Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 25. Ja Morant
Ja Morant has gone from the precipice of stardom to straight-up special. The Grizzlies are one of the hottest teams in the NBA and seem poised to make real noise all season. There has been growth up and down the roster, but Morant is the engine — the mechanism elevating the individual parts around him. Morant has always gotten to the rim whenever he wants, but now he’s putting the pieces together as a perimeter scorer and world-class facilitator.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 24. Zach LaVine
Last season was no fluke for Zach LaVine, who looks every bit as special this year despite the arrival of multiple impact veterans (including DeRozan, who actually leads the Bulls in scoring). LaVine is an alien athlete, one of the NBA’s most prolific 3-point shooter, and a long last, a real playmaker for others. He has learned to elevate those around him, which is always the next step for slightly undersized guards with LaVine’s raw talent.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 23. Donovan Mitchell
The Jazz are one of the best teams in basketball and have a very real path to winning the championship. Donovan Mitchell is, in the minds of many, Utah’s best player. Not many 25-year-olds can contribute so significantly to real contenders. Mitchell’s special blend of athletic pop, shot-making juice, and charismatic leadership skills make him easy to root for and endlessly valuable.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 22. Bradley Beal
It has been a rough season for Bradley Beal, who is shooting a career-worst 28.3 percent from 3-point range. Even so, the Wizards have been a winning team, with Beal’s creation skills at the core of their offense. He remains supremely elusive with the ball in hand, using slick crossovers, step-backs, and hesitation moves to keep defenders on the rocks. Expect his efficiency to improve as the season progresses.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 21. Devin Booker
Any and all serious disrespect for Devin Booker has dissipated. Last season’s Finals run cemented Booker as one of the NBA’s true rising superstars — an elite 3-point shooter who can score in the tightest of spaces, whether it be creating off the dribble or flying around screens Curry-style. His improvement as a passer and defender make it hard to poke holes in his game. Booker is in for a long and successful career.