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 26 through 30.
The Hawks had the third-best win percentage (.552) in the Eastern Conference before Al Horford's season-ending injury on Dec. 26. They had the 10th-best win percentage (.415) after that.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @Al_Horford too low if he stays healthy. One of the best bigs in the league by a lot
- Justin Rowan (@Cavsanada) October 20, 2014
@ESPNNBA When healthy @Al_Horford is a top 30 player no question. But coming off a second major injury this feels a bit high #NBArank
— Brady Wilkerson (@BradyWilkerson2) October 20, 2014
27
7.65
Goran Dragic | @Goran_Dragic
Phoenix Suns | SG | Age: 28 | 2013 rank: #107
Goran Dragic led the NBA in points per play on pick-and-roll ball-handler plays (0.984) among players with at least 500 plays.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @Goran_Dragic showed everyone last yr what a true PG is & how getting everyone involved generates wins!! #Top3 PG #NBArank #Respect
- Curtlow!!! (@SwHTown20) October 20, 2014
@ESPNNBA #NBArank Goran the main difference maker for the Phoenix Suns. He recieved the Most Improved Player of the year award for a reason.
— Jackie Chen (陈广) (@ChenNotChan) October 20, 2014
28
7.62
Derrick Rose | @drose
Chicago Bulls | PG | Age: 26 | 2013 rank: #9
Derrick Rose has played only 49 regular-season games since winning the 2010-11 MVP award. Only Michael Jordan (retired after 1998 season) and Bill Walton (14) played fewer games in the next three seasons after winning the MVP award, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
I know one person who doesn't agree with Derrick Rose's #NBArank. His name is Derrick Rose.
- Mike Scott (@WhoIs_MikeScott) October 20, 2014
29
7.60
Kyle Lowry | @Klow7
Toronto Raptors | PG | Age: 28 | 2013 rank: #78
Kyle Lowry averaged career highs in points per game (17.9), assists per game (7.4) and rebounds per game (4.7) last season. He is one of two players in Raptors history to average 17-7-4 in a season (Damon Stoudamire, three times).
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA @Klow7 was robbed of an Allstar berth last year. If he keeps improving they won't be able to keep him off the roster again #NBArank
- Brady Wilkerson (@BradyWilkerson2) October 20, 2014
30
7.50
Andre Drummond | @AndreDrummondd
Detroit Pistons | C | Age: 21 | 2013 rank: #54
Andre Drummond averaged 13.2 rebounds per game, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 13. The only other player to do so in his age-20 season was Shaquille O'Neal in 1992-93.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)
@ESPNNBA It's early to call @AndreDrummondd the next Dwight Howard but he has same gifts & now coach that turned D12 into Superman #NBArank
- Pavle Kisin-Rajlic (@Gambitguru77) October 20, 2014