On Tuesday morning, ESPN released the first half of its annual Top 100 NBA player rankings. As always seems to be the case, the rankings caused much discourse. This year, much of the debate surrounded Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan came in at 82nd in the rankings, a drastic drop from being ranked inside the top 50 at No. 46 last year. Last season in San Antonio, DeRozan averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds on 53.1% shooting in 68 games.
Meanwhile, Ball jumped from his No. 68 ranking last season to No. 54 this season after his first year in New Orleans. Much of the reasoning for his jump came from a 45-game stretch from December through March in which he averaged 12.7 points, 7.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds and shot 39.2% from three-point range.
Ball’s jump paired with DeRozan’s drop led to much debate on Twitter from NBA fans.
Someone from ESPN ranked Lonzo ahead of Zach Lavine and Tyler Herro ahead of Dlo and Derozan pic.twitter.com/xukvnPhdWz
— Paulos Yoseph (@yosephpaulos) December 8, 2020
This is Lonzo Ball in the NBA media's eyes pic.twitter.com/ym218a6mbz
— Jake 🏀 (@SuperiorNBA) December 8, 2020
Every player in this graphic ranked behind Lonzo Ball and Tyler Herro is better than them. Every single one. https://t.co/FWYN96pNUl
— 500 🏎 (@Kameron_Hay) December 8, 2020
Tyler Herro way to high. I think he is definitely a baller but over dlo? Wall? And demar? Lonzo kinda high also. I know he had a great first year with the pelicans but gotta pump the brakes on the hype train. https://t.co/lm1YDoxhdB
— Nash Fondriest (@fondie922) December 8, 2020
Plus how is Lonzo 28 spots ahead of DeMar when Zo being like the 4th best player on his team had a worse record than a team on which DeMar was the best player lmfao
— Lukas (@LukasCFCLAL) December 8, 2020
They ranked lonzo over Demar and Montrezl wow 😳 https://t.co/m0BJpLdgJg
— Ty NASA🍂🛸 (@tyesland_18) December 8, 2020
IN WHAT WORLD IS LONZO BALL BETTER THAN JOHN WALL, BLAKE GRIFFIN, AND DEMAR DEROZAN?! https://t.co/aR9SOGyuEf
— DAYONELIFESTYLE (@Day1Lifestyle) December 8, 2020
ik Lonzo ball didn't get ranked 54th in the nba and DeMar DeRozan got ranked 84th
— can o soup (@CampCollins8) December 8, 2020
Lonzo ranked above DeRozan 😳😳😳😳😳 https://t.co/tYP2Y8aaPc
— Fiesta Colors burner (@PlayoffSpurs) December 8, 2020
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