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 2021/22 revision of our top Atlanta Hawks.
As for all of our top 50 players in basketball we look at the following:
1. Advanced Statistics.
2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Basketball Association.
3. Playoff accomplishments.
4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.
Last year, Atlanta returned to the playoffs, but they were not the same team that made the Eastern Conference Finals the year before. The impact of 2021-22 yielded two elevations and one new entrant.
As always, we present our top five, which was not affected by the last season:
1. Bob Pettit
3. Cliff Hagen
4. John Drew
5. Mookie Blaylock
You can find the entire list here.
Trae Young, the two-time All-Star, moved up to #21 from #29.
Power Forward, John Collins, advanced from #28 to #25.
The lone new entrant is Swiss Center, Clint Capela, who debits at #41.
We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.
A Gold Medalist in the FIBA U-19 World Cup in 2019, Scottie Barnes turned heads in his lone season at Florida State, winning the ACC Freshman of the Year, but it was a little puzzling that he went fourth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Toronto knew exactly what they were doing.
The Power Forward became a starter for the Raptors on day one, and he would become the third Raptor following Damon Stoudamire and Vince Carter to win the Rookie of the Year. Barnes averaged 15 Points with 7.5 Rebounds in his debut campaign, with him showing typical numbers with a defensive deficiency in advanced metrics, but that is typical of youth. Barnes regressed in his second season, while although matching his PPG of 15.3, his other stats across the board dipped, though was poised for a breakout in his third season.
Last season, Barnes made it to his first All-Star Game, and with the mid-season trade of other stars (Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby) he became the face of the team. Barnes should be able to build on his 19.9 PPG year.
Before he was traded to Atlanta in 2020, Swiss-born Center, Clint Capela, had already proved himself for years as a rebounding machine with the Houston Rockets, but his best was yet to come.
Capela had his best rebounding season in his debut campaign in the ATL, leading the NBA in Offensive (17.5) and Defensive (34.3) Rebounding Percentage, while also leading the league in Rebounds per Game (14.3). Offensively, he was solid with 15.2 Points per Game, and his PER was well over 20. Capela’s second season was not as good, but he again averaged a double-double (11.1 PTS & 11.9 RB) with a PER again over 20, and in 2022-23 he produced much of the same with 12 Points and 11 Rebounds per Game. Last year, Capela's stats were down, but over his 73 Games, he still had a double-double average (11.5 PTS & 10.6 RB).
Entering his sixth year with the Hawks, Capela remains one of the game’s top rebounders while also being one of the most underrated.
Jerry Lee Lewis, one of Rock and Roll’s first major stars, passed away today at the age of 87.
Pounding the piano keys as hard as he pounded alcohol, Lewis sang fast, played faster, and with his signature hair flop, he became a world-wide sensation when his hit, “Great Balls of Fire” was heard across the radio and on the early days of television.
Churning out other raucous hits like “High School Confidential”, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Breathless”, Lewis’ career derailed when it was revealed he married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, which cost him album and ticket sales. Still one of the top live acts in the business, Lewis rebounded in the late 60’s in the Country genre, scoring multiple number ones on that chart.
Lewis was named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s first class in 1986, and he was recently chosen for the Country Music Hall of Fame. He also is a recipient of the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Jerry Lee Lewis.