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This is OTG’s second edition of the Top 50 NBA Players of the 2018-19 season. With the NBA Playoffs on the horizon, Kory Waldron & Jac Manuell revisit the rankings.
Key reminders for this top 50 list; It is based solely on this current season. As well any player with a season ending injury is excluded.
Enjoy and feel free to debate afterwards: @otgbasketball/@Kwalhoops/@TheJmanJBT
50. Jayson Tatum
2018-2019 Stats: 16.5 PPG 6.3 RPG 1.8 APG - 45/37/86
(Via. USA Today)
It hasn’t been an easy year for the Boston Celtics, things have been more or less unstable. For recently turned 21-year old Jayson Tatum it hasn’t been a giant leap forward type of year. With the abundance of players at Brad Stevens' disposal, Tatum simply isn’t a focal point in the offense. However, at just 21, Tatum remains to be one of the brightest up and coming players in the NBA.
49. Clint Capela
2018-2019 Stats: 17 PPG 12.6 RPG 1.8 BLK - 63 FG%
(Via. USA Today)
The Houston Rockets looked to be done for early on this season after the Carmelo Anthony experiment failed & Chris Paul got hurt. James Harden led the charge back up in the Western Conference standings but it wasn’t without help. Clint Capela became a double machine and a constant threat around the rim. Capela now back after missing 15 games, the Rockets are fully healthy. Expect a strong finish to the season.
48. John Collins
2018-2019 Stats: 19.5 PPG 9.5 RPG 2.0 APG - 57/38/77
(Via. ClutchPoints)
The Atlanta Hawks have been a pleasant surprise among bad team standards as they remain a highly competitive on a nightly basis. John Collins despite missing the first 15 games of the season quickly fit in alongside rookie star Trae Young. Collins is athletically gifted and with him becoming a threat from three his offensive game is quickly becoming well rounded. He has solidified himself as a core piece in Atlanta moving forward.
47. Spencer Dinwiddie
2018-2019 Stats: 17 PPG 2.4 RPG 5.0 APG - 46/36/79
(Via. Nets Daily)
The Brooklyn Nets have eliminated a lot of doubt this season as they sit in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings. Dinwiddie is a crucial reason why with his ability to score and make plays off the bench. Despite missing a stretch of games due to a thumb injury, he has put his name among those deserving for Most Improved Player of the Year & Sixth Man of the Year.
46. Danilo Gallinari
2018-2019 Stats: 18.8 PPG 5.9 RPG 2.4 APG - 44/42/91
(Via. Clips Nation)
Who thought the Los Angeles Clippers would be competing for a playoff seed? Now who thought Gallinari would come into this season in the best shape of his life and stay relatively healthy? Not many of us, but Gallinari has done all of that. Compared to last season Gallo has raised his shooting splits dramatically and this rise in efficiency can be attributed to his conditioning and health,
45. Andre Drummond
2018-2019 Stats: 17.4 PPG 15.1 RPG 1.7 BLK - 53/11/57
(Via. SB Nation)
Detroit Pistons have been more or less a disappoint much of the year with Blake Griffin leading the way, however, Drummond remains the number two guy in Detroit. The strongest part of Drummond’s game is his rebounding ability as he leads the league in that category. Drummond offensively remains challenged with him being mostly a threat around the rim,. Although his size makes him tough on a nightly basis, Drummond isn’t a spectacular defender, but he still gives above average rim protection.
44. Josh Richardson
2018-2019 Stats: 17.4 PPG 3.6 RPG 4 APG - 42/37/86
(Via. Slam)
As the Miami Heat continue to battle for a playoff spot, Josh Richardson has emerged currently as the best player on the Heat’s roster. His ability to guard multiple positions and be the focal point of an offense at just 25 shows the upside that Richardson has.
43. Jamal Murray
2018-2019 Stats: 18.2 PPG 4.2 RPG 4.9 APG - 43/37/83
(Via. Denver Stiffs)
The Denver Nuggets are one of the the youngest and most promising teams in the league. Jamal Murray is one of the key core players on this roster going forward. Any given night is a night where Murray could erupt for a big scoring game. As his efficiency continues to improve and he becomes a more capable passer he will rise in the ranks of top point guards in the league.
42. Myles Turner
2018-2019 Stats: 13.1 PPG 6.8 RPG 2.8 BLK - 50/40/73
(Via. USA Today)
Myles Turner remains one of the most talked about players with the question being, “What is his ceiling?” Currently leading the league in blocks per game in just his third season in the NBA, Turner has his name among the best rim protectors in the game. Turner is a constant hazard for opposing players looking to attack the rim. An underrated aspect of Turner’s game is that with his length and lateral quickness he can guard around the perimeter better than most centers. Although his scoring hasn’t increased, his efficiency has across the board calling for him likely needing more shots.
41. Devin Booker
2018-2019 Stats: 24.7 PPG 4 RPG 6.7 APG - 45/31/86
(Via. A Sea Of Blue)
The Phoenix Suns failed to reach expectations of being competitive, along with these failed expectations it’s led Booker being tasked with doing more. Without a true point guard and an unproven young supporting cast, Booker has even spent time as not just the primary scorer, but also the primary ball-handling playmaker. Booker has seen a slight drop in his three point percentage, but overall his numbers have increased. Devin Booker at just 22-years old remains one of the most promising young guys in the game and already known to be elite scorer.