Ahead of the NBA’s restart in Orlando, Bleacher Report ranked the top 100 players in the NBA. The criteria for the ranking was performance from the current 2019-20 season only with a minimum of 500 minutes played this season.
After a strong season, particularly in 2020, Lonzo Ball found his way onto the list, coming in just outside the top-50. Ball was ranked 56th with Andrew Bailey and Dan Favale, the two who ranked the players, having the following to say on the third-year guard:
“He is their offensive intercessor, the playmaker most adept at negotiating everyone’s fit next to one another. New Orleans needs someone who defaults to pass-first alongside so many ball-handlers and questionable shooters. Ball keeps the transition attack humming and everyone else’s time of possession in proportion to the rest of the lineup.”
Ball came in just ahead of Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez and Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams. He also fell just outside the top 15 points guards in the league, coming in at No. 19.
Ball’s strong season was not the only one from New Orleans featured on the list. A host of Pelicans found their way onto the top 100, starting at No. 60 with Derrick Favors. Zion Williamson was ranked 29th, Brandon Ingram 28th and Jrue Holiday 25th, meaning the Pelicans’ entire starting five earned a spot inside the top 60.
That should come as little surprise considering how effective that lineup has been this season. Since Williamson debuted in late January, the Pelicans’ starting lineup is one of only two lineups to play at least 200 minutes and ranks first in net rating among lineups that have played at least 100 minutes.
