Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Knicks, Warriors Tied For Most Players On ESPN NBA Top 100 List

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Kenneth Teape | Last updated 10/13/23

It has been long since the New York Knicks were a highly regarded franchise in the NBA. After decades of being a laughingstock, they are again on the path to respectability in the league.

Winning on the court has been the biggest reason for that. Since Tom Thibodeau took over as head coach in 2020, the Knicks have had two winning seasons and made the playoffs in two out of three years.

Unless he is fired before opening night, Thibodeau will become the first Knicks coach since Mike D’Antoni from 2008-2012 to last more than two seasons. He is the most successful person in that position since Jeff Van Gundy in the late 90s and early 2000s.

In addition to the continuity Thibodeau brings as the head coach, the Knicks have put together a very good roster. That is evident by the fact they are tied with the Golden State Warriors for the most players in ESPN’s NBA Top 100 Players List released this week, as both franchises had six players named.

All 30 franchises had at least one player that made the top 100. The Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers and Milwaukee Bucks were just short of the top tier with the Knicks and Warriors, as they were tied with five.

NBA Teams ranked by amount of players on ESPN's Top 100 list:

6 – NYK, GSW
5 – UTA, POR, MIL
4 – NOP, OKC, MIN, PHI, DEN, BOS, MEM, CLE
3 – SAC, DAL, LAC, IND, ATL, MIA, CHI, TOR, LAL, PHX
2 – WAS, BKN, HOU, ORL
1 – DET, CHA, SAS
— Michael Grogins (@mikeygrogins_) October 13, 2023

Center Mitchell Robinson, shooting guard Immanuel Quickley, shooting guard Josh Hart, small forward RJ Barrett, power forward Julius Randle and point guard Jalen Brunson were the six Knicks to be picked. Brunson is the highest-ranked player, coming in at No. 32. Quickley and Hart are both making debuts in the NBARank Top 100 after not being ranked last season.

For the Warriors, center Kevon Looney, point guard Chris Paul, power forward Draymond Green, small forward Andrew Wiggins, shooting guard Klay Thompson and point guard Stephen Curry made the list. This is the first appearance for Looney, who was not ranked last year. Paul saw a huge drop, going from No. 21 last year to No. 76 this year.

Curry was the highest-ranked Golden State player, coming in at No. 5 . He is behind only Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, reigning MVP Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: