The Golden State Warriors will need a big season from Kristaps Porzingis if they hope to make a return to the playoffs, and the veteran center has just gained a fresh source of motivation after being snubbed from ESPN's list of the league's top 100 players this week.
ESPN managed to actually boost new Los Angeles Lakers' center Walker Kessler up the rankings despite an injury-hit season, but the same parameters didn't apply to Porzingis who fell outside the list after being ranked 50th this time a year ago.
Walker Kessler ranking makes Kristaps Porzingis snub look worse
Porzingis managed only 32 combined games last season with the Atlanta Hawks and Warriors, having been acquired at February's mid-season trade deadline in a deal that sent out former seventh overall pick Jonathan Kuminga and veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield.
A 32-game season was undoubtedly disappointing for the Latvian who continues to manage injury and health issues, but it was still 27 games more than Kessler managed to achieve after suffering a season-ending injury after only five games with the Utah Jazz.
In what's proven undeniably the most controversial part of the list, Kessler was vaulted up 25 spots from 98 to 73 despite his five-game season. Where would the 25-year-old have ranked if the Lakers didn't acquire him in a blockbuster sign-and-trade from the Jazz at the start of free agency? That's now the question many are asking as debate surrounds an inherent Lakers bias.
ESPN claim this Kessler ranking is based on his potential fit with Luka Doncic and likely impact in Los Angeles. However, if we're talking thoeretical potential, Porzingis should make the list simply based on the fact he's still one of the best and most productive centers in the league when healthy.
Kristaps Porzingis can return to top 60 player in the league
Obviously all of this is completely subjective, but no one would argue Porzingis doesn't have the talent to return to being a top 60 player in the league -- something Golden State will desperately need and especially while Jimmy Butler remains sidelined by an ACL injury.
Ivica Zubac, Jarrett Allen, Domantas Sabonis and Julius Randle. All frontcourt players who ranked between 50-70, and all of whom Porzingis would lay claim to being just as good, if not better than when he's up-and-running.
The question will of course remain on Porzingis' ability to play 55-60+ games this season, and his snub from this list, in fairness, only looks egregious when you factor in Kessler's rather shock elevation.
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