After playing 26.6 minutes per game largely as a reserve with the Nuggets, the versatile forward signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Pistons this offseason. Capela may in essence function as Atlanta’s most important addition. His arsenal features a throwback post-up game, and he’s already a prolific screener and passer, throwing the third-most passes per game in the league last year. Those stretches when Walker gets going in the high pick-and-roll, pulling up on bigs who dare go under screens or driving by those who get a little too eager, are very satisfying to watch. 400 makes), and he sports the size to defend larger forwards and the occasional big man. We are ranking the top NBA players for the 10th year. Jokic should be unafraid to let it fly. In just his second NBA season, Dončić averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists, made first-team All-NBA and the All-Star team, finished fourth in MVP voting and was the focal point of the most efficient NBA offense ever recorded. There isn’t much that the Timberwolves star can’t do, especially on the offensive end of the floor. It’s best to look at these rankings as short-term projections, based on performance history and the impact of a player's age—some growth can be expected from younger players, and a degree of potential decline from older veterans. — R.N, 2. He’s at his most enjoyable to watch when he puts teams away by himself, going on these mini flurries at the ends of halves, forcing opponents into submission with his unstoppable elbow jumper. There are few guards anywhere who check as many crucial, creative boxes: He handles with an unpredictable cadence, he’s dangerous in ball screens, boasts catch-and-shoot chops, and can lean on a reliable in-between game when he can’t get to the rim. While 2020 was solid health wise, in the previous three seasons Love never played in more than 60 regular season games. After initially making his name as a rim-runner with James Harden and the Rockets, Harrell has since added plenty of spice to his offensive repertoire. McCollum is a rock-solid secondary scorer, averaging 20-plus points per game for the past five seasons and enjoying near-perfect health along the way. It’s not so much as the shots he blocks anymore as the angles he takes away, and he’s disciplined, averaging just 3.3 fouls per 36 minutes. Only two players tallied more steals in 2019–20. Cleveland finished last season with the league’s second-worst defense, and a full season of Drummond should also help improve those numbers, if only marginally. Charlotte would be smart to increase its pace with Hayward and Ball, capitalizing on each player’s vision and skill in the open court. Highest rank: 1. We’ll never see Blake Griffin return to his Lob City form after an array of knee injuries, but the modern version of Griffin can still be downright delightful. 8 seed, a run required after injuries plagued the Blazers throughout the regular season. Leonard is a master at playing on his schedule. And even in a shaky situation, Young still managed to turn in an elite offensive season for a player of his age. See where all 30 teams rank after … But those moments, people. And he’s just as proficient on the defensive end. Fans flocked to YouTube to track down clips of the dazzling Spanish star, who first appeared in Spain’s top professional league at 14 and held his own during the 2008 Olympics. Pushed out of Houston, Capela landed on his feet with the Hawks, who need his interior defense and lob finishing ability. Washington remains on the fringe of the playoff race entering 2020–21, but they could sport one of the league’s most exciting offenses. Hield's high-efficiency, high-volume three-point shooting looks good on paper, but he has yet to develop other aspects of his game that would contribute to winning. The more command of the offense he takes, the better. Looking at the NBA starts that suited up this season and played a majority of the games, here is a ranking of the top 20 players in the league right now. Bam is deadly on handoffs, and his jumper is steadily improving. Stars like Kevin Durant and John Wall are making their returns from serious setbacks. 10-1. play. Aldridge remains a reliable source of offense and a capable defender, but he would be better suited to playing a complementary role on a contender at this stage of his career. Year 2 was far more encouraging. Midseason evaluations are exceptionally difficult. Doing so ignores Irving’s immense talent. Few players in the league are as talented at one specific skill. Paul looked rejuvenated in OKC. Green can still reach those heights of tenacious defense and textbook rotations/switches, but doing it night in and night out for every minute he’s on the floor is no longer realistic. If the Bulls find their way in the playoff chase this spring, Porter could play a crucial role. Bertāns has some skill as a roll man and interior defender, but those attributes are quite ancillary to his ability to let it fly from beyond the arc. Nurkić was inching closer to his fully realized self even before reshaping his body. It’s hard to separate Brogdon from his frontcourt partner, Domantas Sabonis, hence their adjacent placement on this list. That vision and wherewithal isn’t going to be what fails him. Salary, expected earning power and projected growth or decline beyond the 2020-21 season were not considered. Valančiūnas remains a key cog for the Grizzlies as they look to snap a three-year playoff drought. And after a year away in New Orleans, Favors returns to Utah as the league’s most overqualified backup center. Green was never as great as those two players at their height, which means even a little slippage in his game affects him much more significantly. He may have unlocked something extra in the process. It’s still mind-blowing that Zion Williamson has managed to live up to just about every aspect of his considerable hype: In the 19 games he played before the bubble, he was averaging 35.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per 100 possessions while often being deployed in short spurts, and the Pelicans performed like a top-half, playoff-caliber team on both sides of the floor. This year's list incorporated data and statistical context from Basketball-Reference, NBA.com, ESPN.com and Synergy Sports. Absolutely. Holiday remains as well-rounded a secondary star as you’ll find anywhere in the league, and time and again, he proves it. His jump shot oscillates between middling and broken depending on the week, and his stubbornness regarding said jumper can create plenty of frustration. But he’s become more efficient thanks to an increase in three-point attempts, and with different pieces around him, you still wonder whether he might have more to offer. Playing without a great point guard for really the first time in his career, the Clippers asked Leonard to be more of a ball-handler in 2020, and he acquitted himself well as a passer when drawing extra defenders. Simmons sports the athletic profile to be a top-10 player. His numbers remained largely the same as they have for most of his tenure with the Cavs, averaging 17.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.4% from three. Turner's stagnating offensive development has been a bummer, but his elite shot-blocking and defensive impact can't be denied. The fifth-year forward continues to show impressive range from beyond the arc, making a legitimate leap in 2019–20 as he nearly doubled his scoring to 15.4 points per game. —M.S. He returns to Denver this season on a one-year deal, looking to help the Nuggets reach their first Finals appearance since they joined the NBA in the mid 1970s. He can pump-fake his way past a defender for a two-dribble pull-up. But the flaws in his game grow increasingly frustrating by the season. And the attention he draws when he sets a proper screen makes life immeasurably easier for his teammates. —M.S. And with all the chatter about his status as a No. He couldn’t stop the stream of missed triples vs. Golden State in 2018, and he was outdueled by Steph Curry down the stretch one year later. By Mike Prada, Tom Ziller, and 8 more September 19, 2017 / new. How Brogdon will fit alongside Oladipo is among Indiana’s biggest questions heading into this season. And while the Raptors discharged the Nets in four games, the 6' 6" guard averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 assists per contest on 18 shots per game. Instead of trying to force his way out to a contender, Paul, who turned 35 in May, went to work and put together one of the finest individual seasons of his career. Yet there’s no denying his historic talent. What Butler lacks in polish and outside shooting, he more than makes up for with his physicality and relentless spirit. Vučević is a quality mid-range shooter, and he can finish effectively with either hand. The Washington Post’s Top 100 of 2021 list projects the premier NBA talents for the 2020-21 season. But the question remains whether he’s merely a high-quality secondary option or whether he could lead a team on a daily basis, and in turn, whether he could be the centerpiece of a trade for another star. Hayward's disappointing, injury-ravaged Celtics tenure ended after three years when he chased the money to Charlotte during the offseason. He remains an elite catch-and-shoot player and could easily inch close to his old neighborhood of 40% from distance if all goes well. SI NBA writers Rohan Nadkarni, Michael Shapiro and Ben Pickman provided valuable feedback and contributed to the player entries. — R.N. Despite his flaws, Young is a legitimately thrilling offensive talent, and he’ll inherit the best roster he’s had yet. Only 26 years old, Robinson should have time to grow the other areas of his game. —B.P. —Jeremy Woo. Brogdon's steady, controlled game lacks flash, which could help explain why he's one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. All these years later, Westbrook remains the most polarizing player in the NBA: His box score stats say "superstar," but his inefficiency, turnover problems and shaky playoff performances say "overrated.". Just three players have tallied more 40-point games. And when things matter, that’s always going to be what he wants. The scary part here, of course, is how much time Doncic has to keep adjusting and improving, with the rest of the league throwing the book at him in the meantime. —B.P. Situationally, there’s only so much value that can be ascribed. He is a versatile defender and pairs nicely with OG Anunoby on the wing. He’s far enough removed from his torn Achilles that expectations are running high. “I had to shoot [threes] in the NBA and I didn’t have to shoot them in college,” Siakam told Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix last fall. The Washington Post’s Top 100 of 2021 list projects the premier NBA talents for the 2020-21 season. Leonard also made great strides as a playmaker, recording a career-high 4.9 assists a night. But Collins’s offensive skills are undeniable. D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves. PG is far from a scrub. Simmons should take at least a small step forward with his shot. But he should still make a marked impact with the given good health in 2020–21. Did George struggle during the Clippers inexcusable seven-game loss in the bubble to the Nuggets? The current version is still close to the top of the league. In each of his final two seasons with the Suns, he averaged more than 18 points per game. Valančiūnas posted a 60.6 effective field goal percentage in 2019–20, averaging 0.97 points per possession on post-up attempts. “You’re behind them. While still giving full credit to Anthony Davis, everyone knows that his on-court life has never been easier, with James on the floor to dictate where the ball should be, to draw defenses, and maximize the quality and ease of his shot attempts. NBA Player Power Rankings snubs: On the outside looking in Jerami Grant – Detroit Pistons. As an example, he was part of all four of Toronto’s best defensive lineups that logged at least 50 minutes. Utah is often better than the sum of its parts given the roster’s offensive shortcomings. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers. With better health and a trade to a team that needs scoring more than Brooklyn, the late-blooming LeVert could theoretically become a No. 1 on the Lakers, Anthony Davis was the key to unlocking the team’s success. L.A. had the league’s third-best defensive rating last year, behind just Milwaukee and Gasol’s old team, Toronto, and he should further solidify an already strong defensive group. NBA Top 100 player rankings: LeBron James holds off Kawhi, Giannis for No. The departure of Marc Gasol takes away a halfcourt creator. Vintage Westbrook was arguably the best athlete in NBA history. Perhaps the talent around him is to blame. To get the final NBArank prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players: LeBron James vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. The versatile big played 34.8 minutes per game last season, setting career highs for points (18.5), rebounds (12.4) and assists (5.0) per game. Turner adds impressive stretch capability from beyond the arc as well, canning 37% of threes on 446 attempts over the last two seasons. In the immediate aftermath of Kawhi Leonard’s departure, there were questions about what direction the Raptors would take. But despite an underwhelming tenure in Chicago thus far, Porter remains an intriguing piece for this season and beyond. With Chris Paul now in the fold, Ayton could very well rocket up our Top 100 entering 2021–22. 32 pick in the 2019 draft to the Pacers for cash considerations. Few players in the NBA sport better instincts on the floor. If there’s anything holding him back, it’s that Brown’s offensive repertoire lacks a little bit of flair. Still just 24 years old, Booker will look to continue his ascension into the league’s upper echelon of guards this season, as the franchise eyes a playoff berth. Russell was traded to Minnesota last February and averaged 21.7 points and 6.6 assists per game in 12 games with the team. Vucevic's overall skills remain underrated by the masses, but building an elite offense around his more traditional shot profile has proven difficult. While a move to a contender could be an eventuality, for now, DeRozan returns to San Antonio, providing a stable presence and consistent scoring.— B.P. —J.W. While he may not be a pure shutdown defender just yet, OG has all the tools to enter the upper echelon of stoppers, and he’s already giving people trouble. On the other end of the floor, Adebayo is a fulcrum in the Heat’s motion attack. —R.N, Now entering his 12th NBA season, Ibaka remains one of the most versatile bigs in the league. Redick offers space as soon as he steps on the floor, and his conditioning at age 36 should be commended. (And for what it’s worth, the only other players with at least a 19.5-6.5-6.0 statline with better than 45% shooting were Luka, LeBron, Russ, and Jokic.). But based on all we’ve seen, it feels like a simple matter of time before his next meaningful leap. His contract may dampen his value on the trade market, but Barnes remains an effective player nearly a decade into his career. He is also a force around the rim, scoring the third-most paint points per game in the league (10.8). —B.P. He posted the worst shooting season of his career, and Russell Westbrook’s control of the offense seemed to have a negative impact. Young's popularity and per-game stats vastly exceed his impact on wins and losses, but Atlanta finally got him some proven offensive weapons to work with this offseason. The Pelicans come into this season as one of the NBA’s most intriguing teams, with a number of high-upside young players, recently acquired veterans and a new coaching staff eager to lead them to the postseason. With the understanding Toronto planned to vigorously defend its title, Lowry had a remarkable 2020. When he does return to play, Walker is going to have one, two, three, however many of those nights when the ball can’t help to go in, like when he dropped 40 on the No. Collins is an ideal frontcourt player alongside Trae Young, at least on the offensive end. Lowest rank: 3. Even with a chunk of the NBA veering toward small-ball, Adams remains a difference-maker and an anchor. He’s viewed by many as little more than a replacement-level wing, but a closer look provides a clearer picture. (Nobody with that much of an offensive burden really is.) George remains one of the most gifted and complete wings in the game, even if his shaky postseason play and candid interviews have earned him more than his share of critics. Philadelphia’s point guard attempted just seven threes in 2019–20. He doesn’t pair his range with any real physicality, and he’s not exactly quick enough to beat bigs off the dribble when they chase him onto the arc. But the added pieces won’t cut into Collins’s production as much as one may think. The rankings, compiled by national NBA writer Ben Golliver, are meant to assess each player’s relative value without regard to his specific role or teammates. Rubio entered the NBA as one of the most-hyped international players ever. Is $120 million too rich for Hayward? Kawhi is a steely assassin, an expert at getting to his spots when he needs a bucket. There are some offensive shortcomings to note with Covington. They think he needs to prove something this upcoming season, that he has to show he can still be a superstar-level player without Klay Thompson or Kevin Durant by his side. Becoming less ball-dominant might lead to more catch-and-shoot looks and another uptick in his percentages. The former No. NBA Lottery Simulator NBA Team Rankings NBA Team Stats NBA Player Stats NBA Player Ratings NBA Fantasy Projections NBA Projected Minutes NBA Odds NBA Podcasts. —B.P. But will the Harden experience be remembered as much for its frustrations as its brilliance? In case that wasn’t obvious, the 2020 Thunder are a shining example. —M.S. To see our 25 biggest snubs from this year’s list, click here. The pair of free-agent signings will be joined by frontcourt newcomers Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, creating a short-term logjam. Even if he looks like his old self, he’ll be asked to mesh in a way he never has before, spotting up, cutting and making himself useful when the ball isn’t in his hands. Virginia Singarayar, Brianna Schroer and Brian Gross contributed to the design of this page. Mitchell is now the face of the Jazz after a string of scoring explosions in the bubble revealed an even higher offensive ceiling than previously thought. He’s evolving as a pick-and-roll ballhandler. Let’s hope we see Griffin in the postseason again one way or another, after his disappointing exits with the Clippers. Clarkson found a home with the Jazz after a midseason trade, providing instant offense in a super-sub role. 63. The Tennessee State product can legitimately defend both guards and larger wings, excelling as a weak-side helper. But on the defensive side of the floor, the Wolves struggled last season, finishing as a bottom-third unit, with Towns playing in just 35 games. But Ayton’s 38-game sample last season should provide significant optimism for the young center’s future. According to the Denver Post’s Mike Singer, the Nuggets vowed to work with Grant and develop him more as a player, even offering him a similar deal. It’s been 18 years of LeBron James, and we are spoiled. Harp on the backpage headlines if you’d like. Despite teams’ knowing the core tenets of Aldridge’s game, he is still effective night in and night out. Put all that together, and Harrell averaged a career-best 18.6 points per game last season. —R.N. Harden's demanding personality and unimpressive responses to playoff adversity undercut his exquisite scoring ability. Don’t be surprised if he leads the Sixers toward a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference and a deep postseason run. — B.P. —J.W. Yet another Raptor who stepped up in the wake of Kawhi's walking away, VanVleet posted career numbers practically across the board in 2019–20. The Tatum era in Boston is quite young, but he’s already been a key contributor on two trips to the conference finals in only three seasons. Phoenix’s trade for All-Star guard Chris Paul will surely help Booker find more space on offense. There always seems to be some form of discontent surrounding Kyrie Irving, who holds the crown as the NBA’s most mercurial superstar. Porzingis’s ability to stretch well beyond 25 feet creates significant driving lanes for Luka Dončić, and allows the Dončić–Dwight Powell pick-and-roll to thrive. 1; Nets climb to No. Covington should continue to be a valuable defensive asset in Portland, where he’ll excel as a versatile frontcourt piece alongside Jusuf Nurkić and Derrick Jones Jr. Covington should help the Blazers secure a playoff spot in an increasingly crowded West. A deadly second option who could create for himself when called upon while being an absolute sniper from three. Murray is likely the franchise headliner. 2. But a bounce-back would do plenty for his value, and the short-term health of the Pacers. He sports a smooth jumper off the bounce, and while he’s not the most explosive leaper, he’s one of the league’s more creative finishers for a player of his size. Bam’s footwork and intelligence belie his age. That strain of thought completely ignores the context of last year’s Warriors roster, which was hastily reassembled after Thompson’s ACL tear and Durant’s departure. The best part was how sustainable it all feels. Part of what makes him special is that, by all accounts, he’s never cared about those numbers to begin with. He’s often unwilling to make any impact without the ball in his hands, far too content to rest with his hands on his hips in the half-court. Though his first year with the Clippers ultimately ended in massive disappointment, Leonard showed numerous times throughout 2020 why some had moved him ahead of LeBron before the season. Among the factors considered: last year’s performance (as judged by traditional per-game statistics and advanced metrics), current health, injury history, age, consistency, contributions to winning, ability to make teammates better, postseason performance and offensive and defensive impact. This is the first Top 100 list without Rob Mahoney, who along with Ben Golliver set the standard for this process over the better part of the past decade. 1 position on 'The Top 100 Players of 2026.'. AD’s game is effortless on the surface, but the devil is in the details, particularly his footwork. Age will eventually send Paul tumbling down this list, but not yet: His masterful orchestrating ability continues to turn bad teams into good ones. Horford's fit alongside Joel Embiid in Philadelphia was unexpectedly terrible, but a move back to center for the Thunder should help resuscitate his perceived value.