HurricaneDij's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List (Year 11)

[HurricaneDij39]

*Last year's ranking in parenthesis.

1. LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers (1)
2. James Harden, SG, Houston Rockets (6)
3. Kevin Durant, SF, Golden State Warriors (3)(Once a gutless frontrunner, always a gutless frontrunner as long as he's wearing a GS jersey.)
   
4. Anthony Davis, C/F, New Orleans Pelicans (16)
5. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors (5)
6. Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks (7)
8. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (11)
9. Kawhi Leonard, SF, Toronto Raptors (4)
10. Kyrie Irving, PG, Boston Celtics (15)
11. Ben Simmons, G/F, Philadelphia 76ers (NR)
12. Karl-Anthony Towns, C/F, Minnesota Timberwolves (17)
13. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers (NR) (Goon.)
14. Chris Paul, PG, Houston Rockets (10)
15. Jimmy Butler, G/F, Minnesota Timberwolves (13)
16. Klay Thompson, SG, Golden State Warriors (12)
17. Paul George, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (14)
18. Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana Pacers (NR)
19. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets (23)
20. DeMar DeRozan, SG, San Antonio Spurs (20)
21. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, San Antonio Spurs (34)
22. Kemba Walker, PG, Charlotte Hornets (25)
23. Draymond Green, PF, Golden State Warriors (18)(Someone needs to take a suspension for the sole purpose to knock this fake tough guy out.)
    
24. John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards (8)
25. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards (27)
26. Donovan Mitchell, SG, Utah Jazz (NR)
27. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, New York Knicks (41)
28. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz (19)
29. Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers (29)
30. Blake Griffin, PF, Detroit Pistons (24)
31. Al Horford, C, Boston Celtics (39)
32. Andre Drummond, C, Detroit Pistons (43)
33. DeMarcus Cousins, C, Golden State Warriors (21)
34. Steven Adams, C, Oklahoma City Thunder (NR)
35. C.J. McCollum, SG, Portland Trail Blazers (33)
36. Gordon Hayward, SF, Boston Celtics (22)
37. Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors (26)
38. Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans (48)
39. Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies (31)
40. Otto Porter, SF, Washington Wizards (NR)
41. Khris Middleton, G/F Milwaukee Bucks (50)
42. Clint Capela, C, Houston Rockets (NR)
43. Devin Booker, SG, Phoenix Suns (40)
44. Lou Williams, SG, Los Angeles Clippers (NR)
45. Goran Dragic, PG, Miami Heat (32)
46. Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics (NR)
47. DeAndre Jordan, C, Dallas Mavericks (37)
48. Eric Bledsoe, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (47)
49. Paul Millsap, PF, Denver Nuggets (28)
50. Jeff Teague, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves (49)

Honorable Mention: Terry Rozier, Reggie Jackson, Darren Collison, Harrison Barnes, Eric Gordon, Mike Conley (stay healthy), Julius Randle, Gary Harris (stay healthy), Jusuf Nurkic, Tobias Harris, Brandon Ingram.

Dropped from last year’s list: Isaiah Thomas, Conley, Hassan Whiteside, Carmelo Anthony, Dennis Schroder, Dwight Howard, Andrew Wiggins, Gordon, Barnes.

My Reach Pick: Darren Collison, PG, Indiana Pacers - Averaged 12.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game last season at age 30 while leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio and three-point percentage (.468), and provided a stabilizing presence at the point for the surprise 48-win Pacers.

HurricaneDij's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List (Year 11)

 

[tlance]

I am not going all the way to 50, because I think once you pass about 35, you are picking between support players. There isn't much difference between the 36th best player and the 70th, at least in terms of total impact.

Here is mine:

1: LeBron
2: Anthony Davis
3: Kevin Durant
4: James Harden
5: Kawhi Leonard
6: Steph Curry
7: Russell Westbrook
8: Giannis
9: Joel Embiid
10: Chris Paul
11: Ben Simmons
12: Damian Lillard
13: KAT
14: Kyrie Irving
15: John Wall
16: Victor Oladipo
17: Klay Thompson
18: Nikola Jokic
19: Jimmy Butler
20: Paul George
21: Draymond Green
22: Donovan Mitchell
23: Rudy Gobert
24: Kristaps Porzingas
25: Demar DeRozan
26: LaMarcus Aldridge
27: DeMarcus Cousins - not sure what he will be after the injury
28: Jayson Tatum
29: Kemba Walker
30: Bradley Beal
31: CJ McCollum
32: Devin Booker
33: Gordon Hayward
34: Blake Griffin
35: Andre Drummond

 

[flyerhawk]

Good lists. Can't really argue with either of them as they both make sense.

 

[bksballer89]

Where the fuck is Hassan Whiteside!!!!!!!!

 

[CitySushi]

Good lists. Can't really argue with either of them as they both make sense.

This.

I'd personally have a few tweaks but those would mostly be very minor and just on my personal preference. Solid lists I can't really argue.

 

[CitySushi]

*Last year's ranking in parenthesis.

1. LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers (1)
2. James Harden, SG, Houston Rockets (6)
3. Kevin Durant, SF, Golden State Warriors (3)(Once a gutless frontrunner, always a gutless frontrunner as long as he's wearing a GS jersey.)
   
4. Anthony Davis, C/F, New Orleans Pelicans (16)
5. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors (5)
6. Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks (7)
8. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (11)
9. Kawhi Leonard, SF, Toronto Raptors (4)
10. Kyrie Irving, PG, Boston Celtics (15)
11. Ben Simmons, G/F, Philadelphia 76ers (NR)
12. Karl-Anthony Towns, C/F, Minnesota Timberwolves (17)
13. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers (NR) (Goon.)
14. Chris Paul, PG, Houston Rockets (10)
15. Jimmy Butler, G/F, Minnesota Timberwolves (13)
16. Klay Thompson, SG, Golden State Warriors (12)
17. Paul George, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (14)
18. Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana Pacers (NR)
19. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets (23)
20. DeMar DeRozan, SG, San Antonio Spurs (20)
21. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, San Antonio Spurs (34)
22. Kemba Walker, PG, Charlotte Hornets (25)
23. Draymond Green, PF, Golden State Warriors (18)(Someone needs to take a suspension for the sole purpose to knock this fake tough guy out.)
    
24. John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards (8)
25. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards (27)
26. Donovan Mitchell, SG, Utah Jazz (NR)
27. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, New York Knicks (41)
28. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz (19)
29. Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers (29)
30. Blake Griffin, PF, Detroit Pistons (24)
31. Al Horford, C, Boston Celtics (39)
32. Andre Drummond, C, Detroit Pistons (43)
33. DeMarcus Cousins, C, Golden State Warriors (21)
34. Steven Adams, C, Oklahoma City Thunder (NR)
35. C.J. McCollum, SG, Portland Trail Blazers (33)
36. Gordon Hayward, SF, Boston Celtics (22)
37. Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors (26)
38. Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans (48)
39. Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies (31)
40. Otto Porter, SF, Washington Wizards (NR)
41. Khris Middleton, G/F Milwaukee Bucks (50)
42. Clint Capela, C, Houston Rockets (NR)
43. Devin Booker, SG, Phoenix Suns (40)
44. Lou Williams, SG, Los Angeles Clippers (NR)
45. Goran Dragic, PG, Miami Heat (32)
46. Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics (NR)
47. DeAndre Jordan, C, Dallas Mavericks (37)
48. Eric Bledsoe, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (47)
49. Paul Millsap, PF, Denver Nuggets (28)
50. Jeff Teague, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves (49)

Honorable Mention: Terry Rozier, Reggie Jackson, Darren Collison, Harrison Barnes, Eric Gordon, Mike Conley (stay healthy), Julius Randle, Gary Harris (stay healthy), Jusuf Nurkic, Tobias Harris, Brandon Ingram.

Dropped from last year’s list: Isaiah Thomas, Conley, Hassan Whiteside, Carmelo Anthony, Dennis Schroder, Dwight Howard, Andrew Wiggins, Gordon, Barnes.

My Reach Pick: Darren Collison, PG, Indiana Pacers - Averaged 12.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game last season at age 30 while leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio and three-point percentage (.468), and provided a stabilizing presence at the point for the surprise 48-win Pacers.

HurricaneDij's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List (Year 11)

Is your list based off of production for the upcoming year or overall player value?

 

[WiggyRuss]

*Last year's ranking in parenthesis.

1. LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers (1)
2. James Harden, SG, Houston Rockets (6)
3. Kevin Durant, SF, Golden State Warriors (3)(Once a gutless frontrunner, always a gutless frontrunner as long as he's wearing a GS jersey.)
   
4. Anthony Davis, C/F, New Orleans Pelicans (16)
5. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors (5)
6. Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks (7)
8. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (11)
9. Kawhi Leonard, SF, Toronto Raptors (4)
10. Kyrie Irving, PG, Boston Celtics (15)
11. Ben Simmons, G/F, Philadelphia 76ers (NR)
12. Karl-Anthony Towns, C/F, Minnesota Timberwolves (17)
13. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers (NR) (Goon.)
14. Chris Paul, PG, Houston Rockets (10)
15. Jimmy Butler, G/F, Minnesota Timberwolves (13)
16. Klay Thompson, SG, Golden State Warriors (12)
17. Paul George, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (14)
18. Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana Pacers (NR)
19. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets (23)
20. DeMar DeRozan, SG, San Antonio Spurs (20)
21. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, San Antonio Spurs (34)
22. Kemba Walker, PG, Charlotte Hornets (25)
23. Draymond Green, PF, Golden State Warriors (18)(Someone needs to take a suspension for the sole purpose to knock this fake tough guy out.)
    
24. John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards (8)
25. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards (27)
26. Donovan Mitchell, SG, Utah Jazz (NR)
27. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, New York Knicks (41)
28. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz (19)
29. Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers (29)
30. Blake Griffin, PF, Detroit Pistons (24)
31. Al Horford, C, Boston Celtics (39)
32. Andre Drummond, C, Detroit Pistons (43)
33. DeMarcus Cousins, C, Golden State Warriors (21)
34. Steven Adams, C, Oklahoma City Thunder (NR)
35. C.J. McCollum, SG, Portland Trail Blazers (33)
36. Gordon Hayward, SF, Boston Celtics (22)
37. Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors (26)
38. Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans (48)
39. Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies (31)
40. Otto Porter, SF, Washington Wizards (NR)
41. Khris Middleton, G/F Milwaukee Bucks (50)
42. Clint Capela, C, Houston Rockets (NR)
43. Devin Booker, SG, Phoenix Suns (40)
44. Lou Williams, SG, Los Angeles Clippers (NR)
45. Goran Dragic, PG, Miami Heat (32)
46. Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics (NR)
47. DeAndre Jordan, C, Dallas Mavericks (37)
48. Eric Bledsoe, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (47)
49. Paul Millsap, PF, Denver Nuggets (28)
50. Jeff Teague, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves (49)

Honorable Mention: Terry Rozier, Reggie Jackson, Darren Collison, Harrison Barnes, Eric Gordon, Mike Conley (stay healthy), Julius Randle, Gary Harris (stay healthy), Jusuf Nurkic, Tobias Harris, Brandon Ingram.

Dropped from last year’s list: Isaiah Thomas, Conley, Hassan Whiteside, Carmelo Anthony, Dennis Schroder, Dwight Howard, Andrew Wiggins, Gordon, Barnes.

My Reach Pick: Darren Collison, PG, Indiana Pacers - Averaged 12.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game last season at age 30 while leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio and three-point percentage (.468), and provided a stabilizing presence at the point for the surprise 48-win Pacers.

HurricaneDij's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List (Year 11)

generally pretty good I think.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think it will be an interesting year for LeBron.

I will do my own top 50 list at some point- and it will without a doubt have LeBron first, however, I think he has some vulnerabilities he has not had before.

In Cleveland the team was totally set up for LeBron. They had shooters to clear the floor for him. The whole offense was LeBron. Everything was based around him and was meant to make him play and look the best that was possible. Every asset was used to make him look the best possible- all the schemes were for LeBron.

These are facts:

(i) LeBron has played with an All Star level talent, or two All Star level talents, for almost the last decade. HE will not have one in LA this year unless a surprising trade is made;

(ii) Spacing- with guys like Rondo, Ball, Stephenson, McGee, Zubac, Ingram instead of guys like Korver, Love, JR, Hill, Irving etc., - or Bosh, Ray Allen, Chalmers, Miller, etc. mean LeBron will see more defensive attention, and see clogged lanes more than he has in well over a decade.

(iii) LeBron is almost a super-hero with his injury history, but he will be 34 in December, just got done playing ALL 82 regular season games, and just got done playing finishing a playoff run that saw him play totally insane minute totals.

While I think its likely LeBron is still the best player in the NBA this year, and probably next year, this is the first year in well over a decade where there is at least some kind of non-zero chance that a Durant or Davis takes that mantle of Best Player Alive away from him.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Is your list based off of production for the upcoming year or overall player value?

A combination of everything - 2017-18 production, injuries, team performance, 2018-19 opportunity, etc...

 

[thunderc]

This is the year Lebron starts to show his age a little. Father Time doesn’t lose.