USA Today ranks top 100 NBA players, placing Celtics star Jayson Tatum at No. 9
Boston reporter Bob Ryan dissects the new rankings, noting that five of the top five players were born outside the United States.
By Dominic Foster ·
USA Today published a ranking of the 100 best current NBA players on Saturday, placing Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum at No. 9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder sits at No. 1, while Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets holds the No. 2 spot. The list includes several players with strong ties to Boston and the broader Northeast.
The top five slots on the list belong to players who were all born outside the United States. Gilgeous-Alexander, who is from Hamilton, Ontario, played college basketball at the University of Kentucky. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat is from Greece, Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers is from Slovenia, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is from France, and Jokic is from Serbia. These four players developed entirely in their home countries before joining the NBA.
Among this top group, the players have accumulated two NBA championships, 24 first-team All-NBA selections, 30 All-Star Game appearances, three scoring titles, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Jalen Brunson, who plays for the New York Knicks, is the highest-ranked American-born player at No. 6. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall and known for his footwork and shooting.
The list features 17 international players in total, representing 12 different countries. No players from South America or Australia appear on the list. Andrew Nembhard is the lowest-ranked international player at No. 83, while Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets is the highest-ranked Canadian at No. 21. Murray also played college basketball at Kentucky.
Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan analyzed the list for readers. He noted that LeBron James, who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, is ranked No. 19. James will turn 42 years old on Dec. 30. Ryan said he was pleased to see Brunson ranked highly, despite previously questioning the Knicks’ contract with him. Ryan described Brunson as a model for young backcourt players.
Ryan expressed mild disagreement with the placement of Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons at No. 8, ahead of Tatum. Ryan said he believes Tatum contributes more on the defensive end, particularly with rebounding. He also preferred Jokic at No. 2 over Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 1, though he acknowledged Gilgeous-Alexander is the two-time defending MVP.
The Celtics have four players on the list besides Tatum. Derrick White is ranked No. 46, Payton Pritchard is No. 63, and Paul George is No. 81. The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers each have five players on the list. The Knicks include Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. The 76ers include Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe.
The Los Angeles Lakers have three players on the list: Doncic, Austin Reaves at No. 32, and Walker Kessler at No. 76. The Golden State Warriors feature Stephen Curry at No. 11, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, who are 38, 37, and 36 years old, respectively. Maine’s Cooper Flagg is ranked No. 31, with a note that his ranking could rise if his shooting improves in his second season.
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