Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's easy to be in the top 99% in a competition nobody cares about. Try being in the top 1% of basketball players if you're under 5'9". Easier said than done.
You're thinking about the _NBA_ when you think of basketball players. You can _easily_ be in the top 5% of _people that play basketball_ just by playing at the gym once or twice a month, even if you're short.
I think you're vastly overestimating the amount of people who play basketball.
Sure, if you count everyone who's ever touched a basketball in their life - it might not be hard to be in the top 5%.
If you counting anyone who has played at least within the last 3 months - it's not going to be so easy.