THE TOP 100 PLAYERS IN THE NBA

An Introductory Note from Jack Martin, aka The Flow

I couldn't be more excited as Burbs Entertainment enters our second season covering the NBA. For over eight months, my good friend Ralph James (The Fro) and I have put our fandom, which is intrinsic to our core happiness, out to the world across 50-plus podcasts and a myriad of articles and tweets.

Last Friday, we sat in the back of Ralph's living room and opened up a Google Doc, promptly titled "one hunnid". A D'Angelo Russell poster and recently broken "water pipe" watched over us and provided guidance as we organized (what we believe to be) the 100 best players in the NBA heading into the 2019-20 season.

With that being said, we present to you our list. It will be updated throughout the season and, as always, fan feedback is encouraged. We want this to be an interactive list, and while we may not incorporate all of your thoughts due to our intellectual superiority (jk, kinda), "The Fro and The Flow" is the pod of the people.

Follow us on Instagram @thefroandtheflow, listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and reach out to us on Twitter @dripalotopus and @MartiansMinute.

1. LeBron James

Martin: Hate on him all you want, LeBron is still the best player in the league. His debut season with the Lakers led to heightened turmoil and no postseason, but Bron averaged 27/8/8 during a year in which he was largely considered to be on cruise control. Entering Year 17, LeBron is clearly hungry for success, and with Anthony Davis as his sidekick, he's going to remind everyone why he's the best in the league (and ever).

Ralph: We know that LeBron isn't the popular pick as the best player in the world right now given Giannis's historical MVP run last season, and Kawhi's MJ-esque playoff performance, but when a basketball analyst considers all of the strengths and weaknesses of a player's game; LeBron has the most strengths and the least amount of weaknesses. He's been the best basketball player in the world for nearly a decade and a half, and we fully anticipate him to continue his reign as the GOAT this season while he plays alongside the best teammate he's ever had in Anthony Davis.

2. Kevin Durant

Ralph: Even though KD probably won't see the court this season, he's still towards the top of our list because of how much he impacts the landscape of basketball. The league has never seen anybody like him, and probably won't ever again. So we're paying our respects to the Most High (or the Most Lanky, whichever term you prefer) by putting him at #2 on our list, a spot that he's beyond familiar with and very vocal about despising.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Martin: It can definitely be argued that Kawhi should be in this spot, but Giannis is the reigning league MVP, so he gets the nod. The Greek Freak is still learning how to improve his game and if that jumper starts to fall, it'll be devastating for opponents. As LeBron and KD start to reach the end of their primes, Giannis will easily take over as the best in the league.

4. Kawhi Leonard

5. James Harden

Ralph: It's my firm belief that James Harden will lead the league in points per game once again this season. I don't think there's a single person I enjoy watching isolate a helpless defender more than James Harden. And now that he's added a one-footed three-pointer to his arsenal, my drooling over him is only going to be multiplied.

6. Anthony Davis

Ralph: Anthony Davis is the most talented 7-footer in the league not named Kevin Durant. His jumper: pure. His post-game: lethal. His defensive ability: one-of-a-kind. His handle: smooth. If he can be the MVP caliber player that the Lakers and the rest of the league are anticipating him to be, then LA will be more than satisfied at the end of the year with the deal they made to acquire him this past offseason.

7. Stephen Curry

Ralph: My long-time hatred for Stephen Curry has come to a bittersweet end. It's bitter because there isn't a player in the league now that I can wholeheartedly hate on for his childish antics while his team is blowing the opponent out by 30. And it's sweet because now I can enjoy Steph for what he is; the greatest shooter in the history of the game, and a joy to watch handle the rock.

8. Joel Embiid

9. Paul George

10. Damian Lillard

11. Nikola Jokic

Ralph: The Chunky Serbian Larry Bird is going to be tossing no-look dimes and touch passes all season long in the Mile High City.

12. Kyrie Irving

Ralph: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Get your cameras ready, cause Kyrie is going to put on a Hoopmixtape caliber performance this season with KD on the sideline. He has the best handle in the league, and is widely regarded as one of the best players ever when it comes to finishing around the rim in a versatile fashion. I can't way to see how Brooklyn deploys him and utilizes his other-worldly abilities, and I truly hope that things don't go as poorly in New York as they did in Boston for the basketball purist that is Uncle Drew.

13. Rudy Gobert

14. Russell Westbrook

15. Karl Anthony-Towns

Martin: KAT is underrated. He's 23 and coming off a season in which he averaged 24.4 points and 12.4 boards on 51.8/40.0/83.6 shooting splits. Minnesota isn't the best basketball environment to contend, but who knows, maybe he can lead them to a successful season. KAT's defense has also improved; he'll be top-10 by year's end. Did I mention he's only 23?

16. Klay Thompson

17. Jimmy Butler

18. Bradley Beal

Ralph: I pray that Bradley Beal can be traded away to some team that has a chance at playing for the title. Him being stuck in the purgatory that is the Washington Wizards franchise is an abysmal use of his talent, and he deserves better. I know it may take a John Wall add-on for him to be traded anywhere, but how cool would it be if he were traded to the Nuggets and they became the favorite in the West? Or even to the Lakers, for a Kuzma as the centerpiece package?

19. Blake Griffin

20. Donovan Mitchell

Martin: I was in the "Donovan for ROY" camp and I haven't looked back. Mitchell didn't make the All-Star team last year and might not have made the jump some were expecting him to, but he still led the Utah Jazz to the fifth-seed in the West despite being their only true go-to scorer. The offseason addition of Mike Conley will allow Mitchell to play off-ball a lot more, in turn increasing his scoring output and efficiency.

21. Ben Simmons

Martin: If Simmons starts hitting threes when he needs to, the Sixers will probably win the Finals.

22. Devin Booker

23. Luka Doncic

24. Kemba Walker

25. C.J. McCollum

26. D’Angelo Russel

27. De’Aaron Fox

28. Victor Oladipo

29. Zach LaVine

Martin: Look, I know this seems like a high ranking. Hear me out: Zach LaVine is going to be in contention for the scoring title and be an All-Star doing it. You'd never know he tore his ACL watching him and with a competent Bulls team around him, this is going to be the year he breaks out.

30. Kristaps Porzingis

Ralph: The Latvian Gangbanger is going to be dripping threes all the way from Austin, Texas, and swatting shots into the lap of Mark Cuban during his time in Dallas. He'll be a blast to watch alongside one of the premiere young playmakers in the league in Luka Doncic.

31. Jrue Holiday

32. Nikola Vucevic

33. DeMar DeRozan

34. Jamal Murray

35. Chris Paul

Ralph: I'm a firm believer in Chris Paul, and refuse to believe that his status as a top five point guard in the NBA is coming to an end. I think that he can will the Thunder to a playoff spot with his genius basketball IQ, and his tenacity for winning games.

36. Mike Conley Jr.

37. Tobias Harris

38. Khris Middleton

39. Draymond Green

40. LaMarcus Aldridge

Ralph: His fadeaway will be unblockable until the day he dies.

41. Al Horford

42. Aaron Gordon

43. Julius Randle

M: Julius is a Certified Bucket Getter. He averaged a quiet 21.4 PPG during his lone season in New Orleans and as the current offensive centerpiece of the Knicks in a system that suits his skillset, he'll be an All-Star in a weak Eastern Conference and capture the hearts of MSG.

44. Trae Young

45. Jayson Tatum

Ralph: If there's ever been a time for a player to step into the spotlight and take over his franchise, then now is that time for Jayson Tatum. With Kyrie Irving being shipped off to Brooklyn, Jayson is undoubtably the future of the franchise for the Boston Celtics, and now the weight of the historic franchise is all on his 21-year old shoulders.

46. Brandon Ingram

47. Pascal Siakam

48. Lauri Markannen

49. Kevin Love

Ralph: Can somebody please get K-Love the fuck out of Cleveland? I'm looking for a friend here, and by friend I mean the Portland Trail Blazers.

50. Myles Turner

51. John Collins

Martin: 22 and 12. And the Hawks might make the playoffs. JC is definitely a potential All-Star.

52. Andre Drummond

53. Malcom Brogdon

54. Buddy Hield

55. Lonzo Ball

Martin: Lonzo Ball is going to be a great point guard. His scoring is criticized and he has problems staying on the court, but if healthy, Lonzo is an incredible defender (one of the league's best) and can facilitate the Pel's offense. Lonzo's court vision is superb and since he's longer than most guards, he can move the ball with ease and be a menace on the boards.

56. DeAndre Ayton

57. Clint Capela

58. Josh Richardson

Ralph: Josh Richardson was the best basketball player on the Miami Heat last season, and now he's the third or fourth option on a stacked Philadelphia team. He's an elite defender and reliable bucket getter, and will be the piece for the Sixers that takes them from a good team to a great one come April, May, and potentially June.

59. Lou Williams

60. Zion Williamson

61. Kyle Kuzma

62. Justise Winslow

Ralph: Point Justise will be in full effect this season as the Miami Heat look to trade off Goran Dragic to another team for a championship-caliber asset. Look for Winslow to have a career year in every statistical category as he ascends into the upper echelon of big-boy guards alongside Ben Simmons, and Luka Doncic. Okay, he'll probably never be the franchise centerpiece that either of those two players are, but he'll definitely be a cornerstone for the Heat for a long time coming barring any trades that include him.

63. Mitchell Robinson

64. Caris LaVert

65. Bam Adebayo

Martin: I think I've now said this in two articles, Bam is going to be a dominant presence this season. As the full-time starter, he'll put up double-doubles with ease and make opposing offenses uncomfortable.

66. Dejounte Murray

67. Paul Millsap

68. Bojan Bogdanovic

69. Steven Adams

70. Wendell Carter Jr.

Martin: WCJ is going to be a bull down-low for the Bulls. I'm sure I'll tell my grandchildren about the time I saw him battle DeAndre Ayton during their rookie season.

71. SGA

72. Kyle Lowry

73. Brook Lopez

74. Jarret Allen

75. Eric Bledsoe

76. Marc Gasol

77. PJ Tucker

Ralph: The 3-and-D aficionado, and sneaker connoisseur is one of the best players in the game when it comes to fulfilling what his role asks of him. Tucker will often guard the opposing team's best player, and is perhaps the most reliable shooter in the league when he's in the corner.

78. Otto Porter Jr.

79. Montrezl Harrell

80. Jursuf Nurkic

81. Domantas Sabonis

82. Derrick Favors

83. Danilo Gallinari

84. Derrick Rose

Martin: D-Rose has finally regained his confidence and explosiveness. With Blake Griffin out for the first few weeks of the season, Rose should be the Pistons go-to scorer and if he comes off the bench for the majority of the year, Sixth Man of the Year will be his.

85. Patrick Beverly

86. Ja Morant

87. Gary Harris

88. J.J. Reddick

89. Eric Gordon

90. Spencer Dinwiddie

Martin: Can someone explain his contract to me like a fourth grader?

91. Bogdan Bogdanovic

92. Marcus Smart

93. Fred VanVleet

94. Ricky Rubio

Ralph: Rubio was one of my favorite prospects ever when he was just a 16-year old Spaniard dishing dimes across YouTube. And now he's in Phoenix, and will be tossing those same flashy passes to the likes of Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. I anticipate that this could be his best season yet, although it probably won't mean anything when the regular season ends.

95. Joe Harris

96. Robert Covington

97. Evan Fournier

98. Danny Green

99. Joe Ingles

Martin: How'd we put him so low? This feels like a crime. Ingles is a great 3-and-D guy who has been an integral part of Utah's recent success. Expect him to rise much higher in our list very soon.