Let’s look through my Top 100 and see what’s changed.
Dropped out: Tom Chambers
As time goes on, new players get in. And that means someone has to drop out.
100. Tim Hardaway (-1)
99. Manu Ginobili (-1) – Despite a throwback playoff performance, Manu is obviously done.
98. Alonzo Mourning (-1)
97. Dikembe Mutombo (-1)
96. Yao Ming (-1) – Every day I think Yao is more underrated than I realized.
95. Vince Carter (-1) – I feel like I have to re-evaluate Carter in the future. Is he really better than Mutombo, Mourning, Yao? I wrote the same thing last year.
94. Carmelo Anthony (-1) – It’s kinda a pathetic spot for Melo at this point. The East is an all-time train wreck, and he still isn’t good enough to get the Knicks to the playoffs.
93. Kevin Johnson (-1)
92. Shawn Kemp (-1)
91. Robert Horry (-1)
Everyone dropped a spot as the new player is in the 80s.
90. Chris Mullin (-1)
89. Bob Dandridge (-1)
88. Paul Westphal (-1)
87. Dan Issel (-1)
86. Artis Gilmore (-1)
85. James Harden (NEW) – Big year for Harden, but there was some criticism of his playoff performance against the Spurs. Rockets are a real threat next year though, and Harden can skyrocket through these rankings.
84. Tracy McGrady (-1)
83. Joe Dumars (-1)
82. Sidney Moncrief (-1)
81. Lenny Wilkins (-1)
Harden is the new player, but someone else rose, which is why 84-81 dropped a spot too.
80. Earl Monroe (-1)
79. Tony Parker (-1) – Another Spur who is pretty much done. Great career though.
78. Chris Webber (-1)
77. David Thompson (-1)
76. Jerry Lucas (-1)
75. Pete Maravich (-1)
74. Russell Westbrook (+10) – I’m mixed on Westbrook’s year. His average of a triple double with 30 PPG is impressive, but also an overrated achievement (not unlike Oscar, actually), his team didn’t win anything despite those statistics (lost in Round 1). His advanced metrics were good, not great for the year. I mean, the MVP matters and such, but let’s just no go crazy here. Basketball stats in 2017 are out of whack as it is.
73. Dwight Howard – Seriously, after what he was traded for how can anyone argue he would be any higher? His peak years in Orlando were seriously impressive, but he’s just someone who didn’t want it enough.
72. Chris Bosh – What a shame about Bosh.
71. Dennis Rodman
Westbrook’s the new addition.
70. Adrian Dantley
69. Alex English
68. Bob McAdoo
67. Tom Heihnson
66. Tiny Archibald
65. Pau Gasol – Gasol didn’t do much for San Antonio to consider moving him up.
64. Reggie Miller
63. Bill Sharmin
62. Dave Debusschere
61. Robert Parish
No movement here. Only one that can change their legacy is Gasol.
60. Bernard King
59. Elvin Hayes
58. Dolph Schayes
57. Paul Arizin
56. Dominique Wilkins
55. Billy Cunningham
54. Hal Greer
53. Nate Thurmond
52. Wes Unseld
51. Chris Paul – I just can’t look past how his teams never succeed in the playoffs.
I really don’t know what to do with CP3. If he can’t get past Round 2 with James Harden next year I don’t know what to think. A big playoff run would skyrocket him in these rankings, because that is all he’s missing really.
50. James Worthy
49. Dennis Johnson
48. Bill Walton
47. Ray Allen
46. Chauncey Billups
45. George Gervin
44. Sam Jones
43. Clyde Drexler
42. George Mikan
41. Jason Kidd
No one moved here. Everyone’s retired.
40. Paul Pierce
39. Allen Iverson
38. Gary Payton
37. Patrick Ewing
36. Dave Cowens
35. Steve Nash
34. Kevin McHale (-1)
33. Walt Frazier (-1)
32. Willis Reed (-1)
31. Rick Barry (-1)
Someone moved up. We’ll get there.
30. Bob Cousy (-1)
29. John Stockton (-1)
28. David Robinson (-2)
27. Elgin Baylor (-2)
26. John Havlicek (-2)
25. Bob Pettit (-2)
24. Scottie Pippen (-2)
23. Isiah Thomas (-2)
22. Dwyane Wade (-2) – Not a difference maker anymore. Still an effective player and could still have some amazing season to put him back in the Top 20, but it’s really unlikely.
21. Stephen Curry (+6) – It was an interesting year for Curry. Very rarely do we see the two time reigning MVP suddenly take a backseat to someone else. But Curry did it without complaint and it worked. It was still a great season for Curry, although even advanced metrically he dropped off. Still, it won’t take much to break into the Top 20 at this point.
Curry moved up and we are still taking into account the other player who moved up, which explains all the drops.
20. Karl Malone (-1)
19. Charles Barkley (-1)
18. Kevin Durant (+16) – Well then. I’d actually put him higher, but let’s be honest his supporting cast was ridiculously stacked. But Durant did become the alpha dog on this Warriors championship team, taking the team away from Stephen Curry, and that can’t be ignored either. Destined for the Top 10 to be honest.
17. Julius Erving
16. Oscar Robertson
15. Wilt Chamberlain
14. Kevin Garnett
13. Dirk Nowitzki – Dirk was okay this year, which isn’t bad. He still intends to play and a strong playoff run can get him as high as 11th on this list, depending on where Durant ends up.
12. Jerry West
11. Moses Malone
Durant is on the charge, but otherwise no changes. Only Dirk can change his legacy really, other than Durant.
10. Kobe Bryant
9. Hakeem Olajuwon
8. Shaquille O’Neal
7. Larry Bird
6. Tim Duncan
5. Magic Johnson
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. LeBron James
2. Bill Russell
1. Michael Jordan
Really, nothing changes based off of what I said last year. Had LeBron been able to knock off this insane Warriors team, he’d be #2 and with an eye on MJ. But, great as performance as he had, it didn’t happen. Still need to see ring #4 before I’m taking him over the greatest winner in league history…or MJ for that matter.