HurricaneDij's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List (Year 14)

[HurricaneDij39]

NOTE: As always, my rankings are not a lifetime achievement award. For you kids aged 25 and younger (former NWI Times columnist James Boyd) that think LeBron is the GOAT (an overused acronym in itself) - This list is strictly based on 2021 as well as outlook for 2022. If these happened to be career-to-date rankings, then LeBron would unquestionably be #1, but that would defeat the whole purpose of "yearly" player rankings. With that in mind...

Have some fun!

*Last year’s ranking in parenthesis.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks (1) - Yes, that shooting motion is still ugly as hell and I was prepared to move him down this year. But, he really showed himself out with his 50 points during the title-clinching game and therefore, I had no choice but to leave him here.
2. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets (13) – Fight me on this one – I dare you. For him to come back from a deep run inside the bubble and produce the way he did while playing in every game was nothing short of all-time great. Would be #1 if not for Giannis’ performance in Game 6.
3. Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets (6)
4. LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers (3)
5. Kawhi Leonard, F, Los Angeles Clippers (2)
6. James Harden, SG, Brooklyn Nets (4)
7. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors (8)
8. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers (11) – Some may say he should be higher, but to me he’s gotten to this point in his career based on sheer talent alone. There’s simply not enough between the ears here to crack a top five spot.
9. Luka Doncic, SG, Dallas Mavericks (7)
10. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (9)
11. Trae Young, PG, Atlanta Hawks (24)
12. Anthony Davis, C/PF, Los Angeles Lakers (5)
13. Jayson Tatum, PF, Boston Celtics (16)
14. Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans (12)
15. Paul George, G/F, Los Angeles Clippers (15)
16. Donovan Mitchell, G, Utah Jazz (22)
17. Chris Paul, PG, Phoenix Suns (29)
18. Jimmy Butler, G/F, Miami Heat (19)
19. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards (23)
20. Kyrie Irving, PG, Brooklyn Nets (18)
21. Devin Booker, SG, Phoenix Suns (30)
22. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves (17)
23. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz (28)
24. Jaylen Brown, SG, Boston Celtics (45)
25. Khris Middleton, G/F, Milwaukee Bucks (26)
26. Ben Simmons, PG, Philadelphia 76ers (20)
27. Domantas Sabonis, C/PF, Indiana Pacers (36)
28. Zach LaVine, SG, Chicago Bulls (NR)
29. Julius Randle, PF, New York Knicks (NR)
30. Brandon Ingram, SF, New Orleans Pelicans (25)
31. Pascal Siakam, PF, Toronto Raptors (14)
32. Jamal Murray, PG, Denver Nuggets (31)
33. Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies (33)
34. Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat (38)
35. Jrue Holiday, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (42)
36. D’Aaron Fox, PG, Sacramento Kings (47)
37. C.J. McCollum, SG, Portland Trail Blazers (40)
38. Nikola Vucevic, C, Chicago Bulls (34)
39. Russell Westbrook, PG, Los Angeles Lakers (10)
40. Tobias Harris, PF, Philadelphia 76ers (46)
41. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Dallas Mavericks (41)

 

[HurricaneDij39]

42) DeAndre Ayton, C, Phoenix Suns (NR)

43) Terry Rozier, PG, Charlotte Hornets (NR) - My darkhorse pick to make the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. As a league guard that is flexible enough to play with or without the ball in his hands, Rozier averaged a career-high in scoring during the 2020-21 season with 20.4 points per game.

44) Michael Porter Jr., SF, Denver Nuggets (NR)

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

46) Jordan Clarkson, SG, Utah Jazz (NR)

47) Kemba Walker, PG, New York Knicks (27)

48) John Collins, PF, Atlanta Hawks (NR)

49) Fred VanVleet, PG, Toronto Raptors (NR)

50) Mike Conley Jr., PG, Utah Jazz (NR)

Honorable Mention: DeMar DeRozan, Collin Sexton, Cade Cunningham, Malcolm Brogdon (stay healthy), Caris LeVert, Clint Capela, LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, Kyle Lowry, Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Harrison Barnes, John Wall, Christian Wood, Jonas Valanciunas.

Dropped from last year’s list: Klay Thompson, Victor Oladipo, LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Draymond Green, D’Angelo Russell, Eric Bledsoe, Dennis Schroder.

HurricaneDij's Reach Pick: Harrison Barnes, F, Sacramento Kings – Let’s ignore the Kings’ 15-year playoff drought for a moment and realize what a good player Harrison Barnes is. If you’re going to overpay someone to be a locker room guy, you could do a hell of a lot worse than Barnes. He averaged 16.1 points per game last season along with career highs in rebounds (6.6) and assists (3.5) per game while connecting on 39.1 percent of his three-point attempts.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

HurricaneDij's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List (Year 14)

Now go and complain about where Bam is ranked

 

[Shanemansj13]

I guess I'm not the only one that has Middleton above LaVine. I think it is fair if we are talking end of the season 2020-2021. I gotta see LaVine take the next step and I don't necessarily need to see him be a #1 bc Middleton isn't.

Jokic is very important to his team, more than most guys but he is not better than KD. Sorry.
I would put Curry ahead of Harden as well.
I don't have a problem with Luka being that low but I think he could be in the top 5

 

[CitySushi]

I guess I'm not the only one that has Middleton above LaVine. I think it is fair if we are talking end of the season 2020-2021. I gotta see LaVine take the next step and I don't necessarily need to see him be a #1 bc Middleton isn't.

Jokic is very important to his team, more than most guys but he is not better than KD. Sorry.
I would put Curry ahead of Harden as well.
I don't have a problem with Luka being that low but I think he could be in the top 5

I had Middleton above Lavine also in my rankings.

This year, I think there's more parity in the top 10 than in recent history. Outside of Giannis, KD and Lebron being 1-3 in some order, the rest of the top 10 is easily subjective.

 

[Wamu]

I guess I'm not the only one that has Middleton above LaVine. I think it is fair if we are talking end of the season 2020-2021. I gotta see LaVine take the next step and I don't necessarily need to see him be a #1 bc Middleton isn't.

Jokic is very important to his team, more than most guys but he is not better than KD. Sorry.
I would put Curry ahead of harden as well.
I don't have a problem with Luka being that low but I think he could be in the top 5

Curry was the most important player on that Warriors dynasty. Only unanimous MVP. And a 3x champ. Only thing Harden's ever won was free wings & lap dances at his local strip club.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

I guess I'm not the only one that has Middleton above LaVine. I think it is fair if we are talking end of the season 2020-2021. I gotta see LaVine take the next step and I don't necessarily need to see him be a #1 bc Middleton isn't.

Jokic is very important to his team, more than most guys but he is not better than KD. Sorry.
I would put Curry ahead of Harden as well.
I don't have a problem with Luka being that low but I think he could be in the top 5

LOL @ 35 games KD.

As it states in the opening line, this is not based on pre-2021 performances.

 

[Wamu]

LOL @ 35 games KD.

As it states in the opening line, this is not based on pre-2021 performances.

LOL @ you for pretending to be a Nuggets fan. Are the Pacers still built and not bought?

 

[Shanemansj13]

LOL @ 35 games KD.

As it states in the opening line, this is not based on pre-2021 performances.

It doesn't matter what the criteria is based on, KD > Jokic. No way around it. Jokic is a great player, taking nothing against him but he isn't the 2nd best player in the NBA. Honestly, I would believe you more if you had Steph at #2

 

[bksballer89]

It doesn't matter what the criteria is based on, KD > Jokic. No way around it. Jokic is a great player, taking nothing against him but he isn't the 2nd best player in the NBA. Honestly, I would believe you more if you had Steph at #2

Lol i love how he think he so smart. This is as bad of a list as you'll come across

 

[thunderc]

Lol i love how he think he so smart. This is as bad of a list as you'll come across

Yeah when I saw Luka at 9 all I could do was laugh

 

[wildturkey]

Zion need to be lower. No way a man of his size could climb that high

 

[trojanfan12]

Lol i love how he think he so smart. This is as bad of a list as you'll come across

Cane gonna Cane.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Cane gonna Cane.

The best line, talking about Jokic: "Would be #1 if not for Giannis’ performance in Game 6"

So he is saying Giannis is only #1 bc of one game

 

[bksballer89]

The best line, talking about Jokic: "Would be #1 if not for Giannis’ performance in Game 6"

So he is saying Giannis is only #1 bc of one game

Any list with Jokic # 2 is a joke

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Yeah when I saw Luka at 9 all I could do was laugh

Anyone that has Luka over Jokic should be shot. There I said it. Most are guilty of rating Doncic on what he could be instead what he actually is, and what he currently is would be a guy that's a Medio defender that hasn't been out of the first round.

 

[raptorlife4]

Luka should be 2

 

[HurricaneDij39]

It doesn't matter what the criteria is based on, KD > Jokic. No way around it. Jokic is a great player, taking nothing against him but he isn't the 2nd best player in the NBA. Honestly, I would believe you more if you had Steph at #2

My list rewards work and not hype. If you want to make a list based on what happened in 2016, then be my guest.

Any list with Jokic # 2 is a joke

Then why don't you and your infinite wisdom make a top 50 list of your own? Because you don't have the balls...

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Harrison Barnes had a career night in the opener...

 

[thunderc]

Harrison Barnes had a career night in the opener...

Maybe he should be ahead of Luka too then