NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 01: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks looks on against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at the Barclays Center on February 1, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
By Jesse Kramer on

After a wild NBA offseason, the 2017-18 season is creeping up. ESPN and Sports Illustrated have been releasing their top players for the upcoming year, and they’ve managed to piss off a few of the NBA’s big names.

Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum, ranked No. 39 by SI and somewhere in ESPN’s yet-to-be-released Top 50, took a generalized shot at sports media, calling journalists “weak ass” and accusing them of making up sources.

If McCollum ever gets around to his list, hopefully Chris Broussard falls to the bottom.

Meanwhile, New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony received the biggest snub, falling all the way to 64th in ESPN’s rankings— one spot behind Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball. As ESPN’s Chris Herring pointed out, that’s a huge slide for Anthony, who was a top 10 player in 2013 and still in the top 30 two years ago.

Anthony tagged ESPN in an Instagram post, telling the worldwide leader: “Don’t be so blatant with the disrespect.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BY9BP8gBD0k/?taken-by=carmeloanthony

Last year, Anthony sent a similar message to Slam Magazine when he was ranked No. 15. As far as this year’s ESPN ranking goes, Melo could have a legitimate point. Sports Illustrated ranked him No. 37.

Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan is another guy who’s felt disrespected in the past, so it’s no surprise he felt the same way this year. He was not a fan when Sports Illustrated ranked him No. 46 this time last year,

DeRozan was ranked behind Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton and San Antonio Spurs forward Lamarcus Aldridge. No disrespect to those guys, but I know I’d rather have DeRozan on my team any day. Remember, DeRozan averaged 27.3 points and was an All-NBA third team selection last season.

About Jesse Kramer

Jesse is a writer and editor for The Comeback. He has also worked for SI.com and runs The Catch and Shoot, a college basketball website based in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow Jesse on Twitter @Jesse_Kramer.

View all posts by Jesse Kramer