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Los Angeles Lakers the only team with 2 top 10 players in CBS Top 100

By Jason Reed

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers react after a shot during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers react after a shot during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers are not the defending NBA Champions by accident.

The Los Angeles Lakers won the 17th title in franchise history just over two months ago and did so with relative ease. After such a long hiatus in the most difficult environment imaginable, the Lakers emerged on top without needing a single Game 7.

The main reason for the Los Angeles Lakers’ success is the superstar duo in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. LeBron and Davis were touted as the best dup heading into last season and absolutely lived up to that moniker.

The praise is continuing into this season and how couldn’t it? It is near-impossible to justify moving either LeBron or AD down the list of best players in the league after they just won a championship and both dominated in the NBA Playoffs.

CBS Sports recently put out their list of the top 100 NBA players heading into the 2020-21 season and what do you know: LeBron and AD ranked fairly high on the list.

LeBron was ranked as the best player in the league, which was expected. While Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the best player statistically over the last three years, LeBron is still the face of the league and is the best all-around player.

Davis ranked higher than most people probably expect, coming in as the fifth-best player in the league. That not only gives the Lakers the only dup in the top five but also the only duo in the entire top 10.

The rest of the top five includes Kawhi Leonard (2), Giannis (3) and Stephen Curry (4). That means that Anthony Davis ranks higher than some really notable players, including the likes of Luka Doncic (6), Kevin Durant (7) and James Harden (8).

The next best duo in the league based on these rankings is Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. George ranks 15th, giving the two players an average ranking of 8.5, which still does not compare to the Lakers’ average ranking of 3.

The rest of the Lakers’ roster got some love as well. Three others made the top 100 list as Marc Gasol (81), Dennis Schroder (82) and Montrezl Harrell (83) made the cut. Five players is the most any team has in the top 100, although there are several teams with five.

The Clippers, Nets, Heat, 76ers and most surprisingly, Pacers, are the other five teams that have five players in the top 100. These six teams, who represent 20% of the NBA, make up 30% of the top 100 players.

dark. Next. Predicting every game of the newly-released schedule

Call me crazy, but I think the Lakers got snubbed of a sixth player. I legitimately think that Alex Caruso can be considered a top 100 player because of his defense alone. Is he better than Dejounte Murray, George Hill and Derrick Rose (the bottom 3 in the top 100)? Yes.

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