Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 8. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid hasn’t found the same shooter’s touch from mid-range this season as he did during his MVP push, but the wide-ranging impact is still there. Embiid is having arguably his best defensive season, and he’s still a force of nature in the post. A lot of players have struggled to adjust to the NBA’s revised officiating techniques. Not Embiid. He’s still a frequent visitor of the foul line.
As he continues to improve his processing speed, Embiid will only get better. He demands a double team on almost every touch, and has the skill to beat defenses from anywhere on the court despite his towering 7-foot frame.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 7. Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic was the preseason MVP favorite. That leap hasn’t quite happened. His efficiency is down slightly, and the Mavs’ offense in general looks a mess. That can be chalked up to his notoriously poor head coach, but Doncic has to do a better job of attacking the paint, getting all the way to the rim, and using that strong 6-foot-8 frame of his.
All that said, Doncic’s raw production is absurd and he can look like the best player in the world on any given night. His patent step-back and otherworldly instincts are what keeps Dallas afloat in these uncertain times.