NBA Fans React To Ja Morant’s Bad Ranking On ESPN’s Best Players List

Ja Morant being ranked No. 35 on ESPN's top 100 for the upcoming NBA season has irked fans around the world.

4 Min Read

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The start of a new season means that every publication is rushing to come out with their rankings of players heading into next season. ESPN is in the process of unveiling its top 100 for the season, revealing players who are ranked 11-50 on their list. Ja Morant ranked at No. 35 in a shocking fall from last season.

Morant was ranked in the top 10 last season. While ranking him top-10 itself was an overreaction, it seems ESPN has gone to the other end of the scale this year. There are legitimate off-court concerns around Morant’s behavior, given his gun indiscretions this year. He will be starting the season with a 25-game suspension, which will impact his contribution on the court.

Fans don’t think Morant’s actions mean he should fall 26 ratings in a list like that, as Morant is still one of the best young guards in the NBA.


Fans Think Ja Morant Is Being Disrespected

Fans have come out quickly to call out ESPN for dropping Morant from 9th last season to 35th this season. Morant himself commented with a laughing emoji and an hourglass, implying he’ll prove them wrong on the court.

One fan advocated for Morant to still be in the top ten despite what happened last season.

Another fan thinks his ranking last year was just as bad as it is this year, questioning the legitimacy of the entire list.

One fan dismissed the list by calling ESPN ‘political’.

Fans started saying that ESPN lists need to be ignored because they’re baiting fans for reactions and engagement.

A fan joined in that sentiment by saying he’d listen to his grandmother’s opinion on basketball before ESPN.

One fan tried defending the ranking by saying it’s ESPN holding Morant accountable for his actions.

Morant was held accountable for his actions by the NBA, who suspended him for 25 games and made it impossible for him to be in line for All-NBA or All-Star selections this season. Ranking a player poorly on a top-100 list is not holding them accountable, it’s just not necessarily an honest reflection of a player’s ability.


Shocking Players Ranked Ahead Of Ja Morant

In terms of comparable guards, Morant was ranked behind Jamal Murray, Tyrese Haliburton, De’Aaron Fox, Jrue Holiday, Trae Young, and Jalen Brunson. This is without including guards like Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, and Stephen Curry, essentially saying that Morant is barely a top-10 point guard in the league. 

Morant averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists last season. Given how he has been a constant force on a Grizzlies squad that’s made three playoffs in a row, it seems harsh to have him be ranked behind players like Fox, who just had their first playoff appearance. Or someone like Tyrese Haliburton, who is yet to even have a winning record in the NBA. 

Inconsistencies like this make it hard to accept a list like this on merit because Morant’s on-court production hasn’t fallen off nearly as extremely as this list suggests. Having him also be ranked behind the likes of forwards like Lauri Markkanen on the basis of a one-season sample is ludicrous, but Morant has the chance to prove everyone wrong when he returns to the court next season.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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