SI's Top 100
In September Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney set out to rank the Top 100 players in the NBA (much to the chagrin of DeMar DeRozan). Now, as tip-off looms, they've reexamined and annotated the list
Superstar ceiling, but he was still a teenager when preseason opened!
100. Devin Booker, Suns (NR)
99. Aaron Gordon, Magic (NR)
98. Brandon Knight, Suns (79)
Still a magician at 39. The oldest player on the list.
97. Manu Ginóbili, Spurs (NR)
96. J.R. Smith, Cavaliers (NR)
95. Evan Fournier, Magic (NR)
94. Cody Zeller, Hornets (NR)
93. Mason Plumlee, Trail Blazers (NR)
92. Wesley Matthews, Mavericks (99)
Magic paid him $72 million: 71 for his defense, one for his offense.
91. Bismack Biyombo, Magic (NR)
90. Kent Bazemore, Hawks (NR)
89. Ryan Anderson, Rockets (72)
88. Enes Kanter, Thunder (NR)
87. Kenneth Faried, Nuggets (86)
86. Amir Johnson, Celtics (89)
A favorite of diehards and rival coaches alike.
85. Rodney Hood, Jazz (NR)
84. Nerlens Noel, 76ers (97)
83. Andrew Bogut, Mavericks (76)
82. Robin Lopez, Bulls (84)
81. Trevor Ariza, Rockets (65)
80. Rudy Gay, Kings (52)
79. Clint Capela, Rockets (NR)
The best young player you've (probably) never heard of.
78. Nikola Jokić, Nuggets (NR)
77. Tobias Harris, Pistons (78)
76. Ian Mahinmi, Wizards (NR)
75. Nikola Vučević, Magic (67)
74. Victor Oladipo, Thunder (NR)
73. DeMarre Carroll, Raptors (81)
72. Avery Bradley, Celtics (NR)
71. Ricky Rubio, T-Wolves (87)
Blame Rob. He always stumps for the ultimate floor-spacer.
70. Kyle Korver, Hawks (46)
69. Danny Green, Spurs (50)
The Big Apple's most beloved is a lock to make a big jump next year.
68. Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks (NR)
67. Andrew Wiggins, T-Wolves (91)
66. Thaddeus Young, Pacers (75)
65. Marvin Williams, Hornets (NR)
64. Zach Randolph, Grizzlies (49)
One of many defensively challenged low-post scorers to fall this year.
63. Greg Monroe, Bucks (48)
62. Jonas Valanciunas, Raptors (77)
61. Goran Dragic, Heat (42)
The only Laker to make the list now that Kobe is retired.
60. Luol Deng, Lakers (56)
59. J.J. Redick, Clippers (93)
58. Bradley Beal, Wizards (62)
57. Jeff Teague, Pacers (41)
56. George Hill, Jazz (80)
55. Marcin Gortat, Wizards (63)
Knee injury makes repeating career year difficult.
54. Reggie Jackson, Pistons (94)
53. Jae Crowder, Celtics (NR)
52. Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers (70)
51. Chandler Parsons, Grizzlies (66)
50. CJ McCollum, Trail Blazers (NR)
49. Eric Bledsoe, Suns (33)
48. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks (100)
47. Danilo Gallinari, Nuggets (73)
Saw his ranking; called us "stupid."
46. DeMar DeRozan, Raptors (61)
45. Isaiah Thomas, Celtics (88)
44. Andre Iguodala, Warriors (44)
43. Nicolas Batum, Hornets (55)
Took a hit after a rough season that led to trade.
42. Serge Ibaka, Magic (25)
41. Pau Gasol, Spurs (40)
40. Steven Adams, Thunder (NR)
39. Khris Middleton, Bucks (45)
38. Brook Lopez, Nets (38)
Failed his physical after list came out. Should Heat tank?
37. Chris Bosh, Heat (22)
36. Kemba Walker, Hornets (NR)
35. Hassan Whiteside, Heat (69)
Will he be addition by subtraction for the Rockets?
34. Dwight Howard, Hawks (19)
33. Rudy Gobert, Jazz (39)
32. Dwyane Wade, Bulls (30)
31. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks (28)
30. Kevin Love, Cavaliers (17)
29. Andre Drummond, Pistons (35)
Ben probably has a Favors poster in his bedroom.
28. Derrick Favors, Jazz (37)
27. Gordon Hayward, Jazz (31)
26. Mike Conley, Grizzlies (27)
This one incited fan outrage, but his defense was damaging.
25. Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers (23)
24. Carmelo Anthony, Knicks (15)
This year's highest debut, and higher than Anthony Davis's 2014 debut.
23. Karl-Anthony Towns, T-Wolves (NR)
22. Marc Gasol, Grizzlies (9)
21. Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers (24)
20. DeAndre Jordan, Clippers (29)
That's right: four Warriors in the top 20.
19. Klay Thompson, Warriors (26)
18. Al Horford, Celtics (21)
17. John Wall, Wizards (13)
16. Jimmy Butler, Bulls (18)
15. Paul Millsap, Hawks (32)
14. Kyle Lowry, Raptors (34)
13. Draymond Green, Warriors (16)
Top 10 talent; HR nightmare.
12. DeMarcus Cousins, Kings (14)
11. LaMarcus Aldridge, Spurs (12)
10. Blake Griffin, Clippers (8)
Jumped into top 10 after big bounceback from scary injury.
9. Paul George, Pacers (20)
8. Anthony Davis, Pelicans (3)
7. James Harden, Rockets (5)
6. Kawhi Leonard, Spurs (10)
5. Russell Westbrook, Thunder (7)
Barely edged out Westbrook thanks to defense, shot selection, control.
4. Chris Paul, Clippers (6)
Is the unanimous MVP underrated?
3. Steph Curry, Warriors (4)
2. Kevin Durant, Warriors (2)
The King for the fourth straight year.
1. LeBron James, Cavaliers (1)
(Last year's ranking)