Washington Wizards: 4 Wizards Named to BR’s Top NBA Players List

Four Washington Wizards have been named to Bleacher Report’s top-100 players in the NBA. Three of them are in the top-30.

Four Washington Wizards have been named to Bleacher Report’s top-100 players in the NBA. Marcin Gortat at No. 96, Otto Porter at No. 37, Bradley Beal at No. 30, and John Wall at No. 12, with Markieff Morris gaining an honorable mention.

It’s no surprise that Wall, Beal, and Porter made it, and it’s not really much of a surprise that Gortat would be featured, even if it was closer to the end. As for why Morris wasn’t featured, Bleacher had this to say:

“Check back when Markieff Morris’ defensive engagement and interest in rebounding don’t fluctuate with his offensive performance.”

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A fair criticism, though Morris had a career-best offensive year for the Washington Wizards last season, averaging 14 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, and shooting 45.7% from the field. He also started expanding his game beyond the three-point line last season, shooting 36.2% from beyond the arc, a career best.

He also started expanding his game beyond the three-point line last season, shooting 36.2% from beyond the arc, a career best. Though while his offense was excellent last year, his defense was inconsistent.

Gortat had a fine year for the Washington Wizards, though his offense struggled a bit, averaging 10.8 points per game, his lowest since the 2010-11 season. However, he did average a career-high in rebounds per game with 10.4, and averaging a double-double is never a bad thing.

Porter really came into his own last year, showing the world why he was picked at No. 3 overall in 2013. He finished last season averaging 13.4 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 51.6% from the floor, and 43.4% from three-point land. Every single one of those averages and percentages were career-highs for the 24-year-old.

For Beal’s part, he had an absolute career year last season, averaging 23.1 points per game, 3.5 assists per game, shooting 48.2% from the field and shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc, all of which were career highs for him.

Similarly, Wall also had the best season of his career in the 2016-17 season, averaging career-highs in points (23.1), assists (10.7), steals (2.0) and shooting percentage (45.1%).

As for the rest of Bleacher Report’s list, here’s how the top 10 shook out:

1. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Kevin Durant – Golden State Warriors
3. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
4. Kawhi Leonard – San Antonio Spurs
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks
6. James Harden – Houston Rockets
7. Russell Westbrook – Oklahoma City Thunder
8. Jimmy Butler – Minnesota Timberwolves
9. Anthony Davis – New Orleans Pelicans
10. Chris Paul – Houston Rockets

The youngest players on the list were Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 99 and Markelle Fultz of the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 88, both of whom are 19-years-old. The oldest player on the list was Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks at No. 91 who is 39-years-old.

Next: The Wizards' Biggest Weakness? A Lack of Depth

The team with the most members on this list might surprise you (because it’s not the Warriors). The Cleveland Cavaliers have six players on this list, with James at No. 1, Kevin Love at No. 33, Jae Crowder at No. 38, Isaiah Thomas at No. 39, Tristan Thompson at No. 89, and Dwayne Wade at No. 92.