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, 119 Cup Points, 30 Games, 3.97 Cup Points per Game, 26.4, PPG, 12.3 RPG, 9.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 31.6 PER, 6.3 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 (368), Defensive Rebounds (236), True Shooting Percentage (.701), Win Shares (6.3), Offensive Win Shares (4.5) Box Plus/Minus (13.9) and VORP (4.1).  He is also second in Rebounds per Game (12.3), PER (31.6) and third in Assists per Game (9.5).  Jokic also was named the November Player of the Month, which is his seventh overall.

2. 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 a few games, costing him Cup Points, and would be ahead of Jokic had he not.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 109 Cup Points:  29 Games, 3.76 Cup Points per Game, 30.8 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 29.9 PER, 4.6 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 fifth in Points per Game (29.9), sixth in Rebounds per Game (10.9), and is the league-leader in Field Goals (319).

4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 108 Cup Points:  27 Games, 4.00 Cup Points per Game, 32.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 27.1 PER, 4.1 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 (32.9), fourth in Assists (9.1), and is in the top ten in PER (27.1), Box Plus/Minus (6.7), VORP (2.7) and Win Shares (4.1).

5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 106 Cup Points:  26 Games, 4.08 Cup Points Per Game, 30.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 30.8 PER, 5.5 WS.  Last Week #6.

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.

6. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, 101 Cup Points:  27 Games, 3.74 Cup Points per Game, 28.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 21.9 PER, 3.2 WS. Last Week #8

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 eighth in PPG (28.3) and is leading the league in 3-Point Field Goals (131) and Free Throw Percentage (.933), but the pieces around him are falling apart.

7 (TIE). Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 97 Cup Points:  27 Games, 3.59 Cup Points per Game, 26.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 20.8 PER, 3.3 WS.  Last Week #8.

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 (TIE). Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 97 Cup Points:  24 Games, 4.04 Cup Points Per Game, 30.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 24.2 PER, 3.1 WS.  Last Week #8.

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 third in scoring (30.9) has not averaged over 30 Points per Game since the 2013/14 Season, but is over that right now.  Durant is also ninth in PER (24.2).  Sadly, the Suns are underperforming as a group, and arguably the Durant experiment is not generating the expected team success.

9. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, 95 Cup Points:  27 Games, 3.52 Cup Points per Game, 25.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 25.3 PER, 3.5 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. 

10. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 87 Cup Points:  28 Games, 3.11 Cup Points per Game, 24.4 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.5 BPG, 25.4 PER, 4.4 WS.  (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

Davis is the current rebounding leader per game (12.4), and is the healthiest he has been in years.   He is also fifth in Blocks per Game (2.5) and seventh in PER (25.4). 

Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns 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 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 130 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 144 Points:  34 Games, 34.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 32.5 PER, 7.3 WS.  (#1 on last ranking)

Doncic pulled back as the lone top man in Cup Points, and for our money, he is the current favorite for the MVP.  Doncic just took over as the scoring leader (34.2), and is also tops in the standings in Win Shares (7.3) and VORP (4.4).

2. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets, 137 Points:  35 Games, 29.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 26.6 PER, 5.7 WS.  (#2 on last ranking)

The Nets are on fire, and whether are winning or losing, Durant always shines.

3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 128 Points:  34 Games, 31.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 25.1 PER, 5.2 WS.  (#3 on last ranking)

Tatum continues to get better which should scare the hell out of anybody cheering against the Celtics.  He has never finished a season averaging over 30 Points per Game, and Tatum is over that now.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 127 Points:  30 Games, 32.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 5.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 28.4 PER, 4.2 WS. (#5 on last ranking)

Giannis moves up another spot and the two-time MVP’s Bucks look ready to win it all.  He is in the top five in Rebounds and Points per Game.

5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 125 Points:  33 Games, 30.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 26.6 PER, 5.0 WS. (#3 on last ranking)

Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be an All-Star this year, and is shattering last year’s averages, which were already good.  How great will this Canadian be?

6. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 121 Points:  32 Games, 25.5 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 31.9 PER, 6.8 WS.  (#6 on last ranking)

The “Joker” is on fire lately, and we know someone wants to get that third Cup!  He is currently leading the NBA in PER 32.3, Box Plus/Minus (12.1).

7. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics, 119 Points:  34 Games, 27.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 21.0 PER, 2.8 WS. (#7 on last ranking)

Brown’s appearance here gives Boston the only team to have two players in the top ten, and he currently has the highest traditional numbers of his career.  

8. (Tie) Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, 117 Points:  30 Games, 27.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 8.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 23.4 PER, 3.1 WS. (#9 on last ranking)

Morant is the face of the Grizzles, and he is posting similar numbers from last year, when he took Memphis to the next level.

8 (Tie). Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 117 Points:  27 Games, 33.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 30.3 PER, 4.8 WS.  (#8 on last ranking)

Embiid makes his 2022/23 top ten debut, and is currently second in Points per Game (behind Doncic).

10. DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, 105 Points:  36 Games, 26.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 22.3 PER, 4.6 WS. (Not on last ranking)

DeMar DeRozan makes his first appearance this year in the top ten, and is proving that his comeback last year was no fluke.

Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors fell off the top ten.

Our next update will happen after the first player breaches 150 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 80 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 80 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets 82 Points:  22 Games, 30.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 26.6 PER, 3.5 WS.

Durant might play for the most dysfunctional team in the NBA, but the Nets struggles cannot be pinned on KD, who has been electric this year.  The last time Durant finished with 30 Points per Game was in 2013/14, and his 1.8 BPG is higher than any year-end total.  As of this writing, Durant has logged the most minutes (807), sunk the most Field Goals (233) and has the most Points (660).

2. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors 80 Points:  19 Games, 31.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 29.1 PER, 3.6 WS.

The Warriors have disappointed this year, and are clearly aging, but that is not the case for Curry, who is leading the NBA in Win Shares, Offensive Win Shares (3.0) and Three-Point Field Goals (99).

3. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks 78 Points:  18 Games, 33.1 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 31.0 PER, 3.6 WS.

Doncic is our first-quarter MVP, and the current leader in Points per Game, and is on pace for his first 30 PER/30 PPG year.

4 (Tie). Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics 77 Points:  20 Games, 30.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 26.6 PER, 3.3 WS.

Tatum continues to get better which should scare the hell out of anybody cheering against the Celtics.  He has never finished a season averaging over 30 Points per Game, but he is currently over that now.

4 (Tie). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder 77 Points:  20 Games, 31.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 6.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 27.6 PER, 3.32 WS.

Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be an All-Star this year, and is shattering last year’s averages, which were already good.

6. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, 69 Points:  17 Games, 28.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 7.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 25.7 PER, 2.0 WS.

Morant is the face of the Grizzles, and he is posting similar numbers from last year, when he took Memphis to the next level.

7 (Tie). Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 67 Points:  20 Games, 30.9 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 28.5 PER, 2.1 WS.

The two-time MVP missed a few Games, which dropped Antetokounmpo in the standings, but the Bucks are considered the top contenders to win it all this year.

7 (Tie). Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns, 67 Points:  20 Games, 27.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 22.4 PER, 2.3 WS.

Booker is on pace to have the highest PPG and PER of his career.

9. (Tie). Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, 64 Points:  19 Games, 28.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 23.9 PER, 3.0 WS.

Mitchell’s numbers in his first year in Cleveland are higher than his last year in Utah, and it is reflecting in the Cavaliers overall performance.

9 (Tie). Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, 64 Points:  17 Games, 26.2 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 29.6 PER, 3.2 WS.

Davis has been on fire lately, though the same can’t be said about the rest of his team.  He is currently the league leader in Rebounds per Game.