The Ringer rates Kristaps Porzingis as 53rd best player in the NBA: this is way too low

The Ringer recently released a list of their top-100 players in the NBA, which has no shortage of questionable ratings. Probably the worst one of them all was where they placed Washington Wizards star Kristaps Porzingis.

They ranked the former, but soon to be two-time, All-Star at 53rd in the NBA. This is laughable as Kristaps Porzingis has been nothing short of elite since he arrived in DC. Even before he was traded from the Dallas Mavericks, he was still top-50 fairly easily.

Since the trade that landed him in the capital city, he has averaged an impressive 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. He is also pitching in 1.6 blocks and a hair under a steal per game as well.

There aren’t even 30 players in the league. putting up the numbers he is with the same level of efficiency and defense. Porzingis was robbed of a better position on this list.

There are players putting up similar stats that are much higher than Kristaps Porzingis.

Karl-Anthony Towns was ranked the 25th best player in the NBA despite having less points, rebounds, blocks, and steals while also shooting at only a slightly better percentage from the field and from the line. Even the advanced stats support Porzingis being over Towns this season.

Neither team has been good this season, but the Minnesota Timberwolves have a much more talented roster with less injuries than the Washington Wizards. This extra talent and lessened injury impact has resulted in a whopping 2.5 game difference between the Timberwolves and Wizards.

Kawhi Leonard has been Horrible this season, he has not been on the floor, and when he has, he has not impacted the game on either end of the floor with any sort of consistency. Yet somehow, he places 23 spots ahead of the Latvian Giant.

Rudy Gobert is another player who is only leading Porzingis in one stat, this time rebounding. His defense is far superior to that of Porzingis, but the difference on offense is far greater than the difference on defense.

Other players who have been outplayed by Porzingis yet are still ranked higher on this list include Bradley Beal (36), Lauri Markkanen (38), Evan Mobley (43), Mikal Bridges (44), and Chris Paul (50). These are just the players who he has blatantly outplayed. There are other players ranked above him who have been worse but are close enough that some fans may argue.

All this list shows is that Kristaps Porzingis is one of the most underrated and underappreciated players in the NBA. The Washington Wizards are lucky to have him.