ESPN's Top 400 NBA players for 2015-2016

[Old School 44]

Rounding out the Spurs is Kawhi Leonard at number 8. That's it for the Spurs. Still amazed the Spurs can get a top 8 player in the league with the 15th pick of the draft. Looking forward to the start of the season. Go Spurs Go!

:lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2: :lobt2:


SAN ANTONIO SPURS (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sas/)

8. Kawhi Leonard (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6450/kawhi-leonard)
13. LaMarcus Aldridge (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2983/lamarcus-aldridge)
23. Tim Duncan (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/215/tim-duncan)
54. Tony Parker (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1015/tony-parker)
60. Danny Green (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3988/danny-green)
113. David West (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2177/david-west)
119. Boris Diaw (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2167/boris-diaw)
125. Manu Ginobili (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/272/manu-ginobili)
162. Patty Mills (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/4004/patty-mills)
251. Kyle Anderson (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2993874/kyle-anderson)
255. Ray McCallum (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2528447/ray-mccallum)
373. Rasual Butler
383. Matt Bonner (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1996/matt-bonner)
394. Jimmer Fredette (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6434/jimmer-fredette)

[SAGirl]

hmmm They rank Kyle Anderson ahead of Ray and Matt Bonner!!! Nice! I'd expect Kyle to get better this year, which would be awesome for us Spurs fans.

[BillMc]

Good post! :toast

They also have Rasual Butler at 373, but still have him on the Wizards' list. Op might want to add him to our list.

For those watching the end of the bench that's ahead of Bonner and Jimmer.

[Nathan89]

Not sure if they just release the numbers from worse to best or if they rate from the bottom up.

[Old School 44]

Good post! :toast

They also have Rasual Butler at 373, but still have him on the Wizards' list. Op might want to add him to our list.

For those watching the end of the bench that's ahead of Bonner and Jimmer.

Thanks! I added Butler to the list. I can hardly wait until the first preseason game. Last year's Western Conference was tough, but this year could be the toughest ever. Outside of Portland, it seems as if all the top WC teams have made improvements.

[SAGirl]

Thanks! I added Butler to the list. I can hardly wait until the first preseason game. Last year's Western Conference was tough, but this year could be the toughest ever. Outside of Portland, it seems as if all the top WC teams have made improvements.

Yea, the top is tough as ever, but Mavericks and Portland have fallen. It's opened up a competition for the bottom playoff spots which would also be fun to follow. Obviously OKC steps in, but then you have Pelicans, Jazz and a host of young teams who are going to get feisty there. Going to be fun to watch!!!! Yay!

[spursgu]

Leonard
Duncan
Aldridge
Green
Diaw
Ginobili
Mills
West
Parker
Anderson
McCallum
Butler
Bonner
Fredette

[TheDoctor]

Interesting, they have Rasual Butler ahead of Jimmer.

[BillMc]

Thanks! I added Butler to the list. I can hardly wait until the first preseason game. Last year's Western Conference was tough, but this year could be the toughest ever. Outside of Portland, it seems as if all the top WC teams have made improvements.


Yea, the top is tough as ever, but Mavericks and Portland have fallen. It's opened up a competition for the bottom playoff spots which would also be fun to follow. Obviously OKC steps in, but then you have Pelicans, Jazz and a host of young teams who are going to get feisty there. Going to be fun to watch!!!! Yay!

Yep. Can't wait.:flag: The West will be a bloodbath, but that's what makes it fun. If you want to walk into the Finals go play in Cleveland.

[rastaspur]

Patty should have broken the top 150 imo. He should go waterboy on the whole league and use it as tackling fuel.

[Old School 44]

Yep. Can't wait.:flag: The West will be a bloodbath, but that's what makes it fun. If you want to walk into the Finals go play in Cleveland.

LeBron's a great player, but I wonder how his teams would fare and if his legacy would be any different, had he played most of his career in the Western Conference. The East is so weak, LeBron could have the most Finals appearances (and I stress appearances) by the time everything is said and done.

[BillMc]

LeBron's a great player, but I wonder how his teams would fare and if his legacy would be any different, had he played most of his career in the Western Conference. The East is so weak, LeBron could have the most Finals appearances (and I stress appearances) by the time everything is said and done.

I think (as I am too lazy to look it up) Bill Russell has 12 Finals appearances (with an 11-1 record!) Obviously the league was much smaller then, but even so LeBron has an outside shot at approaching it. He's about 31 and at 6 appearances now. If he can play well until 40 then he'd need to make 6 more Finals in 9 years. Not likely, but not completely impossible especially when the next great player (AD) plays in the West.

Of modern "star" players Kobe has 7, Tim has 6 (and counting), going back a bit Magic had 9 appearances, Jordan 6, Shaq 6, Kareem 9 (I think). So getting to anything in double digits would really cement him in the Top 5 all time regardless of the wins.

Hopefully Tim's count will rise 1 or 2 more before he's done! :hat

[YGWHI]

I just read...Thanks for posting!

[Old School 44]

^ I should have said excluding the early Celtics. :toast
Tying and surpassing Magic's 9 appearances is reasonable, especially playing in the East. Who else is going to rise up and challenge the Cavs over the next 3-5 years...the Hawks, the Bucs?

[SAGirl]

I think (as I am too lazy to look it up) Bill Russell has 12 Finals appearances (with an 11-1 record!) Obviously the league was much smaller then, but even so LeBron has an outside shot at approaching it. He's about 31 and at 6 appearances now. If he can play well until 40 then he'd need to make 6 more Finals in 9 years. Not likely, but not completely impossible especially when the next great player (AD) plays in the West.

Of modern "star" players Kobe has 7, Tim has 6 (and counting), going back a bit Magic had 9 appearances, Jordan 6, Shaq 6, Kareem 9 (I think). So getting to anything in double digits would really cement him in the Top 5 all time regardless of the wins.

Hopefully Tim's count will rise 1 or 2 more before he's done! :hat

It will be interesting to see how his game ages. He's a very skilled player, his smarts and experience will carry him a long way, but he has impressive physical gifts. He's not going to lose his size and his skill, but he will lose explosion and stamina. I think that is the real reason he left Miami. In Cleveland he had a younger cast that he could come to rely on when he doesn't have it to be the Man every night. The irony is that last year in Cleveland he had to do more than he ever did in Miami (he perhaps underestimated even a diminished D'Wade), and had less talent around him when he got to the finals than in Miami (injuries, can't do anything about them).

Coach Blatt has to take a page out of Thibs book. He can't overplay any of his guys and ride them all season long like Thibs did. They had a good record last year, but fell apart in the RS without Lebron (when he rested those 2 weeks), and had to overplay Kyrie and Lebron a whole lot during the RS. Something's got to give. Lebron is not going to hold up a long time with that burden and he knows it, which is why he wanted to keep Love despite the fact he wasn't very good last year and had real questions about fit. Lebron famously started the season proclaiming Love would allow him to sit and rest, basically take a burden from him during the RS (the way he did for Wade).

[BillMc]

^ I should have said excluding the early Celtics. :toast
Tying and surpassing Magic's 9 appearances is reasonable, especially playing in the East. Who else is going to rise up and challenge the Cavs over the next 3-5 years...the Hawks, the Bucs?

You're right. Not much competition. Maybe the Hawks with time. That Miami team could gel for a season or two. Or if Durant goes home to Washington... but really LBJ has got to have at least 2 or so more appearances minimum unless he gets injured. As you say, likely more.

[BillMc]

It will be interesting to see how his game ages. He's a very skilled player, his smarts and experience will carry him a long way, but he has impressive physical gifts. He's not going to lose his size and his skill, but he will lose explosion and stamina. I think that is the real reason he left Miami. In Cleveland he had a younger cast that he could come to rely on when he doesn't have it to be the Man every night. The irony is that last year in Cleveland he had to do more than he ever did in Miami (he perhaps underestimated even a diminished D'Wade), and had less talent around him when he got to the finals than in Miami (injuries, can't do anything about them).

Coach Blatt has to take a page out of Thibs book. He can't overplay any of his guys and ride them all season long like Thibs did. They had a good record last year, but fell apart in the RS without Lebron (when he rested those 2 weeks), and had to overplay Kyrie and Lebron a whole lot during the RS. Something's got to give. Lebron is not going to hold up a long time with that burden and he knows it, which is why he wanted to keep Love despite the fact he wasn't very good last year and had real questions about fit. Lebron famously started the season proclaiming Love would allow him to sit and rest, basically take a burden from him during the RS (the way he did for Wade).

LeBron won't be the best player in the game when his speed and stamina go, but as you say, with his size, passing and great basketball IQ, he'll remain an absolute elite player as he ages unless there is some sort of crippling injury.

[rastaspur]

LeBron won't be the best player in the game when his speed and stamina go, but as you say, with his size, passing and great basketball IQ, he'll remain an absolute elite player as he ages unless there is some sort of crippling injury.

Unfortunately, I think he will. He can try and model his game after Karl Malone once the athleticism starts going. Plenty strong enough to play powerforward and become a full time bruiser in his later years barring awful injuries

[RD2191]

Unfortunately, I think he will. He can try and model his game after Karl Malone once the athleticism starts going. Plenty strong enough to play powerforward and become a full time bruiser in his later years barring awful injuries
Lebron is a pussy though. He's soft and will never be a bruiser. He also doesn't have the mentality to bang down low and would ask for a foul every time a big roughs him up.

[rastaspur]

He physically has the potential. Does he whine and moan and should be tougher considering his size and strength? Yes and yes.

Calling him a pussy might be a stretch but its not too far off, IMO.

He's smart enough to adapt and his ego is so huge that he will play this game as long as he is effective. He needs a lot of reps to pull it off though.

And as much as I hate Malone, that's one tough mofo. Lebron could never match that toughness but few can. Malone was and is rattlesnake mean

[Old School 44]

Here's the link to 131-140. (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13734026/nba-nbarank-131-140) No Spurs in this group. Still 8 more Spurs players to rank. Next up Manu, then Boris.
With 30 teams and 150 starters, it's interesting to note by these rankings, we have 8 starter-level players on our roster.

[From Downtown]

Just out of curiosity,who's behind Jimmer?

[Kawhitstorm]

He physically has the potential. Does he whine and moan and should be tougher considering his size and strength? Yes and yes.

Calling him a pussy might be a stretch but its not too far off, IMO.

He's smart enough to adapt and his ego is so huge that he will play this game as long as he is effective. He needs a lot of reps to pull it off though.

And as much as I hate Malone, that's one tough mofo. Lebron could never match that toughness but few can. Malone was and is rattlesnake mean

LeBron would be more like Paul Millsap w/ an elite court vision if he had average athleticism.

[Old School 44]

Just out of curiosity,who's behind Jimmer?

394 Jimmer Fredette PG (Spurs)
395 Charlie Villanueva PF (Mavericks)
396 Tibor Pleiss C (Jazz)
397 Rashad Vaughn SG (Bucks)
398 Lance Thomas SF (Knicks)
399 Johnny O'Bryant PF (Bucks)
400 Lucas Nogueira C (Raptors)

[FkLA]

lol at Rique making it inside the Top 200

more and more like Kobe everyday, living off past reputation

[Old School 44]

121-130, Manu at 125.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13780981/nba-nbarank-121-130

[YGWHI]

!21-130, Manu at 125.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13780981/nba-nbarank-121-130

I expected something like 100/105 since he made the SI "snubs" list, it's hard to believe there are 125 better players than Manu...

[SAGirl]

I expected something like 100/105 since he made the SI "snubs" list, it's hard to believe there are 125 better players than Manu...

It is based on both the "QUALITY and the QUANTITY of each player's contributions to his team's ability to win games."

The value of Manu's contributions are very high when he's turned on, but such contributions last season were spaced out few and far between with some mediocre games, and him being unable to crank it up at times when the team needed at least someone to do that. He wasn't particularly awful or anything, he just wasn't able to have big impacts in games to help you win. He also needs to be rested and minutes managed strictly or his play quality is diminished greatly if he's overplayed in minutes. The ratings are also a projection, so young guys viewed with upside and expected to contribute to their teams more than the previous year like a Kyle Anderson for example were ranked higher than the previous year. Whereas older players who you expect to have diminished roles are ranked down. Its not an undisputable science by any means, and they state that but at least they tried this year to be less subjective than they have been in the past, by at least having some criteria. I am ok with their rank criteria, taking it with the qualifier that even if you try to be objective, evaluations are by their nature subjective. Still a good and interesting starting point for discussion.

Edit: just noticed that Manu is still ranked ahead of Patty Mills and you could conceivably project Patty to be more impactful than Manu this year, just by the number of minutes played and hopefully the more consistent quality of his play. But then you subjectively have to project Patty to have an awesome bounce back year...

[Old School 44]

Lamarcus is going to be the Spurs' .... number one guy.


http://upup-downdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/batman-you-are-my-number-one-guy.jpg

If you mean the top Spur in these rankings, he won't. ESPN is already showing Kawhi as the top ranked Spur followed by Aldridge. They just haven't showed their specific ranking yet.

[SASdynasty!]

Parker's rank:

300 - "Krew estimate"
275 - Too low
250 - Too low
225 - Too low
200 - Too low
175 - Too low
150 - Too low
125 - Too low
100
75
50
25

[SuperCam]

Parker's rank:

300 - "Krew estimate"
275 - Too low
250 - Too low
225 - Too low
200 - Too low
175 - Too low
150 - Too low
125 - Too low
100
75
50
25

:lmao

[Old School 44]

Here's 111-120. (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13814026/nba-nbarank-111-120)

Spurs
David West at 113
Boris Diaw at 119

Next up for the Spurs: Danny Green.

Former Spur Tiago Splitter at 118

[HarlemHeat37]

These rankings are always terrible, tbh, same with SI and any mainstream NBA outlets..always reputation-based for clicks..

Last year's last, for example:

Joakim Noah at 13:lol
Tony Parker at 15:lmao:lmao
Derrick Rose at 28:lmao:lmao
Andre Drummond at 30:lol
DeAndre Jordan at 34:lol
Rondo at 37:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao
Kobe at 40:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao
Faried at 42:lmao:lmao:lmao
Chandler Parsons:lmao
Pau ranked all the way down at 44:wow
Lance Stephenson in the top 50:lmao:lmao:lmao

[SAGirl]

They are predictions, so very speculative. Some guys you don't expect to take a dive and fall off abruptly, but Noah and Parker did just that. Pau didn't look good on the Lakers so many assumed he was close to being done and yet he had a renaissance year. Stephenson had been good in Indiana and figured to have a larger role for Charlotte, but he turned out to be awful. Bottom line, you are right its almost as accurate as us guessing here on who is going to make the roster on the Spurs or get cut early.

[timtonymanu]

West over Diaw :lol
Parker over Green :lol
Parker in the top 4 Spurs :lol

Yeah this list sucks as usual.

[SASdynasty!]

West over Diaw :lol
Parker over Green :lol
Parker in the top 4 Spurs :lol

Yeah this list sucks as usual.
Sorry the rest of the world doesn't share you and the krew's Parker-hating agenda.

[timtonymanu]

Sorry the rest of the world doesn't share you and the krew's Parker-hating agenda.

Not even hating. It's just fact. Current Parker isn't better than Danny Green and isn't in the top 4 Spurs.

[Old School 44]

101-110 (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13755911/nba-nbarank-101-110). No Spurs in this grouping, but former Spur George Hill comes it at 101.

[emanueldavidginobili]

Manu went from 56 to 125, I wonder what rank he was at durning Prime Manu

[SASdynasty!]

Parker's Rank (Updated):

300 - "Krew estimate"
275 - Too low
250 - Too low
225 - Too low
200 - Too low
175 - Too low
150 - Too low
125 - Too low
100 - Too low
75
50
25

Footnote: The krew isn't going to be happy if Parker lands 100 spots in front of Mills. Total agenda-killer.

[SupremeGuy]

Not even hating. It's just fact. Current Parker isn't better than Danny Green and isn't in the top 4 Spurs.You're just a parker hater. :cry

[HarlemHeat37]

Kobe at 93 is pretty generous, but I'm not sure that he's worse than Parker, at this point, though..

[kobyz]

...

[Old School 44]

71-80 (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13838311/nbarank-71-80)
81-90 (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13832016/nbarank-81-90)

No Spurs in these groupings, but surprised Danny's not in one of them.

[HarlemHeat37]

71-80 (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13838311/nbarank-71-80)
81-90 (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13832016/nbarank-81-90)

No Spurs in these groupings, but surprised Danny's not in one of them.

He was in the late 40s on the Sports Illustrated list IIRC..

[TheGreatYacht]

653910573458006016

[SASdynasty!]

Parker's Rank (Updated):

300 - "Krew estimate"
275 - Too low
250 - Too low
225 - Too low
200 - Too low
175 - Too low
150 - Too low
125 - Too low
100 - Too low
75 - Too low
54 - Parker's rank

I'm loving this. At least the rest of the world still sees Parker's value (even in an off year).

Da krew - "Parker ain't even barely top 300 no more."
ESPN - Parker still basically a top-50 player.

[cjw]

Parker falling behind Green is a joke. And no, I'm not one of those people who thinks Parker is outside the top 200. He isn't elite at anything anymore, while Green is one of the best shooters + best perimeter defenders in the league, bar none.

[spurraider21]

Green easily > Parker

[YGWHI]

Parker falling behind Green is a joke. And no, I'm not one of those people who thinks Parker is outside the top 200. He isn't elite at anything anymore, while Green is one of the best shooters + best perimeter defenders in the league, bar none.

Agree. I wonder who's a better true-3-D guy than Danny.

[SpursforSix]

Parker falling behind Green is a joke. And no, I'm not one of those people who thinks Parker is outside the top 200. He isn't elite at anything anymore, while Green is one of the best shooters + best perimeter defenders in the league, bar none.

not elite? he's not even above average in anything for a PG.

If the rest of the world thinks he's near the top 50, the Spurs need to trade him while there's still some perceived value left.

[HarlemHeat37]

not elite? he's not even above average in anything for a PG.

If the rest of the world thinks he's near the top 50, the Spurs need to trade him while there's still some perceived value left.

:lol nobody thinks that, tbh..ESPN is a mainstream source, look back in this thread, I listed some of their rankings from last year, which included Rondo..they are in the business of getting clicks, and known commodities > less popular players for clicks, discussions and re-tweets..

The well-known advanced metrics guys that have ranked players have Parker in the 250-300 range, which is too low, since they're not considering circumstances..I'd have him around 150 or so, which is fair, maybe a little generous..

[SASdynasty!]

not elite? he's not even above average in anything for a PG.

If the rest of the world thinks he's near the top 50, the Spurs need to trade him while there's still some perceived value left.
Thankfully RC Buford is at the helm and not you...

[SASdynasty!]

Just noticed that Parker is ranked above the reigning FMVP. :toast

[HarlemHeat37]

I expect Parker to have a good season playing in his new role, but only because I have realistic expectations(just like I did last year, and got blasted for it:lol)..part of the reason so many were shocked by performance, last year, was because they expected too much out of him due to his name and resume..if anybody expects him to play like a top 50-ish player, they are going to be severely disappointed again, sadly..

If you temper your expectations and expect him to play like a top 100-150 player, you'll be pleased IMO..

[Old School 44]

51-60 (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13866508/nbarank-51-60)

Parker at 54.
Green at 60.

The Parker who led the league in points in the paint is now largely a thing of the past, a gradual decline accelerated by injury. Parker's percentage of attempts within 3 feet declined from 32.9 percent in 2013-14 to 25.5 percent last season, per Basketball-Reference.com.

[SpursforSix]

:lol nobody thinks that, tbh..ESPN is a mainstream source, look back in this thread, I listed some of their rankings from last year, which included Rondo..they are in the business of getting clicks, and known commodities > less popular players for clicks, discussions and re-tweets..

The well-known advanced metrics guys that have ranked players have Parker in the 250-300 range, which is too low, since they're not considering circumstances..I'd have him around 150 or so, which is fair, maybe a little generous..

My advance metrics rank Parker somewhere between a piece of garbage and a dog turd.

[HarlemHeat37]

My advance metrics rank Parker somewhere between a piece of garbage and a dog turd.

:lol

[cjw]

not elite? he's not even above average in anything for a PG.

If the rest of the world thinks he's near the top 50, the Spurs need to trade him while there's still some perceived value left.

I didn't call him elite. I said he's not elite at ANYTHING anymore. Stop putting words in my mouth.

Danny Green is not elite either. But he has elite skills as I mentioned.

[SpursforSix]

I didn't call him elite. I said he's not elite at ANYTHING anymore. Stop putting words in my mouth.

Danny Green is not elite either. But he has elite skills as I mentioned.

I didn't put words in your mouth. I quoted you verbatim. I was saying you were correct but understating the situation.

[cjw]

I didn't put words in your mouth. I quoted you verbatim. I was saying you were correct but understating the situation.

"He isn't elite at anything anymore"

Don't know how it can be any clearer. Being elite and being elite at a skill are very different. If the underlined text is missing, then it would mean what you thought I said.

[SpursforSix]

"He isn't elite at anything anymore"

Don't know how it can be any clearer. Being elite and being elite at a skill are very different. If the underlined text is missing, then it would mean what you thought I said.

You are one dense fucker. Go back and read it again. I was pretty much agreeing with you but going one step further. If this is a troll job, it's a damn good one because you absolutely seem like an idiot.

[Old School 44]

21-25. (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13927614/nbarank-21-25)

Duncan at number 23 between Chris Bosh at 22 and Al Horford at 24.

[JohnnyMax]

Melo at 27 :rollin

[BillMc]

21-25. (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13927614/nbarank-21-25)

Duncan at number 23 between Chris Bosh at 22 and Al Horford at 24.

Cheers for keeping this up my friend! :toast

[BillMc]

Love and Bosh right above TD. Would you really rather have them than Duncan? For this season?

[Aztecfan03]

Love and Bosh right above TD. Would you really rather have them than Duncan? For this season?
depends on the team. If you are a team on the bubble, then yes. Bosh and Love will be able to play a lot more.

[Old School 44]

Cheers for keeping this up my friend! :toast

Cheers! :bobo I sometimes think we are two of a handful that aren't alts/trolls! :lol

[BillMc]

Cheers! :bobo I sometimes think we are two of a handful that aren't alts/trolls! :lol
I think a lot of the more casual fans will come back now that the season is starting. Hopefully they'll help dilute the troll posts.

[FromWayDowntown]

LMA at #13; Leonard in the Top 10.

[Obstructed_View]

The Black Kevin Love finishes higher than the actual Kevin Love. Wonder if it's because they listed his per36 numbers as his per game numbers. Must be the intangibles that the coach sees in practice.

According to the new CARMELO rating, I think I should refer to him as the Black Rony Seikaly from now on. :lol

[rasuo214]

So the top 10 is (not in order):
Lebron
Curry
Harden
Westbrook
Durant
CP3
Griffin
Marc Gasol
Kawhi
AD

[YGWHI]

LMA at #13; Leonard in the Top 10.

Kawhi gets no respect from refs... it would be nice if this talk about him being an elite player can get some calls...

[BillMc]

Didn't see this earlier. Skip didnt like Love being above Duncan.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzNmcBnw3Fk

[Old School 44]

Didn't see this earlier. Skip didnt like Love being above Duncan.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzNmcBnw3Fk
That's an understatement! :lol Always fun to see a Skip rant followed by Stephen A. Smith rant agreeing with him.

[Robz4000]

In b4 Top 5

[Aztecfan03]

658674495536943104

[spursistan]

Kawhi better have a monster all-star season to justify this hype :lol no walkabout night/month here and there, tbh..

[apalisoc_9]

Dissapointed.

I thought Kawhi deserved at least 5 top.

[Aztecfan03]

Dissapointed.

I thought Kawhi deserved at least 5 top.
:lol

[Raven]

Kawhi better have a monster all-star season to justify this hype :lol no walkabout night/month here and there, tbh..

i believe, half the hype is from him not needing to play like an all star to make an impact.

[Raven]

Dissapointed.

I thought Kawhi deserved at least 5 top.
he certainly deserves to be ahead the likes of anthony davis, i don't know if he was already classified.

[Old School 44]

Still amazed the Spurs could get a top 8 player in the league with the 15th pick in the draft for George Hill (or was it Paul George :lol)
And Kawhi is still only 24 with more room to grow/improve. By the way, George Hill came in at 101 in this ranking and Paul George at number 26.

[spursistan]

Dissapointed.

I thought Kawhi deserved at least 5 top.
CROFL..Take it easy brah..hopefully his first career 30 point regular season game is around the corner :toast

[Aztecfan03]

CROFL..Take it easy brah..hopefully his first career 30 point regular season game is around the corner :toast
hopefully his first full season is around the corner.

[J_Paco]

he certainly deserves to be ahead the likes of anthony davis, i don't know if he was already classified.

No offense, but this is the stupidest take I've seen on here in a while. In no way, shape or form is Kawhi as good a player as Anthony Davis. Davis is probably the third or fourth best player in the NBA, today.

[r0drig0lac]

he certainly deserves to be ahead the likes of anthony davis, i don't know if he was already classified.

really?

[SAGirl]

Love and Bosh right above TD. Would you really rather have them than Duncan? For this season?
For the Spurs I wouldn't. For a team that needs someone younger that (if healthy) can play every game, and be the man night in and night out, then yes I would take Bosh (not Love though).

The only way to put them above TD is really the fact TD still has it in him to be the man on occasion, but he's not going to have that every night. That is why Kawhi and LMA are here. Bosh is younger and still a go to guy. I am not a fan of Love, but I like Bosh a lot. None of them could hold a candle to prime TD at their respective ages, but right now TD plays a role (said so himself), whereas Bosh can presumably carry his team for stretches. Still hard pressed to put them above TD, that is why I would come up with.

TD is an all time great.

[SAGirl]

Didn't see this earlier. Skip didnt like Love being above Duncan.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzNmcBnw3Fk
Wow, had to agree with them on Kevin Love. Not even in the same conversation can you compare him with Timmy!

[Kawhitstorm]

Kawhi better have a monster all-star season to justify this hype :lol no walkabout night/month here and there, tbh..

He's going to win league MVP.:hat

[BillMc]

Wow, had to agree with them on Kevin Love. Not even in the same conversation can you compare him with Timmy!

"Old" Timmy averaged 1 basket less, but 1 rebound and 1 assist more than "prime" Love. And that doesn't even get into the defensive side of the ball, or team leadership. Or value for the money.

[Raven]

No offense, but this is the stupidest take I've seen on here in a while. In no way, shape or form is Kawhi as good a player as Anthony Davis. Davis is probably the third or fourth best player in the NBA, today.

in fantasy, sure, in actual nba, where you're supposed to win games, Davis isn't even in the same category with Kawhi.

[scramby eggs]

Agree. I wonder who's a better true-3-D guy than Danny.

Jimmer says hi, oh wait....

[Leonardpart6]

Davis is the best player on the planet. I love Kawhi, but he is going to have to put in some work to live up to his top ten ranking. I think he will do just that.

[Obstructed_View]

he certainly deserves to be ahead the likes of anthony davis, i don't know if he was already classified.

https://inionnmathair.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/00000000say-what.jpg?w=529

[Obstructed_View]

in fantasy, sure, in actual nba, where you're supposed to win games, Davis isn't even in the same category with Kawhi.

Davis took a team with nobody on it to the playoffs. In the west.

There's probably not anyone around that loves Kawhi any more than I do, but I'm not even sure he belongs in the top ten yet. Davis is a lock for top two.

[resistanze]

he certainly deserves to be ahead the likes of anthony davis, i don't know if he was already classified.

I hope you just play this off as sarcasm.

[apalisoc_9]

Davis took a team with nobody on it to the playoffs. In the west.

There's probably not anyone around that loves Kawhi any more than I do, but I'm not even sure he belongs in the top ten yet. Davis is a lock for top two.

Kawhi is for sure top ten.

I find it odd that the guys who claim he is not usually have a very "old school" perspective of basketball tbh

[Obstructed_View]

Kawhi is for sure top ten.

I find it odd that the guys who claim he is not usually have a very "old school" perspective of basketball tbh

The ranking is based on potential. You can't act like you don't know that. If it's old school to have a problem vaulting him into elite company when he had the second highest PER on his own team last year, then I guess I'm guilty. Maybe it just means that Duncan should have been higher than 23.

Doesn't really matter what Kawhi's rating is right now. He'll prove whether or not he deserves it. The Spurs are going to be a fucking force if he plays up to that rating, which is what all of us are hoping for this season.

[kobyz]

Most empty hype ever, lol player who just got bitch slap by Matt Barnes being in the top 10, did MJ asked ESPN for this?