If you’re a basketball fan, you’ve probably already seen ESPN’s NBA Top 100 for this upcoming season, which they released a couple of weeks ago.
Although it wasn’t as bad as it was in previous years, there were still some head-scratchers in there. LeBron isn’t in the top two, Ben Simmons and his broken jumper ranked at no. 15, and Klay Thompson was placed all the way back at no. 49.
In my list, I do things a bit differently. First of all, I don’t include rookies or people who have never played an NBA game before (for obvious reasons), so you won’t be seeing Zion Williamson or R.J. Barrett in here. Also, I don’t include players who will be out the entire season. In this way, Kevin Durant, who will miss this season, will not be included, but players like Klay Thompson, Jusef Nurkic, and Victor Oladipo, who are coming into the year hurt but will return at some point, will be included.
That being said, here is the second half of my NBA Top 100 for the 2019-20 season. Last week, I released the first half (100-51) of my list, so if you haven’t seen it, check it out before reading this.
50. John Collins (PF, Atlanta Hawks)
49. Lauri Markkanen (PF/C, Chicago Bulls)
48. Steven Adams (C, Oklahoma City Thunder)
47. Julius Randle (PF, New York Knicks)
46. Kevin Love (PF, Cleveland Cavaliers)
45. Lou Williams (G, Los Angeles Clippers)
44. Danilo Gallinari (F, Oklahoma City Thunder)
43. Ben Simmons (PG, Philadelphia 76ers)
42. De’Aaron Fox (PG, Sacramento Kings)
41. Jayson Tatum (F, Boston Celtics)
40. Nikola Vucevic (C, Orlando Magic)
39. Chris Paul (PG, Oklahoma City Thunder)
38. DeMar DeRozan (SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs)
37. Jamal Murray (G, Denver Nuggets)
36. Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C, Dallas Mavericks)
35. Donovan Mitchell (G, Utah Jazz)
34. Kyle Lowry (PG, Toronto Raptors)
33. Trae Young (PG, Atlanta Hawks)
32. Draymond Green (PF, Golden State Warriors)
31. Khris Middleton (SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks)
30. Tobias Harris (F, Philadelphia 76ers)
29. Jrue Holiday (G, New Orleans Pelicans)
28. D’Angelo Russell (G, Golden State Warriors)
27. Mike Conley (PG, Utah Jazz)
26. Devin Booker (SG, Phoenix Suns)
25. Pascal Siakam (PF, Toronto Raptors)
24. Rudy Gobert (C, Utah Jazz)
23. Blake Griffin (PF, Detroit Pistons)
22. LaMarcus Aldridge (PF/C, San Antonio Spurs)
21. CJ McCollum (SG, Portland Trail Blazers)
20. Luka Doncic (G/SF, Dallas Mavericks)
19. Victor Oladipo (SG, Indiana Pacers)
18. Al Horford (PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers)
17. Kemba Walker (PG, Boston Celtics)
16. Jimmy Butler (SG/SF, Miami Heat)
15. Bradley Beal (SG, Washington Wizards)
14. Karl-Anthony Towns (C, Minnesota Timberwolves)
13. Klay Thompson (SG, Golden State Warriors)
12. Damian Lillard (PG, Portland Trail Blazers)
11. Russell Westbrook (PG, Houston Rockets)
10. Paul George (F, Los Angeles Clippers)
9. Joel Embiid (C, Philadelphia 76ers)
8. Kyrie Irving (PG, Brooklyn Nets)
7. Nikola Jokic (C, Denver Nuggets)
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo (F, Milwaukee Bucks)
5. Stephen Curry (PG, Golden State Warriors)
4. James Harden (G, Houston Rockets)
3. Anthony Davis (PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers)
2. Kawhi Leonard (SF, Los Angeles Clippers)
1. LeBron James (F, Los Angeles Lakers)
I know a lot of people are going to disagree with where I put some certain players here. Ben Simmons is a player who many people have in their top 20 or top 30, at the very least.
I have him outside my top 40 because he is such a one-dimensional player. The reason why he has consistently underperformed against teams like the Boston Celtics is that they understand how to guard him. The key to stopping Ben Simmons is playing off of him and preventing him from driving the line. Basically, until Ben Simmons hits a three, he’s not moving up in my list.
The same thing goes for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Last year’s MVP was ranked first on ESPN’s list and is ranked top three in the majority of others’ lists. However, look at how he was limited by Pascal Siakam in year’s playoffs. If you keep him out of the paint, he is much less effective. The Greek Freak is too one-dimensional as of now to be any higher.
As for my top pick, it was always going to be LeBron James. I know the narrative going around the league is that Kawhi Leonard and Antetokounmpo have overtaken him as the best player in the NBA, but this is wrong. In my opinion, LeBron James has the most talent by far compared to the rest of the league.
As always, let me know what you think. Do you agree with my list? What changes would you make? Again, make sure you check out my 100-51 list as well.
*Photo: USA Today
