SLAM Top 50 – SLAM

#SLAMTop50: 10-6 Unveiled 👀

Ryne Nelson — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:30:37 +0000

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2017 SLAM Top 50 Players

Ryne Nelson — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 16:15:48 +0000

Unveiling the SLAM Top 50 is one of the most time-consuming and exciting projects of the year. And it’s become our tradition as we count down the days until a new season begins.

The 2017 SLAM Top 50 features LeBron James at the top for a record ninth straight season—a feat that may never be replicated again.

And as we like to do at this time, here’s a closer look at the Top 50…

SLAM Top 50 newcomers: Dion Waiters (50), Harrison Barnes (47), Lonzo Ball (45), Myles Turner (44), Nikola Jokic (29), Joel Embiid (28)

Highest Top 50 debut: Joel Embiid (28)

Biggest Jump: Giannis Antetokounmpo (+19 to No. 7)

Biggest Fall: LaMarcus Aldridge (-22 to No. 40)

Youngest Player: Lonzo Ball (19 years, 351 days)

Oldest Player: Carmelo Anthony (33 years, 136 days)

Team With Most Top 50 Players: Golden State Warriors (Curry, Durant, Thompson, Green)

We’d be remiss not to give a big shout out to the SLAM community. We wouldn’t keep doing this without the incredible comments, discussions and even, disagreements. You’re the reason we put the effort into making the best list we can.

We put the 2017 Top 50 list into the gallery above—a condensed version of the past month and a half. Like it? Hate it? That’s why we made it.

RELATED:
SLAM Top 50: LeBron James, No. 1

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SLAM Top 50: LeBron James, No. 1

Yaron Weitzman — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 15:55:05 +0000

This, I think, is the best way to capture just how dominant LeBron James remains, even now, at the age of 32 and entering his 15th(!) NBA season: A 73-win juggernaut of a team felt it needed to recruit Kevin Durant, the second best player in the world, in order to stave off his challenge.

Think about that for a moment. The Warriors, a team that won more regular season games than any other team in history, and boasted the two-time reigning MVP, along with two other top-20 players (Klay Thompson and Draymond Green) were, well, scared of facing off against LeBron once again in the Finals. And they weren’t wrong.

That’s the greatness of LeBron. He’s still a one-man wrecking ball capable of destroying everything in its path, no matter the strength.

I mean, just look at the numbers he put up during last year’s postseason: 32.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game. He also shot a ridiculous 56.5 percent from the field and 41 percent from deep, all while playing an obscene 41.3 minutes per game.

Do you know how hard that is, to play that many minutes and carry that much of a load but also do so that efficiently? It’s literally unprecedented, as was his averaging a triple-double (33.6 PPG, 12 RPG, 10 APG) during the NBA Finals, and all that came after leading the League in minutes per game during the regular season (and Real Plus-Minus, by the way, so don’t worry about the slight downtick in numbers). The dude’s a cyborg, only stronger and smarter.

And it’s a good thing, too, because with Kyrie now gone, and Isaiah Thomas’ hip likely holding him out for a few months, the Cavs will be leaning even more on James. One of these years, he’s going to show signs of age and fatigue. He has to, right? Either way, that time, remarkable, appears to be years away. The Warriors may be the title favorite, but only because they amassed a collection of stars unlike anything the League has ever seen. That’s what it takes to beat LeBron James. There’s not another player in the world that can boast that claim.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 1
2015: No. 1
2014: No. 1
2013: No. 1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters
No. 49 – Ben Simmons
No. 48 – Brook Lopez
No. 47 — Harrison Barnes
No. 46 — Jrue Holiday
No. 45 — Lonzo Ball
No. 44 — Myles Turner
No. 43 — Goran Dragic
No. 42 — Andre Drummond
No. 41 — Al Horford
No. 40 — LaMarcus Aldridge
No. 39 — Kevin Love
No. 38 — Paul Millsap
No. 37 — Hassan Whiteside
No. 36 — Andrew Wiggins
No. 35 — Marc Gasol
No. 34 – DeAndre Jordan
No. 33 — Bradley Beal
No. 32 — Kemba Walker
No. 31 — CJ McCollum
No. 30 — Devin Booker
No. 29 — Nikola Jokic
No. 28 — Joel Embiid
No. 27 — Mike Conley
No. 26 — Kyle Lowry
No. 25 — Rudy Gobert
No. 24 — Gordon Hayward
No. 23 — Kristaps Porzingis
No. 22 — Carmelo Anthony
No. 21 — DeMar DeRozan
No. 20 — Blake Griffin
No. 19 — Draymond Green
No. 18 — Chris Paul
No. 17 — Klay Thompson
No. 16 — Jimmy Butler
No. 15 — Isaiah Thomas
No. 14 — Karl-Anthony Towns
No. 13 — Damian Lillard
No. 12 — DeMarcus Cousins
No. 11 — Kyrie Irving
No. 10 — John Wall
No. 9 — Paul George
No. 8 — Anthony Davis
No. 7 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
No. 6 — James Harden
No. 5 — Kawhi Leonard
No. 4 — Stephen Curry
No. 3 — Russell Westbrook
No. 2 — Kevin Durant
No. 1 — LeBron James

RELATED:
GALLERY: 2017 SLAM Top 50 Players

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SLAM Top 50: Kevin Durant, No. 2

Peter Walsh — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 15:54:41 +0000

Full disclosure: I voted Kevin Durant as the No. 1 player on the #SLAMTop50.

The majority of SLAM voters did not agree and I respect their opinions. But based on what we saw in last year’s Finals, it feels like Durant has closed the gap on LeBron and this upcoming season could mark the “passing of the torch.”

Granted, LeBron put up jaw-dropping numbers in those same Finals, but KD was unstoppable and was rewarded with both the Larry O’Brien trophy and a Finals MVP award.

Since that June night, shit has gotten a little strange for Durant. It started when he said that “Kyrie is better than Allen Iverson” and continued to spiral. His most recent Twitter fiasco reportedly left both Warriors team officials and teammates “perplexed” by the superstar’s offseason and resulted in an awkward apology from Durant to his former teammates and the Thunder franchise.

It was a long, strange offseason. Fortunately for him, he’s just days away to getting back to what he does best—hoop.

Last season, Durant averaged 25.1 points, 8.3 boards (career-high), 4.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks (career-high) per game, while shooting 53.7 percent from the field (career-high) and 37.5 percent from three. He also likely would have been in the thick of the MVP race had he not been sidelined with an injury that limited him to 62 games.

And guess what? In his second season with the Warriors, he could be even better. While the Cavs, Celtics, Thunder, and Rockets figure things out after major roster changes, the Dubs bring the whole squad back and should hit the ground running. That should (and, if we’re to believe Draymond Green, does) make the rest of the NBA scared as hell.

At his best, Durant is unconscious from the field, able to hit shots from all angles and at any length over any defender. Paired with Stephen Curry, Draymond and Klay Thompson on the court at the same time, he can’t be double teamed. The rest of the NBA has been gearing up to stop LeBron and the Warriors have cracked the code, thanks to luck and savvy roster management. The rest of the League has been in a never before seen arms race, all thanks to KD’s decision to leave the confines of Oklahoma City for the sunshine of the Bay Area.

Durant has rubbed some fans the wrong way, there’s no question about it. From his decision to join the Warriors, to his bizarre social media habits, to his terse press conferences and interviews, KD has become a villainous figure in the League–much like LeBron was at one point in Miami. And similar to LeBron during his “villain era,” Durant has the skills to back up the behavior.

This season, we could realistically see the best offense in NBA history and KD challenging all types of efficiency records. In Cleveland, LeBron has been hampered by an ankle injury all preseason and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he played a maximum of 70 games in the regular season. If Durant can stay healthy, and LeBron slips even a little bit, there’s no reason why he won’t universally be considered the best player in the Leauge by season’s end.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 4
2015: No. 3
2014: No. 2
2013: No. 2

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

RELATED:
GALLERY: 2017 SLAM Top 50 Players

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SLAM Top 50: Russell Westbrook, No. 3

Adam Figman — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 17:15:38 +0000

Here’s a crazy thing that I think about Russell Westbrook: These days, at this exact moment, he is vastly underrated.

I realize that might read a little absurd. The MVP of the NBA is underrated? To quote the man himself, “Bruh… what?”

And listen, I’m not out here trying to say that he’s the best player in the NBA by leaps and bounds, or that the close 2016-17 MVP race should’ve been a landslide, or that if the ball bounced a different way once or twice that Westbrook would’ve added Finals MVP to his award collection. That’s a little ridiculous.

I’m just trying to say that despite the fact that the very top of this list might (or might not!) feature a better basketball player, there’s nobody on this list that is more iconic in 2017 than Russell Westbrook. And that should count for more than just something. That should count for everything.

There are lots of good basketball players. You love them and think about them and if they’re lucky, you’ll hang onto a few memories and forget the others. But with Russ there’s going to be none of that. You’re going to remember it all.

You’re going to remember the outfits. The press conferences. The quotes. The triple-doubles. The dancing. The intensity.

Here’s the best part, though: He’s not slowing down. Our hero did this the other night. The 28-year-old is more amped up than ever before. He spent the summer honing his craft. He has two v talented new teammates, which will either be a bit of a disaster or help him elevate both his and their games to a whole new level.

He averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game last season. He’ll probably average a few less points, slightly less rebounds and slightly more assists this year. All of that stuff is cool and validates him being ranked the No. 3 basketball player in the League, which is a fair ranking, and you know it is, even if you want to argue that he should be a spot higher or a spot or two lower—I mean I understand if you think that, but you’re lying to yourself. Like, come on. He’s third. For now. Next year he might be first or second or fourth or fifth.

It doesn’t really matter, though. What matters is you’re going to remember everything he is doing, because he’s perpetually iconic, and that’s how we treat icons. If you’re of a certain age, you have more Charles Barkley memories than you do David Robinson ones, and you have more Allen Iverson memories than you do Tim Duncan ones. I don’t mean to compare Russ to any of those guys—I’m just trying to put into context the undeniable fact that all of these amazing things Russ is doing everyday are one day going to be put together into a 30 for 30 or an E:60 or a Showtime documentary or a Facebook mini-movie or God knows what kind of soon-to-be popular media format, and you’re going to watch it, and you’re going to think to yourself, “My God, what a fucking legend.”

Which is really my point: Russell Westbrook is underrated because so often we see him do things, incredible things, and we don’t immediately think, “My God, what a fucking legend.” And we need to. We need to be thinking that every single time.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 3
2015: No. 5
2014: No. 6
2013: No. 12

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Stephen Curry, No. 4

Yaron Weitzman — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:12:19 +0000

It’s easy now, thanks to Kevin Durant’s MVP Finals performance, to forget that the player who transformed the Warriors into the dominant outfit they are today was, in fact, Stephen Curry. The dude has literally changed the way the game is played, and the way the rest of the League goes about building teams. As we’ve seen with the Thunder this summer, fit is no longer a concern. It can’t be. The only way to keep up with the Warriors is to amass as much talent as possible and hope that it all somehow gels.

That’s all because of Steph.

He’s the one that rendered the League’s previous pick-and-roll defenses useless, that forced teams to become obsessed with finding players capable of switching assignments on screens, lest they fall victim to one of Curry’s silky bombs. Look at PJ Tucker. He went from out of the League to $32 million man within five seasons.

That’s what Curry’s done. He’s forced teams to change the way they think and play. (Big men? What are we supposed to do with them?) Keep up or be left behind.

And even if Durant is bigger, stronger and, probably, more talented, it’s still Curry that makes the Warriors’ offense—meaning the greatest offense the sport of basketball has ever seen—go. His shooting pulls defenders out near half court, stretching the floor vertically, where he’s then able to burn then with his wizardly handle (which would probably get more love if not for that magical stroke) and get to the rim, where he’s, perhaps to your surprise, one of the top finishers in the League (he scored on 63 percent of his shot attempts there last season, placing him in the 94th percentile, according to data from Cleaning The Glass).

It’s a mix of skills that over the past three years has proved literally impossible to guard (the Warriors outscored its opponents by a league-high 1,015 points last season with him on the floor).

But there’s more to Steph’s brilliance than just his ability to dribble and shoot like no one we’ve ever seen. His willingness to cede the spotlight to Durant—to not only accept the addition, but also pitch for it—is a display of selflessness we’re not used to seeing from NBA stars. It’s not that most are selfish; it’s just that, understandably, it’s hard to watch someone else absorb the spotlight that you helped create. It’s why Pat Riley says winning the second championship is harder than the first. “The Disease of Me,” he calls it. It was based on the idea, which he witnessed first hand, that teams who win championships ultimately stop winning because all involved become too focused on themselves.

That the Warriors have managed to avoid this pitfall for three years now is nearly unprecedented in NBA history. It’d be like if Kobe and Shaq never fought.

That all starts with Curry, from the way he plays the game to how he acts before and after them. It’s the trait of a truly great leader, which, in a sport like basketball, is the kind of thing that can elevate a team.

But elevating his team is what Steph does. It’s why watching him is such a treat, and why he is, and will always be, an all-time great.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 2
2015: No. 4
2014: No. 5
2013: No. 10

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Kawhi Leonard, No. 5

Max Resetar — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 16:43:07 +0000

Ben McLemore’s a good ballplayer. He stands 6-5, has a 42-inch vertical and has become nearly a 40 percent shooter from three-point land. And for anyone who forgot, the 24-year-old was the seventh pick in the 2013 draft.

But Kawhi Leonard made McLemore look like he couldn’t even dribble last October. On back-to-back plays, in the third quarter of a close game, Leonard stripped McLemore and took him to the rim, getting fouled each time. It was an embarrassing moment for the former Jayhawk. And it was a big-time flex for Leonard, a shining example of the Klaw’s complete powers.

Defense to offense, totally dominant with or without the ball–that’s how Kawhi Leonard plays now. The 26-year-old has developed into the best two-way player in the League. McLemore’s not the only opponent he’s made look foolish. He’s swatted James Harden, plucked Stephen Curry and shut down LeBron James.

Leonard is a rare do-it-all defender, one of only a few currently in the League (word to Avery Bradley, Patrick Beverly, Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert). He guards the other team’s best player, plays excellent help defense, hits the glass, patrols the passing lanes and closes out on shooters in textbook form.

What has separated Leonard from the rest of the NBA is his discipline. He doesn’t bite on pump fakes and he doesn’t reach unless he knows he can steal it. He’s figured out a way to make full use of his athletic gifts and meld them with his extremely high basketball IQ.

While a portion of his success can be attributed to Gregg Popovich and the Spurs’ basketball factory, he has a skill that Pop couldn’t have ever taught him. He reads the court like a damn Rhodes scholar, anticipating on defense and then punishing on offense.

His offensive arsenal is just as thorough as his defense. Midrange fadeaway? Check. 88 percent from the foul line? Easy money. Posterizer? On 1,000. Catch-and-shoot three-pointer? He got the ratty. The cojones to take over in the clutch or any other time in the game? Without a doubt.

Leonard’s morphed into the premier small forward for the modern NBA game and he’s done it without every really saying a word. Which in the age of constant social media attention, commercials and round-the-clock coverage is very impressive. He really doesn’t want the spotlight. He just wants to hoop.

The proof is in the progression. He went from a 25 percent three-point shooter at San Diego State to a 25.5 point-per-game scorer in the NBA. He went from being the kid that was part of the George Hill trade to being a Finals MVP. He went from costing the Spurs the title in 2013 to winning it for them in 2014.

And now Leonard’s entering his prime. Popovich handed him the keys to the silver and black as soon as Tim Duncan retired, never once second-guessing the work that Leonard’s put in. Entering his seventh season, no. 2 is fully equipped with a foundation of expertise that he can only build on in the coming months.

Everyone’s already counting Leonard and his squad out. Golden State’s too good, they say. Houston and Oklahoma City have too many weapons, they say. Minnesota, New Orleans and Denver are gearing up for deep playoff runs, they say. But you can never underestimate the heart of a champion.

Just ask Ben McLemore how good Kawhi Leonard is.

Previous Rankings:
2013: 46
2014: 22
2015: 11
2016: 5

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: James Harden, No. 6

Franklyn Calle — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 17:49:04 +0000

Let’s be real. His numbers last season were unreal.

Regardless of how you feel about his defense, it was one of the best single season performances the League has ever seen on the offensive end.

And if it weren’t for his former teammate Russell Westbrook having an even more otherworldly season, claiming the MVP award seemed very probable.

It was a season filled with all types of career highs, despite a coaching change as well as a position change.

Mike D’Antoni took over the helm for the Houston Rockets last year and one of his first executive decisions was to make James Harden the new point guard of the franchise.

And the rest is history. The numbers speak for themselves.

Harden went on to average 29.1 points per game—a career-high and only second in the League to Westbrook’s 31.6—and 11.2 assists per game—also a career-high and a League-best for 2016-17. He also finished No. 1 in both free throws attempted and made for the third consecutive season.

The 6-5 guard joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to average at least 29.0 points, 11.0 assists and 8.0 rebounds (he averaged 8.1 boards) in a single season. The Big O reached this feat three times throughout his career.

Additionally, he became the first NBA player to ever record at least 2,000 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in a single season.

Coming into last season, Harden had accumulated nine triple-doubles throughout his career. But then he posted 22 triple-doubles in 2016-17 alone, which is the sixth-most ever recorded in a single season. His 53-point, 17-assist, and 16-rebound performance on New Year’s Eve against the New York Knicks made him the first player in NBA history to ever record at least 50 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a single game.

After leading the Rockets to the fourth-most regular season wins (55) in franchise history, Harden became the only player to be unanimously voted (all 100 ballots) into the ’16-17 First-Team All NBA selection.

And then June 28th happened. In a blockbuster trade that sent shockwaves throughout the League, the Clippers sent nine-time NBA all-star Chris Paul to the Rockets in exchange for Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Darrun Hilliard, DeAndre Liggins, Kyle Wiltjer, a protected first-round pick and $661,000.

Adding a superstar point guard to a backcourt that already featured the NBA’s reigning assist leader immediately made Houston one of the most intriguing line-ups in the Association.

Yet, the billion-dollar question remains: Can Chris Paul and James Harden coexist in the backcourt? And how will his numbers be affected by the move?

The two ranked among the NBA’s top four players in assist rate last season (Harden 50.7% and Paul 46.8%). On paper the opportunities seem bountiful. But executing it and meshing on the hardwood is another conversation.

The season-ending loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals this past spring was everything but representative of Harden’s season. He was held to just 10 points on 2-for-11 shooting to go along with six turnovers before fouling out. The LA native just seemed to have ran out of gas after putting the team on his back throughout the season. And this is where adding a player of Paul’s caliber can make a difference by now possessing another all-star guard to carry the load on nights when things just aren’t clicking for the other.

Harden broke the all-time single-season record for turnovers last season with 464. The previous all-time record was set by Harden himself just a year prior when he had 374 of them. With Paul now also running point, the turnover totals should decrease this season.

D’Antoni has said Harden and CP3 will both share playmaking responsibilities for the squad this year, to which Harden has described as very promising thus far.

After a practice session a couple of weeks ago, he told the Houston Chronicle of sharing the floor with CP3: “I’ve had more catch-and-shoot opportunities, he has as well, in these four days of training camp than we’ve had in a few years,” Harden said. “It hasn’t been tough because we’re willing to share the ball … and make plays for our teammates and ourselves. I’m going to have that same mentality to score and create, but I don’t have to do it as much because we have another guy that can do it on a high level.”

He was asked to make an adjustment in the backcourt last season and went on to have a historic year. Now he’s being asked to do so again. But this time he’s being asked to mesh with one of the best pure point guards in the NBA.

When it comes to making adjustments, we think Harden has earned the benefit of the doubt that it’s something he can do rather quickly.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 7
2015: No. 6
2014: No. 9
2013: No. 5

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Giannis Antetokounmpo, No. 7

Sam Rubenstein — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:24:40 +0000

The Greek Freak is 22 years old. Last season, he led his team in all five of the major categories, putting him in a group with Pippen, Cowens, LeBron, and KG. His line: 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, hitting over 50 percent from the field, a steal and a half, nearly 2 blocks per game. Even more frightening, he raised his game beyond those numbers in the playoffs. A 6-11 point guard learning from Jason Kidd. The one hole in his game: threes… for now. In a few short years, he’s become an overpowering force.

At a time where the NBA is becoming positionless, he’s as versatile as they come. Off the court, his fish out of water tales and vignettes about manchild playfulness are legend. Giannis has crossed the line from intrigue and potential to supernova. On the court, more scrutiny will come, but Giannis looks like he’s ready for the next level.

In life, he’s paid dues. Once a Nigerian immigrant who was selling goods in the streets of Greece, to “unicorn” curiosity, to full blown NBA superstar with a $100 million contract. Other guys get to the NBA, maybe they play in a big market like Los Angeles, maybe they have a shoe deal and Johnny Football levels of hype, perhaps a rap single about their little home-schooled brother’s shoe. The Greek Freak has to settle for owning Milwaukee for the time being, at least for this year when his place on this top 50 list is the issue at hand. As Jabari Parker and the rest of the Young Bucks grow with him, expect serious damage to the Eastern Conference hierarchy, sooner than you think. Giannis already took Toronto to six games, playing brilliantly but perhaps running out of gas.

The upcoming season is complicated by Giannis mourning the recent passing of his father, Charles. Currently taking an indefinite leave, when The Greek Freak returns, expect him to continue the ascension up NBA’s Mount Olympus (sorry). He’ll be a high pick in this year’s All-Star Game, and with the way free agents keep bailing for the West, he could lead Milwaukee on a deep run, perhaps all the way to the conference finals.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 26
2015: No. 49
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Paul George, No. 9

Karan Madhok — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 15:16:33 +0000

Four summers ago, I interviewed a 23-year-old Paul George at an NBA carnival in China. It was the ‘NBA Nation’ in Wuhan, a fan-event in the most populous city in central China featuring basketball clinics, Pop-a-Shot games, and the Phoenix Suns Dance Team. The main event, however, was George. Then a rising star for the Indiana Pacers, PG was coming off a breakout 2012-13 season where he won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, became an All Star for the first time, and was named to the All -NBA Third Team. But just months before, his magical season had ended in heart-breaking fashion as the Pacers went down to the Heat in a memorable seven-game Eastern Conference Finals.

In going up against the best in the League, George had gotten his first whiff of success, and he sounded confident when he told me that his rise to superstardom was just getting started. “I’m nowhere close to getting what I want to achieve,” he said, reflecting on his NBA journey so far. “But I think I’m taking the right steps and going in the right direction. I can see myself being an MVP in the League. I think, if I’m not in contention for an MVP award, or leading my team to the Championship, then I think I’d be selling myself short as a player. In the near future, I wanna have the MVP award, be on the Olympic team, be a perennial All-Star, hopefully First-Team All-NBA as well.”

But sometimes, even the best laid plans of a super-athletic swingmen can go awry. A year later, George suffered a horrific compound fracture on both bones of his lower right leg during a 2014 FIBA World Cup scrimmage in Las Vegas. The setback virtually cost him an entire season of progress and raised questions if he could ever soar towards greatness again.

It put his ‘Wuhan Checklist’ on hold. MVP award? Nope. Championship? Not close. First Team All NBA? Nah.

But by 2015-16, George bounced back with a bang, playing 81 games and averaging career highs in scoring and assists. Last summer, he fulfilled his wish of playing in the Olympics and helped bring back a Gold medal from Rio. In 2016-17, he continued his rampage and boosted his scoring output to a career-high 23.7 points per game. The ‘perennial All Star’ wish had also been fulfilled. George put up an unstoppable performance in last season’s playoffs with 28 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists over nearly 43 minutes per game. Just like in the old days however, it was that old foe—LeBron James—that proved to be the thorn in PG’s side, and the Cavaliers swept the Pacers in the First Round.

Despite the loss, George’s comeback from the career-threatening leg injury was complete. Even if he doesn’t have quite the athletic hops he did in his younger days, PG has matured into a better scorer and smarter defender.

But with a drastic change of scenery, he will now find himself evolving into an exciting new role: George was traded over the offseason to Oklahoma City to join reigning MVP Russell Westbrook, not long before OKC pulled off another heist and presented Carmelo Anthony to the explosive Thunder mix, too.

He may no longer be the first option, or on many nights, even the second option on offense. But as the ideal two-way player who can be an elite perimeter defender, an offensive threat, and effect the game without the ball in his hands, George could have the Thunder soaring this season. None of that confidence I saw in Wuhan has wavered. George is still gunning for that MVP trophy. With Westbrook and ‘Melo by his side, he has said that the Thunder have the feel “of a championships team.”

Playing in a different NBA jersey for the first time in his career, this isn’t going to be the 2013 “Rising Star” PG, or the 2015 “Hobbled with Injury” PG, or even the 2016-17 “Bounce Back To Scoring Stardom” PG. The OKC version of Paul George will be something we’ve never seen before. Still only 27, we are going to see PG enter his prime years, a superstar in a new role. A man on a mission to complete his checklist.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 8
2015: No. 22
2014: Not Ranked
2013: No. 13

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Anthony Davis, No. 8

Danny Hazan — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 13:33:20 +0000

Perhaps no player on the #SLAMTop50 has more to prove in terms of their superstardom this season than do-everything big man Anthony Davis.

As he embarks on his sixth year with the New Orleans Pelicans–and at just 24 years old–Davis has already made four All-Star Games (earned MVP in last year’s game) and two All-NBA First Teams. He carried the Pelicans to a 45-37 record, and a playoff berth, during a dominant 2014-15 campaign and ascended to No. 2 on the #SLAMTop50 heading into the next season.

He checked in at No. 6 prior to last year, and is down a couple slots to No. 8 this time around. Don’t get it twisted, it’s not as if he’s regressed as a player—he’s gotten better each year. Ant averaged career highs in points (28.0) and rebounds (11.8), while blocking 2.2 shots per game a while earning All-Defensive Second Team honors for the second time in his career last season. So why the dip in ranking?

The Pelicans have made only one postseason appearance during his young career, and the eventual champion Golden State Warriors swept them in the first round.

Last year the Pelicans were never serious playoff contenders, finished 34-48 but made major waves at the trade deadline by acquiring three-time All Star center DeMarcus Cousins. New Orleans went 10-12 with the twin towers on the court together.

One-time All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday re-upped with the Pelicans through 2021, and Rajon Rondo signed for one year to try and help New Orleans feed both Davis and Cousins. With a full offseason and preseason to try and figure out a winning mix on the court, expectations are tricky because the West is absolutely loaded. Though the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers could potentially take a step back from last season, the Timberwolves, Thunder, Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Blazers all figure to be squarely in the mix for one of the eight postseason slots along with the Warriors, Spurs and Rockets as well.

Davis has added wrinkles to his offensive game each season, making him a challenger for the League’s scoring title every season from here on out. If he and Boogie develop a two-man game, as each are capable passers, the League is going to have a hard time slowing them down.

If you take a gander at Davis’ game log from last season, there are countless holy shit stat lines. In case you forgot, you’d have to remove your jaw from the floor when you remembered he posted a 50-point, 16-rebound, 7-steal, 5-assist, 4-block line on opening night. The ability to completely own a game on either end of the court makes Davis a perennial All Star. Compound that with the fact he has been the main focus of the opposition’s defense every night without any killers on the wings, you’d be hard pressed to find any real holes in his game.

Though predicting success for New Orleans as a squad is fuzzy at the moment, you can expect Davis to continue to show out with silly statistical performances.

The Pelicans lack depth but boast two of the best frontcourt players in the world. They have a couple guards who have both been All Stars at various points in their careers. But in order for Davis to earn superstar status, and enter back into the conversation as best player in the league, wins and playoff runs are going to have to follow the stats.

For someone who has garnered as many accolades as he has this early in his career, Davis still has plenty to prove. That is even scarier than the numbers he does in the box score.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 6
2015: No. 2
2014: No. 4
2013: No. 41

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: John Wall, No. 10

Abe Schwadron — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 19:05:26 +0000

John Wall will be a top-10 player in the NBA this season.

There are two types of people in the world: People who know that statement to be true, and people who simply refuse to acknowledge it. (Don’t be friends with those people.)

Wall carried the Wizards to the brink of an Eastern Conference Finals appearance (right up until Kelly Olynyk turned into Larry Bird) on the strength of the best numbers of his seven-year career. He posted career-highs in Win Shares, points (22.9) and assists (10.5) in 2016-17, shot his best-ever field goal percentage and true shooting percentage, and was the only player besides James Harden and Russell Westbrook to post 20+ ppg and 10+ apg. His scoring jumped to just over 27 ppg in the playoffs, including a 42-point, 8-assist, 4-steal, 2-block performance to close out the Hawks in the first round. Meanwhile he led the NBA in steals, and once again cemented himself as the best chasedown block artist in the League not named LeBron James.

He’s always been an athletic freak, able to finish with power or finesses, with either hand. He’s always been a blur, faster with the rock in his hand than 99 percent of other guys are without it. And he’s always been one of the fiercest competitors in the game. Finally (!) he earned some much-desreved recognition in the form of an All-NBA nod last season. All that after having surgery on both knees prior to the 2016-17 season. And now, with the knee troubles in his rearview and a big new contract in his back pocket, he’s primed for an even more impressive 2017-18 campaign.

So, yeah, John Wall has had a lot to say this summer.

Called himself the best point guard in the East. Called himself the NBA’s best two-way PG. Mused in interviews about Kyrie Irving’s curious trade request, and on social media about the absurdity of superteams.

Well, damn, you may be thinking. But, OK, two things here:

One, John Wall’s been brutally honest with the media when it’s come to sharing his thoughts—and like most stars, extremely confident in himself—since he entered the NBA. Which is to say, if you’re surprised by anything he’s said this summer, you just weren’t listening until now.

Second, and more importantly, these aren’t just some outlandish empty quotes coming from a middling player. (Like, with all due respect, the ones made recently by Michael Beasley.)

You can’t clown Wall’s statements because you know deep down they very well could be true when we look back in a year. He could be ranked no lower—even by his biggest haters—than about 15th on a list like this. If you’re upset about Wall being ranked too high, you’ll probably cite his purported struggles in halfcourt offensive situations, or perhaps you’re among those still clinging to the corny ass “he can’t shoot” crowd (no, he’s not Steph Curry with the shot, and never will be, but he’s improved steadily and significantly).

You may be salty that Damian Lillard and Chris Paul appeared before Wall on our countdown. The way the Western Conference has transformed this summer, Dame’s team could very well miss the postseason, whereas Wall’s is realistically eyeing a trip to the East Finals (a round the franchise hasn’t reached since the ‘70s). And, in CP3’s case, just remember that this is a ranking for the 2017-18 season, not a lifetime achievement award. By the time the playoffs roll around, Paul will be 33 years old, not to mention he’s on a brand new team, and he’ll have to adjust to playing alongside Harden, who had one of the League’s highest usage rates last year. Wall, meanwhile, was top-5 in the NBA in minutes last year for a team that’s built around his talents, and he’s in the prime of his career.

Say it with me now: John Wall will be a top-10 player in the NBA this season.

Abe Schwadron is the Managing Editor at numberFire and a former Senior Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @abe_squad .

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 17
2015: No. 12
2014: No. 18
2013: No. 24

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Kyrie Irving, No. 11

Ryan Jones — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 16:38:58 +0000

My goodness. Where do I even start.

I suppose I’ll start here: Kyrie Irving is a wonderful basketball player who, at his best, is as unstoppable offensively as any player in the NBA. That’s the easy part.

The hard part… well, there are a couple of hard parts. Specific to his track record, to the six seasons of NBA resume he’s built up thus far, the hard part is knowing a) how often Kyrie is “at his best,” and b) what exactly that means for the team he plays for.

He averaged 25.2 points on 47.3 percent shooting last season (both career highs), but did so in a season in which his Cleveland Cavaliers won a mere 51 games (and no NBA titles). Should it matter that, by comparison, a season earlier, when he played 19 fewer games and averaged nearly six fewer points, the Cavs won six more regular season games and a championship?

The answer, of course, is “no.” It shouldn’t matter because numbers are meaningless without context, and because anyway the Cavs wouldn’t have won that 2016 title without Kyrie’s 25.2 often very clutch playoff points per game. But the discrepancies do bring up a question about what who and what the best Kyrie Irving is for a team hoping to contend for an NBA championship.

Kyrie was a 20-year-old, second-year pro back in 2012-13 when he averaged nearly 23 ppg on a very bad Cavs team; a year later, he put up 20.8 ppg (and a career-high 6.1 assist) on a better but still not very good Cleveland squad. A year later, running alongside LeBron James for the first time, he scored 21.7 ppg during the regular season before seeing his playoff run, and the Cavs’ title chances, cut short.

All of this is to say that, six seasons in, we’ve seen Kyrie be the best player on bad teams, and a more-than-capable second option on great teams. What we haven’t seen… well, you know what we haven’t seen. Kyrie knows too, which is why Kyrie is now a Boston Celtic.

And so this is the other hard part, the part that involves trying to figure out what is going in this dude’s very interesting mind. As far as we can tell—and the hints have not been particularly subtle—Kyrie Irving was sick of being on the same basketball roster as LeBron James. How much of this had to do with actually playing with LeBron—the three-time champion and one of the two or three greatest players in NBA history—versus just sharing the same space with him is hard to know. Probably only Kyrie knows for sure.

Honestly maybe even that’s a stretch.

The point is that Kyrie Irving is what happens if you gave the Expanding Brain meme a killer crossover and an Instagram account, and none of us is entirely sure what makes him tick. You can bet that “none of us” at some point will include his new coach and teammates in Boston. Is Kyrie out to stake a First-Team All-NBA claim this season? He has to know it’s not a realistic goal: scoring numbers aside, a guy who’s never averaged four rebounds per game is hardly a threat to match the statistical insanity of Westbrook and Harden, and can you imagine a scenario in which anyone puts him ahead of Steph?

As for team goals: Being the best player on a Celtics team that beats LeBron’s Cavs to next year’s Finals would probably feel pretty good. And he just might do it, taking over where IT left off, gaining Brad Stevens’ trust (or at least tolerance), and going for 30 per this season as the C’s establish themselves as the best in the East, for whatever that might be worth. Whether that would justify Kyrie’s move in his own mind seems irrelevant; outside justification does not seem to be among his concerns.

Nor should it! Like any person on this big, not perfectly round but still definitely globular planet, Kyrie Irving should work somewhere he can be happy and fulfilled and able to do his best work. If that’s Boston, good for him. It should be fun to watch.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 12
2015: No. 15
2014: No. 16
2013: No. 9

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: DeMarcus Cousins, No. 12

Sam Rubenstein — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:59:18 +0000

Good news: DeMarcus Cousins is the best center in the NBA.

Bad news: So what? He’s never been to the playoffs.

He’s the most dominant center in the NBA today with the numbers to back it up—27 and 11 per game. DeMarcus is a big body they can’t handle in today’s hands-off game of H-O-R-S-E. He’s more athletic than stunned defenders realize, but he has the Z-Bo junk game, too. Sounds good? Well, DeMarcus can stretch the floor, hitting more than two 3-pointers a game last season. Larry Bird never did that (the NBA game is different than it used to be). Dominant bigs are like franchise running backs in the NFL. As both leagues play funny games with the rules to crank up the offense for fantasy and to make real life basketball seem more like a video game, the dominance of the big matters less.

As the latest disaster of a season was unfolding in Sactown, Anthony Davis was going off for 52, breaking Wilt’s record in the All-Star Game. The final score won’t fit on your screen. And then it was forgotten as Cousins was traded to team with the aforementioned Unibrow for the potential for frontcourt domination unheard of. If New Orleans could provide some stability, then you could see a flourishing partnership like great twin towers of the past: Sampson and Olajuwon, Duncan and Robinson. Better than that? Well… it gets complicated.

Not only that, DeMarcus is both superstar and enforcer. If someone on the other team disrespects the star, he makes them pay with violence. This may not be a good thing, and it’s time to talk about the other side of Cousins. He never reached the playoffs because the Kings were a mess. Or, were the Kings a mess because of DeMarcus? Few can match his talent. The drama he brings hasn’t been helpful yet. Separate the player from the drama if you can, but you can’t. DeMarcus brings the best low post scoring, outside touch from a big, strength, mobility, rebounding. But he also brings enough baggage to stop a plane from taking off.

When you talk about Russ Westbrook, you dismiss the negatives because they are part of the package. A guy who is so dynamic because he’s fearless will also make reckless mistakes. Cousins has a lot to offer, but his negatives don’t help him, they just take him off the court and cost his team. If he could eliminate the drama, the immaturity, the needless technicals, he would be one of the key forces in the League. Can he?

There is a plethora of excuses for why DeMarcus has never made the playoffs. The West is tough, he’s had bad coaching, Sactown dysfunction. Subpar teammates. George Karl has been butting heads and burning bridges with rebellious superstars for decades: Shawn Kemp, Big Dog Robinson, Carmelo. DeMarcus broke him. NOW, the West is more loaded than ever. DeMarcus should have more stability than ever. This year it’s time to break through, or he could see this ranking drop next year.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 9
2015: No. 9
2014: No. 20
2013: No. 29

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Damian Lillard, No. 13

Leo Sepkowitz — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:43:35 +0000

Damian Lillard has long been one of the League’s most electric scorers, blessed somehow with wild range and a knack for getting to the rim. Last year, he set career-highs in scoring, free throws, and field goal percentage. He also dragged his team to the playoffs. And yet, there is another gear for Lillard and his Blazers.

To see what that might look like, we can look to last winter. On February 13, center Jusuf Nurkic arrived from Denver via trade. His presence sprung an amazing hot streak from Lillard.

From February 15 through March 30, playing alongside Nurk, Lillard led Portland to a 14-6 record. During that stretch, Lillard averaged 28.7 points (47.3 percent overall), plus 6.1 assists and 3.4 threes (42.4 percent). At one point, he won Player of the Week by averaging 35.3 points on 55.1 percent overall. Watch the tape from those games and you’ll see peak Lillard.

Many plays in the half-court began with a hard screen up top from Nurkic, who stands 7-foot, 280. On a night like March 19, when Lillard hung 49 on Miami, any breathing room created by Nurkic equaled a Lillard bucket. Portland won by 11.

For Lillard, an equally impressive game came on March 30, against the Rockets. That night, Houston did everything it could to stop the Lillard-Nurkic tandem, namely letting Patrick Beverley hound Lillard well beyond the arc and having bigs play up on Nurk’s screens. Didn’t work. Lillard still dropped 31 (10/18 shooting) and tallied 11 assists. Portland picked up a sweet home win.

It should go without saying that Lillard could score long before Nurkic showed up. He’s never averaged fewer than 19 points per game, and his scoring has gone up in each of his five pro seasons. Last year, before the Nurkic trade, Lillard was averaging 26 points on nearly 44 percent overall.

But down the stretch, with Lillard, Nurkic, and CJ McCollum clicking, the energy changed in Portland.

“When you put Nurk in the picture, it takes it to a completely different level,” Lillard said in April. “When we added him, we became a better defensive and offensive team, and we started to win a lot more games.”

Yes, in the 20 games immediately following the trade, Portland, who was 23-32 when Nurk showed up, played to a 57-win pace.

Of course, the Blazers may not win 57 this year, but they might come close.

Consider the Boston Celtics of last year, whose 53 wins earned them the top spot in the East. They chugged along all season behind Isaiah Thomas, whose numbers almost exactly mirrored those of Lillard in the Nurkic Era. IT averaged 28.9 points (46.3 percent overall) with 5.9 assists and 3.2 threes (37.9 percent).

Boston wasn’t particularly loaded with talent, but they had the right pieces around Thomas: an excellent wingman at shooting guard, a versatile center, and a bevy of balanced guards and forwards.

Portland has similar pieces. We know about their shooting guard, McCollum, and center, Nurkic. The Blazers’ depth on the wing includes Moe Harkless, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Evan Turner. Not bad.

Now, all Portland needs is for Lillard to stay on top of his game at age 27—to be the Lillard who delivered throughout the stretch run last year.

It’s time.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 10
2015: No. 16
2014: No. 17
2013: No. 28

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Karl-Anthony Towns, No. 14

Franklyn Calle — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 15:22:14 +0000

Two seasons into his young career, Karl-Anthony Towns’ progress hasn’t skipped a beat. Nor has he skipped a game. Like, literally. After starting in all 82 games as a rookie, he did so once again last season. And so 164 consecutive starts later, it’s beyond clear that KAT has established himself as one of the most consistent and reliable centers the game. And also one of the best. Period.

Averaging 25.1 points per game last season, which ranked No. 1 among centers and tied Kevin Durant for 12th overall in the League, the Piscataway, NJ, native proved that he was indeed everything he was touted to be when he was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Points aside, he also finished top 10 among centers in rebounds (12.3 per night), assists (2.7 per game), free throws and field goals.

Last season he became the first player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 100 three-pointers in a single season while also breaking Kevin Love’s single-season scoring record. He stood behind only Pau and Marc Gasol in three-point shooting percentage among centers.

KAT finished with a double-double in 62 of last season’s 82 games.

Following two years of steady progress and growing into the team’s go-to option, this season will bring KAT into new territory. After being the leader (at age 21) of the youngest team in the NBA last season, some offseason acquisitions by the Timberwolves have suddenly brought in playoffs expectations upon Towns and company. The veteran additions from this summer include all-star Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague, Jamal Crawford and Taj Gibson.

Despite averaging 25 and 12 for the season, Kat was snubbed from the All-NBA team selections in the spring. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan beat him out by just four points. The seven-footer took to social media in the aftermath to say that “being disrespected is nothing new” to him. And in an interview with Sporting News a month later regarding the snub, he added:

“You know what, it did a little bit, it did a little damage to me. But that’s all right, because it is all about team success. You’ve got to win. You’ve got to win to be respected in this league. You have to do little things, there are things we can do as a team. We have to come back as a stronger team and win in the playoffs, because the playoffs are the most important thing.”

The playoffs are a milestone that Minnesota fans have been looking to claim for over a decade. The franchise hasn’t played in a postseason game since 2004. After only winning 31 games last season, Las Vegas has the Wolves at over/under 48.5 victories this year.

The impact this summer’s additions ultimately have on KAT’s production will be interesting to watch unfold. There are some that fear it might lead to him having fewer touches and shots. Will there be spacing issues that could arise? Is ball sharing a concern?

While those may be some of the trepidations, there are plenty of positives as well on the flipside. The Timberwolves were known for not being all that great on defense last season and having added someone like Butler can certainly help in that department. Also, adding some veterans will certainly help out a young team that in many occasions couldn’t close out games last year. The new pieces will also be taking a load off KAT’s shoulders on both ends of the floor.

In the end, as is the case with just about any of the League’s star players, KAT’s career will be judged on just how much winning he ultimately was able to accumulate. And so while we can debate all day on the impact the additions will have on KAT’s stat lines this coming season, it’s the wins and losses column that may ultimately decide where he really ranks among the League’s best.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 20
2015: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Isaiah Thomas, No. 15

Max Resetar — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 19:21:47 +0000

Forget the hip injury. Don’t look at all the stats and the nearly 30 points per game. Get all the trade drama outta here, too. Just watch Isaiah Thomas play ball. His value, his talent and his other-worldly competitiveness is crystal clear.

Isaiah racked up a career-best season with averages of 29 points and 6 helpers a game in 2016-17, and he brought the Celtics back to the top of the East for the first time since the Big 3 left. He played through personal tragedy and through injury. And he did it all with his heart on his sleeve, fully committing to the team and the city.

And yet, after a magical season with a storied franchise, he got traded. How quickly we forget that Thomas, all 5-9 of him, was the best fourth quarter scorer in the NBA last season. Not only was he a dog down the stretch of close games, he was a demon for the first part of each matchup, too.

Because you don’t go from the last damn pick in the 2011 Draft to a two-time All-Star without having a fire inside of you. IT’s fire burns real, real bright. Allen Iverson-type bright. More on that in a second.

The only topic that anyone wants to discuss about the 28-year-old Thomas is the status of his hip injury. It makes sense. He was just a major piece in a swap that landed him in Cleveland. But there’s actually doubt that IT makes it back as the same player. And that concern makes no sense.

Just watch Isaiah Thomas play ball.

In the name of buckets and in honor of his squad, he’s been able to conquer his height, his draft status, two poorly run franchises, every defense in the NBA and the passing of his sister. He’s turned everything into fuel, becoming a truly dangerous offensive weapon.

Thomas can deliver his offensive arsenal in anyway you want it. He can run pick-and-roll, where he can get to the cup, stop short for a floater or drill an off-the-dribble three-ball. Or he can go one-on-one, where the defender’s sure to either get crossed all the way up or be straight up left in the dust. He gets to the line pretty much whenever he wants, converting at 90 percent when the clock’s stopped.

His gameplay style, his swagger, his vulnerability, it all adds up to equal a total package that’s reminiscent of Iverson. IT barrels into the lane with no regard for his body, like Chuck did. He competes with unbridled emotion, like Chuck did. He maneuvers his way around the hardwood, finding gaps and alleyways, like Chuck did. He gives his all, like Chuck did.

Because beyond the numbers and off-court gossip, Isaiah Thomas is a real killa, capable of going off at any time and leading any team to the top of the League. And there’s no doubt that he comes back better, faster, stronger and more hungry from this hip injury. Just watch him play ball.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 25
2015: Not Ranked
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Jimmy Butler, No. 16

DeMarco Williams — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:37:04 +0000

The other night we were having dinner at this newish Tex-Mex spot called Superica. The waiter asked what I wanted to drink and I told him I’d try the Slushie Del Dia. He replied, “Good choice. It’s refreshing. But be careful—it’ll sneak up on you.”

And wouldn’t you know it, about halfway through my fajitas, the alcohol started elbowing its way around the harmless fruit and ice. All the waiter could say between a devilish grin when he breezed by our table to check on us was, “Told ya.”

Got a feeling Jimmy Butler and the Minnesota Timberwolves will be the strawberry schnapps in the NBA’s drink this year. While you and your Twitter buddies are understandably obsessing over the repeat-minded Golden State Warriors, recharged Houston Rockets and rebuilt OKC Thunder, the T-Wolves are readying to come in the back door as a 5th or 6th seed in the playoffs and raise all kinds of hell once they get there.

You’d have to be drunk to think this new situation isn’t a great one for Butler. For starters, he’s back with former Chicago Bulls head coach, Tom Thibodeau, the man who helped mold Jimmy into the three-time All-Star he is today. The two were together from 2011 to 2015, Butler’s first seasons in the league. Naturally, over time, JB got more comfortable with Thibs, and you could see the positive changes in his demeanor, defense and daily stat line.

“They’ve come by their relationship honestly,” Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, told the Associated Press about Tom and Jimmy. “They worked through a period to where they really came to learn what the other is about. They have a basis to work from, but things have changed, and they’ve changed and adapted. They will take the starting point that they have, but they have to build on it.”

But coaching isn’t the only thing that has changed in Butler’s favor. Unlike a year ago, the 28-year-old shooting guard will have consistent offensive help in budding stars Andrew Wiggins (No. 36 on this very SLAM list) and Karl-Anthony Towns (so good you haven’t even seen him on this list yet). Last year, defenses could smoother Butler out of disrespect for Rajon Rondo, Robin Lopez and the other Bulls. Try that mess again this year and they’ll regret it.

Another reason why Butler is setting himself up for another monster year is Minnesota’s new point guard situation. Lost in the flurry of offseason transactions is the Timberwolves’ smart acquisition of Jeff Teague, a reliable backcourt presence who, last year with Indiana, averaged a career-high 7.8 dimes and his fewest turnovers since 2013.

Butler probably toasted the loudest to the Teague signing. Jimmy loves moving around screens, racing down the court in transition and creating space any way he can. Teague likes rewarding his playmakers with the ball once they’ve freed themselves. He’ll know where Butler is on the floor at all times, ensuring he gets a steady flow of chest passes near the three-point line. Butler averaged nearly 24 points a night last year. That number will only drop a pinch but the young man’s stress level should plummet.

“I’m just here to teach them what I know,” the three-time All-Defensive Second Teamer recently told NBA TV about his new teammates. “I think they’re going to be just fine. They love to work. They love being in the gym. That’s where it all starts. If you have that, then who knows how great you can be?”

I can’t say for certain if it’s the residual alcohol talking or what, but if Butler has the well-rounded year he’s capable of having in ’17-18, he may sneak into the top 10 conversation next season.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 19
2015: No. 18
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Klay Thompson, No. 17

Jack Jensen — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 20:18:16 +0000

For being the prototype of an ideal shooting guard, Klay Thompson is one pretty undefinable dude.

On any given night, the Warriors 6th-year super wing might lock down the opposing team’s best player, or erupt for 60. On 11 dribbles. Off the court, he might also bless the Twittersphere with the adventures of China Klay, IndyCar Klay, or Klay vs. Dog. On more than 11 dribbles.

All of which as he continues to shoot nearly 42 percent from deep for his career and help keep the good ship Golden State churning out more wins and rings.

Thus is the genius of Klay Thompson, in all forms; everything feels effortless.

Not only does the man shoot the prettiest ball in the League—JJ, JR and Steph have a good argument here too—but Thompson also remains one of its best on-ball defenders. Despite the occasional missed helpside recovery or monster defensive rebound numbers, he is as good a two-way guard in the game when he’s locked and loaded. He can guard four positions and at 6-7, Thompson can rise over almost any defender to get his own shot on the other end. He also gets buckets. And in a hurry.

There was the 37 he gave the Kings back in 2015, in the 3rd quarter alone. That one was good enough to make Thompson the most prolific scorer in a single quarter in NBA history. Or how about the aforementioned 60 he dropped in three quarters against Indiana last season. He accomplished that while also holding the ball in his possession for a total of 90 seconds. NINETY. I can’t even play Fruit Ninja on my wife’s iPad for 90 seconds without getting a hand cramp. Klay seems to catch fire almost casually.

In fact, since the 2014-15 season, Thompson’s stat cards have stayed remarkably consistent. His averages have hovered at or right around 22 points, two dimes and nearly four boards a game. That includes hooping opposite of two MVP-winning running mates in Steph and, more recently, with KD. In that time, Thompson has helped attain two NBA championships, three consecutive All-Star nods, a 3-Point Contest title, and an Olympic Gold medal.

It’s also why damn near every team in the league continues to try and trade for him– and it’s why the Dubs ain’t budging so far. That’s because Klay Thompson is a bona fide No. 1 masquerading as a No. 3, or even No. 4.

Without Thompson, the Warriors don’t escape the ’16 Western Conference Finals against OKC, they don’t reel off 73 wins and, arguably, they might not even beat a 2015 Believeland team that heavily featured Matt Dellavedova in the Finals. But they do have him, and they did win two chips, and there doesn’t seem to be any signs of slowing yet. And at only 27 years old, without ever fully getting control of the Dubs convertible yet, Klay might still have a fair amount of ceiling left to reach.

But the #SLAMTop50 isn’t just about the hype; you gotta have the intangibles too.

Simply put, a Klay Thompson interview is a thing of beauty. Stay with me here, but from downing a postgame pizza in the media scrum, to topping another one off with a beer, Klay always approaches his media time with the utmost swag. Hell, sometimes he’ll get so lost in his own wisdom that he’ll maybe, probably, sometimes forget what the question was even about. I mean, just watch this 12-minute montage dedicated to the man’s best answers. It’s captivating.

As for the Summer of Klay, wow. A true man of the people.

No one had more fun this summer than Klay, and I’m including everyone who live streamed the eclipse. He had THAT much fun. He danced his face off at a club in China, laughed off a missed dunk in front of all of social media, vacationed in the Bahamas, and might have even robbed a bank in California (he didn’t) and he probably refueled with chocolate milk the entire time! That’s a star in my book.

So to recap: Klay gets buckets, locks down defensively, wins championships, is only 27, and would definitely school Air Bud in any 1-on-1 setting.

If that’s not #SLAMTop50 royalty then I don’t know what is.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 13
2015: No. 17
2014: No. 29
2013: No. Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Chris Paul, No. 18

Drew Ruiz — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:40:56 +0000

On June 28, Chris Paul took to Instagram to thank Clipper Nation for the last six years he had spent in L.A. When the news of the trade to Houston hit NBA Twitter, four words floated around timelines to describe the situation between the Paul-Harden pairing:

“There’s only one ball.”

Prior to last season, Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni did, what some at the time deemed unthinkable, and moved All-Star shooting guard James Harden to the point guard position. Again, NBA Twitter went crazy.

Harden at the point raised concerns and many questioned if it was the right move. And on October 26, Harden dropped 17 dimes to go with his 34 points as the Rockets defeated the Lakers. The Beard led the League in assists (11.3) and D’Antoni was praised for the move, making it one of the many reasons he earned Coach of the Year honors.

Immediately after Paul’s Instagram post, he and Harden wasted no time getting to work to build that camaraderie to prepare them for this upcoming season. During the summer, they spent their days working out and playing pickup ball at UCLA, Lifetime in New York and Paul even made his Drew League debut, joining Harden’s LAUNFD squad that had social media buzzing with highlights and a glimpse of what’s to come in 2017-18.

Bringing in Paul, a ball-dominant point guard himself, continues to raise concerns whether the Paul-Harden backcourt could actually work with Harden coming off one of his best seasons in eight years.

Is Harden going to be OK going back to playing off the ball? Will/can CP3 play off the ball? Can this actually work if they’re both interchangeable? Knowing how Paul’s an emotional leader, will they eventually clash?

Eye Test vs. Analytics Twitter have ongoing debates about Paul—whether he’s in the Top 10 discussion or not—but despite the numbers and his playoff track record, he’s still a valuable asset, especially to a team like the Rockets.

Before Paul’s arrival, Houston had a 55-win season, shot 35.7 percent from deep and tallied 1,181 threes to lead the League in 3-pointers made. They also ranked top five in points per game (115.3), assists per game (25.2), fast break points per game (16.7) and catch-and-shoot points per game (30.2).

With CP3 in Houston, the Rockets will have another stellar playmaker on the floor. Paul last averaged double digits in assists in 2015-16, but he’ll have many options and opportunities on the floor now to once again average 10-plus dimes a game in H-Town.

In pick-and-roll situations, where Chris Paul excels, Clint Capela is going to feast as he did with Harden last season.

On the perimeter, he has two lethal shooters in Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson (along with Harden). Anderson (40 percent) and Gordon (37 percent) can wreak havoc when they get it going from beyond the arc. We can expect to see both of them along with Harden get more looks on the perimeter with Paul on the floor.

When he’s not picking apart defenses in the PNR or whipping across passes to Harden, Anderson or Gordon, Paul can call his own number as he did with the Clippers. A mid-range maestro, Paul shot 51 percent from mid-range and ranked second in pull-up points per game (10.3). On a nightly basis, he’ll defend other PGs and bring that tenacity on the defensive side as he’s developed a reputation around the L for being a hard-nosed defender.

All eyes will be on the Rockets with Training Camp starting this week as Paul gets ready to accomplish something he couldn’t do in New Orleans or Los Angeles: win an NBA Championship.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 11
2015: No. 7
2014: No. 3
2013: No. 3

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Draymond Green, No. 19

Alex Squadron — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 18:41:53 +0000

Draymond Green is a problem.

If you don’t know, or you don’t believe it, Draymond Green will make sure you do.

He’ll shout it in your ear after blocking your shot into the stands or finishing through you at the rim. Or he’ll inform you more subtly, by sticking his tongue out or flexing his muscles in your face.

As he says, it’s not arrogance, it’s confidence. And besides, you can talk trash when you consistently back it up on the floor.

The irony is, at this point, the resume speaks for itself:

Two titles. YUP.

Two-time All-Star. YUP

Two-time All-NBA. YUP

Three-time All-Defense. YUP

2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year. YUP.

Cleveland Cavaliers. NOPE.

By now, everyone knows what makes Dray special. He isn’t an elite shooter or scorer, like some of his Warrior teammates and a large portion of the Top 20 on this list. But his versatility is virtually unmatched in an NBA that is moving more and more towards “small ball” and position-less basketball each year.

Think about it. Isn’t every team currently searching for their own Draymond?

With KD in the mix, Green’s numbers slightly decreased in most statistically categories last season. He went from 14 points per game to 10.2, 9.5 rebounds to 7.9, and 7.4 assists to 7.0.

The numbers—in this case—do lie. Those drop-offs were not at all indicative of a diminished value.

Draymond was still Draymond, the heart and soul of a championship squad who played whatever role coach asked him to and unfailingly established the tone on defense. A lineup with Dray essentially at the five alongside Curry, Durant, Klay, and Iggy logged 224 minutes together and was +23. With Green on the floor, opponents posted a 102.4 offensive rating. With him off, that jumped to 107.4.

He led the team in assists for the second straight year and finished second in the entire League in steals (154), defensive rating (99.1), and defensive win shares (5.4). And while all triple-double pub went to Westbrook and Harden, Green still tallied five triple-doubles.

We can point to merely two reasons why he trickled from No. 16 to No. 19 on the #SLAMTop50.

One is efficiency. In 2015-16, Green’s field goal percentage (49 percent) was almost LeBron-esque. It plummeted sharply to 42 percent in 2016-17—a fine figure but not exactly what we have come to expect from Green. Likewise, his three-point percentage fell from 39 percent to 31 percent.

According to Basketball-Reference, Draymond was just 52 percent on lay-ups and 29 percent on jump shots. While the Warriors don’t rely on him for buckets, those percentages can (and knowing Dray’s work ethic, almost certainly will) get better.

The second reason has nothing to do with Green. Coming in at No. 19 is more a testament to the remarkable ascent of others and the absurd amount of superstars there are in today’s league than to a significant on-court decline.

In a recent interview, Draymond told ESPN that we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

“Eventually I will reach my ceiling, but I know I’m nowhere near that right now,” he said.

Maybe he will get there in 2017-18.

Either way, we’re looking forward to it.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 16
2015: No. 29
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Alex Squadron is a reporter for the NY Post. Follow him on Twitter @asquad510.

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Blake Griffin, No. 20

Danny Hazan — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 15:49:03 +0000

Ranking who the top 50 NBA players will be by the end of the season to pass the monotony of the final weeks of the offseason is as fun as it is hard. It’s fun because it gets the juices flowing again, reminds us of how great the League is, and that a new season is upon us. Watching the comments section devolve from thoughtful, well-crafted opposing views to ‘your (sic) a fucking moran,’ can also be fun if you’re into that sort of thing.

It’s hard because in today’s NBA any 50 of the names (sans a few) you’ve seen on this list, and many who were left off, could reasonably be swapped.

The Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin is entering his eighth season in the League, and checks in at number 20—down from 14 on last year’s SLAM Top 50. The fact that I would have had him ranked closer to 10 than 20 speaks to how difficult it is trying to rank the best of the best in the top hoops league in the world.

When Blake is right physically, which has been an issue that has hampered him throughout his career, he is capable of being the most impactful player on the court—regardless of who else is playing.

The 6-10 power forward made a splash in the League immediately with his explosive athleticism, but the continual polishing of his overall skillset has helped him become a five-time NBA All-Star. Despite sustaining a season-ending plantar plate injury in his foot during Game 4 of the Clippers’ first round playoff exit againstthe Jazz, L.A. made sure they kept their franchise player in town by re-signing him to a 5-year, $173 million deal.

Though Chris Paul departed for Houston in one of the offseason’s trades, don’t expect the Clippers to be anywhere close to a rebuild. Griffin is reportedly expected to be ready to roll by December following surgery in May, and Danilo Gallinari has had injuries plague his career as well. Assuming they’re both on the court and healthy for at least three quarters of the season, expect the Clippers to be safely in the playoffs.

For his career, Griffin boasts a scoring average of 21.5 points per game along with 9.4 boards and 4.1 assists while shooting 52 percent from the floor. While it could take time for him to mesh with new point guards Milos Teodosic and Pat Beverly, Griffin proved himself a monster when everything ran through him when Chris Paul missed games.

Griffin has become one of the toughest covers in the League because he can consistently knock in an 18-footer now. If his defender takes that away, his ability to drive and finish is as good as any big in the League. His passing ability is also tops among those categorized as a big, and he’s developed a devastating chemistry with DeAndre Jordan over the course of their seven seasons together in L.A. Griffin’s mix of power and finesse is rare, and with seven seasons of experience under his belt to sprinkle on top, he has the tools to dominate any game he plays in.

The questions revolving around his health and ability to get into a groove with the new-look Clippers will linger until he gets back onto the court. Assuming he does return as the Blake we’ve come to know, the only question that will remain is how far can he carry the Clippers now that it is his show?

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 14
2015: No. 8
2014: No. 8
2013: No. 17

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: DeMar DeRozan, No. 21

Habeeba Husain — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 18:27:01 +0000

What’s good, Double D? This is the fourth consecutive year I have the pleasure of writing up your ranking on the SLAM Top 50, and I believe a small congratulatory remark is in order. You’ve moved up three spots from last year, resulting in your highest ranking on our countdown yet—congrats!

While moving up three spots isn’t nearly as big of a jump as his previous year’s uptick of 22, it’s definitely not a bad thing.

If DeRozan tips off the new season the way he did last year, we all best be ready for some ball. The Raptors’ guard logged nine 30-plus point performances in the first 11 games of the 2016-17 season. Before the end of the calendar year, he became Toronto’s all-time leading scorer. Fans and opposing teams alike witnessed DeRozan’s pure scoring ability as 2016 came to a close.

Early 2017 continued the trend. The new year saw improved career highs for DeRozan in both points, with 43 against the Celtics on Feb. 24, as well as rebounds with 13 also against the Celtics on Jan. 10. He earned his third NBA All-Star selection in four years. With career best averages of 27.3 points per game—good for fifth in the League—and 5.2 rebounds, he definitely showed he possessed the necessary skills to put up consistent numbers and claim wins for The North during the regular season. For the first time in his career, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

The Compton native attracts the eyes of fans and players alike, mesmerizing onlookers with his fancy footwork. Even Kevin Durant says DeRozan’s moves are worth studying. He draws fouls and uses his length to effortlessly shoot over defenders both with his pull-up and step-back game. He loves his mid-range territory, and rightfully so—his efficacy with that shot is undeniable.

Heading into this season, we can definitely expect more points from his sweet spot, more of his gravity-defying dunks, and more of his expert footwork on the court. But of course, there is always room for growth and we hope to see some of that from the All-Star in the 6ix. The Raptors certainly need it from Deebo come playoff time if they want to travel deep into the postseason.

Improvements specifically in DeRozan’s perimeter game, passing, and presence on the defensive end this upcoming year will be the game changer in his play. With these additions to DeRozan’s already impressive skill set, we can’t imagine Toronto falling prey to another clean sweep in the playoffs.

And it seems like he started working on his 3-point range this offseason:

DeMar DeRozan working on that 3pt shooting. pic.twitter.com/11SwgdjbdG

— Kevin Rashidi (@KevinRashidi) July 25, 2017

So Double D, we’ve got our seat belts on. We’re ready for the fun ride we’re hoping for at the start of the new season. Congrats again on all your accomplishments so far, but this year, we are itching for a little bit more.

And we’re certain you are too.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 24
2015: No. 46
2014: No. 30
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Carmelo Anthony, No. 22

Ben Collins — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 15:47:25 +0000

Well. I feel pretty stupid.

Since I’m easily duped, I followed the cool basketball writer trend of underrating the everliving hell out of Carmelo Anthony. I didn’t go Full ESPN, which ranked him somewhere between Anthony Bennett and Dennis Smith Jr.’s infant son Dennis Smith Jr. Jr., but I had Carmelo Anthony in the 40s.

He was below Al Horford, and I’m glad the smarter people at this magazine corrected for me, because I am an idiot, and I am ashamed, and I am going to be proven instantly wrong.

Carmelo Anthony was traded for an expired Clif bar and proprietary laundry tokens this past weekend. He is now on a team that will force him to realize his true destiny of being one of the best third options and facilitating power forwards who’s ever lived.

There is no way in hell Carmelo would’ve figured this out unless he was behind Russell Westbrook (ball dominant maniac) and Paul George (so good Melo will graciously move to the 4), and now he is. If things go like they should, this part of his career should be his legacy.

Remember, he’s been in this position before and he wound up becoming the most important player on a team full of MVPs, future Hall of Farmers, all-time greats, and Harrison Barnes. After his 2016 Olympics stint, he’s the all-time leading scorer in Team USA history. On the game he pulled it off, he added eight boards. A few games later, he broke the Team USA rebounding record, beating Dream Team-era David Robinson.

In games when he wasn’t scoring, he deferred to better teammates. In a nailbiter against France, where Klay Thompson was doing stupid cheat code things he does once every two months now, Melo had five assists and Klay had 30 points.

This is what it’s going to be like. This is like when the Pistons got ‘Sheed, or when the Lakers got Pau in ‘08. He is a matchup nightmare the Thunder got for pennies, and they just got catapulted from fringe contender to a team that could be aggressively turning down Donald Trump next September.

Call him the Final Piece, call him Olympic Melo, call him Ultimate Twilight Melo, call him Hoodie Melo. All that matters is he’s not Disgruntled Knicks star Carmelo Anthony anymore, and that’s what’s going to make us all look dumb.

I mean, was disengaged, grumpy, ISO Hell Melo really a less valuable NBA player than Goran Dragic next year, which is something I wrote down on a list a month ago? Or did we just forget what this guy is capable of when he believes in the team around him?

The answer is the last one.

The only real question here is this: Who on the staff knew this trade was coming? Why was this due two days after the trade? Is Adam Figman a member of the Illuminati? If he is, why did the Illuminati decide to start letting people wear tee shirts to work?

The Illuminati is slipping. Carmelo no longer is.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 15
2015: No. 13
2014: No. 7
2013: No. 4

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Kristaps Porzingis, No. 23

Ryne Nelson — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:02:26 +0000

It’s been quite the offseason for Kristaps Porzingis.

It started with a bang when he blew off his Knicks exit meeting and hopped on a plane to Latvia.

He trained with Dirk Nowitzki in South Africa.

He led his country in EuroBasket, with averages of 23.6 points, 5.9 boards and 1.9 blocks (tournament leader).

https://youtu.be/4B-E-T19hpw

He did not get traded for Kyrie Irving.

And now he’s back in the States just in time for Knicks training camp on Monday.

As the centerpiece of the Knicks’ young core, Porzingis is expected to become the team’s No. 1 option at some point this season.

New York likely won’t be very good, but they’re finally ditching the Triangle for an offense that caters to Porzingis’ playing style.

And let’s talk about that playing style, which is very much “unicornian.”

At 7-3, he can get a shot off over nearly everyone—and he does it proficiently in the post, mid-range and three.

He’s not afraid of contact, and will use his length to try to bang on defenders in the paint.

Defensively, he’s an active shot-blocker and has enough agility to effectively guard the pick-and-roll.

And did we mention his demeanor? He loves the game, he’s a student, a constant practitioner of the craft.

Because of this, pressure rarely affects his play. He relishes in the opportunity to prove anyone who doubts him wrong.

He’s got a bit of that Iverson/young Melo swag, from around the time when KP had braids himself (bring them back KP!).

https://twitter.com/FredoDGawd/status/819761779203067908

He may or may not have beef with Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, but c’mon, things are looking up with a competent front office and a straightforward plan.

And they have Porzingis. Who makes the future look a whole lot brighter.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 37
2015: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Gordon Hayward, No. 24

DeMarco Williams — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 15:05:33 +0000

If you’re new to Boston like, say, Gordon Hayward, a good way to see the city is with Boston Duck Tours. The company’s two-hour jaunt takes you past Boston Common, by Paul Revere’s gravesite, across the Charles River and other famous spots around the Hub.

Along the sightseeing trek, you’ll hit Boylston Street, too. History books say the road is famous for being the site of the original M.I.T. campus. But it also holds a special place in the city’s more contemporary lore for being one of the routes used for teams’ championship parades. Not sure if you’ve been keeping tabs but Boston has had a lot of processions over the past 20 years.

The Celtics haven’t led a parade since 2008. That’s not terribly long. But when you have guys named Tom Brady and David Ortiz seemingly raising banners every other year across town, that nine-year stretch can feel like an eternity.

The signing of Gordon Hayward is an important step to fixing things. The most sought-after free agent during the summer shopping season, Hayward is that 21/5/3 guy who’ll pull up from 21 feet with five seconds left with three hands in his face. And because of his expanding game, he’s also a player who doesn’t need a tour guide to tell him where the paint is. (Hayward’s drive-field-goal percentage was 47.9 percent, just a tick down from Russell Westbrook’s 48 percent last year.)

That last stat is the one that should have the League shaking in its Hyperdunks. Coming into the NBA from Butler in 2010, Hayward was regarded as a smart player with great body control and a catch-and-shoot prowess. But few talked about his aggressiveness. Even his first few years with the Jazz foreshadowed a player that scouts thought was heading down a Mike Miller-like career path to being a complementary shooter.

But Hayward never got that “complementary shooter” e-mail. Every year, in fact, the young man’s offensive output has increased, until it absolutely exploded last season with a career-high 21.9 ppg. He earned his first all-star nod in February. By March, he was on the receiving end of so many “Damn, I didn’t know the homie could ball like that” tweets that we lost count.

Some want to credit maturity and confidence with his overall growth. Other insist that Gordon’s physical transformation from a somewhat-scrawny Indiana kid to the chiseled specimen he is today is the reason. Hell, a few people even say that props should go to his barber for the Macklemore-approved haircut. Whatever the case, Boston is bound to benefit.

Kyrie Irving says he’ll be a “complete point guard” with the Cs. Repeat that sentence a hundred times and Gordon Hayward’s smile will widen each time. No shade to the ever-efficient George Hill, Hayward’s PG last year with the Jazz, but a playmaker like Irving is exactly what the dude needs to bring out even more of the animal in his game. And if we’re talking about the overall team, the spacing that a solid-shooting Hayward brings to the floor all of a sudden frees things up that much more for bigs Al Horford and Marcus Morris. Kids, but you don’t need a Harvard social science degree to see that this move makes sense.

Oh, and did we mention how Hayward’s new coach, Brad Stevens, is actually his old coach from college? The two have a history that goes way back to high school recruiting visits in 2007. That kind of bond can’t be overstated. Hell, even in his Players’ Tribune goodbye letter, Hayward wrote that he partially made the decision to go to Boston instead of re-signing with Utah or taking his talents to Miami because of “that unfinished business we had together, back in 2010, when I left Butler for the NBA … as far as I’m concerned, all of these years later, we still have it: And that’s to win a championship.”

Speaking of titles, the aforementioned duck tour happens to pass TD Garden, the Celtics’ home. Inside the arena you’ll see six banners from the NHL-playing Bruins and 17 from the Celts hanging from the rafters. The 18th probably won’t come in 2018. But because Hayward and Irving are the proud franchise’s new cornerstones, we won’t be shocked if we see confetti tossed about Boylston Street in another two or three years.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 33
2015: No. 35
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Rudy Gobert, No. 25

Abe Schwadron — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 15:46:03 +0000

Truthfully, if we’re keeping it all the way a buck, I’m not even a Rudy Gobert fan. This despite the fact that Rudy Gobert is a Twitter superstar (which is just about all it takes to earn my respect in 2017) and the fact that writing about Rudy Gobert gives me a very rare opportunity to flash some French (thanks for sending me to immersion school when I was a kid, mom, knew it would come in handy at a critical moment in life).

Maybe it’s that he plays for Utah, a West Coast team that’s never been the kind of sexy late night appointment viewing on League Pass that even bad teams like the Lakers or Suns have been. Maybe it’s that so far all the attempts at nicknames for Gobert have been, objectively, quite awful. The Stifle Tower, The French Rejection, The Gobert Report, Gobzilla? You gotta be kidding me. I just rolled my eyes so hard my head almost fell off my body.

It doesn’t really matter what the reason is—the point I’m trying to make here is that nothing makes me want to hype up Rudy Gobert. Nothing really makes me want to sing his praises from a mountaintop.

But goddamn, he is good at basketball.

Remember when the Nuggets drafted him with the 27th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, only to be traded to the Jazz for Erick Green and cash? Of course you don’t, because then he was just some French guy we’d never heard of. Now? Denver looks pretty stupid.

Even at 7-1, Gobert’s 7-9 wingspan and 9-9 standing reach is freakish. He singlehandedly made Utah one of the three best defensive teams in the NBA last year with his ability to protect the rim. He’s not just a steady presence in the paint—he’s a dominant one. He can guard the NBA’s pet play, the pick-and-roll, basically by himself, making the ballhandler think twice about entering the lane, and using his length to keep the roller from receiving an easy pass. Meanwhile his teammates can stay home on the perimeter. That’s a long-winded way of saying he’s a game-changer on the defensive end.

His 14 ppg, 12.8 rpg and league-leading 2.6 blocks per game in 2016-17 were all career-highs, and he finished second in the NBA in Win Shares. Want more advanced stats? How about all of these:

.@rudygobert27 finished 2016-17…
1st in DRPM
1st in DWS
1st in BLK%
1st in DRtg
2nd in WS
3rd in DBPM
5th in RPM
6th in DRB%
8th in VORP pic.twitter.com/K9qhi6HD5o

— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) April 13, 2017

And here’s one more for you, perhaps most revealing: nERD is a metric developed by numberFire that measures the total contribution of a player throughout the course of a season, based on their efficiency, where League average is 0. Similar to win shares, you can think of it like, if dude played on a team with four league-average teammates, we’d expect that team to finish X games over .500 that season.

Last season, Gobert finished with a 17.8 nERD rating, second in the NBA behind only Kawhi Leonard (19.5). Which means over the full 82 last season, in terms of efficiency, Gobert contributed more to his squad than 48 of the other 49 names you’ll see on this countdown.

And, in the wake of Gordon Hayward’s departure for greener (I’m sorry) pastures in Boston, Gobert is all of a sudden a leading man. Hell, he’s already the Most Influential Person in Utah Sports. (No, seriously.) So while he’s never been a back-to-the-basket offensive playmaker who you can just throw the rock when you need a bucket, his efficiency in limited offensive touches is promising, especially for a 25-year-old who will be given every opportunity to become the man. Plus, he’s a criminally underrated passer:

Just @rudygobert27 droppin dimes pic.twitter.com/z0FbEFz7cd

— Adam (@prodigyJF) August 29, 2017

The Jazz were better when Gobert was on the floor last season—on both ends—and he was knocking on the door of an All-Star nod with career-highs across the board. His stock is pointing up for ’17-18. Way up. Like, most impactful big man in the NBA level up.

Et vous savez quoi? Je pense qu’après avoir dit tout ca, en réalité, je suis un fan de son.

Abe Schwadron is the Managing Editor at numberFire and a former Senior Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @abe_squad .

Previous Rankings
2016: No. 40
2015: No. 48
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Kyle Lowry, No. 26

Milo Taibi — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 14:43:14 +0000

On July 2, 2014, Kyle Lowry re-signed with the Raptors on a 4-year, $48 million extension. Though the dust had hardly settled on the offseason’s free agency period, re-upping with Toronto made plenty of sense for Lowry. After finding his footing with the Grizzlies for two and a half seasons, and earning a starting role in Houston, Lowry had finally emerged as a premium talent with the Raptors. Lowry’s Top 50 rankings are indicative of his history as a late-bloomer. Despite not cracking the list through his first five seasons, the Philly native has been a mainstay since 2014.

A former Villanova Wildcat, Lowry helped lead Toronto to the 2013-14 postseason; the franchise’s first playoff berth in seven years. As a clubhouse leader and burgeoning star, Lowry was ready to lead his teammates to the next level.

“As a competitor, as a professional, I relish the fact that I get to say that ‘it’s my team’, I’m the leader of the team,” Lowry said during the team’s official announcement. “I wanted to be in a place I could win and grow.”

As the 2017-18 season nears, Lowry is in a similar position. As he did in 2014, Lowry inked an extension as soon as the offseason began; signing on for three more years in Toronto and, in effect, keeping Dwane Casey’s starting unit completely intact. Lowry, the team’s offensive catalyst, will be flanked by potent weapons DeMar DeRozan and Serge Ibaka (also signed to a 3-year deal over the offseason).

The past three years have been fruitful for Lowry, boosting both his own stock and the team’s. With Lowry signed to a team-friendly deal, the Raptors went a combined 156-90 from 2014-on, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. On the heels of a career-high 6.82 Real Plus-Minus through the regular season, Lowry showed flashes of brilliance through the 2015-16 playoffs. Kyle’s 23.4 PPG were the difference in helping Toronto bounce Miami in the Semis, and the three-time All-Star averaged 20.2 points against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Dogged by an ankle injury, Lowry was unable to make his presence felt in last year’s postseason, sitting out Games 3 and 4 of a disappointing semifinals loss to Cleveland. Lowry, who will turn 32 this season, has embraced his role as team leader while finding a long-term home in Toronto. Following his extension, the 12th-year floor general expounded on his career goals through a letter in The Players’ Tribune.

“As exciting as it’s been around here — I don’t think we’ve reached our true potential,” Lowry explained. “[My heart] is telling me that the Raptors can be a championship-level team, sooner than later.”

The Raptors will face an uphill battle to surpass the Celtics and Cavs, but Lowry—having doubled down on his commitment to Toronto—appears up for the challenge.

Previous Rankings
2016: No. 21
2015: No. 37
2014: No. 34
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Mike Conley, No. 27

Peter Walsh — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 17:34:38 +0000

Mike Conley may go down as the most underappreciated player of this generation. Entering his tenth season with the Grizzlies, Conley has never been an All-Star, even though he has led Memphis to the playoffs seven straight times (Conley missed the ’16 playoffs with an Achilles’ tendon injury).

The lefty is widely considered one of the top point guards in the Leauge and was one of just eight players to average at least 20 points and 6 assists per game in ’16-17 (the others: Eric Bledsoe, Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James, Kyle Lowry, John Wall, and Russell Westbrook.)

Conley, at this point in his career, is best known for inking a massive 5-year $153 million dollar deal that made him the highest-paid player in the history of the NBA during the summer of 2016. The general reaction from fans and those who follow the League was basically, “What the hell?” The point guard responded by having the best year of his career, averaging 20.5 points and 6.3 assists, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. Memphis finished 49-39, good enough for seventh in the West. In the first round of the playoffs, Conley elevated his game, scoring 24.7 points and dishing out 7.0 assists in a six-game series against the Spurs.

So what’s next for the Conley, and the Grizzlies, in general?

At age 29, Conley is playing at the highest level of his career. He has not played in 70 games since the 2014-15 season and with Memphis sporting a bench that consists of guards Wade Baldwin IV, Mario Chalmers and Andrew Harrison, the Grizz need Conley to stay healthy, and keep posting career-best numbers, in a bad way.

The Grizzlies are in a curious position in that they are transitioning from the Grit-N-Grind era into a rebuild on the fly. This past offseason, they inked Chalmers, Tyreke Evans and Ben McLemore to short-term deals and said goodbye to Zach Randolph, Vince Carter and Tony Allen.

Franchise center Marc Gasol recently told Spanish outlet Cataluyna Radio that the team has to “keep growing” and “If this is not lined up, maybe we have to revisit things.” Earlier this month, a different report surfaced that both Gasol and Conley are “untouchable” in trades, and that the longterm contracts signed by Conley and Gasol means that the Grizzlies have the intention of building around those two in the future.

For a team that hasn’t missed the playoffs in nearly a decade, anything short of a berth would be a failure, but with Conley and Gasol, and coach David Fizdale, the team has at least a fighting chance for a spot in the loaded West.

Of course, any positive contribution from Chandler Parsons, who has unfortunately been slowed by injuries since signing with the team, would boost Memphis’ chances.

As far as the elusive All-Star berth, Conley will forever be fighting an uphill battle in the West. Playing in a smaller market certainly doesn’t do him any favors, but either does playing in a conference where Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Chris Paul, and Damian Lillard all dwell.

All-Star or not, Conley has solidified himself as one of the top floor generals in the League and Memphis will need him more than ever if they are going to make a run.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 32
2015: No. 32
2014: No. 40
2013: No. 45

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Joel Embiid, No. 28

Ben Collins — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 15:04:01 +0000

When healthy Joel Embiid is a top-3 center in the NBA. When healthy Joel Embiid might even be the best center in the NBA right now, as in this current moment, better than the proven guys, better than whatever foppish but beautiful touch pass Nikola Jokic can pull off, better than a DeAndre lob in traffic because the man is a dynamo. He is, from the 31 games of professional bliss that we have witnessed, capable of all of those things, plus the end of human suffering, and also a consistent 3 from the top of the key.

It’s Gobert and Cousins and When healthy Joel Embiid. That’s it.

People with podcasts keep talking about When healthy Joel Embiid as if he’s Michael Jordan, and that’s a little much. That needs to stop. But when Christine Embiid brought When healthy Joel onto this planet 23 years ago, she probably saw some Hakeem in him pretty quickly. She probably saw some peak skinny Shaq, thundering like a truck with the breaks cut for a putback on a fast break. She saw what we saw.

You can put the team on his back, and it might snap his meniscus and foot in half again, but you will be terrifying in the euphoric interim.

There’s an issue, and it’s this other guy. Injury riddled Joel Embiid is a big time problem. Injury riddled Joel Embiid probably cost Sam Hinkie his job. Injury riddled Joel Embiid reminds me of Greg Oden, and not even the fun Ohio State one, just the one-leg-longer-than-the-other one.

Injury riddled Joel Embiid is like that childhood friend who fixed your Sega Saturn, no questions asked, no money changed hands, but you saw him strangling chipmunks in the backyard that one time and you figure it’s only a matter of time. That kid is going to burn down an enemy’s summer house in Cabo San Lucas and charge the airfare to your credit card. Injury riddled Joel Embiid and that kid are ticking timebombs, but what are you gonna do? Not have a Sega Saturn?

You’re gonna have to roll with Injury riddled Joel Embiid. That is what you’re gonna have to do. He is the only chance at happiness.

You must roll with the joy as it comes. When healthy Joel Embiid is flanked by a veteran shooter, JJ Redick, who is being paid about $100,000 per three-pointer. That is real math. Robert Covington is some sort of combo Jesus/Beyonce figure for the discerning Analytics Bro. There are still some lifers out there who believe Ben Simmons has Magic Johnsonian tendencies, and LeBron James is one of those lifers.

Markelle Fultz certainly seems like he’s going to haunt, punish and send weird letters to Danny Ainge for the rest of his life, so that’s at least two wins right there. I am also required to say nice things about Dario Saric here, whom some very intimidating-sounding Trust The Process people have decided is more Danilo Gallinari than Ersan Ilyasova. I value my life too much to question them.

Basically, he’s in very good shape, personnel-wise. When healthy Joel Embiid reminds me only of the most dominant physical players I can think of. He also plays with the energy of a hockey goon.

This has proven to be a dangerous cocktail on a team with no timeline. It has split him in half. The team has a timeline now. The next decade in Philly lives or dies on whether Joel Embiid can keep it together.

Previous Rankings:
This is Embiid’s first appearance on the #SLAMTop50.

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Nikola Jokic, No. 29

Leo Sepkowitz — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:48:36 +0000

When it comes to the #SLAMTop50, the most interesting players to rank are those with singular skill-sets. It’s easy enough to debate, say, lethal point guards Kyrie Irving vs. Damian Lillard vs. Isaiah Thomas. But, in the grand scheme, where does one place the amazing slowpoke Nikola Jokic?

Jokic entered last season, his second, as an intriguing 21-year-old. He finished as one of the great centers in the NBA. In all, he averaged around 17 points (on 58 percent shooting), 10 boards and 5 assists, plus nearly a block and a steal per game. In the history of the League, only Wilt and Kareem had ever done that.

Jokic, thick and a little clumsy, scores with ease. In the half-court, he often plops his 6-10, 250 pound frame in the low post and uses a very soft touch to finish funky floaters and leaners. His jumper extends to the free throw line, and he can even step out beyond the arc, where he shot around 32 percent last year.

On the boards, Jokic has a knack for being right where the ball lands. Much like Zach Randolph, Jokic rarely has to leap for rebounds, which is good, since he couldn’t if he had to.

After a rebound, Jokic loves to barrel downcourt with the rock, eyes searching for streaking wings. He has the floor vision of not just a point guard, but of an elite one. In transition, Jokic flips the ball behind his back, bounces it from yards away, lofts it awkwardly with one hand, right on target.

He does all of these things every night, and the stats tally in amazing ways. He posted three triple-doubles last February, and three more in March. In all, his six triple-doubles trailed only Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and LeBron James. Among centers, the next most was two.

Jokic—a former second-round pick—is such an unlikely superstar that it’s difficult to ponder his potential. Could such an unusual player be a top twenty guy? Top ten? Is it possible that we’ll soon debate Jokic vs. Anthony Davis? Jokic vs. Kawhi? Jokic vs. Durant?

Yes—so long as Jokic continues along his trajectory, and his Nuggets do, too.

Denver is ready to win this season. With Paul Millsap aboard, the front court is formidable, and Jamal Murray and Gary Harris are rising stars in the backcourt.

The Nuggets missed the postseason by one game last year. Following a summer of improvement—and with a few recent playoff teams likely to fade—the baseline for Denver is the No. 8 seed. There’s potential for much more.

Denver spent the first half of last year misfiring on lineup combinations. Namely, Jokic routinely played beside or behind the bruising Jusuf Nurkic, limiting both players. In February, Denver sent Nurkic to Portland.

The Nuggets proceeded to go 16-12 (a 47-win pace) thanks to MVP play at center.

After the February trade, Jokic averaged around 17.5 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists while maintaining his ridiculous efficiency. Kareem never did that over a full season; Wilt only did it twice.

Smart money is on Jokic setting all sorts of NBA records this year. In fact, fifty bucks says that Jokic is about to become the first player to average 18 points, 10 boards, 5 assists and a three while shooting better than 50 percent overall in a season. Find me on Venmo if you dare.

Previous Rankings:
This is Jokic’s first appearance on the #SLAMTop50.

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Devin Booker, No. 30

Ryne Nelson — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 15:57:05 +0000

Not long after Devin Armani Booker became just sixth player in NBA history to drop 70 points in a game (and the youngest player to ever do so), people began to viciously pick apart his game.

Some critics painted Booker as a player who can do little more than put the ball in the basket. Some numbers will support the claim, too.

These critiques are a rite of passage for rising stars in the NBA. People will try to knock you down while you’re on the way up.

Let’s hold off on the empirical argument for a moment, and listen to what future Hall of Famers are saying about Book.

Kevin Durant, just last month, told The Ringer’s Bill Simmons that he loves the 20-year-old’s game.

“I love Devin Booker, man. He love the game and he like a dog. He’ll talk shit. He’ll, like, rough you up.

“He’ll get up into you. You better watch out for that boy because he is nice. He next—I’m telling you.”

After Booker’s rookie season, LeBron James told UNINTERRUPTED’s Open Run podcast that Book is going to be a “really, really, really good, All-Star player.”

And after a rookie Booker dropped 34 points on Dwyane Wade, Wade called Book “one of the future [top] 2-guards in this League.”

His superstar peers show nothing but love. But still, you say the numbers don’t lie.

There’s an advanced stat called VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) that claims Booker was actually worse than an average player last season.

But that’s not all.

According to Reddit’s u/GetLowwweee, of the 11 players in history to have averaged 20 ppg at age 20, Booker ranked last in PER, combined SPG and BPG, win share percentage and total rebound percentage.

That’s got to mean something, right?

Well, based on his career so far, Booker’s most favorable comparison is to Bradley Beal (according to FiveThirtyEight’s CARMELO projections), who is looking like a perennial All-Star.

Booker may never be a good rebounder or rack-up steals and blocks, but neither does Beal, and yet Beal is widely considered an elite two-way wing.

And let’s not forget the things that stats can’t quantify. All-important things such as drive, effort and basketball IQ, which Booker has in mass quantities.

The tanking and lineup fluctuations in Phoenix are not ideal for Booker’s development. But with any luck, rookie Josh Jackson will emerge as another core player and provide the franchise with some direction.

But back to the numbers.

Devin Booker averaged 22.1 ppg and 3.4 assists last season. His numbers ballooned to 25.3 and 4.0 in March, and 27.4 and 5.6 in April.

All without much of a system in place and a franchise in full tank mode.

Go ahead and pick apart Devin Booker’s flaws. Chances are he’s already two steps ahead, finding ways to get better.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 47
2015: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: CJ McCollum, No. 31

Max Resetar — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:50:10 +0000

The snake dribble gets activated when the ballhandler turns the corner on the pick-and-roll. He puts his defender on his back and then engages the opposing big man in a series of zig-zags, navigating through the paint like a (you guessed it) snake.

It sounds simple enough but it requires a high level of multitasking. Dude with the rock has to be able to occupy two defenders at the same time while avoiding a turnover or a wild shot. And then he has to make the right read, quickly deciding whether to find an open teammate or call his own number. There are few very guys in the League good enough to take advantage of it.

CJ McCollum is in the elite minority.

He breaks defenses down with the snake dribble every damn game. His handle has become air -ight and he uses his long-ass arms to catch defenders with abrupt left-to-right dribbles and hesitations. The snake and his collection of crossovers have helped the 26-year-old develop into a dangerous one-on-one scorer.

Sixty-one percent of McCollum’s baskets came without any help at all last season. He would navigate throughout the floor, at his own pace, and find alley ways to get to his patented stepback from inside the arc.

He made 230 shots from the midrange, good for sixth most in the League. And he barely had help on those makes, too. Of those 230 connections, only 29 percent of them were assisted.

On the rest of the 71 percent, it’s safe to assume that McCollum was weaving around defenders, seeking out an opportunity to snap an ankle. On the low, the Lehigh product has some of the filthiest handles in the League. He blows by big men that switch out on him with too much ease. If a guard dares to D up, he’ll one-two yank ‘em real fast. Then when he has them leaning, he raises up and knocks it down.

The 6-3 McCollum missed only two games last season, averaging a career-best 23 points on 48 percent shooting from the field. He converted at a 42 percent rate from distance, good for seventh best in the NBA.

He erupted for 41 points in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Warriors, showing the national TV audience what he had been doing all season long up in the Northwest. Even though the Blazers lost the game and the series, he put a legitimate scare in the Dubs by easily scoring against everyone they put on him.

Klay Thompson? Smooth catch-and-shoot. Draymond Green? Pull-up off the bounce. Kevin Durant? And-1 opportunity right at the front of the rim. Stephen Curry or Shaun Livingston? Light work.

His back court mate, superstar point guard Damian Lillard, willingly found him time after time that night (Dame chipped in a big 34 points) and together they gave the whole League a glimpse of their unbelievable scoring ability and what’s to come this season.

McCollum has increased his scoring, PER and True Shooting percentage in each of his four seasons in the League. With his bag ever-expanding, and with coach Terry Stotts allowing him to dip into said bag whenever he wants to now, CJ’s looking at a 25 points per game type of season full of stepbacks, head fakes and snake dribbles.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 42
2015: Not Ranked
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Kemba Walker, No. 32

Alex Squadron — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 16:51:50 +0000

There is one time every year when you are guaranteed to see a lot of Kemba Walker.

It’s during March’s Big East Tournament, when teams are fighting for a championship berth at the Garden. Scroll through your Twitter and IG timelines and you’re bound to see a video of one of the most disrespectful moves in recent basketball memory, courtesy of Cardiac Kemba.

Less than 15 seconds remain in the quarterfinals of the 2011 tourney, and UConn and Pittsburgh are knotted at 74. Walker comes off a high ball screen, gets the switch, and implores his teammates to spread the floor. With center Gary McGhee on an island, Kemba crosses over and unleashes a step back that turns McGhee’s legs into jello. Then he buries the buzzer beater.

Aside from those obligatory throwback posts, however, you don’t see enough of Kemba Walker. In an NBA loaded with talented point guards, his face tends to get lost in the crowd. When you hear people talk about the elite backcourt players in the L, how often is Walker’s name mentioned?

Of course, it doesn’t help that he plays for a team—the Charlotte Hornets—that has reached the postseason just twice in his six seasons there (never advancing farther than the first round) and rarely gets the national TV nod.

None of that has deterred the 27-year-old rising star. He just keeps on improving and taking ankles.

While a respectable defender, it’s Kemba’s skills on the other end that makes him so dangerous. Play him close, and you might end up like McGhee, watching from the ground as he drives past. Give him space, and he can knock down the open mid-range or outside shot. I think he might even have a hesi pull-up jimbo in his arsenal.

Still, it’s efficiency that separates the good scorers from the great scorers; and though Kemba clearly had all the tools, he struggled to deliver consistently during his first five NBA seasons. He’d have games where everything was clicking, and finish 11-15 from the field. But there were far too many 2-11 or 5-18 nights in the mix.

That changed in 2016-17. Thanks in part to slight tweaks to his jumper, he emerged as the “to be expected” version of Kemba. With a career-high usage rate (29.2), Walker also achieved career-bests in points per game (23.2), field goal percentage (44 percent), and three-point percentage (40 percent). The Hornets’ leader dropped 30+ in 15 outings, was sixth in the League in total long balls (240), and got named to his first All-Star team.

If that trend continues, then Kemba will keep on climbing SLAM’s Top 50 list.

Charlotte added center Dwight Howard and sniper Malik Monk this summer, which should only help Walker take another step forward. Howard sets big screens that free up space for ball handlers and Monk spreads the floor as a deep threat. That means more driving lanes and cleaner looks for Kemba.

In a recent interview with HoopsHype, another young point guard, Orlando’s Elfrid Payton, named his list of the toughest guys to guard in today’s NBA: Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Kemba Walker.

Take it from Payton, who has to face Kemba four times every season.

When you talk about the elite backcourt players in the L, Walker’s name should be mentioned.

Alex Squadron is a reporter for the NY Post. Follow him on Twitter @asquad510.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 36
2015: Not Ranked
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Bradley Beal, No. 33

Eli Schwadron — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 14:25:09 +0000

Wizards-Celtics, fourth quarter, Game 6, 2017 Conference Semifinals. Bradley Beal catches the ball on the left wing and takes three grown man dribbles toward the paint. Avery Bradley blankets Beal, so the 24-year-old Wizards guard starts his gather early and dips his left shoulder slightly to create separation. Kelly Olynyk steps up to help from the right, and Beal switches hands mid-air, finishing with the left over his manbunned opponent’s outstretched arm.

It was the best move, in the best quarter of Beal’s young career, in the most exciting DC sporting event of this 23-year-old writer’s lifetime. When people think back to that game, they’re first going to remember John Wall and his game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds left. But Beal won that game for Washington.

He dropped 13 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter. The then-23-year-old scored most of those points on Bradley, one of the game’s fiercest defenders when healthy.

The St. Louis native was in his bag, getting buckets in every possible way—stepback midrange Js, reverse lays, floaters and so on. The Ray Allen comparison is sorta played out, but on one rainy night in Chocolate City, you couldn’t tell me Beal didn’t look like a young Jesus Shuttlesworth circa early 2000s with the Bucks.

Beal would then explode for 38 points in a Game 7 loss, a bizarre game in which Olynyk dropped 26 to catapult the Celtics to a Conference Finals matchup with Cleveland.

Beal is coming off what was easily his best season of his five-year career. In 2016-2017, the St. Lunatic averaged career highs of 23.1 PPG, 3.5 APG and 48 percent from the field.

He upped his free throw attempts from 3.2 per game to 4.4 per game, and his percentage increased from 77 percent to 83 percent. If Beal gets to the charity stripe even more frequently this year, and if he improves drastically on defense (though he’s already underrated), then you have to start talking about him like the DeMar DeRozans and Klay Thompsons of the League.

Most importantly, Beal stayed healthy last season. He played 77 games, the most action he’d seen since his sophomore campaign when he played 73.

For what it’s worth, Beal is a near-lock to make the All-Star team this season, assuming he avoids injury (extremely large knock on wood). He got snubbed last season, and 2017 Eastern Conference All-Stars Paul George, Jimmy Butler and Paul Millsap all landed out West this summer.

With the same core around him, including the best two-way point guard in the NBA, Beal has his sights set on another major uptick in production and his first All-Star appearance in 2017-18.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 45
2015: No. 35
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: DeAndre Jordan, No. 34

Julian Mathews — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 13:34:03 +0000

The statistics and accolades speak for themselves when it comes to DeAndre Jordan.

The big man from Houston, TX, has led the League in field goal percentage for a ridiculous five years straight now. This past season, he shot 71.4 percent from the field, the highest since Wilt Chamberlain’s 72.7 percent during the ’72-73 season.

The 7-footer with an 8-foot wingspan knows how to rebound the rock as well. He has averaged just over 14 rebounds per game over the past four seasons, and grabbed 13.8 this past season with an impressive 24.2 TRB percentage.

DJ has also been arguably the most durable player in the League, having only missed six total games over the past five seasons. He didn’t miss a single game from the 2011-12 season though the 2014-2015 season. Over that span of time, he played in 360 straight games, the longest streak in the league at the time (that streak was also ended by illness, not injury). His one missed game this past season was also a “rest game” before the playoffs. His durability and consistency has been a major factor to the Clippers’ success over the past few years and also speaks volumes to the hard work he puts into his body during the offseason.

On top of all this, Jordan matched a career high in points this past year, averaging 12.7 a game while averaging 1.7 blocks per game. Jordan also bumped his free throw percentage up nine points to 48.2, but it is still an area where the big man struggles.

All of this has led to Jordan becoming arguably the most decorated active big man in the League—2x NBA rebounding leader, 2x All-Defensive First Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team, All-NBA First Team in 2016, an Olympic gold medal, and an All-Star appearance this past season.

Yet, going into his 10th NBA season, DJ is often dismissed as simply a serviceable center. His game is often criticized for being too limited on the offensive end and earlier this summer, he was the recipient of multiple trade rumors.

With the departure of Chris Paul, he’ll have the opportunity to develop his game offensively and join Blake Griffin as the face of the franchise.

Jordan seems ready to take on the challenge as well. When asked about his new teammates Patrick Beverly and Milos Teodosic, he told ESPN, “those guys are going to come in and play their style of basketball, and it’s going to be fun.” With Beverly and Jordan on the floor, the Clippers will be one of the most disruptive defenses in the League, and Milos will bring his European style, pass-friendly approach across the Atlantic.

Look for DeAndre Jordan to continue to dominate the paint, develop his game offensively, and push the Clippers to the playoffs.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 23
2015: No. 26
2014: No. 43
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Marc Gasol, No. 35

Milo Taibi — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 17:28:19 +0000

Marc Gasol finds himself at a bit of a crossroads in Memphis…albeit through no fault of his own. The Spaniard, who is heading into his tenth year, took his game to new heights in 2016-17, scoring a career-high 19.5 PPG while dishing out 4.6 dimes—and there’s every reason to think he could replicate or surpass those totals this season. Gasol remains the linchpin of Memphis’ attack, igniting the team’s offense with pick-and-roll partner Mike Conley.

And yet, it’s become more difficult now than ever to envision Gasol reaching the NBA Finals with Memphis. A postseason mainstay, the Grizzlies have been to the playoffs in seven straight seasons—reaching the Western Conference Finals just once in that span. After getting bounced by the Spurs in the first round for a second straight year, one would have expected GM Chris Wallace to provide his Gasol/Conley tandem with a stronger supporting cast.

Instead, the team let Tony Allen, Vince Carter, and Zach Randolph walk in free agency. Due in large part to Conley and Gasol’s lofty salaries, the Grizzlies have only come away with Tyreke Evans and Ben McLemore as complementary pieces over the offseason. With the preseason fast approaching, Gasol will enter his age-32 season without the assurance of an improved roster or a postseason spot. ESPN’s RPM projection system tabbed the Grizzlies for 34 wins; a jarring prediction for a team that hasn’t finished below .500 since 2009.

Though uncertain to bring Memphis to the next level, Gasol’s slide from No. 28-to-35 on the #SLAMTop50 wasn’t borne of declining production. Not only did Gasol reach career-highs in several offensive categories, he completely revamped his arsenal by shooting 38.8 percent on 268 attempts from beyond-the-arc. Gasol’s transformation into a 3-point threat is remarkable, even considering the big man’s smooth touch from the perimeter (Marc is a lifetime 42.7 percent shooter on 10-16 foot jumpers). The former DPOY hauled in a career-low 6.3 boards last season, which may be emblematic of the big man’s transition to a floor general. What’s more, Gasol looked to have recovered from a fractured foot last season, staying on the court for 74 games after an injury-plagued 2015-16 campaign. Statistically speaking, there’s no reason to think “Spanish McGregor” won’t have another monster season.

While still under contract for another two seasons- plus a player option- Memphis’ front office is on borrowed time to build a winning model around Gasol. The three-time All-Star has openly discussed his frustrations with the team’s offseason, going on record as saying he may “have to revisit things” if the franchise continues to stagnate. A consensus top-10 big man in the League, Gasol would have no shortage of suitors if placed on the trading block.

Once merely a throw-in in the deal sending his brother to the Lakers, Marc’s game has blossomed over the past decade, receiving the #SLAMTop50 nod for seven years running. With continued across-the-board production, Gasol could reprise his role in the Top 50 for years to come. What’s less certain is whether those years will come with the Grizzlies.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 28
2015: No. 14
2014: No. 23
2013: No. 18

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

The post SLAM Top 50: Marc Gasol, No. 35 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Andrew Wiggins, No. 36

Drew Ruiz — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 15:15:03 +0000

There’s a specific play by Andrew Wiggins that I always think of when his name comes up. During his sophomore season, the Timberwolves were playing the Lakers on a random weeknight in February. It was the fourth quarter, the T-Wolves trailed 109-104, and Wiggins got the ball on the left block.

With Kobe Bryant playing defense, Wiggins took two dribbles, gave a little shoulder fake and buried a turnaround jumper to cut the deficit to three as Bryant tried to contest the shot. The two exchanged words on the opposite end of the court, and Bryant, who made a myriad of those mid-range jumpers throughout his career, told Wiggins how much that move—from the dribbles to the shot to the back-peddling—looked familiar.

Wiggins finished the night with 30, but the Wolves would end up losing. Despite the outcome, Wolves fans could appreciate the fact the 2014 No. 1 Draft pick, who landed in Minnesota after a trade that sent Kevin Love to Cleveland, was going at Bryant. Now, when Wiggins is on the floor, shots like the one he hit over Bryant have become the norm.

In 2015, Wiggins first made his #SLAMTop50 debut at No. 38 and moved up to No. 31 last year, but comes in at 36 on this year’s list. As he prepares to enter his fourth season, two things (OK, one for sure right now) will look different: his teammates and his contract.

This offseason, the Wolves acquired Jeff Teague, Jamal Crawford, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson—four veterans with experience in the Playoffs, a place Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns have yet to visit. The last time the Wolves played in the postseason, Wiggins and Towns were in elementary school. With the new additions, the Wolves could potentially be in a position to break the 14-year drought.

In regards to his contract, reports came out in July that the Wolves were working on something along the lines of a five-year, $148 million extension. Glen Taylor, the team’s owner, told the Associated Press that the 22-year-old star “can’t be paid for what he’s doing today,” and that he needs 100 percent commitment—especially with his defense and rebounding—before going forward with the process to give Wiggins the max.

At 6-8 with a seven-foot wingspan, Wiggins has all the intangibles to be in the discussion for top two-way players under 25, but his play on the defensive side still raises some concerns. The positive to this is that during training camp, which is right around the corner, he can soak up knowledge from someone like Butler who knows a thing or two about defense.

In terms of rebounding, there’s no question Wiggins can easily grab eight to 10 boards a game, but he averaged a mere four rebounds per game last season. Will Wiggins make it a priority to up his rebounding numbers this season? Not sure. Many can argue that guys like Gibson, Towns, Gorgui Dieng and Cole Aldrich, the team’s key assets in the paint, already fulfill all of the rebounding duties.

When it comes to points, Wiggins has excelled in that field since he entered the League after spending one year at Kansas. Last season, he averaged a career-high 24 ppg, shooting 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep while playing 37 mpg. Wiggins ranked in the top 10 last season in two-point field goals made. Also, 23 percent of his points came from the mid-range area, as he shoots 44 percent from the left side of the court—his bread and butter.

In shots 10 to 16 feet from the basket, Wiggins shot 36.5 percent, and 38 percent on shots further than that, according to Basketball Reference. With Teague and Butler on the team, more opportunities for Wiggins to get more looks from the 3-point line will likely open up when Teague collapses the defense on dribble-drives and Butler hits the extra pass on the perimeter. In regards to corner threes, Wiggins shot 45 percent from the right side and 30 percent from the left side, respectively.

Although the Timberwolves won’t be under the same media microscope as the Cavaliers, Celtics, Rockets and Thunder, they’ll have tabs kept on them to see if the organization benefitted from its offseason acquisitions, or if Wiggins was deserving of getting all those M’s (assuming he gets the max).

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 31
2015: No. 38
2014: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Hassan Whiteside, No. 37

Jack Jensen — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 17:58:26 +0000

Young Whiteside stays rising.

Twenty-eight years old and Miami’s current king, Hassan Whiteside’s seemingly unlimited potential still somehow feels as though it’s barely tapped. In fact, the kid is only growing stronger.

Since joining the Heat in 2014, the 7-foot Whiteside has breathed new life into South Beach and increased his on-court production nearly across the board. During his first season as a full-time starter last year, he penciled in 17 points, 14 boards and 2 blocks per game, all while leading the League in rebounds. That’s a year removed from leading the League in swats with an absurd 3.7 per contest.

In the process, he’s also become the new cornerstone of a franchise who’s already put three banners into the rafters.

AND THAT’S NOT EVEN MENTIONING HIS SNAPCHAT.

Sidebar: Hassan Whiteside might have the best social media flow in the game. Blessings to Richard Jefferson and LBJ, but the man took us all on a free guided tour of the Louvre Museum, and moonlighted as a detective in a very delicate parrot investigation. The case still appears to be unsolved, but that’s creative range, folks. On and off the court.

Back to the matter at hand.

What makes Whiteside so dangerous–and why we expect him to rise up the SLAM Top 50 even more after this season–is that he influences and changes the game from all over the floor.

Where a younger Whiteside might have hunted for blocks on any given possession, he now operates more within the team defensive scheme without sacrificing the presence and shot blocking instincts that have made him so valuable. And as he continues to improve and add to his post move arsenal on the low block, we’re also beginning to see a player who’s gaining more confidence shooting outside the paint. Because he cannot be left unwatched or unmanned on either side of the ball, and because he can cover 94 feet in what feels like three steps, he has become a matchup terror on the nightly. This is a guy who once dropped a triple-double (with blocks) in 25 minutes off the bench, and who corralled at least 18 boards in three of Miami’s final five games to finish last year out.

This year, he might also just help push the Heat right back into the postseason, where they just barely missed out on back in April. With new frontcourt reinforcements in Kelly Olynyk and rookie Bam Adebayo set to ease some pressure off Whiteside’s shoulders, expect coach Erik Spoelstra to feature him even more this season.

There’s no doubt that maximum Whiteside is going to be very fun to watch.

But if all that, or his freshly minted 87 rating on 2K18 doesn’t convince you, may I please direct your attention to this lovely video of Hassan becoming increasingly annoyed by a dancing hotdog.

So. Much. Range.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 34
2015: Not Ranked
2014: Not Ranked
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Paul Millsap, No. 38

Lev Akabas — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 15:30:55 +0000

Paul Millsap has been overlooked ever since the Utah Jazz took him 47th in the 2006 Draft. Something else that’s been constant over the past decade? His ability to flat out get it done on the court.

It’s crazy to think that Millsap was drafted late in the second round despite leading Division I in rebounding for three straight years at Louisiana Tech. Scouts thought he was just an athlete with a shaky midrange jumper.

Man, did he prove them wrong. Millsap has become the prime example of a modern power forward. After hitting just two three-pointers in his first four seasons, he’s knocked down a triple per game over the past four. But Millsap isn’t one of those guys who simply develops a shot during one offseason and then, suddenly, everyone calls him a stretch-4. Millsap can also defend multiple positions, handle the ball, and pass.

Creating offense is something that Millsap recently added to his ever-evolving game. The way he catches the ball on the move finds open guys is sometimes Draymond Green-esque, and he drives and dishes to teammates like he’s been doing it his whole life. He averaged at least 3 assists per game each year he played for Atlanta.

He’s lethal off the ball too. Whether it’s slipping pick-and-rolls or dashing hard to the basket when his defender isn’t looking, Millsap finds ways to get open. He also spaces the floor exceptionally well. These small, unnoticed things set him apart.

Defense is another underrated aspect of his game. Despite being slightly undersized, he’s one of the best in the business at providing weak-side help and jumping straight up to contest shots without fouling. He also switches screens to pick up guards on the perimeter and has terrific hands. He’s finished among the top 10 in the League in steals three different times. It’s no surprise he made the All-Defensive 2nd team in 2016, and you wonder why he hasn’t made it more often.

It’s because Millsap is not flashy. He doesn’t make defensive stands by swatting shots out of midair, the same way he doesn’t get his points by dunking on people’s heads. He’s an under-appreciated workhorse. The kind of guy who you don’t even notice is in the game, and then all of a sudden you realize he’s got five boards.

And although Millsap is consistently rock solid, he’s never quite been elite. He puts up point totals in the high teens like clockwork, but he only dropped 30 points seven times for Atlanta. He’s been an All-Star for four straight seasons, but never voted in as a starter. His teams make the playoffs almost every season, but rarely advance further than expected.

This year, though, one of the League’s most well-rounded veterans is headed to Denver to play with Nikola Jokic, possibly the NBA’s most versatile youngster. Millsap’s cutting, screening, and passing alongside another high IQ player like Jokic will be a thing of beauty. Millsap has played alongside star centers his entire career (Al Jefferson, Al Horford, Dwight Howard), but none as skilled or complementary to his game.

From December 15 onwards, after Jokic’s minutes increased, Denver had the best offensive rating in the League, and they’re adding a guy who can score from just about anywhere in the halfcourt. Their promising young core, featuring guards Gary Harris and Jamal Murray, will only get better. The Nuggets are going to be unstoppable this season.

And yet Millsap’s signing certainly didn’t draw nearly the attention it deserved during this hectic offseason. Far removed from the days of backing up Carlos Boozer in Utah, Paul Millsap is now one of the NBA’s best big men, and he got paid like one this summer ($90 million over three years). But he’s still just as underrated. Maybe he’ll always be.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 29
2015: No. 33
2014: No. 39
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Kevin Love, No. 39

Ryan Jones — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 19:56:03 +0000

Ten years in, it’s hard to imagine a guy who’s been both as over-analyzed AND as overlooked as Kevin Love.

The over-analysis started before he’d played a single regular-season game: Skeptics wondered if the big doughy white kid who averaged 18 and 11 and won Pac-12 POY as a freshman could really translate that dominance to the NBA. Minnesota fans in particular will remember the local columnist who, after no more than one or two preseason games, all but declared that Love would never be able to score against NBA defenders.

Averages of 19.2 points (and a whopping 12.2 boards) in his six seasons in MPLS later, we know how that turned out.

For all their promise, Love never made the postseason as a Timberwolf. So it was, three years ago, that he agreed to the trade that would take him from top dog on a fun but mediocre squad to a vital supporting player on a serious contender. Ah, but how vital?

It’s wild to consider in retrospect, but there was no clear way to predict the pecking order that would emerge when LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Love joined up on the Cavs. Irving and Love had both been the alpha dogs on teams that couldn’t crack the playoffs; LeBron was LeBron. Maybe they’d take turns at the top (Ok, not really), or at least Kyrie and Kev could split the Robin duties to Bron’s Batman?

The second option is closer to how it worked out, of course, but Love had the rockiest transition. Going solely on the numbers, his first season in Cleveland was his least-productive since his second year in the League. Beyond the stats, he seemed to have the hardest time finding his spot on the squad. The playoff injury that ended with a Cavs flameout against the Warriors in the 2015 Finals ultimately made it all seem pretty forgettable.

His numbers weren’t much better in Year Two—although at 16 and 10, they were hardly bad—and his contributions in Cleveland’s title run were undeniable. He pushed his numbers to 19 and 11 last year, but nothing that he nor the Cavs could do was ultimately going to matter against that super team from the Bay.

And now, after three years of relative stability, Kyrie Irving’s insistence on looking toward the horizon (heh) in search of another alpha dog gig has left the Cavs uncertain and unsettled. LeBron is (still) LeBron. Isaiah Thomas is the unknowable wildcard. And then there’s Kevin Love, which brings us back to the point.

For many around the League, and Cavs fans especially, it’s been hard not to over-analyze every misstep Love has made since landing in Ohio. Every time he’s beaten on D sparks a storm of talk about what a liability he is (even as the stats show him to be a decent, if hardly elite, defender.) Every three-point miss (he’s shot 37 percent from the arc since joining the Cavs) is a reminder of his inadequacy as a true big. He’s too inefficient, and often on the wrong side of bad matchups.

And yet for all that, when recounting all the high points of the Cavs’ three-year run, his value is the least discussed and most easily diminished. As if those 17 points and 10 boards didn’t count in the final box scores. As if he didn’t single-handedly shut down the reigning MVP when it mattered most in 2016. (Ok, it was one play, and he got a little bit lucky, but hey.)

All of this is to say that even before Kyrie left for Boston last month, it was nearly impossible to get a fair reading on where Kevin Love stood in the scheme of things, both in Cleveland, and in the League. If he’s healthy this season and asked to do more for a Cavs team that could well be short-handed, he might (once again) look like a top-20 player. If Cleveland struggles post-Kyrie, he might just as easily be the scapegoat.

The rankings are whatever. A decade in, Love’s attempt to prove he’s (still) among the NBA’s elite players should quietly be one of the more fascinating subplots in the game.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 39
2015: No. 20
2014: No. 10
2013: No. 15

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: LaMarcus Aldridge, No. 40

Reed Wallach — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 15:54:26 +0000

The death of the mid-range game and slow footed big men have been a topic of conversation among basketball fans for the past several years. So how has LaMarcus Aldridge remained a fixture in the Association while the game evolves around him? When you have that sweet of a jumper at that size, it will age like fine wine.

Aldridge, in the Spurs system, has seen his scoring numbers go down on the surface, but he was as efficient as ever in his 11th season. At 6-11, Aldridge is a terror to defend in the high post. You simply can’t leave a knockdown shooter from just inside the arc this much room, Marcin Gortat.

Aldridge is a great fit for the Spurs system, even though he is not very fast. Being a threat to shoot from so deep makes him a tough task for bigs to guard. Watch Aldridge help run the offense from the top of the key, only to pull Derrick Favors out to the three-point line, which leads to a great one-legged fadeway.

A tough shot such as the one above is bread and butter for Aldridge. He shot 50 percent on those left side short corner jumpers last season which is where Greg Popovich wants him to be. Aldridge, despite being played at center more in San Antonio than he was in Portland, is still predominantly a mid-range shooter. More than half of his shots come from outside the paint but inside the key. For comparison, 25 percent of Aldridge’s shots come at the rim.

Defenders need to hedge the ball handler in pick-and-roll action, and Aldridge slips a ton of screens to be freed up for his shot.

This could be a strategic move by Pop, as he is playing to Aldridge’s strengths with the trade off being Aldridge’s rebounding numbers. Aldridge averaged under eight rebounds per game in Texas last season, which is a significant drop-off from his double double average he posted in his last season in Portland. The Spurs were a middle of the pack rebounding team, especially in its first season without Tim Duncan, but that may not be on Aldridge as his job is to patrol the middle of the court, not down low.

Aldridge signed with the Spurs two seasons ago in hopes of becoming the man to lead the next era of the franchise when Duncan retired, but that job is now Kawhi Leonard’s. Leonard is an MVP candidate, but Aldridge is exactly the second weapon a multi-faceted forward like Leonard needs. Leonard is a two-way terror that is an emerging ball handler. I expect to see Pop get Aldridge and Leonard involved in a ton of pick-and-pops that was shown earlier. When Leonard picks up a head of steam moving downhill, he’s nearly impossible to stop. Defenders will need to make a choice as to if they should let Leonard get into the paint unscathed, or allow the mid-range maven Aldridge hit from the elbow.

Team’s are splurging on talent through trades and free agency. Stars are teaming up in order to compete with the Warriors and give them a run for their money. However, the most decorated franchise of the past 20 years has kept the status quo, leaning on it’s big man to help stabilize the franchise. Just like his jump shot, Aldridge plans on delivering, again.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 18
2015: No. 10
2014: No. 11
2013: No. 20

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Al Horford, No. 41

Karan Madhok — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 18:30:34 +0000

This time last year, Al Horford was the new face in an established franchise, the big-name All-Star recruit to a young squad, where the rest of the pieces had already begun to fit. His role in Boston, after years of success in Atlanta, was to provide veteran savvy and star power to help the Celtics mature into true contenders.

A year later, as the Celtics made dramatic changes this past summer, Horford has quickly become one of the only enduring major pieces of the recent past, ready to adopt—and thrive in—yet another new role.

When Boston begins the new season against the Cavaliers in mid-October, Horford is likely to be the only regular starter from last year still in this season’s starting five. Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Amir Johnson—all of whom formed the framework of the Celtics’ starting unit last season—are gone. In come Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Morris, and the rookie Jayson Tatum, who join second-year swingman Jaylen Brown.

And then there’s Horford, Boston’s highest-paid player last season. Despite his credentials in Atlanta that included deep playoff runs and four All-Star appearances, Horford took a backseat while Thomas became the heartbeat and engine of the franchise. The duo—aided by a deep rotation of talented role-players—helped the Celtics to the best regular-season record in the conference.

Now, with the new arrivals to boost up the backcourt, Horford is likely to become the third option on offense for the Celtics. For a player who has been a multiple-time All-Star despite career scoring averages of “just” 14.3 points per game, the new role will suit him just fine. In Irving and Hayward, the Celtics have brought in two dynamic scorers that could become one of the League’s most dangerous offensive duos and score upwards of 50 points together per contest. With more tick, expect Brown to take a major leap this season, and rookie Tatum is already being compared to Boston’s last great swingman scorer, Paul Pierce. Under Brad Stevens’ leadership, the Celtics had a top ten offensive rating in the League last season. It might take a few months for Irving and Hayward to find their fit, but rest assured, scoring is not going to be their problem.

This is where Horford fits in. At 31, he is already the second-oldest Celtic, just behind the high-flying Gerald Green, and his experience will carry Boston while the youth come of age. Even though he has the potential to be get buckets for himself (he was the team’s third-leading scorer last season), Horford’s best basketball talents are more altruistic in nature. On the court, he is likely to be the Celtics’ most consistent performer even without taking a shot: grabbing boards, setting screens, finding the open man, and continuing to defend at a high level in the post. The best Horford teams—like the 2014-15 Hawks—operate with quick pacing, spacing, and ball-movement, with Horford serving as the big fulcrum that keeps the offense moving.

Indeed, Horford’s “fall” from 27 to 41 in the SLAM rankings is a serious demotion, and so is his role in the Celtics’ hierarchy for 2017-18. But if a player with his sense of leadership, poise, and multi-skilled talents is your squad’s third-best player, your squad is in good shape.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 27
2015: No. 23
2014: No. 36
2013: No. 33

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

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SLAM Top 50: Goran Dragic, No. 43

Julian Mathews — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 18:20:35 +0000

In the thick of the golden era of point guards, Goran Dragic has been one of the most consistent players in the League and a driving force for the Miami Heat.

The shifty sharp shooter from Slovenia (try saying that three times fast) is coming off arguably his best season as a pro.

Despite being on the same team as a self-proclaimed top five shooting guard, and one of the League’s most dominant big men, Dragic led the Heat in points per game (20.3), assists per game (5.8) and steals per game (1.2).

The Miami Heat were a dreadful 11-30 through their first 41 games this past season. According to Elias Sports Bureau Research, no team that started off so poorly has ever won more than 37 games in a season—until the Heat won their 38th game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 5. Dragic led all scorers in that game with 33-points.

Goran stepped up for the Heat all season long. Miami was 12-5 when he scored at least 25 points and were 4-1 when he made at least five 3-pointers. He also had seven games of 30-plus points and shot over 50 percent from the field when the Heat won.

Dragic doesn’t get as much media attention as his star teammates Hassan Whiteside or Dion Waiters. Granted, he doesn’t proclaim himself the “alpha male” of the Heat when asked about trade rumors, nor does he talk about getting his 2K rating up during post-game interviews (though Dragic also definitely doesn’t need to because of how notoriously filthy he is in 2K—it’s something about those lefty shooters).

Gogi is currently leading the undefeated Slovenian National Team in their quest for Gold in EuroBasket 2017. In a tournament stacked with NBA talent like Kristaps Porzingis, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Evan Fournier and Dennis Schroder; Goran Dragic is the leading point scorer, averaging 24.4 points per game while shooting 50.7 percent from the field.

Hopefully for Heat fans, Dragic can carry this momentum into October and lead Miami to the playoffs in what should be a historically bad Eastern Conference. If given the opportunity, Goran should produce well in the playoffs given his tendency to step up in big moments.

Either way, led by the often overlooked and underappreciated Dragic, the Heat should be a lot of fun to watch this season, both on and off the court. We see you Goran.

Previous Rankings:
2016: Not Ranked
2015: No. 45
2014: No. 27
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters
No. 49 – Ben Simmons
No. 48 – Brook Lopez
No. 47 — Harrison Barnes
No. 46 — Jrue Holiday
No. 45 — Lonzo Ball
No. 44 — Myles Turner

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SLAM Top 50: Myles Turner, No. 44

Eli Schwadron — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 15:07:42 +0000

It’s easy for Myles Turner’s name to get lost in the shuffle during the offseason.

Especially during a summer like the one we just had. While barbershops and Twitter feeds were abuzz with chatter about the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas soap opera, or #HoodieMelo, or new homes for CP3, Jimmy Butler and Gordon Hayward, the Pacers big man stayed out of the news.

When OKC acquired four-time All-Star Paul George from Indiana, the casual NBA fan focused on the trade from the Thunder’s perspective (Duh—the Thunder are the better team, and OKC just paired George with the reigning MVP).

This lack of any sort of hype for the Pacers is the perfect space for Turner to occupy. The new face of the franchise is ready to blow.

With George out of the picture, Turner’s touches are going to skyrocket. Only 21, the Texas product already has one of the best midrange jumpers in the League, regardless of position: Turner shot 42.7 percent from 15-19 feet in 2016-17.

And like big man contemporaries Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid, Turner’s 3-point shot is coming along: Turner shot 35 percent from deep in 16-17, and 50 percent from beyond the arc in January.

After improving in every statistical category from year one to year two, it’s time for Turner to get in his duffle down low. Turner gets his highlight dunks and transition finishes, but he has to develop one or two go-to moves in the post if he truly wants to be taken seriously in the paint. In year three, he has to stop trying to shoot over defenders’ heads near the basket.

Okay, be forewarned: this is when I spend two paragraphs on Darren Collison.

With Darren Collison (likely) snagging the starting PG spot after Jeff Teague’s departure to Minnesota, it is possible that Turner’s pick-and-pop opportunities suffer. Collison is unquestionably slower than Teague, so there is a scenario where Turner’s growth is somewhat stunted, his full potential put on pause for another season or two.

More likely, Collison— starting PG or not— won’t actually control the offense all that much. As starting point guard for the Kings last season, Collison only averaged 74.8 touches per game, which put him behind 23 other point guards. Expect Victor Oladipo and Lance Stephenson to share duties at the one.

Anyway, back to Turner. The rising star is five months removed from being able to buy his first legal drink, ceiling yet undetermined, a 6-11, new-age big, who moves like fellow No. 33 Patrick Ewing, grew up watching midrange assassin Kevin Durant, and is already beginning to blend *a small part* of their two games together.

Let’s just be honest, let’s just be real: 2K ratings are now the true barometer for NBA players (besides, uh, the #SLAMTop50 of course). Myles Turner just cracked the Top 10 Centers list for 2K18, and he’s only going one direction on that list the next few years.

Onward and upward. Quietly, hungrily, humbly.

Previous Ranking:
Has Never Been Ranked On The #SLAMTop50

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters
No. 49 – Ben Simmons
No. 48 – Brook Lopez
No. 47 — Harrison Barnes
No. 46 — Jrue Holiday
No. 45 — Lonzo Ball

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SLAM Top 50: Lonzo Ball, No. 45

Adam Figman — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 18:18:10 +0000

The world has been excited to watch Lonzo Ball play NBA basketball for a hot minute. In our case, that began sometime around a year and change ago, when Chino Hills HS went undefeated and the whispers of three impossibly dominant brothers started creeping across America. Since then, the eagerness has only grown—we’ve all happily monitored and/or covered the college highlights, the sneakers, the dad, the brothers, the trash talk, the reality show, the musical opinions, all of it.

Then this summer we got our first taste of the real thing in what I guess you could call Diet NBA action, more commonly known as Summer League. And holy shit, did you see what Lonzo did? Don’t talk to me about level of competition—that kid went out there and dished some crazy-ass passes, rebounded the ball well, got all of his teammates involved, turned Kyle Kuzma into a young Michael Jordan, took home a well-deserved MVP award and helped the Lakers win a whole bunch of ballgames.

Bruh!

It’s a little too soon to say that the hype is real, but my god the hype certainly seems to be at least relatively justified. From just a week or two of on-court action, we suddenly know a few big facts:

He’s unselfish as hell and his teammates are going to have a lot of fun hooping alongside him
He’s good for one or two “Daaaaaamn!” highlights per game, at minimum
He needs to become a slightly better jumpshooter, which is something you can say for approximately 93 percent of rookies
His ceiling is very, very high—like Jason Kidd-meets-Penny Hardaway high
He’s going to be the 45th best player in the NBA this season, and then in the ensuing years he’s going to be ranked even higher

I guess that last one isn’t exactly a fact. But come on—you look at everything above it, and you don’t think that’s even, like, probably true?

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters
No. 49 – Ben Simmons
No. 48 – Brook Lopez
No. 47 — Harrison Barnes
No. 46 — Jrue Holiday

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SLAM Top 50: Jrue Holiday, No. 46

Lev Akabas — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:07:20 +0000

Jrue Holiday hasn’t been a part of the #SLAMTop50 since he got to New Orleans in 2013, but this summer he got paid like one of the best players in the League.

The Pelicans dished out a hefty $126 million on July 1 to keep Holiday in town for at least four more seasons (five if he picks up his player option). “We think his best years are ahead of him,” GM Dell Demps said of the 27-year-old Holiday at the press conference announcing the signing.

The Pelicans didn’t have much of a choice. Jrue was the only starting-caliber guard on the roster, and a tight financial situation left New Orleans unable to replace him with a free agent of comparable quality.

The Pelicans didn’t just re-sign Holiday out of necessity though. The guy was an All-Star at age 23 and is one of the most reliable players at his position when he’s healthy. Only five point guards have averaged 16 points and 7 assists per game combined over the most recent five seasons. Jrue Holiday is one of them. The others? Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, and John Wall—all of whom will appear much higher on this list.

Holiday isn’t outstanding at any one thing, but he is good at a lot of things. At 6-4 with a 6-7 wingspan, he has great physical gifts for his position, which helped him lead all point guards last season in blocks per game. He can stroke it from downtown, allowing him to play off the ball, but he can also handle and dish well enough to assume a traditional point guard role.

In addition to getting buckets when he needs to, Holiday can impact the game without taking a lot of shots due to his leadership and high IQ. His assist-to-turnover ratio is always better than 2:1, and his effective shooting percentage is consistently around 50 percent. So he’s a particularly good fit alongside superstar big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. The Pelicans see Holiday as the third member of their young big three.

No matter how you slice it, Holiday makes his team better. Last season, the Pelicans were 32-35 with Holiday on the floor, but a dismal 2-13 without him. Their net rating per 100 possessions dropped to minus-4.8 when he was out of the game, down from a respectable plus-0.9 with his skills at work.

The big question mark for Holiday is whether he can stay on the court. Holiday hasn’t played 70 games in a season in four years. Not a great sign for someone who is in his prime. Last season, however, was an improvement—Holiday did take several weeks away from the team to care for his wife after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, but otherwise he missed only three games with a toe issue.

After two straight losing seasons and with Cousins entering free agency next summer, the Pelicans need to start winning now. They fully expect Holiday to blossom into a star point guard. Now it’s time for him to prove that he is worth it.

Previous Rankings
2016: Not Ranked
2015: Not Ranked
2014: Not Ranked
2013: No. 42

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters
No. 49 – Ben Simmons
No. 48 – Brook Lopez
No. 47 — Harrison Barnes

The post SLAM Top 50: Jrue Holiday, No. 46 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Andre Drummond, No. 42

Josh Burton — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 05:28:46 +0000

It’s kind of hard to believe that Andre Drummond is only 24 years old and already entering his sixth NBA season, but here we are. Since he was the No. 9 pick in the 2012 draft by the Pistons, the 6-11 center has blossomed into (arguably) the NBA’s best rebounder who pumps out double-doubles with the best of them.

The problem is that the supporting cast around Drummond in Detroit seems to change every year, as does the coaching staff. That’s part of the reason why the Pistons have only made the playoffs once in the past eight seasons. They’ve finished either 10th, 11th or 12th in the conference since their eighth place finish in 2016 that led to a four-game sweep at the hands of LeBron and the Cavs.

Stan Van Gundy has provided some stability to the franchise and an active offseason—which brought Avery Bradley, Langston Galloway and lottery pick Luke Kennard into the mix—means the Pistons will once again have a new-look roster come October. It’s clear the goal was to get smaller and add athletic shotmakers to build around Drummond’s interior game.

That doesn’t mean the big man hasn’t tried to expand his repertoire, which is a necessity in today’s game. Most of the shots he takes are within 10 feet of the basket, which makes a lot sense considering how many of his points come from dunks, putbacks and layups.

But, after attempting just 18 midrange jumpers (between 10 and 16 feet from the cup) in the 2014-15 season and making two, he took 52 such shots in the 2015-16 season and 64 last season. He shot over 40 percent on them in 2016-17, decent enough for a guy who grabbed nearly 14 rebounds a night.

If he can continue to expand his range outside of the paint, then there’s no reason he can’t become a more prolific scorer. After averaging a career-high 16.2 points two seasons ago, he dipped to 13.6 points last year as he took almost two less field goals a game. Without Marcus Morris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope around, more of the offensive burden will likely fall to him as the Pistons look to get back into the playoffs in the weakened East.

He isn’t going to become a stretch-5 any time soon but if Drummond can establish a reliable 12-to-15 footer that defenses need to account for, it could open things right up for a Detroit offense that was 26th in the NBA in points a year ago.

Another aspect of his game that’s overlooked, especially because he doesn’t block a ton of shots, is his defense. Drummond led the entire League with a 99 defensive rating in 2016-17, ahead of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year (Draymond Green) and the blocks leader (Rudy Gobert). Yet, he’s never made a NBA All-Defensive Team. That probably will change come June.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 22
2015: No. 31
2014: No. 33
2013: Not Ranked

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

The post SLAM Top 50: Andre Drummond, No. 42 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Harrison Barnes, No. 47

Reed Wallach — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 17:39:39 +0000

People worried that after seeing his stats dip in the 2016 NBA Finals that Harrison Barnes would not live up to expectations of a top-10 draft pick. After signing with the Dallas Mavericks last offseason, fans may have forgotten that Barnes was a key cog to the most memorable regular season in NBA history. Always a quiet player, the North Carolina product didn’t need to speak in his first season in Dallas, he let his game do the talking.

Barnes, only 25, thrived in his first season in Dallas as he became a primary scoring target for the first time in his career. He averaged a career-best 19 points per game, as the Mavericks began the process of passing the torch from Dirk Nowitzki to Barnes. While some numbers took a dip with the added workload—his three-point percentage was down three percent—Barnes began to show his potential as a stretch four. At 6-8, Barnes is the ideal smallball four and the Mavs are buying into that line of thinking. The question is, can Barnes improve on certain aspects of his game and carry a team back out of the basement of the Western Conference?

With Dirk in the twilight of his career, Barnes is going to continue to see more minutes at the four. After playing about half of his time at power forward in Golden State, Barnes played 60 percent of his minutes on the floor at the four last season, according to Basketball Reference. However, Dallas posted a plus/minus of -3.0 per 100 possessions last season. Could that be due to Barnes’ teammates more than him? Potentially. But if the former Tar Heel is going to be the frontcourt anchor of the new-look Mavs after Dirk retires, he is going to need to improve his rebounding and defensive numbers.

Barnes is a broad bodied forward, but still only weighs in at 210 pounds. A strategy that head coach Rick Carlise may want to emphasize this season with Barnes is pairing him alongside a true center, such as Salah Mejri. Last season, when the two were on the floor together (14th most of any two-man lineup), Dallas allowed a shade under 100 points per 100 possessions and had a positive net rating of 2.0.

Pairing Barnes with a rim protecting big—like Nerlens Noel—could mask some of the issues that come with his lack of rebounding, as pairing Barnes with another versatile big did not go very well. For example, he and Dwight Powell got killed on the glass and the duo allowed more than 111 points per 100 possessions when on the floor together. Barnes’ trajectory in this League may be at power forward, but his unique skill set means that he works best with a select group of players.

The Mavericks have not missed the playoffs in back-to-back years during the 2000s and owner Mark Cuban is always looking for ways to improve the team. While they are still in the beginning stages of a perceived rebuild with Barnes entering the second year of his four-year $95 million contract, Dirk only has so many years left before he hangs them up for good. The team brought in Dennis Smith Jr with the No. 8 pick in the 2017 Draft and he is expected to compete for Rookie of the Year. Along with DSJ, they still have savvy veteran Wesley Mathews Jr, Yogi Ferrell, who had a breakout season in ’16-17, an improving Seth Curry, and Noel, who is playing with hopes of securing a big deal next summer.

This is going to be an exciting year for Dallas with Smith in the fold, but the biggest storyline for them isn’t the explosive rookie but rather if Barnes can live up to his potential as a leader of the next group of stars.

Previous Rankings
Has Never Been Ranked on the #SLAMTop50

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters
No. 49 – Ben Simmons
No. 48 – Brook Lopez

The post SLAM Top 50: Harrison Barnes, No. 47 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Brook Lopez, No. 48

Josh Burton — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 13:00:39 +0000

Stuck in relative obscurity with the Nets in both New Jersey and Brooklyn for the first nine seasons of his career, Brook Lopez is the best offensive center you never saw on national TV and rarely saw in the playoffs.

But now, after an offseason trade to his hometown Lakers, Lopez is in the spotlight as the veteran presence on a young and talented L.A. team boosted by the arrival of Lonzo Ball. He’s just 29 but has gone through multiple transformations in his basketball career, the most recent involving his sudden development of a reliable three-point stroke.

After making just three longballs from 2008-16, he shot nearly 35 percent from beyond the arc on almost 400 threes last year in Kenny Atkinson’s uptempo system. While that didn’t help Brooklyn much in the win column, it showed that even an interior-focused 7-footer can change his game to fit the NBA’s radically altered scoring landscape. A stretch-5 who scores over 20 points a night with a slashline of .474/.346/.810 while playing pretty good defense doesn’t come around often.

That versatility sets him apart from more traditional big men, such as Andre Drummond or Dwight Howard, and is part of the reason why the Lakers thought he would be a good (read: temporary) fit. Next summer is still what Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson are focused on and getting Lopez on an expiring deal allows the Lakers to have as much salary cap flexibility as possible when LeBron and Co. hit the open market.

So this season might be more of an audition year for him, during which he’ll be expected to be the same reliable presence he was during the tumult and constant disappointment of his Nets tenure. Health, once a major concern for the 7-footer, hasn’t been an issue since he broke his right foot in December 2013. He’s been nothing but durable in the time-being, playing 72 or more games in each of the past three seasons.

Brook is the perfect big to run pick-and-rolls with Lonzo because defenders need to account not only for his new-found shooting ability but also his massive frame (and wingspan) running to the rim. He’s the type of playmaking point guard Lopez has only been able to play with for fits and starts, whether it was Devin Harris, a physically diminished Deron Williams or an oft-injured Jeremy Lin.

He also can hurt you in the mid-range game too, giving him one of the NBA’s more complete offensive arsenals considering he isn’t the world’s best athlete or an incredible leaper. The problem with Brook, even with his size, is that he just isn’t a great rebounder which takes away some of his value as a well-rounded center.

That much is apparent in his statline, as he averaged just 5.4 rebounds last year. Having Julius Randle start next to him should help shoulder the load in that respect but Brook needs to return to the 7-8 mark for L.A. to compete in that department most nights against the Western Conference.

Previous Rankings:
2016: Not Ranked
2015: Not Ranked
2014: Not Ranked
2013: No. 31

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters
No. 49 – Ben Simmons

The post SLAM Top 50: Brook Lopez, No. 48 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Ben Simmons, No. 49

Yaron Weitzman — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 19:08:32 +0000

This list is all about this upcoming season, but let’s just get one thought out of the way:

Ben Simmons is going to be a stud. You know that passing gene, the one you either have or don’t, the one that legends like Bird and LeBron possessed from Day one? Well add Simmons to that list. Also, notice how the two other players mentioned were forwards? Guys who are 6-10 and can read the floor like chess masters come around, maybe, once every decade. Simmons is one of those players. Add in his strength, his athleticism, his versatility, which perfectly suits the new position-less, NBA, and you have a player who’s worthy of that praise piled onto him prior to last year’s NBA Draft.

The questions with Simmons will be when, not if.

Which brings us back to this list, and to trying to figure out what to expect from Simmons in 2017-18 and, well, there’s no obvious answer. Assuming he’s healthy and fully recovered from the broken bone in his right foot that sidelined him all of last season (and, given what he’s said this offseason, what the Sixers have said, and the videos coming out of his social media accounts, there’s no reason to fear he hasn’t) then he’s still a Godly prospect who’s only 21 and who was given the gift of a year to learn the ins-and-outs of NBA life.

On other hand, there are still question marks. For one, there’s that clanky jumper. Simmons will tell anyone who asks that he can make it rain if he wants to, that he did in high school and that the only reason he launched just three (three!) 3-pointers during his lone season at LSU was because he didn’t have to.

It’s a nice thought, and the way he should feel. But also: a bit of a reach. Clearly, at this point, he’s not a good shooter. That’s not an insult as much as an acknowledgment that the dude isn’t a perfect player. The problem is that nowadays in the NBA a lack of a jump shot can be detrimental to both an individual and a team. Opponents have no issue sagging off potential weak links (see: Roberson, Andre; Rondo, Rajon; and even Wade, Dwyane), and, as paradoxical as it sounds, being left wide open can actually sap a player’s ability to contribute on the floor. It removes you from the game’s rhythms, and your instincts from your actions. Every move becomes a calculation. It can alter the very DNA of a player’s game and in doing so force a coach to remove said player from the floor.

Can Simmons defeat this tactic? That he spent all last season working on his jumper is a promising sign, as are some of the clips he put out of his new and improved (notice the elevation of his left shoulder?) jumper.

Also, Simmons instincts are strong. You know how Wade was mentioned earlier? His sharp off-ball cutting would be a perfect example for Simmons to study, though it seems he might actually be spending the majority of his floor time with the ball in his hands, even with the Sixers having drafted a point guard first overall in Markelle Fultz. Simmons has said numerous times this offseason that he’s a point guard and that he plans on playing the point this season. It’s safe to assume he wouldn’t be doing so if Sixers head coach Brett Brown didn’t agree, but it does make you wonder how the coaching staff plans on molding this whole post-Process crew together.

Maybe Simmons comes off the bench? Maybe he and Fultz do a poor-man’s imitation of LeBron and Kyrie (sans the break-up)? Maybe Brown has a different plan that we’re not yet aware of?

Or maybe Brown, like the rest of us, isn’t quite sure what to make of Simmons just yet. That’s what’s going to make watching Simmons this season so much fun. The sky’s the limit for him. This year will give us a taste of just how high he plans on soaring.

Previous Rankings:
2016: No. 50

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

No. 50 – Dion Waiters

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SLAM Top 50: Dion Waiters, No. 50

Peter Walsh — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 15:25:45 +0000

It’s about time we start appreciating Dion Waiters for who he is.

For too long, one of the best personalities in the NBA has been cast aside by fans and the media because of a falling out in Cleveland, a sometimes questionable shot selection and a career that didn’t immediately live up to where he was selected in the draft.

Fortunately for us, Waiters never changed. Instead he bet on himself then doubled down.

Last summer, Waiters waited in limbo with OKC while the Kevin Durant-to-Golden State situation played out. Once KD bounced to the West coast, Dion was left out in the cold by the Thunder and signed a 1-year deal with Miami. Like so what many players who have passed through the Heat organization have done before him, Waiters got in the best shape of his life and balled the hell out. Philly Cheese averaged 15.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 30.1 minutes while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and a career-high 39.5 percent from three-point range. However, due to ankle and groin injuries he was limited to 46 games.

Against the Warriors in January, he had one of the best moments of the regular season when he hit a game-winner and crossed his arms with a “you can’t mess with with me” scowl on his face. In February, Waiters averaged 18.4 points on 47 percent shooting and led the Heat to an 8-3 record for the month as they stormed back from a disastrous start to the season to just miss the playoffs. And in April, he won over just about every basketball fan with his touching piece on The Players’ Tribune—appropriately titled “The NBA Is Lucky I’m Home Doing Damn Articles.”

This past summer, there was no waiting around for other players to get their money. Waiters inked a 4-year, $52 million deal with Miami on July 5, proving that his “Bet On Yourself Then Double Down” motto wasn’t just a case of a player writing a check with his mouth that his ass couldn’t cash. A week later, Waiters claimed he was one of the five-best shooting guards in the League then said that there’s an “alpha male” in Miami already when the franchise became a rumored potential destination for Kyrie Irving.

Looking ahead to this season, Waiters will be expected to maintain the numbers he put up during his February stretch. First and foremost, he has to stay healthy enough to appear in more than 46 games. Last season, the Heat went 29-17 with Dion on the court 12-24 with him on the sideline. With a healthy Waiters playing up to his contract, Hassan Whiteside in the middle, Goran Dragic running point and a leap in improvement from Justise Winslow and the Heat have a real shot at making the playoffs in what is projected to be a weakened east.

Above all, if Waiters and the Heat play well, it means more shit talk, more scowls, more amazing quotes, and, above all, more fun for us.

So, yeah, Waiters probably shoots a little too much, and isn’t a guy that the analytics favor. But screw it, Dion Waiters is out here living his best life and his true rags-to-riches story is what makes professional athletes worth rooting for.

Previous Rankings:
Has Never Been Ranked on the #SLAMTop50

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2017-18—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

The post SLAM Top 50: Dion Waiters, No. 50 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: LeBron James, No. 1

Adam Figman — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:13:07 +0000

Hey, we did it. We made it to No. 1.

Look, this year’s SLAM Top 50 list brought on a slew of debates. Those are fun; we’re here almost solely for that conversation.

But they’re over.

Not because we don’t want you to continue arguing about basketball players, but because we’ve arrived at the top of the list. And there’s no questioning the top of the list. Not at the moment.

LeBron James is the best basketball player on the planet. It’s been true for a while now—despite a couple of guys clawing at his spot over the past year or two—and it’s very, very true as you’re reading this, mere months removed from an epic Finals comeback that I still can’t believe actually happened.

Down 3-1 to the best regular season team in NBA history with the unanimous… etc. etc. etc. You know the story. Which is why I’m going to keep this short. Really, really short.

Most of this list requires explanations—“Here’s why this guy was ranked here, or “Here’s why I think he should be higher/lower.”

But this write-up doesn’t need such an explanation. If you watched basketball this past June, it was provided—almost force-fed—to you. Perhaps over the next year KD and/or Stephen will boost one another to a new height, or Russ or Harden will become such a one-man wrecking crew that one of them will make sense as the new No. 1, or some young gun like AD or KAT will meet his full potential and ascend all the way up. But that’s a conversation for next year. This year’s is over. We’ve reached the pinnacle, and the pinnacle, at this exact instant, is not up for debate.

What more can I say?

https://youtu.be/FaHJJoVVRcQ

LEBRON JAMES SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: 1
2010: 1
2011: 1
2012: 1
2013: 1
2014: 1
2015: 1
2016: 1

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Stephen Curry, No. 2

Ben Collins — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:12:58 +0000

People who didn’t live pre-Internet can’t grasp how devoid of ideas life in my hometown was. The only bookstores sold Bibles the size of coffee tables and dashboard Virgin Marys that glowed in the dark. I stopped in the middle of the SAT to memorize a poem, because I thought, This is a great work of art, and I’ll never see it again.—Mary Karr

So are we supposed to hate this guy now? I’ve been told I’m supposed to hate this guy.

Here’s Stephen Curry in the trebuchet, about to be launched into the ocean. He kind of half-hopped his way through the Finals for an injury he refused to disclose and now he’s up here, a meme, a living 3-1 lead being blown ad infinitum.

Then he accidentally doubled down on it. The Warriors, who—if you haven’t heard—blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals, got the other blown lead guy, Kevin Durant, the fourth best basketball player in the world. The people with the pitchforks turned at last away from LeBron James, who they hated for no reason for like a solid decade there, and onto Steph.

Somebody’s gotta be in the trebuchet, about to be thrown aside.

You’re supposed to hate him now. Which sucks, because I thought he had something special.

Here’s the thing about a villain on the Internet: It doesn’t take much anymore. It is, in hindsight, still unclear what Anne Hathaway ever did, and where is she now? Is Anne Hathaway dead? I don’t know. No one knows. Somebody check on Anne Hathaway.

Being a villain on the Internet is a fickle thing. It’s misfortune explained unfortunately. So Steph, marketed into an unexplainable, is the bad guy now.

Steph just won two straight MVPs, the second one unanimously. LeBron is starting to look a little old and rugged. No matter what they say, or who else they come up with to play next to him and Kyrie and Love, he’s driving the Cavs like a pickup truck in the Daytona 500. It is admirable and inconceivable—in a sport where actual goddamn scientists mess around with the motors now—that an old-timey pickup truck won the Daytona 500.

Then, on July 5, some guy came by and replaced Steph’s very nice car with a spaceship.

It would be boring to root for him. It would be boring to root for a rocket ship in a race against anything.

But I don’t think you understand what we have.

Please forgive me for calling attention to your short attention span. It’s a sore subject for all of us. Nobody really knows how we all got this broken this fast, but here we are.

Look back to February, the last time it was cold, when basketball was lifting you through the winter and the sudden realization that a racist Flamin’ Hot Cheeto has an earnest shot at running the country. It was rough.

People were still trying to find ways to call Steph Curry a fluke back then. This was only eight months ago, but it’s true. Some still believed averaging five made threes a game was a hot hand that went on way too long, like a reverse flu.

Then this game against the Thunder happened.

Previously, basketball players had limited range. Then they didn’t anymore. Steph was breaking a sport in real time, and not through his size or some bullshit preternatural athletic thing regular people can’t do. He was doing it by being great in a way nobody had the guts to be before.

He capped it off with a half-court shot that he flung casually, like a layup in a driveway. If you were to call Steph a villain in that moment, you’d be a sociopath.

But here we are, eight months later, all of us or none of us sociopaths.

Listen, he has a new weapon that’s going to make this team practically unbeatable. I get it. I understand. You can’t double anybody on the Warriors because one skip pass means three free points. It is beautiful and it is awful and it is unfair and life is a horrendous contradiction, only compounded by time.

Know that we hate this concept because we read it on the Internet. We get to see it and love it and hate it and love it again, just faster.

But remember: It does, eventually, go away. Steph is in this form now, for who knows how long. This is a great work of art, and I’ll never see it again.

STEPHEN CURRY SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: –
2010: 35
2011: 31
2012: 47
2013: 10
2014: 5
2015: 4
2016: 2

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Stephen Curry, No. 2 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Russell Westbrook, No. 3

Yaron Weitzman — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 16:07:13 +0000

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to watch an individual play basketball.

To be honest, I’ve been waiting for Russell Westbrook to be given this opportunity for years. I remember arguing with friends following Derrick Rose’s 2011 MVP campaign that Westbrook could put up better numbers and get the Bulls further than Rose did if the two swapped teams. But Westbrook had Kevin Durant on his team while Rose was allowed to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted, at least on offense. Durant is a marvelous player, but I also think he—or rather his presence—was holding Westbrook back.

Some players just aren’t meant to play second fiddle. From a pure basketball standpoint Westbrook certainly isn’t, and when it comes to an emotional presence Russ takes a backseat to no one. He’s just not wired that way, for better and for worse.

Me, I think it’s for better. There’s a reason Westbrook is the favorite to win this season’s MVP award. Dude is a beast, and now the shackles are gone, the team is his, the offense is his. You know how Nate Archibald is the only player to ever lead the NBA in points and assists per game? Believing Westbrook could do so too this year isn’t crazy.

https://youtu.be/TdkH6Qqmgho

He led the League in scoring two seasons ago (28.1) when Durant missed a chunk of games, then averaged 10.4 assists last year. Obviously Durant’s absence will hurt the assist numbers, and the Thunder could use some more shooting. Still, the ball’s going to be in Westbrook’s hands the majority of the time this season and OKC does have a number of bigs (Steven Adams, Enes Kanter) who should thrive on dump-off passes.

Think of it like this: Westbrook was a part of 722 pick-and-rolls last season, according to NBA.com’s player tracking database. Durant, meanwhile, was the ball-handler on 348 screen-and-rolls.

With Durant now in Golden State where do you expect those now free pick-and-rolls to go?

Then again, we all know Westbrook can, and will, put up monster numbers. In terms of most ridiculous athletes to ever step foot on an NBA floor, Russ is up there with LeBron, plus he’s got skills. The ability to blow by anyone trying to guard him, to create fast break points, to finish in the traffic at the hoop, and let’s not forget that picturesque stop-and-pop foul line jumper he’s perfected.

But the real question facing him and OKC this is year is can they win without KD? Or, more to the point: Can a team with a wild dervish like Russell Westbrook as its primary weapon compete for a title, or at least climb to the top of the standings? (No one in the West is knocking off the Warriors.)

In order to do that, Westbrook is going to have to do the Alpha Dog Balance: He’s going to have to learn when to take over and when to get teammates involved, and how to be more efficient (he shot 45 percent last year, but just 42 percent in 2015). He’s going to have to give full effort all the time, even on defense.

And he’s going to have to lead.

The latter, leading—it’s something that sounds easier than in actually is, especially for someone with as electric a personality as Westbrook.

(Though more no-so-subtle Instagram shots at his former buddy would certainly be welcomed by this writer).

What’s cool, though, is that these are responsibilities Westbrook clearly wanted; after all, he didn’t have to sign an extension with OKC, he could have waited to become a free agent and done that whole dance. And obviously that decision wasn’t a selfless one; there were financial benefits to him doing so.

But he was also itching to, finally, be handed a team and show everyone what he’s capable of if fully unleashed. I for one am excited that we’ll no longer have to spend May mornings debating whether he and Durant can co-exist. They don’t have to anymore. The Thunder now belongs to Westbrook.

And who knows what happens now? Maybe the League will soon be Westbrook’s, too.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: –
2010: 24
2011: 12
2012: 9
2013: 12
2014: 6
2015: 5
2016: 3

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Russell Westbrook, No. 3 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Kevin Durant, No. 4

Dave Zirin — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 16:11:25 +0000

Not since 2011, that first year when LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, has the NBA had a consensus villain. Well we do now.

Unfathomably, that villain is a player who disavowed the nickname The Slim Reaper because he thought it was too edgy and said he would rather be known as The Servant. Of course I’m talking about KDTrey himself, Kevin Durant.

Kevin Durant has never worn the villain mask comfortably. In his recent outbursts against the media in Oklahoma City, he couldn’t even help himself from grinning like someone psyched about their Halloween custom. No LeBron scowl. No Isiah Thomas smile with fangs just barely visible.

Kevin Durant will not have a choice other than to affix the villain mask to his face for seven months. That burden is all that stands between Golden State Warriors and historic greatness.

Yes, Durant is on a team with the unanimous MVP, whose effortless awesomeness was starting to generate a legion of haters and the “kiwi crusher” Draymond Green. But the focus and the boos will be reserved for KD, and not only because he chose to leave Oklahoma City for a team that was already 73-9 and came within a play of being back-to-back champs.

I know that he will be the villain, the face of this franchise, because of some wisdom once bestowed upon me by Greg Anthony. I was talking to the former Knicks guard in the summer of 2011, asking him about the common theory that the Miami Heat “super team” would be a bust because they had “two alphas who would demand the ball,” in LeBron and D-Wade.

Anthony shook his head and said, “When you play, when you are actually on the court, that’s not how this game works. The ball is like a magnet and it will be attracted to the person who will do the most with it in their hands. LeBron will lead this team on the court, no matter how established Wade is in Miami and no matter what they say to the press. The ball will decide whose team it will be.”

Two MVPs, two finals MVPs, and four trips to the Finals later, Anthony was of course proven correct. It will be the same thing in Golden State. As great as the Splash Brothers are and as much as Draymond stuffs the stat sheet, few people in NBA history do more with the ball in his hands as Durant.

https://youtu.be/EtVgKumdMus

It was overshadowed by Steph’s historic shooting and LeBron’s postseason masterpiece, but his stat line last year of 28.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 5.0 apg has been matched historically only by people known by one name: Oscar, Bird, Havlicek, Elgin and Wilt. That’s it. Not Michael, not LeBron.

Like with the Heatles, it may take several weeks for Durant to settle in, but eventually he will be the magnet: The best player on the League’s best team.

The only thing stopping him is whether he can walk comfortably in a villain’s clothes for seven months. If Durant finds it within himself to feed off of the hatred of opposing fans, then the 2016-17 season is already over.

KEVIN DURANT SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: 8
2010: 3
2011: 2
2012: 2
2013: 2
2014: 2
2015: 3
2016: 4

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Kevin Durant, No. 4 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Kawhi Leonard, No. 5

Max Resetar — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 16:02:27 +0000

Kawhi Leonard shouldn’t have ever risen to the fifth best basketball player in the world. His jumpshot was broken, he was too quiet, he was the 15th pick in the 2011 Draft, thought to be the losing end of the George Hill trade. Put all those together and this should be a piece about how the Spurs are still paying for that trade.

But he hit the lab harder than anyone expected. His jumpshot is now a thing of beauty. Either off-the-dribble jimmies from midrange or catch-and-shoot threes are money when they come off his hand. He shot 44 percent from distance last year on the way to graduating to the 20+ ppg club.

And he’s still quiet. He doesn’t bang on his chest, yell at refs or teammates. He lets his game do the talking. These days, though, his game isn’t really talking— it’s singing.

Entering his sixth season, Leonard can point to a Finals MVP award, two Defensive Player of the Year trophies and a second-place finish in last season’s MVP voting. That’d be just about barbershop debate ammo for anyone’s career. But this man is only 25 years old. He hasn’t even reached his prime.

Going into this season, Leonard will be the Spurs’ bonafide number one option on both sides of the ball. They’re going to need 25 efficient points a night from him, while he locks up everyone from LeBron James to Stephen Curry.

Even during last season, the Spurs underestimated Leonard’s true value. The team shifted their attention to new signee LaMarcus Aldridge until they got 100 percent destroyed by the Warriors in January. The game confirmed what no one in San Antonio had the courage to say: Leonard, not Aldridge, has to be the future of the franchise.

At his age, with his skill set, the only way the Spurs continue to win titles, is with No. 2 as the number one. He does everything on the court. He scores from the post, at the rim and from distance. He even runs pick-and-rolls now.

His mix of athleticism and competitiveness has created a beast of an NBA player. His game is old school and his no-new-friends attitude is, too. One old school legend let the world know that he noticed Leonard’s maturation.

“A lot of people compare Kawhi to me & it makes sense,” Pip wrote in a Tweet. “He’s always been elite on D & now he’s killing it offensively. Dominant all-around.”

https://youtu.be/sUSB74tPyVc

And even though Leonard isn’t out there to get praise from LeBron James, that hasn’t stopped the King from sharing his feelings about the Claw.

“He’s solid, solid at that end of the floor,” James said a few months ago. “He’s very, very solid. I like him. I like the kid.”

And there’s still more to come. When Kawhi graced SLAM 197, he told us he’s not done yet.

“With the Spurs those first three years or so, I was very limited with what I could do on the floor. I wasn’t able to showcase my talent.

“I still think there’s a lot that you haven’t yet seen that I can do.”

KAWHI LEONARD SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2011: –
2012: –
2013: 46
2014: 22
2015: 11
2016: 5

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Kawhi Leonard, No. 5 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Anthony Davis, No. 6

Leo Sepkowitz — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 16:00:47 +0000

A year ago, SLAM ranked LeBron James as the League’s best player. Anthony Davis was second, Kevin Durant was third, Steph Curry was fourth. Davis had just posted the League’s highest PER—the 11th best mark of all time—and dragged a mediocre team to the postseason. There, he averaged 31.5, 11 and 3 in a quick four-game set. We wondered if Davis would soon become the League’s best player.

Then the new season started, and by the time Davis got his first win, Curry was already 8-0, LeBron was 7-1. Davis missed four of the next five games with an injury. The window for Davis as Best Player slammed shut. The Pelicans won just 30 games.

Davis was very good last year, but not otherworldly—24 points, 10 boards and 2 blocks (down from 3) nightly, while shooting 49 percent overall (down from 54). He played in 61 games—his fourth time in as many years falling short of 70.

Indeed, it was a small step backward for Davis. But let’s not get distracted: Brow remains one of the League’s undisputed great players. In fact, he is likely the NBA’s best two-way player. Davis protects the rim as reliably as DeAndre Jordan and, last season, was the only player to average 4 buckets in the restricted area, 1.5 inside the paint (outside the RA), and 3 from mid-range. Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett each averaged 24, 10 and 2 just once in their respective careers—Davis just did it on a down year.

Davis is only 23, and will, amazingly, continue to improve. The only question is whether his team will slow him down (again).

Over the summer, New Orleans lost Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson via free agency. Rookie Buddy Hield and forward Solomon Hill will struggle to replace them. Tyreke Evans may not play until the new year. Sadly, Jrue Holiday is dealing with the most severe of personal problems. Langston Galloway, Tim Frazier and E’Twuan Moore will have legit roles here. Lance Stephenson lurks. Last week, Davis sprained his ankle, and is questionable for opening day.

The Pelicans may struggle again, leaving Davis to stall for another season, an incredible player on a bad team that’s never on TV. It’s a common and frustrating situation, but that’s no excuse to forget about him. Do not sleep on Anthony Davis. In about a week, he will return, scoring 34, rejecting 9, gliding across the court, forcing the viewer once again to wonder if there’s anybody better.

ANTHONY DAVIS SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2012: 44
2013: 41
2014: 4
2015: 2
2016: 6

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Anthony Davis, No. 6 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: James Harden, No. 7

Ryne Nelson — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 19:03:03 +0000

By James Harden’s very own admission, last season “wasn’t great at all.”

Harden, coming off a runner-up MVP campaign, infamously entered camp out of shape after an offseason highlighted by a brief relationship with Khloe Kardashian.

Houston immediately fell short of lofty high expectations, and Kevin McHale took the fall for a 4-7 start to the season. The Rockets still managed to squeak into the Playoffs, where they lost in five games to the Warriors.

Through all the struggles, Harden still got his. The Beard’s numbers alone—29.0 ppg, 7.5 apg and 6.1 rpg and 25.3 PER—were indicative of what the 27-year-old is capable of bringing to the table.

He’s an offense unto himself, able to get to the line at will, knocking down shots from mid-range and three, while playing point guard for his team.

Harden personally accounted for a whooping 13.3 win shares—or nearly a third of Houston’s wins last season.

Given the disaster that was the Rockets’ 2015-16 season, it’s fair to say that a James Harden-led team will be, at least, a .500 ball club.

And still…

Critics point to Harden’s still-atrocious defense, propensity to pout during adversity, inability to make his teammates better, and record-setting sums of turnovers as reasons to place him a tier below the game’s upper echelon.

There have been questions about his work ethic, focus and will to win.

Part of this is due to the Rockets being one of the most disappointing stories of the 2015-16 campaign. But, for a player who dominates the ball like Harden, it’s impossible not to project a large percentage of the blame on him.

For presumably these reasons, Harden wasn’t selected to an All-NBA team last year—something that hasn’t happened since he was traded to H-Town.

By all accounts, Harden has been using last season as fuel to become a better player and leader in 2016-17.

He’ll have a formidable roster with the additions of Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon along with vets Nene and Pablo Prigioni.

Harden says he’s in great shape, loves Mike D’Antoni’s offense and has been treating the preseason like the regular season. The Rockets are poised to jump out of the gate with ferocity.

And James Harden may finally prove himself to be the leader, winner and generally unstoppable talent that we all know he’s capable of becoming.

JAMES HARDEN SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: –
2010: –
2011: –
2012: 20
2013: 5
2014: 9
2015: 6
2016: 7

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: James Harden, No. 7 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Paul George, No. 8

Peter Walsh — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 16:01:28 +0000

Twenty-six months ago Paul George broke his leg in half during a Team USA scrimmage. On the eve of the 2016-17 season, he’s coming for LeBron’s neck.

George’s 2015-16 comeback season may have been one of the most under-appreciated in recent League history. With the Warriors chasing 73 wins, Kevin Durant’s free agency looming and LeBron James being LeBron James, it’s not shocking that George’s year got lost in the shuffle.

In short, George’s year was nothing short of incredible—from both a statistical and health standpoint.

After finally recovering from his gruesome injury, PG played in the final six games of the 2014-15 season but clearly wasn’t himself and went from throwing down graceful dunks to blowing wide open layups. As he told our own Abe Schwadron, George had to more or less teach himself how to play basketball again:

“I don’t know, it was weird,” George remembers of the blown layup. “I couldn’t slow down, I was trying to get my feet right, get my steps right. And that’s something I’ve never—I naturally just know how to dunk the ball, but for that particular time, there was just so much stuff going through my mind on how to get ready to finish to where, when I got to the basket, it was too fast, and I just blew the whole layup.”

Think about that. One of the 10 best basketball players in the world had to teach himself how to play again.

Last season, George played in 81 games and averaged a career-high 23.1 points per game while tying his career highs of 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per. He also grabbed 7 boards a night and lead the Pacers to 45 wins and a somewhat disappointing 7th seed in the East, where they were bumped from the Playoffs in the first round by the Raptors.

In the offseason, Indiana hit the reset button and decided not to re-up Frank Vogel’s contract, instead opting to promote Nate McMillan and overhaul the roster by signing experienced, complementary pieces to work around George. Jeff Teague, Thad Young and Al Jefferson were brought in and with the prospected improvement of Myles Turner, Indy is primed to make a run at the No. 2 seed in the East.

Of course, the success of the Pacers starts and ends with Paul George’s play. At the Olympics, George was arguably the second best player on the team behind Kevin Durant. Showing his versatility on both ends of the floor, PG’s well-earned Gold medal boosted his confidence.

Speaking of the Olympics, don’t be surprised if George experiences a Team USA-inspired bump in both production and accolades this season. After the 2012 Olympics, Carmelo Anthony went on to lead the NBA in scoring and finished third in MVP voting, LeBron James went on to win an NBA title. In fact, nine out of the 12 players landed on either one of the All-NBA teams, All-Rookie teams or All-Defensive teams.

In 2014-15, following Team USA’s Gold medal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Steph Curry won MVP and a title, James Harden finished second in MVP voting and Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving and DeMarcus Cousins made an All-NBA team.

There is no reason not to expect Paul George to have similar success.

“I think the players who play for USA Basketball are better players for it, are better people for it,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo told SLAM last month. “I think the culture they’re in when they’re with us benefits them, benefits their teams when they come back and ultimately the ultimate beneficiary is the NBA.

“They’re not overworked, we don’t grind them at all, it’s structured, we don’t work very long but we work hard in a short period of time, it’s the right environment for them. They get a ton of hots up in those couple weeks and they’re better prepared. I think they have a leg up when the season starts.”

Late last month, George flat out said he “definitely wants to be MVP this year.” A few days before that, he put LeBron on notice that after years of falling short against the best player in the world, he’s finally ready to take the throne:

“I’ve always matched up with him like, ‘I know he can do this, I know he can do that,’ ” George said about James to The Vertical. “Not in an awe fashion, but it’s more so, ‘I’m not supposed to win these games. This is supposed to be the best dude in the NBA. I’m trying to challenge him. I know what I’m up against.’ Now it’s, ‘I’m ready. I’m ready for you. I’m a veteran. I know you, you know me. Let’s meet here, let’s get this job done.’ I’m prepared. I’ve had time to figure this out. I’ve had time to lick my wounds. I’m ready.”

The real question is, is the rest of the NBA?

PAUL GEORGE SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2010: –
2011: –
2012: –
2013: 13
2014: –
2015: 22
2016: 8

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Paul George, No. 8 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: DeMarcus Cousins, No. 9

Maurice Bobb — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 19:00:24 +0000

If you’re a stand-up comedy aficionado like me, you appreciate the coterie of greats that are virtually known by mononym: Pryor, Carlin, Martin, Diller, Hedberg, Bruce, Wright, Kinison, Foxx, Macdonald, Cosby, Carson, Murphy, Seinfeld, Chappelle, CK, Rock.

That list, of course, is grossly incomplete without the legendary, yet widely unappreciated jokester Rodney Dangerfield.

“I don’t get no respect!”

That catchphrase built an industry of humor for the late great funnyman. Under the guise of self-depreciation, he cut right to the audience’s soul, generating side-splitting laughs that, obviously, showed the kind of deference that all comics covet.

“I get no respect. The way my luck is running, if I was a politician I would be honest.”

Through his numerous appearances on The Tonight Show, his Las Vegas act and his movies that garnered a cult following, Dangerfield consistently brought the funny in a way that made fans unwittingly root for more of the feigned misery that fostered his comedic genius.

“Onstage, Mr. Dangerfield is a verbal boxer who dances lightly around a theme, then closes in for the kill, delivering a barrage of one- and two-line punches in an accelerated rapid-fire delivery that becomes an orgiastic flurry of jabs,” wrote Stephen Holden of the New York Times.

“You gotta look out for number one, but don’t step in number two!”

If there was ever an athlete that embodies Dangerfield’s signature line, it’s Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins.

For all of his on-court dominance, especially on the low block (read: he averaged 26.9 points, 11.5 boards and 1.4 swats per contest last season), he’s still regarded as though he’s a pouty, petulant child instead of the game’s best big man. Let’s just call it like it is—there’s no freakin’ way he shouldn’t have been on the All-NBA First Team.

“In my mind, it’s not even close between me and the next person,” Cousins told SLAM last year. “I would say the next big is AD (Anthony Davis), but it’s not close, in my mind. Not close.”

And it isn’t.

Everyone knows it, including all of the experts, analysts and pundits. But just like Dangerfield, the former University of Kentucky standout gets no respect.

So what will it take for everyone to, as Birdman infamously said, stop playing with his name and put some “respek” on it?

Winning.

“At this point, it’s about winning,” said Cousins. “I got the All-Star appearances. I got Team USA. My name is out there. It’s just about winning, it’s about carrying a team. I mean, from a talent perspective I know I’m way above any other big man—now it’s just about winning…I’ve sat here and thought about it, I’ve analyzed other players and, shit, win, and they’ll accept you for whoever you are. You could be a fucking crackhead and they’ll love you. If you win, they sweep everything under the rug.”

Dangerfield fans can definitely appreciate Boogie’s wit on the absurdity of his underrated status.

“I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out.”

But, even in jest, he’s totally onto something. Winning does cure all when it comes to taking that next step toward superstardom. The numbers are already staggering, so no one expects DMC to get more buckets (he was the fourth leading scorer in the L last year) or Windex the glass with more impunity. All he really needs to do to quiet his detractors is step up as a leader, make his teammates better and bring back that winning culture to Cali’s state capital.

No one in the SLAM Dome wants Boogie to stop dropping F-bombs in interviews—seriously, never change, Boogie.

https://youtu.be/h0X9UUTBD4M

But if he wants to shake all of the negative perceptions and finally enjoy his rightful place as one of the league’s elite MVP-caliber players, he might want to pick his battles with opposing squads, inhale and let all the non-calls go and maybe, drastically cut back on all the technical fouls.

If DMC does all of the above and bring it like he always does, when the 2016-17 season comes to a close, he’ll be having the last laugh.

DEMARCUS COUSINS SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2010: –
2011: –
2012: 28
2013: 29
2014: 20
2015: 9
2016: 9

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: DeMarcus Cousins, No. 9 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Damian Lillard, No. 10

Marcel Mutoni — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 16:00:58 +0000

Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard is not feeling the wave.

In this age of superteams, the stubbornly prideful point guard wants to win by building things from the ground up.

Lillard is the Edward Norton of NBA stars, a brilliant and steady performer who’s content even if he never headlines some monstrosity of a franchise (The Incredible Hulk never happened, friends.)

The 26-year-old, two-time All-Star is coming off his fourth and best season: 25.1 points and 6.8 assists in 75 games, while leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a surprising 44-38 record and the 5th seed in the brutal Western Conference.

“After each game, I was going home, like, Man, I’ve got to do this better, I’ve got to do that better,” Lillard told The Oregonian last month. “Each [year] I keep getting better, I keep taking it up a level. I feel like this year I’ve got to take it up a level from last year.”

A compact, lightning-quick and tenacious competitor, Lillard is virtually unguardable, and can get to any spot on the floor he so desires. Defenses have to fear both his ability to get to the cup and rain in feathery jumpers. And he’s at his most terrifying with the game on the line.

The 2013 Rookie of the Year lists off championships, the League MVP award, First Team All-NBA honors and starting in the All-Star Game as accolades he’s chasing.

Critics will point to an unsightly 41.9 percent clip from the field, and indifferent defense, and they are correct to do so. Lillard, though, says he’s aware of his shortcomings and working diligently to turn them into strengths.

“Like I said, over time, you get better at stuff,” Lillard said. “So defensively, I’ve figured out an angle where I can get hit less. Getting hit less, I’m less tired, my body’s taking less banging. So hopefully I’ll be better in that area and that will give me more energy from not getting hit on a bunch of screens and getting stuck. And I’ll have more energy to push the ball back the other way. And more energy to finish defensive possessions.”

Ultimately, Dame will be judged by wins and losses.

Can he and fellow stud CJ McCollum get Portland past the second round of the Playoffs? The rest of the squad doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, but these two proved last season that sleeping on them may prove to be a fatal mistake.

Dame may not have the mind-bending athleticism and explosiveness of a Russell Westbrook, or the magnetism and magical stroke Stephen Curry was blessed with, but he’s plenty great in his own right.

He plans to continue bringing the fight to everyone.

And he’ll do it in his own inimitable way.

DAMIAN LILLARD SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2012: –
2013: 28
2014: 17
2015: 16
2016: 10

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Damian Lillard, No. 10 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Chris Paul, No. 11

DeMarco Williams — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 19:06:48 +0000

There’s an interesting new show on NBC called Timeless. The drama’s relatively simple premise is filled with subtle complexities—a trio follows an alleged madman in a time machine back to some of modern history’s biggest moments to stop him from disrupting the future.

Damn, if only the Atlanta Hawks could get their hands on such a contraption. The organization would almost certainly program it for June 28, 2005, the night it mistakenly chose North Carolina’s Marvin Williams with the second pick in the NBA Draft instead of Wake Forest’s Chris Paul.

If the New Orleans Hornets, the team that ended up selecting CP3 with the fourth pick that year, had their chance with the machine, they might hop over to December 14, 2011 and reconsider their trade of Paul to the L.A. Clippers.

Granted the opportunity, Chris might do his own Marty McFly impersonation and go back to a few unflattering playoff outings—April 28, 2011, April 25, 2013 or even April 24, 2015—to exorcise some postseason demons. One win here or a series victory there, and you might have a different outlook of Chris Paul today.

As it all currently stands, though, Atlanta is happy with Dennis Schröder and New Orleans is trying to figure out if Jrue Holiday is the real deal. As for Chris Paul, you’re probably of the mindset that he’s a dope individual player—nine All-Star selections and eight All-Defensive teams certainly tell us that much—whose shaky record in April and May (the 11-year vet has never been to a conference finals) is what’s going to keep him out of the “Best PG Ever” discussion. For the most part, you’d be right. If the homie doesn’t earn a ring, he’ll probably never shine as brightly as Magic or Isiah in folks’ minds.

We figured you’d think that, so we at the SLAM Dome stepped into our own time machine, recalibrated a few things and gazed into the future—May 19, 2017 to be exact. Unfortunately for CP3 fans, that’s the date when the talented-but-temperamental Clippers wave the white flag against the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and JJ Redick will do everything in their powers to get the squad over the hump. Of course, Paul will, too. It just won’t be enough.

But if Timeless has taught us anything—well, besides the fact that underachieving actor/Lincoln assassinator John Wilkes Booth was the Donnie Wahlberg of his day—it’s that things can change. Yes, L.A. has an ugly history of getting clipped early in the postseason, but it’s not too late to fix the problem. We see a fire in Chris Emmanuel Paul’s eyes of late. If it can burn into late spring, things may rewrite themselves.

We dig how, last year, Paul’s nearly 20 points a night didn’t stop him from finishing in the top-five in the League in assists for a sixth straight season. We love how No. 3’s three-point attempts reached a career-high 4.4 tries a contest. We even appreciate how he’s gotten more outspoken in huddles and on the public stage with social issues. This guy clearly isn’t worried about injuries or playoff failures. Neither should you.

So, don’t waste any more time wondering if a healthy Paul and Griffin would have been enough to oust the overachieving Portland Trail Blazers last year. Doesn’t matter. The past is the past. The only thing Clipper Nation should be concerned with is this present group’s mental and physical preparedness.

The 31-year-old Chris Paul, the team’s unquestioned leader, is ready to roll. His Springfield-stamped resume will only be cushioned by another year of 20-10 nights, a ninth All-NBA appearance and at least a couple more State Farm commercials. If Raymond Felton and Austin Rivers are steady in back-up guard roles, CP3 can rest even more and go into the Playoffs at his strongest. And who knows? In this newly scripted scenario, that may be all they need to give the Spurs the playoff series of a lifetime.

Of course, if the L.A. Clippers merely flicker out in the first round yet again, we’re traveling back to October 14, 2016 to delete this post.

CHRIS PAUL SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: 4
2010: 7
2011: 8
2012: 3
2013: 3
2014: 3
2015: 7
2016: 11

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Chris Paul, No. 11 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Kyrie Irving, No. 12

Ryan Jones — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 16:06:00 +0000

It can’t be about the shot. At least, it can’t only be about the shot.

The shot, well, I’m not going to offend you by explaining that. The fact that it’s not clearly the defining moment of the 2016 NBA Finals has everything to do with his quite-possibly-GOAT teammate’s knack for immaculately timed chase downs and in no way diminishes the importance and all-time, cold-blooded clutch status of the shot itself. The shot was friggin’ YUGE. The timing, the stakes, the (ahem) defender. Shots get no bigger than this particular shot.

But that can’t, objectively, be the reason we think Kyrie Irving is a better basketball player than he was this time last year.

This is just one ranking, of course, and rankings in general are bad and should be avoided at all costs, but here we are. The point is that last year, we ranked Kyrie Irving the 15th best player in the NBA, this coming off a season in which he averaged 21.7 points and 5.2 assists per game. This year, coming off a season in which he averaged 19.6 point and 4.7 assists, we’ve got him 12th.

So what’s that even about.

Well, let’s acknowledge some context. Kyrie missed the Cavs’ first 24 games last season—nearly a third of the schedule!—while coming back from injury, and once he was back, he averaged about five fewer minutes per game. As such, his per-36 numbers are probably a better measure of his effectiveness, and in that, he was actually slightly more productive than he was in 2014-15. Then again, his percentages were down from the field and behind the arc, and his PER and win shares were both down as well. If his regular-season numbers don’t show that Irving dropped off last season, they surely don’t show that he made any great leap forward, either.

But yeah, regular-season numbers. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking this argument plays itself. Maybe you’re right: Irving played 53 regular-season games while working his way back from injury, and working himself into game shape. Starting in late April, he played 21 games that mattered, against increasingly difficult competition, and averaged a very efficient 25.2 ppg. In the seven games that mattered most, against a historically great opponent, he was mostly excellent, and occasionally brilliant—never more so than on the last made basket of the series.

Now pretend for a second that he missed.

Maybe the Cavs still pull out the win. Maybe they don’t. Either way, it’s not like Kyrie’s entire legacy is shattered by missing a contested three with nearly a minute left in a tied Game 7. He might have gotten another chance that night. Odds are good he’ll have more chances down the road.

But if he’d missed? Win or lose, he still had a terrific series, much of it while matched against the reigning League MVP. Make or miss, that one shot shouldn’t really matter in how we regard a player’s entire body of work. But it sure feels like it does.

Kyrie acknowledged as much last month, telling Cleveland.com that his life “changed drastically” after the shot, that the moment represented “validation” for his place among the game’s elite. That makes sense. We expect the greats to be at their greatest when the stakes are highest. With that shot, he earned his spot. Maybe just as important, he earned it with his play throughout the series, without which the Cavs weren’t in a position to win a decisive Game 7 in the first place.

He’s five seasons in, just 24 years old. It’ll take more than a single shot (no matter how big) to get him into the top 10, to crack All-NBA First Team status, to start stealing MVP votes. One shot doesn’t put Kyrie in the best-in-the-game conversation. But maybe it tells us he’s the sort of dude who expects to be there before long.

KYRIE IRVING SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2011: –
2012: 17
2013: 9
2014: 16
2015: 15
2016: 12

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Kyrie Irving, No. 12 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Klay Thompson, No. 13

Abe Schwadron — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 19:00:34 +0000

Fact: Klay Thompson is going to go harder this year than he has at any point in his NBA career to this point.

I’m not suggesting Klay Thompson didn’t play as hard, or even harder, than everyone else on the floor during his first five seasons in the NBA. You don’t make two All-Star games, earn two All-NBA nods and win an NBA title as the second-best player on your team by coasting. Nor do you move up from 29 to 17 to 13 on this list, as he’s done over the last three seasons, which now ranks KT ahead of names like Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRozan and Dwyane Wade.

Last season Thompson averaged 22.1 ppg on 47 percent field-goal shooting (43 percent from deep) and hit more three-pointers in a single season than any player in the history of the League not named Stephen Curry.

I’m not suggesting that he doesn’t show emotion, either, like a notoriously stoic Tim Duncan type. Klay is by his own admission the strong, silent type, but we’ve seen outbursts of passion at times during the Playoffs.

Still, if there’s a knock on Klay Thompson, it would have to be his temperament. Right? Because surely you can’t knock his game, with a jumper second only to his reigning MVP backcourt bro, and suffocating defense on the other end. (Shout out to all those begging us the last few years to re-shuffle these rankings with more emphasis on defense.) But maybe, just maybe, you can doubt his fire. Maybe, you’d say, he doesn’t demand the rock like other players ranked this high, or fire up his troops or play the part of vocal leader or assert himself aggressively enough at times.

A funny thing happened this summer, though. When Golden State made the biggest splash of the summer, adding Kevin Durant to a team that just made history in the regular season and has made back-to-back trips to the Finals, a lot of people were very, very excited. Everywhere, not just in San Francisco. Meanwhile Klay Thompson was, well, here’s what he told Shams Charania of The Vertical:

“I was sleeping,” Thompson said, “and my brother came to my room and woke me up to tell me that KD committed. I didn’t believe it at first when he told me, so I had to check my phone and verify it. I was like, ‘Seriously? KD really chose us?’ It was an incredible moment for our organization, and I was psyched. We had the final form of our team. […] And then I went back to sleep.”

He went back to sleep. WTF? That’s the Klay Thompson I’m talking about. Or at least, that’s the Klay Thompson we’ve known until now. Super chill, bra. This basketball stuff is cool, but anyone wanna hit the beach and surf later? Maybe eat some fish tacos? (I have no idea if Klay says these things, but like, he might.)

But then, he followed that up with this:

“I feel kind of disrespected that people keep using the term sacrifice to describe me and describe us,” Thompson said. “We all want to see each other do well. But I’m not sacrificing [expletive], because my game isn’t changing. I’m still going to try to get buckets, hit shots, come off screens. I want to win and have a fun time every game we play.

YO!

Sleeping giant = awake. Look at this shit, man:

Here's 75 seconds of Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant not missing until KD snaps the streak pic.twitter.com/6g3hUh57cQ

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 28, 2016

What I’m saying is, imagine Klay Thompson actually giving a fuck. Imagine Klay Thompson getting pissed off—at the rest of us idiots outside the Warriors’ locker room, or the potential idiots occupying the visitor’s. That is not a Klay Thompson any opponent wants to see.

There’s only one shooting guard ahead of Thompson on this list. It’s not exactly a secret that it’ll be James Harden. Then again, new Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni is now calling Harden a PG, so maybe it’s time to anoint Klay as the top 2-guard in the game.

(Not that he gives a fuck.)

KLAY THOMPSON SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2011: –
2012: –
2013: –
2014: 29
2015: 17
2016: 13

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Klay Thompson, No. 13 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Blake Griffin, No. 14

Eli Schwadron — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 16:00:45 +0000

Through his first 30 games in 2015-16, Blake Griffin averaged 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5 dimes while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.

In a Christmas Day victory over the Lakers, Griffin partially tore his left quadriceps tendon. The Clippers big man missed a chunk of time, then another chunk of time after punching an assistant equipment manager, earning a fractured bone in his hand and a suspension to boot.

After missing four months, he suited up for six of the last seven regular-season games. Then, just as Griffin was rounding into form again, he aggravated his quad in Game 4 of the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against Portland. Griffin’s third injury of the year forced him to sit out the remainder of the series, which Los Angeles lost. In a September letter to the fans in the Player’s Tribune, Blake stated bluntly in a stand-alone paragraph, “Last season sucked.”

But fuck that noise. We’re talking about 2016-17, right? Through three exhibition games, BG is shooting 62 percent from the field. In an October 5 win over Toronto, Griffin shot 10-13 with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and an innovative new move (who throws a shoe? honestly!). He even made 2-3 from long range.

Haters will say it’s a preseason fluke, but Griffin has been working on his three-ball all offseason. He tells the OC Register:

“I want to be someone who shoots from there confidently, for sure. A lot of us power forwards, our strength is inside or our versatility. You look at the best power forwards, Anthony Davis, LaMarcus (Aldridge), Draymond (Green) … they can all shoot, but they can all put the ball on the floor and they can all score inside. I don’t necessarily think falling in love with the three-point shot is a good idea, but shooting it confidently from there is great.”

Not only is he extending his range, but Griffin is also reinforcing his inside game. Most notably, No. 32 learned a few post lessons from Kevin Garnett during Clippers practice. Back in late August, Blake hopped on JJ Redick’s podcast and discussed his grueling summer workouts, saying, “I didn’t deserve a summer break.” The work paid off: Griffin’s explosiveness is back, as evidenced by a cat-quick baseline spin to a one-handed reverse jam in an October 10 loss to Utah.

https://vine.co/v/5XK62eXjVbu

With CP3 at the helm, Blake as his first mate, and a still-wavy supporting cast of Redick, DeAndre Jordan, J Crossover and The Truth in tow, this Clipper ship has a chance. Regardless of the team’s record, 27-year-old Griffin is primed for a savage individual year, barring injury.

Lil Wayne opens Tha Carter II by saying, “So they ask me, ‘Young Boy, what you gonna do the second time around? How you gon’ come back?’ I tried told them, I come back like 32.”

After an injury-ridden ’15-16, my money is on No. 32 entering the ’16-17 regular season the same way he attacks the rim: He’s going to fly in.

BLAKE GRIFFIN SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2010: –
2011: 14
2012: 12
2013: 17
2014: 8
2015: 8
2016: 14

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Blake Griffin, No. 14 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Carmelo Anthony, No. 15

Leo Sepkowitz — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:00:35 +0000

They say that happiness equals reality divided by expectation—and that frustration is the product of the opposite—so let’s consider the graphic above, and the case of Carmelo Anthony. (Excuse the triangle.)

Anthony is one of the League’s best players, but he is not on par with LeBron James or Steph Curry or some others. He is a scorer, and though he is not a selfish player, his style has never produced great consistency or postseason success. It seems likely that Anthony will join the short list of all-time greats who never won a Championship. He will probably finish with, at worst, the 12th-most points ever scored.

That’s the reality.

So what about expectation?

Here in New York, Anthony is viewed as a frustrating underachiever by many (vocal) Knicks fans. This group has unrealistic expectations, and is distinctly furious and devoid of constructive ideas. They want to trade Melo, but they do not know who to acquire.

They believe that Melo is overpaid, but they do not know who to pay instead. They wish Melo hadn’t re-signed for five expensive years, but, of course, would despise him far more had he left via free agency to L.A. or Miami or Cleveland. This group wants to win—everybody does—but the Knicks never win, and the onus has fallen on Anthony alone.

The gap between this group’s expectation and the team’s reality consumes them—there is no place for Anthony’s reliably outstanding contributions to the team, the franchise and, in fact, the country.

The reality is that New York’s window was slammed shut three years ago by Roy Hibbert. Since then, expectations have remained high, but reality has torpedoed downward, at least for the Knicks as a whole, and if Melo’s success is measured in wins, then it has spiraled for him, too.

But light shone through last season, if you were willing to look. Kristaps Porzingis was spectacular in every way. Anthony played 72 games (at 35 minutes per) and averaged 21.8 points, 7.7 boards and 4.2 assists—the last a career-best, and a bit of proof, perhaps, of some untapped potential yet. Only Melo, Durant and Westbrook averaged 21/7.5/4. New York competed for half the season—40 games saw them ahead of even the Celtics in the standings. (They went 12-30 from there.)

This summer brought Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings to New York. The Knicks figure to play competitive if unspectacular ball all season—a classic sixth seed in the East. There will be fun nights: A Porzingis halftime stat line will have you sprinting home to flip on the game; Noah and Jennings will be doing JR-caliber wonky stuff all season.

Melo, meanwhile, will again be one of the League’s most productive forwards. He will have a month where he scores 28 or 34 every night, and he’ll sniff a triple-double every now and then. There will also be nights when his shot isn’t falling, when he’s the last to realize it, when he gives up a few easy buckets, when the team loses ugly. He is not a perfect player, but few ever were.

And so a fair set of expectations, which might blend with reality, is this: The Knicks hang with Toronto and Boston in the Atlantic for a good chunk of the season. At some point, New York gets hot, and Melo and Porzingis thrive in a way that makes you wonder if, just maybe, they can outlast the many pretty-good teams that fill the Eastern Conference to face Cleveland. Maybe the Knicks even top the Cavs in an early primetime game (December 7 on ESPN!) to really get the juices flowing.

There’s some potential here, maybe not for a title, but for a relevant, fun season. Sam Hinkie will tell you that a playoff push ain’t worth shit, but I’ll take six months of watching entertaining ball over five years of reading Joel Embiid’s Instagram comments any day, and twice on gameday. This year, the Knicks will be worth their fans’ time. Melo will lead the charge.

Allow that to be enough, and you might actually have some fun.

CARMELO ANTHONY SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: 7
2010: 6
2011: 9
2012: 10
2013: 4
2014: 7
2015: 13
2016: 15

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3
15	Carmelo Anthony	Knicks	SF	5
14	Blake Griffin	Clippers	PF	2
13	Klay Thompson	Warriors	SG	2
12	Kyrie Irving	Cavs	PG	5
11	Chris Paul	Clippers	PG	4
10	Damian Lillard	Blazers	PG	3
9	DeMarcus Cousins	Kings	C	1
8	Paul George	Pacers	SF	4
7	James Harden	Rockets	SG	1
6	Anthony Davis	Pelicans	PF	1
5	Kawhi Leonard	Spurs	SF	3
4	Kevin Durant	Warriors	SF	2
3	Russell Westbrook	Thunder	PG	2
2	Stephen Curry	Warriors	PG	1
1	LeBron James	Cavs	SF	1

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Carmelo Anthony, No. 15 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Draymond Green, No. 16

Franklyn Calle — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:03:08 +0000

In the same season in which he posted some record-breaking numbers and enjoyed the best year of his young career, Draymond Green simultaneously became one of the most polarizing figures in the League. The good and the ugly unavoidably collided. And then Kevin Durant happened. And that’s where it gets interesting.

Drafted in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft, Green epitomizes that “against-the-odds” story of players who went from non-guaranteed contracts to reaching All-Star status.

For the 2015-16 campaign, Green became the first player in NBA history to reach over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals within the same season. Although steals and blocks didn’t start being officially tallied by the League until 1973-74 (and so it’s fair to imagine the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson probably did reach this exclusive mark), it’s nonetheless impressive (and a little shocking, actually) that no other player in the NBA has reached such numbers in the past 40 years, at bare minimum.

With career highs in overall field-goal percentage, three-point percentage, points, rebounds, assists and blocks, the 6-7 wing was completely locked-in last season.

A regular-season stat line of 14.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists (huge increase from 3.7 the previous season), 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game had many drawing Big O comparisons—the only NBA player to ever average a triple-double in a season (1961-62). During the postseason, Green led the Warriors in every aforementioned statistical category except for points.

In November, he became the first Warriors player to post back-to-back triple-doubles on consecutive games since Wilt the Stilt in 1964. And then in January he became the second player in franchise history to finish with three consecutive triple-doubles.

The former Michigan State forward piled up 13 triple-doubles—only Russell Westbrook had more (who tied Magic Johnson for the most triple-doubles in the past 30 years with 18).

And while Green is certainly no Oscar Robertson, the numbers do speak for themselves.

But yet not everyone is really feeling Green these days. And a lot of that he brought upon himself.

After his spectacular regular season, in which he earned his first All-Star selection, Green began garnering a perception for being a dirty player—particularly with the genital-smashing spree he went on during the Playoffs. There was the kick to the groin of OKC’s Steve Adams during the Western Conference finals, after giving him a knee to the same area just the previous game. And then there was what appeared to be an elbow to LeBron James’ groin during Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

The latter incident would add up to his fourth flagrant foul of the Playoffs and a Game 5 suspension followed. Whether his antics and subsequent suspension played a role in the Warriors blowing a 3-1 Finals lead is up for discussion. But that he ruffled some feathers along the way isn’t.

Then there were more off-the-court incidents this past summer that continued to take the conversation away from his incredible on-court play, such as when he slapped a heckling fan outside of a bar in downtown East Lansing in July (although heckling fans is a post of its own that needs to be addressed) and that genital pic he accidentally put up on Snapchat.

While those off-court incidents and even the infamous flagrant fouls don’t have anything to do with his talent, skill set and impressive numbers, it has affected the way people perceive his overall game. And as we look to forecast his performance this upcoming season, what went down this summer certainly has to be factored in—Kevin Durant joining Golden State that is.

An All-Star despite being the third option on his team last year, Green will automatically become the fourth option this season. Although preseason is, well, just preseason, the first three Warriors games of this month may have offered some glimpses of what his production could look like this season.

Green is leading the team in rebounds three games into the preseason, a category he also led last season. At the moment, though, he’s sixth in scoring (Patrick McGraw, Ian Clark and David West are all in front of him after the usual suspects of Klay, KD and Curry). He’s third in assists after Curry and KD and third in steals. With another lethal scoring option this season, it’ll be interesting to see how many touches he gets and what he decides to do with them.

Whether it’s an indicative of the season to come is anyone’s guess. It’s preseason and could very well mean nothing at all. But by adding one of the top-five players in the League to the roster, Green’s role will definitely be one of the most interesting developments to closely watch during the season.

Last season’s performance brought him into the top-20 conversation. We usually say where a player goes from here is up to them. But this time there may be a whole set of factors (and players) in the way. As a second-round pick, though, he knows a thing or two about making it work despite it.

DRAYMOND GREEN SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2012: –
2013: –
2014: –
2015: 29
2016: 16

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6
16	Draymond Green	Warriors	PF	3

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Draymond Green, No. 16 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: John Wall, No. 17

Max Resetar — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:12:01 +0000

Yes, as a journalist, I recognize the important of being objective, looking at facts and numbers, and keeping myself out of what I write. Blah, blah, blah.

But, at least for this piece, screw all that. Far too many people are disrespectful to John Wall, which, to me, is dumb as hell. And to be honest, I don’t even agree with him being ranked 17. He deserves to be higher, but more on that in a second.

Watching Wall play ball is the equivalent of watching a rollercoaster trapped in a speeding 18-wheeler with no brake lines. The man is so. Damn. Fast. Watching Wall on a fast break is as much of a pleasure as watching Stephen Curry catch fire from three. But his speed is nothing new. He’s been balling this way since high school (his Hoopmixtape is the best of all time, not up for debate).

While his natural basketball abilities are electrifying, and have no doubt already inspired kids to fall in love with roundball, he’s worked on his game to become one of the League’s most complete point guards. On any given night, Wall can be the most physically imposing, most skilled passer and best defender on the court. And he’ll Kodak you with no hesitation. That’s a deadly concoction.

Wall’s passing skill is otherworldly. He’s capable of throwing LeBron-esque crosscourt passes, across his body, to shooters in the corner, delivering the ball with pinpoint accuracy. He runs one of the best pick-and-rolls around, operating as a midrange threat, a willing (genius) passer and a rim-attacking nightmare. He was third in assists last year and second the year before. Last year he had 52 games of 10 assists or more, ranking him first in the NBA.

And, yes, he’s become a reliable shooter. He hit 186 middies last year. His three-ball got better, too. He made 115 shots from distance, the most of his career. His 1.9 steals per game was also the best number of his career.

He plays both sides of the ball without a conscious. The only thing in his head is winning.

His passing, his defense, his improved shooting, his rabid desire to win. Think about how fast his body is going when he’s out there. We can see that. We can’t see how quickly his mind is processing everything. But we see the results.

Put all of John Wall together and you’ve got one of the League’s best point guards. The passing of Chris Paul. The defense of Joe Dumars. The IQ of LeBron James. The finishing of Isiah Thomas (we got love for you too, Isaiah). Athleticism that can only be matched by Russell Westbrook.

Yet he’s at number 17, behind a few guys who wouldn’t last a second against him one-on-one (no, I’m not naming names). He would take their heart, just like he’s planning on taking the entire League’s heart this season. And he probably has a few dumbass journalists who always, always, always doubt him that he’d like to have some one-on-one time with, be able to detonate a dunk on them.

JOHN WALL SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2010: 47
2011: 25
2012: 38
2013: 24
2014: 18
2015: 12
2016: 17

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4
17	John Wall	Wizards	PG	6

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: John Wall, No. 17 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: LaMarcus Aldridge, No. 18

Alex Squadron — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:04:49 +0000

Imagine the loneliness Pop would feel right now if LaMarcus Aldridge hadn’t opted to leave Portland last summer.

Sadly, the Tim Duncan era is over. The era of few words and remarkably awkward outfits is over. Since 1997, the Big Fundamental has been a staple of San Antonio and of the NBA. Saying goodbye is hard.

But the era of 20 and 10s is not over. The era of protecting the rim and controlling the interior is not over. The era of mid-range touch is not over. And, consequently, the era of Spurs’ supremacy is far from over.

This is not to say that Aldridge is the next Duncan, for that would be an unfair burden for any big man to bear. But LA is, without question, one of the elite power forwards in the League today, and has been for quite some time now. With him in San Antonio, along with rising superstar Kawhi Leonard and old reliable Pau Gasol, the franchise is in good hands. You can believe that.

Don’t get hung up on Aldridge’s statistical dip. It’s a total lie. His placement here, at No. 18 on the SLAM Top 50, is more a testament to how stacked the League is. Not to any sort of decline.

In 2015-16, LaMarcus averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, compared to 23.4 and 10.2 the season prior. But per 36, the numbers are much closer, and Aldridge shot the highest percentage of his career last year, both from the line (85.8 percent) and from the field (51.3 percent). He finished in the top 10 in defensive rating and defensive win shares, and for the third straight season, in the top-15 in PER. He was also named an All-Star for the fifth consecutive year, and selected to an All-NBA team for the fourth time.

Productivity, efficiency, consistence, defense. That’s a Gregg Popovich dream.

Like Duncan, Aldridge seems to have that quiet killer instinct. He goes about his business, knocking down step-back jumpers, backing down defenders, cleaning up misses etc., and at one point you look up and think, When did this guy get 19 and 11? Duncan was always like that. The two of them just make basketball look so easy.

But as with Timmy, there are games when Aldridge’s performance is simply impossible to overlook. These games serve as eye-openers. They are LaMarcus’ way of reminding the world that he’s capable of being the best player on the floor any given night. They are LaMarcus’ way of assuring fans that he is a superstar. Don’t you forget it.

This was perhaps never more apparent than in the 2016 Western Conference semis, when the Spurs met Durant (…), Westbrook, and the Thunder. In Game 1, Aldridge dropped a cool 38 points on an absurd 18-23 (78.3 percent) shooting, leading San Antonio to a dominant 124-92 victory.

How did the versatile power forward follow it up? By single-handedly keeping his team in Game 2, with 41 more points on 15-21 (71.4 percent) from the field. So yeah, there’s your eye-opener.

For Spurs’ fans lamenting over the departure of one of the greatest of all time, take solace in knowing that Aldridge will be back next year.

And, however quietly, he’ll get the job done.

LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: 39
2010: 42
2011: 18
2012: 16
2013: 20
2014: 11
2015: 10
2016: 18

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3
18	LaMarcus Aldridge	Spurs	PF	4

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: LaMarcus Aldridge, No. 18 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Jimmy Butler, No. 19

Drew Ruiz — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 19:00:35 +0000

Long before Jimmy Butler was in the discussion of the top two-way guards in the L, he was just a 17-year-old entering his final year at Tomball High School in Texas.

Butler’s senior season averages—15 ppg and 8 rpg—didn’t even garner any attention from college coaches, so he did what most cats who want to keep their hoop dreams alive do: enroll at their local JuCo.

In his freshman year at Tyler College, he averaged 18 ppg and 7 rpg, earning him NJCAA All-American honorable mention and had offers from Iowa State, Clemson, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Marquette. He took his talents 998 miles away to Milwaukee, WI, where he played for Buzz Williams at Marquette.

Over the course of three years, his numbers with the Golden Eagles looked something like this: 5.6 ppg as a sophomore, 14.7 ppg as a junior and 15.7 ppg as a senior.

After making his SLAM Top 50 debut at No. 18 in 2015, Butler moves back one spot to No. 19 on this year’s list.

Long before he was Jimmy Buckets, he was selected No. 30 in the first round of the 2011 Draft. The Bulls’ newest draft pick struggled to see the court (2.6 ppg in 8 mpg) in the Association’s 42-game season due to the lockout.

With Derrick Rose out due to injuries from 2012-14, Butler filled the void and saw more court time. He played all 82 games (starting 20) in his second year and averaged 8.6 ppg and 4 rpg in 26 mpg.

The numbers kept increasing the following seasons, too: 13.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.6 apg in 38.7 mpg in 2013-14; 20 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.3 apg in 38.7 mpg in 2014-15; and 20.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.8 apg in 36.9 mpg in 2015-16.

He was named Most Improved Player in 2014, made his first All-Star appearance in 2015 and again in 2016 but didn’t play because of a strained left knee.

Here are some other accolades Jimmy Buckets has added to his résumé: He scored a career-high 53 points (first time a Bull scored 50 points since Jamal Crawford in ’04), holds the Bulls’ new franchise record for most points in a half after one-upping Mike’s 39-point performance against the Bucks in ’88, graced the cover in SLAM 197, inked a five-year, $95 million contract last season and won Gold with Team USA this past summer in Rio.

In 2015, reports of tension between Butler and Derrick Rose surfaced, as it was obvious that he was becoming the new face in the Windy City. The two denied any and all claims of beef and Butler gave everyone a reason to think they were on good terms—a heartfelt Instagram post in June after Rose signed with the New York Knicks and another picture a month later with Rose and his son, PJ, at a Cubs-Dodgers game.

I wrote last week in Dwyane Wade’s ranking that he’d bring his veteran leadership for Butler and Co. to embrace and bring that winning culture back to Chicago after the Bulls missed the Playoffs last season for the first time in six years. You can add the Bulls as the third team that’ll be under the media microscope this season. (I’ll let you figure out the other two on your own.)

Now is the real test for the 27-year-old to emerge as the Bulls’ leader and face of the franchise. After all, this is officially Butler’s team now, according to new teammates Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade.

JIMMY BUTLER SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2011: NR
2012: NR
2013: NR
2014: NR
2015: 18
2016: 19

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2
19	Jimmy Butler	Bulls	SG	3

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Jimmy Butler, No. 19 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Karl-Anthony Towns, No. 20

Karan Madhok — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:00:14 +0000

Kinesiology, as per Wikipedia, is “a scientific study of human or non-human body movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, biomechanical, and psychological mechanisms of movement.” It’s an important medical science, applicable in biomechanics and orthopedics. In the sports world, it can be applied to the rehab of athletes from injury, strength and conditioning, occupational therapy, and even sport psychology.

Kinesiology was also the subject that a certain college freshman majored in a couple of years ago at the University of Kentucky. That freshman was distracted by other things—chief among them was the fact that he was the best young basketball player in the nation. The “distraction” (my word, not his) was the reason he was at Kentucky. The “distraction” had made him one of the top-recruited players of his class and eventually made him the No. 1 overall draft pick in the loaded 2015 NBA Draft. That “distraction” became his profession.

But his interest in kinesiology never wavered. The freshman maintained a 4.0 GPA in his only year at Kentucky, continued taking online classes in kinesiology, and maintained that, after a casual couple of decades of dominance in the world’s most competitive basketball league, he is hoping to start a second career as a doctor.

Meet Karl-Anthony Towns, aspiring doctor, specialist in human movement, the current face of not one but two special SLAM Magazine covers, and one of the best damn young players that the basketball world has seen in a long, long time.

If you follow SLAM, you know the story already. In his recent cover feature on Towns, Adam Figman told us about the lanky, awkward kid who went from being picked last in the playground to first in the draft. He told us about a 20-year-old (!!!) Dominican who presented an almost unreal combination of physical greatness and social congeniality. He quoted this 7-footed beast, the future of the NBA, leaving with the words: “I’ve always said that I want to leave the game on my own terms, finish as the best player that’s ever lived, and do it my own way—never a version two of someone else, but the first version of myself, and I strive every day and continue to work on my game so I can be the best player possible, so I can leave my legacy as that. I’m not gonna stop until I’ve accomplished that goal, until I have absolutely nothing to give to the game of basketball.”

The NBA changes every few years. Rules change, styles change, tactics change. Dominant big men make way for do-it-all swingman make way for all-three-point-shooting-everything. The constant imagining and reimaging of what ‘works’ in a winning system gives the league its competitive edge but also keeps talented players in a turnstile. Only a chosen few, those who adapt, can survive and thrive long-term. The rest get ushered out in a hurry.

Towns, undoubtedly a once-in-a-generation talent, will adapt, and he’ll dominant. I’m not talking later, I’m talking now. I’m talking following up on a historic rookie season where he played and started in all 82 games for the Timberwolves, averaging 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game now. I’m talking a youngster with defensive intelligence way beyond his years now. I’m talking of the first big to win the NBA Skills Challenge now. I’m talking top 20 in the SLAM rankings at age 20 now.

Let’s stay with the “distraction” for now. The medical career can wait.

Kinesiology roots from the Greek word kinesis. Movement. The study of movement. While the rest of the league rests, or swirls around that turnstile. Towns is here to study that movement and then break through. Move on further, higher, faster. He’s here to stay. Here’s here to adapt. Here’s here to dominate.

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2015: NR
2016: 20

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7
20	Karl-Anthony Towns	T-Wolves	C	2

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Karl-Anthony Towns, No. 20 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Kyle Lowry, No. 21

Maurice Bobb — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:03:07 +0000

According to IMDB, Seinfeld is a look into “the continuing misadventures of neurotic New York stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York friends.”

The show about nothing, which also features the characters Elaine Benes, George Costanza and Kramer, lasted nine seasons and because of classic episodes like, “The Contest,” “The Opposite,” “The Junior Mint,” “The Old Man,” “The Burning,” “The Bubble Boy” and “The Summer of George.” It went on to be known as possibly the best and most popular show in the history of television.

Even now, almost 20 years after the controversial series finale aired, the iconic sitcom centered on the minutiae of daily life is still in syndication, sometimes airing twice a day on major networks.

With that kind of vice grip on pop culture, you’d think that the show was an instant hit for NBC when the first pilot, “The Seinfeld Chronicles,” ran in 1989.

You’d be wrong.

In fact, the show had a very difficult time finding an audience. The show was always genius, but with no one watching, the tree falling in the forest philosophical thought experiment applied.

But the big wigs at 30 Rock believed in it. So they gave the show the two things television shows these days rarely get: time and opportunity.

And it paid off.

After tinkering with the show’s timeslot and letting it build an organic fan base, NBC moved the show to “Must See TV” Thursdays to replace Cheers midway through its fourth season and the show finally achieved escape velocity.

According to physics, escape velocity is the minimum speed an object must have in order to escape the gravitational field of the earth without ever falling back.

And that’s where the show belonged, up in the upper strata of the TV universe, imposing its “yada, yada, yada” sensibilities upon the rest of the world.

Kyle Lowry’s trajectory from journeyman floor general to NBA star has an eerily similar path as Seinfeld.

After he was drafted No. 24 in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, based on his reputation for being a pitbull and full of the grit and determination so often associated with his hometown Philadelphia, Lowry faltered, failing to gain purchase as a point guard on the next level.

So after two seasons with Memphis, he was shipped off to the Houston Rockets, then back to Memphis the following year, then back to Houston again where he was finally given an opportunity to shine. Not surprisingly, he started to show signs of the franchise player that he could become. During those three years in Space City, he improved each year, going from 9.1 ppg to 13.5 ppg to 14.3 ppg. His assist numbers improved, too, going from 4.5 dimes per contest to just over 6 per outing.

But then came Toronto, which was his move to “Must See TV.”

Time and opportunity.

After toiling away in virtual anonymity for seven seasons, The 6 embraced Lowry like he was Drake’s long-lost brother.

In the four years that he’s been there, he’s revitalized a basketball town that was still mourning the loss of Vince “Air Canada” Carter and made them bonafide contenders again.

He made them believe, again. And all it took was time and opportunity.

Looking ahead to his 11th season in the L, Lowry is looking to build on last year, when he averaged a career-high 21.2 ppg, when he and DeMar DeRozan came within two victories of the NBA Finals, when he showed the world that he could compete against Cleveland’s Goliath, LeBron James, when he proved that he deserved to be a starter on the All-Star team for two straight years, when he left no doubt about why he was selected to the All-NBA Third Team.

And while he and the Raptors are now “Must See TV,” he still has a lot to prove. He still has to elevate his leadership so that he’s on par with the other elite point guards. He has to stay healthy, he has to stay in shape, he has to stay fearless, and he has to stay poised when things get rough.

He knows what winning feels like now that he has an Olympic Gold medal with Team USA, so he has to find a way to lead his team deep into the Playoffs, again, where they can compete for a chance to bring that gold Larry O’Brien trophy to the basketball crazed fans in The 6.

If he can take another step this year, as most of us at the SLAM Dome know that he can, he’ll achieve his own escape velocity and get back to draining threes, bullying his way into the lane and, of course, trolling DeMar any and every chance he gets.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

KYLE LOWRY SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2009: NR
2010: NR
2011: NR
2012: NR
2013: NR
2014: 34
2015: 37
2016: 21

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3
21	Kyle Lowry	Raptors	PG	7

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Kyle Lowry, No. 21 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Andre Drummond, No. 22

Abe Schwadron — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 16:00:17 +0000

Before we begin, I’d just like to take a moment to point out that it’s taking every bone in my body to pen this write-up objectively about the sport of basketball, rather than spending the bulk of my allotted word count arguing that Drummond’s deserving of something more like a top-10 ranking off personality alone. Dude is cool as shit. But oh right, basketball talent and skills and all that…

Quick, without Googling—how old is Andre Drummond?

I’ll wait.

OK fine I’ll just tell you, he’s 23. Young enough that a few players older than Drummond were selected in the 2016 NBA Draft. I mean, the guy is literally still wearing braces. His age has a lot to do with why in July, Drummond inked a five-year, $130 million contract with the Pistons.

Youth though, in this case, isn’t an excuse to wait any longer on his potential—as it is for others in his rearview on our Top 50 list this year. Just the opposite, in fact—it points to him taking another gigantic leap in 2016-17, as he did last season.

Consider: when Drummond’s giant new deal with Detroit expires, he’ll be 28. Hassan Whiteside is, right now, 27. If Drummond’s career were a swimming pool, he’s just about to dip his toes into his prime.

Metaphorical bodies of water aside, physically, Drummond is nothing short of a savage. After being listed at 6-11, 279 pounds in 2015-16, he claims to have lost 20 pounds this summer, which would in theory make him quicker to get up for rebounds—as if he doesn’t gobble up enough already—and faster in the open court, where he likes to catch lobs for easy buckets.

Last year, Drummond averaged 16.2 points (career-high) on 52 percent shooting, a League-best 14.8 rebounds (also a career-high), 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals in a career-high 33 minutes per game over 81 starts. And the Pistons made the postseason for the first time since 2009 (when Drummond was all of 16 years old).

Perhaps you got bored somewhere in the middle of that very stat-heavy graf above, so let’s try again: The man averaged 15 boards a game. (For whatever it’s worth, Kevin Garnett led the NBA in rebounding for four straight seasons in the mid-2000s while never eclipsing 14 rpg.) If you woke up one morning last season and Drummond didn’t have a double-double the night before, you had to do a “WTF?” double-take. In his preseason debut last night, Drummond pulled down 21 rebounds, 11 of them on the offensive end, in 24 minutes against the Nets (he had 17 points, too).

It doesn’t take a basketball savant to pick up on Drummond’s weaknesses. The statistics suggest that on the defensive end, he doesn’t protect the rim like a Dwight Howard. On the other end, the eye-test would tell you he often doesn’t roll to the rim quite like a DeAndre Jordan. And yes, his 38 percent career free-throw shooting is dreadful. DREADFUL. SO, SO BAD. (Although he’s been working on his foul shooting this summer with the aid of a virtual reality simulator. Seriously.)

But check out his wide-ranging top-10 plays from last season real quick:

They begin with him taking a pretty damn good defender in Tristan Thompson off the dribble with a crossover and pretty finish. There are dunks, hustle plays, blocks… Admittedly, there’s not a lot of aesthetic beauty to it all. But that may come, and for now Drummond can rely on outmuscling opponents to easy buckets and oodles of rebounds. Ranking him at No. 22 is an optimistic projection, perhaps, but unless he spent the summer eating donuts and hanging out by the pool and added absolutely nothing to his post game, he should easily produce numbers to back it up.

He’s already promised to lead the NBA in rebounding once again, and as the franchise center in Detroit, a return trip to the All-Star Game seems inevitable. *Whispers* Hey Pistons fans, it’s not a perfect comparison, but Dwight’s 23-year-old season, he led the Magic to the NBA Finals. JUST SAYING.

ANDRE DRUMMOND SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2012: NR
2013: NR
2014: 33
2015: 31
2016: 22

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4
22	Andre Drummond	Pistons	C	3

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire SLAM Top 50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Andre Drummond, No. 22 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: DeAndre Jordan, No. 23

Rodger Bohn — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 19:12:06 +0000

Go get it.

It’s a phrase used too often, but there are a number of guys who you can truly throw the rock up and have them go get it. DeAndre Jordan is one of those guys.

Leading the League with 227 dunks last year (Dwight Howard was the next closest at 177), Jordan straight up put a hurting on the rims. Oops, tip dunks, rim runs in transition. You name it, he did it.

But when you really watch DJ’s game, you realize that he is far more than a dunker.

In today’s NBA game that is ever so reliant upon pick-and-roll play, DeAndre Jordan is the king of post players. He constantly flips the angles of screens, reading the D and then adjusting to the reaction of the opposing PG who he is about to lay out with a screen. After setting the screen, the 28-year-old knows how long to hold the pick before jetting to the rim for a potential lob. This is just one of the area of his game that don’t necessarily show up in the box score.

Another area of Jordan’s game that is vastly underrated is his ability to rebound the rock. Not only does he do a great job of finding his man to box out, but he then explodes up to grab the pill well above the rim with both hands. The commitment and dedication that he has put forth on this side of things is evident, especially when you look at the numbers.

Having never averaged more than 8 boards a game throughout his first five years in the League, he shot up to nearly 14 a night in the ’13-14 campaign and hasn’t looked back. He has solidified himself as one of the truly elite rebounders in the league and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.

On the defensive end, Jordan is just as dominant. His ability to protect the rim goes far beyond the ridiculous blocked shots that he sends into the crowd. Jordan knows how to wall up on defenders, altering shots that he doesn’t block without committing fouls. In pick-and-roll coverage, he is a quarterback, constantly being vocal and calling out screens. The 2.3 blocks a night that he averaged don’t tell the full story of how much of an impact that he has on the game.

Offensively, DeAndre doesn’t receive a huge number of touches with his back to the basket, but has shown flashes of development. Nearly 75 percent of his field-goals made were dunks, which is wild given the fact that, as one of the best players in the League, he only attempted 6.6 shots a night.

DJ’s field-goal percentage has been right at or above the 70 percent clip for the last three seasons, and he’s led the League in the same category for the last four. While no one is expecting the Houston native to start busting out dream shakes any time soon, his back to the basket game is far from a finished product.

Everyone hates on Jordan’s struggles at the free-throw line and rightfully so. Shooting just 43 percent is atrocious, but what’s even more puzzling is that the form on his shot is far from broke. Having been to multiple Clippers pregames, I personally can say that DJ will be in the arena hours before tip working from the stripe. How and why he has not shown improvement is beyond me, but it certainly has nothing to do with lack of effort or desire to improve.

The ’16-17 season is going to be a crucial one for the Clippers. Given Golden State’s reign of terror, it’s going to be tough for anyone else to get out of the West. The Clippers’ core has been consistent with getting them to the post season, but this year may be the year that the band may have to be broken up if things don’t go as planned. Whatever happens with the squad itself, as long as history repeats itself, expect to see a big jump from L.A.’s blossoming 7-footer this season.

DEANDRE JORDAN SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2015: 26
2014: 43
2013: NR
2012: NR
2011: NR
2010: NR
2009: NR

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4
23	DeAndre Jordan	Clippers	C	4

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: DeAndre Jordan, No. 23 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: DeMar DeRozan, No. 24

Habeeba Husain — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 16:12:16 +0000

What a time to be alive. Isn’t that right, DeMar?

I’ve got good news for you, Double D. You moved up 22 spots on this year’s SLAM Top 50, and it’s crystal clear why. Let’s recap the last few months…

After leading the Toronto Raptors to a franchise-best 56 wins and second seed in the East during the 2015-16 season, DeMar DeRozan found himself in the postseason once again. The previous two years resulted in some early ousts, but 2016 was different.

So different in fact that the team that never once experienced a best-of-seven series win, won two. The first was against the Indiana Pacers in the opening round, and the second was versus the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

And just like that, the Raptors were one series away from the NBA Finals. But a big hurdle was in the way—a hurdle in the form of a hungry and scary good LeBron James. Although DeRozan’s got hops, he couldn’t get over LeBron and the Cavs, as the future 2016 NBA Champions eliminated the Raptors in six games.

But such a deep Playoffs run cannot be undermined by any means. It was the highest point of the many high points DeMar DeRozan experienced this past NBA season. He found himself back in the All-Star Game that took place in his own Toronto after missing the mark in 2015. He finished first in the League in points off drives to the basket (8.7 per game) and ninth in scoring (23.5 per game). He was on the cover of SLAM 198 with fellow Raptor and buddy, Kyle Lowry and of course, Drake.

New cover alert! SLAM 198 features Drake, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

More pics + video: https://t.co/Zef20g5wrz pic.twitter.com/iaKmTU5FNb

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) March 30, 2016

Fast forward to the summer, and DeMar continued his list of IRL achievements that the rest of us can only list on Twitter with the hashtag #goals. He signed a whopping five-year, $139 million-plus extension with the Raptors, almost completed a 360-degree in-game poster dunk, won a gold medal with Team USA at the Rio Olympics, and became a father again to another baby girl.

With that superb Playoffs run and extra fire summer, we have DeMar DeRozan at the No. 24 spot heading into the new—it’s almost here!—NBA season. He’s racked up a lot of experience on how to win and built quite the résumé. Only a fool would make the mistake of sleeping on the 6ix again, after the steady signs of improvement shone through so brightly these last few months.

So DeMar, you listening?

More drives, more dunks, more dope sing-alongs please. And more De-de-de-de-de-DeRozan doing what he does best. We know you’re as motivated as ever and can’t wait to see what ya’ll are gonna do next up there in T-Dot.

Your daughter said it best during that post-game presser:

Demar DeRozan’s daughter blurting out “I love my daddy” in their press conference pic.twitter.com/IUk0pVPKk9

— Tanisha (@SportyByNature) May 2, 2016

So do we, Diar, so do we.

DEMAR DEROZAN SLAM TOP 50 HISTORY

2015: 46
2014: 30
2013: NR
2012: NR
2011: NR
2010: NR
2009: NR

SLAM Top 50 Players 2016
Rank	Player	Team	Position	Pos. Rank
50	Ben Simmons	76ers	SF	9
49	D’Angelo Russell	Lakers	PG	12
48	Derrick Favors	Jazz	PF	12
47	Devin Booker	Suns	SG	8
46	Chris Bosh	Heat	PF	11
45	Bradley Beal	Wizards	SG	7
44	Eric Bledsoe	Suns	PG	11
43	Serge Ibaka	Magic	PF	10
42	CJ McCollum	Blazers	SG	6
41	Pau Gasol	Spurs	PF	9
40	Rudy Gobert	Jazz	C	9
39	Kevin Love	Cavs	PF	8
38	Dirk Nowitzki	Mavs	PF	7
37	Kristaps Porzingis	Knicks	PF	6
36	Kemba Walker	Hornets	PG	10
35	Dwight Howard	Hawks	C	8
34	Hassan Whiteside	Heat	C	7
33	Gordon Hayward	Jazz	SF	8
32	Mike Conley	Grizzlies	PG	9
31	Andrew Wiggins	T-Wolves	SF	7
30	Dwyane Wade	Bulls	SG	5
29	Paul Millsap	Hawks	PF	5
28	Marc Gasol	Grizzlies	C	6
27	Al Horford	Celtics	C	5
26	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Bucks	SF	6
25	Isaiah Thomas	Celtics	PG	8
24	DeMar DeRozan	Raptors	SG	4

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: DeMar DeRozan, No. 24 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Isaiah Thomas, No. 25

SLAM Staff — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 19:10:19 +0000

by Tessa Yesselman and Sam Rubenstein

Isaiah Thomas was very publicly displeased with his ranking on Sports Illustrated Top 100 NBA players list.

SI listed Thomas at No. 45, up 43 spots from his previous year’s ranking of No. 88. I guess he was supposed to be pacified by this jump up the list, but he wasn’t. And who could blame him? Little guys are always um, short, on respect, from Napoleon Bonaparte to Bushwick Bill to Tyrion Lannister.

It’s hard to quantify statistically exactly how many wins are owed to a specific player, but that is what “win shares” attempts to encapsulate. Thomas finished his first full season with the Celtics at 9.7 win shares, good for 16th in the NBA. The 2015-16 season also saw IT4 earn his first All-Star nod.

Thomas played in all 82 games and averaged 22.2 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in 32.2 minutes per game. Only four other players in the NBA averaged more than 22 points, 6 assists and a steal per game, and I guess you could say Thomas was keeping elite company: LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Stephen Curry were the other members of the club.

Over the course of a season and a half, Thomas has become the face of the most decorated franchise in NBA history. Many people said that the Celtics started the 2015-16 season “star challenged,” and IT made it impossible to qualify them as such as the season went on. With Thomas at the helm, the narrative shifted from “star challenged,” to “overachieving.”

Last season’s Celtics team was the only one to beat the Cavaliers and the Warriors on their respective home floors. The win in Golden State snapped the Warriors’ 54-game home win streak, and the Celtics won 109-106 thanks to a layup by Isaiah Thomas with 3 seconds remaining.

The “little guy,” as famed Celtics color announcer Tommy Heinsohn has affectionately coined him, has shown a propensity for making plays with the game on the line. With the Celtics in danger of going down 3-0 in the first round of the Playoffs against the Hawks, IT4 looked Jeff Teague in the eye, calmly stepped back, and sunk a three-pointer to put the Celtics up 7, pushing the game out of Atlanta’s reach.

Isaiah Thomas hears your criticisms. He’s only 5-9. His productivity dipped in the postseason. The Celtics are doomed for more early post-season exits.

Luckily for Celtics fans, he’s too busy in the gym with his new friend Al Horford who he helped lure to Boston, sharpening up his shooting from 25 feet and out to listen to the naysayers. And of course, he’s just working on his shooting from downtown because at the basket he’s pretty solid—62.3 percent shooting from three feet and in ain’t too shabby. (As a point of reference, Kyrie Irving finishes at 59.3 percent and Westbrook at 57.7 percent from this same distance.)

His spot on the SLAM Top 50—clearly superior to the SI list debacle—is hard earned and this season IT will go out and back it up.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

The post SLAM Top 50: Isaiah Thomas, No. 25 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM Top 50: Giannis Antetokounmpo, No. 26

Danny Hazan — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 16:09:42 +0000

Bucks PR boss Dan Smyczek let the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bucks beat reporter Charles Gardner and me into the gym after practice wrapped up at a facility on Chicago’s west side. The Bucks played the Bulls in a pre-season matchup the night prior, and had just completed a film session and practice before heading to Green Bay for another pre-season tilt against the Knicks.

I was on assignment to write an In Your Face profile about then-mystery man rookie, Giannis Antetokounmpo for SLAM 174. Up to that point, I knew nothing about the player other than I’d have to double-check the spelling of his name before I submitted my story.

“He could be really good, but he’s raw,” was the consensus response for Giannis among my friends within the prep and college basketball community based in Milwaukee that had seen him during the preseason—which may as well have been the empty report for literally any rookie drafted into the NBA before they play a game. In other words, I was still clueless.

Before we got into the gym, Gardner had let me know that Giannis was a nice kid and that there wasn’t too much of a language barrier. So my plan was to find out who he was as a player and who he wants to be.

After he got done shooting free throws with assistant coach Nick Van Exel, Smyczek flagged him over to speak with Gardner and me.

As the 6-10, lanky kid was jogging over, he stopped mid-stride and gestured, ‘one second’ at us. He threw the ball up to spin a bounce pass to himself, caught it, gathered and drained a corner-pocket three. Smiling wide as he approached, he informed us, “I always have to make my last one.” Though he is far different (and better) than 99 percent of those who play the sport around the world, he shared that little ritual with almost every kid with a hoop dream when they’re shooting alone.

We talked for 10 minutes, then I spoke with coach Larry Drew for a little bit about his rook, and I had enough to run with for this story about a kid on the brink of fulfilling his dreams:

Fast forward a few years, and there are two critical things to highlight from that story. First, the Greek Freak has stuck as his nickname. Second, his self-assessment at the time proved to be prophetic because now he’s one of the first players to mention when rattling off the game’s leaders of the next generation.

Antetokounmpo’s rookie year was filled with plenty of intrigue on the court along with some fun-loving anecdotes about him acclimating to culture in the USA such as a new affinity for smoothies and this. But, more importantly, flashes of one of the most versatile players in the League were shown.

In his third season last year, the Greek Freak averaged 16.9 points per game, 7.7 boards, 4.3 assists, a steal and a block a game while shooting just over 50 percent from the field. Obviously he’s a stat-sheet stuffer, but that doesn’t begin to tell the whole story of him as a player and his presence on the court.

If we’re forced to put him in a box, he’d be thrown into that of the small forwards/wing category. Since taking over as head coach prior to the 2014-15 season, Jason Kidd has had Giannis handle a bit and toyed with the idea of him being the point guard because of his ability to pass. Defensively, Antetokounmpo is one of a few on a very short list that may only include LeBron James that are versatile and athletic enough to switch and guard any position on the floor any given possession.

Fresh off a four-year, $100 million extension a few weeks ago, the Bucks are banking on Antetokounmpo—who will turn 22 in December—to be the cornerstone of their franchise as he continues to improve his game just as he has his first three seasons in the League.

It’s scary to think where he tops out at as a player because he still has plenty of room to improve his offensive arsenal as a mid-range and three-point shooter. With his height and frame, he could also add a post game should he choose.

For now, he’s always a threat to snatch a board and start transition himself by pushing the rock up the floor to either finish above the rim himself or make a pass to a teammate for an open look (sometimes in just a few dribbles, hence the Greek Freak). He’s gotten more effective offensively in the half court each year, and it will be exciting to see what he brings this season alongside a healthy Jabari Parker on that end of the court.

The notion that the NBA is evolving into position-less basketball is because of players like Antetokounmpo, and because the 21-year-old is still just getting started it’s a safe bet that No. 26 is going to evolve into single digits as the years progress.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Al Horford, No. 27

Ben Collins — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 19:03:07 +0000

Here are the movies that lost to Crash in the 2006 Best Picture race: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Good Night and Good Luck, and Munich. A History of Violence, a very good movie about somebody who refuses to stop being violent, and The Constant Gardner, another good movie about somebody who refuses to stop gardening, weren’t even nominated.

And Crash sucks. It’s been 10 years now and I can tell you, now a wizened old man who is eating a muffin as he writes this seemingly just to fit the stereotype, that Crash is a garbage movie that looks more like YouTube tutorial for drone cameras than a Best Picture winner.

But you remember Brokeback Mountain. You remember Capote. Capote is a good-ass movie.

If Al Horford is this free-agent class’ Capote, the clear No. 2 at the time who wound up being much more important as time went on, how surprised would you really be?

I am not saying Kevin Durant is Crash, mostly because saying that sentence immediately gets you elected Mayor of Oklahoma City, and I am not up for the responsibility.

But the Celtics last year needed a prime wing scorer and a bruising, physical post player on offense who can anchor a defense with the smarts (and, uh, Smarts) already occupying the Boston backcourt.

Al Horford is all of that second one. And the world has traditionally undersold Horford’s dynamic and sometimes dominant offense that could make up for the first part.

This was Horford’s line in his second-to-last game as a Hawk: 24, 8 and 3 on 73 percent shooting. But watch him do it. He played point-center on fast breaks. He hung out at the elbow extended for rotation threes. He takes off from the free-throw line to dunk all over Kevin Love. He catches alley-oops off decoy ball screens.

https://youtu.be/wLLLUhXxaVQ

If somebody like, say, Dwight Howard did all of those things, he’d be ranked way higher than 27.

Crash.

Such is the plight of Al Horford. Good, but boring good. And it’s always been this way. He came out of that Florida draft class with Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer, good players who were weird good. Joakim Noah shot the ball like he was clearing something out of an 8-foot tall drain pipe, but appeared to make up for it with manic energy. Brewer did the same, but at the wing, where that felt even wackier.

Poor old Al Horford was just traditionally good. He only missed six games in the last two years, when the Hawks went from hodgepodge of undervalued pieces to Spurs Lite, with Horford at the heart of it.

Now he’s on the Celtics, who are less Spurs Lite and more Spurs 2.0. A lineup of Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Jaylen Brown, Jae Crowder and Al Horford has some Warriors kryptonite in it, top to bottom, and the Celtics’ best player—Isaiah Thomas—isn’t even on the floor to see it.

This team needed Horford more than they needed maybe anybody else. Kevin Durant would’ve been better, sure. But Al Horford might bring a very boring Championship back to Boston—and sooner.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Marc Gasol, No. 28

Ryne Nelson — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 16:02:24 +0000

It’s hard to pin-down Marc Gasol’s value heading into the 2016-17 season. While he’s not far removed from an All-NBA First-Team selection in 2014-15 and the DPOY in 2012-13, his performance last season waved quite a few red flags.

But let’s first get into what makes Gasol one of the most unique talents in the L…

One of Gasol’s most valuable skills is his ability to create offense. His 8.2 potential assists per game were second on the team only to Mike Conley (11.1) last season and tops among centers. (Gasol also ranked top-three in 2014-15 and 2013-14 with 7.4 and 7.5 potential assists, respectively.)

On the other side of the ball, Gasol remains an exceptional rim protector. Among the 40 players who defended at least 5 shots at the rim per game and played at least 50 games/25 mpg last season, Gasol ranked third in the NBA with a 45.7 opponent field-goal percentage.

That’s a steady improvement from previous seasons, when Gasol’s rim protection stats were very good (49.7 and 51.2 opponent field-goal percentage in 2014-15 and 2013-14, respectively), but was not elite.

All this suggests that the 31-year-old is still in the tail end of his prime. But let’s take a closer look at some of the real concerns facing the nine-year vet.

A whopping 40.2 percent of Gasol’s offense originated in the post, where he clearly struggled last season. His post-ups averaged 0.89 points per possession (PPP), which by comparison, were significantly less efficient than an average Grizzlies possession (1.05 PPP).

And despite his playmaking ability and accuracy from mid-range, Gasol was only a moderately effective pick-and-roll man. In plays involving Gasol as a roll man last season (which accounted for 22.1 percent of his offense), he generated 1.09 PPP—essentially an average Memphis possession.

Gasol’s sub-par shooting efficiency certainly had something to do with it. His 52.8 true shooing percentage ranked 112th in the League among players who played at least 50 games/25 mpg.

Gasol very rarely crashes the offensive glass, so extending his game beyond the three-point line would seem like a natural extension for his game. Not so. He attempted only 3 threes last season, and while he made 2 of those attempts, Gasol has made only 12 three-pointers for his career, including the Playoffs.

And then of course there is the looming concern over Gasol’s recovery from foot surgery, which caused him to miss the final 30 games of the regular season, the Playoffs and the Olympics.

Gasol has been cleared to play, but the team has already announced that he will sit out some games as a precaution this year.

The Grizz are understandably exercising extreme caution because, as we’ve seen in the past, foot problems can quickly derail a player’s career, especially a 7-1, 270-pound player.

With a new coaching staff, and a stable of young talent vying for larger roles, Gasol’s 2016-17 season could look much different than what we’re used to.

We’ll just have to wait and see. For now, ranking him at No. 28 seems about right.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Paul Millsap, No. 29

Alex Squadron — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 19:00:27 +0000

It was a barrage.

Soft floater in the lane. Good. Jab right, drive left. Bucket. Back down, off glass. Clinical. From downtown. Stop it.

How exactly do you stop someone with such a vast arsenal, with so many weapons that taking one away does virtually nothing to help your cause?

It was a question that Brad Stevens was forced to confront in Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series against the Hawks, when Paul Millsap dropped a casual 45 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals.

The resourceful power forward certainly had it going that night. But the stuff on display – the variety of moves, the effectiveness on both ends on the floor—was nothing new. That’s been Paul Millsap for years now. A workhorse. A stalwart. A silent assassin.

Millsap had arguably the best season of his 10-year career in 2015-16, averaging 17.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks, shooting 47 percent from the field. He was named an All-Star for the third consecutive time, confirming what we all should have already known: Paul is one of the best big men in the L.

As alluded to above, Millsap’s greatness lies in his versatility. On offense, he can play the block, step out and work the mid-range, and has been expanding his game to the three-point line (attempted 2.9 per contest last season).

On defense, he is a much better rim protector than advertised, and has the quick hands to create turnovers. In 2015-16, he ranked fifth in the NBA in total blocks, fourth in defensive rating, first in defensive win shares, third in defensive box plus minus, and was named to the All-Defensive Second-Team. Not bad.

You combine that with a three-time Defensive Player of the Year in Dwight Howard, and it might be hard to get yours in Atlanta.

It’ll be interesting to observe how this new frontcourt duo meshes. One can see how the pair would work well together. They appear to supplement each other on the defensive end: Dwight being the more athletic, inside presence and Paul being the all-around guy.

You can envision Millsap’s passing ability coming into play. He operated nicely with Horford, but the former Hawk isn’t exactly the “lob it up to Mars” type player that Howard is.

Dwight will certainly demand attention on the low post, which should open some things up for Millsap. If he can knock down that long ball with better efficiency, the Hawks might just make noise come April.

A workhorse. A stalwart. A silent assassin. He’s been getting the job done for years now. If you haven’t been paying attention to Millsap, it’s time to.

So, how exactly do you stop someone with such a vast arsenal, with so many weapons that taking one away does virtually nothing to help your cause?

I’m sorry, but you can’t.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Dwyane Wade, No. 30

Drew Ruiz — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 16:00:13 +0000

When the Chicago Bulls tip-off the 2016-17 season and host the Boston Celtics on October 27 on TNT, PA announcer Tommy Edwards might say something like this, “At guard, 6-4, from Chicago, No. 3… Dwyane Wade.”

Those exact words (or something similar) will sound weird to basketball fans across the nation and will take some time to grow on them. As shocking as this off-season’s free-agent frenzy was—Kevin Durant to the Warriors, Dwight Howard to the Hawks, Derrick Rose to the Knicks, etc.—nothing was more shocking than seeing Wade being introduced as a member of the Chicago Bulls this past summer.

Moving down three spots from last year’s No. 27 spot, Wade comes in at No. 30 on this year’s SLAM Top 50.

When the Heat—eh, more like Pat Riley—wouldn’t up the two-year, $40 million offer, the 13-year vet signed a two-year, $47.5 million deal with the Bulls.

It was obvious D-Wade felt unappreciated and unwanted especially after everything he’s accomplished in a Heat uniform: brought the team its first title in 2006 (three in total), 12 All-Star appearances, Finals MVP (2006), leader in points (20, 221), two-point field goals (6,939), steals (1,414), minutes played (30, 560) and assists (4,944).

And while behind closed doors there may still be bad blood between Wade and Riley (and an email that has yet to be sent), Wade penned a note to Miami-Wade County as his final goodbye.

Two days into training camp, Wade posted a picture with new teammates, Rajon Rondo and Jimmy Butler, with this caption: “When you can police each other…you got something. Leaders!!!”

For a Bulls team that was in the media for all the wrong reasons last season and didn’t make the Playoffs, policing is good especially when two of the three officers have experience with success in the L.

While hoop heads try to make a case on what type of player/leader Rondo will be in the Windy City after his short stints with Dallas and Sacramento, one thing’s for certain with Wade: He’ll bring his veteran leadership with this new squad and guys are going to listen.

At 34, Wade still has some game left in the tank. He showed glimpses of 2005-06 Flash with back-to-back 30-plus-point performances last season in the Playoffs. The Heat were also one game away from facing the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals.

Over 82 games, the Three Alphas will clash. They’ll get praised when things are going in their favor and criticized quickly when they hit a rough patch.

So here are some predictions for this upcoming season: I obviously see them eventually clicking, making the Playoffs and hopefully we can get a Bulls-Cavs series. I also see a slight increase from Wade’s last season’s averages—19 ppg, 4.5 apg and 4.1 rpg—to somewhere in the 24, 6 and 6 range. More opportunities from the perimeter will open up especially with dribble-drives from Butler and Rondo. Although his three-point shooting is suspect (last season’s 15.9 percent was the lowest of his career), he’s been encouraged by Fred Hoiberg to shoot it more from the behind the arc.

But as Wade starts this new chapter of his career in his hometown, he plans to make contributions off the hardwood, too.

In late August, Wade’s cousin, Nykea Aldridge, 32, was killed in a shooting in the Chicago’s South Side while pushing her newborn baby in a stroller. Wade, who’s been one of an array of professional athletes that use their platform as activists, is pushing to do anything and everything in his will to put a stop to senseless gun violence happening all across the US.

Here’s to new beginnings.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Andrew Wiggins, No. 31

Karan Madhok — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 19:14:55 +0000

(We forgot about Andrew Wiggins)

The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Karl-Anthony Towns number one in the draft last year. Towns went on to shatter his own high expectations and posted one of the finest rookie seasons in recent history. He was the unanimous rookie of the year, shot his way to early comparisons to Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, and earned two SLAM solo covers.

The Timberwolves hired Tom Thibodeau as head coach and president of basketball operations in April, immediately setting off the promise of stability, defensive intensity and long essays about Thibs’s “tireless work ethic.”

(We forgot about Andrew Wiggins)

The Timberwolves, usually an ignored, small market in the NBA, were the centrepiece of sports-talk in reminiscence after the retirement of Kevin Garnett, the greatest player in their franchise by a country mile. KG was the franchise leader in games played, minutes, points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, rookies barked at, opponents intimidated, Honey Nut Cheerios referenced, and, of course, the love of the Timberwolves’ faithful.

(We forgot about Andrew Wiggins)

The Timberwolves suffered tragedy this time last year when coach Flip Saunders passed away, and his death cast a shadow over the franchise he was closely connected to for the rest of the season.

Ricky Rubio got injured, came back, struggled to shoot, played well, played badly, and was in trade discussions every waking moment.

Zach LaVine won the Slam Dunk Contest, and then battled Aaron Gordon in a historic battle to win it again.

Minnesota drafted Kris Dunn, who quickly earned the high honor of being named Rookie Rookie Most Likely to win the Rookie of the Year award by his peers. The rising Timberwolves already had a new potential idol.

(But we forgot about Andrew Wiggins)

Two years ago, Minnesota traded their second-greatest player, Kevin Love, to join LeBron James in return for an unproven rookie out of Kansas. Love had his ups and downs in Cleveland, didn’t fit in, got hurt, returned, then did fit in (sort of), defended Steph Curry in the final possession of Game 7, and won a title.

Championships redeem everything, but Love’s uncertain place in the team hierarchy have hovered over him the last two years, and may continue to hover around for as long as he remains in Cleveland. Minnesota, of course, remains happy with their returns.

(Yes, but, we forgot about Andrew Wiggins)

With all the changes, diversions, press releases, dunk contests, ankle surgeries and the waves of optimism, it seems that somewhere, one of the most crucial members of that rising wave—Andrew Wiggins—seems to have been lost in the shuffle. Now entering his third season, the fast-improving 21-year-old is poised to have a season that you won’t forget.

Wiggins reacted to an early career snub by the Cavaliers by thriving in Minnesota and winning the Rookie of the Year award, playing all 82 games in his rookie season and averaging 16.9 points on 43.7 percent shooting to with 4.6 rebounds in the process. Unlike most rookies, Wiggins’ biggest strength turned out to be his motor: he played over 36 minutes per game for the young Timberwolves while doing heavy lifting on both ends of the floor. His offense earned him the highlights, he defense earned him the burn. The Timberwolves won 16 games, but even in their horrific record, they looked fun.

Then, even as Towns came to town and stole the show to his own ROY season, Wiggins, quietly, didn’t go away. In his second season, the Canadian upped his averages to 20.7 ppg while improving his shooting percentage to nearly 46 percent from the floor. The Timberwolves won 29 games, but even in their poor record, they looked tantalizing.

And here we stand now. Wiggins, before season number 3, armed with the perfect atmosphere for stability and success. He will get to play off an elite big man in Towns and thrive as the two try to emulate a modern remix of post-and-perimeter domination. He will be flanked by the ever-improving Zach LaVine by his side, and two point guards—Rubio and Dunn—who will both bring unique strengths to run the offense by his side. He will be coached by a defensive mastermind in Thibodeau, who will surely maximize his potential to greater individual and team success.

Wiggins doesn’t say much: his Twitter feed is mostly a mention of his national or sponsor obligations and his on-court demeanor could fool you into occasionally even forgetting he’s out there.

But, he has flashes of brilliance that destroy his silences with primal screams. Like the time he attempted a 720 dunk and broke the NBA internet. Like the time he owned the overtime period to hand the Warriors only their ninth loss of the regular season. Like how he feels like a future basketball Jedi, only now realizing the far reaches of his limitless powers.

(Don’t forget about Andrew Wiggins)

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Mike Conley, No. 32

C. Vernon Coleman II — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 16:01:28 +0000

During the NBA offseason there was a major bag alert. With the salary cap raised, team owners were blowing through money like rappers at Magic City.

When all was said and done, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley ended up with the biggest total value contract ever doled out in League history, inking a five-year, $153 million deal to stay in the M-Town. Mike Conley? Yes. Mike Conley.

Most people scratched their heads at the massive number (he joins legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as the only three players to pull in $30 million in a single season), and the 10-year vet had to answer questions about his worth all summer.

“I’m thankful. I’ve worked very hard for [the contract], and I feel like I deserve it,” Conley told ESPN during the offseason about his huge pay day.

That still didn’t stop people from asking. Mike Conley?

Now it’s really time to show and prove.

Don’t get it twisted. Conley can hoop. The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2007 Draft has consistently been one of the better PGs in the NBA for the last few years, in a League currently dominated by a batch of top-notch lead guards. He has career averages of 13.6 ppg, 5.6. apg and 2.9 rpg, and has guided his team to the Playoffs in each of the last six seasons.

Last season, the 28-year-old averaged 15.3 points, 6.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds per contest, missing the final third of the season with a foot injury. Luckily he didn’t need surgery.

While Conley’s obese off-season coup seems excessive, it was more of a necessity move on Memphis owner Robert Pera’s part, as there were very slim pickings on point guard market. Locking Conley up only made sense. The price tag is just a sign of the times.

Last year, Conley came in at N0. 32 in the SLAM Top 50. This year, his rank remains unmoved. That doesn’t mean dependable lefty won’t improve. He should be expected to—by himself and the Grizzlies’ front office.

Memphis has a stout, albeit aged, core of grizzled vets with three out of five projected starters who are 31 or older. The addition of Chandler Parsons, a long player who, when healthy, can contribute in a lot of ways from the small forward position gives Conley another viable option to dish the peel to.

Whether he will be able to raise his assist total in the range of the elite distributors in the League remains to be seen.

With new coach Dave Fizdale presumably bringing a faster-tempo offensive scheme with him from Miami, Conley could also see an uptick in overall production.

If injury luck goes in their favor, Conley and the Grizz both have a chance to be improved next season and add to their win total of 42 in 2015-16. There are just too many elite point guards in the League, and players who look to make substantial jumps, for Mike to get a bump in the order.

Will he play like a $153 million man? No. But, if Memphis can stay healthy and make a deep run in the Western Conference Playoffs next season, and in the near future, it will be on the back of their high-priced ball handler.

“That’s why I’m coming back to Memphis,” Conley wrote in The Player’s Tribune shortly after signing his contract. “Not just for a year or two. I signed a five-year deal because we’ve just barely scratched the surface on the things we’re planning to accomplish.”

We’re sure the bag was also a major key.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Gordon Hayward, No. 33

Bill DiFilippo — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 19:01:56 +0000

Gordon Hayward will always be known by many people for one thing: missing that shot that one time. During the 2010 NCAA Tournament, Hayward was the leader for 5-seed Butler’s magical run to the national title game. The Bulldogs lost to Duke, 61-59. Hayward was so very close to being the hero when this happened:

No matter what, Hayward was going to be on the end of one of the most memorable shots in NCAA Tournament history. Make it, and he’s a legend. Miss it, and Butler was thisclose to doing the impossible. The latter happened. Oh well.

It’s unfair to Hayward for this to be the case, though, because the dude can straight up ball. He has gone from a wiry, dangerous scorer who ate up rebounds at Butler to one of the craftiest scorers in the NBA. There are few basketball players with a more well-rounded offensive game than the Jazz’s small forward. Looking at his shot charts are always a fun exercise, because Hayward is capable of getting the job done from every area of the court.

This video illustrates the versatility of Hayward’s offensive game. He can pull up and can a three in someone’s grill just as easily as he can drive by them and throw down. If he gets stuck, he’ll go deep into his bag of tricks and make a defender look silly.

Hayward put all of these skills on display in 2015-16, and in turn, he had his best scoring season as a pro. He dropped 19.7 points per game for the Jazz, who are everyone’s favorite young team this year thanks to guys like Hayward, Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood.

The craziest part about this is that even though Hayward’s scoring numbers have gotten better every year, it’s not wild to think that he can get better. His shooting numbers weren’t too great last season—among players who had at least 500 field-goal attempts, Hayward’s effective field-goal percentage was 105th in the League. That put him behind dudes like Rajon Rondo, Arron Afflalo and Jeremy Lamb, among others. His true shooting percentage was a bit better (tied for 54th among dudes with 500-plus FGAs), but that’s mostly because Hayward hit just over 82 percent of his free throws.

Basically, once Hayward begins picking his spots better—which, considering Dante Exum is back from injury and the team acquired George Hill, is very possible—he can very easily become a more efficient scorer.

He has the potential to average 20-plus points a game. He has shown that he can average 5-plus assists and rebounds per game in the past. The list of 20-5-5 guys last year was Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

If Hayward reaches his ceiling, at least offensively, he’ll become one of the best players in the NBA. He’s absolutely capable of doing this, especially with the collection of young talent around him in Utah.

For now, he’s our 33rd-best player in the League. Not bad for a guy who’s most well-known for missing a shot once, right?

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Hassan Whiteside, No. 34

Habeeba Husain — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:30 +0000

Welcome, Mr. Whiteside. From our #SLAMfam to you, we’d like to say, congratulations! You did it, you made it onto the SLAM Top 50. And man, was it a journey getting here.

Before this superb debut—surely, one of the high points in his career—Hassan Whiteside had to build a name for himself. Sounds a little odd since everyone knows his name now. He’s the face of the Miami Heat. The center who signed a four-year, $98 million contract with Pat Riley this summer. The big man who dunks and blocks showing off his 7-7 wingspan like a machine. Snapchat King, The Hassan Whiteside!

But the road to this newfound stardom wasn’t an easy one, or even a quick one. Sure, after the Heat signed him in November 2014, it took only a couple months for everyone to know the name Hassan Whiteside. A triple-double in 24 minutes during a nationally televised game against the Chicago Bulls certainly helped.

But I’m talking before that.

Before that, Whiteside was one of seven siblings in a rural Gastonia, NC, home. He jumped from high school to high school before attending Marshall University, where he played one year with the Thundering Herd.

In his freshman and only season at Marshall, Whiteside broke the record for total blocks by a first-year player. He averaged 13.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.4 blocks per game, and soon after entered his name in the 2010 NBA Draft. The Sacramento Kings selected him early in the second round with the 33rd pick, and thus, Whiteside’s life-long dream of making it to the NBA finally came true.

Or so he thought.

In his first few years after the Draft, Whiteside went from the Kings to the D-League teams, Reno Bighorns, Sioux City Skyforce and Rio Grande Valley Vipers, to China to Lebanon to China again, and back to yet another D-League team, Iowa Energy.

Then, the Miami Heat gave him a chance and never looked back. After his triple-double against the Bulls, Whiteside’s applaudable play kept on strong. Despite playing in only 48 games, he finished fourth in Most Improved Player voting at the end of the 2015 season and continued his consistent numbers for Miami last year.

He averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and a League-best 3.7 blocks last season. He finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Second-Team. He made his post-season debut with another double-double.

Soon everyone knew who Hassan Whiteside was—a big guy doing big things for the Miami Heat. If you didn’t know, you were totally out of the basketball ~~hoop~~, uh, loop.

Now with the 2015-16 season ahead of him, and mad bank in his pocket, Hassan Whiteside truly needs to be the face of the Heat. Dwyane Wade is out in Chicago, and Chris Bosh’s health unfortunately doesn’t make it seem like he’ll be back on the court soon. It’s a new era in South Beach and Young Whiteside is up for the task.

Welcome, Mr. Whiteside, to the new NBA season—one our #SLAMfam expects you’ll have a hella hot impact on.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Dwight Howard, No. 35

Milo Taibi — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 19:00:26 +0000

You won’t find mind many people stating Dwight Howard’s case for all-time greatness.

That may seem justified at first blush, but consider this: Howard led the League in rebounds five times from 2007-2013; receiving top-five voting consideration for MVP honors four times in that span. The Georgia native has a career PER (21.7) ranks 35th all-time in the NBA, and ranks ninth among active players with 113.2 career win shares.

Statistically speaking (to this point in his career), Howard ranks among Hall-of-Famers Patrick Ewing, Moses Malone and Wes Unseld. In Howard’s most recent seasons with the Rockets (considered lackluster by the eight-time All-Star’s standards), “Superman” still averaged a double-double and 1.6 blocks per game. Say what you will of his off-court drama and injury history, but Dwight Howard has remained a consistent on-court producer.

And yet, Howard’s blemishes remain a focal point of his legacy. In a now infamous press conference, Howard hugged Stan Van Gundy moments after the Magic coach implied Dwight wanted him fired.

Howard clashed frequently with Kobe Bryant in a fruitless one-year stint with the Lakers (Bryant and Howard exchanged pleasantries during a 2016 match-up).

Last season, Howard’s dreaded “uncoachable” label resurfaced with Kevin McHale. Dismissed following (what appeared to be) a clubhouse mutiny, McHale unloaded on Howard: labeling the 12-year-veteran “not what he used to be” as a low-post presence, while questioning his commitment to winning. Combining that with an underwhelming -0.04 Real Plus-Minus last year, many would disregard Howard as damaged goods.

The Atlanta Hawks, however, paid handsomely for Howard’s services; inking the big man to a three-year, $70.5 million pact. Now suiting up for his hometown team, Howard will headline a frontcourt including Paul Millsap and Kent Bazemore. Whereas the 2015-16 Rockets endured a frustrating .500 campaign (eventually getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs by Golden State), Howard will be joining a team with momentum on its side.

The Hawks earned a 4-2 playoff series win over Boston last season, and feature a number of breakout-season candidates—including Dennis Schroder and first-round draft pick Taurean Prince.

Howard’s offensive capabilities frequently took a backseat to James Harden in Houston; under coach Mike Budenholzer, Dwight won’t be playing second fiddle to anyone. Considering the Hawks will enter 2017 without Al Horford and Jeff Teague (15.7 and 16 points averaged over the last three years, respectively), Howard will be relied upon to bring his offensive totals up from his disappointing 2016 season.

It’s natural to be skeptical of a bounce-back season for Howard. Needing a “change of scenery” is an overused idiom for professional athletes, and drama has seemed to follow Howard. If it’s any indication of future performance, however, Dwight’s tenure in Atlanta has begun with rave reviews. Teammates Kyle Korver and Mike Muscala have sung Howard’s praises as a leader, while Dwight delivered uncharacteristically measured comments regarding his new home in Atlanta.

“I was placed in situations that weren’t really the right situations for me,” Howard said. “But all that stuff, the only thing it did was mold me for the opportunity that I have now. All the good stuff and bad stuff, all the hardships I had to endure, all that stuff it really just made me a better person.”

Amidst blown opportunities, burned bridges, and an uncomfortable intervention from Charles Barkley, Howard still finds himself in position to succeed as the face of a franchise. If he enjoys a resurgent season with his hometown Hawks, Howard may add “two-time Eastern Conference champion” to his list of career achievements.

—

Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Kemba Walker, No. 36

James Tirado — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 16:04:35 +0000

Eight seconds to go, Kemba Walker drives his man off of the screen at the top of the key.

Pitt center Gary McGhee elects to switch on to the much faster 6-1 guard in the final seconds.

Four seconds to go, Kemba attacks this glorified scarecrow—right to left crossover, McGhee stays with him—hesitation, McGhee is still with him—Kemba attacks the rim again but this time stops on a dime with a vicious stepback and rises to shoot with 2 seconds left.

Bong bong, and Gary McGhee’s ankles haven’t been the same since.

That quarterfinal buzzer-beater is one of the best memories to come out of those now disbanded Big East tournaments, and enshrined Kemba in our hearts as one of the coldest dudes to ever do it. Since that unbelievable NCAA Tournament run, though, it’s been relatively quiet for Walker—stressing the “relative” part—but now at 26 years old, the Bronx native is truly coming into his own and is poised to have another big season after his coming out party in 2015-16.

It seems four years in the NBA with consistent minutes really helped Walker’s game mature and develop into something not exactly better, but smarter. Last year Cardiac Kemba shot a career high 42.7 percent from the field to go along with another career-high 16.4 field-goal attempts. More shots, but more importantly, more efficient shots.

Kemba’s efficiency is due in part to his maturation, but let’s not forget the lengths Coach Cliff will go to to help Kemba get the best possible shot. High double ball screens, out of bounds plays, and isolations basically whenever Kemba gets bored are all results of trust in Kemba’s athleticism, mid-range game, and that he can get up a good shot from the locker room if he wanted to. Add all of that to the fact that he played the third most minutes in the League last year and, yeah, safe to say this dude is gonna get his.

The 2016-17 season may prove to be a struggle for Walker considering Jeremy Lin has left for the Brooklyn Nets, which translates to the Hornets losing a ball handler that helped lighten Kemba’s already back-breaking load. Many believe Lin was the reason why Kemba was able to flourish in the first place last season—not necessarily because Lin was an amazing guard, but because sometimes your prized stallion needs a drink of water, and maybe even a sugar cube or 2. Cue Ramon Sessions, not exactly a Jeremy Lin, but a savvy vet who’s been around the League and understands his role and what he can bring to a team.

Look to see Sessions and Walker playing together to make an undersized yet still potent backcourt duo that will help Kemba get into more off-the-ball screen action.

After that confidence-building season, Walker will be determined to get out of the first round and maybe even an All-Star game appearance if things continue to go his way.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Kristaps Porzingis, No. 37

Franklyn Calle — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:00:30 +0000

The Internet can be very mean. And extremely inaccurate too. And on June 25, 2015, it was a bit of both when it came to Kristaps Porzingis after the New York Knicks drafted him with the fourth overall pick.

You had the cruel memes and the snarky (although some were downright hilarious) captions that came of it. From GQ calling it “the Knicksiest pick ever,” to Stephen A Smith announcing “I’m officially done” with the team after its selection, Twitter showed no mercy on that Thursday evening and in the days that followed. And let’s not forget the crying Knicks fan at Barclays, whose emotional breakdown went viral.

But then Porzingis took the hardwood. And it turned out that he could actually hoop. Like, the dude can actually ball. Any doubt that he was just another overrated overseas prospect whose game wouldn’t be able to translate to the League quickly evaporated within the first week of the season.

After dropping 16 points and 5 rebounds in the season opener, the 7-3 Latvian was already posting double-doubles by the following week when he finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs. He had his second double-double by the end of the week—and then his third one by the weekend. He would go on to post eight double-doubles for the month of November, including a 29-point and 11-rebound outing against Charlotte and then a 24-point and 14-rebound night two games later in Houston. Ultimately, he would go on to win Rookie of Month for the Eastern Conference for October/November.

He then dropped 28 points against his idol Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in December, among an array of other impressive performances throughout the month, on his way to earning Rookie of the Month honors once again. And then he did it again in January, piling up a third consecutive Rookie of the Month award. By season’s end, Porzingis had accumulated an average of 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, finishing second in Rookie of the Year votes behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

Let’s be real. No one saw this coming. Not this quickly. Not even the “Knicksiests” fans out there.

According to Basketball Reference, when KP dropped 19 points and 6 rebounds against the eventual NBA champs Cleveland Cavaliers, he became the only rookie in NBA history to score more than 1,000 points, grab over 500 rebounds, hit over 75 three-pointers and block over 100 shots in a season. Granted, the League didn’t start counting blocks until 1974 and the three-point line was introduced in 1979. Nonetheless, his numbers were staggering any way you look at it.

From being mocked, booed and the subject of jokes (actually the Knicks were probably the main subject of half of those jokes, when you think about it), to being praised by the game’s top players, Porzingis really made it in America.

Kevin Durant referred to him as a unicorn. LeBron James predicted “a bright future.” Nowitzki acknowledged that the power forward was “way better” than the very own future Hall of Famer was at age 20. Teammate Carmelo Anthony boldly claimed that “he’s gonna lead this organization long after I’m retired.” You get the picture. People who are very good at basketball think he’s going to be very good at basketball for a very long time.

With his rookie season in the rearview, it will be interesting to see which direction his career takes sophomore year. Expectations are big in Gotham. But if we’ve learned anything about Porzingod’s career, is that there’s no point in trying to predict his ceiling. The kid is a unicorn.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Dirk Nowitzki, No. 38

Bill DiFilippo — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:11:29 +0000

Every single year, we have the same discussion with Dirk Nowitzki. He keeps getting older, and he keeps having big years. Sure, he’ll show the occasional sign of slowing down, but Dirk just churns out big seasons and carries the Mavs to the postseason.

But like clockwork, all anyone ever wants to discuss during the lead-up to the season is whether this is it for Dirk. They’ll say he’s getting older. They’ll say his team is getting worse, and he can’t carry a team like he used to when he was one of the best basketball players on earth. They’ll point to the fact that his minutes are declining, that his shooting numbers from the field keep going down little by little, all that stuff.

So instead, let’s talk about why we think Dirk is the 38th-best player in the NBA heading into this season.

Dirk rules. Dirk has always ruled. Even though, yes, his numbers aren’t what they were a decade ago, he still gets buckets—his 18.3 points per game were the most on the Mavs by a pretty comfortable margin last year. Hell, prior to 2014-15 when Monta Ellis was Dallas’ highest scorer, the last time someone other than Dirk led the team in scoring was Michael Finley in 1999-00. Dirk still averaged 17.5 a game that year.

He just keeps producing, even as the dudes around him in Dallas fluctuate. He never complains about the team’s lack of a second star as he gets older and his window for winning another title keeps closing—if anything, he wants to do everything he can to help the Mavericks win a title, as evidenced by the fact that he always takes less money so the team can go get other players (Dirk got paid this offseason, and when asked about it, Mark Cuban said, “Dirk gets to do whatever he wants to do, period, end of story…Dirk has done so much for this franchise that he’s earned that opportunity.”

And really, why is this supposed to be the year that Dirk falls off? Take a look at his per-36 numbers for the course of his career, this dude has been a model of consistency since he stepped into the league. Plus part of the reason that people are so bearish about our favorite 7-foot, bucket-getting German is that he has to “carry his team” because the dudes around him are so…not great.

Well, that argument is kind of off the table this year. It’s usually off the table because Rick Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the NBA when it comes to getting the most out of his players, but let’s take him out of the equation. Dirk’s supporting cast this year includes a rejuvenated Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews, Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut.

That’s the best starting five around Dirk since the year Dallas won the title, no? That’s not to say that the Mavs are destined for a Championship this year, but it does mean that some of the pressure to carry Dallas is off of Dirk. Instead, he can just focus on scoring (which he does really well), shooting the ball better than any 7-footer ever (ditto), and rebounding (he pulled down 7.4 per 36 minutes last year, his highest mark since 2012-13).

Oh, and being the 38th-best player in the NBA. But let’s face it: It’s Dirk. Knowing him and knowing how this whole thing usually works, he’ll end up being in the top-20, because just when you think he’s cooked, he does something incredible.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Kevin Love, No. 39

Anel Ganic — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:23:35 +0000

Kevin Love has received a lot of heat ever since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers. Most of it has come from the fact that he hasn’t been putting up numbers like he did when he was with Minnesota.

You can look at it in the pessimistic sense or you can look at it in the optimistic, more so realistic, sense that his 16 points and 9 boards a game were a key part to the Cavs getting the first seed in the NBA Playoffs and eventually, a title. Either way, give the guy credit where credit is due.

K-Love has been putting in work this offseason. In a video with Levi Maestro, Love is shown working on his inside and outside game while mixing in some biking and swimming.

Check me & @kevinlove bike through Park City in my newest episode of #TheMaestro on @foxsports pic.twitter.com/IMwg7fhfY2

— Levi Maestro (@levimaestro) September 13, 2016

When asked what he wants to be the maestro of, Love says:

“I’m trying to master and be the maestro of my life, whether it’s work in my professional life in Cleveland and even outside the lines professionally. Just try to continue to grow my brand and continue to grow with the Cleveland Cavaliers, I mean, that’s huge. Balance in life is very important. To be able to master that, is something that’s easier said then done, but every day I’m waking up trying conquer that.”

With Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Tristan Thompson in the mix, it’s less about Love’s averages and more about the IQ and rock-solid experience he brings to the team.

While he’s looking to help the Cavs make it back to the Finals to win another Chip, let the haters do their talking.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Rudy Gobert, No. 40

Danny Hazan — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 15:42:19 +0000

Checking in at No. 40 on the SLAM Top 50, Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz is in a category on his own.

Though there are 39 more players who have been projected by the composite of SLAM’s staff and contributing writers to have a bigger season than the 7-1, 24-year-old Frenchman, Gobert still can stake his claim as one of the most intriguing and unique prospects in the entire League. His impact on a game can be immense, albeit on just one end of the court.

Part of a 2013 draft-day trade in which Denver took him 27th overall, then traded him to the Jazz for a future second-round pick and cash, the lanky athlete made a quick impression in Utah. Midway through the 2014-15 season, the Jazz traded away their former third overall pick from a few years prior—Enes Kanter—after Gobert proved himself the future of that organization at center.

Despite missing 21 games last season in which he averaged 9.1 points per game, Gobert is in line for an extension on his contract with the Jazz that will most likely fall under the max category. For a guy who has yet to display the ability to catch the ball in the post and make a move to score with consistency, you might be asking, “What gives?”

Gobert will deserve every penny of a potential max contract, and it’s clear to see why if you have gotten the chance to see him play (you can’t be blamed if not because the Jazz were at the bottom of the national TV games played list the last few years).

Under coach Quin Snyder, the Jazz have developed an identity as one of the best defensive teams in the League since he took the gig and the insertion of Gobert into the starting lineup midway through Snyder’s first campaign is the primary reason why.

As the anchor, everything is funneled in from the perimeter to him and Gobert has been stellar thus far in that role. Last year he averaged 2.2 blocks and 11 boards, but perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Gobert’s defensive prowess is his ability to play with such a presence while rarely being in foul trouble.

His work on the glass, on both ends, is also a huge reason why Gobert is among the Top 50 (and climbing). He rarely relinquishes second-chance opportunities if the ball is within arm’s reach defensively, and he’s averaged 3.2 and 3.4 offensive rebounds per game the last two seasons.

Gobert’s length has been well documented (7-1 height, 7-9 wingspan and a standing reach of an absurd 9-7), but coupled with a fluid athleticism, some bounce and a frame that has continued to add mass and strength, he can be a fixture among the NBA’s best bigs so long as he remains healthy.

Offensively, he really has just been able to finish put-backs, throw down lobs or convert open dunks off drives and dishes from Jazz guards. At the free-throw line, he shot 57 percent a year ago but his shot doesn’t look so broken that repetition couldn’t help that number improve.

Entering his fourth season, any marked improvement offensively from Gobert would be icing on the cake for the Jazz who already rely on Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood and Alec Burks for the bulk of their scoring punch.

As it stands now, they’ve already got their game-changing centerpiece defensively in Gobert. If he ever becomes half the threat on offense he is on D, he will be knocking on the door of the top 10 in the SLAM Top 50.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Pau Gasol, No. 41

Milo Taibi — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 19:05:22 +0000

“There is a God!” Kobe Bryant exclaimed after the Lakers’ 105-90 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

The February 2008 game was Bryant’s first playing alongside Pau Gasol; a then-27-year-old phenom who had spent each of his first six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies after a successful stint in the EuroLeague.

Having tasted marginal success under six different coaches in Memphis (the Grizzlies were bounced in the first round of the Playoffs three years in a row), Gasol reached new heights in Los Angeles. Replacing Shaquille O’Neal as Bryant’s go-to presence in the paint, Pau earned Championship rings in 2009 and 2010 and All-Star nods in the process.

Six long years later, Gasol enters the preseason under completely different circumstances. Gasol has since endured a messy break-up with the Lakers, and the Black Mamba has retired from the League, as has future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan (sans farewell tour).

Now 36 years old, and coming off a productive season with the underachieving Bulls, Gasol inked a two-year, $30 million contract to supplant Duncan in Gregg Popovich’s rotation.

Gasol’s move to San Antonio may not have generated the fanfare of other signings within the Western Conference, but was a pragmatic decision aimed at bringing home a third Championship ring. As Pau’s brother Marc implied, the Spurs will give Pau a better chance to win now than the Bulls.

Gasol’s minutes, of course, will be an X-factor in determining his value this season. Pau was featured at No. 34 on last season’s Top 50 list; a ranking that was rewarded with 11 boards and 16.5 points per game.

Popovich rests his starters more frequently than Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, though; Gasol’s 31.8 minutes per game could see a sharp decrease in 2017. LaMarcus Aldridge, for example, saw his court time diminish to a near career-low after leaving the Trail Blazers for San Antonio.

As Gasol alluded to after the signing, the opportunity in San Antonio was ultimately too good to pass up. What the 7-foot Spaniard will miss in playing time, he’ll make up for in a supporting cast. Flanked by Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker, Gasol won’t be tasked with shouldering San Antonio’s offensive load.

What’s more, under-the-radar free-agent signing Dewayne Dedmon should be a logical defensive choice to spell Gasol at the 5; the 27-year-old rim protector played a similar role behind Nikola Vucevic last season.

Gasol lamented the Bulls’ lack of “intensity and effort” toward the end of the 2015-16 season; that isn’t a complaint likely to resurface under Popovich.

If Gasol can avoid the injury bug and stay on the court for 70-plus games—a feat he’s accomplished each of the last two years—there’s no reason to think he can’t maintain his level of All-Star production in San Antonio.

While it’s difficult to envision any team usurping the Golden State Warriors for the Western Conference title, the addition of Pau Gasol is a step in the right direction for the Spurs.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: CJ McCollum, No. 42

Eli Schwadron — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 16:00:26 +0000

It’s December 1, 2015, and CJ McCollum catches the rock on the baseline at the Moda Center. The 6-4 SG takes one backward dribble as Dirk Nowitzki scrambles to close out.

You know what happens next: McCollum hits Nowitzki with a left-to-right hezzy, which sends the 7-footer bunny-hopping like he’s doing the electric slide.

McCollum goes through the legs quicker than a Lamar Jackson cut-back, the German Giant spins like a top, and No. 3 cans the 3-ball.

If you blinked, you missed it. Dis Ain’t What U Want, Dirk.

At season’s end, McCollum ranked No. 18 on the L’s per-game scoring list, and every player above him had more years of NBA experience. Of those 18 players, only three boasted a better three-point percentage than CJ: Steph Curry (45.4 percent), Kawhi Leonard (44.3 percent) and Klay Thompson (42.5 percent).

With Aldridge, Batum, Lopez and Matthews out of the Portland picture in 2015-16, CJ ate. The then-third-year Lehigh product upped his scoring by a full 14 ppg, from 6.8 to 20.8, easily earning Most Improved Player honors with 101 first-place votes. Kemba Walker and the Greek Freak finished with just seven and four first-place votes, respectively.

But the Most Improved award hasn’t been CJ’s only reason to celebrate. On July 25, McCollum (deservedly so) inked a four-year, $106 million contract extension. Four days ago, CJ turned 25 years old.

If Damian Lillard is Gilbert Arenas circa 2004-05 (the former might even be a smidge better, and as a Wizards die-hard, that was difficult to type), then I see McCollum having a Larry Hughes-like season in ’16-17. Smooth averaged 22 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.9 steals in 2004-05.

CJ already had his break-out season, and now the organization is all-in on his ability, so it’s not a stretch to say he’ll boost all facets of his game. He certainly put in the work this summer.

The Blazers are a solid team (yo, who the fuck expected that after the aforementioned exodus during the 2015 offseason?), which helps McCollum’s case for No. 42 on this hallowed list ten-fold. Remember, this is a squad that knocked off the (depleted, but still…) Clippers in round one of the Playoffs before stealing a game from the 73-9 Warriors in round two.

Don’t overlook this kid’s heart of a lion, either. Dude dropped 30 points, dished 6 assists, snatched 7 rebounds and finessed 2 plucks to lead 15-seed Lehigh over 2-seed Duke, 75-70, in the NCAA Tournament. That was only four years ago.

Al-Farouq Aminu (14.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG in ’15-16) and Mo Harkless (11 PPG, 5.1 RPG) are better glue guys than Elmer, and Lillard is the only other major scoring threat on the Blazers’ ’16-17 roster, which means fourth-year CJ is gonna seriously fly, son. Word to Mike Winchell.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Serge Ibaka, No. 43

Rodger Bohn — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 19:00:58 +0000

For Serge Ibaka, change has never been an issue; it has been a given.

At the age of 16, he made the difficult decision to leave his family (which included 17 siblings) to start a new life in Spain. Not having an immense formal education or speaking the language in his new home, times were super rough at first.

But Ibaka persevered, learned very quickly, and within two years found himself a first-round pick by the Thunder. After seven years in OKC, it is time for another change, as he found himself dealt to the Orlando Magic.

What makes Ibaka’s trade to Orlando so interesting is that it was just a few years ago that the franchise was so enamored by the 6-11 power forward that they made the ever-so-difficult decision to keep him over James Harden.

Over the last few seasons, his role changed numerous times. Ibaka went from being rim-protector and finisher to being a legit stretch big man. His new home in Orlando reunites him with Magic GM Rob Hennigan, who was there in Oklahoma with Serge throughout the early years of his career, making one wonder what role the franchise will come up with for their talented big man.

While Serge has proven that he can drop 14-15 points a night throughout his tenure with the Thunder, there was very little offense ran through him. He was deadly spacing the floor, not only shooting 36 percent from the three-point line in his final campaign with OKC, but also opening up the court for guys like Russ and KD to get to the rack.

If defenders flew out at him, Ibaka’s offensive game had grown to the point that he could beat slower defenders off of the dribble. Once you add in the fact that he has great hands, keeps possessions alive on the offensive glass, and is always a threat to bang on you, it is easy to see why there is so much optimism in for a fresh start in Orlando.

On the defensive end, the drop that Ibaka saw in ’15-16 was moreso due to Billy Donovan’s varying defensive strategy than it was due to Air Congo’s lack of production. Instead of keeping him near the three-second area as a rim protector, Billy D had Ibaka out on the floor hedging/switching countless pick and rolls.

This change in philosophy allowed Steven Adams and Enes Kanter to hold down the paint with Serge’s numbers sliding in the process. Anyone who watched the game beyond the box scores realized that Serge was making just as big of a difference containing ball screens on the outside that he was two years ago manning the paint. Both Frank Vogel and Rob Henningan saw that, hence immediately making a move.

“To me, I love defense. In the game, some people like to score, some people like to assist, but for me, it is defense,” Ibaka said at his introductory press conference with the Magic. “I thank God with my hard work that I can now play both ends of the floor, but it started with defense. I have had the opportunity to play in the League for seven years now and it started with defense.”

More important than the impact that Ibaka makes on the hardwood is the one that he makes off of it. In addition to the varying projects he was involved with in the local OKC community, he has been the face of basketball in the Congo.

His inspiring documentary, entitled Son of Congo, gave everyone a glimpse of his efforts in his home nation. Ibaka provided an opportunity for some of the top players in the Congo to play in front of college coaches on the adidas circuit via the Serge Ibaka Dreams Academy.

Among the varying philanthropic efforts the he has with the Serge Ibaka Foundation, he recently reached an agreement with his former club in Spain (Manresa) to set up a pipeline for Congolese ballers to both study and develop. Given all of this and with a new home, Ibaka is beyond elated for the new start.

“Right now, though, I feel like a rookie again.” Ibaka told the Players Tribune. “I’m thrilled to be in Orlando. I know that might sound crazy to some people, that I’m excited to go from a contender like the Thunder to a rebuilding team, one that hasn’t made the Playoffs in four years, but playing now for Frank Vogel, a coach who prides himself on defense, is very exciting for me.”

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Eric Bledsoe, No. 44

Bill DiFilippo — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 16:00:45 +0000

Eric Bledsoe is really good at basketball.

You probably read that sentence and went “well yeah, obviously he’s really good at basketball if he’s SLAM’s 44th-best player in the NBA heading into 2016.” And you’re right to have that reaction, as it is obvious that Bledsoe is one of the best basketball players alive if you’ve watched him play, well, ever.

But for reasons outside of his control, people seem to forget that when Bledsoe is on his game (hell, even when he’s not fully on), he’s one of the most electric players in the NBA. There are a few reasons for this—one being that he’s been a second fiddle for so long. At Kentucky, he was the “other” guard to John Wall. With the Clippers, he was the “other” guard to Chris Paul. During his first year in Phoenix, he was the “other” guard to Goran Dragic.

Then in 2014, he took the reigns of the offense from Dragic (who was traded to Miami) and started to establish himself as the guy in Phoenix. But December 26, 2015 happened, and Bledsoe only appeared in 31 games due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. That’s the unfair lasting image of Bledsoe from last season, a dude who slipped awkwardly against Philadelphia and sat there holding his injured knee.

This is unfortunate because Bledsoe was awesome prior to his injury. It kind of slid under the radar because the Suns weren’t especially good in 2015-16, but Bledsoe was quietly churning out averages of 20.4 points, 6.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. He even had a game with at least 4 rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, making him the first guard to do that since Dwyane Wade in 2009.

His injury also kind of led the Suns down a slippery slope. Prior to Bledsoe getting hurt, the team went 12-19. That’s not great, but it’s better than the 11-39 mark the team had after its star guard went down (which doesn’t include the aforementioned game against Philly, which Phoenix lost).

So now Bledsoe is back, he’s healthy, and the Suns are in a position to be a fun team this year due to a full year of a Bledsoe/Brandon Knight backcourt, year two of Devin Booker, and a young but fun 1-2 punch in the front court of Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.

And of course, Bledsoe is at the heart of all of this. He is the team’s engine, an explosive guard who is perpetually improving as a shooter (prior to going down he was hitting just above 37 percent of his attempts from three) and is able to impact the game on both sides of the ball.

Will there be rust to work off? Of course, and he’s come back from meniscus injuries and performed really well in the past, so he knows what’s ahead of him.

But there’s a long history of super athletic dudes coming back from knee injuries and needing a few weeks (if not a few months or an entire season) to return to top form. Maybe he won’t be able to blow by guys as easily as usual, and maybe some of his highlight-reel dunks won’t look as effortless as we’ve seen in the past.

Still, watching Bledsoe lead the young Suns is going to be a whole hell of a lot of fun, because Eric Bledsoe is really good at basketball.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Bradley Beal, No. 45

Anel Ganic — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 20:12:31 +0000

I had the pleasure of watching Bradley Beal in his last high school game with Chaminade College Preparatory School. In the first possession of the game, Beal hit a baseline fade away three while being double-teamed, and it was at that moment I realized, This. Dude. Can. Ball.

This is the second year in a row that the Big Panda has made our list of the Top 50 NBA players and the ranking is well deserved. One thing that sticks out with this guy is that he’s as consistent as consistency gets. So far, in his four-year NBA career, he’s averaging 16 points and 3 assists per game. I would be lying if I said the 23-year-old isn’t living up to his expectations, and I think his new five-year, $128 million contract would agree with me.

Beal has been compared to the likes of Ray Allen, which is one of the best compliments a shooter can get. But for that comparison to keep living on, the dude has got to shoot better from the free-throw line. Allen has a career 89.4 free-throw percentage and Beal has yet to crack 80 percent in his career. For the kind of jump shot he has, he should easily be hitting the 85 mark. They do say free throws are more of a mental game, though.

Coming into the 2016-17 season, Beal is already making a case for his first appearance in the All-Star Game. He has been working out all summer with fellow Wizard Kelly Oubre and Drew Hanlen of Pure Sweat Basketball—someone who he’s been working out with since his high school days. Beal has been taking the initiative to work on his free throws, but he’s also been working on making shots off the dribble, which is a very important shot to have in one’s arsenal.

With Beal being the consistent player he is, everybody is still waiting on him to have that breakout season. A season where he’s averaging over 20 points a game along with 7 or 8 boards and 4 assists. Beal has career playoff averages of 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game. So if he can just translate that to the regular season, we will surely be seeing him in the All-Star Game next year.

If the dude can stay injury free, his possibilities are endless.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Chris Bosh, No. 46

Yaron Weitzman — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 18:00:32 +0000

This is a weird place in the rankings for Chris Bosh to wind up, but I guess that’s what happens when no one has any idea what to expect from him this coming season.

When he’s on the court, Bosh is one of the 20 best players in the world. He’s the perfect big man for today’s NBA, a dynamo who can single-handily generate offense, and do so efficiently (19.1 points per game last season on 47 percent shooting), and space the floor with his silky smooth stroke (37 percent from deep).

He’s a brilliant team defender, too, a 6-11 big man with long arms and quick feet. Bosh is agile enough to stifle opposing guards above the arc. He doesn’t block a lot of shots, but his understanding of angles and body positioning makes him a more than adequate rim protector.

My favorite aspect of Bosh’s game, though, is just how willing he is to relinquish the spotlight to others. We saw it when LeBron came, and even after the Big Three era, when Wade was still around. Simply put: Bosh is the ultimate team player, in both spirit and skill set. He might not be good enough to be the best player on a championship contender. But you’d be hard-pressed to name 15 guys you’d prefer as a No. 2.

His skills can mesh with any player on any team. His personality—that easy-going yet competitive mind fascinated by both basketball and the entire world around him—would be welcomed in any locker room. With him in the fold, the Heat could just maybe challenge the Cavaliers come playoff time.

The problem, of course, is we have no idea if the 32-year-old Bosh will be able to play a single game this season, and right there is why we have him in a sort-of no man’s land of these rankings.

By now, you’re likely familiar with Bosh’s health concerns. Blood clots were discovered in his lungs following the 2015 All-Star Game. He spent weeks in bed and lost 13 pounds. He returned to the court last season but was told that if the clots resurfaced, his career would likely be over. Another clot, this time in his leg, was discovered prior to the 2016 All-Star Game. Bosh was forced to miss the rest of the year.

Except he wasn’t ready to quit playing the game he loves. He said he found a doctor who told him he could return to the court; the Heat, reportedly, were told by the doctors they consulted that Bosh could face a fatal injury if he stepped back on to the floor. The two sides exchanged public statements. The NBA Players Association got involved. Bosh sat out the remainder of the year and the Playoffs and still, today, nothing has been resolved.

Bosh wants to play. The Heat, ostensibly for fear of what could happen to him if he does, believe the safe route is for him to continue sitting out—at least for another few months.

And so here we are, with the 2016-17 season less than two months away from tipping off, and still no idea whether we’ll ever see Chris Bosh play in the NBA again. My hope is that Bosh does come back and come next year we see him return to the top-20 of these rankings.

My fear, though, is that this winds up being the last time we see Bosh’s name show up in this space.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Devin Booker, No. 47

Drew Ruiz — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 16:00:01 +0000

“When I get out there, they are going to remember me.”

Those are the exact words that came out of Devin Booker’s mouth in The Players’ Tribune Rookie/Vet documentary, in which cameras followed him and veteran teammate Tyson Chandler on day-to-day duties last season.

Though that type of bravado from rookies is common as they make the transition from college to the NBA, Booker’s play on the NBA hardwood rest assured that “they” would remember him.

Through six DNP-CDs before the All-Star break, a mid-season coaching change, rumors of locker room tension between players, injuries all across the board that opened up a starting role and playing on a team that hasn’t made the postseason since 2010, here’s how Booker finished the season: 13.8 ppg while shooting 42.3 percent from the field (34.3 percent from behind the arc), 2.6 apg and 2.5 rpg.

To some, the aforementioned numbers might be mediocre and maybe even irrelevant, especially for someone on a 23-59 team. With his emergence as one of the L’s most exciting players that’s making his debut at No. 47 on this year’s SLAM Top 50, D-Book’s stats were the best from a Suns rookie since Amar’e Stoudemire in 2002-03.

But the season accolades didn’t stop there for the young buck.

Booker was the only guard to make the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team. His six games with 30 or more points are the most by a rookie since Blake Griffin in 2010-11. He was the first rookie in three years to record more than five games of 30-plus points since Damian Lillard in ‘12-13.

He reached 1,000 points in third fewest games (74) to join Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant as the sixth player in NBA History to crack 1K as a teenager. And he was also the first teen since King James to have back-to-back 30-plus-point games and second-youngest player to dish out 11 assists in a game.

https://youtu.be/r8iEc9LaOuY

Booker kept the momentum going into the summer where he averaged 21.3 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per in his three-game Summer League stint in Las Vegas, while sharing the backcourt with former college teammate Tyler Ulis.

Kobe, Dwyane Wade, LeBron, Gregg Popovich and Klay Thompson (the player he’s often compared to) have nothing but high praise regarding Booker as one of their favorite up-and-comers.

“He understands how to play the game,” said Poppovich earlier this year at Thomas & Mack Center where Booker was a member on Team USA’s Select Team. “He’s got great skills, but I think what makes him special is his character […] He’s got everything he needs to be a great player.”

As Booker prepares for his second year with hopes to end the Suns’ six-year playoff drought, he’ll look to soak up even more knowledge from OGs like Jared Dudley and Leandro Barbosa who make their return to the Phoenix, and prepare rooks like Dragan Bender, Tyler Ulis and Marquese Chriss for the rigors of an 82-game season.

So when you’re out there for Year 2, make ‘em remember you some more, Book.

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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SLAM Top 50: Derrick Favors, No. 48

Max Resetar — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:00:11 +0000

Derrick Favors dropped a career-high 35 against the Pacers last season. It was the biggest offensive explosion of his career, only the second 30-point game he’s had in six years. But he was nice during that game. He was hitting jumpers, dropping his left shoulder into every defender that tried to stop him from getting to the rim, getting dunks. He put his old-school game on full display that night.

Favors uses mid-range shots, post-ups, duck-ins and throw downs to get his buckets. On defense, the 25-year-old uses his brute strength to gain position for rebounds, blocks and stops. He’s not out there shooting threes. He’s not jumping out the gym like these new-age athletes. But he’s getting the job done.

Now entering his seventh season, his maturity and poise has turned him into a rock for a Jazz team trying to make the Playoffs.

When he spoke to SLAM last month, Favors was all about capitalizing on being a leader:

“When I started out last year, I was like, Man, I’ve been in the NBA six years. I’m now an established vet. I’m getting old now,” he said.

It might sound funny to hear a 25-year-old say that, but that’s really how Favors operates. He’s all business, a big picture kind of a guy. He’s not about the numbers, although 16 points, 8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per ain’t nothin’ to sneeze at.

He’s been chipping away at getting to the Playoffs his whole career. All the while, his individual game has grown, making him a force to be reckoned with. On both sides of the ball, Favors is for real.

He carries the responsibility of reliability on his shoulders, knowing how much the Jazz need from him. On any given night, the power forward runs the offense from the elbow, dishing, shooting and driving. He and Rudy Gobert anchor one of the League’s best defenses. While Gobert makes the loud, flashy plays, Favors is the one holding down the fort.

With Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood taking all the risks with the ball, Favors has to be the one that head coach Quinn Snyder can trust to come through no matter what.

“This offseason, I’ve been busting my ass in workouts to reach that next level,” Favors told us last month. “Working on everything. Jumpshot, post moves. Working out on my body because I got injured last year. Making sure I’m healthy going into next year. I’ve just been working on everything.”

Yeah, it took him six years to have a big scoring night. But don’t let that fool you. Derrick Favors has all the tools to get buckets every night. He also has the IQ to understand that scoring doesn’t always lead to winning. And all he wants to do is win..

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Rankings are based on expected contribution in 2016-17—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

Follow the entire #SLAMTop50 countdown.

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