Sports Illustrated has released its top 100 NBA players of 2015. These annual rankings are a quality tool to reflect the changing landscape of the NBA and the status of many of its household names.
"Rankings were assigned based on a fluid combination of subjective assessment and objective data," writes SI's Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney. "This is an earnest attempt to evaluate each player in a vacuum."
The top 25 on the list highlight notable rises and falls for certain marquee players. Kobe Bryant, who suffered an Achilles injury in April and a season-ending knee injury just six games into the 2013-2014 season, fell 15 spots from ninth to 24th. Fellow aging shooting guard Dwyane Wade (32) dropped from eighth to 20th with the rankings noting Wade's "ailing knees" as a reason "separating him from the ranks of the NBA's best every-night performers."
Meanwhile, four young stars entered the top 10 after missing out on the cut last season. The L.A. Clippers star power forward Blake Griffin rose from No. 19 to tenth. Stephen Curry's shooting prowess bumped him up to eighth after being ranked at No. 15 last season. Kevin Love's move to the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't hurt his stock in the eyes of Sports Illustrated, as he rose six spots to seventh overall.
Anthony Davis, however, made the biggest and most impressive leap of all. After coming in at No. 41 last year, the 21-year-old jumped all the way to sixth this time around.
"In just two seasons, Davis has made the jump to superstardom," wrote Golliver and Mahoney. "First he established himself, putting together a solid rookie year while adjusting to the speed of the pro game. Then, just as quickly, the former No. 1 overall pick took the league by storm -- actualizing overnight in the form of a perfect NBA big. The style of the modern NBA favors power forwards and centers who can cover ground quickly, function outside the paint, and take on a variety of roles. Davis is an excellent prospect in all regards whose eventual trajectory points to the very top of these rankings."
LeBron James remained atop the rankings as the No. 1 player.
