Ranking every NBA player: 46-50

Updated: November 24, 2011, 1:03 AM ET
ESPN.com

ESPN.com and the TrueHoop Network are ranking every NBA player -- and counting them down on Twitter (@NBAonESPN), from No. 500 to No. 1. As the rankings are announced, you can also find them here on the pages of ESPN.com.

We have already announced 401-500, 351-400, 301-350, 251-300, 201-250, 181-200, 161-180, 141-160, 121-140, 101-120, 91-100, 81-90, 71-80, 61-70 and 51-60 and will count down the rest one at a time on Twitter, for several weeks.

What is #NBArank?

#NBArank is the Twitter hashtag to use if you want to get involved in the discussion or just follow along.

You can also follow along here: @NBAonESPN

How did we rank the players?

We asked 91 experts to rate each player on a 0-to-10 scale, in terms of "the current quality of each player."

Here is the full list of voters from ESPN.com, the TrueHoop Network, TrueHoop TV, Daily Dime Live, ESPN TV, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, espnW, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Insider, ESPN Fantasy, ESPN Games, ESPN Dallas, ESPN Los Angeles, ESPN Chicago, ESPN New York, ESPN Stats & Information, ESPN Topics and ESPN Analytics.

To decide which players to rank, we started with every player who played in the league last season, and then eliminated players who had signed overseas contracts that made them ineligible for the 2011-12 NBA season. Then we added the 60 members of the 2011 draft class, eliminating those not likely to play in the NBA by 2012. That left 500 players, according to our best information as of Aug. 15.

Rank Player Score

46



6.89
 
Luol Deng
Chicago Bulls | SF | Age: 26
Drafted: 7th in 2004 (by PHX)
@LuolDeng9

2010-11 Stats
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 17.4 5.8 2.8 .460 .753
 

 

@NBAonESPN In a season where all the defensive props of the Bulls went to the coach,Deng was the heart and soul of that defense #NBArankWed Oct 05 22:25:06 via webhadi chaouk
HadiC25



Short of Lamar Odom, there's probably not a better fourth option in the league than Luol Deng #nbarankWed Oct 05 22:48:39 via webAaron Burgin
SDUTAaronBurgin



Classic case of someone being underrated for so long that he is now overrated RT @NBAonESPN: #NBArank 46: Luol DengWed Oct 05 23:16:32 via TweetDeckJustin Rodriguez
JustRod
 
Rank Player Score

47



6.82
 
Tyreke Evans
Sac. Kings | PG | Age: 22
Drafted: 4th in 2009 (by SAC)

2010-11 Stats
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
57 17.8 4.8 5.6 .409 .771
 

 

Breaking my Twitter silence to say that Tyreke Evans over Gerald Wallace in #NBArank is sheer lunacy. And back to silence.Wed Oct 05 20:35:21 via webSam Orme
TheRealSamOrme



Expecting 20-5-5 line again next year now that he's back to 100%. #NBAKings Wed Oct 05 20:14:07 via webAlex Kramers
doktakra



@#NBArank Tyreke Evans is the one guy that COULD stop Durant and Rose from being the best in the league three to five years from now. Wed Oct 05 21:11:41 via webcourtney kennedy
KennedyCourtney
 
Rank Player Score

48



6.82
 
Gerald Wallace
Por. Trail Blazers | SF | Age: 29
Drafted: 25th in 2001 (by SAC)

2010-11 Stats
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
71 15.7 8.0 2.4 .454 .746
 

 

#NBArank Gerald Wallace going before we see #bulls Luol Deng, feels like a mistake.Wed Oct 05 18:25:23 via Twitter for iPhoneJosh Eberley
JoshEberley



Gerald Wallace at 48 in #NBArank is the first ranking I've had a real issue with. Just shows you that defense is impossible to rate properly.Wed Oct 05 18:18:48 via webColin Zvosec
ColinZvosec
 
Rank Player Score

49



6.71
 
Jason Kidd
Dallas Mavericks | PG | Age: 38
Drafted: 2nd in 1994 (by DAL)
@RealJasonKidd

2010-11 Stats
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
80 7.9 4.4 8.2 .361 .870
 

 

#NBArank #49 on this list is Jason Kidd, who finally got the NBA title last season with the Mavs. I wonder if the Nets are feeling jealous?Wed Oct 05 16:11:50 via webRick Stone
Pokermarlin



Still made the Top 50 at his age ... amazing! Wed Oct 05 16:12:34 via Twitter for iPhoneJo Hidajat
two_legs



#NBArank #49 Jason Kidd. I wouldn't doubt it if he's still playing at this age.Wed Oct 05 16:32:29 via webPatrick Billet
patrickbillet
 
Rank Player Score

50



6.70
 
Carlos Boozer
Chicago Bulls | PF | Age: 29
Drafted: 36th in 2002 (by CLE)
@MisterCbooz

2010-11 Stats
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
59 17.5 9.6 2.5 .510 .701
 

 

If #NBArank only counted the playoffs, Carlos Boozer would be in the low 200s.Wed Oct 05 14:19:36 via TweetDeckMarco Romo
Marco_Romo



Another "Cavs Traitor" that will win a championship eventually before Dan Gilbert. Wed Oct 05 15:08:01 via webEran Soroka
sorokman



If you combine Boozer's offensive game with Taj Gibson's defensive game, you have one of the top forwards in the league #NBArankWed Oct 05 14:26:43 via Twitter for iPhoneHusam Saleh
Husam15
 

5-on-5 debate: Rankings too high, too low or just right? »


Rankings

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40 | 41-45
46-50 | 51-60 | 61-70 | 71-80 | 81-90 | 91-100 | 101-120 | 121-140 | 141-160 | 161-180
181-200 | 201-250 | 251-300 | 301-350 | 351-400 | 401-500 | Team-by-team

* Score: Tiebreakers are first based on percentage points; scores have been rounded off. The second tiebreaker is based on John Hollinger's Estimated Wins Added for the 2010-11 NBA season (rookies were given an EWA of zero).

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