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 Wednesday.
Here is the current top ten:
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 164 Cup Points, 41 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 25.5, PPG, 11.9 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 31.3 PER, 8.6 WS. Last Week, #1.
Clinging to the top is Nikola Jokic, who last year became an NBA Champion and Finals MVP. At present, the Joker is leading the NBA in Win Shares (8.5), Offensive Win Shares (6.1) Box Plus/Minus (14.0), Defensive Box Plus/Minus (4.5), VORP (5.4) and Triple Doubles (11). He is also third in PER (31.2), third in Assists per Game (9.1), fifth in Rebounds per Game (11.9). Jokic also was named the November Player of the Month, which is his seventh overall. Based on the last three weeks, we would not be surprised if the Joker falls off the top when we do this again, and for a brief time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC was at the top spot.
2. (TIE) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 160 Cup Points: 39 Games, 4.10 Cup Points Per Game, 31.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 30.7 PER, 8.4 WS. Last Week #3.
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 (2.3), is second in Win Shares (8.4) and VORP (3.6), third in PER (30.7), and Box Plus/Minus (10.0) and is fourth in Points per Game (31.0). 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.
2 (TIE). Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 159 Cup Points: 39 Games, 4.08 Cup Points per Game, 31.3 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 29.6 PER, 6.38WS. 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. 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 (31.2), sixth in Rebounds per Game (11.4), and is the league-leader in Field Goals (452).
4 (TIE). Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 134 Cup Points: 37 Games, 3.62 Cup Points per Game, 27.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 21.9 PER, 5.0 WS. Last Week #5.
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 ninth in PPG (27.1) and is poised to take the Celtics on his back to a title.
4 (TIE). Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 134 Cup Points: 34 Games, 3.94 Cup Points per Game, 33.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 27.6 PER, 5.2 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 third in Points per Game (33.6), fourth in Assists (9.1), and is in the top nine in PER (27.6), Box Plus/Minus (9.4), VORP (3.6) and Win Shares (5.2).
6. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 131 Cup Points, 29 Games, 4.51 Cup Points per Game, 35.1, PPG, 11.6 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 34.4 PER, 6.3 WS. (Last Week #5)
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 (38.2), and PER (34.4), and is in the top ten in Rebounds and Blocks per Game. Embiid has missed a few games earlier in the season, which has caused his drop on the list. Had he been healthy, he might be #1, but he is number one in Cup Points per Game.
7. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, 129 Cup Points: 40 Games, 3.22 Cup Points per Game, 20.1 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 7.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 23.2 PER, 5.9 WS. (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)
Sabonis makes his first top ten appearance this year, and is the current rebounding leader (12.7). The Sacramento King is also first in Rebounds (506), Defensive Rebounds (372(, and is seventh in Assists per Game (7.9), and is the top ten in VORP (2.8) and Box Plus/Minus (6.0).
8. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 125 Cup Points: 39 Games, 3.21 Cup Points per Game, 25.1 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.5 BPG, 25.2 PER, 5.8 WS. (#7 Last Week)
Davis is currently third in Rebounds per Game (12.2), and is the healthiest he has been in years. He is also fourth in Blocks per Game (2.5), seventh in PER (25.2) and ninth in Win Shares (5.8).
9. Julius Randle, New York Knicks, 122 Cup Points: 40 Games, 3.05 Cup Points per Game, 24.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 18.4 PER, 3.2 WS. (Not in the Top Ten Last)
Randle makes his first appearance in the top ten this year, though he is not in the top ten in any major category.
10 (TIE). LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, 117 Cup Points: 37 Games, 3.16 Cup Points per Game, 24.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 22.9 PER, 3.9 WS. (#10 Last Week)
James set the all-time scoring record last year, and he continues to defy time by playing at an elite level. The legend added another accolade by leading Los Angeles to the first In-Season Tournament Championship.
10 (TIE). Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 117 Cup Points: 33 Games, 3.55 Cup Points Per Game, 28.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 23.5 PER, 4.4 WS. (#10 Last Week).
Durant remains a superstar and when he is healthy, he is among the best in the world. KD is scoring as good as always, but the chemistry in Phoenix is not there and we are seeing the same pattern that we have seen before. He is still an All-Star, a first-ballot Hall of Fame entrant, but does he make teams better? Lately, no.
Golden State’s Steph Curry and Indiana’s Tyrese Halinurton fell out of the top ten.
Our next update will be up on next Monday.
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