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, until Oct. 28, opening night in the NBA. Today we roll out players 50 through 46.
Hibbert has 516 blocks over the last three seasons, second most in the NBA behind Serge Ibaka (702).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@Hoya2aPacer @espnnba #nbarank
46 is an insult for one of the 5 best centers in the NBA. He's going to be the man in Indy this year.
— danielhage (@danielhage) October 14, 2014
Rank
Player
Score
47
6.88
Gordon Hayward | @gordonhayward
Utah Jazz | SG | Age: 24 | 2013 rank: #90
Hayward was one of five players to average at least 16 points, five rebounds and five assists per game last season, along with Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Michael Carter-Williams.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA good #NBArank for @gordonhayward right now. Should continue to rise since he'll have more guards to create efficient shots for him.
— Andre Hunter-Woodard (@JBayJr4) October 14, 2014
Rank
Player
Score
48
6.88
Bradley Beal | @RealDealBeal23
Washington Wizards | SG | Age: 21 | 2013 rank: #73
Beal is the only player in NBA history with at least 2,000 points, including 200 3-pointers, before his age-21 season.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @RealDealBeal23 Once he gets back from injury, hopefully, he can replicate what he did in the playoffs.
— Samuel Edmondson (@Big_Savvy) October 14, 2014
Rank
Player
Score
49
6.88
Brook Lopez | @RealBrookLopez
Brooklyn Nets | C | Age: 26 | 2013 rank: #28
Lopez has missed 134 games over the last three seasons, more than any other forward or center during that span (according to the Elias Sports Bureau).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA We're at the stage where everyone acknowledges Brook Lopez can play, the issue is: Can he stay healthy? #NBArank
— Kwaku Danso (@Quiznakes) October 14, 2014
Rank
Player
Score
50
6.86
Lance Stephenson | @StephensonLance
Charlotte Hornets | SG | Age: 24 | 2013 rank: #121
Stephenson led the NBA with five triple-doubles last season. All other Pacers combined had just one (Paul George).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @StephensonLance #NBArank he's got the passion side down good and was one of the most consistent producers on the Pacers last year
— Justin (@JuMuJazz) October 14, 2014