How many current Memphis Grizzlies are top-125 NBA players?

Desmond Bane

2022 rank: 4A (No. 41-84)
2021: NR 
2020: NR

Desmond Bane made a huge leap from not being ranked last year (outside the top-125) to being somewhere in Tier 4, which is players No. 41 through 84.

Bane is paired up with players in 4A such as Andrew Wiggins, Evan Mobley, Marcus Smart, and Domantas Sabonis. A great crop of players who can take over a game at a moment’s notice.

It seemed like every week Bane was getting better during the regular season. By moving into the starting lineup last year, he got more shot attempts and increased his scoring average from 9.2 ppg to 18.2 ppg in his sophomore season.

It all culminated when Bane showed out during round one of last season’s playoffs in front of a national audience. He scored 26, 34, 25, and 23 points in Games 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

Dillon Brooks

2022 rank: 4B (No. 41-84)
2021: 4B (No. 37-79)
2020: NR

Dillon Brooks remains locked in the 4B tier (players No. 37-79), experiencing no change from last year. This year, he’s grouped with guys like Cade Cunningham, Jonas Valanciunas, Jordan Poole, and Tyler Herro.

Brooks had trouble staying healthy last season, missing chunks of games at a couple of different points in the regular season.

Fans may still be a bit sore regarding his performance in the playoffs in which he was incredibly inefficient with the ball on offense and was a shell of his defensive persona that he’s developed in recent seasons.

Despite his errant shot selection, Brooks can still score in waves and can lead the team in scoring on any given night. He routinely guards the opposing team’s best player and does so with pride. There really are few players like Brooks in the NBA, a perfect mix of great defense and solid offense.

Drop-Outs

Current Grizzlies Steven Adams and Danny Green, both listed in Tier 5A last season (the lowest ranking) are no longer in the top-125.

While no longer on the team, former Memphis Grizzlies player Kyle Anderson has notably dropped out of the top-125 players, too. He was also listed in Tier 5A in last season’s rankings.

What do you think of the ratings and rankings from The Athletic? Are any of the Memphis Grizzlies players rated too high or too low? Let us know.