Ranking the top 100 NBA players (2022)
110. . SF. Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler. 10. player
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 10. Jimmy Butler, Heat
Jimmy Butler has spent two of the last three years taking a blowtorch to every team that faces him in the playoffs. Not many star scorers can ignore the 3-point line like Jimmy and still make it work. He’s automatic from mid-range, though, with a deep bag of tricks to punish every manner of defender. His confidence, not only in himself but in his teammates, is infectious and totally in line with Miami’s vaunted “Heat Culture.” He goes out of his way to set up others, and he also happens to be one of the best wing defenders in the NBA.
9. player. 18. . SF. Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 9. Jayson Tatum, Celtics
Jayson Tatum has arrived on the scene as a two-way superstar. He spent the first round giving Kevin Durant fits on the defensive end and burying Brooklyn with his clutch shot-making. With a high release point on his jumper and precise footwork, Tatum is a masterful scorer. You can make him work for it, you can make him feel it, but you’re never going to completely shut off Tatum’s ability to score. As he continues to get better at seeing the floor and setting up teammates, Tatum could rise even further up this list.
8. player. 41. . PG. Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 8. Stephen Curry, Warriors
Stephen Curry’s worst shooting season in forever can’t make us forget one simple truth: he’s the greatest shooter ever, still, and the Warriors’ elite offensive apparatus is built entirely upon Curry’s generational gravity and talent. There’s no better off-ball offensive player in the NBA. Curry can dominate entire possessions without touching the ball. No one can panic a defense like Curry, and no one can punish miscommunication like Curry. And, if you do give him the ball and ask him to create, the probability of success remains quite high.
7. player. 77. . SF. Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi Leonard
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 7. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers
Kawhi Leonard missed the entire season to injury and he hasn’t been 100 percent right since Toronto’s championship run in 2019. It will be fascinating to see how close he is to 100 percent once he gets back. That’s what makes this stage of the list so difficult — a 100 percent Kawhi has a strong argument for No. 1, but we have no real read on his health and there are so many MVP-type players in the league right now. What we do know is this: Leonard can take over games with his scoring and he’s one of the best perimeter defenders we’ve ever seen. It would be wise to expect a strong return.
20. . SF. Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James. 6. player
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 6. LeBron James, Lakers
LeBron James is still LeBron James! He’s no longer the undisputed best player on the planet, and the Lakers are terribly run in part due to James’ own managerial input, but he’s still unbelievable on the court. At 6-foot-8, James is arguably the best passer in the game. He reads the floor like an English major reads Tolstoy. And, were it not for bad injury luck, he might have led the NBA in scoring at 37 years old.