ESPN just dropped their top-100 NBA player rankings for the 2026-27 season, and while Steph Curry is still doing Steph Curry things near the top, the Golden State Warriors roster looks WAY different on that list than in years past. Seriously, the decline for some key guys is wild. Draymond Green, who was ranked 51st last year, slid all the way down to No. 93. Yep, 93.
Massive Drops and a Brutal Injury Blow
Draymond Green, a former Defensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Star, finds himself near the very bottom of the top-100. It’s a huge drop, but let’s be real, the dude still shows up when it matters. Last season, he played clutch defense against Kawhi Leonard in that Play-In Tournament win against the Clippers. His numbers were 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks. Those aren’t flashy, but the impact is there. Still, moving 42 spots down is a statement.
And get this, just ahead of Green at No. 92 is his teammate Jimmy Butler III. This one stings because Butler III was ranked 18th just a season ago! What happened? He was a breath of fresh air for the Warriors, averaging 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in 38 games, shooting 51.9% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc. Then January hit, and he suffered a season-ending ACL injury. That kind of drop-off shows you just how devastating that injury was, not just for him, but for his standing in the league.
Curry’s Resilience and a Glaring Snub
Despite the big drops, Stephen Curry remains an absolute icon. He’s ranked No. 12, which is phenomenal considering he missed nearly half of last season because of a lingering knee injury. The 12-time All-Star still balled out in 43 games, putting up 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks. He shot 46.8% from the field and 39.3% from long distance. Even with the missed time, his impact is undeniable. He’s still that dude.
But let’s talk about the biggest head-scratcher: Kristaps Porzingis was completely omitted from the top-100 list! Seriously? How do you leave him off when he averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks, even though he played in only 32 games? You could easily argue he deserves a spot over some guys in the 90-100 range, especially someone like Fred VanVleet, who missed the entire season due to injury. Warriors assistant coach Frank Vogel has even said he wants to make Porzingis a focal point of the team’s interior defense this upcoming season. That’s a huge vote of confidence, and it makes his snub even more baffling.
This ranking list definitely sets up some storylines for the 2026-27 season. Can Draymond prove the doubters wrong? Will Butler bounce back from that ACL and show he’s still a top-tier talent? And is Porzingis about to go off with a chip on his shoulder, ready to prove ESPN wrong? I can’t wait to see how these guys respond when the ball drops.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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