Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics Lead CBS Sports' 2023-2024 NBA Top 100 Players List
The Boston Celtics hold the most spots on CBS Sports’ annual list of the NBA’s top 100 players. The rankings are based on how players are expected to perform for the upcoming season.
CBS Sports’ NBA staff writers include Brad Botkin, James Herbert, Jack Maloney, Sam Quinn, Bill Reiter, Ameer Tyree, Colin Ward-Henninger and Jasmyn Wimbish. The final results were determined by each writer’s individual top 100 list and a set point system.
Here are their evaluations.
No. 7: Jayson Tatum
"Last season, Tatum became the first player in Celtics franchise history to average 30 points per game for a whole season, and set an NBA record for most points in a Game 7 when he dropped 51 to beat the 76ers in the second round. He also made first-team All-NBA for the second year in a row. Consistency can still be an issue at times for the four-time All-Star, in particular with his 3-point shot, but few players can reach the heights he does when he's at his best. And while his scoring is always going to take top billing, his abilities in other areas are what make him a clear-cut top-10 player. He's one of the best defensive wings around, capable of guarding multiple positions and wreaking havoc off the ball, an elite rebounder for his position and has made real strides as a playmaker. -- Maloney"
No. 24: Jaylen Brown
"The 2022-23 regular season was the best of Jaylen Brown's career, as he averaged career-highs across the board, including 26.6 points per game on 49.1% shooting, and made second-team All-NBA. However, it was overshadowed by his showing in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, which was one of the worst stretches of basketball he has ever played. That he earned the richest contract in NBA history just weeks after the Celtics crashed out of the playoffs as a result of his poor performance did not help his reputation. But for all the jokes about his left hand and problems dribbling, he remains one of the best wing scorers in the league and may be a bit underrated at this point. -- Maloney"
No. 49: Kristaps Porzingis
"You may have missed it, but Porzingis had a career year in Washington. He put up a career-high 23.2 points, while shooting just shy of 50% from the field and 38.5% from deep. Porzingis also played in 65 games, the most since his second year in the league, a significant thing to note given his injury history has always dampened his on-court brilliance. But now, for the fourth time in his career, Porzingis will be starting this season with a new team, and this time it'll come with undoubtedly the highest expectations he's ever faced. The Celtics are hoping that the 7-foot-3 Latvian can help get them back to the Finals, and in a new role surrounded by All-Star talent in Tatum and Brown, Porzingis will once again have to figure out what his role is. -- Wimbish"
No. 62: Derrick White
"If the Celtics had gone on to win the title last season, or had even just made it to the Finals, White would have been a Boston folk hero for his game-winning tip-in in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. Alas, that wasn't to be, but White still established himself as a key part of this Boston core last season by becoming a reliable 3-point shooter and earning second-team All-Defense honors. After Marcus Smart's departure, White is going to take on even more responsibility in the Celtics backcourt as the starting point guard. In addition to his shooting and defense, the team will need him to become more of a playmaker and help organize the offense. -- Maloney"
No. 74: Malcolm Brogdon
"Brogdon's first season with the Celtics was everything the team wanted, right up until he tore a tendon in his arm during the playoffs. He averaged 14.9 points on 48.4% shooting to help supplement the team's offense around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and chipped in with 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists en route to winning Sixth Man of the Year. He should be able to provide the same this season, though you have to wonder what sort of tension exists between him and the organization after the failed attempt to trade him to the Clippers earlier this summer. -- Maloney"
No. 94: Robert Williams III
"If Williams could stay on the floor, he would be much higher on this list. There are no questions about his ability. He's one of the league's premier shot-blockers, a force on the offensive glass and an incredibly efficient finisher around the basket. He's also only played 209 games in five seasons and has never played more than 22 consecutive games in his career. The good news for Williams and the Celtics is that he went through a normal summer and will be fully healthy for the start of the season. -- Jack Maloney"
Check out the full list here.
Further Reading
Jayson Tatum 'Prepared to Commit' to Team USA for 2024 Olympics
How the Celtics Might Go About Filling Final Roster Spot
Tyrese Haliburton Explains Why He Has Celtics Matchup Circled
Celtics Sign Sharpshooter Svi Mykhailiuk
Brad Stevens Discusses Differences in Joe Mazzulla Entering Year 2 as Celtics' Head Coach
Brad Stevens Discusses Kristaps Porzingis' Role with Celtics, Provides Rehab Update
Kristaps Porzingis Speaks on Recovery from Foot Injury: 'I Couldn't Get Rid of the Inflammation'
Here's What to Know About Celtics' 2023-24 Schedule
Examining How Celtics' Starting Lineup Might Shapeshift This Season
Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement
