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.
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