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 this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.
Here is the current top ten:
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 89 Cup Points, 20 Games, 4.45 Cup Points per Game, 29.0, PPG, 12.8 RPG, 9.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 34.2 PER, 4.6 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 Rebounds per Game (12.8), Points (578(, Triple-Doubles (8), Field Goals (227), PER (34.2), Win Shares (4.6), Box Plus/Minus (15.6) and VORP (3.0). Right now, he is the best player in Basketball, and that is not in dispute (despite what Kendrick Perkins might think).
2. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, 77 Cup Points: 18 Games, 4.28 Cup Points per Game, 29.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 23.2 PER, 2.2 WS. Last Week #6
The Warriors are an aging team, but Father Time has not yet found Curry, who is the best beyond-the-arc shooter of all-time. He is seventh in PPG (29.1) and is leading the league in 3-Point Field Goals (91), but the pieces around him are falling apart.
3. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 74 Cup Points: 18 Games, 4.11 Cup Points Per Game, 31.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 25.2 PER, 2.6 WS. Last Week #2.
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. At present, Durant is second in scoring (31.0) has not averaged over 30 Points per Game since the 2013/14 Season, but is over that right now.
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 73 Cup Points: 18 Games, 4.06 Cup Points Per Game, 29.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 30.3 PER, 3.8 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 (2.4) and Free Throw Percentage (.939) is third in PER (30.3) and sixth in Points (29.9). The Canadian is now an MVP contender.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 71 Cup Points: 19 Games, 3.74 Cup Points per Game, 29.9 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 28.5 PER, 2.7 WS.
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. This will cost him a Cup Point or two but the selfless European is totally fine with that.
6. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 69 Cup Points: 18 Games, 3.83 Cup Points per Game, 31.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 27.1 PER, 2.6 WS. Last Week #5.
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 (31.4), fifth in Assists (8.4), and is in the top ten in PER (27.1), Box Plus/Minus (8.7), VORP (1.8) and Win Shares (2.6).
7. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 68 Cup Points: 19 Games, 3.58 Cup Points per Game, 27.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 21.4 PER, 2.5 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 seventh in PPG (27.4) and is poised to take the Celtics on his back to a title.
8. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 67 Cup Points, 16 Games, 4.07 Cup Points per Game, 32.0, PPG, 11.3 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 32.1 PER, 3.2 WS. Last Week #3
Embiid is the reigning MVP, NIHOF Cup Winner, and two-time scoring champion, and he is currently leading the NBA in scoring again (32.0). The 76er is also first in Usage Percentage (36.0), and is second in PER (32.1), and is in the top ten in Rebounds and Blocks per Game. Embiid has missed the last few games, costing him Cup Points.
9. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, 66 Cup Points: 20 Games, 3.30 Cup Points per Game, 24.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 23.7 PER, 2.1 WS.
James set the all-time scoring record last year, and he continues to defy time by playing at an elite level.
10. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, 64 Cup Points: 19 Games, 3.64 Cup Points per Game, 22.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 19.1 PER, 2.1 WS.
Towns took over for Anthony Edwards in the top ten and if he stays healthy should remain here.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and Sacramento’s Damontas Sabonis fell off the top ten.
Our next update will be up on next Monday.
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