Do Phoenix Suns have more than three of the NBA's top 100 players? This list says no

The Phoenix Suns have three of the top 100 players in the NBA in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but HoopsHype believes several teams have more talent.

Ranking the top 100 players entering the 2024-25 season , HoopsHype has the New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans with six players each on the list.

The Knicks and Pelicans each made trades in the offseason by adding Mikal Bridges (56 ^th ) and Dejounte Murray (55 ^th ).

HoopsHype ranks Kevin Durant 11 ^th on the list, Booker at 16 ^th and Beal at 73 ^rd . They will play their second year together a season after leading Phoenix to a 49-33 record. The Suns lost in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a sweep.

The defending NBA champion Boston Celtics have five, with four in the top 50 in Jayson Tatum (6 ^th ), Jaylen Brown (18 ^th ), Kristaps Porzingis (44 ^th ) and Derrick White (50 ^th ). Jrue Holiday is 54th.

The runner-up Dallas Mavericks also have five along with the Sacramento Kings and T-Wolves. Mavs superstar Luka Doncic is ranked second overall.

The Denver Nuggets have four with three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic No. 1 on the list.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls also have four players in HoopsHype's top 100.

OKC point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is third on the list. Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic finished 1-2-3 in last season's MVP voting.

The Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers and Suns each have three.

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and 76ers superstar Joel Embiid round out the top five. Philadelphia is the only team to have three players in the top 30 in Paul George (27 ^th ), who came over from the Clippers, and Tyrese Maxey (15 ^th ).

Tatum, T-Wolves star Anthony Edwards, Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, Lakers big Anthony Davis and San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama make up six through 10.

Durant is 11 ^th followed by Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton and the ageless LeBron James of the Lakers is 13th at age 39.

The Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons and Spurs each have two players ranked while the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets have just one each.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown (including players ranked on the list) along with The Arizona Republic's one-line take on each:

Top 6 teams:

Knicks (6) – Jalen Brunson (8 ^th ), Julius Randle (38 ^th ), Mikal Bridges (56 ^th ), OG Anunoby (57 ^th ), Josh Hart (81 ^st ), Donte DiVincenzo (86 ^th ). Villanova takeover with four guys from the same school.

Pelicans (6) – Zion Williamson (22 ^nd ), Brandon Ingram (46 ^th ), Dejounte Murray (55 ^th ), C.J. McCollum (71 ^st ), Trey Murphy (74 ^th ), Herb Jones (78 ^th ). Can’t miss the playoffs with this level of talent.

Celtics (5) – Jayson Tatum (6 ^th ), Jalen Brown (18 ^th ), Kristaps Porzingis (44 ^th ), Derrick White (50 ^th ), Jrue Holiday (54 ^th ). The disrespect continues for Tatum and Brown?

Mavericks (5) – Luka Doncic (2nd), Kyrie Irving (33rd), P.J. Washington (94th), Dereck Lively (99th), Klay Thompson (100th). Irving at 33rd is insane.

Timberwolves (5) – Anthony Edwards (7 ^th ), Karl-Anthony Towns (31 ^st ), Rudy Gobert (32 ^nd ), Jaden McDaniels (79 ^th ), Naz Reid (91 ^st ). If they grow as a unit, T-Wolves are finals bound.

Kings (5) – Domantas Sabonis (20th), De’Aaron Fox (24th), DeMar DeRozan (45th), Keegan Murray (82nd), Malik Monk (84th). DeRozan is an underrated addition.

Four more

Nuggets (4) – Nikola Jokic (1 ^st ), Jamal Murray (38 ^th ), Aaron Gordon (59 ^th ), Michael Porter Jr. (64 ^th ). How well will Russell Westbrook blend with this group?

Thunder (4) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (3 ^rd ), Chet Holmgren (40 ^th ), Jalen Williams (43 ^rd ), Lu Dort (92 ^nd ). Who saw Lu Dort as a future top-100 player when he came into the league in 2019 undrafted out of Arizona State?

Lakers (4) – Anthony Davis (9 ^th ), LeBron James (13 ^th ), Austin Reaves (63 ^rd ), D’Angelo Russell (75 ^th ). Davis and James NBA’s best duo?

Cavaliers (4) – Donovan Mitchell (17 ^th ), Evan Mobley (51 ^st ), Darius Garland (52 ^nd ), Jarrett Allen (60 ^th ). Time for Mitchell to take Cleveland to the next level.

Rockets (4) – Alperen Sengun (39 ^th ), Jalen Green (65 ^th ), Fred VanVleet (66 ^th ), Jabari Smith Jr. (88 ^th ). Rockets won’t come up short of the postseason this year.

Bulls (4) – Zach Lavine (62 ^nd ) Coby White (70 ^th ), Josh Giddey (72 ^nd ), Nikola Vucevic (89 ^th ). Need to stay healthy, especially if Lonzo Ball is able to return.

Three the hard way

Bucks (3) – Giannis Antetokounmpo (4 ^th ), Damian Lillard (21 ^st ), Khris Middleton (96 ^th ). Can Antetokounmpo and Lillard make it work as a tandem in a full season under Doc Rivers?

76ers (3) – Joel Embiid (5 ^th ), Tyrese Maxey (15 ^th ), Paul George (27 ^th ). Maxey is a major problem for the league.

Suns (3) – Kevin Durant (11 ^th ), Devin Booker (16 ^th ), Bradley Beal (73 ^rd ). Booker is too low on the list.

Pacers (3) – Tyrese Haliburton (12 ^th ), Pascal Siakam (25 ^th ), Myles Turner (53 ^rd ). Can they duplicate their run to the conference finals in an even stronger East?

Grizzlies (3) – Ja Morant (19 ^th ), Jaren Jackson (42 ^nd ), Desmond Bane (49 ^th ). Morant is back, but will the Grizzlies follow suit as a team?

Heat (3) – Bam Adebayo (28 ^th ), Jimmy Butler (30 ^th ), Tyler Herro (69 ^th ). Time for Jimmy Butler to remind everyone who he is.

Magic (3) – Paolo Banchero (23 ^rd ), Franz Wagner (48 ^th ), Jalen Suggs (93 ^rd ). Banchero and Wagner matchup nightmares with their size, talent and skill sets.

Hornets (3) – LaMelo Ball (41 ^st ), Brandon Miller (58 ^th ), Miles Bridges (67 ^th ). Hope you all didn’t forget how talented Ball is.

Raptors (3) – Scottie Barnes (35 ^th ), Immanuel Quickley (77 ^th ), RJ Barrett (95 ^th ). Barnes giving the Raptors some hope for the future.

Blazers (3) – Jerami Grant (80 ^th ), Anfernee Simons (87 ^th ), Deandre Ayton (97 ^th ). Where will Ayton play with the drafting of rookie big Donovan Clingan?

Two and only one

Spurs (2) – Victor Wembanyama (10 ^th ), Devin Vassell (76 ^th ). How much better can the veteran Chris Paul make Wembanyama in Year 2?

Warriors (2) – Stephen Curry (14 ^th ), Jonathan Kuminga (83 ^rd ). Curry is screaming for help right now.

Clippers (2) – Kawhi Leonard (26 ^th ), James Harden (47 ^th ). A healthy Leonard gives the Clippers more than a fighting chance.

Hawks (2) – Trae Young (29 ^th ), Jalen Johnson (68 ^th ). Young is in the same situation as Curry.

Jazz (2) – Lauri Markkanen (34 ^th ), Collin Sexton (98 ^th ). Utah rebuilding, but Markkanen is a unique talent.

Pistons (2) – Cade Cunningham (37 ^th ), Tobias Harris (90 ^th ). Harris playing with less pressure could lead to a very good season.

Wizards (1) – Kyle Kuzma (61 ^st ).  Went from being part of a championship team with the Lakers to this.

Nets (1) – Cam Thomas (85th). One man show in Brooklyn.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrakin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin .

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Do Phoenix Suns have more than three of the NBA's top 100 players? This list says no