With only a few weeks left until the start of the 2020-21 NBA regular season, ESPN has been rolling out its new ranking of the top 100 players in the league in 2020.
Pelicans star Lonzo Ball landed at No. 54 on Tuesday, a result that sparked some lively debate on NBA Twitter – but the disagreements over Ball’s placement paled in comparison to what erupted on Wednesday.
Zion Williamson, who played just 24 games in his rookie season due to injury, made his first appearance inside the NBA Rank top 100, at No. 19.
That put Williamson 12 spots ahead of reigning Rookie of the Year Ja Morant, who is ranked 31st, and also ahead of Bradley Beal, Karl-Anthony Towns, Trae Young and Russell Westbrook.
Unsurprisingly, NBA fans sounded off on Twitter.
Who ESPN think Zion and Tyler Herro are right now pic.twitter.com/9kb8jH5Wod
— Max Kellerman Burner➐ (@maxkellermanb) December 9, 2020
Who the NBA Media thinks Zion Williamson is: pic.twitter.com/D2NvWAZPog
— WaptorsWan➐ (@abasketballgod) December 9, 2020
Who the media think Zion is: pic.twitter.com/IhviahBzfc
— 🅳🅹 ⚡🔮 (@StanimalSZN) December 9, 2020
How the media sees Zion: pic.twitter.com/kwqAa5R9mA
— 𝕄𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕙🧤 (@MunchYTx) December 9, 2020
Zion in the eyes of the media: pic.twitter.com/shQVGRH9nC
— the ratio checker 🧐and W/L (@ratio_w) December 9, 2020
ESPN really set my guy Zion up pic.twitter.com/6X7xmUmw4k
— Jayden (7-5) 🤦🏾♂️ (@KyrieBeliever) December 9, 2020
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