The athletic nba player tiers

This is the fourth annual NBA Player The athletic nba player tiers project, in which Seth Partnow names the top players in the league after each season and then separates them into five distinct categories of value, each with their own sub-categories to further delineate them. These are not meant to be read as firm player rankings.

Aug 20, , PM Updated: Aug 21, , am. The Phoenix Suns will debut their new look roster this season filled with some of the best players across the league. I wavered on whether the string of recent injuries and playoff disappointments should push Kevin Durant down into Tier 2. And then I reminded myself he shot nearly 62 percent on 2-pointers last year, over 40 percent from 3 and nearly 92 percent from the line, leading to efficiency 16 percent above league average despite carrying a usage rate north of 30 percent. Whether that means Booker gets this spot or Durant ends up tumbling down a sub-tier or three or both! But much like LeBron James this year, the end of his time at the top will come.

The athletic nba player tiers

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Tyler Herro Heat.

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These are not meant to be read as firm player rankings. This is how NBA front offices assess player value across the league when building their teams. But the NBA is a league built around talent. But to briefly sum things up: the margins at the top are very small — as we saw in the most recent NBA Finals — and differentiating the best, from the stars to the simply very good, is imperative in evaluating each team. Whether the purpose is management determining just how close their team is to a title and acting accordingly, or a fanbase setting reasonable expectations, the trap of fudging those differences is an important one to avoid. To that end, the Tiering process is intentionally exclusionary. This is not simply the result of me being contrary though I am , but is based on empirical research. Tier 4 makes up the rest of the Top 75 or so, and the remainder of the top includes Tier 5, with being an arbitrary and somewhat conservative number that has caused no small bit of agitation about the exclusion of certain players each season. Some of the major factors considered:. A final comment before getting to the list of players in Tier 5: As time goes by, what might be called my basketball system of values continues to evolve based on the NBA game changing in ways that favor different skill sets — and as I sometimes repeatedly learn hard lessons about what works.

The athletic nba player tiers

Team building never stops. There is no such thing as standing still, as either the forces of entropy are tearing a team down, or moves to bring in new talent and internal growth are pushing it forward. To continue to get better, there must be constant self-assessment as to where a roster is, both in terms of the collective fit but also the level of talent for each individual player.

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A case in point is the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Nuggets. NBA Draft. De'Andre Hunter Hawks. Minutes Per Win. NBA Odds. Some of the critiques of the players left in Tier 2 might seem like nitpicks, as well the rationale for keeping the Tier 1B players our of Tier 1A. Andrew Wiggins Warriors. To be clear, I think that was as much about the Warriors not being able to present enough threats to keep Anthony Davis out of the paint, nor were other Dubs able to create the sort of defensive breakdowns and rotations upon which Curry can feast with his unmatched ability to move off the ball to find shots. Meanwhile, Tier 1B has one player who is just starting his decline from the top and two players who could easily get there but might not have the opportunities to prove they belong higher in the next few seasons for reasons outside of their control. Damian Lillard Trail Blazers. Whether that means Booker gets this spot or Durant ends up tumbling down a sub-tier or three or both! John Collins Jazz. Russell Westbrook Clippers.

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Terry Rozier Hornets. I wavered on whether the string of recent injuries and playoff disappointments should push Kevin Durant down into Tier 2. Okogie has missed the past seven games with a lower abdominal strain. Jimmy Butler Heat. Immanuel Quickley Knicks. Jayson Tatum Celtics. These are not meant to be read as firm player rankings. Tyrese Haliburton Pacers. Email Story. Also concerning is the drop in his free-throw percentage and the accompanying 2. Cameron Johnson Nets. Devin Booker Suns. Follow Seth on Twitter sethpartnow.