came an NBA Champion and a Finals MVP and shook off what some may have perceived as an MVP snub.  At present, the Joker is leading the NBA in Win Shares (10.0), Offensive Win Shares (7.3) Box Plus/Minus (14.2), Offensive Box Plus/Minus (9.8), Defensive Box Plus/Minus (4.4), VORP (6.5) and Triple Doubles (14).  He is also second in PER (31.9), third in Rebounds per Game (12.1), and fourth in Assists per Game (9.1).  Jokic also was named the November Player of the Month, which is his seventh overall, but his lead has shrunk from our last update.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 190 Cup Points:  46 Games, 4.13 Cup Points Per Game, 31.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 30.8 PER, 9.9 WS.  Last Week #2.

Gilgeous-Alexander broke through to the upper-tier last season, and he is proving that this was no fluke.  He is leading the NBA in Steals per Game (2.2), Steals (103), Points (1,438) Free Throws (376), is second in Win Shares (9.9) and VORP (4.9), third in PER (30.8), and Box Plus/Minus (10.2) and is fourth in Points per Game (31.1).  The Canadian is now an MVP contender, and could join Steve Nash in that exclusive club.  Even if he doesn’t this year, SGA added his first Player of the Month Award in December.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 186 Cup Points:  45 Games, 4.13 Cup Points per Game, 31.0 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 29.5 PER, 7.7 WS.  Last Week, #3.

The two-time MVP has never had a better supporting cast than he does now, and he is responding by doing what he always does: dominate.  Antetokounmpo, however has slightly less metrics than previous years, but the arrival of Damian Lillard means he does not have to always carry the load.  The December Eastern Conference Player of the Month is fourth in Points per Game (31.0), fifth in Rebounds per Game (11.7), and is the league-leader in Field Goals (520). 

4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 163 Cup Points:  45 Games, 3.51 Cup Points per Game, 26.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 21.8 PER, 6.0 WS.  Last Week #5.

Tatum begins the year the way he ended the last one: an MVP contender on a power team.  He has already a nabbed a Player of the Week Award, and is poised to take the Celtics on his back to a title.

5. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 160 Cup Points:  40 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 33.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 9.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 27.6 PER, 5.5 WS.  Last Week #6.

Doncic is on a four-year streak of First Team All-NBA stars, and he is on pace to add a fifth.  Hs is second in Points per Game (33.6), third in Assists per Game (9.3), ninth in Steals per Game (1.4), and is in the top five in PER (27.6), Box Plus/Minus (9.6), and VORP (3.9).

6. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 150 Cup Points, 34 Games, 4.41 Cup Points per Game, 35.3, PPG, 11.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 34.3 PER, 7.0 WS.  (Last Week #4)

Embiid is the reigning MVP, NIHOF Cup Winner, and two-time scoring champion, and he is currently leading the NBA in scoring again (35.3).  The 76er is also first in Usage Percentage (39.0), and PER (34.3), and is in the top ten in Rebounds and Blocks per Game.  Embiid has missed a few games this season, which has caused his drop on the list.  Had he been healthy, he might be #1, but he is number one by far in Cup Points per Game.

7. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 147 Cup Points:  46 Games, 3.20 Cup Points per Game, 24.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 25.3 PER, 6.8 WS.  (#7 Last Week)

If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NBA Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the fourth year that we have done this, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic winning the first two, and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers winning last year.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at Thanksgiving.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 270 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 65 Cup Points, 15 Games, 4.33 Cup Points per Game, 27.5, PPG, 13.1 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 33.8 PER, 3.3 WS. 

Here we are on our first tally, and who else would you expect at the top but Nikola Jokic!, who is now an NBA Champion and Finals MVP  At present, the Joker is leading the NBA in Rebounds (197), Rebounds per Game (13.1), Triple-Doubles (6), True Shooting Percentage (.701), Field Goals (162), PER (33.8), Win Shares (3.3), Box Plus/Minus (15.2) and VORP (2.2).  Right now, he is the best player in Basketball, and that is not in dispute.

2. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 63 Cup Points:  15 Games, 4.20 Cup Points Per Game, 31.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 25.2 PER, 2.2 WS.

Durant remains a superstar and when he is healthy, he is among the best in the world.  KD is chasing another title and MVP with the Suns, and he is having one of his best starts in recent years.  At present, Durant is second in scoring (31.4) has not averaged over 30 Points per Game since the 2013/14 Season, but is over that right noe.

3 (TIE). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 57 Cup Points:  14 Games, 4.07 Cup Points Per Game, 30.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 30.8 PER, 2.9 WS.

Gilgeous-Alexander broke through to the upper-tier last season, and he is proving that this was no fluke.  He is leading the NBA in Steals per Game (2.6) is third in PER (30.8) and fourth in Points (30.8).  The Canadian is now an MVP contender.

3 (TIE). Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 57 Cup Points, 14 Games, 4.07 Cup Points per Game, 31.9, PPG, 11.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 31.2 PER, 2.6 WS. 

Embiid is the reigning MVP, NIHOF Cup Winner, and two-time scoring champion, and he is currently leading the NBA in scoring again (31.2).  The 76er is also first in Usage Percentage (36.4), and is second in PER (31.2), third in Win Shares (2.6) and VORP (1.4) and is in the top ten in Rebounds and Blocks per Game.  Could we have a dogfight between Embiid and Jokic again?

5. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 56 Cup Points:  15 Games, 3.73 Cup Points per Game, 30.5 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 8.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 26.8 PER, 2.1 WS. 

Doncic is on a four-yea streak of First Team All-NBA stars, and he is on pace to add a fifth.  Hs is third on Points per Game (30.5), sixth in Assists (8.1), and is in the top ten in PER (26.8), Box Plus/Minus (7.8), VORP (1.3) and Win Shares (2.1).

6. (TIE) Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 55 Cup Points:  15 Games, 3.67 Cup Points per Game, 27.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 22.4 PER, 2.2 WS. 

Tatum begins the year the way he ended the last one: a MVP contender on a power team.  He has already a nabbed a Player of the Week Award, is seventh in PPG (27.9) and is poised to take the Celtics on his back to a title.

6. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, 55 Cup Points:  14 Games, 3.93 Cup Points per Game, 29.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 23.6 PER, 1.7 WS.

The Warriors are an aging team, but Father Time has not yet found Curry, who is the best beyond-the-arc shooter of all-time.  He is  sixth in PPG (29.4) and is leading the league in 3-Point Field Goals (73).

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 54 Cup Points:  14 Games, 3.86 Cup Points per Game, 29.6 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 27.8 PER, 1.6 WS.

The two-time MVP has never had a better supporting cast than he does now, and he is responding by doing what he always does: dominate.  Antetokounmpo, however has slightly less metrics than previous years, but the arrival of Damian Lillard means he does not have to always carry the load.  This will cost him a Cup Point or two but the selfless European is totally fine with that.

9. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, 51 Cup Points:  15 Games, 3.40 Cup Points per Game, 25.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 6.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 25.9 PER, 2.1 WS.

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

19 (TIE). Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves, 48 Cup Points:  14 Games, 3.64 Cup Points per Game, 26.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 20.0 PER, 1.4 WS.

Edwards took the necessary step in his basketball evolution last season, and he continues to progress this year.  The young T-Wolves star is tenth in PPG and is poised to have his first 25-plus PPG year.

10 (TIE). Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, 48 Cup Points:  14 Games, 20.2 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 7.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 23.3 PER, 2.1 WS. 

Sabonis was an All-NBA Selection for the first time last year, and he is currently posting similar numbers this year.  He is second in Rebounds per Game (12.4)

Our next update will be up on next Fridat.

Today the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season begins and with that we are thrilled to announce that we have updated our Notinhalloffame.com Basketball Hall of Fame Monitor of active players based on their existent accomplishments.

You can see the complete list here, but we are presenting the Pre-2023-24 Top 10 Active Players immediately!

#1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

#2. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

#3. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors

#4. Chris Paul, Golden State Warriors

#5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

#6. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

#7. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers

#8. Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers

#9. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

#10. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Look for many more lists, list revisions, podcasts and more content soon!

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

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 100 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 260 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 263 Cup Points:  65 Games, 24.3, PPG, 11.9 RPG, 9.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 31.9 PER, 14.5 WS.  (#1 on last ranking)

The two-time defending MVP (and NIHOF Cup Champion) remains at the top, and is the first to break 250 Cup Points.  Jokic is leading the league in PER (31.9), Win Shares (14.5), VORP (8.5) and Box Plus/Minus (13.2).  He is also averaging a triple-double, is leading the NBA in that stat, and is second in Rebounds per Game.

2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 256 Cup Points:  59 Games, 33.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 31.5 PER, 11.2 WS.  (#2 on last ranking)

Embiid remains in the number two hole, and is a bona fide MVP contender, and in a dogfight with Jokic.  He is currently the scoring leader (33.2) and is second in PER (31.5).  Embiid is also in the top five in Wins Shares, VORP and Box Plus/Minus.  Could this be the season he takes Philadelphia all the way to a title and finish “The Process?”

3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 243 Cup Points:  68 Games, 30.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 23.4 PER, 9.2 WS.  (#3 on last ranking)

Tatum climbed back into the top three.  He is still a huge threat to win this award, though the MVP, that he was once in contention for won’t fall his way this season.  He should finish over 30 Points per Game (he is currently sixth).

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 240 Cup Points:  57 Games, 31.2 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 28.8 PER, 7.9 WS. (#4 on last ranking)

The two-time MVP would have probably been on the top had he not missed a series of Games earlier in the season.  He is now a six-time All-Star, and is in the top five in both Points and Rebounds per Game.

5 TIE. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 232 Cup Points:  58 Games, 32.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 29.3 PER, 9.3 WS.  (#4 on last ranking)

Doncic is back, and the man who was once in the top spot held on to his rank.  He is second in scoring (33.0), and was an early MVP contender, but that may not the case anymore.

5 TIE. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 232 Cup Points:  61 Games, 31.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 27.2 PER, 10.2 WS. (#6 on last ranking)

Gilgeous-Alexander went to his first All-Star Game, and is shattering last year’s averages, which were already good.  He is currently dealing with some nagging injuries, but you have to imagine just how pathetic the Thunder would be without SGA.

7. Julius Randle, New York Knicks, 225 Cup Points:  74 Games, 25.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 20.6 PER, 8.2 WS. (#7 on last ranking)

Randle holds in at #7, and currently has a higher PPG (25.2), than his first All-Star year two years ago (24.1).

8. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, 222 Cup Points:  66 Games, 26.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 10.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 22.6 PER, 6.3 WS. (#8 on last ranking)

Young is the face of an intriguing Hawks squad, but was unable to make the NBA All-Star Team.  This could be the player that intrigues us he most in the next two years.

9. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, 209 Cup Points:  64 Games, 25.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 22.5 PER, 8.3 WS. (Not on last ranking)

Markkanen roars back into the top ten with his highest position to date.  This unexpected campaign could be a one-off or the start of something special.

10. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, 208 Cup Points:  70 Games, 19.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 7.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 23.3 PER, 11.1 WS.  (#10 on last ranking)

Sabonis is currently the NBA leader in Rebounds per Game (12.6).  He added a third All-Star this year.

Memphis’s Ja Morant fell off the top ten.

Our next update will happen after the first player breaches 260 Cup Points.

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

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 100 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 250 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 250 Cup Points:  62 Games, 24.8, PPG, 11.9 RPG, 9.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 31.8 PER, 13.7 WS.  (#1 on last ranking)

The two-time defending MVP (and NIHOF Cup Champion) remains at the top, and is the first to break 250 Cup Points. Jokic is leading the league in PER (31.8), Win Shares (13.7), VORP (8.0) and Box Plus/Minus (13.1).  He is also averaging a triple-double, is leading the NBA in that stat, and is second in Rebounds per Game.

2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 245 Cup Points:  55 Games, 33.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 31.2 PER, 10.2 WS.  (#2 on last ranking)

Embiid remains in the number two hole, and is a bona fide MVP contender, and in a dogfight with Jokic.  He is currently the scoring leader (33.3) and is second in PER (30.8).  Embiid is also in the top five in Wins Shares, VORP and Box Plus/Minus.  Could this be the season he takes Philadelphia all the way to a title and finish “The Process?”

3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 237 Cup Points:  66 Games, 30.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 23.5 PER, 9.1 WS.  (#3 on last ranking)

Tatum climbed back into the top three.  He is still a huge threat to win this award, as well as the MVP, though some of his advanced statistics are lacking.  He should finish over 30 Points per Game (he is currently sixth).

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 231 Cup Points:  55 Games, 31.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 28.6 PER, 7.5 WS. (#5 on last ranking)

The two-time MVP would have probably been on the top had he not missed a series of Games earlier in the season.  He is now a six-time All-Star, and is in the top five in both Points and Rebounds per Game.

5. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 227 Cup Points:  57 Games, 33.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 29.6 PER, 9.4 WS.  (#4 on last ranking)

Doncic dropped another spot to #5, which was due mostly to a thigh injury, and inactivity since the last update.   He is second in scoring (33.0), and was an early MVP contender, but that may not the case anymore.

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 222 Cup Points:  59 Games, 31.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 27.3 PER, 9.9 WS. (#7 on last ranking)

Gilgeous-Alexander went to his first All-Star Game, and is shattering last year’s averages, which were already good.  He is currently dealing with some nagging injuries, but you have to imagine just how pathetic the Thunder would be without SGA.

7. Julius Randle, New York Knicks, 218 Cup Points:  71 Games, 25.2 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 20.6 PER, 7.9 WS. (#6 on last ranking)

Randle drops one spot, and currently has a higher PPG (25.2), than his first All-Star year two years ago (24.1).

8. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, 215 Cup Points:  62 Games, 27.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 10.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 22.8 PER, 6.0 WS. (#8 on last ranking)

Young is the face of an intriguing Hawks squad, but was unable to make the NBA All-Star Team.  This could be the player that intrigues us he most in the next two years.

9. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, 205 Cup Points:  53 Games, 27.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 8.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 23.8 PER, 5.6 WS. (#8 on last ranking)

The last three weeks of Morant’s life has been a disaster, with a bevy of poor personal decisions that has led to a suspension.  Currently away from the Grizzlies, he has dropped two spots in Cup Point standings from the last update.  This is a man with serious growing up to do.

10. Damontas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, 200 Cup Points:  67 Games, 19.0 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 7.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 23.3 PER, 10.6 WS.  (Not on last ranking)

For the first time this season on one of our updates, Sabonis appears in the top ten, and is currently the NBA leader in Rebounds per Game (12.6).  He added a third All-Star this year.

Utah’s Lauri Markkanen fell off the top ten.

Our next update will happen after the first player breaches 260 Cup Points.

Pre-2022-23 Rank: #45, Pre-2023-24 Rank: #34

*Positional Notes:  Sabonis also spends time at Power Forward.

*Peak Period:  From 2017-17 to 2023-24.  Sabonis is likely to remain in his Peak Period after this season.

Sabonis is on a two-year streak of Third Team All-NBA Selections and top-ten MVP finishes.  If Sacramento goes on a deep run in 2025 with Sabonis as the catalyst, look for his Hall of Fame chances to rise significantly.