Updating the NBA All-Time Top 75ish: Jokic, Giannis, Tatum | by Dr. Duncan Stein

we go up

Eric Apricot says: This is an original series that analyzes and ranks the Top 75ish NBA players of all time, written by a friend of DubNationHQ.com. Some of you will be angered, some will think you can do better, but hopefully everyone can find something to enjoy in this journey appreciating the great historical achievements by past and present players.

This summer we’re updating our Top 75-ish series as ranked by BEAST points. The full series list is here, and we’ve already seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enter the field. Here are the other material changes.

Updated BEAST points

18 - Nikola Jokic (289 BEAST points) (+14)

• MVP runner-up (5)

• All NBA First Team (3)

• Triple-double for whole season on extreme efficiency (5)

• 60-point game (1)

Nikola Jokic put up another season for the ages, averaging a triple double on truly beastly shooting splits (including 57.6% from the field, 41.7% from three). As a result he leaps over KG into the 18th spot on the list.

Critically for Jokic the path is now open to a major jump up into the range of the top 10 when all is said and done. On his individual stats alone he’s going to waltz into the top 15 range. But while his talent is undeniable, if he wins another ring or two he’s in the mix with Wilt, Bird, and Shaq. Fitting company for one of the most skilled big men ever.

The big difference here? The Denver Nuggets basketball malpractice has been addressed. They’ve had a really good offseason and now seem to be taking their stewardship of his legacy seriously. If Jokic keeps this up, and there’s no reason he wouldn’t, they’ll be rightly one of the heavy favorites for the next few seasons.

27- Giannis Antetokounmpo (234 BEAST points) (+6)

• MVP runner up points (3)

• All NBA First Team (3)

From one front office that has been struggling to build around an all-time great to another. Milwaukee’s offseason is more of a question mark. Myles Turner is a nice fit with Giannis, but who is going to dribble and shoot? Or guard the other team’s best perimeter player? With some not insignificant achievement points, Giannis has jumped over John Stockton and Bob Cousy, exactly the sort of guards he needs though both might be a bit too old now to help (though maybe not looking at Milwaukee’s guard rotation??).

But it really does feel like the clock is ticking here. As it stands he’s right up next to Dirk - another one team, one championship wonder from Europe. He could be so much more if he escapes Milwaukee - but it needs to be soon before that otherworldly athleticism starts to wane.

71 Jayson Tatum (119 BEAST points) (+4)

• MVP runner-up points (1)

• All NBA First Team (3)

The bottom of the list gets bunched up quickly. Tatum’s All NBA campaign sees him vault over Doncic (who will surely vault right back over him soon now he’s nice and svelte and will get that Lakers whistle), Gary Payton and Clyde Drexler. But is this temporary? His achilles injury will keep him out of a full season. When he comes back will he still be the same player?

A not-insignificant portion of his points come from per game averages. The idea is that over time the cumulative stats rack up and the per game drop off, so that element balances out and you allow a look-in for current greats, making the list a bit more relevant and future-facing.

But when a catastrophic injury cuts a career short and the cumulative totals don’t get the juice they need to offset declining production players can drop down. Tatum was already a tricky case to evaluate - somehow seeming a slight notch below some of the greats of his era, but capable of being one of the leaders of a perennial contender. He will be an even more interesting case study over the coming years depending how he comes back. Fingers crossed for a full recovery and any lingering questions being put to bed.

Minor points changes for some legends - including reflections on one Steph Curry

Steph, Lebron, and James Harden all made All-NBA teams, notching another two points. Draymond Green made an all-defense team, also notching another two points.

The only meaningful change is that broke Harden’s tie with Elgin Baylor (boo), and pushed him over Karl Malone (anything that pushes that guy down the list works for me so swings and roundabouts I guess).

I also reflected on Steph’s entry. After another two games with 12 three-pointers he now has 27 games of 10+ threes compared to no-one else in double figures. This is enough of a Wilt-like case of “lapping the competitor field in statistical dominance” that I’ve relented and granted him minor bonus points. It doesn’t change the relative ranking at all but feels like it’s worthy of recognition given no-one else is anywhere near him on this.

I just feel like doing this sort of thing at age 37 is worthy of recognition.

Ah, who am I kidding, let’s just watch the full season tape!

Honestly it really doesn’t feel like he’s slowing down at all. Unlike LeBron, who is coming to the tail end of his career now (no shame in that, he’s going to turn 41 this season!) or Durant who’s hopping about rather ungracefully, Steph just keeps doing Steph things. I don’t know if he can catch Kareem who is a full 89 points ahead, but a ring and Finals MVP is worth 50 so if he can do that at some point in the next few years he’ll get within shouting distance. I’d also point out that Jimmy doesn’t feature in that 1 hour+ video until the 45th minute. They’ve barely scratched the surface of what they can do together.

After Steph’s comments on retirement being far off the other day, the other thought I had watching those highlights was about Dirk’s record for 21 seasons with one team. Steph’s done 16 so he needs another 5 to equal him. Can he keep going until he’s 42? It’s not impossible and while that doesn’t carry any beastly weight on it’s own it would a) be great fun, and b) mean he’d rack up more stats to close that Kareem gap. Here’s hoping.

Correcting an early error - Jimmy Butler clears the 100-point hurdle

The final change is that I spotted an error in Jimmy Butler’s entry. It was one of the first entries, early on before some later calibration. But he hadn’t got the full 10 points he was eligible for for taking an 8-seed to the Finals. That correction puts him 81st with 101 points.

Having seen more of him the latter half of the season, I can only apologise for this initial oversight. HE IS FREAKING AWESOME!!