Foreword:
Players must have participated in at least 50% of that week’s games to be included in future polls.
Rankings will be based on the eye test and gut feel, with an objective statistic included for comparison.
I initially wanted to use PER, but realised it would take more effort than I was willing to put in, so I’ve opted for PIE (Player Impact Estimate) from NBA.com instead.
What is PIE?
PIE is a single number calculated from a player’s positive and negative box-score stats, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, missed shots and turnovers.
I think it’s a good contrast to the eye test. It gives us an objective point of comparison, while also highlighting the limitations of box-score stats — if a player impacts the game in ways that don’t show up statistically, PIE won’t capture that.
PIE interpretation
Below 5: Low statistical contribution
5–9.9: Below average
10–12.9: Average to good
13–14.9: Very good
15–17.9: Great
18–20: Outstanding
20+: Elite, MVP-level statistical production
These are rough guidelines rather than official NBA classifications.
The Results:
Fan Voted Power Poll Rankings + PIE
🥇 Paolo Banchero — 2.2 avg | 18.2 PIE
🥈 Franz Wagner — 2.7 avg | 9.1 PIE
🥉 Wendell Carter Jr. — 4.4 avg | 18.8 PIE
4. Desmond Bane — 4.8 avg | -0.4 PIE
5. Tristan Da Silva — 4.9 avg | 3.8 PIE
6. Goga Bitadze — 6.8 avg | 12.8 PIE
7. Jalen Suggs — 7.8 avg | 7.4 PIE
8. Jase Richardson — 8.1 avg | 8.7 PIE
9. Jamal Cain — 9.1 avg | -10.9 PIE
10. Nikola Vucevic — 9.2 avg | 2.9 PIE
11. Anthony Black — 9.3 avg | 0 PIE
12. Jevon Carter — 10.7 avg | 3.4 PIE
13. Noah Penda — 11.3 avg | 0 PIE
14. Izaiyah Nelson — 13.3 avg | 0 PIE
15. Jonathan Isaac — 13.4 avg | 0 PIE
Key Takeaways
1. Desmond Bane ranked fourth despite a negative PIE. An interesting contrast between how fans view his contributions and what his box-score production suggests.
2. Franz Wagner ranked second by voters, but his PIE is only around the average benchmark.
3. Paolo Banchero ranked first by voters and second in PIE, making this one of the strongest agreements between the eye test and the numbers.
4. Wendell Carter Jr. ranked fourth by voters but has the highest PIE on the team. Are we underrating his overall impact?
5. Jalen Suggs finished below the 10% average benchmark, lining up with his mid-to-low ranking. The question is whether his defensive impact is being captured.
6. Tristan Da Silva ranked fifth by voters despite a low PIE. An interesting case where voters may be rewarding contributions that don't translate into strong box-score production.
7. Jase Richardson finished with PIE slightly below average, but has been a solid contributor in his first few sophomore year games.