Jackson as the full-time center. Until then, he can still provide ample value as a weak-side rim protector and volume 3-point shooter. Assuming the percentages inch back up, Jackson’s 3-and-D nature, coupled with the potential for a major breakthrough, puts him firmly on this list.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 93. Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young is the quintessential Swiss Army knife. He’s the perfect Spur, and also a player the Spurs may look to trade (or simply buy out) as San Antonio’s rebuild stubbornly edges closer. He was misutilized in Chicago last season, and even so, put together a worthy Sixth Man of the Year campaign. He averaged 12.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 55.9 percent shooting.

The 3-point shot is historically uneven, but Young is one of the NBA’s best wing defenders, with the versatility to slide all the way down to five in some lineups. On offense, he’s an elite processor, making split-second decisions as a passer, while also displaying graceful footwork around the paint.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 92. Evan Fournier

The Knicks signed Evan Fournier to an expensive three-year contract, and for good reason. He’s a perfect complement to New York’s offensive core, with a buttery 3-point stroke and strong instincts as a secondary playmaker. He should elevate the Knicks’ offense pretty drastically.

Splitting last season between Orlando and Boston, Fournier averaged 17.1 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 41.3 percent from deep. His volume from behind the 3-point line will unclog driving lanes for R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle, and he does enough as a go-to scorer to command respect from defenses off the dribble. The addition of Kemba Walker will only help Fournier find his groove in the Knicks’ backcourt.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 91. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Approximately two (2) Dallas Mavericks showed up for the first round of the NBA playoffs — Luka Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. While Doncic did most of the heavy lifting, Hardaway’s red-hot 3-point display kept Dallas in the series. At times, it looked like he might push them over the top. After years of being maligned for his contract, Hardaway signed another pricey extension this summer, and it was well deserved.

Hardaway excels as a complementary scorer. Next to Doncic, a heliocentric playmaker who dominates the ball, the excess has been trimmed from Hardaway’s role. He is almost exclusively a shooter, with only stray opportunities to break down his defender and create from scratch. That is the best role for Hardaway. Compact and efficient.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 90. R.J. Barrett

R.J. Barrett took a considerable leap forward in his second NBA season, averaging 17.6 points and hitting 40.1 percent of his 3s. That level of improvement is a good sign for the future, as Barrett’s ability to space the floor feeds his ability to attack downhill and score at the rim. He has always had the strength and explosiveness, and now the skill is coming along.

Also, at 6-foot-7, Barrett is making the best of his elite defensive tools under Tom Thibodeau. He can play physical with the NBA’s strongest wing scorers, an attribute that will only increase in importance after New York’s perimeter-oriented moves this summer. Barrett is still rough around the edges, but he’s already a very useful two-way player.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 89. De’Andre Hunter

De’Andre Hunter was notably absent from Atlanta’s conference finals run, dealing with an unfortunate meniscus tear. That said, he was Atlanta’s fourth-best player for much of the season. At 6-foot-8, he is beginning to cash in on the defensive upside that was advertised coming out of college. He also took a major step forward offensively in year two, averaging 15.0 points per game and becoming a legitimate No. 3 option to Trae Young and John Collins.

The Hawks have depth in spades, and that front office has taken special care to add pieces that fit. Hunter fits with Atlanta. He’s well-positioned as a tertiary option offensively, and he’s the backbone of Atlanta’s perimeter defense. His return will make a notable difference next season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 88. D’Angelo Russell

In a lot of ways, D’Angelo Russell is still a very cool player. Last season, despite injuries and COVID abound, he averaged 19.0 points and 5.8 assists on above-average shooting splits. He’s a talented pull-up shooter, with deep range and some real court vision when he commits to distributing the ball. He’s a good player.

On the other hand, Russell is a putrid defender. He is an absolute zero on that side of the ball. He’s also a bit unreliable on offense, his game equal parts magic and mud. He can pull out some absolute show-stopping moments, but he can also over-dribble and fall prone to harmful shot selection. It’s a mixed bag the Wolves are clearly content to live with.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 87. Dennis Schröder

No one wants to sign Dennis Schröder, which is a bit weird to me. He struggled in the Lakers’ first round exit, no doubt, but he posted a strong season as LeBron James’ No. 2 on the perimeter. Schröder is still a slippery downhill scorer, with elite speed and feathery touch around the rim. His ability to get dribble penetration and playmake off of it would add value to just about every NBA team.

Schröder is not a great shooter, but he’s not a bad one. He’s also a pretty good defender for his position, even if a slight frame at 6-foot-2 limits his versatility. The Celtics will be very happy with Schöder on a discount next season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 86. Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese Haliburton was even stronger than expected in his first season, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting and quickly becoming the Kings’ second-best player. Not long from now, he could take over the title of Sacramento’s best player. That’s in the cards given his size, I.Q., and playmaking versatility.

The Kings were smart to pair Haliburton with De’Aaron Fox, and Fox with Haliburton. They’re a nice complement to each other. Fox can get downhill and create advantages, while Haliburton exploits them, splashing deep 3s, making the extra pass, and skewering discombobulated defenses. He does all the little things that contribute to winning. Sooner than later, it could rub off on Sacramento.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 85. P.J. Washington

P.J. Washington is the perfect frontcourt complement to LaMelo Ball in Charlotte’s up-tempo scheme. On offense, he’s a diverse and capable scorer, with a 38.6 percent 3-point stroke, face-up ability, and deft touch in the paint. At 6-foot-7, he can roast slower defenders as a small-ball five, or exploit lighter competition in bigger lineups.

On defense, Washington has become Charlotte’s backbone. He can guard every frontcourt position at a high level, and he will only get better. At 22 years old, Washington is just scraping the surface of his ceiling as a versatile, do-it-all modern big.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 84. Dejounte Murray

Dejounte Murray should get the spotlight in San Antonio following DeMar DeRozan’s departure. While the 3-point shot still needs improvement, Murray checks just about every box for San Antonio. He’s a tantalizing slasher, using his long arms and slithery athleticism to attack the rim and score amongst the trees.

On defense, of course, is where Murray earns his reputation. He has the length at 6-foot-5 to guard up a position or two, and his active hards yield very few rivals league-wide. He gets in his opponents’ grill and is a stop sign at the point of attack. The Spurs will need him to show up on both sides of the ball in order to win games next season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 83. Collin Sexton

Despite his many, many flaws, it is tough to argue with Collin Sexton’s production. He averaged 24.3 points on .475/.371/.815 shooting splits last season. He’s an electric athlete bundled into a dynamic 6-foot-1 frame, using his quick first step and non-stop aggression to punish defenses at every level.

Sexton can shoot the rock, and he has no shortage of natural talent for hitting difficult shots. That is what you want in a go-to scorer. Unfortunately, he’s still a rudimentary decision-maker who too often plays with blinders on. He needs to become a more willing and more aware passer to take the next step.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 82. Jarrett Allen

The Cavs invested $100 million in Jarrett Allen despite drafting Evan Mobley, showing extreme confidence in the 23-year-old Texan. It’s mostly warranted. You can’t let Allen walk for nothing, and while it’s not perfect, Mobley and Allen are capable of sharing the floor.

In Allen, Cleveland now has one of the NBA’s premier young rim protectors. Allen’s length, anticipation, and vertical explosiveness at the rim are hard to match. Offensively, he’s already an excellent roll man, finishing with elite efficiency around the rim. His skill set doesn’t expand far outside the paint, but he excels in his niche.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 81. Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards is due for a big second-year leap. He struggled for long stretches last season, but found his groove after the All-Star break and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. The former No. 1 pick is primed to become a dynamic on-ball scorer, with an explosive first step, elite footwork, and a shooter’s touch.

Improved efficiency is the next step for Edwards, who shot 41.7 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from deep as a rookie. He could emerge as the Wolves’ undisputed No. 2 scorer next year, with Minnesota’s sights set firmly on the first playoff push since Jimmy Butler’s infamous departure.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 80. Terry Rozier III

Terry Rozier has spent his entire career straddling the line between good and bad chaos. Last season, however, everything seemed to click in place. He earned his “Scary Terry” nickname, burying teams with clutch shot-making and becoming a viable go-to scorer in Charlotte’s free-wheeling offense.

The 27-year-old averaged 20.4 points and 4.2 assists on .450/.389/.817 shooting splits, finding the necessary balance between flash and style for the first time in his career. Some of that is playing next to an otherworldly table-setter like LaMelo Ball. Some of it is simply Rozier taking “the leap.”

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 79. Joe Ingles

Jingles should have won Sixth Man of the Year last season, but his teammate Jordan Clarkson averaged more points per game. Ingles’ impact stretches beyond the box score. He’s simultaneously Utah’s best wing defender and the bench’s most prolific playmaker. He doesn’t score in bunches, but he does most everything else.

There’s a certain oddity to watching Joe Ingles. He doesn’t look like he should be good, but alas, he is. He can create out of the pick-and-roll, drill big 3s, kickstart possessions in transition — all the “glue” skills that help make Utah one of the best two-way teams in basketball. He deserves a lot more credit than he gets. Last season, he averaged 12.1 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 45.1 percent from deep.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 78. Myles Turner

Practically a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Myles Turner has cemented his status as one of the NBA’s truly elite rim protectors. He is shoehorned into an awkward role with Indiana, but even next to another natural center in Domantas Sabonis, Turner consistently impacts both sides of the ball at a high level.

On offense, Turner is a capable 3-point shooter and athletic finisher. He only played 47 games last season due to injury, but averaged 12.6 points on 47.7 percent shooting. He needs to improve in the efficiency department, but with a healthy rotation and a more competent coach at the controls, there’s reason to expect a strong return to form in 2021-22.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 77. Darius Garland

If the Cavaliers end up making a choice in the backcourt, Darius Garland is the guy you build around. The former No. 5 pick took a big leap in year two, averaging 17.4 points and 6.1 assists .451/.391/.848 shooting splits. He’s a deadly pick-and-roll playmaker, with deep pull-up range, excellent shiftiness off the bounce, and finesse around the rim.

Defense is still a concern for Garland, as most 6-foot-1 guards are exploitable to some degree. Even so, he’s the kind of measured playmaker you want running the show long-term next to Evan Mobley. Those two are at the center of what Cleveland is building.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 76. Spencer Dinwiddie

The Wizards siphoned Spencer Dinwiddie away from Brooklyn for a pretty reasonable price. He now replaces Russell Westbrook as Bradley Beal’s backcourt co-star — a downgrade in raw talent, but a vast improvement in fit. Factor in the depth Washington received in the Westbrook trade, and this offseason was a major success for the Wizards.

Health is the big question for Dinwiddie, who missed last season with a torn ACL. Assuming he gets back to full speed, Dinwiddie should have an immediate impact on Washington’s playoff pursuit. He excels at getting downhill, using shifty handles and quick burst to create advantages and pressure the rim. He’s a good (if not great) shooter, and a competent defender, too.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 75. Norman Powell

Last season, Norman Powell made the ascent, averaging 18.6 points on .477/.411/.871 shooting splits and earning a healthy $90 million contract. Portland’s future is hard to predict at the moment, but there’s no doubt Powell can contribute to another playoff push if Lillard sticks around.

Powell’s efficiency makes him the perfect No. 3 scorer, even if he’s a little undersized relative to Portland’s rotation. He can swish a high volume of 3s, create in bursts off the bounce, and open up shots for teammates on the perimeter with his slashing. The Blazers made the right decision to acquire him and keep him around, even if the Lillard situation turns sour.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 74. Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon is underrated by the general fan population. He’s one of the best forward/wing defenders on the planet. At 6-foot-8, he can stifle some of the NBA’s strongest, most physical shot-makers. He is a much better answer to the LeBron’s and Kawhi’s of the world than he often gets credit for.

On offense, Gordon is marketed as a lob threat, but he’s much more than that. He can face up, score from the elbow, or hit pick-and-pop 3s. His complementary scoring gifts are well suited to a Denver offense that runs through Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. He should get more shine in his first full season with the Nuggets. This is the first time he’s been on a real contender.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 73. Kristaps Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis was actively bad in the playoffs. You can claim foul play on the part of Rick Carlisle, but frankly, nothing Porzingis showed on the biggest stage warranted more involvement in the offense. He was put in the corner because it was best to keep him in the corner.

That said, Porzingis can still sway games when he’s healthy and engaged. Those stretches have become few and far between in recent years, but even last season, Porzingis averaged 20.1 points and 8.9 rebounds. He shot 47.6 percent from the field, hit 37.6 percent of his 3s, and blocked 1.3 shots per game. The production is there. Health is the main issue.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 72. Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart’s on-court value can be hard to quantify, but there’s a reason just about everyone wants him on their team. He’s a pest, an Oscar-worthy actor, and a bundle of chaos. And, at the end of the day, it’s hard not to label him a top-100 NBA player. He impacts winning by sheer force of will.

Smart is not the world’s best shooter, nor is he the most dynamic lead ball-handler. He’s best served in a limited role, hitting the stray jumper, making timely cuts to the rim, and then defending his ass off on the other end. He’s one of the best defensive guards in the NBA, with the speed to imprison point guards and the strength to body up bigger wings. He can defend all over the floor, and is a steals magnate.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 71. Derrick White

Injuries have stained Derrick White’s career so far, but his flashes are special. He’s an excellent two-way guard, with the potential to both lead San Antonio in scoring and anchor the perimeter defense. Last season, he averaged 15.4 points on 41.1 percent shooting. With an expanded role next season, White could be in line for a breakout — and an improved spot on future iterations of this list.

A greater 3-point volume, a larger share of the playmaking duties, and more spotlight to shine on defense could do a lot of good for White. Not long ago, when San Antonio ventured down to the Bubble, he looked the part of a future All-Star. He can still reach those heights. The Spurs’ player development is borderline undefeated.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 70. Jusuf Nurkic

Health has kept Jusuf Nurkic at bay in recent years, but when’s he’s 100 percent, Nurkic is one of the most solid two-way centers in basketball. He’s the core of Portland’s defense, providing excellent rim protection, elite rebounding, and an intensely physical presence at the rim.

Nurkic’s offensive repertoire is pretty standard. He thrives as a roll man, using his wide frame and soft touch to carve out shots around the rim. He can score deftly with either hand, and his passing chops are underrated. Nurkic even hit 40 percent of his 3s last season, albeit on extremely small volume. That’s a trend worth monitoring, though, as it blew away his previous career high.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 69. Lonzo Ball

The Bulls signed Lonzo Ball to an expensive four-year contract, but have placed him in a prime position to succeed. Ball is at his best with other playmakers on the floor. He’s not a “point guard” in the traditional sense. He needs to move and cut without the ball, making quick decisions on the move, connecting the dots for teammates, and bombing 3s. Next to Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, both of whom can pressure the rim, Ball should look as good as ever.

In addition to his prime complementary skills, Ball is a rock-solid team defender with the size and strength to guard up a position to two. He can anchor three-guard lineups, or kickstart bigger groups with his elite court vision. He will help Chicago quite a bit.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 68. T.J. Warren

T.J. Warren appeared in four games last season because of injury. We haven’t seen him at full strength in a minute, but all one needs to do is think back to the Bubble, where Warren was the NBA’s best player for eight games. When he’s rolling, Warren is a gifted three-level scorer. In the broader context of Indiana’s new-look rotation, Warren should have ample opportunity to succeed.

In 2019-20, Warren hit 40.3 percent of his 3s. Once marketed as an almost exclusively mid-range scorer, Warren’s ability to become not only a good, but a great 3-point shooter has caused his on-court value to skyrocket. He’s a versatile defender to boot, and should emerge as a clear-cut starter in Indiana once he has time to work back into a rhythm.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 67. Robert Covington

Robert Covington remains one of the most uniquely gifted defenders on the planet. He’s not a great on-ball defender, which often harms his reputation more than it should. The Blazers don’t need Covington to stop LeBron one-on-one. What Covington does is tie the defense together. He’s elite off the ball, slipping into passing lanes, trafficking in deflections, and protecting the rim on the weak side.

On top of that, Covington is a useful spot-up shooter with deep 3-point range. He is extremely limited, but he is a true star in his role. Covington immediately elevates the status of any defense he’s a part of, and he’s an excellent shooter with size that can fit into just about any rotation.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 66. Jonathan Isaac

Jonathan Isaac has pretty much never been healthy, but the talent is tantalizing. If he can finally stay on the floor, the Magic have a real building block. Much like Covington, Isaac thrives as an off-ball defender, using his mobile 6-foot-10 frame to clog up avenues to the basket and generate turnovers, be it as a shot-blocker or a pickpocket.

Isaac, however, holds much more offensive equity than Covington. He’s not a traditional No. 1 scorer, but he can space the floor, attack mismatches in the post, or hit the occasional pull-up jumper. He’s a special athlete. It’s all about health for him. He could outplay this ranking if he just plays.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 65. Mikal Bridges

Mikal Bridges put together one heck of a third season, shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from deep, while emerging as one of the NBA’s premier wing defenders. With pterodactyl arms and a confident 3-point stroke, Bridges is a true star in his role. He did all the little things en route to Phoenix’s Finals appearance.

The next step for Bridges, if there is one, is his ability to hit jumpers off the dribble. He can spot-up, cut to the rim, and even beat closeouts attacking downhill, but he’s not much of a pull-up shooter. If Bridges can add that dynamic to his game, then he goes from “star in his role” to “star,” period.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 64. Joe Harris

Joe Harris averaged a career-high 6.4 attempts per game from 3-point range last aeason, and converted on 47.5 percent of them. That is absurd, even when he’s the beneficiary of the most talented offensive trio in modern NBA history. Harris is arguably the best shooter in the NBA, and he’s the epitome of “star in his role.”

For the Nets, Harris is the ultimate cheat code. A Get Out of Jail Free Card. He demands almost as much defensive attention as the core trio, gunning around screens, running pin downs, making sharp cuts to the rim. He opens up so much for Steve Nash’s offense, while the offense opens up a lot for him in return. He’s more than just a shooter, and deserving of his place on this list.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 63. OG Anunoby

OG Anunoby is already one of the top wing defenders in basketball at 24 years old. He can stonewall bigger wings, or use his wingspan to swallow guards at the point of attack. His versatility, instincts, and motor all go without question. He will make several All-Defense teams before his career in over.

On top of the defense, Anunoby took big strides as an offensive player last season, too. He averaged 15.9 points and shot 39.8 percent from deep. He has developed into a legitimate third or fourth option in the starting five, and could take on expanded duties next season in the event of a Toronto rebuild.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 62. Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez was an integral part of the NBA’s best defense last season. Once considered a liability on the end, Lopez has revolutionized his reputation and his game, using his towering 7-foot frame to full effect as a rim protector and interior stopper. Lopez is one of the best drop defenders in the NBA.

On offense, Lopez’s penchant for long 3s opens up a lot of room for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks’ gifted slashers. He is the Platonic ideal of a stretch five — deep range, a nifty interior game when called upon, and great defense.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 61. Kemba Walker

Injuries have derailed the past couple seasons for Kemba Walker, but he’s still dynamic lead ball-handler and potential lead scorer. The Knicks desperately needed more juice on the perimeter, and Walker should fruitfully supply it. He can create space on a dime, with killer footwork, quick-twitch athleticism, and elite stop-start ability. Add in Walker’s quick pull-up trigger, and he’s a great modern point guard.

Defense is an issue, and Walker will need to prove he can stay on the floor. At this stage in his career, it’s also worth monitoring Walker’s efficiency. Small guards don’t always age well. That said, if he’s even 80-90 percent of what we’ve come to expect of a healthy Walker, he will drastically improve New York’s postseason outlook.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 60. Michael Porter Jr.

The playoffs have not treated Michael Porter Jr. well, but he’s still young and has shown a steady rate of growth across two NBA seasons. At 6-foot-10, he’s one of the best shooters on the planet, capable of drilling difficult long-range shots with a hand in his face. He can shoot on the move, hit step-backs like a guard, or beat closeouts off the dribble. His scoring prowess at 23 years old is not common.

Defense is the swing skill for Porter, who lacks agility in space. He’s not a bad athlete, but he’s rigid and technically unsound on the defensive end. Teams have exploited him time and time again, to the point where postseason opponents are actively seeking him out. That will need to change for Porter to become a perennial All-Star.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 59. Bojan Bogdanovic

Bojan Bogdanovic doesn’t get a ton of love nationally, but he’s a big part of Utah’s two-way buzzsaw. He famously gave LeBron James hell in the playoffs a few years ago with Indiana, and has been similarly productive with the Jazz. The 32-year-old has lost a half-step defensively, but he can dig in when called upon.

Offensively is where Bogey has shined the most in Utah’s spaced-out attack. He’s a deadly 3-point shooter, hitting 39.0 percent of his over six attempts per game last season. With Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert drawing so much attention in the middle of the court, it has been easy for Bogey to camp on the wings and pick his spots as a complementary talent.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 58. John Collins

The arrival of Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic, not to mention the ascension of other young talent on the roster, forced John Collins to adjust to a smaller workload as the 2020-21 season progressed. Safe to say it worked out. The Hawks were one of the last four teams standing, and Collins was an absolute standout in the playoffs. He parlayed that prime-time showcase into a massive five-year, $125 million extension.

Collins is not without his flaws, but does check a ton of boxes for a contending team. He plays with great hustle and energy, which shows up most evidently on the glass. He’s a rebounding machine. On offense, he can spot up and rim run, but he can also score off the bounce, with slick footwork and excellent lateral mobility. His poster dunks are on the cherry on top.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 57. Bogdan Bogdanovic

After injuries decimated Atlanta in the first half of the season, Bogdan Bogdanovic and the team underwent a renaissance under the newly-hired Nate McMillan. After the All-Star break, Bogey was essentially the NBA’s most efficient marksman. He slashed .473/.438/.909 for the season, and contributed amply beyond his shooting too.

Bogey can operate out of the pick-and-roll and supply some secondary ball-handling next to Trae Young. He’s a smart and aware offensive player, and very seldom lacks for confidence. He has been playing on big (professional) stages since well before he arrived in the NBA, and that was evident during the Hawks’ surprise run to the conference finals.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 56. Fred VanVleet

Last season wasn’t too kind to Fred VanVleet or the Raptors. That said, it’s reasonable to expect a return to form in 2021-22, with the Raptors returning to Canada and VanVleet due for an expanded role in lieu of Kyle Lowry. He will operate as the primary initiator now, with a potential for career highs across the board.

VanVleet is burdened with the natural limitations of being a 6-foot guard in the NBA, but he’s remarkably effective on both sides of the ball despite that. You won’t find many better point-of-attack defenders, and VanVleet can trade pull-up jumpers with anyone in the league. He only shot 38.9 percent from the field last season, but he averaged 9.2 attempts per game from 3 (with a 36.6 percent success rate). He will fill it up in a hurry.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 55. Tobias Harris

Not many wings (or “stretch fours”) can touch Tobias Harris’ efficiency. He doesn’t miss a ton of makable shots, no matter his reputation. At 6-foot-8, Harris has the strength to finish through contact, the range to bury pull-up 3s, and the skill to score proficiently in between.

The extent of Harris’ skill set is somewhat constrained — he’s best as a third or fourth option, working off of other ball-handlers and making quick, simple reads — but when utilized correctly, Harris gives the Sixers‘ offense a major boost. He’s not a great defender and can still get bogged down by sluggish decision-making, but Harris’ ability to score the basketball earns him high marks. He averaged 19.5 points and slashed .512/.394/.892 last season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 54. Caris LeVert

After a serious health scare last season, Caris LeVert returned to the floor after the All-Star break and wowed in typical fashion. He’s one of the most entertaining individual scorers in basketball, with twitchy, carefully-crafted maneuvers that epitomize the old “poetry in motion” adage. With the Pacers, he saw an increase in role, and looked more than ready for the responsibility.

LeVert averaged 20.7 points in 35 games with Indiana, not to mention some career-defining defense (1.5 steals per game). He could stand to improve his efficiency still, but LeVert takes a healthy amount of 3s and forces defenses to consider him at every level. He can spend time at point guard, and should get more opportunities than ever to spearhead the offense next season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 53. Jerami Grant

Jerami Grant’s arrival in Detroit was rather unceremonious, with pundits across the internet questioning Detroit’s willingness to pay him, and Grant’s decision to spurn Denver for a non-winner. It worked in his favor, with Grant not only performing above expectations, but earning real All-Star consideration.

The Pistons were not good, but Grant stepped comfortably into the role of No. 1 scorer, not a half-year removed from coming off the bench in Denver. He traded lobs and cuts for pull-up 3s and straight-line drives. At 6-foot-10, he’s a gifted interior finisher. Oh, and he didn’t lose a step defensively. He remains an absolutely dominant weak-side rim protector and free safety.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 52. Jonas Valanciunas

The clear No. 2 on the Grizzlies’ roster last season, Jonas Valanciunas was a severely underrated contributor on a Western Conference playoff team. Now in New Orleans, he will have the interesting task of playing next to Zion Williamson. A towering rim protector with a reliable 3-point shot and elite rebounding skills, it shouldn’t take long for Valanciunas to prove he’s an important upgrade in the middle.

Valanciunas is a monster in the low post. He can zip passes to cutting teammates, use his hulking frame to bully smaller defenders, or lean on his skill to beat more physical opponents. He can sink touch shot after touch shot on the block, and with NOLA, will likely see more reps as a pick-and-pop big. Last season, he averaged 17.1 points and 12.5 rebounds on 59.2 percent shooting.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 51. Clint Capela

Clint Capela looked right at home in his first season with Atlanta. He made the conference finals, and was arguably the second-best player on the team. Capela’s defense was typically elite, but his offense translated too. After struggling to find chemistry with Russell Westbrook in Houston, he immediately vibrated with Trae Young, who delivered dime after dime to Capela at the rim.

There’s not much to Capela’s game. He protects the rim at an elite level, runs the floor hard in transition, and is one of the NBA’s premier lob threats. It’s beautifully simplistic. He’s a star in his role, so to speak, and will continue to play a major role in the Hawks’ burgeoning ascent.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 50. Christian Wood

The Pistons’ decision to not re-sign with Christian Wood in 2020 was met with criticism, which ultimately proved correct. While injury cut his first Rockets season short, Christian Wood had more than enough time to prove his viability as a go-to offensive option. He’s one of the most skilled 7-footers in the NBA, with step-back 3s, transition playmaking, and graceful post moves all entrenched in his arsenal.

Wood can score from just about everywhere. He can pick-and-pop, he can roll to the rim as a lob threat, he can dance around the block, he can run the break — he’s a hard puzzle for defenses to solve in the middle of the floor. With a real complement of perimeter scorers at his disposal next season, we should expect even bigger things from Wood, who averaged 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds last season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 49. Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is complete chaos and impossible to quantify as a player. Sometimes he’s actively destructive on the court. Sometimes he’s one of the league’s most singularly dominant players. He can boom or bust on any given night, and poses a wider range of possible outcomes than just about any NBA “star.”

The fit in LA does not favor Russ, even if the raw talent should make the Lakers a contender. He’s not going to have as much spacing on the floor as he was accustomed to in Houston and even Washington, while LeBron James’ ball dominance doesn’t inherently mix with Westbrook’s total incapacity to contribute off the ball. All that said, he averaged a triple-double last season and helped drag a ramshackle Washington roster to the playoffs. In short, my official analysis of Russell Westbrook is: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 48. LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball is in line for the standard second-year leap made by (most) elite rookies. He almost took Charlotte to the playoffs last season, and may have even eclipsed the play-in tournament if not for a serious injury. He’s one of the most team-friendly stars on the planet. He makes everyone around him better, which is perhaps his greatest single attribute.

Ball’s kick-ahead passes became highlight reels. He’s a one-man transition offense, and in the halfcourt, he was much better than expected. Ball showed not only deep range on his pull-up 3, but a pretty consistent stroke and some real juice scoring inside the arc, with crafty finishes and a nifty floater. He needs to get better on defense, but at 6-foot-7, he has all the tools to impact that side of the ball.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 47. Gordon Hayward

Ball will overtake Gordon Hayward as the undisputed alpha in Charlotte soon enough, but Gordon Hayward remains extremely good (and extremely underrated). He doesn’t really fit the timeline, and his contract never made sense when it was signed, but he’s a borderline All-Star talent whose injury also tanked Charlotte’s playoff bid last season.

For the season, Hayward averaged 19.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, slashing .473/.415/.843 and finding some of his long-lost explosiveness off the dribble. He didn’t quite return to pre-knee blowout form, but he got close to the Jazz days of yesteryear, and could fully blossom in his second Hornets season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 46. DeAndre Ayton

Most of the credit for Phoenix’s Finals run has been laid at the doorsteps of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, but let us not forget the immense contributions of Deandre Ayton. The former No. 1 pick transformed into the perfect No. 3 option — a dominant rim runner and interior finisher, combined with elite rim protection and some nice ancillary skills.

Ayton is now one of the NBA’s top defensive bigs. He’s both enormous and fleet of foot, allowing Phoenix to switch screens and run different schemes depending on the matchup. Ayton averaged 1.2 blocks per game in his third NBA season, and despite a dip in scoring, saw his all-around game flourish in new ways entirely.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 45. Nikola Vucevic

The Bulls didn’t have the second-half surge many expected after trading for Nikola Vucevic last season. Even so, fans should remain confident about Vucevic’s ability to impact winning. To say he put up empty stats on a bad Orlando team is simply ignoring history and the nature of Vucevic’s offensive game.

At 6-foot-11, Vucevic is one of the most dominant post presences in the game, but that’s not his only skill. He’s great at every level. He hit 40.0 percent of his 3s last season. He can also work from the elbow, with advanced passing chops and deft footwork.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 44. Brandon Ingram

A former No. 2 pick, it took a few years for Brandon Ingram to hit his stride in the NBA. That said, now that he has, there’s no way around Ingram’s wide-ranging impact. He took a backseat to Zion Williamson last season, but still managed to produce at the level of most All-Stars. He averaged 23.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. We have officially arrived at “the Pelicans’ roster is holding back its stars” territory.

With a new look roster around him, including the notable arrivals of Valanciunas and Graham, we could see Ingram’s workload change dramatically next season. Even so, he’s too good a scorer, and too important a playmaker to fade entirely. His size and versatility is key to unlocking this Pelicans’ roster.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 43. De’Aaron Fox

The numbers don’t really lie here. De’Aaron Fox was one of the most productive guards in the NBA last season, averaging 25.2 points and 7.2 assists. He is the center of Sacramento’s universe, and while that universe hasn’t won too many games of late, it’s hard to deny the raw volume of Fox’s contributions night in and night out.

Defense remains a concern for the wire-framed Fox. He’s also a below-average shooter, which allows defenses to adjust accordingly when planning for his game-breaking speed. Even so, Fox has grown immensely as a shooter since his rookie season, and could still improve further.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 42. DeMar DeRozan

The Bulls’ decision to sign DeMar DeRozan this summer was widely panned, but consider me a fan of the move. The goal is to build a contender and convince Zach LaVine to stay. Chicago is not a championship threat, but DeRozan puts them firmly in the postseason hunt. He was far and away the best player on a winning Spurs team last season — a team that would have made the playoffs in the East.

DeRozan’s game broadened considerably in San Antonio, where he took on expanded playmaking duties. Last season, he was straight-up one of the best passers in the league, averaging 6.9 assists on top of his 21.6 points per game. The complete lack of a 3-point shot limits DeRozan’s ceiling, but he’s a masterful scorer inside the arc, and he should have no shortage of spacing around him in Chicago.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 41. Malcolm Brogdon

The Pacers were, uh, not great last season, but with a new coach and the promise of (mostly) fresh legs, Indiana should look better in 2021-22. It starts with Malcolm Brogdon, who will resume point guard duties and run the show, more or less. He’s a talented and versatile offensive threat, who is perfectly adaptable off the ball when Rick Carlisle decides to defer to Domantas Sabonis or Caris LeVert.

At 6-foot-5, Brogdon can defend multiple positions, hit a high volume of 3s, and supply the offense with an unselfish, high-I.Q. engine. He sees the floor at a high level and doesn’t let the ball stick unnecessarily. He has expanded his isolation duties since arriving from Milwaukee, but even so, Brogdon’s game is mostly team-oriented.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 40. Draymond Green

Draymond Green is not the absolute mega-star he once was in his heyday, but he’s still an elite elite “role player” who does just about everything except shoot for Golden State. He finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, and averaged a career high 8.9 assists per game.

The future Hall of Famer continues to exert his will on games despite a distinct lack of scoring touch. He legitimately ran the show for stretches last season, while his ingenuity as a pick-and-roll partner next to Stephen Curry is still off the charts. He holds together an above-average defense with his communication skills alone (not to mention lightning-quick hands and a preternatural ability to read opposing offenses).  Even after all this time, he’s vastly under-appreciated.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 39. Mike Conley

There’s a reason Utah’s ascent to the No. 1 seed coincided with Mike Conley’s return to form. After a rocky first season with the franchise, Conley found his groove in year two, even making his long-awaited first All-Star appearance. He doesn’t have the same counting stats as other players in this range, but Conley’s well-balanced contributions are a big reason for Utah’s title contention.

Even at 33 years old, Conley can tear it up on both sides of the ball. He’s an elite pull-up shooter, a clever primary initiator, and a pesky on-ball defender, with a reputation dating back to his Grit n’ Grind days in Memphis. He’s undersized at 6-foot-1 and age is a concern moving forward, but he hit 41.2 percent of his 3s last season, averaged 16.2 points and  6.0 assists per game, and was the No. 3 player on the NBA’s best regular season team.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 38. Julius Randle

This is one I’m not super confident about in either direction. Julius Randle made second team All-NBA, which is normally indicative of a top-15 or 20 NBA player. That said, last season also felt suspiciously fluky. He crumbled like a three-day old cookie in the playoffs and spent all season heavily reliant on difficult jumpers (jumpers that, a year ago, would have been plainly considered bad shots for Randle).

The production is hard to deny — 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while slashing .456/.411/.811 — and should he maintain that production for a second straight season, he could rocket up this list next offseason. He also has more help on the perimeter, which should alleviate some of the pressure placed on him in the playoffs. That said, I am somewhat skeptical. He’s good, but is he really top-20 good?

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 37. Domantas Sabonis

He’s not his father, but Domantas Sabonis has a lot of the family’s craft. He’s a brilliant passer who sees the floor in every direction. He can dominate games from the high post, slinging passes to open teammates, or using advanced footwork to slip and slide his way to buckets at the rim. If his 32.1 percent 3-point shot improves, then Sabonis could unlock an even higher level offensively.

Defense is the big drawback for Sabonis, who has essentially been playing out of position next to Myles Turner in Indiana. If the Pacers can clear the floor for him to play center, that could benefit both Sabonis and the team as a whole. The flip side, of course, is that Sabonis doesn’t really protect the rim. That undesirable trade-off prevents him from rising further up the list.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 36. Ja Morant

The former No. 2 pick was the best player on a Western Conference playoff team, which speaks to his current ability and his sky-high ceiling. Ja Morant is already must-watch television, with blinding end-to-end speed, elite passing skill (and flare), and to top in all off, the occasional mind-bending poster dunk.

Morant is a freakish athlete despite his slender 6-foot-3 frame. He doesn’t shoot the 3 very well yet (30.3 percent), but it hardly matters because defenders just can’t keep in front of him. If Morant can increase his volume and efficiency from deep, it’s game over. He’s already better than most guards his size finishing at the rim. He averaged 19.1 points and 7.4 assists at 21 years old.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 35. CJ McCollum

The skill overlap between CJ McCollum and his backcourt mate Damian Lillard has been the topic of many NBA debates, and this could be the season (or the offseason) that Portland finally decides to go in a different direction. That does not, however, take away from McCollum’s supreme offensive talent. He’s a special player on that side of the ball.

While his point guard skills have been understandably buried beneath Lillard’s ball-dominance, McCollum is a capable facilitator. He averaged a career-best 4.7 assists per game last season. That is, of course, in addition to his remarkable scoring repertoire. McCollum is just a natural in the modern NBA, with deep range on his pull-up jumper, polished ball-handling skills, and endless craft finishing at the rim. He can slither his way to any spot on the floor, with a penchant for difficult jumpers in big moments.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 34. Pascal Siakam

The Raptors took an organizational step back last season, playing in Tampa instead of Toronto and dealing with injury upon injury. Pascal Siakam did not look himself, but there’s every reason to expect a more productive season in 2021-22. Jokes about his spin move aside, Siakam is simply too good to count out.

Not long ago, Siakam was arguably the 2A on a championship team. He’s a gifted downhill scorer, using long strides, soft touch, and yes, spin move upon spin move to score gracefully at the rim. He’s also a decent pull-up shooter, though, with a reliable 3-point stroke and the ability to facilitate from different spots on the floor. Defensively, he’s a versatile weapon with the strength to guard most fives and the lateral quickness to contain guards on a switch.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 33. Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry is getting older, there’s no doubt about it. He should still contribute at a high level in his first season with the Miami Heat. The 35-year-old was easily Toronto’s best player last season, and the only real source of consistency when on the court. He averaged 17.2 points and 7.3 assists and, had Toronto been even remotely competitive, probably would have made the All-Star team.

There aren’t many better “glue guys” in the NBA. Lowry just connects the dots for everyone else. He does the little things offensively, but can also take the ball and get a basket when called upon. On defense, he’s the league’s top charge-drawer, which speaks to his willingness to put his body on the line and make winning plays, no matter how gritty the work.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 32. Ben Simmons

It’s pretty much impossible to have a genuine and nuanced conversation about Ben Simmons, especially in Philadelphia. He’s probably the most frustrating top-40 player in the NBA, but he’s still a top-40 player in the NBA. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and everyone in Philadelphia would have told you he deserved No. 1 a few weeks ago.

Of course, the offensive output is a bit murkier for Simmons. He was pretty bad for stretches last season, and the bottom fell out in the playoffs. That said, he remains a top-tier distributor who by nature generates a lot of open 3s for teammates. He scores efficiently at the rim when he puts his mind to it, and the free throws aren’t generally a huge problem in the regular season.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 31. Bam Adebayo

Last season was not the coming out party many expected from Bam Adebayo, but he was still really damn good. He can anchor a defense better than just about everyone not named Rudy Gobert, Joel Embiid, or Giannis Antetokounmpo. He can also contribute in various ways offensively, even if the limitations of his jump shot were apparent in 2020-21.

Adebayo is a clever playmaker out of the high post, with advanced court vision and a real willingness to thread difficult needles. He struggles when he tries to be more than a third or fourth scorer, but in the right role, Adebayo is essentially the perfect complementary big. He plays unselfishly, connects dots, and scores in multiple ways at the rim.

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.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 25. Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown’s rate of improvement from his rookie year until now is one of the most impressive storylines in basketball. He entered the NBA toolsy and raw, and has since become one of the league’s most diversely skilled offensive wings. Brown is not only a perennial All-Star, but a go-to weapon on a possible contender. He can score effortlessly at all three levels, and continues to assert his presence on the defensive end too.

At 6-foot-6, Brown’s explosive athleticism makes him difficult to contain. He’s strong, can change speeds on a dime, and has perfected his pull-up jumper from just about any angle. He slashed .484/.397/.764 from the field last season, averaging 24.7 points and 6.0 boards. He’s bona fide.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 24. Jrue Holiday

Even after a championship run, you will struggle to find a more perpetually underrated star than Jrue Holiday. It starts on the defensive end, where very few perimeter players can come close to matching him. Holiday is arguably the premier on-ball defender in the NBA, with a brick wall’s strength and an eel’s flexibility. At 6-foot-3, he can swallow guards whole, or defend wings several inches taller than him. It seldom matters. He shuts them down all the same.

Holiday is great offensively too. That’s where the misconceptions begin. Some viewed him as an offensive liability, or a player the Bucks needed more from in the playoffs. While that was true in some moments, Holiday put together a mostly strong postseason on the offensive end. For the season as a whole, he averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 assists, shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 39.2 percent (!!!) from deep.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 23. Trae Young

Trae Young put on a fireworks display in the postseason, to the point where even his biggest skeptics couldn’t help but applaud. The Hawks deserve credit as one of the deepest teams in the NBA, but Young was the engine that drove them to a conference finals appearance. He makes that offense tick. Not many players can single-handedly orchestrate a system like Young. He’s the conductor, and Atlanta is his opera.

Defense remains the big drawback for Young, who is actively atrocious on that side of the ball. He’s so good offensively, however, that it doesn’t dock him any further than this. He’s one of the NBA’s elite playmakers, with the ball on a string and unrivaled creativity on the move. Add on top his deep pull-up range, and defenses have a tough time stopping him. Young averaged 25.3 points and 9.4 assists in his third NBA season, slashing .438/.343/.886 from the field.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 22. Karl-Anthony Towns

The Minnesota purgatory has been a disservice to Karl-Anthony Towns’ greatness. He is arguably the most versatile shooting big in NBA history. His offensive repertoire is on par with the best players in basketball, even if the defense lags behind somewhat.

Towns can dominate every level of the offense. He’s the pick-and-pop big. In the post, he’s a ballerina, with feather-light feet and the softest touch. From mid-range, he can face up and shoot off the dribble. His improvement as a passer has been notable too. He does just about everything you can ask for from an offensive centerpiece. Hopefully the Wolves can give him the necessary help to start winning games.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 21. Donovan Mitchell

The Jazz earned the best record in basketball last season, in large part due to Donovan Mitchell’s continued ascension.  He seems to always step up in big moments. Clutch shots, you bet. Big stops, you can count on it. On top of his generally elite scoring, Mitchell also grew as a facilitator last season, averaging a career-high 5.2 assists per game.

Mitchell’s explosive first step, deadly pull-up jumper, and constantly evolving in-between game make him one of the deadlier individual scorers in basketball. Even at 6-foot-3, he doesn’t meet many defenders who can match him beat-for-beat off the bounce. Some would argue Mitchell was the best player on the NBA’s best team. That’s no small feat.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 20. Devin Booker

The Suns’ Finals run led to an onslaught of Chris Paul appreciation, but Devin Booker was almost equally important to Phoenix’s success. He has developed into not only an elite perimeter shot-maker, but a dynamic all-around player who can elevate teammates and score prodigiously at all three levels.

Booker was the 1B for arguably the second-best NBA team, averaging 25.6 points and 4.3 assists while slashing .484/.340/.867 — what some were actively calling a “down” season as he adjusted to a new role next to CP3. He’s crazy good and a clear championship-level player. The Suns are sitting comfortably long term.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 19. Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal is a bonkers scorer — arguably the best pure bucket-getter in the NBA, save for Kevin Durant and the absolute crème de la crème. He’s a yearly candidate to lead the NBA in scoring, and should have an even more elevated status in Washington’s offense next season following the departure of Russell Westbrook. Expect a lot of 40-point evenings.

In addition to his raw scoring output — 31.3 points per game last season — Beal has also developed real point guard chops. He can run the offense and get teammates involved at a high level, taking advantage of the extreme attention he demands from opposing defenses. In 2019-20, the year before Westbrook arrived, Beal averaged 6.1 assists per game.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 18. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving got buried beneath his own enigma last season, not to mention the wave of injuries and sheer level of talent in Brooklyn. Even so, Irving proved his mettle as one of the best offensive players in basketball. In fact, my opinion of Irving as a player increased considerably last season. He not only displayed his trademark dynamism off the dribble, but was absurdly efficient for a Nets team that rarely had all three of its stars healthy.

For the year, Irving averaged 26.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. He slashed .506/.402/.922, becoming a member of the exclusive 50/40/90 club. He also adopted to different roles all season, with a different combination of players available on a virtually week-to-week basis for Brooklyn. He’s much better than he gets credit for, frankly.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 17. Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert was the best player on the NBA’s best regular season team, and he has been the anchor of a perennial top-5 seed for a while. The Jazz have one of the NBA’s best defenses every year, and that’s without great personnel on the perimeter. Gobert single-handedly alters offensive schemes more than any individual player in the NBA. The “he gets played off the floor” in the postseason takes are overblown, but frankly, even if they were true, he’s so good in the regular season that you can’t drop him much further than this.

On top of his defense, Gobert is an exceptional complementary piece on offense. Listed over the 7-foot mark, Gobert is an absurdly efficient finisher at the rim. He sets good screens, takes up a lot of space in the paint, and is an easy dump-off target for Utah’s playmakers. He averaged 14.3 points and 13.5 rebounds on top of his Defensive Player of the Year candidacy last season. He shot 67.5 percent from the field.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 16. Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum has taken the leap to superstardom, and he probably has another leap or two left in him. He was impacted significantly by COVID last season, and still turned in a remarkable all-around campaign. He was not only the centerpiece of Boston’s offense, but a borderline All-Defense candidate on the wing.

Having made immense strides as a playmaker, Tatum is to the point of guaranteeing Boston some kind of relevancy in the East, so long as he’s healthy and on the roster. He averaged 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in his fourth NBA season, slashing .459/.386/.868 in his most explosive season to date.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 15. Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson has been actively bad on defense so far in his career, but he’s an absolute mega-star because of the offense. Williamson’s dominant athletic profile has met no match at the highest level of professional basketball. He’s too strong and too fast for just about any defender, with the ability to knife through defenses to score inside despite the complete absence of a 3-point shot.

Already one of the most efficient at-rim finishers in the NBA, Zion does things no 6-foot-7 forward should be capable of. He’s absurd and unique and flat-out dominant. He will get MVP consideration sooner than later. The Pelicans started running the offense through Zion to great effect last season. With a better coach at the controls, expect a big year three from the former No. 1 pick. In just his second NBA season, Williamson averaged 27.0 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 61.1 percent from the field.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 14. Chris Paul

Chris Paul captained the Suns to a Finals appearance, and is primed to put them in a similar position next season. Even at 36 years old, there’s little reason to expect a precipitous decline for the 6-foot Point God. Age is always a concern for every player, and Paul has a lot of wear and tear on his body, but the production and impact is there in spades. When healthy, Paul can absolutely be the best player on a championship team.

The Suns were in the midst of a long playoff drought before Paul arrived. While there were signs of improvement in the Bubble the year prior, there’s no No. 2 seed and no Finals appearance with Paul at the helm. Paul not only produced at a high level individually, but had a clear impact on the productivity of his teammates — Deandre Ayton’s massive growth being the clearest example of Paul’s ability to elevate others. He averaged 16.4 points and 8.9 assists on .499/.395/.934 shooting.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 13. Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler’s Heat flamed out in the first round, but even still, it’s hard to blame Butler. He’s a true two-way superstar, with elite playmaking chops and clutch shot-making, combined with active hands and perennial All-Defense contention. Butler can shut down the opposition’s best player, but he’s also an elite team defender, communicating at a high level and throwing wrench after wrench into opposing offenses. He led the NBA with 2.1 steals per game last season.

On offense, Butler’s lack of a 3-point shot is mildly concerning, but it’s offset by a dynamic pull-up game inside the arc and his impressive growth as a facilitator. Butler led the Heat in assists last season, averaging 7.1 per game on top of his 21.5 points and 6.9 rebounds. His shooting percentages — .497/.245/.863 — reinforce that he’s good at just about everything except 3-point shooting.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 12. Paul George

Paul George put the “Pandemic P” jokes to rest in the postseason, leading the Clippers to a conference finals after Kawhi Leonard suffered another lower leg injury. George looked every bit the top-3 MVP candidate he was in OKC, with efficient three-level offense and top-tier wing defense. Jokes have too often gotten in the way of properly appreciated just how good George is. He’s the quintessential 3-and-D wing on steroids.

The regular season was equally productive for George, who averaged 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and a career-high 5.2 assists as Leonard’s “sidekick.” He slashed .467/.411/.868, and was his typically impactful self on defense, with a long, agile 6-foot-8 frame and elite anticipatory skills.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 11. Anthony Davis

Frankly, the Anthony Davis vs. Joel Embiid/Nikola Jokic arguments are often misframed. “He’s nowhere near Embiid!” That’s true in a certain context. Embiid is clearly the better top option.  That said, there aren’t many better “No. 2s” in the NBA. As the second-best player on a team, or the No. 2 option offensively, Davis is an absolute beast. He’s much more of a complementary talent than Embiid. Simply put — Philly is happy with Joel, the Lakers are happy with AD.

Davis is an elite defender, with the mobility to guard in space and the length to lead the NBA in blocks. He anchors a top-5 NBA defense, and offensively, his talent goes without saying. He’s not the world’s greatest shooter, but he can score from the perimeter and has an elite face-up game. In the block, he’s consistently a mismatch — be it speed, strength, height — for whoever has the misfortune of guarding him. In a “bad” 2020-21 season, Davis averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 rebounds on .491/.260/.738 shooting splits.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 10. Damian Lillard

For now, Damian Lillard is a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, and he intends to begin the season that way. That puts Portland on the map in the Western Conference, even if the supporting cast around him is deeply flawed and, to some, wholly inadequate for a player of Lillard’s caliber. You hear a lot of “he deserves better.”

Portland’s roster isn’t really that bad, and the Blazers’ record will probably reflect that. They’re a top five or six team in the West, which is no small accomplishment. It all starts with Lillard, who has become one of the NBA’s premier offensive engines. Last season, he averaged 28.8 points and  7.5 assists while slashing .451/.391/.928 on absurd volume.

Only Stephen Curry rivals Lillard in the 3-point shooting department, at least when it comes to volume and difficulty. Lillard doesn’t need much space inside halfcourt to let it fly. We’ve all see the wrist taps, the buzzer beaters — “Dame Time” is the epitome of clutch basketball.

With elite pull-up shooting, advanced court vision, and a blistering first step, Lillard doesn’t have much trouble creating offense, for himself or for teammates. He keeps the ball on a string, is one of the best pick-and-roll guards in a pick-and-roll league, and dominates the final two minutes of games like no one else.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 9. Joel Embiid

Now that we’ve reached the top nine or so players, we’re splitting hairs. Joel Embiid is an MVP candidate, one of the greatest two-way bigs of his generation, and someone who has single-handedly carried the workload for Philadelphia on far too many occasions. The Sixers were the No. 1 seed last year for a reason, even if elements outside of Embiid’s control doomed them in the playoffs.

That said, there are hairs to split. Embiid does have roughly 15-20 missed games baked into regular season expectations. Fatigue is not a huge issue, but when he’s forced to do everything in a playoff series, it can lead to eight turnovers in a critical Game 7 loss. Turnovers have been Embiid’s bugaboo ever since he entered the league, and while he made major strides processing the game last season, double teams can still phase him every now and then. Embiid is not a great passer.

For those reasons, Embiid falls to No. 9, even if he can look like the NBA’s best player on any given night. In fact, for the first 10 or so games of the playoffs, there weren’t many players operating on Embiid’s level. He’s not only the sun and moon for Philadelphia’s offense, but he basically guarantees them a top-10 defense, no matter the personnel around him. He is arguably Philadelphia’s best and most impactful defender, and Ben Simmons just finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Last season, Embiid was No. 2 in the MVP race and might have won, were it not for injuries. He averaged 28.5 points and 10.6 rebounds on .513/.377/.859 shooting splits. He practically lives at the free throw line because no one can guard him inside, and the improved outside shot has only unlocked more opportunities for Embiid to feast on compromised defenses.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 8. Luka Doncic

I’ll try not to overstate things: Luka Doncic dragged a flaming dumpster of a roster to the No. 5 seed in the West and a seven-game series with the Clippers, who — prior to Kawhi’s injury — were the clear team to beat in the West, if not the playoffs as a whole. Doncic is a one-man show unlike any other in basketball. His production despite being the only consistently credible offensive player on Dallas’ roster deserves every ounce of acclaim.

Sooner than later, Doncic will win his MVP award. He’s that good, and he’s so incredibly valuable to Dallas specifically that it will get harder and harder to deny him. The Mavs’ No. 2 is Kristaps Porzingis, who absolutely no-showed in the playoffs. Tim Hardaway Jr. is No. 3, then it’s… Dorian Finney-Smith?

Doncic has experienced his own bouts with fatigue, and he’s not really a great defender, but the degree to which he can carry a team offensively is comical. He’s point guard. He can post up. He can hit step-back 3s. He can get to the rim against just about anyone. In the absence of elite athleticism, Doncic tortures defenses with unmatched craft. He changes speeds like a car with sensitive breaks, leaving even the quickest, most agile opponents on his back.

In the Mavs’ first round exit, Doncic averaged 35.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 10.3 assists on .490/.408/.529 shooting splits. If anyone outplayed Embiid in the first round, it was Doncic. He wasn’t far behind in the regular season, posting averages of 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.6 assists.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 7. Kawhi Leonard

Again, we are splitting hairs now. You can credibly call Kawhi Leonard the best player in basketball. It’s all a matter of personal opinion, taste, and arbitrarily assigned metrics at this point. If this list were split into tiers, the gap between one and seven — or one and nine, for that matter — is not as big as some make it out be.

Leonard tore his ACL in the playoffs and has dealt with crippling lower leg injuries in the past. He is the poster child for load management because of that injury history. He looked half-speed in the Clippers’ disastrous 2020 playoff run, and has now seen another promising run cut short. That’s beyond his control, and at his peak, Leonard probably ranks several spots higher than this. But how often can we expect Leonard “at his peak” moving forward? He’s 30 years old, and the wear and tear is quickly accumulating.

All that said, he’s Kawhi freakin’ Leonard. A two-time Finals MVP for a reason, and one of the few superstars who is truly elite on both sides of the ball. Leonard made another All-Defense team last season, and coupled it with his expected greatness on offense. As mentioned on the previous slide, before Leonard’s injury, the Clippers were the team to beat in the West, and arguably the favorites to win it all.

For the year, Leonard averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while slashing .512/.398/.885 on steady volume. In Toronto, Leonard’s great weakness was his struggles making advanced passing reads. That has pretty much gone out the window in LA. He’s suddenly a great passer, so his weaknesses are few and far between.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 6. James Harden

Injuries finally caught up to James Harden last season. Traditionally a workhorse in the tradition of Christian McCaffrey, Harden was the sun around which the Houston Rockets’ offense orbited for almost a decade. Now he’s in Brooklyn, where he can comfortably defer to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, affording him the opportunity to explore different aspects of his game.

Even so, Harden was easily the Nets’ best player in the regular season. While injuries made it difficult to have any definitive takeaways, none of Harden’s greatness was lost in the transition to Brooklyn’s loaded roster. He essentially took over point guard duties from Irving and quickly became the conductor of the NBA’s most dynamic offense — a role he had been playing in Houston for years.

Like Rudy Gobert ensures you a top-5 defense, Harden almost ensures you a top-5 offense. He’s so good individually, but also lifts up the players around him. Lost in the noise around Harden’s “unlikable” play style is his absolute brilliance as a passer. He can manipulate a pick-and-roll like no other, and his persistent rim pressure naturally opens up avenues for teammates.

Harden isn’t even a bad defender, as his reputation would suggest. He’s liable to take a possession or two off, but he’s an absolute brick wall in the post and can lock in when the situation requires it. Last season, Harden averaged 24.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 10.8 assists. He slashed .466/.362/.861, lived at the charity stripe per usual, and was the glue that made Brooklyn’s ultra-talented team come together.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 5. Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic is the ultimate ironman, and despite persistent debate over his physical conditioning, he never seems to tire. Or, at the very least, it doesn’t impact his play. Jokic is as steady as they come. He won MVP last season not because Embiid got hurt, but because he was the NBA’s best regular season player. He would go on to lead Denver to the second round despite missing two of his three best teammates.

There is no question that Jokic is the most under-appreciated top-10 player. He’s such a joy to watch, and his impact metrics rival or exceed every player ahead of him on this list. He deserves to be here. This isn’t an overreaction to the MVP race, or some offshoot of a weird COVID-warped season. Jokic is entrenched in the upper echelon of NBA players, because he is in fact an upper echelon NBA player.

Last season, Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists on .566/.388/.868 shooting splits. The 7-footer is probably the most gifted passer in basketball. His ability to process the game is both baffling and brilliant. He attempts passes even the most daring point guards wouldn’t dream of. He manipulates defenses with his mind as much as his body, using every subtly in the book to overcome his slow, stodgy build.

People tend to underrated Jokic because he looks unathletic. He gets unfairly and incorrectly labeled a bad defender, and general audiences assume he doesn’t have the same dynamic upside as the LeBron’s and Giannis’s of the world. That’s not the case. Jokic is as good a tough-shot maker as anyone in the game. He can get his shot off from just about anywhere on the court, using weird angles and every bit of his 7-foot, 280-pound frame to work around ill-fated defenders.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 4. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry will be written into the history books as one of the greatest offensive players of all-time. Very few individuals have changed the game more than Curry. He has changed how coaches coach, how GMs build teams, how scouts evaluate talent, and even how players play. If not for Curry and the Golden State dynasty, we could be watching a very different NBA product in 2021-22.

There’s not much to say about Curry that hasn’t already been said. If anything, he’s underrated by now. The Kevin Durant years made some people forget just how prolific Curry is. He was arguably the best player on those teams, but he can blend into the background more than any other superstar. And not in a bad way. Curry’s off-ball movement and shooting gravity allow him to impact the game in an elite manner without even touching the ball.

Last season, Curry’s production was on par with his unanimous MVP season. He didn’t win because the Warriors were middle of the road, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying on Curry’s part. He averaged 32.0 points and 5.8 assists, slashing .482/.421/.916 and taking home the NBA scoring title for the second time in his career. With Klay Thompson expected to return this season, Golden State could (and should) vault right back into title contention.

Curry is not only an individually dominant player, but he’s also the ultimate complement to teammates. He makes life easier on everyone else. On the ball, he’s a great playmaker. Off the ball, he absorbs so much of the defense’s attention, and is so gifted at moving around the floor, that teammates often find open lanes to the rim because of him.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 3. LeBron James

I’ve traditionally been “set and forget at No. 1” when it comes to LeBron James. He is quite possibly the greatest player in NBA history. He is absurdly good, and the Lakers’ first-round, seventh-seed exit in the playoffs was in no way a reflection of LeBron and his aptitude as a player. That said, we are — you guessed it — splitting hairs.

James has now been significantly injured a couple times in the past few years. He hasn’t been the outright best regular season player in a while. That’s fine — James doesn’t really need to go 100 percent in the regular season — but with LA not at the mountaintop, and Father Time finally leaving the slightest chink in James’ armor, it’s fair to slot him below the No. 1 spot. He just wasn’t the NBA’s best player last season, and while he no doubt has the capacity to be the NBA’s best player on a given night, how frequently can we expect it in 2021-22?

There’s a very good chance LeBron makes me eat my words and wins another championship in 2022. That’s on the table, and James is good enough to make me eat my words without another championship. Even at age 36, he can physically outmatch just about anyone, and his basketball I.Q. is never in doubt.

In 45 games last season, James averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists. He was the MVP favorite for a few weeks early in the season, but injuries unfortunately got in the way. He place on this list is not meant as a slight, or some backhanded criticism. LeBron is incomprehensibly good. We’re just reaching the point in his career where he doesn’t feel quite as immortal.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 2. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Let’s go down the list. Giannis Antetokounmpo is now a two-time MVP, a champion and Finals MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, and a five-time All-Star. He could retire tomorrow and expect a first ballot Hall of Fame induction. He is a defining player of the new generation, and a true two-way megastar.

Last season was no different for Antetokounmpo as far as his dominance goes. The Bucks were only the No. 3 seed, but that can be chalked up to a period of adjustment after Mike Budenholzer and the front office belatedly spiced things up. By the time the playoffs rolled around, Milwaukee was clearly ready to go. So was Antetokounmpo, who silenced any lingering doubts about his ability to perform on the biggest stage. His 50-point Game 6 against Phoenix was the stuff of legend.

Antetokounmpo is one of the few players who can live on bully ball in the modern age. He’s genuinely unrivaled as an athlete. He’s a 7-footer whose physical profile lies somewhere between Mr. Fantastic and a battering ram. Giannis can overwhelm just about anyone at the rim, and he’s a brilliant passer once he gets moving downhill. No one needs fewer steps to go from halfcourt to the rim.

For the season, Giannis averaged 28.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on .569/.303/.685 shooting splits. He also made first team All-Defense. It can’t be stressed that Giannis is probably a top-3 offensive player and a top-3 defensive player. He’s a top-3 player. It’s that simple. The man is unstoppable

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 1. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant returned from a ruptured Achilles, which is notoriously difficult to return from, and looked… pretty damn good. The Nets probably would have won the championship if not for injuries, and Durant reminded everyone of his greatness in the second round, where he basically went shot-for-shot with the entire Bucks roster.

Right next to LeBron and Curry, Durant is a cornerstone player of his generation. He blends size and offensive skill in a way few, if any NBA players ever have. He’s not-so-secretly a 7-footer, but he can out-shoot anyone. His release point is basically impossible to contest, and his off-the-dribble repertoire rivals any guard.

Durant has developed into a solid playmaker and someone who consistently elevates teammates. There is no better individual scorer in the NBA. If you need a bucket, the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of Durant getting one. He doesn’t really have a “weakness” offensively. There isn’t a spot on the floor where he struggles to score, and there isn’t some underlying flaw that defenses strive to exploit. Durant is smart, poised, and gifted beyond measure.

Last season, he averaged 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on .537/.450/.882 shooting splits. Again, that’s just absurd efficiency when you consider Durant’s offensive workload and the difficulty of shots taken. Not that Durant makes any shot look difficult. In fact, it’s probably just easy for him to hit contested jumpers. So maybe, it’s not so absurd. It’s just in line with his talent level.