NBA Player Ranking 26-30 + Honorable Mentions
Summary
The Athletic’s NBA Daily hosts Dave DuFour, Esther Ahenny, Zena Keda, and Andrew Schlecht launch their Top 30 players ranking, beginning with a tribute to the late Don Nelson. They debate honorable mentions like De’Aaron Fox, LaMelo Ball, and Joel Embiid, clashing over health concerns and playoff performance. The countdown officially starts with Jalen Duren at 30, Deni Avdija at 29, and Evan Mobley at 28, highlighting disagreements on consistency and defensive value.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Discover Cash Back and Kia Sorento
Tribute to NBA legend Don Nelson
Methodology for ranking the Top 30 players
Honorable mentions: Fox, Harper, LaMelo Ball, Embiid
Honorable mentions: Harden, Simmons, and others
Transition to the official Top 30 list
No. 30: Jalen Duren's regular season vs playoffs
No. 29: Deni Avdija's defensive value debate
No. 28: Evan Mobley's shooting and aggression
No. 27: Jamal Murray's career highs and role
No. 26: Jalen Johnson's multi-tool skillset
Preview of No. 25 and show sign-off
Listen ad-free on Castria