Harden and George among NBA players questioned in Top 100 list

James Harden and Paul George are among five players whose places in the CBS Sports Top 100 NBA rankings have been challenged by the outlet’s own writers ahead of the 2026-27 season. Evan Mobley, Jalen Duren and Brandon Ingram also feature in the staff’s discussion of players ranked higher than some contributors believe they should be.

The selections reflect differences between the final Top 100, compiled from staff votes, and individual writers’ lists. They are assessments of where the players stand entering the new season, rather than a separate ranking of their careers.

Defence and playoff form under review

Mobley, ranked 22nd, drew praise from Robby Kalland for his defence. Kalland nevertheless questioned placing a player he described as a third offensive option so high, pointing to a step back in Mobley’s shooting last season and limitations to his interior game.

Duren is 34th despite earning his first All-Star and All-NBA selections last season. John Gonzalez focused instead on the Pistons player’s postseason: his scoring fell from 19.5 points per game in the regular season to 10.2 in the playoffs. Duren subsequently signed a five-year, $200 million deal with Detroit, below the $287 million maximum for which he was eligible.

Harden and George face closer scrutiny

Harden’s 47th-place ranking prompted Brad Botkin to argue that his regular-season production should not outweigh concerns about his playoff impact. Botkin noted that the Cavaliers player averaged 19 points and five assists in last season’s postseason while shooting 29% from three-point range. He also criticised Harden’s defence, arguing that Cleveland need effective support around Donovan Mitchell in the playoffs.

George, now with the Celtics, is ranked 67th. Cameron Salerno questioned Boston’s trade of Jaylen Brown for George and said he would place George around 20 spots lower. While acknowledging that George remains a good player, Salerno argued that several players listed below him would be preferable entering the season.

New season offers a chance to respond

Ingram completes the group at No. 76. Sam Quinn questioned whether the Clippers player’s skills have consistently translated into the impact on winning expected of him, citing changes in his three-point volume and stretches of playmaking that have not lasted.

The five assessments underline how much weight the writers place on different parts of a player’s game. The rankings reflect different views among the writers.