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Ranking the top 50 NBA players of the 2021-2022 season: 40-31

By Corey Rausch

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 10, 2021 in New York City. The Thunder defeated the Nets 120-116. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 10, 2021 in New York City. The Thunder defeated the Nets 120-116. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NBA (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
NBA (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

Top 50 NBA players: 36. Pascal Siakam

Previous Rank: 27

Essentially nothing went right for Pascal Siakam a season ago. The Toronto Raptors spent the entire season far from home, stranded in Tampa and missing the postseason for the first time since 2013. Siakam missed out on a consecutive All-Star appearance and had multiple notable spats with head coach Nick Nurse, eventually leading to a suspension. Then, following the season, Siakam required surgery on a torn labrum.

Negativity aside, Siakam is primed to bounce back once he is back on the court. It is hard to overstate how important actually being at home is, and it was well-chronicled that Siakam suffered mentally from the isolation and separation that he experienced dating back to the bubble. While his numbers were down last season they were still quite respectable: 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists (career high) and 1.1 steals (career high) per game. If his 3-point shooting can recover (dipped from 35.9 percent in 2020 to 29.7 in 2021) that would certainly be a plus.

Most importantly, this is Pascal Siakam’s team now. Kyle Lowry was traded in the offseason, replaced with Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa. The team drafted Scottie Barnes with the fourth overall pick. Siakam is the leader (along with Fred VanVleet) and should be the best player on the team this year as they attempt to return the playoffs.