If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NBA Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the fourth year that we have done this, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic winning the first two, and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers winning last year.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at Thanksgiving.  We will update this every Thursday.

Here is the current top ten:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 219 Cup Points:  53 Games, 4.13 Cup Points per Game, 30.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 29.5 PER, 9.1 WS.  Last Week, #2.

The two-time MVP has never had a better supporting cast than he does now, and he is responding by doing what he always does: dominate, and he just took over #1 in Cup Standings.  Antetokounmpo, however has slightly less metrics than previous years, but the arrival of Damian Lillard means he does not have to always carry the load.  The December Eastern Conference Player of the Month is third in Points per Game (30.7), sixth in Rebounds per Game (11.4), and is the league-leader in Field Goals (611). 

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 218 Cup Points:  53 Games, 4.11 Cup Points Per Game, 31.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 30.5 PER, 11.2 WS.  Last Week #1.

Gilgeous-Alexander broke through to the upper-tier last season, and he is proving that this was no fluke.  Taking over last week as the league-leader in Cup Points, though slipping back to #2 this week, he is leading the NBA in Steals per Game (2.2), Steals (115), Points (1,649) Free Throws (424), and Win Shares (11.2).  SGA is also second in VORP (5.5) and Points per Game (31.1) and third in PER (30.5) and Box Plus/Minus (10.0).  The Canadian is now an MVP contender, and could join Steve Nash in that exclusive club.  Even if he doesn’t this year, SGA added his first Player of the Month Award in December, his second straight All-Star and fourth Player of the Week.

3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 214 Cup Points, 53 Games, 4.04 Cup Points per Game, 26.1, PPG, 12.0 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 31.1 PER, 10.8 WS.  Last Week, #3.

Last year, Jokic became an NBA Champion and a Finals MVP and shook off what some may have perceived as an MVP snub, however, he fell off the top spot two weeks ago, though is very much in the hunt to reclaim it.  At present, the Joker is leading the NBA in Box Plus/Minus (14.3), VORP (8.8) and Triple Doubles (15).  He is also second in PER (31.1) and Win Shares (10.8), and is fourth in Rebounds per Game (12.0), and Assists per Game (8.9).  Jokic also was named the November Player of the Month.  Can he reclaim the top before the season ends?

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 191 Cup Points:  47 Games, 4.06 Cup Points per Game, 34.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 28.1 PER, 7.9 WS.  Last Week #4.

Doncic is on a four-year streak of First Team All-NBA stars, and he is on pace to add a fifth.  Hs took over the NBA lead in Points per Game (34.2) and is third in Assists per Game (9.5), seventh in Steals per Game (1.4), and is in the top ten in PER (28.1), Win Shares (7.9), Box Plus/Minus (9.7), and VORP (5.2).

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 181 Cup Points:  52 Games, 3.48 Cup Points per Game, 27.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 22.3 PER, 7.3 WS.  Last Week #4.

Tatum begins the year the way he ended the last one: an MVP contender on a power team.  He has already a nabbed a Player of the Week Award, the November Player of the Month (his third) and is poised to take the Celtics on his back to a title.  He is currently ninth in Points per Game (27.1).

6. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, 181 Cup Points:  54 Games, 3.35 Cup Points per Game, 20.1 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 8.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 23.5 PER, 8.4 WS. (#6 Last Week)

Sabonis is the current rebounding leader (13.2), Rebounds (715), Defensive Rebounds (540), Triple-Doubles (15) and is sixth in Assists per Game (8.3), and is the top ten in VORP (4.2) and Box Plus/Minus (6.6).

7. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, 167 Cup Points:  52 Games, 3.21 Cup Points Per Game, 27.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 22.2 PER, 7.3 WS.  (#7 Last Week).

Jalen Brunson is having the season of his life, and has just added his first (impending) All-Star Game.  He is currently seventh in Points per Game (27.2) and ninth in Win Shares (7.3).

8. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, 167 Cup Points, 49 Games, 3.40 Cup Points per Game, 28.3, PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 21.8 PER, 5.3 WS.  (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

The Warriors are ageing around Curry, but the all-time three-point leader continues to find the fountain of youth.  The Dubs are not going to win the title this year, but Curry continues to add to the resume with another All-Star.  He is fifth in Points per Game (28.3).

9. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 166 Cup Points:  48 Games, 3.46 Cup Points Per Game, 28.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 23.3 PER, 6.4 WS.  (#8 Last Week).

The Suns have improved after a horrific start, and as long as Durant is healthy, he will always have a place in the top ten.  He has moved up to sixth in Points per Game (28.2) and tenth in VORP (3.5)

10. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 163 Cup Points:  52 Games, 3.13 Cup Points per Game, 24.9 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 25.5 PER, 7.9 WS.  (#10 Last Week)

Davis is currently third in Rebounds per Game (12.2), and is the healthiest he has been in years.   He is also fifth in Blocks per Game (2.5), and sixth in Win Shares (7.9) and PER (25.5).

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be up on next Thursday.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022/23 revision of our top 50 Los Angeles Dodgers.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in Major League Baseball.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Dodgers had another great year, with a playoff run, but in their current state, anything other than a World Series Championship is a failure.  The 2023 season gave us one new entry.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes.

1. Clayton Kershaw

2. Sandy Koufax

3. Duke Snider

4. Don Drysdale

5. Dazzy Vance

You can find the entire list here.

This is one of the hardest lists to do, and we know positioning Kershaw at the top is controversial considering the legends that he beat out.  Statistically, we can defend it, but in terms of overall legacy, it would be different. 

The lone new entrant was last year’s National League runner-up, Mookie Betts, who debuts at #44.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for more revisions in the future. 

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022/23 revision of our top 50 Los Angeles Angels.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in Major League Baseball.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Angels went all in and imploded with another failure to make the playoffs.  We only saw one change, and no new entries.

As always, we present our top five, which saw one major change.

1. Mike Trout

2. Nolan Ryan

3. Chuck Finley

4. Shohei Ohtani

5. Frank Tanana

You can find the entire list here.

Notably, Trout was already at the top of the list, and with Shohei Ohtani departing the club, his status at #1 is cemented for decades. 

Ohtani made it to #4 from #12.  As mentioned, he left the struggling Angels for a shot at the World Series with the Dodgers.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for more revisions in the future. 

Mookie Betts was a star with the Boston Red Sox, and a lot of heads were scratched in New England when they traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  They will remain befuddled to the end of time.

In the COVID- shortened 2020 season, Betts achieved a historic milestone, guiding the Dodgers to their first World Series title in 32 years and finishing as the runner-up for the National League MVP. He earned both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger in his first NL season. By 2022, after a brief period affected by injuries, he returned to his top form, hitting 35 home runs and placing fifth in MVP voting, once again collecting all the major awards for right fielders.

In 2023, he authored a season that saw him expand his primary professional role into the infield. He reached a career-high with 39 home runs, drove in 107 runs, and batted .307, finishing second in a historic MVP race. More importantly, he began his tactical transition to second base and shortstop, demonstrating that his athleticism was a specialized asset capable of resolving any defensive crisis. He continued with a 2024 campaign that solidified his second championship with the team, earning his fourth consecutive All-Star selection as a Dodger and an additional Silver Slugger award, while serving as the primary lead-off hitter for a world-title contending squad.

The 2025 campaign presented certain challenges; however, as anticipated, Betts demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Despite managing a localized hand fracture that temporarily incapacitated him during part of the summer season, he made a commendable return, culminating in receiving the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award in 2025. On the playing field, he exhibited consistent proficiency at shortstop throughout nearly the entire season, ultimately being nominated as a Gold Glove finalist for his defensive excellence and contributing significantly to the Dodgers’ attainment of another World Series Championship. Entering the winter of 2025, he had already secured his seventh career Silver Slugger Award, a testament to his enduring excellence and status as a prominent figure in the game well into his thirties.

Through 2025, Betts has compiled 1,772 hits, 293 home runs, and three World Series titles in Los Angeles.

Imagine how high on this list he would be if he only wore Dodger blue!