Frascella's Top 100 MLB Players: More "Big Names" than Ever Before

 

Photo Credit: MLB.com, 3072 X 1728, Rhett Bollinger

I'm not gonna lie to ya... my head hurts already, tackling this project. 

Why do I do this? I wonder to myself. I don't know; I've always had a thing for lists, for as far back as I can remember. Always so many thoughts to organize. This is a way for me to create order in a wacky world. So, let's talk about my MLB criteria, this time around: 

1. Baseball is a long-haul kind of game. It's all about the long run - being steady, playing with consistency and establishing your place within the landscape of a crowded league. We've all heard the old adage, "Players are who they are." And sure, that is true a good percentage of the time. But, improvements must also be considered. So my point with bullet #1 here is - these rankings can't ONLY be based on 2021 MLB statistics. What would be the point, then? I could just rattle off the stats in order. The "story" and overall context of the player must be considered. 

2. I'm not gonna spend my whole life reading stat after stat after stat. Besides, technically, this list is just for fun. So I need to create a statistical shorthand, here. Key stat for offense: OPS. Key stat for pitching: ERA. Of course others will be considered, but those two will be the jumping off points. 

3. Here's a good way of looking at the whole thing: What is the player doing now, relative to who they are - overall - in their career? Like, Brandon Crawford seems to be outperforming his norm this season. And on the flip side, Francisco Lindor is dramatically underperforming his norm. But, who are these players, really? What's the full story? Consider that as you read through my list and formulate your own opinions. 

Meh, I think you get the idea at this point. Besides, this is tough anyway when you are mashing hitters together with pitchers. Proceed at your own risk, my friends:

HONORABLE MENTION

Carlos Rodon, SP, White Sox

Adolis Garcia, OF, Rangers

Jake Cronenworth, 2B, Padres

Adam Duvall, OF, Marlins

Tommy Pham, OF, Padres

Brandon Crawford, SS, Giants

Wil Myers, OF/1B, Padres

Matt Chapman, 3B, A's

Look, Carlos Rodon has been one of the best players in baseball this season. At the time of my research, he was 10th in the entire MLB in ERA. He's a certified strikeout pitcher, as well. 

But who has Rodon been in his career? Prior to this season, his ERAs were 8.22, 5.19, 4.18, 4.15 and 4.04, going backwards. So, in essence, he had steadily been getting worse. Maybe he "figured something out" this season, but personally I need to see more. He's also been one of the most injury-prone hurlers in the game. 

With these Padres - Cronenworth, Pham and Myers - well hell, pick your poison. You could go any which way with these guys. To me, Cronenworth has been the most impressive of the three this particular season. Pham, at his best in his career, was a top-flight all-around player. Myers has had a good-if-enigmatic career. He's versatile, as we know. 

So, they all kind of sit right outside my top 100. The "engine" Padres - the guys that ultimately make the team go - are Fernando Tatis Jr., Yu Darvish and Manny Machado, and you'll be seeing all three of those studs in my top 100. But hey, there are other Padres right in the mix with Cronenworth, Pham and Myers, and those guys are Blake Snell, Mark Melancon, Eric Hosmer and Trent Grisham. Ultimately, this is a club with three stars and a bunch of very good professional ballplayers. 

Adolis Garcia got my attention immediately during the preseason. He just sounds like one of those guys with raw, natural, powerful ability - but sometimes you simply cannot contain him. Suddenly, this season, he has put it all together at the dish. If he continues at this clip he will most certainly be a top-100 player next go around. He's an exciting, electric player on the rise. 

JOHN FRASCELLA'S TOP 100 MLB PLAYERS (counting down)

** EDITOR'S NOTE: I lied. It's actually my top 105 players. I initially forgot Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich, Anthony Rendon and Corey Seager due to injury. I also initially forgot Luke Voit, who can simply rake.** 

105 Tyler Mahle, SP, Reds: He's always been known as one of the better strikeout pitchers in the game, but he's constantly been overshadowed by bigger names - Trevor Bauer, Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo and more of the like. Now, Bauer is out of the way with the Dodgers - and dealing with his own bevy of issues - while Gray and Castillo simply haven't been as good as their teammate, Tyler. He's in the top 20 in strikeouts and top 40 in ERA. Cincy is a tough place to pitch, too. It really is a banbox. 

104 Trevor Rogers, SP, Marlins: Compare Rogers to Rodon, here. Both are all-star lefties this season with impressive natural stuff. The difference is this - Rodon has a documented history of disappointing. Rogers, on the other hand, is just 23 years old. This is all we have to go on, at this point. So, we're talking about a 2.22 ERA right now, and he's in the top 20 in strikeouts. Maybe this is just who Trevor Rogers is, and if so, he'll be a lot higher than No. 104 in future iterations. For now, I just had to squeak him into my written section. He's been that good. The Marlins' friendly pitchers' park should also help with potential longevity. 

103 Sean Manaea, SP, A's: Look, I'm not an encyclopedia of baseball off the top of my head, here. Here's the way I look at Manaea: He's 23rd in ERA, and I remember a recent year where he had another ridiculously low ERA. (Looking that up, now.) Ah, in 2019, he had a 1.21 ERA but that was only in 5 starts. Still, the previous years he was under 3.90 two out of three. He's a solid lefty on a club that usually has a good eye for cost-effective pitching. Manaea is simply having another good year out there. 

102 Eduardo Escobar, infielder, Diamondbacks: 82nd in OPS at the time of research, and I know he has a bunch of homers because he's on my fantasy team with fellow mastermind Steven Summer (shout out to Stevo!). Yup, he has 19 homers already this season (in a dead-bat, dead-ball year, mind you). I "discovered" Escobar back in his part-time days with the Twins, and he has since burgeoned into a legitimate bat with pop. Why isn't he higher on my list, then? Inconsistency. He can go into stretches where he is an all-or-nothing kind of hitter. He has the potential to be a top-80 guy, but I'd like to see more consistency in both approach and performance. Hot name on the trade market right now. 

101 Charlie Morton, SP, Braves: This crafty old vet figured things out quickly this year. The first month or so of the season, he was one of the absolute worst pitchers in baseball. Now, here we are in July, and his ERA is under 4.00 at 3.91. He was messing around with a cutter in the early stages of the season, but he has since gotten back to his power sinker/curveball combo. That's what an intelligent old veteran does - finds the error in his ways and makes quick adjustments smack in the middle of the season. This is a guy who really earned his money with both the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays in recent years. Doesn't get phased by The Big Game, at all. Can be a money-time pitcher for ya. 

100 Adam Wainwright, SP, Cardinals: You can pretty much superimpose a lot of what I wrote about Morton, here. Adam Wainwright is simply a pitcher. At one point, he was one of the absolute best relievers in the game. At another point, he was one of the absolute best starters in the game. Now, he's an old man at 39 years of age, and he still has a 3.58 ERA. It's all brains and style with this guy, at this point. Have you actually had an opportunity to watch him pitch this year? He just won't give in. He's nibbling and nibbling with cutters and curves. He wants you to try to beat him by going out of the strikezone. Adam Wainwright is just a pro's pro - feels like a Hall of Famer, to me. 

99 German Marquez, SP, Rockies: 36th in ERA? You just can't do that at Coors Field. German Marquez is slowly but surely becoming the best pitcher in the history of the Colorado Rockies' organization. And he sticks around, too! Take a guy like this - with power stuff like this - and put him in a pitchers' park? He'd probably end up being one of the highest-paid pitchers in the world. Marquez never complains out there. He's a bulldog. I'd take this gamer on my squad any day of the week. 

98 Ian Anderson, SP, Braves: You're probably noticing a lot of pitchers at the beginning of my list, here. Well - it's most certainly a pitchers' year in the MLB - batting averages are lower than ever, and strikeouts are a dime-a-dozen. So, the "solid" pitchers are coming toward the end of the list. They deserve to be on the list, but I'll take a solid hitter over a solid pitcher these days, given the general nature of the league and gameplay. Anderson's ranking equation looks like this to me: Big-name prospect + legit stuff + strong results thus far = Real Deal. He just seems like the Real Deal in the early stages of his big-league career. He had the pedigree, and he's backing it up on the MLB hill. 

97 Trey Mancini, 1B/OF, Orioles: An inspiring comeback story after a bout with cancer. Trey definitely looks to be his old self, 66th in OPS and ready to show off his stuff in the Homerun Derby. Still a young man, but already a seasoned professional hitter with the added bonus of a hitters' park. 

96 Mike Yastrzemski, OF, Giants: We're talking about Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski's bloodline here, and this kid hasn't disappointed; not in the slightest. Eighth in NL MVP voting last year, and this year he is 58th in OPS. The surprising Giants have been a great story, and "Yazzie" is their second-best overall player, to me. 

95 Yoan Moncada, 2B/3B, White Sox: Here's one where I have to throw my biases out the window. Moncada sucked when I had him on my fantasy team; he was just frustrating as all hell. I didn't even really wanna put him inside my top 100. But he's 57th in OPS, and he comes with the pedigree like the aforementioned Anderson. Moncada came into the MLB as a highly-touted prospect, and we see why with his pop from both sides of the plate. His position flexibility in the infield is a welcome intangible, as well. He's a good, young ballplayer and the sky is the limit. I just wish he was better when he was on my roster. Grr. 

94 Dallas Keuchel, SP, White Sox: Another one in the "old pro" category. When I think about Dallas Keuchel, I also think about Morton, Wainwright, Kyle Hendricks and Zack Greinke. Not many guys rely on "knowing how to pitch" these days. Most of these youngsters are getting by on 97-102 MPH gas. And who can blame them? But for those who don't have the pure stuff, they are forced into craft like Keuchel and the others I mentioned. "DK" was third in the majors in ERA last year. This year he is hanging around at 53, ahead of name brands like Aaron Nola, Luis Castillo and Patrick Corbin. This crafty old lefty can still TCOB when he toes the rubber. 

93 Ramon Laureano, OF, Oakland A's: It's not easy to toss around the phrase "professional hitter" these days, but people have always seemed to do it with Laureano. You know, I was skeptical when he stepped into the MLB spotlight because Oakland hitters haven't been the same since the days of Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez. We tend to have faith in the organization's arms, but the bats can fall flat - like say, Stephen Piscotty, Daric Barton or Bobby Crosby in past years. Laureano was supposed to be good, and he's actually been exactly that. 51st in OPS, and I like the way he hits gaps. He hits the ball on a line, and his exit velocity propels balls to the wall. Despite being on the smaller side at just 5-11, he has a live bat and he's one of the best ballplayers on one of the best teams in the league. 

92 Austin Meadows, OF, Rays: How about trading Meadows and Tyler Glasnow for Chris Archer? LOL. That's why the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates should never do business with the masterminds; the uber-geniuses in the Tampa Bay Rays' front office. At first, Meadows was looking like the best individual player in that deal (but I believe Glasnow has since surpassed him). Still, after a down year in a weird year last year, Meadows is back to 50th in OPS. He's just a good, strong, good-lookin' ballplayer. The Rays are one of the best-run organizations in all of professional sports, and Meadows is one of their top two position players. 

91 Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies: Here's a very difficult player to track and comprehend. Hoskins came into the league a man on fire, slugging 18 homers in just 170 at bats as a rookie in 2017. He then delivered on that promise, crushing 29+ homers in each of the next two seasons. This season, early on, Hoskins struggled through an ugly 2-for-40 slump. Like the aforementioned Charlie Morton, in the early going, Hoskins was looking like one of the absolute worst players at his position. But, like Morton, Hoskins has since rebounded to appear like one of the best power hitters in the NL, once again. Eighty-eighth in OPS despite the massive slump, to go along with 20 homers and 55 RBI. 

** EDITOR'S NOTE: This is when I was like... why am I writing something for every single guy? Everyone is just going to scroll through the list, anyway... 

90 Jared Walsh, 1B/OF, Angels

89 Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets: Perhaps the single most difficult player to rank. $341 million for a guy hitting .227? A guy who also hit just .258 last season? A guy who hasn't hit over .300 since 2016? Talk about a polarizing player in so many ways. Lindor was an all-star in 2016, 17, 18 and 19. He is a slick-fielding, smooth, switch-hitting shortstop who plays the game with intense passion and love. A million-dollar smile, indeed. But how good or great is he, really? I would say, heading into this season, mostly everyone in the world would have had him in their top-50 players. He would have been one of those "safe" "obvious" selections. I mean, not too long ago, the guy hit 40+ doubles 3 seasons in a row; a very difficult task. He sucks this year, but what's funny is this: He leads the Mets in hits, doubles, triples, walks and stolen bases. I don't even really know what to say or write about that. Maybe the Mets are truly that bad (and they are in first place, lol). 

88 Marcus Stroman, SP, Mets: Former Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen took some heat for this one, but "Stro" is 14th in ERA at the moment. Here's the deal with Stro: He's old school in a lot of ways. He fields his position. He doesn't want to give up the ball or be taken out of games. He yells and screams at the opposing dugout when he gets out of jams. He's not exactly Mr. Nice Guy out there, and I like that about Marcus. He brings you the all-around package out there; oddly enough, he reminds me of Bartolo Colon in a lot of ways. Stro doesn't always have the most impressive stuff, but he mixes and matches and does whatever he possibly can to get the job done. He's a crafty guy on the hill, like Colon in the latter stages of his MLB career. 

87 Chris Taylor, Utility, Dodgers: I don't think we can underestimate the value of the best true utilityman in the game, especially when he's on a powerful team like the Dodgers. Taylor is 43rd in OPS, and this is a player who effortlessly transitions from infield to outfield, then back around again. He'll do whatever you ask him to do out there, and he's not gonna bitch and moan about it. On a personal level, I've always liked Taylor's approach in big spots. If he gets the first one he likes, he'll jump right on that with a quick bat. If he doesn't like what he sees, he'll work ya to a 3-2 count and try to punch one in a hole somewhere. He plays for his teammates, and that's an awful hard thing to find in today's modern MLB (full of all-or-nothing "me" players). 

86 Kyle Hendricks, SP, Cubs

85 Julio Urias, SP, Dodgers

84 Luke Voit, 1B, Yankees

83 Bryan Reynolds, OF, Pirates: A couple years ago I was thinking okay, the Pirates really have something, here. As a rookie, Reynolds hit .314 and finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. Last year, well, it's difficult to judge a kid when he drops to .189 in a COVID year on a bad ballclub. So, this season's turnaround is a deciding factor - Reynolds was 9th in the majors in OPS at the time of my research for this piece. Reynolds joins with Adam Frazier to form a formidable 1-2 punch for the Pirates, but my two questions are these: (1) Will the Pirates ever develop the offensive talent necessary to build around these two guys? And (2) Will they ever have the pitching necessary to legitimately compete in the NL Central? Ultimately, it just feels like Reynolds and Frazier will go to waste on this floundering club. In fact, I probably could have combined my question into this: Will the Pirates ever have the front office talent necessary to build around whatever talent they do have on the field? Well hey, I'm open to a phone call. Give me a buzz, Pittsburgh, and I'll help ya out. 

82 Sandy Alcantara, SP, Marlins

81 Randy Arozarena, OF, Rays

80 Kenley Jansen, RP, Dodgers: One of the best closers of his generation, hands down. For a little while his stuff seemed to be tapering off to an alarming degree, but this season he is back with a freakin' vengeance with an anemic 1.27 ERA and 21 saves (third-most in the game). The "show" isn't what it once was when he's out on the hill, but the results are the same - this seasoned veteran just gets the damn job done. And he's an important closer too, when you consider the power of the Dodgers within the overall landscape of the league. High-profile spot, tough job. He makes it look easy. 

79 Liam Hendriks, Closer, White Sox

78 Charlie Blackmon, OF, Rockies

77 Joey Gallo, OF/1B, Rangers

76 Aaron Nola, SP, Phillies

75 Lucas Giolito, SP, White Sox

74 Jose Berrios, SP, Twins

73 Adam Frazier, 2B, Pirates

72 Zack Wheeler, SP, Phillies

71 Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, Blue Jays

70 Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Astros

69 Cedric Mullins, OF, Orioles

68 Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Blue Jays

67 Corbin Burnes, SP, Brewers

66 Kyle Schwarber, OF, Nationals

65 Willson Contreras, C, Cubs

64 George Springer, OF, Blue Jays

63 Kevin Gausman, SP, Giants

62 Javier Baez, SS, Cubs

61 Josh Donaldson, 3B, Twins

60 Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs

59 Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox - 7th in AL MVP voting last year

58 Salvador Perez, C, Royals

57 Chris Bassitt, SP, A's

56 Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays

55 Zack Greinke, SP, Astros

54 Matt Olson, 1B, A's

53 Tyler Glasnow, SP, Rays

52 Michael Brantley, OF, Astros

51 Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets

JOHN FRASCELLA'S TOP 50 MLB PLAYERS

50 Yordan Alvarez, OF, Astros

49 Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves

48 Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Yankees

47 Whit Merrifield, Utility, Royals

46 Jesse Winker, OF, Reds

45 Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers - 9th in NL MVP voting last year

44 DJ LeMahieu, Infielder, Yankees - 3rd in AL MVP voting last year

43 Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers

42 Lance Lynn, SP, White Sox

41 Anthony Rendon, 3B, Angels - 10th in AL MVP voting last year

40 Josh Hader, Closer, Brewers

39 Max Muncy, Infielder, Dodgers

38 Alex Bregman, SS/3B, Astros

37 Brandon Woodruff, SP, Brewers

36 Trevor Bauer, SP, Dodgers - 10th in NL MVP voting last year

35 Marcus Semien, 2B/SS, Blue Jays

34 Justin Turner, 3B, Dodgers

33 Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Cardinals

32 Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, Cubs

31 Shane Bieber, SP, Indians - 4th in AL MVP voting last year

30 Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees

29 Carlos Correa, SS, Astros

28 Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox - reigning AL MVP

27 Nick Castellanos, OF, Reds

26 Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B/3B, Blue Jays

JOHN FRASCELLA'S TOP 25 MLB PLAYERS

25 Trevor Story, SS, Rockies

24 Yu Darvish, SP, Padres

23 Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros

22 Bryce Harper, OF, Phillies

21 Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox

20 Trea Turner, SS, Nationals - 7th in NL MVP voting last year

19 Walker Buehler, SP, Dodgers

18 J.D. Martinez, OF, Red Sox

17 Christian Yelich, OF, Brewers

16 Cody Bellinger, OF/1B, Dodgers

15 Manny Machado, 3B/SS, Padres - 3rd in NL MVP voting last year

14 Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox

13 Jose Ramirez, 3B, Indians - 2nd in AL MVP voting last year

12 Nelson Cruz, OF, Twins - 6th in AL MVP voting last year - one of the most underrated players in the HISTORY of baseball 

11 Max Scherzer, SP, Nationals

JOHN FRASCELLA'S TOP 10 MLB PLAYERS

10 Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals

9 Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Braves - We don't know how he will recover from this major injury, now. Would have been in my top five. 

8 Mookie Betts, OF, Dodgers - 2nd in NL MVP voting last year

7 Gerrit Cole, SP, Yankees

6 Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves - reigning NL MVP, looks a bit older this season 

5 Juan Soto, OF, Nationals - 5th in NL MVP voting last year

4 Mike Trout, OF, Angels - 5th in AL MVP voting last year

3 Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres - 4th in NL MVP voting last year

2 Jacob deGrom, SP, Mets

1 Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Angels

Let the debate begin!

John Frascella is a published sports author and Senior Fantasy Analyst for Aaron Torres Online. Follow him @LegendSports7 on Twitter for all things fantasy sports. 

Frascella's Top 100 NBA Players, Part II: The Thrilling Conclusion...Who is the Best of the Best?

Photo Credit: Getty Images and Open Court Basketball 

Ben Simmons, Draymond Green, John Wall and LaMelo Ball were some of the big names in Part I of my NBA Top 100 extravaganza. They were joined by hot names in the playoffs, including Lou Williams, Danilo Gallinari, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Hawks, as well as youngster Mikal Bridges of the Finals-bound Suns. 

Now it's time to get down to serious business. My top 50. All the stars. 

As a reminder, here are the focal points of my ranking system:

1. We're in the playoffs. Heading into a critical 4th quarter. Can this player put my team on his back by doing it all? Scoring, facilitating, making high-percentage plays, being an overall leader and contributing on the defensive end? At the end of the day, it's all about winning playoff games and championships. Can this guy lead me to victory - or help me to victory - when it really matters? 

2. In terms of stats, the 2020-21 season obviously gets the most weight, but previous seasons will NOT be ignored. Overall context must be considered. 

3. Stats I personally look to: Points Per Game, Assists Per Game and Hollinger's overall Efficiency Rating. I look at blocks, rebounds and steals, too. 

4. We're in an era of both "rest" and "load management". On top of that, guys seems to get injured all the damn time. So... can I count on this player? Will he be out there? Is he always hurt or taking nights off? I like durable, reliable, dependable players. 

5. Generally speaking, does this player contribute to a winning culture? Or, is he the type of player who jumps around, never really making much impact from one stop to the next? 

All right, the tension is killing me; let's roll...

50. Mike Conley, PG, Jazz: Mike Conley is a good, solid all-around basketball player. He's always done things the right way. He plays within himself, and within his team's specific offensive scheme. But... the injuries have been annoying and frustrating throughout his quality career. This is a point guard and floor general who could really be a top-40 player, but we haven't seen the consistency of durability to follow through on a ranking like that. Still, he was a key cog on a very strong Jazz team this season. As planned and desired, he has elevated the Jazz past the level that Ricky Rubio was able to provide. Rubio's Jazz had plateaued a few years ago, but now they continue to develop and improve with Conley as one of the key guards running the show. 

49. Kyle Lowry, PG, Raptors: Here's a "six-foot" guard whom I've seen up close and personal. My friends, Kyle Lowry is not six feet. He might be 5-10. And that's just another credit to this young man. Lowry has been a grinder throughout his career, defying the odds while putting together one productive season after another. I always tell this story about Lowry: 

One of my best friends - the great Aaron Torres - is a fellow UConn Husky. While we were students at the University of Connecticut, we went to see our boys face off with our hated rivals, the Villanova Wildcats. That particular season, big men Curtis Sumpter and Jason Frasor were all the rage. Everyone was talking about 'Nova's bigs early on. But "AT" and I saw an entirely different storyline developing: the Wildcats were about to be led by their guards. One of those guards was future NBA player Randy Foye. The other was future NBA all-star, Kyle Lowry. Lowry had that spark and spunk since day one. He stood out in a crowd of major recruits and big college names. He relentlessly attacked the rim and kept us on our heels all night, and AT and I knew we had seen somebody special. 

Here we are, many years later, and Lowry is a six-time all-star and NBA champion. Great motor, great leader, great role model for smaller players who think they can't make it at higher levels. 

48. Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Mavs: I'm just gonna be straight with ya - I'm not really a "Porzingis guy". I think initially I had him around No. 55 or 56. But, "The Unicorn" had quite a good season in Dallas. Thirty-third in Efficiency and 43rd in points per game; a fine combination. Of course he plays second fiddle to superstar Luka Doncic, and well, I still kinda think Porzingis is soft. Here's a long, athletic giant who can really do it all on the court - but how much does he really do with those gifts? If he exerted himself like say Lowry, or Montrezl Harrell, Marcus Smart or Draymond Green from Part I of my list - just think about how much he could accomplish. But I just feel like Porzingis plays with a fear of getting hurt; maybe due to internal trauma from past basketball-related injuries. That puts a ceiling on what he can do, ultimately. I don't think he'll ever become a superstar. 

47. Malcolm Brogdon, PG, Pacers: Just does what he does. He likes to put pressure on opposing defenses, and his stat output has really ballooned since he joined the Pacers a few years back. He's a guy you want on your team - he's never on the defensive mentally; he goes after the opposition and doesn't back down. Thirty-sixth in points per game, and of course he can give you assists, leadership and overall energy as well. 

46. Caris LeVert, G/F, Pacers: Here's one of the most frustrating young players in the game today. Caris LeVert's games played the past three seasons: 47, 45 and 40. And it's such a shame, too, because this kid can really freakin' ball. Here's a kid who returned to the court after the removal of a cancerous mass faster than anyone I've ever heard of. But no matter what the circumstances, we can never seem to get a full season out of him. 

Here's a glimpse of what he can do: 43 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds against the Grizz on January 8. Thirty-one points, 12 assists and 3 blocks against the Hawks on May 6, and 35 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists vs. the Wiz on May 8. Do I even have the explain the overall potential, here? LeVert can drive, shoot, dish, rebound and defend. He's a true all-around player, and he's still just 26 years of age. If he can ever stay healthy, we are talking about a top-35 player, here. 

45. Kemba Walker, PG, Celtics: Don't you kind of feel like the mystique has worn off, here? Kemba has always been one of my favorite players - again, I am a UConn Husky - but sometimes he gets lost in the shuffle in Boston. Jayson Tatum is the best player on the Celtics, and Jaylen Brown's game continues to evolve. Kemba was more interesting, and more entertaining and simply better when he led the way for the Hornets/Bobcats. Still, he was 50th in points per game and 82nd in Efficiency, and we know he isn't afraid of taking the big shot. He's one of the leagues most comfortable big-shot takers and makers. There's value in that, and his veteran experience. 

44. Deandre Ayton, C, Suns: Hard to find the right balance, here. The Suns just punched their ticket to the NBA Finals, and young Ayton has been a great story throughout the postseason. It's very easy to jump on board and immediately overrate him. I think on my first run through of this list, I had him around No. 35. But we can't go too crazy, here. This kid was 95th in the league in points per game. He's always been good, but it's not fair for him to suddenly rocket into my top 30, or something like that. 

On the bright side: he's big, he's long, he's smart and he's a great kid and teammate. He knows exactly what he is supposed to be doing when he's on the court with both Chris Paul and Devin Booker (pictured above). He makes himself available in the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop, and he finishes plays with emphasis and efficiency. He's just a good, young, sharp two-way center. If he continues developing at this pace, I'll definitely consider the top 30 next year. 

43. Clint Capela, C, Hawks: I'll admit - I thought Capela was "living off the land" with James Harden and Chris Paul in Houston. Capela is a traditional catch-and-finish center, and I really thought most of his success was due to who was delivering the rock to him. But, my perception has quickly changed. Capela is the second-best player on a team that may be squeaking into the NBA Finals. He was 15th overall in Efficiency, and he's Trae Young's safety valve (or safety blanket, what have you). He's impactful on both ends of the floor, and I'm placing him one spot ahead of Ayton because he's proven more at this point in their respective careers. 

42. Ja Morant, PG, Grizzlies: A tricky youngster to rank. Ja has a lot going for him - he has a cool name (which is great for marketing and "brand" recognition), he was drafted high, he has great ball skills and a good young coach. But, he wasn't even in the top 100 in Efficiency. That means his game is still raw, which we can also see with our own two eyes. Ultimately this is a good landing spot because he's at an early crossroads in his career - a good one, I think - he hasn't put it all together yet, but his young team is on the rise and he continues to improve on a personal level. If he stays healthy next season, he should be a lock for my top 40. Arrow pointing upward; just needs time to continue developing. 

41. Jaylen Brown, SF, Celtics: He was sorely, sorely missed against my Nets. I think the Celtics could have given us a better run for our money with JB on the court. He just continues getting better and better. I see some player development similarities to Toronto's Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, here. These are kids who showed you one type of game early in their careers, but they quickly redefined themselves into better, stronger, more versatile all-around players. Jaylen Brown ain't afraid to take-and-make. He's pulling the trigger, and his confidence is growing. 20th in points per game, which is quite an accomplishment considering how raw his game was just 3-4 years ago. 

40. Jrue Holiday, PG, Bucks: Obvious similarities to Mike Conley, here. Conley and Holiday have always been solid two-way point guards. These guys play for you, all out, on both ends of the court. But that "all out" has obviously led to one injury after another. Maybe they've pushed themselves too hard. On the bright side, Holiday became the right piece alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis is the stat rat and best player on his team - filling up the box score - but he needs both Holiday and Khris Middleton to assist in closing tight games. Giannis isn't really the big-shot maker. So, that makes Holiday even more valuable than past years. Of course he gets a little recency bias bump for Milwaukee's overall success this season, too.  

39. Jonas Valanciunas, C, Grizzlies: When I think of "underrated" in the NBA, my mind immediately jumps to Marcus Morris, Lou Williams, Jordan Clarkson and Valanciunas. It's easy to try to write Jonas off because he's a traditional big - but this guy is a monster. 6-11, 265 pounds and he runs rim-to-rim, relentlessly. For such a big, supposedly lumbering guy, his hands are amazing. Soft touch, great finisher, high energy and high efficiency. 14th in overall Efficiency this season, and he's a staple every year. That stat reflects his game - all he does is help you win, time and time again. People wanna automatically say Morant is the best player on the Grizz, but I simply don't agree. The Raptors f'd up on Jonas, ultimately. He's one of the best and most valuable bigs in the world, hands down. And he does it quietly. 

38. Pascal Siakam, F/C, Raptors: I've already mentioned him in this piece and in Part I of my rankings, so I don't have much to add. He's the best all-around player on the Raptors right now. It was a down year, but they are still (relatively) recent champions. He's a good, young player on both ends of the floor. 

37. Tobias Harris, F, Sixers: I dunno with these Sixers, man. It's hard to give them too much credit individually or collectively, right? They finished as the No. 1 seed in the East - ahead of my once-powerful Nets - and then they flopped out against the Hawks. Come on, the Sixers are a better all-around team than the Hawks. No excuses. They choked. The Hawks outworked them and they deserved to move on in the end. The Sixers didn't play up to their potential, and Tobias is just another spoke in that wheel. Sometimes, he looked like the clear go-to-guy ahead of the supposed leaders Embiid and Simmons. Still, where did that get them? Harris always lands around this spot on my list. He's a very good all-around player, but will never be a true star. He's in ranking purgatory. 

36. Nikola Vucevic, C, Bulls: The move didn't make the splash that the Chicago Bulls expected. Zach LaVine and Vucevic actually sounded like a pretty deadly combination toward the bottom of the East's playoff seeds, but it simply didn't pan out that way. Normally I think I'd have "Vuc" around 27 to 32, but this season's runout rubbed me the wrong way. He's a stat rat. A stat machine. 20th in Efficiency and 26th in PPG; but maybe he isn't having the impact I thought he was. 

35. CJ McCollum, G, Blazers: He is who he is. Always plays hard, and downhill, and attacks, attacks, attacks. Like Tobias Harris, he always seems to land in the same area on my lists. The Blazers never get over the hump. Thus, CJ never gets over the hump. Maybe he's more of a No. 3 man than a No. 2. 

34. Bam Adebayo, C, Heat: A strong all-around big. Second fiddle to Jimmy Butler; 22nd in Efficiency and 54th in PPG. The Heat made an impressive run to The Finals last year, and Bam is a necessary high-energy and impact player on both ends of the floor. 

33. De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kings: D-Fox is in the same category as Porzingis, for me. Fox is not a "Fro Guy" (Frascella Guy) as we like to say around these parts. Where is the impact on winning from this kid? But, I can't go off my own personal feelings. Fox was 16th in the NBA in scoring, and he's also the best individual defender on his team. Maybe his teammates are to blame, ultimately. I think I had him in the 40s on the first go-around, but I had to remove my biases from the equation. This is a fair spot for the youngster. He can really play on both ends of the floor. 

32. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Thunder: We cannot underestimate the impact Chris Paul had on the rapid development of this kid. But, I don't wanna give CP3 all the credit - "SGA" came into the league poised and wise beyond his years. The Thunder are short on overall talent right now, but SGA is a real leader in the making. He knows how to control tempo and he plays a smart, savvy all-around game. He belongs in the underrated category with the aforementioned Valanciunas. 

31. Brandon Ingram, F, Pelicans: Just on pure ability, my natural instincts were to put Ingram near the top 25. I seem to draft him every single year in fantasy. He fills up the box score, and he's a very smooth player to watch. He continues to develop nicely in all facets of his game, but the Pelicans simply aren't winning. As we approach the top 30 and work our way down to the top 20, winning has to be in the equation. In basketball, strong stars can win games for you on their own. This can play out over the long haul of the season, too. Ingram simply isn't at that level, yet. He has seemingly unlimited potential, though. 

30. Rudy Gobert, C, Jazz: Kind of a boring guy to write about, to be honest. Same old guy, every year. That's most certainly a good thing for the Jazz and their faithful. 17th in Efficiency, and always in the conversation for best defensive player in the world. 

29. Jamal Murray, PG, Nuggets: Ooooooh, a tough one, here! He only played 48 games this season, and he was sorely missed in the postseason. But let's quickly rewind to last year's playoffs:

August 23, 2020: 50 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists @ the Jazz

August 25, 2020: 42 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists vs. the Jazz

August 30, 2020: 50 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds @ the Jazz

And with Gobert, Royce O'Neale and Conley, the Jazz are supposed to be one of the better defensive teams in the NBA, right? Well, Jamal tore them up. Plain and simple, how many players in the league can put up stat lines like that in the playoffs, under the utmost pressure? 

So, Murray wasn't able to have a direct impact this season, but overall he clearly has a chance to be a top-20 player in value. 

28. Julius Randle, PF/C, Knicks: If Murray was healthy, I would have put him ahead of Randle. Randle choked in the playoffs; it's as simple as that. Where was his trademark energy? He could not get a single thing going against the Hawks, and I really don't think they are a great defensive club. On the bright side, he was a backend MVP candidate this season. The Knicks came out of nowhere with a strong season and playoff appearance, and Randle was their leader and best player across the board. Think of it as a stepping stone - he needs to carry that performance over into the playoffs next year, if he wants to move up my famous list. 

27. Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Pacers: The poor man's Nikola Jokic, to me. An excellent all-around player; polished, efficient and unselfish. Pacers need to win more for him to move up. 

26. Zion Williamson, F/C, Pelicans: Possibly the hardest player to rank this season. On paper, he was a superstar - 4th in Efficiency and 8th in points per game. We all know about his highlight-reel dunks and jaw-dropping all-around skillset; but we also know about his injuries and lack of winning. You get the idea, here. We need to see steady health and impact on winning. 

25. DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF, Spurs: A pro's pro. One of the steadiest and most consistent all-around basketball players in the world. He's not top 20 anymore, but he's still close, to me. I'd take him as the No. 2 or 3 man on my team, any day of the week. 

24. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Wolves: Charles Barkley and I read that name and immediately think "soft". Towns is a fantasy darling, but like the Pelicans, Kings and Cavs, the Wolves just don't win. Towns never seems to overexert himself. He's such a gifted all-around player that he just coasts on that natural ability. It's a real shame. He's a frustrating young player. 

23. Khris Middleton, SG/SF, Bucks: His value is immense in the relativity of the league. I talked about this in Jrue Holiday's blurb, earlier. Giannis is one of the young, important faces of the NBA - but he isn't a closer, yet. Middleton is often that guy for the Bucks, and they are two wins away from the NBA Finals. He is a very important player in the landscape of the league. He's very Scottie Pippen-esque, in this scenario. 

22. Zach LaVine, G, Bulls: Oh man, did I go back-and-forth on Middleton and LaVine. It's hard to assess, because the Bulls couldn't even reach the playoffs. But, I think LaVine is a winner on his own. He has balls. He's already made a number of late, clutch shots in his young career, and his overall productivity continues to rise. He was 7th in the league in points per game. That is real star territory. If we clear it out, and the game is on the line, I'm giving the ball to LaVine over Middleton, in spite of their respective teams' records. 

21. James Harden, G/F, Nets: If we're only talking about the regular season, Harden is probably a top-five player. But we're getting into the big boys, now. This isn't a regular season list. This is all about the big picture, and look at the facts:

-Harden's FG% in the regular season: 47.1% with the Nets

-Harden's FG% vs. the Bucks with the season on the line: 30.6%

Oh, you wanna write that one off due to injury? Okay, let's back up through time...

-Game 7 against the Warriors: 2 for 13 on threes, 5 turnovers, loss, eliminated. 

-Game 6 against the Spurs: 2 for 11 from the floor, 2 for 9 on threes, 6 turnovers, loss, eliminated. 

-Only NBA Finals appearance: 37% from the floor, 31% on threes, 12 turnovers and only 18 assists. 

And the list goes on and on and on. Harden just can't get it done when it matters. You saw how quickly he gave that ball back to an exhausted Kevin Durant, right? 

20. Russell Westbrook, PG, Wizards: Boy, the NBA has changed. Russell Westbrook averaged 22 points, 11.7 assists (led the NBA) and 11.5 rebounds per game. He averaged a triple-double... pretty easily, at that! And he's only No. 20 on my list?? Well, you know, same kinda deal here. Westbrook kills you in the playoffs. He makes boneheaded decisions and takes wild shots at exactly the wrong times. Again, regular season, he is probably top 15 or maybe even top 10. He's definitely top 10 on paper, but these rankings aren't only about "paper" and stats. We gotta be logical and realistic. Westbrook couldn't win with Kevin Durant or Paul George. There has to be some culpability, here. 

19. Kyrie Irving, PG, Nets: Another extremely difficult player to rank. I honestly do believe my Nets would have won the NBA Championship if Kyrie was healthy enough to play. But we've seen this before, right? Remember the NBA Finals when LeBron and Matthew Dellavedova almost beat the mighty Warriors by themselves? Well, Kyrie wasn't healthy for that one, either. Also, he misses a lot of games during the regular season and takes very random nights off. I think Kyrie is one of the top 5 or 6 clutch players in the world, but he needs to physically be on the floor when it matters the most. That just hasn't been happening. He was sorely missed vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. 

18. Chris Paul, PG, Suns: How can you not be happy for this guy? 41 points, 7-8 on threes, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in a career-defining closeout game? 

I can't say I'm surprised. CP3 has always been a warrior. I truly hope this is his time. 

It's plain and simple with this ranking, here (see #1 in my ranking criteria) - season on the line in the playoffs, who do you want on the court, Harden, Westbrook or CP3? I'm taking CP every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. It's much closer with Kyrie, but again, Kyrie couldn't manage to stay out there this year. Chris Paul is a winner and leader, through and through. 

17. Jayson Tatum, F, Celtics: Now, you can easily say CP3 has "proven more" than Tatum. But we have to draw the line, somewhere - CP3 was 71st in the league in points per game this season. 18th is a very generous and fair ranking, given that relativity. Tatum was 11th in scoring and 34th in Efficiency, and how about dropping 50 on the Wizards in the play-in game, then dropping 50 and 40 on my Nets in Round 1? Tatum's star is most certainly on a rapid rise. A smooth, always-improving all-around performer. 

16. Bradley Beal, G, Wizards: 2nd in the NBA in points per game. An all-around scoring machine. Also a great facilitator when he wants to be. With more winning, he's easily in the top 15. For now, he's on the outside looking in at 16. 

15. Jimmy Butler, SF, Heat: Another warrior. Singlehandedly carried his team to the NBA Finals last season. This year he was 5th overall in Efficiency. He's just a great, tough two-way player. A real Pat Riley type of guy. That was a match made in heaven from the beginning. 

14. Donovan Mitchell, G, Jazz: I like him as a franchise player. He's real solid in that role. But, "real solid" gets you No. 14 on my list. That doesn't get you into the coveted top 10. Mitchell has had tremendous individual success in the postseason, but his Jazz haven't gotten over the hump, yet. I'm not gonna lie... they ran into the Clippers at exactly the wrong time. Imagine being up by 25, then the other team shoots like 75% on three-point attempts? They caught the Clippers at their hottest shooting point of the season. Still, they lost. If they won, maybe "Spida" squeaks into my top 10. 

13. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Lakers: Was the key to getting the Lakers over the hump last season. He was the X-factor that led to an NBA title. But... "SOS"... guy never stays on the court. It is so frustrating. He really should be a top-five player, but enough is enough already. It feels like that title will end up being his only one. A player this good should have 3-4 titles. He just doesn't have the heart, drive, durability or dependability. 

12. Joel Embiid, C, Sixers: Like Zion, Jo-Jo was one of the absolute best statistical players in the league this year. He was 2nd in Efficiency and 4th in points per game. He might be the MVP of the league. But who cares? He couldn't find a way to close out the Hawks. Again, there are just no excuses for this Sixers team. If Embiid was really a top-top player, wouldn't the Sixers have won that series? What did he do to put his club over the top? Nothing. I gotta see more when it really matters. 

11. Paul George, SG/F, Clippers: What do we call this guy, "Playoff P"? "Pandemic P"? Who knows, but his career is an interesting one to track. Let's look at the full scope, here:

-Eastern Conference Finals vs. LeBron's Heat: 48% from the floor, 44% from 3 ("Playoff P" was born)

-Eastern Conference Finals vs. LeBron's Heat, Round 2: 45% from the floor, 38% from 3, points per game jumped by 5 full points 

-Bounced out early with the Thunder: 40% and 36% for series - 2 for 16 with 5 points in elimination game 

-Bounced out early with the Thunder (again): 43% and 31% for series - 3 for 16 in series-swinging game 

-This year: Averaged 29 PPG vs. both the Suns and Jazz. But 5 for 20 in a critical game, this series? 

I dunno, man... who is this guy? In all seriousness, he is an extremely talented two-way player at the game's highest level. This was a strong run given Kawhi's lack of availability. PG became the go-to-guy and he did a pretty solid job. Still, his playoff results are inconsistent and he's still not top 10. 

10. Devin Booker, SG, Suns: A true scorer. Has been since day 1. I have to say - LeBron called this one (August, 2016). He pegged DB as a future star, and he was right. Here's the ultimate key with Booker: He has full control over his offensive array. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced. Everything is smart, smooth, efficient, controlled, decisive. He's just a tremendous young star, and his Suns are now in the NBA Finals. Well-deserved. I almost ranked him as high as 8th on this list. Game on the line, he's one of the first guys I'm giving the ball to. 

9. Trae Young, PG, Hawks: What else can be said about this kid, at this point? He's been the talk of the town. 29 and 10 (averages) in a convincing series win over the Knicks. 29 and 11 in a surprising series win over the Sixers. Anyone else getting Allen Iverson vibes, here? Against the Bucks, he's bumped up to 33 points per game - but will he be healthy enough to take the floor in this pivotal Game 5? Hawk fans are holding their collective breath. Still, big picture, this is one of the best and most exciting young basketball players in the world. I imagine his jersey sales have been rocketing through the roof, and there's no question that's well-deserved. 

8. Kawhi Leonard, SF, Clippers: Here's another one: Enough is enough. Enough with Karl-Anthony Towns' softness. Enough with James Harden's choking in the playoffs. Enough with Kyrie Irving's injuries and bizarre behavior. Enough with Anthony Davis' injuries and softness, and enough with Kawhi's disappearing act. It's always something, right? Injuries, bizarre disputes, inexplicable behavior. This guy thinks his shit don't stink. Kawhi Leonard should be in the top 3 on this list. But, I won't do it. I've just had enough. Can you blame me? 

7. LeBron James, G/F, Lakers: Last year, he was still No. 1 or No. 2 (with Anthony Davis probably being the other). But Bron got old this season - he'd be the first one to tell ya. Still, old and beat up, he was 16th in Efficiency, 17th in PPG and 8th in assists. He remains an all-around leader and beast, on both ends of the floor. If you put him in your top 5, I won't argue. If you have him outside of your top 10, I won't argue. He is very difficult to rank this season, given his aging and the Lakers' early exit from the postseason. 

6. Stephen Curry, G, Warriors: The highest-ranked non-playoff player. With good reason, right? Steph led the league in scoring, and he's the greatest shooter in the history of the world. So, if someone's gonna make my top 10 without making the playoffs, it's gotta be him, right? 

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Bucks: Oooooh weee, another tough one! 28 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, a block and steal per game. 57% shooting from the floor! Third in overall Efficiency. Possibly the most "freakish" all-around player in the world. But, he often has to defer to Middleton and Holiday down the stretch. Giannis should be in the top 3, given the Bucks' run this postseason. But, every aspect must be considered. He's still a liability in a key category. If he can somehow get healthy and win an NBA Finals MVP, he could actually be No. 2 overall. But for now, No. 5 looks about right, all things considered. 

4. Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets: Games played: 80, 73, 75, 80, 73 and 72 (led the entire NBA). This kid is a true superstar in every single aspect of the game. 26 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists (7th in the league, a center!) and 1.3 steals on 56% shooting. He's Giannis on the stat sheet, but better. He's been excellent in his postseason career, as well. The problem this year was simple: Robin was needed. Batman can't do it on his own. The Nuggets needed Jamal Murray to help Jokic move on in the playoffs. If you don't admire Nikola Jokic as a basketball player, you know nothing about the game. 

3. Damian Lillard, PG, Blazers: Games played: 82, 82, 82, 75, 75, 73, 80, 66 and 67. A true warrior. A real leader. You need a big shot to win it all? He's right up there with the man at my No. 1 spot. "Dame" is definitely the coolest player in the world. He's got swag for days. He can talk the talk and back it up with absolutely no problem; gunz blazin'. How can you not love this guy? He should be one of the most respected players in the world, if not THE most respected. 

2. Luka Doncic, G/F, Mavs: The next coming of LeBron James, possibly? 28 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 threes per game on 48% shooting. A great ambassador for the league. He has the style, the skill, the international flair. He wants the ball in the big moments. His team sucks, but he makes them so much better than that. If the Mavs can improve their front office and roster, Luka will win championships. He has it all; there's no doubt about it. 

1. Kevin Durant, F, Nets: Heeeeee's baaaaack! At full strength, for sure. He was just bonkers this postseason. Points with the season on the line: 48, 32, 49, 28, 30, 32 and 29. Rebounds 9, 11, 17, 13 and 10. Harden playing on one leg (and he sucks, anyway). No Kyrie. Game-tying impossible shot at the buzzer. What else does KD have to do for ya? He was a one-man show for my Nets, while the Bucks had three guys producing in Giannis, Middleton and Holiday. KD very nearly pulled it off by himself. He also made Steph Curry's career by adding more titles to his resume. KD is the best player in the world; there's no question. The real question is this:

You are making a list of the greatest basketball players of all time. 

Where do you rank Kevin Durant?

John Frascella is a published sports author and senior writer for Aaron Torres Online. Follow him on Twitter @LegendSports7.