Bleacher Report's Controversial NBA Top 100: Snubs, Ranking Disputes Ignite Fan Fury
The recent release of Bleacher Report's (BR) NBA Top 100 list has ignited a firestorm of controversy among basketball fans. The ranking, ostensibly based on a comprehensive assessment of all NBA players' careers, has left many scratching their heads, with several questionable placements and notable omissions sparking outrage across the league. The backlash centers on several key points.
Shocking Snubs: A Roster of Unrecognized Greatness
The most glaring issue is the list's significant omissions. The absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this year's MVP, Finals MVP, and ESPY Award winner, who led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first-ever championship with a historic 68-14 regular season record, is baffling to many. His accomplishments, including three First Team All-NBA selections and a scoring title, seem to undeniably qualify him for inclusion. Furthermore, the exclusion of Hall of Famer Ben Wallace, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and a cornerstone of the Detroit Pistons' \"Goin' to Work\" era, adds insult to injury. Other notable absentees who seemingly meet the criteria include Kevin Love, Rudy Gobert, Blake Griffin, and LaMarcus Aldridge—players with significant accolades and lasting contributions to the league. The sheer number of absent champions and all-time greats only underscores the list's perceived flaws.
Ranking Controversies: A Distortion of Legacy?
Beyond the snubs, the rankings themselves are subject to intense criticism. Kobe Bryant's fall outside the top ten is arguably the most contentious aspect. BR's justification—that Kobe wasn't consistently the league's best player throughout his 20-year career and that Shaquille O'Neal was the sole leader of their three-peat Lakers teams—has been met with widespread disbelief. O'Neal himself has publicly acknowledged Kobe as a crucial co-leader, crediting him with propelling the team to multiple championships. The omission of Kobe's back-to-back championships without a fellow officially recognized member of the NBA's 75 Greatest Players further fuels the argument for his inclusion in the top ten.
The placement of Jayson Tatum at 93 also elicits strong reactions. Despite leading the Celtics to a championship after a 16-year drought and earning numerous accolades, including multiple All-NBA First Team selections, an Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and an All-Star Game MVP, Tatum’s ranking is seen as far too low, especially in comparison to players like Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, and Luka Don?i?, who, while undeniably talented, lack Tatum's championship pedigree. Similarly, Vince Carter's ranking at 65 despite a lack of championship titles or other hard-core accolades seems equally inexplicable, particularly in light of his significant contributions to the popularity of the NBA. This pattern of inconsistencies casts doubt on the methodology and fairness of the entire list.
Ultimately, the BR Top 100 list leaves much to be desired. The glaring omissions and questionable rankings highlight the inherent subjectivity in such exercises, ultimately highlighting the need for a more comprehensive and widely accepted ranking system perhaps only achievable by the official NBA on its centennial anniversary.
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