Embiid also provides the Sixers with a consistent bail-out option, having taken the most field goal attempts per game with between zero and four seconds on the shot clock last season, making 41.5% of them. Simply put, Robinson’s presence is the difference between a historic offense and a middling one. There always seems to be some form of discontent surrounding Kyrie Irving, who holds the crown as the NBA’s most mercurial superstar. Few players—even some above Butler on this list—can confidently make that claim. But as Jokić’s stature grew, so did the questions surrounding his long-term ceiling. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves. Smart doesn’t always take care, but he always cares, sometimes more than he should, always for the right reasons. Vučević’s defensive impact is middling. With Bojan Bogdanovic gone and Victor Oladipo battling injuries, Warren's career-high scoring average was a key factor in keeping the Pacers' offense from falling off a cliff. His three-point shooting was particularly notable after complaints about him settling for too many long twos in 2019. —B.P. 1 and No. It’s tough to place a premium on most bigs who present no threat to shoot from distance, and his lack of a jump shot limits his utility as such—the Jazz ought to make his minutes mutually exclusive with Rudy Gobert’s as much as possible. The 31-year-old guard enters this season as one of just five players to score 1,500 or more points in each of the last five years. He averaged 18.2 points per game for the Clips in 2020, playing 28.7 minutes a night off the bench. And his offensive game could use an extra flourish here and there, or at least one counter to teams who can doggedly chase him off the arc (as the Lakers did in the Finals.) But it feels certain that this is not the time to take it from him. For all his half-court shortcomings, Simmons’s transition prowess and defensive dominance makes him one of the Eastern Conference’s most valuable players. Morant has a pair of true weapons in the frontcourt, headlined by the former Spartan. Davis checks every box as a big man, but the premium value of ball-handlers and wings in the modern NBA caps his ceiling on this list. His versatility, particularly on the defensive end on the floor, essentially served as a cheat code for the Lakers’ coaching staff. Hayward sports the instincts of a point guard. Wall now joins a Houston team in a role that will stretch the limits of his skill set, as a defined second star alongside the NBA’s usage god himself, James Harden. Don’t be surprised if he leads the Sixers toward a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference and a deep postseason run. Vučević doesn’t seem to mind. The current version is still close to the top of the league. Hayward’s ill-fated Boston tenure has diminished his perceived value across the league, but despite some dampened athleticism, he joins the Hornets as a still-impactful offensive force. Barnes isn’t solely a stationary shooter. With so many skills already in his arsenal, Tatum is building on a foundation much more advanced than a typical third-year player. And his intelligence reeks of years of Finals experience, which means he’s militant about making the right basketball play at every juncture. The NBA is a fun sport to bet Tucker’s smarts and versatility have made him an invaluable cog in Houston over the last three seasons, and until further notice. While his three-point percentage dropped to 42.4% last season—a decrease from his league-leading 47.4% mark in 2018–2019—Harris still finished the year tied for sixth in three-point percentage. It could be a bit of an awkward transition for Dinwiddie in 2020–21 with Irving and Kevin Durant now leading the Nets. Bertāns’s excellence remains integral to the Wizards’ attack. Draymond Green played in only 43 games last season, averaging the fewest minutes per game of his career since his second season in the league. VanVleet is dubiously listed at 6' 0", but makes up for his size by frequently barreling his way into the paint and collapsing the defense. He certainly won’t have the same spotlight on him in New Orleans that he did in Milwaukee, and as a result, maybe he flourishes for a team with more modest aspirations. — R.N. The honeymoon wasn’t quite as sweet for Siakam, who hit a wall without Kawhi Leonard during Toronto’s seven-game Eastern Conference semifinals loss against the Celtics. If he truly returns to form, this placement will look a little conservative. Remember that when the Jazz have gone down in the playoffs, it’s been at the hands of elite offensive talents: James Harden, Stephen Curry and, last year, an ascendant Jamal Murray. We’ll see if he can reverse his career narrative in a new location sooner than later. He sports a soft touch near the rim and around the foul line, and he’s a prodigious force in the pick-and-roll. He’s always been able to simply shoot over you when he wants to, and he makes those shots most of the time. There’s an abundance of ways to contextualize the incredible things Luka Dončić has accomplished by age 21. Russell will also likely spend a lot of time playing alongside veteran guard Ricky Rubio, whom Russell recently said will take pressure off him in much the same way he did for Devin Booker in Phoenix and Donovan Mitchell in Utah. He anchored playoff-caliber Thunder defenses for five straight seasons, regularly finishes among the NBA’s leaders in screen assists and offensive rebounds and occupies an unusually large amount of precious space around the rim. Tatum has the talent to be a scoring leader one day. His defensive positioning has typically been sound, but he appeared to be moving his feet better than ever. Toronto was a legitimate contender last year, and Lowry, with his wit, guile, and skill, was the biggest reason why. Here is the nba list of Best Basketball Players in the World right now. Gordon is a bit past his prime, and Houston likely regrets extending his contract. — B.P. His final season with the Lakers represented a step in the right direction. But Ayton’s 38-game sample last season should provide significant optimism for the young center’s future. And though the defensive spotlight on him was artificially heightened because of the Cavs Finals runs of yesteryear, Love is still far from an anchor on that side of the ball. If there’s a legitimate knock on him right now, it’s his 31.6% three-point clip, stemming from degree-of-difficulty attempts that defenses will often live with (conversely, he converted 57% of attempts inside the arc). Capela is the forgotten man in Atlanta’s rotation after the Hawks’ offseason makeover. Collins can put the ball on the floor in tight spaces, and he’s an elite leaper at the rim. So who will lead San Antonio forward? Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke are two of the Western Conference’s more exciting young forwards, looking like a potential top three in the years to come. His dominant step-back has forced opponents to shade their coverage to a hilarious degree, placing defenders firmly on his left hip to prevent the game’s most unstoppable move. —B.P. This summer, LeVert shed some light on that question, leading the shorthanded Nets to a 5–3 record as he moved from a secondary scorer to a primary ballhandler and scoring role in the bubble. Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and more headline the biggest snubs from SI's Top 100 NBA Players of 2021 list. Irving’s tenure in Cleveland ended with a trade demand. Schroder was a savvy pickup for the Lakers, who can use his attack-minded personality on the ball and his quickness on defense. Curry played in only five games last season, but there’s no reason to believe he’s not fully recovered from the broken hand that caused him to miss most of the year. 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. 1 spot on this list a year from now. The Hawks shelled out $72 million for Bogdanović in the offseason, and his offensive skill set should make the contract a worthwhile play for Atlanta. There are some offensive shortcomings to note with Covington. And when things matter, that’s always going to be what he wants. The past eight years have represented arguably the best stretch in franchise history thanks to Harden’s brilliance. All the players listed there have also had disappointing playoff losses, by the way. —B.P. Porzingis is no slouch as a roll man himself. The Bucks bet big on Holiday, whose fierce on-ball defense and ability to run the offense will be valuable come playoff time. Redick remains one of the game's most reliable shooters even though New Orleans has shifted him into a backup role. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Daily Cover: SI's Top 100 NBA Players of 2021, Bertāns’s value as one of the league’s most effective frontcourt shooters, scored 53 points in Indiana’s opening seeding-game victory, having signed a fresh four-year deal worth more than $70 million, signing a four-year, $85 million contract, he joins the Hornets as a still-impactful offensive force, He returns to the Top 100 as a member of the Rockets, his play had returned to his usual standard, the Pelicans are banking on the Adams effect, Klay Thompson will miss a second straight season after tearing his ACL, The Serbian center was the subject of fascination early in his career, Anthony Davis was the key to unlocking the team’s success, Clippers ultimately ended in massive disappointment. Acquiring Westbrook means you get the whole package. He scored 23.8 points per game on a markedly improved 39.1% from three, posting the same effective field goal percentage as Luka Dončić. Ingram won Most Improved Player and turned in a relatively dominant offensive season. He averaged a career-best 27.1 points per game, shooting a robust 47% from the field and 37.8% from three. It’s quite possible Lopez exemplifies the shift in the role of the modern big man better than any other player in the league. Of course, there are concerns. Bogdanovic can slither around a Gobert pick en route to the rim. Though he may not have a devastating stepback or consistently collapse the defense, Brown, from the moment he entered the league, has been a significant catalyst for Boston’s consistent success. His fit in Chicago specifically is a bit curious. View this photo on Instagram But if Dinwiddie buys into his role, he could be an effective piece in a high-octane attack. He’s viewed by many as little more than a replacement-level wing, but a closer look provides a clearer picture. The darling of the Eastern Conference finals, Herro is an adept shot creator who will be called on to carry a heavier load in his second season. —B.P. If the Bulls find their way in the playoff chase this spring, Porter could play a crucial role. While Ibaka might not be as much of a rim protector as he was when he was a spry 22-year-old blocking more than 3.5 shots per game, he remains a smart and more-than-capable force on the defensive end of the floor. Please enable JavaScript for the best experience. When the 23-year-old Murray agreed to a five-year, $170 million extension in the summer of 2019, some questioned Denver’s decision to anoint Murray as a franchise centerpiece despite his having never made an All-Star team. With the big three as well as the super-team era apparently in the rear-view mirror, there is parity in the Association again. Earlier this summer, 10 SB Nation writers decided to predict the 101 best NBA players in 2021. And that’s where we’ve landed. Aldridge has been a stabilizing force in his five years with the Spurs, three of which earned him All-Star appearances. The 29-year-old small forward started 58 games for the Nuggets last season and was among the team’s most consistent contributors. With a healthy Bogdanovic balancing the offense and stretching the floor, Utah almost certainly would have beaten Denver in the first round of the playoffs. Just three players have tallied more 40-point games. Will the real Gary Harris please stand up? 4, 2021, at 7:37 AM The Best NBA Players, According To RAPTOR Our ratings, updated daily, use play-by-play and player-tracking data to calculate each playerâs individual plus-minus measurements and wins above replacement, which accounts for playing time His efficient rookie season was marred by a lack of physicality and defensive intensity, and he started out 2019–20 with a 25-game PED suspension. Boston appeared to pass on taking Turner in a potential Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade, perhaps a questionable decision given Turner’s impressive talent. Don’t let that stop you from enjoying someone who is still a masterful bucket getter. It’s become almost impossible to separate the short-term playoff conversation around Paul George from who he really is as a player. DeRozan's inability to evolve past isolation scoring and his love of the mid-range will catch up with him as he progresses deeper into his 30s. Murray still must prove that he can carry a high-level offense every night like he did in the bubble across a full regular season. He also shot a career-high 61.7% from the field, remaining among the league’s more effective finishers, capable of overpowering a mismatch when necessary. Davis recently completed his ninth season as a member of Roy Williams's coaching staff at North Carolina. Brown is not quite qualified to carry an offense, but his advancing offensive game and rock-solid perimeter defense make him an ideal second option to Jayson Tatum. Did George struggle during the Clippers inexcusable seven-game loss in the bubble to the Nuggets? Griffin sees the floor like few players his size. Luka made his 1st All-Star game this year, being named a starter after averaging 28.7 points and 8.7 assists per game at just 20 years old. 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. Few rookie guards have ever shown up quite so ballsy and unafraid, and while he’s still learning to curb turnovers and defend with intent, it matters that Morant cares less about showmanship and more about making the right play, rarely shooting just to shoot or passing for the sake of it. He can defend all over the floor. And that’s the scary part. After an injury-marred 2019 campaign, Love played in 56 games for the Cavaliers during their shortened 2020. —J.W. Just nine finished with more blocks. But based on all we’ve seen, it feels like a simple matter of time before his next meaningful leap. AD could also guard perimeter stars, like he did when he matched up with Jimmy Butler in the Finals, or Kawhi Leonard during the regular season. There’s a reason the Pelicans are banking on the Adams effect—that his ability to physically dominate tight spaces will create better opportunities for others, as they always have. He attempted just 105 spot-up threes last season, the same amount as Frank Ntilikina and (interestingly) James Harden. Interestingly, for someone who frequently finds himself in the paint, you’d think Dragić would get to the free-throw line a touch more regularly than he currently does (4.2 attempts per game last season). Situationally, there’s only so much value that can be ascribed. A stylistic shift could boost both of Sacramento’s backcourt pieces in 2020–21. He’s a superb on-ball defender, sporting a 6' 10" wingspan that makes life increasingly difficult for opposing guards. 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. It’s that he’s an unwilling one. As an example, he was part of all four of Toronto’s best defensive lineups that logged at least 50 minutes. Among the players expected to contribute in important roles is Ingles.
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