SI.com’s Point Forward blog has been counting down the top 100 players during the last several days.
The first two Spurs players were revealed by Zach Lowe in his listings betweenwith Tony Parker was ranked 26th and Tim Duncan 23rd among the NBA’s top players.
Parker’s ranking is on the mark, slightly ahead of Rajon Rondo at No. 25 and Stephen Curry at 41st. Considering the players who have been revealed, Jason Kidd and Derrick Rose both are likely ranking in front of him among others.
The rationalization for Parker ahead of Rondo is interesting and correct. Even though Rondo is clearly the better defender, Parker gets a slight nod because he’s a better finisher and shooter and Rondo’s equal as a defensive rebounder.
Duncan is slightly behind Chris Bosh at No. 22 and Kevin Love at No. 21. He’s ahead of David West at No. 31, Lamar Odom at No. 33 and Josh Smith at No. 34.
In his rating, Lowe makes the point that Duncan could have ranked much lower because of his reduced playing time as he has gotten older. He also opines that Duncan was exposed in the Memphis series, can’t dominate good opponents anymore and can’t play consistent shutdown defense.
But he’s given his ranking about of his court craftiness and how Duncan consistently makes the right play on offense and defense.
We can likely expect Manu Ginobili to receive the team’s highest ranking. And it looks like that the Spurs’ “Big Three” will be the only ones ranked among the top 100 current players in the NBA.
Here’s a list of SI.com’s Top 100 players so far:
TOP 100 NBA PLAYERS
RANK
PLAYER
POSITION, TEAM
100.
Brandon Roy
SG, Portland Trail Blazers
99.
Tony Allen
SG, Memphis Grizzlies
98.
Nick Collison
PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
97.
Shane Battier
SF, free agent (Memphis Grizzlies)
96.
John Salmons
G-F, Sacramento Kings
95.
Louis Williams
G, Philadelphia 76ers
94.
O.J. Mayo
SG, Memphis Grizzlies
93.
Ty Lawson
PG, Denver Nuggets
92.
Wilson Chandler
SF, restricted free agent (Denver Nuggets)
91.
Mike Conley
PG, Memphis Grizzlies
90.
Hedo Turkoglu
SF, Orlando Magic
89.
Raymond Felton
PG, Portland Trail Blazers
88.
Wesley Matthews
SG, Portland Trail Blazers
87.
Roy Hibbert
C, Indiana Pacers
86.
Jameer Nelson
PG, Orlando Magic
85.
Andrei Kirilenko
SF, free agent (Utah Jazz)
84.
DeAndre Jordan
C, restricted free agent (Los Angeles Clippers)
83.
Ron Artest
SF, L.A. Lakers
82.
Thaddeus Young
F, restricted free agent (Philadelphia 76ers)
81.
Nicolas Batum
SF, Portland Trail Blazers
80.
Danilo Gallinari
SF, Denver Nuggets
79.
Chris Kaman
C, Los Angeles Clippers
78.
Rodney Stuckey
G, restricted free agent (Detroit Pistons)
77.
Arron Afflalo
SG, restricted free agent (Denver Nuggets)
76.
Grant Hill
SF, free agent (Phoenix Suns)
75.
Stephen Jackson
G-F, Milwaukee Bucks
74.
Jrue Holiday
PG, Philadelphia 76ers
73.
George Hill
G, Indiana Pacers
72.
John Wall
PG, Washington Wizards
71.
Andre Miller
PG, Denver Nuggets
70.
Marcin Gortat
C, Phoenix Suns
69.
Emeka Okafor
C, New Orleans Hornets
68.
Anderson Varejao
F-C, Cleveland Cavaliers
67.
Serge Ibaka
PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
66.
Andrea Bargnani
F-C, Toronto Raptors
65.
Jamal Crawford
G, free agent (Atlanta Hawks)
64.
Jason Richardson
SG, free agent (Orlando Magic)
63.
Caron Butler
SF, free agent (Dallas Mavericks)
62.
Shawn Marion
F, Dallas Mavericks
61.
Tayshaun Prince
SF, free agent (Detroit Pistons)
60.
Devin Harris
PG, Utah Jazz
59.
Chauncey Billups
PG, New York Knicks
58.
Jason Kidd
PG, Dallas Mavericks
57.
David Lee
PF, Golden State Warriors
56.
Kyle Lowry
PG, Houston Rockets
55.
Jason Terry
SG, Dallas Mavericks
54.
James Harden
SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
53.
Al Jefferson
F-C, Utah Jazz
52.
Luis Scola
PF, Houston Rockets
51.
Danny Granger
SF, Indiana Pacers
50.
Elton Brand
PF, Philadelphia 76ers
49.
Brook Lopez
C, New Jersey Nets
48.
Ray Allen
SG, Boston Celtics
47.
Luol Deng
SF, Chicago Bulls
46.
Paul Millsap
PF, Utah Jazz
45.
Carlos Boozer
PF, Chicago Bulls
44.
Monta Ellis
SG, Golden State Warriors
43.
Joakim Noah
C, Chicago Bulls
42.
Kevin Martin
SG, Houston Rockets
41.
Stephen Curry
PG, Golden State Warriors
40.
Marc Gasol
C, Memphis Grizzlies
39.
Gerald Wallace
F, Portland Trail Blazers
38.
Andrew Bynum
C, Los Angeles Lakers
37.
Andrew Bogut
C, Milwaukee Bucks
36.
Tyreke Evans
G, Sacramento Kings
35.
Tyson Chandler
C, free agent (Dallas Mavericks)
34.
Josh Smith
F, Atlanta Hawks
33.
Lamar Odom
F, Los Angeles Lakers
32.
Joe Johnson
SG, Atlanta Hawks
31.
David West
PF, free agent (New Orleans Hornets)
30.
Andre Iguodala
G-F, Philadelphia 76ers
29.
Eric Gordon
SG, Los Angeles Clippers
28.
Rudy Gay
SF, Memphis Grizzlies
27.
Rajon Rondo
PG, Boston Celtics
26.
Tony Parker
PG, San Antonio Spurs
25.
Al Horford
C, Atlanta Hawks
24.
Nene
C, free agent (Denver Nuggets)
23.
Tim Duncan
PF, San Antonio Spurs
22.
Chris Bosh
PF, Miami Heat
21.
Kevin Love
PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
The remainder of the list will be revealed early next week.