Top 100 NBA players entering 2022
77. . SF. Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi Leonard. 6. player
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 6. Kawhi Leonard
We won’t see Kawhi Leonard until 2022-23. He now has another serious lower leg injury on his resumé, and it’s no secret that Leonard’s durability has wavered in recent years. Even so, he’s Kawhi Leonard, and the two-time Finals MVP deserves a certain level of respect.
When at his best, Leonard’s case for No. 1 is arguably the strongest of any NBA player. The weaknesses are few and far between. His one weakness in Toronto — his lack of passing vision when faced with multiple defenders — was immediately rectified, and consequently improved upon once he arrived in LA. Kawhi is a robotically gifted shot-maker, a now legitimate facilitator, and the best perimeter defender in the NBA when he decides to lock in.
player. 20. . SF. Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James. 5
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 5. LeBron James
Broadly speaking, LeBron James is either the first or second-best player in NBA history. Even at 37 years old, he looks the part — and LA’s title hopes rest almost entirely on his broad shoulders. LeBron is LeBron. It’s hard to justify putting him at No. 5, and it makes me feel somewhat icky, but it’s more a testament to the state of NBA basketball than a referendum on LeBron’s current ability.
The NBA is loaded with gifted players right now, and the cream of the crop are all performing at absurdly high levels. LeBron has finally been bitten by the injury bug in recent years, and he doesn’t always lock in at the highest level. We’re picking nits, though. You could put LeBron at No. 1 and I wouldn’t bat an eye.