NBPA Field Top 30 Players: 30-21

In 1994, the same year that SLAM was founded, another staple in the world of basketball took place for the first time: The Top 100 Camp of the National Basketball Players Association. For three decades, the NBPA has been involved in guiding many of your favorite players long before they made it to the NBA. With a comprehensive program, the Top 100 Camp prepares high school hoopers for whatever the future holds, on and off the court. The camp emphasizes three key principles necessary for players to maximize their potential: character, education and skill development.

Campers receive coaching from current and former NBA players and follow an advanced training regimen designed to prepare them for the next level. In addition, all campers participate in group discussions and classes focused on topics such as stress management, recruitment pressures and more.

Since '94, hundreds of NBA players have entered the Top 100 Camp. This year's event will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, FL, from June 8-13.

But first, to celebrate 30 incredible years, we're taking a look back at the top 30 NBPA members to take the court in the Top 100 Camp.

30. Zach LaVine

Of all the high flyers on this list, Zach LaVine has the craziest hops. At 6-5, 200 pounds, he somehow zips past defenders, flying through the air and hitting a wicked jam over seven-foot looks with no power. His jaw-dropping highlights and incredible performances in dunk contests—like his legendary matchup with Aaron Gordon in 2016—make him a worthy candidate for this list, but LaVine is also a two-time All-Star and a prolific scorer. who has scored more than 20 points per game in his career.

29. Zion Williamson

It's rare for a high school player to land on the cover of SLAM. But then again, it's rare for a high school player to match Zion Williamson in 2017. The kid from Spartanburg, SC, demanded our attention, constantly making waves on social media for his incredible dunks and blocks. Cover line at the end: “You're 16. He is 6-7 years old. He's as explosive as Russ. He plays like LeBron. Are you ready for Zion Williamson?” No lies are being told. In fact, at the Top 100 Camp in 2016, he was named the MVP. Unfortunately, Zion's experience has been limited in the NBA due to injuries, but when the New Orleans Pelicans star is healthy, he has been a force. that cannot be stopped that still lights up the social media.

28. Bam Adebayo

In an interview with SLAM in 2019, Jimmy Butler described his teammate Bam Adebayo – now a 3x All-Star – well: “He works very hard and is everywhere on the floor. You need him to pass, he can pass. He rebounds, carries the ball, sets screens You will not take him down. He is an important part of what we want to do and will continue to do. [Head coach Erik Spoelstra] you know—to win, you've got to have Bam down there.” All of that still applies today.

27. De'Aaron Fox

Don't blink — you might miss De'Aaron Fox doing something amazing. The speedy guard was a McDonald's All-American in high school, ranked as one of the top recruits in the nation. He attended the University of Kentucky for one year, starring with Bam Adebayo and Malik Monk, before entering the 2017 NBA Draft, where he was selected fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings. Little by little, Fox developed into a star and made the Kings fun and relevant for the first time in a long time.

26. Karl-Anthony Towns

We've seen very few big men in NBA history with the versatility and skill set of Karl-Anthony Towns. That said: We've seen very few men in NBA history as comfortable behind the arc and in the middle as they are in the paint. KAT, now 28, stands at seven feet tall, averaging 10.8 rebounds per game in his nine seasons in the League. again he's a 40 percent three-point shooter. And he just helped lead the best Timberwolves team in two decades to a Western Conference finals appearance.

25. DeAndre Jordan

During those years of Lob City's heyday, DeAndre Jordan managed Los Angeles Clippers paint. He dominated the glass, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game from 2013-18. He defended the line, averaging 1.8 blocks in that same season. And occasionally, he would throw down a dunk so brutal, so powerful, so unbelievable, that his teammates and fans were left wondering what had just happened (please also look at his poster on Brandon Knight). Jordan now brings veteran leadership to the Denver Nuggets, where he helped the franchise capture its first championship in 2023.

24. Donovan Mitchell

Twelve teams that won Spida in the 2017 NBA Draft. Twelve. Mitchell, who hails from Elmsford, NY, and went to college in Louisville, made most of those teams regret that decision immediately. He averaged 20.5 points as a rookie and was an All-Star in his third season. He has now made five straight All-Star Games, including 2023 where he was named a starter. Very few players in the league have Mitchell's combination of athleticism and skill. To put it plainly: the explosive guard—currently on the NBPA's Executive Committee—is unlikely to quit. And at 27 years old, he has just entered his prime.

23. Al Horford

For the past 16 years, Big Al has been an organization great presence in the NBA. This reliable center still plays an important role on a great Boston Celtics team that just got help in the Eastern Conference. Horford was a star at Grand Ledge High School in Michigan, won back-to-back national championships at the University of Florida (2006, 2007) and was named an All-Star five times in his long NBA career (four times with the Oklebe, and Cs). And he's not done yet.

22. Kyle Lowry

When he entered the League in 2006, Kyle Lowry did not leave immediately. In fact, it wasn't until his fifth NBA season that the 6-0 point guard, traded by the Grizzlies to the Rockets in '09, became a full-time starter. Lowry hasn't looked back since, guiding teams in Houston, Toronto, Miami and Philly with his hard-nosed, aggressive, energetic style of play—a style that has made him a fan favorite and earned him six All-Star selections. In the North, where he won the championship in 2019, Lowry will always be known as Mr. Raptor.

21. Baron Davis

Baron Davis was a basketball legend. Funny mock packages, flashy assistants, monster posters—the 1997 Gatorade National Player of the Year and two-time NBA All-Star. always enter the exhibition. After playing for UCLA, Davis was the third overall pick in the 1999 Draft and helped lead an impressive Hornets team in the first half of his professional career. He later joined the “We Believe” Warriors team that advanced to the second round of the 2007 playoffs as the No. 8. Injuries robbed us of many years of watching him play, no question, but when the electrifying guard was at his best, that was one of the most exciting footballs to watch.