A Boston Celtics’ NBA champion criticizes ESPN’s ranking of NBA players, particularly the placement of Nikola Jokic below Giannis Antetokounmpo. In their annual top-100 NBA players list, ESPN raised eyebrows by ranking Jokic second, despite his remarkable performance.
NBA Champion Criticizes ESPN’s Ranking of Players
While Giannis Antetokounmpo is undoubtedly an exceptional player and belongs to the upper echelon of the NBA, Jokic’s unprecedented achievements during the last postseason have led many to believe he deserves the top spot. Jokic accomplished a historic feat by leading the entire playoffs in total points, rebounds, and assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to achieve such a triple-crown performance. This is just one of the numerous ways Jokic left an indelible mark on the league last postseason, earning him the Finals MVP title.
Among the NBA figures who have criticized ESPN’s rankings, Boston Celtics champion Brian Scalabrine stood out. Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Scalabrine emphasized the considerable gap between Jokic and the next best NBA player, comparing it to the gap between LeBron James and his peers in 2012.
“Look what he did last year with that team,” Scalabrine asserted. “He’s doing everything. He’s playing the mentality game way up there, he’s also – defensively I know he’s not Giannis with the blocked shots and the length and all that stuff, but he has solid defensive positioning, he’s always in the right spot. The guy is so freaking good, I just don’t understand right now how it’s not a wide margin.”
Brian Scalabrine did acknowledge that circumstances could change, but at present, he firmly places Jokic at the top, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the game.
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