Peak Period: From 2020-21 to 2023-24.  Haliburton has only played four seasons and is thus in his Peak Period.

Tyrese Haliburton began his career with Sacramento, but a trade to Indiana in the middle of the 2021-22 Season sparked the Point Guard to greatness.   Haliburton went to the All-Star Game the last two seasons, and was a Third Team All-NBA player and Assists per Game leader.  Haliburton is one of the top players under 25, so he should skyrocket this list if he is healthy. 

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023-24 revision of our top 50 Indiana Pacers.

As for all of our top 50 players in basketball, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Basketball Association.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Indiana continued to improve by making it to the Eastern Championship Finals. There were no new entrants, but three elevations.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Reggie Miller
2. Mel Daniels
3. George McGinnis
4. Roger Brown
5. Billy Knight

You can find the entire list here.

Veteran Center Myles Turner moved to #12 from #17.

Tyrese Haliburton, who was a Third-Team All-NBA Player last season, vaults to #24 from #47. 

T.J. McConnell jumped to #41 from #50.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

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

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at Thanksgiving.  We will update this every Monday.

Here is the current top ten:

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 146 Cup Points, 37 Games, 3.95 Cup Points per Game, 25.5, PPG, 11.8 RPG, 9.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 31.3 PER, 7.8 WS.  Last Week, #1.

Clinging to the top is Nikola Jokic, who last year became an NBA Champion and Finals MVP.  At present, the Joker is leading the NBA in Defensive Rebounds (332), Win Shares (7.8), Offensive Win Shares (5.6) Box Plus/Minus (13.9), VORP (5.0) and Triple Doubles (11).  He is also second in PER (31.2), third in Assists per Game (9.2), fourth in Rebounds per Game (11.8).  Jokic also was named the November Player of the Month, which is his seventh overall.  Based on the last two weeks, we would not be surprised if the Joker falls off the top when we do this again next week.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 142 Cup Points:  35 Games, 4.06 Cup Points per Game, 31.6 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 30.1 PER, 6.3 WS.  Last Week, #2.

The two-time MVP has never had a better supporting cast than he does now, and he is responding by doing what he always does: dominate.  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.  He is third in Points per Game (31.8), sixth in Rebounds per Game (11.6), and is the league-leader in Field Goals (410).  Recently, Giannis won his tenth Player of the Month Award and is the biggest threat to overtake the Joker for the top spot since we started promoting this season’s Cup Standings.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 140 Cup Points:  33 Games, 4.24 Cup Points Per Game, 31.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 6.4 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 31.1 PER, 7.2 WS.  Last Week #3.

Gilgeous-Alexander broke through to the upper-tier last season, and he is proving that this was no fluke.  He is leading the NBA in Steals per Game (2.4), is second in Win Shares (7.2) and VORP (3.6), third in PER (31.1), and Box Plus/Minus (10.4) and is fourth in Points per Game (31.5).  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.

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 131 Cup Points:  31 Games, 3.97 Cup Points per Game, 33.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 9.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 27.6 PER, 5.3 WS.  Last Week #4.

Doncic is on a four-year streak of First Team All-NBA stars, and he is on pace to add a fifth.  Hs is the league-leader in Points (1,111), second on Points per Game (33.7), fourth in Assists (9.2), and is in the top seven in PER (27.6), Box Plus/Minus (9.5), VORP (3.5) and Win Shares (5.3).

5 (TIE). Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 121 Cup Points:  33 Games, 3.67 Cup Points per Game, 27.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 21.8 PER, 4.6 WS.  Last Week #6.

Tatum begins the year the way he ended the last one: an MVP contender on a power team.  He has already a nabbed a Player of the Week Award, is eighth in PPG (27.5) and is poised to take the Celtics on his back to a title.

5 (TIE). Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 121 Cup Points, 27 Games, 4.48 Cup Points per Game, 34.6, PPG, 11.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 34.1 PER, 5.7 WS.  Last Week #5

Embiid is the reigning MVP, NIHOF Cup Winner, and two-time scoring champion, and he is currently leading the NBA in scoring again (34.6).  The 76er is also first in Usage Percentage (36.0), and PER (34.1), and is in the top ten in Rebounds and Blocks per Game.  Embiid has missed a few games earlier in the season, which has caused his drop on the list.  Had he been healthy, he might be #1, but he is number one in Cup Points per Game.

7. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 114 Cup Points:  35 Games, 3.26 Cup Points per Game, 25.2 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.6 BPG, 25.8 PER, 5.8 WS.  (#8 Last Week)

Davis is currently second in Rebounds per Game (12.2), and is the healthiest he has been in years.   He is also fourth in Blocks per Game (2.6) and Win Shares (5.5) and seventh in PER (26.6). 

8 (TIE). Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, 110 Cup Points:  34 Games, 3.24 Cup Points per Game, 27.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 20.6 PER, 3.4 WS. (Last Week #9)

Curry makes his return to the top ten, and it looks like he is slowing down a bit, though the other similarly aged pieces around him are aging must faster.  He has moved up to tenth in PPG (27.1) and has drained the most 3-Point Field Goals (155).

8 (TIE). Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, 110 Cup Points:  32 Games, 3.43 Cup Points per Game, 24.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 12.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 26.4 PER, 5.4 WS. (Last Week #9)

Last year, Haliburton was a surprise entrant in the top ten, and here he is again, though there is not a shock in 2024.  Haliburton is the league-leader in Assists per Game (12.7), Assists (410), Assist Percentage (50.7) and is flirting with 25 Points per Game, which is a mark he never made.  He is also sixth in PER (26.4).

10 (TIE). LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, 110 Cup Points:  34 Games, 3.24 Cup Points per Game, 25.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 23.7 PER, 3.9 WS.  #9 Last Week.

James set the all-time scoring record last year, and he continues to defy time by playing at an elite level.  The legend added another accolade by leading Los Angeles to the first In-Season Tournament Championship.

10 (TIE). Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 110 Cup Points:  29 Games, 3.82 Cup Points Per Game, 29.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 24.1 PER, 4.0 WS.  Last Week #7.

Durant remains a superstar and when he is healthy, he is among the best in the world.  KD is scoring as good as always, but the chemistry in Phoenix is not there and we are seeing the same pattern that we have seen before.  He is still an All-Star, a first-ballot Hall of Fame entrant, but does he make teams better?  Lately, no.

Nobody fell off the top ten.

Our next update will be up on next Monday.

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

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at Thanksgiving.  We will update this every Monday.

Here is the current top ten:

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 136 Cup Points, 34 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 25.7, PPG, 12.3 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 31.2 PER, 7.1 WS.  Last Week, #1.

Remaining at the top is Nikola Jokic, who is now an NBA Champion and Finals MVP.  At present, the Joker is leading the NBA in Total Rebounds (417), Defensive Rebounds (314), True Shooting Percentage (.701), Win Shares (7.1), Offensive Win Shares (5.0) Box Plus/Minus (13.7) and VORP (4.5).  He is also third in Rebounds per Game (12.3) and PER (31.2) and fourth in Assists per Game (9.1).  Jokic also was named the November Player of the Month, which is his seventh overall.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 128 Cup Points:  32 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 30.9 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 29.4 PER, 5.4 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.  He is fourth in Points per Game (30.9), sixth in Rebounds per Game (11.3), and is the league-leader in Field Goals (367).

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 126 Cup Points:  30 Games, 4.20 Cup Points Per Game, 31.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 31.3 PER, 6.7 WS.  Last Week #5.

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 (2.8) and is third in PER (30.7), Win Shares (5.5) and VORP (2.8) and is fourth in Points per Game (30.8).  The Canadian is now an MVP contender, and could join Steve Nash in that exclusive club.

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 124 Cup Points:  31 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 33.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 9.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 27.6 PER, 4.7 WS.  Last Week #4.

Doncic is on a four-year streak of First Team All-NBA stars, and he is on pace to add a fifth.  Hs is second on Points per Game (33.4), third in Assists (9.4), and is in the top ten in PER (27.6), Box Plus/Minus (9.3), VORP (3.3) and Win Shares (4.7).

5. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 112 Cup Points, 25 Games, 4.15 Cup Points per Game, 35.0, PPG, 11.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 34.8 PER, 5.7 WS.  Last Week #2

Embiid is the reigning MVP, NIHOF Cup Winner, and two-time scoring champion, and he is currently leading the NBA in scoring again (35.1).  The 76er is also first in Usage Percentage (36.0), and PER (34.8), and is in the top ten in Rebounds and Blocks per Game.  Embiid has missed the last four games, and had missed other games earlier in the season, which has caused his drop on the list.  Had he been healthy, he might be #1.

6. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 108 Cup Points:  30 Games, 3.60 Cup Points per Game, 26.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 20.8 PER, 3.7 WS.  Last Week #6.

Tatum begins the year the way he ended the last one: an MVP contender on a power team.  He has already a nabbed a Player of the Week Award, is tenth in PPG (26.9) and is poised to take the Celtics on his back to a title.

7. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 107 Cup Points:  28 Games, 3.82 Cup Points Per Game, 29.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 6.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 24.3 PER, 4.0 WS.  Last Week #7.

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, though that can not be said for Phoenix.  At present, Durant is sixth in scoring (29.9) is also ninth in PER (24.3). 

8. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 104 Cup Points:  32 Games, 3.25 Cup Points per Game, 25.0 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.6 BPG, 26.2 PER, 5.1 WS.  (#10 Last Week)

Davis is the current rebounding leader per game (12.3), and is the healthiest he has been in years.   He is also fifth in Blocks per Game (2.6) and Win Shares (5.1) and seventh in PER (26.2). 

9 (TIE). Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, 103 Cup Points:  29 Games, 3.55 Cup Points per Game, 24.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 12.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 26.3 PER, 4.8 WS. Last Week #8

Last year, Haliburton was a surprise entrant in the top ten, and here is again, though there is not a shock in 2024.  Haliburton is the league-leader in Assists per Game (12.7), and is flirting with 25 Points per Game, which is a mark he never made. 

9 (TIE). LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, 103 Cup Points:  31 Games, 3.32 Cup Points per Game, 25.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 24.6 PER, 3.8 WS.  #9 Last Week.

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

Golden State’s Steph Curry fell off the top ten.

Our next update will be up on next Monday.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022/23 revision of our top 50 Indiana Pacers.

As for all of our top 50 players in basketball we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Basketball Association.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Indiana again failed to make the playoffs but we have two new entrants and one elevation nevertheless.

As always, we present our top five, which was not affected by the last season:

1. Reggie Miller

2. Mel Daniels

3. George McGinnis

4. Roger Brown

5. Billy Knight

You can find the entire list here.

Myles Turner advanced two spots to #17.

The two new entries are Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell who debut at #47 and #50 respectively.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Tyrese Haliburton was traded from Sacramento to Indiana in a deal that can best be described as both teams in rebuilding mode trying to see what might fit.  Sacramento made the playoffs first after the deal, but the Pacers landed a player who became an All-Star.

In Indiana, Haliburton had the opportunity to become more of a focal point, and he finished the 2021-22 season with the Pacers with 17.5 Points per Game over 26 contests.  In 2022-23, Haliburton started the year on fire, and he went to his first All-Star Game.  Now the top performer of his squad, Haliburton, who was injured late in the year but had the best season of his life with a double-double average of 10.1 Assists and 20.7 Points.  He was even better last season, earning a Third Team All-NBA, another All-Star, and his first Assists Title with 10.9.  Haliburton also averaged over 20 Points per Game (20.1), and took the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals.

As Haliburton is still well under 30, we could see multiple All-Stars in his future.