For the twelfth consecutive year, ESPN released their top 100 players for the 2022-23 NBA season. Several Memphis Grizzlies players made the initial list of players No. 26-100, but it was where one Grizzlies player was ranked that raised a lot of eyebrows.
Four Grizzlies were included: Brandon Clarke (94), Dillon Brooks (77), Desmond Bane (68), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (53), all made appearances between No. 26-100.
Where did Memphis Grizzlies star Desmond Bane land in ESPN’s NBArank?
Yes, you read that correctly. Desmond Bane was ranked at 68.
This number seems quite low for a man who averaged 18.2 points a night for the team with the second best record in the NBA. He also just so happened to have the second-best three point percentage in the association at 43.6% (6.9 attempts a game). On top of this, he tallied 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest in what was only his second year in the NBA.
Then he did practically the exact same thing in the playoffs, but better. He increased his three point percentage to 48.9% (7.3 attempts per game), and was the best player on the court for most games of the first round series against the Timberwolves.
Desmond Bane is extremely close to, if not already a top 50 player in the NBA going into next season, without question.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the players that you will not believe ESPN stated are better than Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane for the 2022-23 season.