Overview of Hoops Tonight’s NBA Player Rankings Kickoff
Jason Timpf launches the fifth annual Hoops Tonight player-rankings series by explaining his ranking philosophy and revealing the first seven names just outside his top 25. The list is designed to answer a forward-looking question: who is the best player to lead a team from training camp through the end of the playoffs, regardless of roster context.
Ranking Criteria
What Jason is prioritizing
- Team-building value, not just talent alone: He’s not ranking players purely by box score production or regular-season awards.
- Context-neutral evaluation: Surrounding roster quality matters less than how good the player is in a vacuum.
- Durability matters: Availability across an 82-game season and a playoff run is part of the ranking.
- Playoff performance gets a boost: Players who rise in the postseason are valued more highly than those who fade.
- Projection over recency: The list is built for the upcoming season, so younger players can rise and older players can slide.
His player tiers
- Top-tier superstars: Reliable MVP-level players who are elite night after night.
- Second-tier superstars: Players who can reach that level on any given night, but aren’t as consistent due to age, injury history, or a missing skill.
- Third-tier stars: Very good players who fall short of true superstar ceiling.
How the Series Will Work
- Today: Honorable mentions / players just outside the top 25.
- Friday: Rankings 25, 24, and 23.
- Next five episodes: Three players at a time, working down to No. 11.
- Top 10: Revealed one player per episode.
- Mailbags: Starting next Friday, listeners can submit debate-style disagreements for Friday episodes.
Players Just Outside the Top 25
32. Paolo Banchero
- One of the biggest floor-vs.-ceiling gaps in the NBA.
- He’s a monster in the playoffs when the game gets physical, but his shot-making consistency and half-court processing still lag behind his talent.
- Jason loves the postseason rise, but says Banchero needs a real offensive leap to reach the next tier.
31. Stephon Castle
- Already one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders.
- Showed real promise as a ball-handler in the playoffs, even though the role exposed how raw he still is.
- Has strong upside as a rebounder, connector, and eventual full-time lead guard.
- Jason expects a big leap this season.
30. Dylan Harper
- Viewed as a star shot-creator in the making.
- He consistently created separation in the playoffs with pull-backs, spin moves, and counters.
- The main questions are finishing and jumper consistency, not ability to generate advantages.
- Jason thinks Harper could crack the top 20 very soon.
29. Pascal Siakam
- Still one of the most useful hybrid forwards in basketball.
- Brings size, length, mobility, scoring from multiple levels, good defense, and rebounding.
- He remains a high-value player even if he’s no longer viewed as a top-tier offensive centerpiece.
28. Evan Mobley
- Elite defensive presence, but Jason is frustrated by the lack of offensive development.
- Still inconsistent as a shooter and self-creator.
- The big question: is he becoming a Bam Adebayo-type ceiling, or can he become something more?
- Jason believes the long-term defensive value is real, but the offensive plateau remains a concern.
27. Jalen Williams
- His value comes from:
- rim pressure
- improved jump shooting
- solid playmaking
- elite versatile defense
- The issue is health: recurring hamstring problems are enough to knock him out of the top 25 for now.
- Jason still expects a strong bounce-back season if he stays healthy.
26. Deni Avdija
- One of the most intriguing young offensive players in the league.
- Last season he showed strong production as a scorer and creator, especially considering Portland’s weak spacing.
- His strengths:
- beating defenders off the dribble
- changing pace
- getting to the foul line
- making plays from the middle of the floor
- The biggest swing skill is pull-up shooting; if that improves, Jason sees top-15 potential.
Main Takeaways
- This rankings series is projecting forward, not simply rewarding last year’s results.
- Playoff risers like Banchero and Avdija get real credit.
- Injury concerns hurt players like Jalen Williams.
- Jason is especially high on the Spurs’ young core of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
- The top 25 officially begins Friday, with No. 25 through No. 23.