Right before the NBA season starts, ESPN’s yearly Top 100 player list always sparks debate among fans. Over time, some of the rankings have drawn criticism from both fans and players, especially when certain names are left off the list. While disagreements about rankings are expected and sometimes justified, other times the arguments need more support.
For the upcoming season, the Atlanta Hawks had four players included: Lu Dort at 100, CJ McCollum at 87, Nickeil Alexander-Walker at 41, and Jalen Johnson at 22. While there’s room for discussion about whether these players are ranked correctly, that’s not the main issue.
The bigger concern is the absence of players who arguably deserved a spot—Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu.
Okongwu has often been an underrated presence at his position, despite his versatile skill set. He had a breakout season, averaging 15.2 points per game and shooting an impressive 37.6% from beyond the arc. Among all centers, his three-point shooting was one of the best, and he consistently attempted over five threes per game.
Defensively, Okongwu demonstrated the ability to guard multiple positions, boosting the Hawks’ defense. Though critics argue he’s too small to compete with traditional seven-foot centers, few acknowledge that the Hawks actually improve their rebounding when he’s on the floor.
ESPN likely overlooked the fact that Okongwu was the stable figure in Atlanta’s lineup last year amid multiple injuries and trades at the center spot. He averaged a career-high 31 minutes per game and deserved recognition somewhere on the Top 100 list, making it fair to say he was snubbed.
If Okongwu’s exclusion was disappointing, the omission of Dyson Daniels might have been even more surprising.
Many discussions about Daniels focused on his struggles with three-point shooting, as he shot only 18% from deep last season—quite low for a guard, particularly compared to his previous 34%. Fortunately for the Hawks, the rest of the team provided enough shooting, allowing Daniels to function almost like the team’s center.
Despite his shortcomings from long range, Daniels was effective in nearly every other facet of the game. Like Okongwu, he recorded career highs in both rebounds and assists. Acting as the Hawks’ point guard, he facilitated well and maintained a low turnover rate.
Daniels was also among the league’s top defenders, averaging 2.0 steals per game—tied for the NBA lead—even though he didn’t make headlines for any other standout stats.
While some might dismiss his value due to poor three-point shooting, Daniels contributed more to the Hawks’ success last season than many give him credit for.
It’s unclear what additional achievements Okongwu and Daniels would need to secure a spot on the Top 100, but fans have reason to be excited to watch both players strive for another leap forward this season.
Fan Take: The snubbing of Okongwu and Daniels from ESPN’s Top 100 highlights how impact beyond traditional stats often goes unnoticed. Their continued development could shift perceptions on player value and influence how analysts evaluate versatile, team-oriented players in the modern NBA.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
