Top 100 NBA players: End-of-season rankings
Top 100 NBA players — 70. Evan Mobley, Cavaliers
Evan Mobley might just win Rookie of the Year. Not many rookies get the chance to contribute so prolifically to winning teams. Mobley has been at the center of Cleveland’s rise to contention, mainly due to his unique ranginess on the defensive end. Mobley has been asked to guard all over the floor for Cleveland, using his length, mobility, and advanced instincts to stitch together one of the NBA’s best defensive teams. He has a legitimate case for All-Defense on top of All-Rookie, and his offensive production has been impressive too. He’s going to be a star sooner than later.
Top 100 NBA players — 69. Brook Lopez, Bucks
Brook Lopez’s recent return has already paid dividends for the Bucks, who feel like the current favorite to win the East (if not the championship). No longer the offensive cornerstone he once was in Brooklyn, Lopez has instead molded his game to the shifting circumstances. Rather than feasting on post-ups, he’s one of the best spot-up shooting bigs in the league. He has also emerged as an elite rim protector, providing a stable backdrop that allows Giannis Antetokounmpo to take more risks as a roamer.
Top 100 NBA players — 68. Myles Turner, Pacers
Myles Turner leads the NBA in blocked shots and is a perennial contender for Defensive Player of the Year at this point. Health has been a thorn in his side on the awards front, but Turner’s defensive prowess now takes center stage in Indiana’s rebuild. He will also have more offensive freedom in the absence of Domantas Sabonis, which means the opportunity to test the full extent of his skill set. We could see Turner rise a few spots by this time next season.
Top 100 NBA players — 67. OG Anunoby, Raptors
Injuries have once again sidetracked OG Anunoby’s season, but when healthy, he’s giving the Raptors quite a lot. Very few wing defenders can claim superiority to Anunoby. His blend of strength and length is exceedingly rare at 6-foot-7. He can play passing lanes and rack up deflections, or he can lock down the elite perimeter creators of the world. He’s one of the few players who can physically handle LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and the like. On offense, he’s an efficient 3-point shooter who is slowly coming into his own as an isolation scorer.
Top 100 NBA players — 66. Marcus Smart, Celtics
Marcus Smart is enjoying his best NBA season, and it may just result in him winning Defensive Player of the Year. He has long been able to muck up games and irritate ball-handlers, but Smart has taken it to another level this season. He’s smack dab in the middle of the NBA’s best defense every night, switching across five positions and making life difficult for whoever is unfortunate enough to line up opposite him. He has also taken on the reigns of full-time point guard in Boston, and done so with great effectiveness.