HurricaneDij's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List (Year 15)

[HurricaneDij39]

This is being posted much earlier than usual in large part because I'm not anticipating a busy offseason in the NBA (unless Utah were to hypothetically shop Donovan Mitchell)...

While some may scoff at my Gary Trent inclusion, having idolized Jerry Stackhouse I truly believe pure scorers are underappreciated in today's NBA.

​

(Here’s to hoping LeBron will be back in Cleveland the next time I make one these during the summer of 2023.)

*Last year’s ranking in parenthesis.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks (1)
2. LeBron James, F/G, Los Angeles Lakers (4)
3. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets (2)
4. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers (8)
5. Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets (3)
6. Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies (33)
7. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors (7)
8. Luka Doncic, SG, Dallas Mavericks (9)
9. Kawhi Leonard, F, Los Angeles Clippers (5)
10. Trae Young, PG, Atlanta Hawks (11)
11. Jayson Tatum, PF, Boston Celtics (13)
12. Devin Booker, SG, Phoenix Suns (21)
13. DeMar DeRozan, SF, Chicago Bulls (NR)
14. James Harden, SG, Philadelphia 76ers (6)
15. Jimmy Butler, F/G, Miami Heat (18)
16. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (10)
17. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves (22)
18. Paul George, F/G, Los Angeles Clippers (18)
19. Anthony Davis, C/F, Los Angeles Lakers (12)
20. Kyrie Irving, PG, Brooklyn Nets (20)
21. Donovan Mitchell, SG, Utah Jazz (16)
22. Chris Paul, PG, Phoenix Suns (17)
23. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards (19)
24. C.J. McCollum, SG, New Orleans Pelicans (37)
25. Jaylen Brown, SG, Boston Celtics (24)
26. Klay Thompson, F/G, Golden State Warriors (NR)
27. Khris Middleton, SF, Milwaukee Bucks (25)
28. Brandon Ingram, SF, New Orleans Pelicans (30)
29. Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat (34)
30. Dejounte Murray, PG, San Antonio Spurs (NR)
31. DeAndre Ayton, C, Phoenix Suns (42)
32. Zach LaVine, SG, Chicago Bulls (28)
33. Darius Garland, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers (NR)
34. Anthony Edwards, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves (NR)
35. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz (23)
36. Jrue Holiday, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (35)
37. Pascal Siakam, PF, Toronto Raptors (31)
38. Jamal Murray, PG, Denver Nuggets (32)
39. Fred VanVleet, PG, Toronto Raptors (49)
40. Tyler Herro, SG, Miami Heat (NR)

 

[HurricaneDij39]

41) LaMelo Ball, G, Charlotte Hornets (NR)

42) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder (45)

43) Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans (NR)

44) Kristaps Porzingis, C/PF, Washington Wizards (41)

45) D’Aaron Fox, PG, Sacramento Kings (36)

46) Domantas Sabonis, C/PF, Sacramento Kings (27)

47) Jordan Poole, G, Golden State Warriors (NR)

48) Ben Simmons, F/G, Brooklyn Nets (26)

49) Gary Trent Jr., SG, Toronto Raptors (NR)

50) Jarrett Allen, C, Cleveland Cavaliers (NR)

Honorable Mention: Miles Bridges, Mikal Bridges, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, Julius Randle, Nikola Vucevic, Evan Mobley, Tyrese Haliburton, Cade Cunningham, Terry Rozier, Kyle Lowry, D’Angelo Russell, Andrew Wiggins, Russell Westbrook, Desmond Bane, Jonas Valanciunas, Keldon Johnson, and there’s one other player I purposely left off this portion… I wonder who that could be. HINT: This player don’t conduct himself in a way of being “honorable”.

Dropped from last year’s list: Harris, Randle, Vucevic, Rozier, Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr., Jordan Clarkson, Kemba Walker, John Collins, Mike Conley.

Toughest player to rank: Zion Williamson. Obviously it was a tossup between he and Ben Simmons, but this dude is too talented to not be considered a top 50 player.

HurricaneDij's Reach Pick: Al Horford, C, Boston Celtics - Just one season removed after being exciled from a tanking Oklahoma City team, Horford produced his best rebounding and shot-blocking rates since his Atlanta days. Overall, he averaged 10.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game during the 2021-22 regular season.


HurricaneDij's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List (Year 15)

 

[bksballer89]

Harden above Jimmy? Lmao

 

[MHSL82]

You put Giannis above Jarrett Allen?

 

[DJ Fieri]

Simmons didn't play a game this past season.....WTF?

 

[DJ Fieri]

Harden above Jimmy? Lmao

That jumped out at me too....LOL.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Zion at 43?He didn't play either.

He and Simmons deserved INC's for their no play season IMO.

 

[Shanemansj13]

3. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets (2)
4. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers (8)

 

[CitySushi]

 

[Shanemansj13]

Glad to see Garland in the top 50, let alone 35. He needs to be appreciated, also see Allen right at 50.

 

[bksballer89]

@fightinfunbags

 

[Shanemansj13]

You can start with this...

14. James Harden, SG, Philadelphia 76ers (6)

43. Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans (NR)

48. Ben Simmons, F/G, Brooklyn Nets (26)

 

[Wamu]

Good to see hurricane is continuing his special brand of dumbfuckery.

Kawhi who hasn't played a game all season above Young, Tatum, Booker. What a good laugh.

Are there really 19 players in the league right now better than Kyrie?

And Marcus Smart the DPOY can't even crack the top 50?

 

[CitySushi]

You can start with this...

14. James Harden, SG, Philadelphia 76ers (6)

43. Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans (NR)

48. Ben Simmons, F/G, Brooklyn Nets (26)

Also how is Lamelo at 41?

 

[Wamu]

Also how is Lamelo at 41?

How is Lamelo at 41? Easy. hurricane logic.

 

[Heatles84]

This thread is delivering. Keep it up, fellas.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Also how is Lamelo at 41?

Also, I know Ingram is still young but I think he deserves more than a two spot jump from 30 to 28. He is ascending

 

[CitySushi]

Also, I know Ingram is still young but I think he deserves more than a two spot jump from 30 to 28. He is ascending

Yeah and I don't even think McCollum should be over Ingram when Ingram was clearly the best guy on the court that entire series. On top of that he was defended by the best Suns defender. Ingram is coming up in a big way.

 

[raptorlife4]

Pascal at 37?

 

[fightinfunbags]

@fightinfunbags

Why would I react to the opinion of a girls high school basketball blogger?!?!