If the New York Knicks are considered championship contenders this season, it will be because of their depth, not their elite talent.
A new one CBS Sports Top 100 Players Rankings This clearly shows it.
While the Knicks are tied for the league lead with six players in the top 100, there is a gap between their best player (Jalen Brunson) and their second-best player (Mikal Bridges), according to CBS’ rankings.
Brunson comes in at No. 13 on the list, up 14 spots from where he was before last season.
And then there is a big gap.
The Knicks’ second-highest ranked player is Bridges, at No. 41. CBS also ranked OG Anunoby at No. 46 and Julius Randle at No. 54. Josh Hart was ranked No. 77 and Donte DiVincenzo came in at No. 81.
That leaves the Knicks with just one player in the top 40, far from the other Eastern Conference contenders.
Here’s where they are:
- Boston Celtics, 5: Jayson Tatum (7), Jaylen Brown (15), Jrue Holiday (32), Derrick White (36), Kristaps Porzingis (40)
- Philadelphia 76ers, 3: Joel Embiid (5), Paul George (20), Tyrese Maxey (24)
- Milwaukee Bucks, 2: Giannis Antetokounmpo (2), Damian Lillard (26)
Bridges has dropped significantly in ranking from last season, where he was ranked 29th after a season in which he averaged 26 points per game in 27 games as the Brooklyn Nets’ No. 1. An inefficient year with the Nets last year caused his ranking to drop. The upside for Bridges is that he will be playing a new role with the Knicks that seems to fit him well.
Randle’s ranking is also very low for a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player, though that’s understandable: Randle missed the second half of last season, including the Knicks’ entire playoff run, with a shoulder injury. Randle doesn’t have a great playoff record, and there are questions about how he’ll fit into a revamped Knicks roster.
This is just an arbitrary ranking, but it shows that these Knicks are built differently than the other top teams in the NBA.
More Knicks news:
The Knicks have quietly corrected one of last season’s weaknesses
Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau Makes Huge Admission About Key Tactical Change
Knicks legend explains why he was in awe watching Josh Hart last season
