Has Derek Rucker Lost His Marbles: Reactions to Mid-Season Top15 Players Of NBL25

Mid-Season Top15 Players Of NBL25

Let's start it off with making some things clear, these so called "top" lists are becoming more of a publicity stunt than anything else. We are also in the clicks game but these types of posts and content are beginning to discredit Derek Rucker as an NBL analyst as we all know it is just to cause a RUCKous.

Rucker released his Mid-Season Top15 Players of NBL25 this week during the FIBA International break. Now, don't get me wrong, there is plenty of good stuff there and players like Trey Kell III, Goulding and Hurt deserve to be top-ranked players. However, there is a huge feel of baiting going on here or Rucker is simply not watching the same sport we are or has been living in Neverland.

The top-five still hasn't been posted but I think it is clear who will be there, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Bryce Cotton, Jack White, Xavier Cooks and the current fan favourite and publicity icon, Montrezl Harrell. It doesn't really matter what order they go in, there is a correct one, but make a case for who you like.

Doolittle the biggest snub

Then biggest miss in my opinion, is that Kristian Doolittle is not on this list.... at all! And, to make matters worse, his Perth Wildcats teammate Keanu Pinder is sitting at number 15 and has been more inconsistent than the weather forecast in Melbourne.

Doolittle has been the rock for the Wildcats this season, especially during the period that Bryce Cotton was out injured. He averages 13.4 points per game and 8.5 rebounds along with 3.1 assists this season. While the NBL24 MVP was on the sidelines, Doolittle was Perth's spark and became the center of their offfence and lead them to a 3-2 record.

The comment field has been set alight with claims for Kendric Davis to be much higher up the list than 12th and the the fans are right. KD not being in the top 10 is an absolute joke, and you could very well argue that he should be knocking on the door if not walking straight into the top-five.

If Montrezl Harrell wasn't the beast he is and is the main man in front of the camera in Adelaide, the lights would in the eyes of Kendric Davis. A lot of the work and attention on the court that Harrell does gives Davis the space he needs, but he takes it and he doesn't miss his opportunities.

Davis averages 20.91 points per game shooting at 45.7 FG%, but that's not all, he is second in assists with 6.64 per game and even has 3.35 rebounds. Giving that much offensive power and ranked top-two in points and assists, that takes you to the top-ten in my books. The only thing keeping him out of the top-five is his defence, as he does carry a negative plus/minus.

These lists are meant to create commotion and push back and Derek Rucker's Mid-Season Top Players for NBL25 has certainly done that.