Top 100 NBA players entering 2022
170. . PG. Charlotte Hornets. LaMelo Ball. 30. player
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 30. LaMelo Ball
As expected, LaMelo Ball’s second season has been one of immense productivity. He’s a stud, through and through, with the talent necessary to lift Charlotte out of mediocrity in the East. Not only is Ball the best of the best when it comes to slinging passes — he’s also an enormously confident scorer with deep pull-up range and vastly improved finishing at the rim.
24. . SF. Chicago Bulls. DeMar DeRozan. 29. player
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 29. DeMar DeRozan
There were a lot of DeMar DeRozan critics when the Bulls signed him this offseason. They were swiftly silenced. Before COVID struck, DeRozan was firmly in the top-5 MVP race. The Bulls look like contenders, and the 32-year-old DeRozan looks as good as ever. He’s averaging 27.0 points and 4.4 assists while hitting 3s at a career-best rate and fitting comfortably next to another elite on-ball creator in Zach LaVine.
28. player. 110. . C. Miami Heat. Bam Adebayo
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 28. Bam Adebayo
Bam Adebayo is the crème de la crème when it comes to defensive centerpieces. Only a handful of names match or exceed Adebayo’s impact on that side of the ball, and you will find them ranked higher on this list. Adebayo contributes significantly on the offensive end too, with nifty playmaking skills, unique mobility, and soft touch around the rim.
Milwaukee Bucks. Khris Middleton. 27. player. 89. . SF
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 27. Khris Middleton
The Bucks’ slow start to the season coincided with Khris Middleton’s extended absence. Now that he’s back, Milwaukee is right back in the conversation atop the Eastern Conference. The Bucks are a deep and balanced team, which means Middleton doesn’t always have the flashiest stat lines. He’s still a perennial All-Star and one of the NBA’s true pull-up assassins.
PG. Milwaukee Bucks. Jrue Holiday. 26. player. 89.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 26. Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday’s arrival coincided with Milwaukee’s first championship in decades. That’s not a direct case-and-effect scenario, but one cannot overstate Holiday’s impact on winning. He ranks among the top perimeter defenders in basketball, with rare positional versatility and a ceaseless motor. On offense, he is one of the NBA’s most under-appreciated facilitators.