Source: Alamy Stock Photo.
We’ve scanned the internet to reveal the most newsworthy players in the NBA & NHL.
The world of sports is constantly evolving, with new stars emerging and established players continuing to dominate. In the NBA and NHL, the competition is fierce, and the news cycle is always buzzing with the latest updates.
We’ve taken a look at the number of news articles mentioning each player in the past 12 months to reveal the most newsworthy players in each league, along with some up-and-coming stars to watch:
NBA
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LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers): The GOAT continues to defy Father Time. Despite his age, LeBron remains one of the most dominant forces in the NBA. Ranking first on the list it’s evident that his every move is closely followed by fans and analysts alike.
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Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks): A generational talent, Dončić has quickly established himself as one of the league’s elite players. His combination of scoring, passing, and playmaking ability makes him a must-watch. As things stand, the Mavs guard is currently favourite to win the regular season MVP, priced at +300 in the latest NBA betting markets.
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Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors): The face of the Warriors dynasty, Curry’s three-point shooting prowess and infectious personality have made him a global superstar.
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Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns): A perennial MVP candidate, Durant’s scoring ability and versatility make him a nightmare for opposing defences.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks): The reigning NBA MVP, Antetokounmpo’s size, athleticism, and skillset make him a unique and dominant force.
Up-and-Coming NBA Players
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Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves): A former No. 1 overall pick, Edwards has shown flashes of brilliance and has the potential to be a superstar and ranks 7th overall with almost 16k articles.
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Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies): Known for his explosive athleticism and highlight-reel dunks, Morant has become one of the most exciting young players in the league.
The full NBA ranking is as follows:
|
Rank |
Player |
Team |
No. of articles |
|
1 |
LeBron James |
Los Angeles Lakers |
77802 |
|
2 |
Luka Doncic |
Dallas Mavericks |
21607 |
|
3 |
Stephen Curry |
Golden State Warriors |
18800 |
|
4 |
Kevin Durant |
Phoenix Suns |
17676 |
|
5 |
Joel Embiid |
Philadelphia 76ers |
16336 |
|
6 |
Jayson Tatum |
Boston Celtics |
15874 |
|
7 |
Anthony Edwards |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
15802 |
|
8 |
Nikola Jokic |
Denver Nuggets |
13837 |
|
9 |
Anthony Davis |
Los Angeles Lakers |
10597 |
|
10 |
Jalen Brunson |
New York Knicks |
10237 |
|
11 |
Giannis Antetokounmpo |
Milwaukee Bucks |
10154 |
|
12 |
Kawhi Leonard |
Los Angeles Clippers |
8606 |
|
13 |
Ja Morant |
Memphis Grizzlies |
8066 |
|
14 |
Jimmy Butler |
Miami Heat |
7828 |
|
15 |
Devin Booker |
Phoenix Suns |
7646 |
|
16 |
Damian Lillard |
Milwaukee Bucks |
7498 |
|
17 |
Tyrese Haliburton |
Indiana Pacers |
6854 |
|
18 |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
4019 |
|
19 |
Jalen Green |
Houston Rockets |
3502 |
|
20 |
Bam Adebayo |
Miami Heat |
2903 |
|
21 |
Scottie Barnes |
Toronto Raptors |
2366 |
|
22 |
Franz Wagner |
Orlando Magic |
1830 |
|
23 |
Cade Cunningham |
Detroit Pistons |
1806 |
|
24 |
De’Aaron Fox |
Sacramento Kings |
1799 |
|
25 |
Evan Mobley |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
1501 |
NHL
-
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers): The reigning Hart Trophy winner, McDavid’s speed, skill, and vision make him the best player in the NHL with almost 6k articles mentioning him in the past 12 months. The Oilers star is currently +175 in the latest NHL betting markets to retain the Hart Trophy.
-
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche): A two-time Stanley Cup champion, MacKinnon’s combination of speed, power, and scoring ability makes him a force to be reckoned with.
-
Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs): A prolific goal scorer, Matthews has established himself as one of the league’s elite centres.
-
Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers): McDavid’s linemate and a Stanley Cup champion in his own right, Draisaitl is a versatile forward who can score, pass, and play defence.
-
Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche): A Norris Trophy winner, Makar’s offensive prowess and defensive ability make him one of the best defensemen in the league.
The full NHL ranking is as follows:
|
Rank |
Player |
Team |
No. of articles |
|
1 |
Connor McDavid |
Edmonton Oilers |
5338 |
|
2 |
Auston Matthews |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
3818 |
|
3 |
Sidney Crosby |
Pittsburgh Penguins |
3004 |
|
4 |
Leon Draisaitl |
Edmonton Oilers |
2520 |
|
5 |
Nathan MacKinnon |
Colorado Avalanche |
1574 |
|
6 |
Cole Caufield |
Montreal Canadiens |
1421 |
|
7 |
Matthew Tkachuk |
Florida Panthers |
1418 |
|
8 |
David Pastrnak |
Boston Bruins |
1290 |
|
9 |
Jack Hughes |
New Jersey Devils |
1175 |
|
10 |
Igor Shesterkin |
New York Rangers |
1075 |
|
11 |
Artemi Panarin |
New York Rangers |
929 |
|
12 |
Trevor Zegras |
Anaheim Ducks |
907 |
|
13 |
Cale Makar |
Colorado Avalanche |
821 |
|
14 |
Mikko Rantanen |
Colorado Avalanche |
810 |
|
15 |
Brady Tkachuk |
Ottawa Senators |
790 |
|
16 |
Lucas Raymond |
Detroit Red Wings |
606 |
|
17 |
Kirill Kaprizov |
Minnesota Wild |
561 |
|
18 |
Victor Hedman |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
492 |
|
19 |
Moritz Seider |
Detroit Red Wings |
443 |
|
20 |
Owen Power |
Buffalo Sabres |
400 |
|
22 |
Shane Wright |
Seattle Kraken |
323 |
|
21 |
J.T. Miller |
Vancouver Canucks |
323 |
|
23 |
Tim Stützle |
Ottawa Senators |
207 |
|
24 |
Matty Beniers |
Seattle Kraken |
192 |
|
25 |
Mason McTavish |
Anaheim Ducks |
105 |
These are just a few of the many newsworthy players in the NBA and NHL. With so much talent in both leagues, the future of sports is bright.
Methodology:
Buzzsumo was used to source the number of news articles mentioning each player in the past 12 months.
Data is correct as of 23.10.2024