One common criticism of my rankings is that they often appear to favor post player. Out of the top 100 players, 47 occupy post positions. However, I believe this is a reasonable reflection of who drives most of the value in basketball.
Understanding Efficiency and the Role of Post Players
Efficiency, in this context, measures the statistical impact per possession. Elite post players tend to excel in this area, often boasting higher true shooting percentages due to their close-range shots near the rim. Additionally, their ability to anchor the defense is much greater at the center position close to the basket. Their shot-blocking or altering along with rebounds that end possessions and keep point blank putbacks at a minimum are key. These contributions underscore the significant role post players have in driving team success. Historically, basketball has seen larger athletes dominate the game more often, even if they are fewer in number. The last 7 college basketball player of the years have been post players, the last 6 MVPs in the NBA have been as well. I think the understanding of advanced stats has contributed to this some in college.
The Importance of Relativity in Player Evaluation
If nothing else, efficiency is relative. If Team A possesses a certain level of efficiency from their post players, Team B must match that value in some way, particularly in how efficiently they score around the basket. Even if one disagrees with the notion that post players are inherently more valuable, objective statistics still hold weight when evaluating players by position using the same formula.
Comparing Players by Position
To provide a clearer picture, I’ve broken down our rankings into three primary categories: Post Players, Primary Ballhandlers, and Wings. This approach allows for a more accurate comparison of players who share similar roles or skill sets.
