Dec 13, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts to a play by the Utah Jazz in the second half at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
The Ringer top 100 NBA player list gets a lot right about the current state of the league, but it’s not perfect. There’s a glaring error right in the top 10.
The Ringer just released a list of the top 100 NBA players in the league. It is updated continuously and meant to offer a dynamic picture of the league at any point. Each player is given a short description, with three key features to map their game. For instance, Stephen Curry is number 2 on the list. His three defining characteristics include pull-up threat, ball handling, and floor general.
Like any list, especially one seeking to describe the entire NBA, it is going to be subjective. The Ringer staff gets a lot right here. And this top 100 list is a helpful tool for anyone trying to understand the current NBA. Unfortunately, it is not perfect.
This slideshow will walk through three players that this list gets right. By right, we mean that the player fits well in the listed ranking, relative to the other players around him. But we will also offer one example that the Ringer staff gets wrong– or a player who does not fit well in their listed position. Certainly, there are other examples of players adequately placed and those grossly under- or over-ranked. But this snapshot is only meant to provide a primer on The Ringer list. You will have to review the rest yourself.
Right: Zion Williamson at No. 15
The first player that the Ringer list gets right is Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans in the number 15 slot. His defining characteristics are listed as human highlight, interior scoring, and injury concerns. Zion has led the Pelicans to a prime position in the Western Conference, as perhaps one of the more dynamic and feared teams in the league. They are young, athletic, and well-constructed.
Zion has been key to this success. Averaging 25.3 points with 7.3 rebounds per game, Zion has clearly been the best player on one of the best teams in the NBA. Given all this, the logical question might be, why isn’t he a top-10 player?
The answer is simple: health. Having missed large chunks of his first two seasons in the league, it is hard to overweight his importance. At 284 pounds, his weight has been a cause for concern throughout his career, given the high-flying stunts he is able to pull off. Fans want to see Zion’s almost circus-style dunks, but they hold their collective breath every time he gets airborne.
If he played 90 percent of the time, his talent level warrants a higher rank, but until he proves that he can stay on the court, 15 seems like an appropriate place for this young superstar.