Top 100 NBA players entering 2022
player. 34. . SG. Portland Trail Blazers. CJ McCollum. 45
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 45. CJ McCollum
The Blazers are the NBA equivalent of the Titanic, but CJ McCollum has performed admirably despite the wave of underperformance around him. His time in Portland could end sooner than later given the current state of things, but he’s still an electric on-ball creator and shot-maker who might look better if he weren’t so overlapped with his co-star.
69. . SF. New Orleans Pelicans. Brandon Ingram. 44. player
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 44. Brandon Ingram
Brandon Ingram is as unique and brilliant as ever, with his string-bean frame affording him atypical defensive range and an impossible-to-contest jump shot. Any 6-foot-8 wing with Ingram’s shooting touch and playmaking instincts is going to have a long career. The Pelicans’ lone All-Star (at the moment) is giving them 22.9 points and 4.9 assists a night.
Utah Jazz. Mike Conley. 43. player. 118. . PG
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 43. Mike Conley
The Jazz are such a machine that it can be difficult to fully appreciate the individual pieces of the broader mechanism. That tends to be the case with Mike Conley, who continues to contribute invaluably to one of the league’s foremost contenders. He doesn’t have the flashiest per-game averages, but Conley’s 3-point stroke, heady playmaking, and staunch on-ball defense keep him in the fringe All-Star category.
OG Anunoby. 42. player. 81. . SF. Toronto Raptors
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 42. OG Anunoby
OG Anunoby has fallen prey to both injury and COVID this season, but he was the early frontrunner for Most Improved Player for good reason. Already one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders, Anunoby has made the leap to legitimate go-to scorer. His strength, soft touch, and high release point make him a sneakily dominant iso threat. He can punish smaller defenders at the rim, or stretch defenders behind the 3-point line.
27. . PF. New York Knicks. Julius Randle. 41. player
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 41. Julius Randle
It was never fair to expect Julius Randle to match last season’s production. The circumstances were too different, too distinct and alien. That said, his regression has been paralleled by New York’s regression, which is unfortunate. What shouldn’t be overshadowed, however, is just how talented Randle still is. Not many bigs can contribute so prolifically across the board. Randle stuffs the stat sheet every night and still deserves major respect.