The Ringer Ranks Four OKC Thunder Players in Top 100

Oklahoma City was well-represented in The Ringer's most recent NBA player rankings as four of the team's top young talents earning a spot on the list.

On Wednesday, The Ringer released a new ranking of the top 100 players in the NBA.

In this lengthy list, the popular sports media outlet placed four Oklahoma City Thunder players in the top 100, but only one in the top 50. 

OKC is one of 12 teams to have four or more players on The Ringer's list. The Warriors, Celtics and Trail Blazers lead the way with six players apiece ranked in the top 100.

The highest-rated Thunder player is obviously Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who came in at No. 10.

Fresh off of a First-Team All-NBA season and on pace for another impressive year, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game this season. 

The sixth-year player is once again scoring at a high rate with impressive efficiency numbers, shooting 53.5% from the field, 36% from 3-point range and 92.8% from the free throw line.

Gilgeous-Alexander has already topped 40 points twice this season and has scored more than 30 points in eight of his 13 appearances. Once again, SGA's slithery drives to the basket and midrange pull-ups have given opposing defenses fits so far this year.

The second OKC on The Ringer's list is third-year guard Josh Giddey, who landed at. No. 64. 

Thunder fans have been divided on their view of the 6-foot-8 Australian after he has gotten off to a slow start this season, but The Ringer still recognizes how valuable Giddey is to Oklahoma City's offense. 

In his first 14 games, the 21-year-old is averaging 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists. While Giddey's averages have dipped well below what the talented playmaker put up last year, the former No. 6 pick will likely improve as the season progresses and is still getting used to sharing the court with a player like Chet Holmgren. 

In 2022-23, Giddey averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, putting his full skill set on display in a masterful performance against the New Orleans Pelicans to help OKC advance past the first round of the NBA Play-In Tournament.

The Ringer praised Giddey's feel for the game, saying, "Oklahoma’s creative director has the sickest array of passes in the NBA."

The next Thunder player in the Top 100 was Jalen Williams, who is slotted at No. 71.

After an impressive rookie season that saw the former Santa Clara wing finish as the runner-up in the 2023 Rookie of the Year race, Williams has picked up where he left off last year. 

13 games into the season, Williams is averaging 17.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 51.8% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 88% from the free throw line. 

In addition to his offensive output, Williams is a high-level defender both on and off the ball. The Ringer described the second-year player as, "A hard-charging wing with the all-around skills to make a major impact."

Finally, Holmgren came in at No. 88, 21 spots behind his rookie counterpart, Victor Wembanyama.

Holmgren has had a stellar rookie year thus far, averaging 17 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks per game at just 21-years-old. Holmgren has also been very efficient this season, shooting 56.5% from the field, 46% from beyond the arc and 90.7% from the charity stripe. 

While The Ringer does have Wembanyama rated significantly higher than Holmgren, the outlet did concede that Holmgren is the current front-runner for Rookie of the Year.

"Victor Wembanyama might be the future of the league, but Chet Holmgren is the Rookie of the Year," Chris Ryan wrote on Wednesday.

If Holmgren continues to perform at such a high level, the Thunder will certainly have another All-Rookie team honoree for the third consecutive season.

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