5 Most head-scratching NBA player rankings in ESPN’s Top 100
By Cal Durrett
NBA player rankings #2: Keldon Johnson is not listed in the top 100
Full disclosure, I think Keldon Johnson is going to be a star, and it’s not like he didn’t play like one during the second half of last season. Johnson carried the San Antonio Spurs to the play-in tournament, averaging 20.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while Dejounte Murray was in and out of the lineup.
With Murray gone and Johnson continuing to develop, it’s entirely likely that he’ll be able to repeat those numbers next season. That seems reasonable, right? Well, ESPN thought it wasn’t because they didn’t even have him in the top 100. The Spurs have a history of finding stars late in the first round with Tony Parker and Murray, and Johnson appears to be the latest in line, even drawing praise from a four-time all-star in Draymond Green.
KJ will be an All-Star in the next couple of years… and he gotta be down 10-15 lbs
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) February 2, 2022
Barring an injury or a massively disappointing season, Johnson might make the biggest jump of any of the players listed here in ESPN’s rankings next season. That won’t be just because of his play next year, but instead, because ESPN drastically underrated him and will have to adjust accordingly.