5 Most head-scratching NBA player rankings in ESPN’s Top 100

NBA player rankings #3: Zion Williamson listed at 40

While it’s understandable to be skeptical of Zion Williamson’s health following him missing all of last season, ranking him 40th is a bit low. After all, when healthy, he averaged 27 points on 61.1% shooting, as well as 7.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Moreover, 39 players aren’t even able to approach those create-a-player level numbers, and ESPN is setting themselves up for failure if and when he returns to form next season.

Since he’s been cleared to play, Williamson will be ready to go, and with a much-improved New Orleans Pelicans roster around him, there is no reason to think that he can’t replicate that level of play next year.

Williamson was an All-Star during the 2020–21 season, which, in theory, would make him at least a top 25 player. I would go as far as to say that he was one of the 10-15 best players that season. A 10–15 spot drop would be appropriate since other players have emerged during his time away, and there are still injury concerns, but dropping him up to 30 spots is a real head-scratcher.

On principle, he should’ve been listed in the late 20s or early 30s, with the assumption that he’d get back to his old self. They didn’t, however, but seemed to give Kawhi Leonard more leeway despite him also missing all of last season, his injury history being longer, as well as him being much older and likely on a minutes restriction next season. Go figure.