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With the 2018-2019 NBA season well underway, there are many former Kentucky Wildcats seeing the hardwood every single night. With so many having spectacular seasons, here is our latest version of the NBA Wildcat Power Rankings.
Last Week’s Top-10
1. Anthony Davis
2. Devin Booker
3. Karl-Anthony Towns
4. John Wall
5. De’Aaron Fox
6. Jamal Murray
7. Julius Randle
8. Enes Kanter
9. Willie Cauley-Stein
10. Eric Bledsoe
This Week’s Top-10
1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Last-10: 27.3 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2.7 BPG
Davis’s production has been of MVP consideration, as well as atop our rankings in the first two weeks. After a hot start out of the gate, the Pelicans cooled before returning to winning form. Winning three of their last five, they sit just two and a half games out of first place in the Western Conference.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Last-10: 20.9 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Since the Jimmy Butler trade, Towns has been electric for his team and that’s mostly reflected in the win/loss columns. With the smoke now cleared in Minnesota’s locker room, Towns should be able to firmly lead a balanced, talented team into playoff contention out West.
3. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Last-10: 18.7 PPG, 8.7 APG, 4.6 RPG
Fox isn’t third in scoring out of all the NBA Cats but is single-handedly powering what was considered in the preseason to be the worst team in the NBA into the playoff race in the Western Conference. His Kings currently sit tied with the Pelicans, just two and a half games out of the first seed.
4. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Last-10: 22.1 PPG, 7.5 APG, 3.3 RPG
Booker’s Suns aren’t exactly tearing up their competition; in fact, they sit at 3-11 to statistically be the second-worst team in the NBA. However, Booker’s capability of producing like a star is unquestioned and is far from Phoenix’s problems.
5. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Last-10: 18.7 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.9 PRG
Like Fox, Murray’s scoring isn’t the highest of the remaining players. However, his role not only scoring the basketball but also being one of the team’s leading distributors has fueled the Nuggets’ offense. Sitting just one and a half games out of the first seed out West, the Nuggets should only improve as they bring back more players from injury.
6. John Wall, Washington Wizards
Last-10: 21.9 PPG, 8.4 APG, 3.4 RPG
Statistically, Wall should be inside the top-5 of this list. However, a player’s ranking is based on more that statistical value. Looking into Washington’s turmoil and vast underachievement to start the season, Wall’s leadership hasn’t necessarily been present. Turning things around in the locker room would be a start to moving up this list.
7. Julius Randle, New Orleans Pelicans
Last-10: 17.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.3 APG
Randle has been the best signing of 2018, far outperforming his two-year, $18 million contract. His addition to the subtraction of Demarcus Cousins to the Pelicans’ front court has kept the team afloat out West. As he grows even more comfortable in the system, expect Randle’s production to only become more efficient.
8. Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks
Last-10: 16.7 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.7 RPG
Bledsoe’s Bucks rank as the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. Scoring in double figures in each of their last five games, his production from the point guard position has been more than consistent following an up and down year in his first season with the team.
9. Enes Kanter, New York Knicks
Last-10: 15.4 PPG, 12.1 RPG
Kanter’s production has dipped to inconsistency over his last five games, scoring in double figures just three times and grabbing double-digit rebounds only twice. His team’s status in the win/loss columns has slumped to 1-4, giving Kanter room to move back up the rankings.
10. Willie-Cauley Stein, Sacramento Kings
Last-10: 13.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG
Manning down the paint in a talented Kings’ front court earns Cauley-Stein the final spot. He and Fox have worked hard to build a sound chemistry on the court that succeeds on both ends of the court. As the season moves on, look for Cauley-Stein to be one of the consistent Cats on this list.
Check back next week for the third release of our NBA Cat Power Rankings.