New head scratching NBA player ranking disrespects multiple Spurs

Players play this game for a myriad of reasons. Whether it be to make an obscene amount of money or for greatness, your status matters. Respect is a major point of emphasis for athletes and you have to be wired that way to elevate above the rest. You compete for recognition and what that recognition leads to and it is no different for the San Antonio Spurs players.

Player rankings may be subjective but when one is posted for public consumption, it's going to be scrutinized. Your explanations for why certain guys are listed in certain places need to make sense, otherwise, fans will take you to task for the absurdities of your list. Well, FanSided has released a list and there are a couple of issues with it.

Devin Vassell's number 75 ranking is too low

This Devin Vassell gripe is a little bit more nuanced because he is partially to blame for his placement here. You hope the people making the list understand the dynamics enough to overlook his passive play earlier in the season since he is still young and had to adjust to the addition of Victor Wembanyama but the way he was playing before his injury, post-All-Star Weekend was inspired.

After the break, Vassell averaged 21 points, five assists, and four rebounds while shooting 46% from three. He was drilling shots in the clutch and making a more consistent impact on defense. Devin is a two-way player who deserves more respect. Placing players like Fred VanVleet, Alex Caruso and Nic Claxton over him is the opposite of that. Claxton averaged 9.9 points per game; let's be serious here.

Victor Wembanyama's placement is laughable

It's understandable to have hesitance about elevating a player too early in his career but if you're going to make a list, you have an obligation to just be honest about what you're watching. We're all watching the same thing. Wembanyama came in at 29 on this ranking. While on its surface, being ranked in the top 30 out of 500 players in your rookie season is a compliment, when you look at who is ahead of him, you can't help but have questions.

At the 28th spot resides Rudy Gobert. Gobert averages 11 points and one assist per game. His highest point total this season was 26 points on December, 12 2023 and he only reached it once the entire season. Victor Wembanyama averaged 21 points and almost four assists per game. That means you are trying to tell fans that Rudy Gobert's defense is so far ahead of Wembanyama's that he deserves to be considered a better player.

If Wembanyama wasn't the second-leading candidate to win Defensive Player of the Year, you might have an argument but since he is, it makes that decision outrageous. James Harden and Bam Adebayo are two more examples of guys who should not be ranked ahead of Wembanyama based on Victor's massive impact on both sides of the court. Bam lacks offensive consistency and Harden is a turnstyle on defense. Do better.