Top 50 NBA players: #30 — Kyle Lowry
In spite of a disastrous Raptors season, Kyle Lowry remains one of the NBA’s most impactful lead guards. He has played his typical unselfish brand of basketball en route to 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists on 43.7 percent shooting. He’s a great point-of-attack defender, a knockdown shooter, and a witty facilitator.
Top 50 NBA players: #29 — Trae Young
Trae Young has become a figure of controversy, but speaking generally, he’s a damn good NBA player. The Hawks have soared to the fourth seed under Nate McMillan, and Young continues to produce absurd numbers as one of the NBA’s highest-usage creators. His endless range, whip-smart passing, and knack for foul-drawing make him a premier offensive engine. He’s averaging 25.4 points and 9.5 assists on 43.5 percent shooting.
Top 50 NBA players: #28 — Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown’s skill improvement year over year continues to impress. While the Celtics have taken a step back, the same cannot be said for Brown, who is averaging 24.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 48.7 percent shooting. He has become one of the East’s most consistent perimeter weapons — a dynamic slasher with slick handles and big-shot ability.
Top 50 NBA players: #27 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The cornerstone of OKC’s rebuild, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has spent this season toiling away in irrelevance. That said, he was a borderline All-Star candidate with averages of 23.7 points and 5.9 assists on 50.8 percent shooting. He has become a comfortable pull-up shooter out to the NBA 3-point line, while his length and craft as a finisher make him one of the most uniquely challenging defensive assignments in the game. His spindly frame also makes him quite the defender.
Top 50 NBA players: #26 — Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine has made “the leap,” going from empty-numbers extraordinaire to one of the NBA’s truly elite perimeter creators. He’s averaging 27.5 points and 5.0 assists on 50.6 percent shooting. His explosive athleticism is well-documented. When mixed with a deep 3-ball and vastly improved passing chops, LaVine becomes very hard to contain. The Bulls’ future looks infinitely more promising this season, in large part due to LaVine’s individual growth.