Australian star Josh Giddey’s remarkable trajectory shows no signs of slowing down while a glaring omission could prove to be the fuel Ben Simmons needs to set the NBA alight this season.
ESPN has released the latest edition of NBArank, which ranks the best players in basketball’s premier competition.
Watch every game of the NBL season with ESPN on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
But it’s not just the opinion of one individual.
Instead, it is an aggregate of a panel made up of nearly 150 basketball reporters, editors, analysts and producers who compile the rankings based on 15,000 different match-ups and deciding which player will have the better 2023/24 season.
The powers that be evidently believe Giddey is in for another special season, with the Oklahoma City Thunder sensation ranked at No. 53, a significant improvement on his 2022 ranking of 81st.
That ranking places him ahead of the likes of Chris Paul, Draymond Green and Zion Williamson to name three.
But if Giddey is to crack the top 50 next season, ESPN NBA reporter Ohm Youngmisuk believes there’s one element of the Aussie’s game that must improve.
“The Thunder are expected to take a leap forward this season,” Youngmisuk wrote.
“If so, Giddey will have to take another one himself.
“But can Giddey show big improvement in his shooting after averaging 48.2 per cent from the field and 32.5 per cent from 3?”
MORE COVERAGE
‘Best in years’ — Ben thrilled with ‘amazing’ return; freakish No. 1 pick scaring NBA
‘Most underrated pick-up’: Aussie stuns in NBA lifeline as epic play sends fans wild
Aussies in NBA: Forgotten No. 5 pick reveals brutal coach sledge; Boomer opens up on $32m move
As for Simmons, he has dropped off the rankings entirely having been ranked 76th last season, but that could be explained by his lack of game time as a result of injuries.
But the omission could turn out to be yet another receipt Simmons could keep as he looks to remind the NBA world of his qualities that made him a three-time NBA All-Star.
Although the top 50 rankings are yet to be revealed, no other Aussies are expected to be ahead of Giddey.
Outside of Giddey and Simmons, there were some other big moves in the rankings.
Los Angeles Clippers star and future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook slipped from 65th all the way down to 94th in the rankings after a turbulent 2022 season.
However, he too could bounce back in a big way having enjoyed a full pre-season with the Clippers.
Chris Paul took a major tumble down the rankings from 21st to 76th, although that could be explained by his injury troubles and a diminished role at the Golden State Warriors compared to his big impact during his tenure at the Phoenix Suns.
So too did Minnesota Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert who plummeted from 18th to 64th.
Gobert was traded from Utah to Minnesota last season but endured a torrid time, as several questions surrounding his fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns remain.
One player who’s trajectory continues to raise alarm bells is that of Zion Williamson.
The New Orleans Pelicans star was ranked 40th last year but has dropped to 57th.
For someone tipped to be a superstar in the sport, he continues to battle injury issues and has played more than 30 games just once in his four-year NBA career.
Although there were several players who dropped in their rankings, one player who has exploded onto the list this year is Los Angeles Lakers cult hero Austin Reaves.
The Arkansas native became a fan favourite for his playoff exploits where he averaged 16.9 points per game for the Lakers along with 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds, earning him a four-year, $56 million contract extension.
As a result, Reeves finds himself 66th on the list having not been ranked previously.