For the fourth straight year, ESPN.com and the TrueHoop Network are ranking every NBA player and counting them down on Twitter (@ESPNNBA) from No. 500 to No. 1.
We asked our ESPN Forecast panel to predict the overall level of play for each player for the upcoming NBA season. This includes both the quality and the quantity of his expected contributions, combined in one overall rating.
As the rankings are announced, you also can find them here on the pages of ESPN.com.
The players on our list keep getting better and better. We're counting down five more players today, revealing them one at a time on Twitter. We'll continue the countdown until Oct. 28, opening night in the NBA. Today we roll out players 16 through 20.
Damian Lillard made 403 3-pointers in the last two seasons, the most by a player in the first two seasons of his career in NBA history.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @Dame_Lillard the kid is killing it. And it's only his 3rd year. #NBArank
- Jordan (@SoPassive_) October 22, 2014
You don't think @Dame_Lillard deserves the 16th spot? Just ask the @HoustonRockets how good he is.... .9 ring a bell? #NBArank
- Taylor Root (@TaylorRoot) October 22, 2014
@ESPNNBA @Dame_Lillard People underrate him. "Lol he hit one shot, now everyone thinks he's MJ." Uhh, actually he was dominant all year.
— Rip City Revival (@RipCity_Revival) October 22, 2014
17
8.16
Dirk Nowitzki | @swish41
Dallas Mavericks | PF | Age: 36 | 2013 rank: #26
Dirk Nowitzki is 10th on the all-time scoring list. He needs 624 points to move into seventh, passing Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone.
Dirk Nowitzki averaged 1.11 points per play last season, tied with LeBron James for the league lead among the 89 players with at least 1,000 plays.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA Dirk, even at age of 36, is proving to be one of the most efficient players today. #NBArank
- coral grimes (@TheNextBlGThing) October 22, 2014
18
8.12
John Wall | @John_Wall
Washington Wizards | SG | Age: 24 | 2013 rank: #21
According to NBA.com player tracking data, John Wall led the league with 7,840 total touches (the number of times a player touches and possesses the ball), which is 507 more touches than the next player (Kemba Walker). John Wall led the league with 721 total assists last season. He's the first Wizards player to do so since Rod Strickland in 1997-98.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @JohnWall improves every season, taken over the lead role in DC. Explosive, finds players all over the court. #dcRising #NBArank
- Jake Spalding (@SirSpalding33) October 22, 2014
19
8.02
DeMarcus Cousins | @boogiecousins
Sacramento Kings | C | Age: 24 | 2013 rank: #40
DeMarcus Cousins was one of five players to average 20 points per game and 10 rebounds per game last season. He's only the third Kings player to do so since the team moved to Sacramento in 1985 (Chris Webber four times, Otis Thorpe 1987-88).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA If he could will his team to a winning record, @boogiecousins would be ranked in the top 10 (and number 1 in our hearts). #NBArank
- J Covell (@covellja) October 22, 2014
DeMarcus Cousins is not a franchise superstar but he is a talented big man. Let's see if he lives up to his contract extension. #NBArank
- bill palisoc (@billpalisoc1) October 22, 2014
20
8.00
Chris Bosh | @chrisbosh
Miami Heat | PF | Age: 30 | 2013 rank: #24
Chris Bosh attempted 218 3-pointers and made 74 last season, both career highs. He made 67 3-pointers in his previous six seasons combined.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA Bosh hasn't averaged 20 ppg or 9 rpg for a season since arriving in Miami. I guarantee that changes this year #NBArank
- Andre Hunter-Woodard (@JBayJr4) October 22, 2014
@chrisbosh is EASILY a Top 15 player #nbarank I can't wait to see him prove this ranking wrong #LetsGoHeat #NBA
- Zachary Yuen (@ZachKaulanaYuen) October 22, 2014