Andrew Bogut is the 66th best player in the NBA while Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has fallen to 93rd in the annual poll of the most valuable players in the league.
ESPN's #NBArank had the Golden State Warriors and Boomers centre reaching a career-high 66 in the rankings. The move comes after the Warriors won the finals series last season when he was ranked No.74.
In contrast, Bryant fell 53 spots from No.40. In the twilight of his career, Bryant is no longer the force he once was, and this was reflected in the rankings.
Bryant has been dogged by injuries in recent seasons and with an eclectic support cast of rookie guard D'Angelo Russell and young power forward Julius Randle, plus ex-Indiana centre Roy Hibbert, the Lakers are not expected to do much damage in the western conference this season.
Of course, not everyone was pleased with that outcome, with many on social media calling the ranking disrespectful to the Lakers legend. Bryant didn't appear fazed, describing the rankings as "silly".
ESPN's own Stephen A. Smith called it "idiocy" and "blasphemy" in one of the better reactions to Bryant's snub.
"I had nothing to do with such idiocy, such blasphemy." Kobe is No. 93 in #NBArank and @stephenasmith is NOT amused http://t.co/wR0oOOgg9Z— ESPN (@espn)
October 8, 2015
Yall got @kobebryant 93 huh... Just lost all credibility... Who is doing the rankings? #whenanalyticsgowrong #weneednewrankers— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis)
October 8, 2015
The people doing the rankings aren't basketball people. I think they used a robot. https://t.co/5eEODu8Yu6— I AM PEACE STAR (@StarburyMarbury)
October 12, 2015
Bogut wasn't the only Australian to make moves up the rankings. Cleveland Cavaliars guard Matthew Dellavadova made a huge leap after his performances in last season's finals series. "Delly" was ranked No.198, well up on his 312nd ranking last season.
San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills dropped 11 places to No.162 after an injury plagued season.
Detroit centre Aron Baynes made a move toward the top 300, coming in at No.303. He was ranked last season at No.368.
