NBA World Reacts To Sports Illustrated’s Top 15 Players
This week, the staff at Sports Illustrated put together its list of the Top 100 NBA players ahead of the 2021-22 season. This morning, the final 10 players on the list were revealed.
In something of a surprise, the No. 1 spot goes to Kevin Durant. The Brooklyn Nets superstar had something of an abbreviated 2020-21 season, but proved that he’s still the elite scorer that he was before tearing his Achilles back at the end of the 2019 season.
“…In the 35 games he did play, KD looked like the same guy, with a statistical profile that either matched or exceeded most of his career averages,” SI wrote. “Then the playoffs happened. In them, Durant submitted the most impressive series of his career, averaging a hyper-efficient 35.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists against the Bucks, eventual world champs that had zero answer for his excellence. It was pantheon worthy, and made debate over if we’ve ever seen a more ruthless iteration completely justifiable.”
KD beat out Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and last year’s MVP Nikola Jokic. Here is the full top 15 ranking:
Sports Illustrated’s top 15 players for 2022:
1. KD
2. Giannis
3. LeBron
4. Steph
5. Jokic
6. Luka
7. Harden
8. Embiid
9. AD
10. Kawhi
11. Dame
12. PG13
13. Tatum
14. Jimmy
15. Beal— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) September 23, 2021
Durant is an incredible player. However, he did lose in the playoffs to Giannis, who went on to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA title. Giannis didn’t deal with the rash of injuries that the Nets had down the stretch, but some fans have a real issue with KD edging out Giannis when you consider what happened at the end of the season.
Kd over Giannis is hilarious. Last time I checked Giannis dropped 50 in the finals while kd went 0-6 in OT vs Giannis
— Giannis SZN 🦌✈️ (0-0) (0-2) (@Giannis34SZN) September 23, 2021
I’m still lost on wtf kd did to earn the main spot like the man played like 30 something games, didn’t make an all nba or all defense team. He blows a 2-0 lead in the 2nd round including game 7 at home in OT. After what Giannis did in that playoff run he earned 1st place
— James Edrick (@JamesEdrick3) September 23, 2021
how is @Giannis_An34 not number 1??? https://t.co/TxCyNYnV5O
— Marco (@MarcoDonDadaTv) September 23, 2021
On the other hand, many believe another Brooklyn Net got snubbed. Kyrie Irving was pretty sensational last year, and some a lot of fans can’t believe he was left out of this top 15 entirely.
Beal over Kyrie that's hilarious lol
— ȶei (@notorioustei) September 23, 2021
Kyrie snubbed
— Alex Liszewski (@AlexLiszewski) September 23, 2021
The Kyrie disrespect is insane. No way Beal or even Jimmy better than him
— 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙗𝙚𝙫 (@washedbev) September 23, 2021
Luka and Jokic over Harden?! and Kyrie isn't a top 15 player?!pic.twitter.com/fVjP1LQh3l
— Makké (JH13👑) 🇩🇯🇸🇩 ⚽ 🏀 💻 (@AltiganiH) September 23, 2021
The enigmatic point guard wasn’t the next player on the list either. Fellow guards Devin Booker, Trae Young, and Chris Paul landed spots before Kyrie came in at No. 19.
These lists are designed to generate debate like this, and when it comes to individual stars, no sport does it like the NBA.
Check out Sports Illustrated‘s full ranking, starting at No. 100, here.
The post NBA World Reacts To Sports Illustrated’s Top 15 Players appeared first on The Spun.
