Perhaps no sport in the world lends itself to player rankings like the NBA. The league’s unique ability to market its players from the household superstars to the rotation players causes significant debate any time a list of player rankings drops.
To summarize, the possibly playoff-bound Knicks don’t have a player inside the top 50 and only four representatives on the whole list.
While Randle’s poor 2020-2021 season offset his stellar 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 campaigns, the former All-Star feels a bit low. I’d like to see Barrett and Robinson ranked higher, but their lack of star development and injury concerns limit their upside.
However, Brunson checking in at 51 is the most egregious ranking. The newly acquired guard has posted an All-Star level season while elevating his team. His ranking is especially disrespectful considering these three players ahead of him…
sent to Utah</a> in exchange for his services further emphasizes his on-court struggles. Couple this with his massive five-year, $205 million contract, and it’s easy to argue that the French star is teetering more toward a franchise anchor than a savior.</p>
<p>Unless Gobert can rapidly reestablish himself as a DPOY frontrunner, Knicks’ star Jalen Brunson should be miles ahead of the Stifle Tower on any player ranking.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/23/3-players-ranked-knicks-jalen-brunson-ringer-top-100-gobert-lopez-bridges/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Bucks' two-way specialist </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-138531" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/23/3-players-ranked-knicks-jalen-brunson-ringer-top-100-gobert-lopez-bridges/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2023%2F01%2F1455382008.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Brook Lopez" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/01/1455382008.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/01/1455382008-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>Brook Lopez, MIL, No. 47 Overall</h3>
<p>Elevating Brunson over Bucks star Brook Lopez is a more difficult argument, but there is a credible case to be made.</p>
<p>Let’s start by giving Lopez his due respect for his excellent play. In many ways, the former lottery pick is making the impact that the Timberwolves dreamed they would get from Gobert.</p>
<p>Always a great rim protector (1.8 career blocks per game), Lopez has raised his defensive game to another tier this season. His 2.5 blocks per game is a career-high. His play has also elevated one of the best teams in the league. In fact, the veteran is currently No. 2 on NBA.com’s Defensive Player of the Year <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/23/3-players-ranked-knicks-jalen-brunson-ringer-top-100-gobert-lopez-bridges/"https://www.nba.com/news/defensive-player-ladder-january-2023-edition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">award ladder</a>.</p>
<p>Lopez’s excellent outside shooting abilities, an area where he has thrived for the majority of his career, make him a truly dangerous player. The former Stanford star is shooting a career-high 39% from three this season (on five shots per contest). Few players in the league can match his level of paint protection and shooting efficiency.</p>
<p>However, Brunson’s high-level scoring ability gives him the edge over Lopez. While the center was considered a go-to guy earlier in his career, he has not eclipsed an average of 15 points per game since the 2016-2017 season.</p>
<p>He is an amazing luxury as a key role player on a top team, but Lopez cannot match Brunson’s ability to carry an offensive load night in and night out. For this reason, we give the Knicks’ guard the advantage.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/23/3-players-ranked-knicks-jalen-brunson-ringer-top-100-gobert-lopez-bridges/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Suns' Iron Man </a>
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a piece</a> analyzing a potential OG Anunoby-Knicks trade. Here, I detailed why every team in the league should be interested in a legitimate 3-and-D star.</p>
<p>Mikal Bridges represents this same level of value. The lanky and athletic wing has established himself as one of the NBA’s premier wing defenders. He is the type of player who competently takes on the opposing team’s top scorer each night.</p>
<p>Additionally, much like Lopez, Bridges boasts a dangerous outside shot. The fifth-year wing is a career 37.7% career shooter, who is nearing a 40% clip this season. This is an incredible luxury in terms of both offensive efficiency and floor spacing.</p>
<p>Bridges is also the NBA’s modern-day iron man, posting one of the most <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/23/3-players-ranked-knicks-jalen-brunson-ringer-top-100-gobert-lopez-bridges/"https://www.sbnation.com/2022/12/6/23494489/mikal-bridges-iron-man-streak-nba-phoenix-suns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impressive consecutive streaks</a> in recent memory. There is an old adage that says “the best ability is availability.” The Suns forward’s unique track record of being available each and every game certainly boosts his value.</p>
<p>While there is a lot to like about Bridges, it does seem as though he fits in the same category as Lopez. He is an awesome talent and he undoubtedly makes a great team even better. Yet, the key question remains: Does he move the needle as much as a player like Jalen Brunson?</p>
<p>For example, would Bridges be as valuable to a building team like the Knicks as Brunson has been? I tend to think not. While his two-way skills are all-world, he does not have the scoring abilities to carry a playoff-caliber franchise.</p>
<p>It’s close, but I give Brunson the slight edge.</p>
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