Ranking the top 100 NBA players (2022)
Jaylen Brown. 30. player. 18. . SG. Boston Celtics
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 30. Jaylen Brown, Celtics
Jaylen Brown’s steady growth has been right at the center of Boston’s rise to contention. There’s no more valuable archetype in the NBA than a two-way wing who can create his own shot. Brown can generate offense from scratch, he can impact the game playing off-ball when needed, and he’s a versatile, high-level defender. Those who were skeptical of Brown as a top-3 pick have certainly been proven wrong.
Pascal Siakam. 29. player. 81. . PF. Toronto Raptors
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 29. Pascal Siakam, Raptors
It’s time to give Pascal Siakam his flowers. Not long ago, he was the No. 2 option on a championship team. Now, with the added responsibilities of being the No. 1 option, he looks like a perennial All-NBA candidate. People make fun of his spin move, but Siakam’s size and speed driving downhill is a unique weapon. He just overwhelms smaller defenders, or drives right past the slower ones. He’s also all over the place on defense in the best way.
player. 142. . SG. Washington Wizards. Bradley Beal. 28
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 28. Bradley Beal, Wizards
Bradley Beal is one of the NBA’s purest buckets. He has averaged over 30 points per game twice now. He took a few step backs last season, in part due to injury, but he’s still endlessly dynamic with the ball in his hands. From mid-range pull-ups to crazy off-movement 3s or acrobatic finishes in traffic, you just won’t find many guys who can put the ball through the net as prolifically as Beal. He’s also a reliable lead ball-handler when called upon.
New Orleans Pelicans. Brandon Ingram. 27. player. 69. . SF
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 27. Brandon Ingram, Pelicans
Brandon Ingram took the Pelicans to new heights this season. Even with his co-star on the bench and a new coach at the helm, Ingram was consistently great. Were it not for his ability to weather the storm, we would be having a very different conversation about New Orleans’ future right now. Ingram’s picture-perfect jumper, improved playmaking skills, and stone-cold confidence late in games has made him a bona fide All-NBA talent. He’s going to be special for a long time.
PG. Brooklyn Nets. Kyrie Irving. 26. player. 147.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 26. Kyrie Irving, Nets
Kyrie Irving is a complex figure in the sports world and I’m not sure Brooklyn particularly enjoys having him on the team. But, whatever can be said about Irving off the court and in the locker room, he’s one heck of a player. On the court, we’ve never seen a small guard so skilled at finishing at the rim. Irving’s talent for contorting his body and keeping his defender off-balance is second to none. His defense isn’t great and he’s not a point guard in the traditional sense, but the list of superior scorers is very short.