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 31 through 35.
According to NBA.com player tracking data, Mike Conley possessed the ball for 7.4 minutes per game last season (fifth in the NBA). That's more than twice as long as the next Grizzlies player (Nick Calathes, 3.6).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @mconley11 one of the best defensive point guards in the league! Helped the Grizzlies remain a consistently elite team for years
— Justin (@JuMuJazz) October 17, 2014
32
7.36
Paul Millsap | @PaulMillsap4
Atlanta Hawks | PF | Age: 29 | 2013 rank: #50
Paul Millsap appeared in his first All-Star Game last season, becoming the first Hawks power forward to be named an All-Star since Shareef Abdur-Rahim in 2002.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA Love what Millsap has quietly done throughout his career. Hope to see more of him and Horford together this year #NBARank
— J. Riddell (@Joshua_Riddell) October 17, 2014
33
7.36
Zach Randolph | @MacBo50
Memphis Grizzlies | PF | Age: 33 | 2013 rank: #35
Zach Randolph had his eighth season in which he averaged at least 15 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. Only Tim Duncan (13), Kevin Garnett (9) and Dwight Howard (9) have more such seasons among active players.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA A few years ago, @MacBo50 had Grizzlies a few games away from Finals. Now, with VC and others spacing the floor, is it their year?
— Pavle Kisin-Rajlic (@Gambitguru77) October 17, 2014
34
7.32
DeAndre Jordan | @deandrejordan
Los Angeles Clippers | C | Age: 26 | 2013 rank: #77
DeAndre Jordan led the NBA in rebounds per game (13.6), field goal percentage (67.6) and dunks (245) last season.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA this is a fair ranking. DJ is a defensive anchor, top rebounder, blocker, and FG%. You bet he's more valuable than kobe right now
— Mustafa Arch (@kingmusy) October 17, 2014
35
7.27
DeMar DeRozan | @DeMar_DeRozan
Toronto Raptors | SG | Age: 25 | 2013 rank: #104
DeMar DeRozan was one of eight players last season to average at least 22 points per game with at least eight win shares. Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Blake Griffin and Carmelo Anthony were the others.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @DeMar_DeRozan coming off an all star and USA gold but still not the best on the team. Poised to lead the raps deep #WeTheNorth
- brandon wilcox (@wilcox1232) October 17, 2014