The Athletic has released its NBA Reliability Tiers, assessing the All-NBA potential of the 49 All-Stars from the last three seasons as well as their regular season playing time. The rankings, introduced with Tier 5 and followed by Tier 4, now present Tier 3.
This tier represents a collection of players who have been primary options for their teams and have shown the capability to become All-NBA performers. However, numerous players in this group have struggled with injuries, which affects their reliability. Thus, while they can potentially dominate games, their history of being sidelined raises concerns about their consistency.
The Reliability Tiers emphasize recent All-Star and All-NBA honors, rewarding players who have demonstrated better availability. This evaluation differs from traditional power rankings based solely on talent; for instance, younger players like Paolo Banchero and Scottie Barnes may rank lower compared to veterans like Jimmy Butler and Anthony Davis, who are still regarded as top talents.
In other NBA news, tonight marks the opening games for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Philadelphia 76ers, followed by the LA Clippers taking on the Phoenix Suns in a rematch from the 2021 Western Conference finals. Notably, Paul George is a key figure in both matchups despite not playing due to a recent knee injury sustained during the preseason.
George’s absence for the opener is a significant departure from previous seasons, as it is his first missed season opener since 2019. His recent injury has raised questions about his availability, particularly after a history of injuries that has plagued his career. While George has been more available compared to teammate Kawhi Leonard over the past few years, his recent knee setback underscores ongoing concerns regarding his durability.
As the NBA season begins, these injury concerns will weigh heavily on the league’s top talents. Future performances will determine not only their standings in the current rankings but also their potential for All-NBA selections come 2025.