Top 100 NBA players: End-of-season rankings

Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Sixers(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Sixers(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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James Harden, Sixers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
James Harden, Sixers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

30. player. 89. . SF. Milwaukee Bucks. Khris Middleton

Top 100 NBA players — 30. Khris Middleton, Bucks

Khris Middleton is a brilliant isolation scorer and, increasingly so, a real playmaking threat. He can shoot over the top, score with finesse at the rim, or create out of the screen-and-roll. The Bucks’ spotlight tends to linger on Giannis and all that he can and does accomplish, but Middleton deserves credit for thriving in a role often smaller than his talent. For years, Bucks fans wanted more shots for Middleton. Now, the proper balance has been struck, but Middleton doesn’t always get the respect a player of his caliber has earned.

18. . SG. Boston Celtics. Jaylen Brown. 29. player

Top 100 NBA players — 29. Jaylen Brown, Celtics

Many factors have contributed to Boston’s ascent in the East, but one mighty important factor is Jaylen Brown. After murmurs of potential Brown trades early in the season, the former No. 3 pick has silenced that narrative for good. The Celtics are a machine on both sides of the ball when healthy, with Brown’s dynamic shot-making and versatile defense playing a key role both ways. It’s useful to have someone with Brown’s skill set in the No. 2 role. It was always premature to call for a breakup with Jayson Tatum.

89. . PG. Milwaukee Bucks. Jrue Holiday. 28. player

Top 100 NBA players — 28. Jrue Holiday, Bucks

Jrue Holiday is the best defensive guard in the NBA when he’s locked in. There’s nobody quite like him. He has the strength to battle switches inside, he’s an absolute brick wall at the point of attack, and his instincts are never short of razor-sharp. His offensive contributions aren’t often flashy, but they are meaningful. He’s an efficient scorer inside the arc, a much-improved threat from deep, and one of the league’s most fruitful assist men.

player. 93. . PG. Philadelphia 76ers. James Harden. 27

Top 100 NBA players — 27. James Harden, Sixers

The version of James Harden we’ve seen this season is not the version of James Harden who once averaged 36 points per game and won multiple MVPs in Houston. There have been some troublesome complications related to Harden’s hamstring and his lack of burst, but even in his apparently diminished state, Harden’s basketball genius shines through. He can orchestrate the game as well as any point guard, and he’s still liable to hit big shots and make several trips to the free throw line each night. Once Sixers fans accept Harden for who he is now, rather than who he was in the past, it will be a lot easier to appreciate his contributions.

110. . C. Miami Heat. Bam Adebayo. 26. player

Top 100 NBA players — 26. Bam Adebayo, Heat

Bam Adebayo has spent more time guarding across positions than perhaps any player in the NBA this season. He’s a truly singular beast, with the lateral quickness to contain guards, the strength to body up post threats, and the athleticism to make every sort of play. On offense, he has developed into a varied and reliable scorer inside the arc, with passing chops that unlock the shooters around him and a vertical threat that helps Jimmy Butler around the rim.