Alright, the CBS Sports Top 100 NBA player rankings just dropped for the 2026-27 season, and you know what that means: it’s time for some serious takes. While everyone’s busy arguing if Victor Wembanyama should be ahead of Nikola Jokić or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 1, the real juice is in the “most overrated” list. They even put James Harden on there again, which, honestly, sparks some serious debate. But two young All-Stars are really making waves for being ranked way too high, and one of them just had a brutal offseason after a playoff faceplant that cost him serious cash.
Jalen Duren’s Massive Payday Felt Like a Loss
Let’s talk about Jalen Duren, ranked No. 34 on the Top 100. Thirty-four! Now, he bet on himself last year, earned his first All-Star and All-NBA teams, and looked like he was on the rise. Then the playoffs happened, and man, it was a rough watch. The dude absolutely faceplanted. He got badly outplayed by Wendell Carter Jr. in the first round against the Magic, and then basically went no-show against the Cavs in the second. When Cade Cunningham needed support the most, Duren’s points per game plummeted from a solid 19.5 in the regular season to a meager 10.2 in the postseason. That’s a huge drop-off when the stakes are highest.
That decidedly poor performance led to a contentious contract negotiation with the Pistons this offseason. He eventually inked a new five-year deal for a handsome $200 million. Sounds good, right? Except he was eligible for a max contract of $287 million. That playoff collapse straight up cost him $87 million. You read that right. Eighty-seven million dollars. That’s not just a rough series; that’s a bank account hit, and it shows exactly what the Pistons think of his value after that playoff disaster.
Evan Mobley’s Game Has to Catch Up to His Ranking
Then there’s Evan Mobley from the Cavs, sitting pretty at No. 22 on the Top 100. Twenty-two! Look, the guy’s clearly talented, and his defense is phenomenal. He’s a fantastic defender, no doubt, and productive on offense. But here’s the kicker: he’s essentially a third option offensively for the Cavaliers. He also took a step back as a shooter last year, and he’s not exactly a dominant interior scorer either. There are just too many limitations to his offensive game to justify placing him as high as some of the CBS Sports staff did.
I’m in the “need to see it to believe it” camp with Mobley. His defense is top-tier, but for him to truly be a top-20 player in the league, that offensive game has to take another serious leap. Being ranked 22nd means you’re expected to be a consistent, impactful two-way force, not just a defensive anchor with some offensive flashes. He’s got the potential, but that ranking feels more like a projection than where he’s actually at right now.
As the 2026-27 season kicks off, all eyes should be on these two. Can Duren prove that playoff flop was just a blip and earn that max money next time around? Can Mobley expand his offensive repertoire and show he’s truly a top-tier threat on both ends of the floor? There’s a lot to prove for both these young All-Stars, and the league is definitely watching to see if their play lives up to their rankings.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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