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Ranking the top 50 NBA players of next season: 40-31

By Corey Rausch

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7 and Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics talk during a game against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on December 28, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7 and Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics talk during a game against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on December 28, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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NBA (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
NBA (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

As we build up to the NBA season returning quicker than anyone could have imagined, it is a perfect time to rank the players coming into the season.

While we move along our top-50 list we get more into the All-Star caliber players that are contributing at the highest level. This is the section of players who are either the best players on bad teams or key options on a championship contender. These are max contract players looking to dominate every night they are out on the court.

The most recent 10 can be found here and it is a good place for reference as we continue one. Without further ado, onto the next 10.

NBA (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
NBA (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

40. Nikola Vucevic

Nikola Vucevic is one of the more unheralded former All-Stars in the league. The Orlando Magic do not generate a lot of highlights and the main word for Vucevic’s game does nothing to change that. Nikola Vucevic is simply effective.

Coming off his first All-Star season Vucevic regressed only slightly, averaging 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He increased his number of attempts from long range from 2.9 to 4.7 per game and saw his efficiency dip to 33.9 percent. This put him in the top 10 among starting centers from long range who attempted at least 3.0 per game, ahead of the likes of Anthony Davis and Brook Lopez.

Those players get mentioned more often in major part due to their .team’s success and their proficiency on the other side of the ball. Vucevic ranks 40th among centers who started a game this season in defensive rating.

When the team defense is improved (i.e. when Jonathan Isaac is in the lineup) that issue is mitigated and Vucevic is able to cook. This season will be tricky given Isaac’s injury costing him the entire year. If Mo Bamba is able to make an impact or incoming rookie Chuma Okeke is ready to lockdown than Vucevic will be one of the better offensive centers in the league this season and the Magic will be making another playoff push. If not, the former All-Stars fine play will likely continue to go unnoticed and unrewarded.