Four Sacramento Kings Players Included In ESPN’s ‘NBArank Top 100’

Ah, yes.

Lists of NBA player rankings rarely generate much debate, so this year’s edition of ESPN’s NBArank is sure to align with most of our thought processes…

Right?

Well, get your hot–or cold–takes ready, because the list has been released and some members of the Sacramento Kings have been included in ESPN’s top-100 rankings of NBA players.

Some Sacramento Kings preseason player rankings among the NBA's top 100 players:

Domantas Sabonis
– ESPN: 47
– CBS: 50

De'Aaron Fox
– ESPN: 54
– CBS: 57

Harrison Barnes
– ESPN: 74
– CBS: 81

Keegan Murray
– ESPN: 95

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) September 20, 2022

95. Keegan Murray

Murray hasn’t logged a minute of regular season action, but he still gets some respect by being included in this list.

After an explosive Summer League campaign in which the 22-year-old averaged 23.3 points on 40 percent shooting from deep, Murray is one of two rookies to be included in ESPNrank’s top-100 for 2022 alongside first-overall pick Paolo Banchero.

With second-overall pick Chet Holmgren (foot) sidelined for the entire 2022-23 season, Murray is expected to be at the forefront alongside Banchero in the race for Rookie of the Year honors.

2021-22 ranking: N/A

74. Harrison Barnes

‘The Black Falcon’ might be entering his 11th season of NBA action, but the 30-year-old is still seen as a top-75 player in the eyes of ESPN.

Barnes is entering the final year of his contract with Sacramento and will surely be looking to bolster his chances of securing another long-term free-agent deal when he hits the market next summer.

2021-22 ranking: Not ranked in the top 100

54. De’Aaron Fox

When you look at De’Aaron Fox’s 2021-22 season, it truly is a story of two halves.

First 33 games: 20.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 44% FG, 25% 3PT

Final 26 games: 26.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 50% FG, 34% 3PT

Fox’s rough start could be a contributing factor as to why ESPN has the 24-year-old 20 spots lower than he was at the beginning of last season. Nonetheless, the speedy guard is primed to recreate his strong finish to last season alongside Domantas Sabonis and a revamped roster that includes the likes or Murray, Kevin Huerter, and old Kentucky teammate Malik Monk.

2021-22 ranking: 34

47. Domantas Sabonis

Speaking of Sabonis, the two-time All-Star comes in as the highest-ranked member of the Kings at 47th on the list.

After being acquired in a trade deadline deal with Indiana, Sabonis averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 0.9 steals per game on 55 percent shooting from the field over just 15 appearances before missing the final nine games of the season with a knee injury.

With Sabonis in the fold alongside Fox for a full season, Kings fans are hoping that this new duo can be the leading charge behind a season that can bring a 16-year postseason drought to an end.

2021-22 ranking: 40

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