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 Monday.

Here is the current top ten:

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 136 Cup Points, 34 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 25.7, PPG, 12.3 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 31.2 PER, 7.1 WS.  Last Week, #1.

Remaining at the top is Nikola Jokic, who is now an NBA Champion and Finals MVP.  At present, the Joker is leading the NBA in Total Rebounds (417), Defensive Rebounds (314), True Shooting Percentage (.701), Win Shares (7.1), Offensive Win Shares (5.0) Box Plus/Minus (13.7) and VORP (4.5).  He is also third in Rebounds per Game (12.3) and PER (31.2) and fourth in Assists per Game (9.1).  Jokic also was named the November Player of the Month, which is his seventh overall.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 128 Cup Points:  32 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 30.9 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 29.4 PER, 5.4 WS.  Last Week, #3.

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.  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.  He is fourth in Points per Game (30.9), sixth in Rebounds per Game (11.3), and is the league-leader in Field Goals (367).

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 126 Cup Points:  30 Games, 4.20 Cup Points Per Game, 31.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 31.3 PER, 6.7 WS.  Last Week #5.

Gilgeous-Alexander broke through to the upper-tier last season, and he is proving that this was no fluke.  He is leading the NBA in Steals per Game (2.8) and is third in PER (30.7), Win Shares (5.5) and VORP (2.8) and is fourth in Points per Game (30.8).  The Canadian is now an MVP contender, and could join Steve Nash in that exclusive club.

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 124 Cup Points:  31 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 33.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 9.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 27.6 PER, 4.7 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 is second on Points per Game (33.4), third in Assists (9.4), and is in the top ten in PER (27.6), Box Plus/Minus (9.3), VORP (3.3) and Win Shares (4.7).

5. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 112 Cup Points, 25 Games, 4.15 Cup Points per Game, 35.0, PPG, 11.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 34.8 PER, 5.7 WS.  Last Week #2

Embiid is the reigning MVP, NIHOF Cup Winner, and two-time scoring champion, and he is currently leading the NBA in scoring again (35.1).  The 76er is also first in Usage Percentage (36.0), and PER (34.8), and is in the top ten in Rebounds and Blocks per Game.  Embiid has missed the last four games, and had missed other games earlier in the season, which has caused his drop on the list.  Had he been healthy, he might be #1.

6. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 108 Cup Points:  30 Games, 3.60 Cup Points per Game, 26.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 20.8 PER, 3.7 WS.  Last Week #6.

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, is tenth in PPG (26.9) and is poised to take the Celtics on his back to a title.

7. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 107 Cup Points:  28 Games, 3.82 Cup Points Per Game, 29.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 6.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 24.3 PER, 4.0 WS.  Last Week #7.

Durant remains a superstar and when he is healthy, he is among the best in the world.  KD is chasing another title and MVP with the Suns, and he is having one of his best starts in recent years, though that can not be said for Phoenix.  At present, Durant is sixth in scoring (29.9) is also ninth in PER (24.3). 

8. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 104 Cup Points:  32 Games, 3.25 Cup Points per Game, 25.0 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.6 BPG, 26.2 PER, 5.1 WS.  (#10 Last Week)

Davis is the current rebounding leader per game (12.3), and is the healthiest he has been in years.   He is also fifth in Blocks per Game (2.6) and Win Shares (5.1) and seventh in PER (26.2). 

9 (TIE). Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, 103 Cup Points:  29 Games, 3.55 Cup Points per Game, 24.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 12.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 26.3 PER, 4.8 WS. Last Week #8

Last year, Haliburton was a surprise entrant in the top ten, and here is again, though there is not a shock in 2024.  Haliburton is the league-leader in Assists per Game (12.7), and is flirting with 25 Points per Game, which is a mark he never made. 

9 (TIE). LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, 103 Cup Points:  31 Games, 3.32 Cup Points per Game, 25.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 24.6 PER, 3.8 WS.  #9 Last Week.

James set the all-time scoring record last year, and he continues to defy time by playing at an elite level. 

Golden State’s Steph Curry fell off the top ten.

Our next update will be up on next Monday.

If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NHL Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the third year that we have done this, and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the first two.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at Thanksgiving, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will be doing updates every Monday. (note, with it being New YEars, and only one game scheduled, we waited a day!)

Here is the fifth current top ten in Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins. 71 Cup Points:  35 Games, 22 G, 28 A, 50 P, +7, 6.1 PS. (#1 Last Week)

The Boston Bruins (like last year) have been the best team early in the season, and it is David Pastrnak who has led their offensive threat.  He is the league-leader in Shots (163), is third in Points (50), sixth in Goals (22), and is Boston’s leading scorer, and is in the top ten in most essential offensive categories.  Could he win his first Hart?

2. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning.  67 Cup Points, 37 Games, 26 G, 35 A, 61 P, +1, 7.0 PS.  (#2 Last Week)

Kucherov is in his tenth season in Tampa, and is putting forth a season that could gain him another Hart or Art Ross.  He is leading the NHL in Points (61) and is second in both Goals (26) and Assists (35).  It is a minor surprise that he is not first in Cup Points, but he is getting closer and closer.

3.  Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, 58 Cup Points:  33 Games, 29 G, 15 A, 44 P, +5, 5.8 PS. (#3 Last Week)

The American sniper is back as the league’s top goal-scorer, holding the lead in that (29) and Even-Strength Goals (21).  If he holds that, Matthews will win his third Rocket Richard Trophy.

4. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators, 55 Cup Points:  37 Games, 18 G, 23 A, 41 P, +4, 4.7 PS (#4 Last Week)

Forsberg is off to the best start of his career and should make his second All-Star Game, though other than Even-Strength Goals (3^rd with 16) and Game-Winning Goals (6^th with 4), he is not in the top ten in any major offensive category. 

5.  Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche, 54 Cup Points:  37 Games, 19 G, 26 A, 45 P, +2, 4.8 PS. (#6 Last Week)

Rantanen is currently eighth in Point (45), ninth in Goals (19) and Points (42), and is second in Game-Winning Goals (5).

6. (TIE). Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers, 53 Cup Points:  36 Games, 23 G, 21 A, 44 P, +15, 5.9 PS.  (#6 Last Week)

Reinhart makes his return to the top ten, and is the current leader in Power Play Goals (10).  He is also fourth in Goals (23), tenth in Points 44), and the veteran is on pace to finish in the top in those categories for the first time in his ten-year career.

6 (TIE). Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils, 53 Cup Points:  30 Games, 15 G, 29 A, 44 P, -4, 4.7 PS.  (#6 Last Week)

Hughes is currently fourthh in Points per Game (1.47) and is on pace for a third straight All-Star selection.

8 (TIE). Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 52 Cup Points:  32 Games, 13 G, 35 A, 48 P, +6, 4.9 PS.  (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

Look who finally arrived!   The Edmonton Oilers have been a disappointment thus far, and McDavid has not been lighting the lamp like he did last year.  He has however been a great playmaker, and is second in Assists (35) and fifth in Points (48).  Can he make it back to the top of the mountain?

8 (TIE). Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators.  52 Cup Points:  27 Games, 15-13-1 Record, .901 Save Percentage, 3.02 GAA, 4.6 GPS. (#5 Last Week)

Saros remains a shock to be the highest ranked Goalie and to be in the top ten in general.  How he got here is by being a workhorse.  Saros is third in Saves (740), second in Minutes (1,612), and is also fifth in Wins (15) and eighth in Goalie Point Shares (4.6).  Saros’ rank means that it is the Predators that are the first squad with two ranked players.

10. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers.  51 Cup Points, 35 Games, 23 G, 27 A, 50 P, 0, 5.9 PS. (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

Panarin returns to the top ten, and is strange to think that he fell out of it at all.  The Russian Left Wing is third in Points (50) and fourth in Goals (23), and is poised to have his best goal-scoring campaign to date.

Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes and Thatcher Demko fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be next Monday.

The Winnipeg Jets were very fortunate to have traded for Defenseman, Dylan DeMelo at the 2020 Trade Deadline.  This was not just because of defensive skills, but because they had a player who wanted to be in frozen tundra of Winnipeg.

DeMelo plays hockey with a simple credo; protect your end of the ice.  An excellent penalty killer, DeMelo rarely puts the puck in the net, but can provide solid passing when needed.  In 2022/23, DeMelo had his 27 Points, with 120 Hits, and last year he had his best season to date with career-highs in Points (31), Plus/Minus (+46), Blocked Shots (139) and Hits (167).

Going into this year, DeMelo is a quiet contributor to a very good team.

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 Toronto Maple Leafs.

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

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Hockey League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

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

Last year, Toronto finally broke through and made it to the second round of the playoffs, but in “Six” it is all about winning it all.  Last year yielded several elevations and two new entrants, which is impressive considering we are talking about an organization that is over a century old. 

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

1. Syl Apps

2. Turk Broda

3. Tim Horton

4. Charlie Conacher

5. Borje Salming

You can find the entire list here.

Former Hart Trophy winner, Auston Matthews, continues his ascension, as he is now ranked at #15, having risen from #18.

Right Wing, Mitch Marner, climbed to #36 from #43.

Former #1 Draft Pick, John Tavares makes his debut at #40.

Defenseman. Morgan Reilly, advanced to #42 from #47.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.