This was a tough year for ranking players. The landscape of the league was already pretty tumultuous with new stars rising and old stars fading, and this season’s unusual amount of injuries threw an extra wrench in things. The biggest challenge was trying to do every guy justice when the sport is as rich with talent as it’s ever been.
That said, after diligently trimming down a pool of over 170 players, I’m here with my official top 100 players of the 2025-26 NBA season list. The list is based solely on performance in the 2025-26 season. Past years and future potential were not factored in.
A quick note: this offseason has been insanity, but none of the recent player movement will be mentioned in this piece since it’s a retrospective work. If you want thoughts on Giannis in Miami or Branden Carlson in Portland, you’ll have to go elsewhere.
Let’s dig in!
Prediction Leaveoffs: Cam Thomas, Myles Turner, Jordan Poole, Nikola Vucevic, Nic Claxton, Jaden Ivey, Cam Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Jakob Poeltl, Christian Braun, John Collins, Herb Jones, Malik Monk, Mark Williams, Santi Aldama, Mitchell Robinson
Spoiler alert: these guys are nowhere to be found on this list. They didn’t meet my preseason expectations. Here’s to next year being better for all of them, except Cam Thomas and Jaden Ivey, who almost certainly won’t be in the league.
Injury Leaveoffs: Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving, Ja Morant, Domantas Sabonis, Dejounte Murray, Fred VanVleet, Walker Kessler, Ty Jerome, Bradley Beal, Zach Edey, Keegan Murray
These players did not appear in at least 30 regular season contests and therefore did not qualify for the list. Had they not been injured, they likely would have made it.
Honorable Mentions (110-101):
110: Neemias Queta
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
109: Jabari Smith Jr.
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: 109
108: Josh Hart
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
107: Bennedict Mathurin
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: 87
106: Toumani Camara
2025 rank: 110
Prediction rank: NR
105: Rui Hachimura
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
104: Alex Caruso
2025 rank: 96
Prediction rank: 100
103: Cason Wallace
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
102: Julian Champagnie
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
101: Naji Marshall
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
This section turned almost entirely into an homage to the role players that powered 2026’s top contenders. Champagnie, Wallace, Caruso, and Hart all had moments of individual brilliance for their respective teams deep in the playoffs. Rui Hachimura was a laser of a shooter all season. Did you know he’s the all-time leader in playoff three-point percentage at 51.6%? Neemias Queta surfaced as a real starting center for Boston after spending four years as a third-stringer at best. If you’re surprised Naji Marshall’s here, that’s a sign to lock in and watch more ball.
100: Peyton Watson
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Watson did Bench Mob Blog proud with his breakout 2025-26 season. The 2023-24 Bench Mob Player of the Year runner-up leapt offensively from a 8.1 PPG play finisher to a 14.6 PPG wing scoring threat, all while maintaining his defensive ferocity. In January, he shouldered star responsibility while Denver fought a slew of injuries, and he rose to the moment to the tune of 21.9 points and 3.0 assists per game on 49/46/71 splits.
99: Shaedon Sharpe
2025 rank: 100
Prediction rank: 68
Catch Shaedon Sharpe on the right night and you’d think he’s already an All-Star. You don’t average 20.8 points for a playoff team by accident in this league. Still, the young Canadian has a ton of improvement left to do. He shrunk for the Blazers in what was his first postseason series, logging just 13.4 minutes and an inefficient 7.2 points per contest. Less sporadicity, more consistency has to be Sharpe’s focus moving forward.
98: Kyshawn George
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
George is the connector of what’s become a very exciting young core in Washington. At 22 years old, he’s already the ideal two-way complementary wing. He’s a versatile defender, a capable on-ball playmaker, and, most importantly, a smooth shooter. As George continues to mature, every contender in the association will have his name highlighted as a trade target, unless the Wizards enter the title hunt themselves.
97: Anfernee Simons
2025 rank: 83
Prediction rank: 90
The NBA is becoming less and less friendly toward guys of Simons’ archetype, but Anferno has held his ground. He’s one of the 10 or so best shooters in basketball— that’s gonna keep him on the floor. Simons was excelling in a sixth man role for Boston to start the year, scoring 14.2 PPG in 24.5 MPG, before he was traded to Chicago for Nikola Vucevic, which put a halt to his momentum.
96: Ayo Dosunmu
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Dosunmu was stuck on automatic last year. He apparently woke up one day in the fall and decided he never wanted to miss a jumpshot again. The Illinois product shot 51.7% from the field and 43.9% from three in the regular season, earning a ninth-place Sixth Man of the Year finish. His 43-point masterclass against Denver in the first round was maybe the most unexpectedly awesome performance of the postseason.
95: Collin Sexton
2025 rank: 64
Prediction rank: 85
How is Collin Sexton still so undervalued? He’s super efficient across the board, he pressures the rim, he competes, he limits turnovers, he can scale up, and he can scale down. In just 23.7 minutes per game last season, he posted 15.4 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 48.5% from the field and 40.1% from deep as a 6’3” guard. Sexton’s been stranded on bad teams for too long. He deserves his chance in the spotlight.
94: Saddiq Bey
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Bey returned to the hardwood looking as good as ever after tearing his ACL in 2024. The Pelicans had a bleak year, but their stocky small forward was a steady presence for them through all the ups and downs (mostly downs). He scored 17.7 points per game across 72 contests and averaged 20+ in three separate months. Call that empty stats if you want, but the consistency has to be commended.
93: Onyeka Okongwu
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Okongwu rewarded Atlanta for finally making him their full-time opener last season. He had already rooted himself as an impactful starting-caliber center with his defensive utility and skilled finishing. His wild transformation into a legitimate stretch five was like adding honey to a PB&J: a small touch that made something already great greater. The former sixth overall pick shot 37.6% from three on 5.2 attempts per game in the regular season and 45.5% on 3.7 attempts in the playoffs.
92: Matas Buzelis
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: 95
Anyone who thinks the 2024 draft class doesn’t have a future star hasn’t watched Matas Buzelis. His sophomore campaign gave downtrodden Chicago fans a reason to get stoked. With his rapidly improving jumper, aerial acrobatics in the paint, and weakside shot blocking, Buzi is as toolsy as it gets for a wing of his size. He hit the highest highs of any Bull in 2025-26, finishing the year with averages of 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.
91: VJ Edgecombe
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Being caught in the shadows of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel wasn’t enough to snuff out VJ Edgecombe’s shine in his fantastic rookie year. He was on go from the jump, scoring 34 points in his NBA debut against Boston and never looking back. The 2025 third overall pick mixed highlights with the dirty work to make a difference for a playoff team. The fact that this is the worst he’ll ever be is terrifying for every team not called the 76ers.
90: Jerami Grant
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Grant went five full seasons without coming off the bench before his streak ended in 2025-26. Ironically, he was as integral to the Trail Blazers as ever despite being demoted. His steadfast shooting was desperately needed for a club that struggled heavily from the perimeter. The veteran forward notched 18.6 points per game on 45.3% from the field and could’ve competed for 6MOY if he didn’t fill in as a starter for long stretches.
89: Naz Reid
2025 rank: 98
Prediction rank: NR
Minnesota’s cult favorite big man has become a perennial 6MOY candidate. His fourth-place finish this year undersells the impact he made for the Wolves. Reid is a one-of-one frontcourt microwave who swings wins when he’s feeling it as a shooter and a slasher. He played some of his best basketball of the season against San Antonio in the second round, averaging 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds on 50.8% shooting.
88: Jalen Suggs
2025 rank: 86
Prediction rank: 91
Suggs is Orlando’s heart and soul, especially on defense. He averaged 1.8 steals and 0.7 blocks in 2025-26 while grading out as a 94th percentile perimeter isolation defender and 98th percentile ball screen navigator, according to BBall Index. Unfortunately, the competitive chaos agent’s availability issues and shooting inconsistencies dilute the watermark he makes on the game. He shot 29.9% from the floor in the postseason. That won’t cut it.
87: Ajay Mitchell
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Sam Presti has done it again, folks. Mitchell came into the league with very little fanfare as a 38th overall pick on a two-way contract in 2024. Fast forward two years, and he’s become one of the most important players on one of the NBA’s top teams. Mitchell’s strengths as a creator and proven capability to scale up from his usual bench role have some people calling him Jalen Brunson 2.0, and that’s truly not crazy to say. The pinnacle of his season was his 22.5 PPG, 6.0 APG series against the Lakers— maybe that’s his version of Brunson’s 2022 breakout versus the Jazz.
86: Andrew Nembhard
2025 rank: 108
Prediction rank: 96
Despite being a preseason Most Improved Player favorite, Nembhard didn’t stir much buzz last year. The shroud of Indiana’s ruined season covered up that he definitely did get better. He posted career highs in points (16.9) and assists (7.7) per game, as well as three-point percentage (36.1%) and three-pointers made per game (1.9). Nembhard is a certified winner and he’ll be ready to remind the world in 2026-27.
85: Andrew Wiggins
2025 rank: 80
Prediction rank: 78
Wiggins still checks every box he did when he almost won Finals MVP in 2022, but the checks are in pencil now, not Sharpie. His defense hasn’t shone as bright as it did with the Warriors, but his shooting is as sharp as ever; his 41.1% from deep last season was a career high. This is a guy any contender would be ecstatic to have. The way the latter half of his time in the league has unfolded will always be cool.
84: Tobias Harris
2025 rank: 89
Prediction rank: NR
When Cade Cunningham struggled with his tremendous creation load (which didn’t happen too often), Harris was able to step in and be a trusty bail-out guy, especially in the playoffs. He’s getting up there in age, but he hasn’t lost the juice in the mid-range; his ability to get a decent look off the dribble on any drive is borderline miraculous. He fried Orlando in the first round, averaging 21.6 points and 8.1 rebounds, stamping that series as the Tobias Harris renaissance.
83: Ausar Thompson
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: 94
This is the premiere perimeter defender in the sport. Thompson was the anchor for Detroit’s defensive machine as a wing. He clamped everybody, using his freakish athleticism that only his brother can match to stick to his matchups as tightly as a big dog holds his toy during tug of war. The 23-year-old’s offense needs refining, and if he makes that happen, then look out, NBA.
82: Draymond Green
2025 rank: 67
Prediction rank: 71
Draymond’s presence is felt more when the Warriors are playing meaningful basketball. He’s a ceiling raiser, not a floor raiser. In 2024-25, he was a Defensive Player of the Year contender, but he slipped a bit last year as Golden State fell out of the playoff picture. One thing will forever be true about Green, though: he leaves it all out there night in and night out, no matter the score or his team’s record.
81: Alex Sarr
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: 105
Sarr made quiet strides for Washington in the midst of their irrelevance last season. His defense was impressive in his rookie campaign, and he further cemented his potential on that end as a sophomore to the tune of 2.0 blocks per game and standout versatility. The Frenchman’s more extensive growth happened on offense, though. He was much more intentional about scoring the paint, increasing his two-point percentage from 45.4% 52.6% while totaling 16.3 points per game.
80: Dylan Harper
2025 rank: N/A
Prediction rank: NR
One word can summarize Harper’s maiden voyage in the NBA: special. He couldn’t *quite* keep up with Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and VJ Edgecombe in the regular season, at least in the eyes of the national media, but he made up for his lost ground and then some in the playoffs. The kid from Rutgers was San Antonio’s best player for stretches during their Finals run. That’s inconceivable stuff for a 20 year old. Harper is next up.
79: Coby White
2025 rank: 51
Prediction rank: 53
The Hornets pegged Coby White as their sixth man after trading for him, a role he’s way overqualified for. The flashy guard proved to be an immaculate fit in Buzz City, though, because of his love for pushing the pace and bombing triples. He plugged right into Charlotte’s electric hive mind like a Demogorgan in the Upside Down. White’s signature moment came when he hit one of the craziest shots of the year in the play-in against Miami.
78: Donovan Clingan
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: 107
Clingan is a giant man who makes a giant mark on the court. He’s the textbook traditional center— a stoic rim protector (1.7 blocks per game), stonewall screener, and elite rebounder. The UConn alum led the NBA in offensive boards at 4.5 per contest. Clingan was centric to Portland’s playoff push, holding down the paint on both ends and showing he’s their five for the future.
77: Kristaps Porzingis
2025 rank: 46
Prediction rank: 46
The assumption is always that Porzingis will be unhealthy, but 2025-26 was a particularly injury-riddled season for him. He split his 32 games just about evenly between Atlanta and Golden State, putting up 16.7 points in a career-low 24.0 minutes per game. His fit with the Warriors is intriguing because he’s still an offensive cheat code, but we didn’t get to see the full extent of it. Maybe next year?
76: Ivica Zubac
2025 rank: 41
Prediction rank: 47
Zubac couldn’t recapture the magic of his borderline All-NBA 2024-25 crusade, but that doesn’t mean he forgot how to be a bruising bully of a double-double machine. He very much didn’t. Big Zu virtually sleep walked his way to 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds through 43 rollercoaster games with the Clippers before his season came to a premature end when the Pacers shut him down after the trade deadline.
75: Miles Bridges
2025 rank: 76
Prediction rank: 74
Bridges was the adult in the room (which probably isn’t ideal) for a young and unchained Hornets squad in 2025-26. He can be an erratic player himself, but he’s streamlined his approach to be better weaponized next to stars like LaMelo Ball. The lefty had his most efficient season since his 2021-22 breakout, registering the third highest TS% and second lowest TO% of his career.
74: Devin Vassell
2025 rank: 105
Prediction rank: 102
San Antonio wouldn’t be where they are right now without Devin Vassell. Their 2020 lottery pick has matured into a championship-caliber role player, and he’s sacrificed to get there, too, because just three years ago he was featured like a star in the Spurs’ offense. Vassell’s 13.9 PPG average was the lowest since his sophomore season, but his impact was arguably as loud as ever.
73: Payton Pritchard
2025 rank: 95
Prediction rank: 89
Pritchard continued his upward trajectory in 2025-26, finally being granted a starting job after making it clear he was overequipped for sixth man duty. He’s the perfect guard for Mazzulla-ball because he knocks down threes and influences the possession battle by rebounding above his size and keeping turnovers down. He’s a little too prone to dropping off in consequential games, mainly because he gets hunted on D, but he’s undoubtedly vindicated his past clamor for a larger role.
72: Josh Giddey
2025 rank: 77
Prediction rank: 66
Giddey exemplifies the significance of situation and context in the NBA. His 2023-24 season with OKC was notoriously poor (their dynasty did start after him, to be fair), but he’s revived his reputation in Chicago because he’s a cleaner fit in their system. He conducted the Bulls’ high-pace offense in 2025-26, averaging career-highs of 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game.
71: Ryan Rollins
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
The real MIP of 2025-26, Rollins completed an improbable rise from scrap heap pickup to franchise cornerstone. The Giannis drama, injuries, incompetent coaching, and so much more ravaged the Bucks last season, but Rollins made weathering the storm worth it. He carried himself like a stud in the backcourt, averaging an efficient 17.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals and emerging as the hero Milwaukee needed in countless shorthanded contests.
70: Immanuel Quickley
2025 rank: 85
Prediction rank: 79
It became obvious how crucial Quickley was to Toronto last season when he missed the playoffs with an injury. The Raptors were already one of the worst shooting units in hoops, and their halfcourt offense felt even clunkier in the absence of their best perimeter guy. IQ averaged 16.4 points and a career-high 5.9 assists while hitting 37.4% of his triples in the regular season.
69: Tyler Herro
2025 rank: 43
Prediction rank: 50
Herro didn’t let a flurry of injuries stop him from eclipsing the 20 PPG mark for the fifth straight year. He generally looked like his All-Star self in 2025-26, but with only 33 appearances in the book, he wasn’t a major factor for the Heat across the season as a whole.
68: Jalen Green
2025 rank: 54
Prediction rank: 60
A hamstring strain kept Green sidelined for large chunks of his first season with the Suns. When he was on the floor, he had some thrilling moments, including a 35-point game against Portland and a 36-ball against Golden State in the play-in to help Phoenix secure the eighth seed. Green shot 50.9% on twos last year, a career best, while grading in the 85th percentile of BBall Index’s finishing talent metric.
67: Aaron Gordon
2025 rank: 74
Prediction rank: 80
Gordon kicked off last season with a bang, pouring in a 50-piece while going 10/11 from deep in Denver’s opener against Golden State. He was on track to have one of his better offensive campaigns, but injuries hindered that, as he only logged 36 regular season outings. He also wasn’t fully available for the Nuggets’ embarrassing series against Minnesota, and his two-way ruggedness was deeply missed.
66: Zach LaVine
2025 rank: 48
Prediction rank: 41
LaVine scorched nets at the beginning of the year, averaging 29.2 points on 67.0% TS in October. After that, he became submerged in Sacramento’s mediocrity. The two-time All-Star had a productive season overall, even if it wasn’t his best, but it just didn’t matter for anything. He got sent to Cancun earlier than his Kings teammates when he underwent right hand surgery in February.
65: Mikal Bridges
2025 rank: 68
Prediction rank: 63
Everyone and their momma felt like five first round picks (and a swap) for Mikal Bridges was an overpay for the Knicks, but he just literally and figuratively said “(redacted) them picks” by helping New York hoist the Larry O’Brien. The lanky wing didn’t have his most consistent season, but his timely shotmaking and defensive disruption were invaluable for the ‘Bockers.
64: Amen Thompson
2025 rank: 73
Prediction rank: 57
Thompson’s uniqueness makes him both a weapon and a puzzle for the Rockets. He’s proven himself as an all-world defender, and Houston can count on him to bring it every night— he played 79 games in 2025-26 while leading the league in total minutes played. The questions lie on the offensive end. He can produce, no doubt (18.3 PPG in the regular season, 19.2 in the playoffs), but is he optimized on or off the ball, and what’s his ceiling if he never develops a jumpshot?
63: Jaden McDaniels
2025 rank: 82
Prediction rank: 88
No player gained more aura in 2025-26 than Jaden McDaniels. He talked a lot of trash during Minnesota’s series against Denver and backed it all up. In all seriousness, JMac gets plenty of praise for his defense, but his offensive growth has continued to go underrated. He averaged 14.8 points and 2.7 assists while shooting 41.2% from three last season, all career highs. He’s ready to be more prominent in someone’s gameplan.
62: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Alexander-Walker shattered all expectations last season, erupting as an off-ball offensive star and earning the MIP trophy. Atlanta handed him high usage from the get-go, and it didn’t take him long to supress the growing pains and rise with his new responsibility. NAW racked up 20.8 points per game, a +11.4 increase from 2024-25, although that dropped to an inefficient 13.7 in what was his first playoffs as a marked man.
61: RJ Barrett
2025 rank: 57
Prediction rank: 64
His reputation is one of inconsistency and shakiness, but Barrett is more reliable than he gets credit for. He doesn’t lead the 2019 draft class in career scoring out of luck— he’s a walking 20-ball. Toronto’s shaky offensive infrastructure didn’t stop Barrett from going for 24.1 points per game in the postseason. He could definitely stand to clean up his efficiency and defensive effort, though.
60: Brandon Miller
2025 rank: INJ
Prediction rank: 73
Paul George is Brandon Miller’s GOAT, and PG13’s influence shows in Miller’s silky but fiery scoring package. The 2023 second overall pick is one of the NBA’ most lethal off-ball shooting threats. He drilled 38.3% of his 8.2 three-point attempts per game, finishing ninth in the league in three-pointers made per game, while averaging 20.2 points. His ancillary skills are slowly coming along as well.
59: Kon Knueppel
2025 rank: N/A
Prediction rank: NR
Knueppel’s rookie year was a historic one. Not only did he break the all-time record for most three-pointers in a season by a freshman, he surpassed the mark for most triples by a Hornet in a single season and became the first rookie to ever lead the entire NBA in threes made. The Wisconsin kid’s burner and overall off-ball savvy made him a key cog of what was a wicked fun Charlotte group. It was disappointing to see him go ghost in the play-in.
58: Jrue Holiday
2025 rank: 70
Prediction rank: 81
Holiday set the standard for the young Blazers all year long as they made their return to the playoffs. We know what he brings defensively, even after 17 seasons. Offensively, he was comfortable scaling back up for Portland after doing a lot of chilling on that end with Boston. He averaged 16.3 points on 52.7% from two and 37.8% from three, and here’s the kicker: just 31.7% of his twos and 56.9% of his threes were assisted, compared to 49.3% and 86.1% in 2024-25 with the Celtics.
57: Derrick White
2025 rank: 44
Prediction rank: 45
He’s been an elite defender for years, but 2025-26 was a masterpiece from White on that side of the ball. He ranked 13th in the league in total blocks (first amongst guards) while finishing sixth in DPOY voting and earning All-Defensive First Team honors. Unfortunately, all that excellence on D came with an offensive dropoff. The typically steady guard couldn’t buy a bucket, going 39.4% from the field in the regular season and 32.1% in the playoffs.
56: CJ McCollum
2025 rank: 63
Prediction rank: 70
Where were you when CJ McCollum became New York’s biggest villain? The veteran star was locked in for the playoffs and helped the Hawks give the Knicks arguably their toughest series (nobody else stole two wins for the eventual champs). McCollum failed to exceed 20 PPG for the first time since his sophomore year in 2014-15, but he was still a dependable offensive option, especially in the clutch.
55: Dillon Brooks
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
Brooks is the definition of a culture changer. He was a leader for the Grizzlies as they graduated from their early 2020s rebuild, and when they let him walk, their falloff began. After that, he touched down in H-Town for two years and aided the Rockets’ return to the playoffs as well. With the Suns in 2025-26, he made his most seismic impact to date, embracing a volume scoring role (20.2 PPG in the regular season, 26.0 PPG in the postseason) while setting the tone for the league’s 10th-ranked defense.
54: DeMar DeRozan
2025 rank: 47
Prediction rank: 52
There wasn’t much to get excited about in Sacramento last year, but DeMar DeRozan was one of the bright spots. Nobody could’ve blamed him for being disgruntled, but if he was, he never showed it. The old pro led by example for a dysfunctional Kings team that needed direction, suiting up 77 times and posting 18.4 points and 4.1 assists per game on 49.7% from the field. He hasn’t lost much of a step in the mid-range or in the clutch.
53: Paul George
2025 rank: 71
Prediction rank: 75
In 2024-25, George was memed relentlessly for being washed, but the future Hall of Famer has now flipped the narrative. He was a cream-of-the-crop 3&D guy in the regular season, and in the playoffs, he elevated his game and went toe-to-toe with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as the 76ers upset the Celtics. There’s one unignorable stain on George’s campaign, though: the drug suspension that held him out for 25 contests.
52: Jimmy Butler
2025 rank: 37
Prediction rank: 39
Jimmy G. Buckets got buckets in 2025-26, but only for about three months before he tragically tore his ACL. His injury was a gut punch to the Warriors, who ultimately missed the playoffs. Things could’ve been different if they had Butler, who sank the second-best FG% and TS% of his career last season, in the fray in the spring.
51: Jalen Williams
2025 rank: 31
Prediction rank: 24
2025-26 was a lost year for Williams, who played just 33 games in the regular season and five of OKC’s 15 in the playoffs. He couldn’t find much of a rhythm as he popped in and out of the lineup. The Thunder went 39-10 without J-Dub during the 82-game slate, but were clearly weakened in the absence of their second banana when the going got tough in the Conference Finals.
50: Trey Murphy III
2025 rank: 56
Prediction rank: 62
Murphy all but cemented his star development last season. He put up 21.5 points and 3.8 assists per game on the second-highest TS% of his career for the painfully mediocre Pelicans. More than ever, New Orleans leaned on him to create on the perimeter, emphasized by him attempting a career-low 9.6% of his threes from the corner, a far cry from the 38.7% rate he launched as a rookie. The next step for Murphy will be to prove he can do this stuff on a contender.
49: Franz Wagner
2025 rank: 33
Prediction rank: 30
The pros and cons of Wagner’s game have become a bit tricky to weigh. He’s definitely being dampened by his redundancy next to Paolo Banchero and the general defects of Orlando’s offensive ecosystem. That said, how much do his own shooting issues not only hold him back from being the guy, but also make him part of the problem on the Magic? At the very least, he’s a fantastic two-way utility forward.
48: Norman Powell
2025 rank: 62
Prediction rank: 69
After being (debatably) snubbed from the squad in 2024-25, Norman Powell went on a revenge tour last season and made his first career All-Star game. He carried the flame for Miami as a shotmaker when Tyler Herro was hurt, serving as the sole flamethrower on a team that otherwise (as hard as Bam Adebayo tried) didn’t pack much of a perimeter punch. The vet tailed off in the spring, though, making just 13 appearances and shooting 31.7% from trey after the All-Star break.
47: Jarrett Allen
2025 rank: 42
Prediction rank: 48
Allen has always been the quiet driver of Cleveland’s success. He’s rarely praised by the masses but he’s so, so significant to his team on both ends of the floor. The sturdy man in the middle had one of his most productive offensive campaigns in 2025-26, posting 15.4 points per night (the third highest output of his career) on 63.8% shooting (fifth in the NBA), and the Cavs were at their best when he was aggressive. Never forget 2026 as the year “Game 7 Jarrett Allen” was born.
46: Keyonte George
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
George made one of the loudest breakouts of the year, going from an overlooked part of an underwhelming Jazz team to an irrepressible offensive stud. Had he played 65 games, he would’ve been firmly in the running for MIP, and he certainly put his name in the hat for an All-Star berth. The third-year guard averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 dimes, and 1.1 steals on 46/37/89 splits, all career bests.
45: Stephon Castle
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: NR
It’s no coincidence that San Antonio asserting themselves as contenders happened alongside Steph Castle’s year two leap. The 2025 Rookie of the Year personifies the organization’s ethos. He sliced and diced defenses on his way to putting up 16.7 points and 7.4 assists (sixth in the NBA) per night while simultaneously dogging superstars defensively. Castle has his glaring flaws, but he has the competitive spirit and mentality to overcome them in no time.
44: Austin Reaves
2025 rank: 53
Prediction rank: 56
Reaves looked like a genuine All-Star when he exploded out of the gates and averaged 32.0 points and 9.0 assists in October and 26.9 points and 5.5 assists in November. LA’s crafty underdog is a surefire regular season producer, but the playoffs have become a question mark for him. He coughed up 4.5 turnovers per game and let his TS% slip ten points (64.1 to 54.6) in six postseason battles for the Lakers last spring, although he was dealing with an oblique strain.
43: Rudy Gobert
2025 rank: 59
Prediction rank: 58
Gobert’s PR has never been higher than it was when he shut down Nikola Jokic in Minnesota’s first-round routing of the Nuggets. That series was an incredible display of individual defense from one of the league’s all-time great rim protectors. The four-time DPOY still doesn’t score much, but he has added keen short-roll passing to his bag, a wrinkle that only enhances his value as a little-things king.
42: Darius Garland
2025 rank: 32
Prediction rank: 35
It was kind of a bummer to see Garland traded away from Cleveland after 6.5 fruitful seasons there. But, the little guard (figuratively) wiped the tears and got right to business when he arrived in Los Angeles. The 26-year-old totaled 19.9 points and 6.4 helpers per game on 47/44/86 splits in 19 outings for the Clips, setting the stage for a new era of basketball in the Intuit Dome.
41: Jalen Duren
2025 rank: NR
Prediction rank: 103
Duren had a statement season for the up-and-coming Pistons. He posted 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds (sixth in the NBA) while converting 65.0% of his field goals (fourth in the NBA) for the East’s finest. His efforts were rewarded with his All-Star and All-NBA nods and a runner-up MIP finish. But, Duren’s first playoffs as a star were a letdown, which will add scrutiny around him next year.
40: Cooper Flagg
2025 rank: N/A
Prediction rank: 72
The Maine Event wasted no time in showing he was worth the hype he got as a prospect. After a jittery debut, Flagg progressed rapidly, and by the spring, he was dropping 30 with regularity. He accepted a sizable creation load in an unideal situation and truly wowed under the pressure. The ROTY finished with averages of 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 blocks, doing it all before even turning 20.
39: Lauri Markkanen
2025 rank: 65
Prediction rank: 44
Markkanen started last year on a sustained heater, operating like a more mature and focused version of his 2023 self. He torched the Suns for 51 points just before Halloween and went on to average 26.7 points and 2.1 assists per game, both career highs. Utah’s tanking agenda took the wheels off his wagon, though, and he played only one game after the All-Star break.
38: Michael Porter Jr.
2025 rank: 81
Prediction rank: 76
Brooklyn made Porter Jr. their 1A guy and his numbers reflect that promotion. With averages of 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, he had his name in All-Star conversations despite the Nets being unexciting. That may scream empty calories to you, but MPJ’s hoops were more efficient and sustainable than what meets the eye. He was still primarily deployed as an off-ball killer, he was just given more chances to hunt his shot.
37: Chet Holmgren
2025 rank: 45
Prediction rank: 23
The elephant in the room here is Chet’s four point, two shot attempt disasterclass in Game 7 against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. That infamous performance was a microcosm of the first-time All-Star’s overarching downfalls. At his best, he’s a two-way game-breaker (see: Round 2 vs. the Lakers), but he gets timid offensively and pushed around defensively too often. Holmgren took strides last season, but he still has so much potential left untouched.
36: Evan Mobley
2025 rank: 29
Prediction rank: 26
After making his first All-NBA team and winning DPOY in 2024-25, further ascension seemed to be in the cards for Mobley last season, but he ended up more or less plateauing. Still an all-world defender, the big man placed fourth in the league in blocks per game at 1.7, but he missed out on postseason awards due to the 65 game rule. His offensive production was eerily similar to the previous year’s.
35: OG Anunoby
2025 rank: 58
Prediction rank: 55
What a phenomenal year it was for OG Anunoby, the epitome of a championship role player. He filled so many gaps as the heart and soul of New York’s team of destiny. Long renowned for his defense, the awkward but loveable forward was finally named to his second career All-Defensive team in 2025-26. He stole the show offensively, too, though, ramping up within his low-mistake, cut-and-shoot style of play to average 20 points in the playoffs on the way to a title.
34: Zion Williamson
2025 rank: 24
Prediction rank: 19
For the third time ever, Williamson had a nearly fully healthy season in 2025-26. The heavyweight southpaw accepted a slightly diminished role, averaging career-lows in points (21.0) and field goal attempts (13.0), but perhaps the reduced weight on his back allowed him to stay healthy. Zion remains an automatic finisher and matchup terror when he’s in form.
33: Jaren Jackson Jr.
2025 rank: 30
Prediction rank: 33
At the trade deadline, Jackson Jr. escaped the sinking ship that was the Grizzlies, and his debut parade with the Jazz was intriguing. Will Hardy immediately started tinkering with ways to utilize the versatile big and found positive returns quickly. We’re talking 22.3 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.0 steals in just 24.0 minutes for Trip in his first three games with Utah before he got shut down. Safe to say the All-Star should be a fun fit there moving forward.
32: Desmond Bane
2025 rank: 50
Prediction rank: 49
The ever-evolving Desmond Bane was quietly excellent for Orlando last season. The days of him being just a shooter are buried in the past. If anything, he might even be a better slasher now than he is a sniper, and that’s saying something. Bane toughed out all 82 games, notching 20.1 points and 4.1 assists a night on 48/39/91 splits. If the Magic would’ve finished higher in the standings, their two guard would have had a sneaky case for All-NBA.
31: Brandon Ingram
2025 rank: INJ
Prediction rank: 42
Ingram’s halfcourt offensive burden for Toronto was so substantial he had to moonlight as Atlas from Greek mythology at times. In the regular season, the Slenderman smoothly scored 21.5 points per night on 57.3% TS, picking up his first All-Star nod since 2020 and helping the Raptors exceed preseason expectations. In the playoffs, though, Cleveland zeroed in on locking him up, and the result was an ugly 12.0 PPG, 32.8% FG series to cap off what was otherwise a strong campaign for him.
30: Alperen Sengun
2025 rank: 36
Prediction rank: 36
Polarizing is an understatement to describe the discourse around Alperen Sengun. The two-time All-Star’s post-up playstyle isn’t always pretty, but it’s effective. He was the nucleus of Houston’s top ten offense in 2025-26, totaling 20.4 points and a career-high 6.2 assists per game. But, his touch, turnover, and athletic deficiencies can be seriously detrimental. They really reared their heads in the Rockets’ series against the Lakers, where Sengun hardly outplayed Deandre Ayton.
29: De’Aaron Fox
2025 rank: 26
Prediction rank: 27
Fox has been dragged through the mud and clowned mercilessly after his woeful play deep in the playoffs. He’s set the bar too high for himself to not be held accountable, but the pendulum has swung too far in the wrong direction. Swipa has been instrumental to San Antonio’s climb to contention, serving as almost a supercharged X-factor who can make the team unstoppable when he’s on, as well as a guiding hand on an extremely young roster. Fox made his second career All-Star game in 2026, which was long overdue after some inexcusable snubs during his time in Sacramento.
28: Julius Randle
2025 rank: 39
Prediction rank: 40
Randle giveth, Randle taketh away. That’s been the story of his career, and 2025-26 encapsulated that. The man has to be respected for his durability and (mostly) unwavering production in the regular season— it’s what’s made him a mighty fine second banana for Anthony Edwards. Yet, when the postseason rolls around, he becomes a total wild card. He had a brutal series against San Antonio, turning in a measly 12.8 points per game on 34/19/73 splits as Minnesota got sent packing.
27: LeBron James
2025 rank: 11
Prediction rank: 16
Basketball’s unaging GOAT noticeably regressed in 2025-26, which was bound to happen eventually but still feels weird. LeBron willingly took a backseat behind Luka Doncic and, to some degree, Austin Reaves, and it was the right call. He popped in his playmaking-first role. He made sure to deal some damage getting downhill as a scorer, too, though, of course. In the playoffs, James was far and away the best player in LA’s duel against the Rockets at 41 years old. Granted, Luka and Kevin Durant were hurt, but still. Unfathomable stuff.
26: Jalen Johnson
2025 rank: 55
Prediction rank: 43
The idea of a jumbo playmaker is enticing, but they’re hard to come by in actuality. Jalen Johnson is the real deal. The high-flying Hawk was a triple double machine last season, racking up 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, all career highs. He made his first All-Star game and All-NBA team while spearheading Atlanta’s playoff push, leaving no doubt about who the franchise player in the post-Trae-Young era will be.
25: Bam Adebayo
2025 rank: 40
Prediction rank: 37
Bam gave us the single most memorable individual performance of the year with his 83-point stunner against Washington. 2025-26 was a season of increased aggression for him offensively overall. He averaged a career-high 15.7 field goal attempts, 5.5 of which came from deep, and turned that into his second 20 PPG campaign. Adebayo’s efficiency took a hit as he diversified his shot diet, but his defense didn’t relent.
24: Paolo Banchero
2025 rank: 23
Prediction rank: 14
Banchero would be a force to be reckoned with if he cut the fat from his game and leaned further into his strengths. Even in his current state, he’s shown he’s capable of delivering Herculean efforts in meaningful settings. In the first round against Detroit, the former first overall pick poured in 26.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across seven hard-fought contests, doing his darndest to will a flawed Orlando team to an upset.
23: Joel Embiid
2025 rank: INJ
Prediction rank: 11
Even a hobbling, half-hurt Embiid can give defenses headaches. Just ask the Celtics, who got 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 dimes per game hung on them by the 2023 Most Valuable Player in the first round. Sadly, peak Joel may never return. Heck, even getting 50 regular season games out of him feels impossible now. A once-in-a-generation player has become a once-in-a-generation what-if.
22: Pascal Siakam
2025 rank: 17
Prediction rank: 20
It’s a shame Siakam didn’t get the chance to play postseason hoops last season. But, the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals MVP didn’t let anyone forget about him despite Indiana’s dreary year. He suited up 62 times when no one would have blamed him for only playing 30. On top of that, he scored 24.0 points per game, 0.2 short of his career-high, while receiving his fourth All-Star stamp.
21: Devin Booker
2025 rank: 22
Prediction rank: 15
OKC put Booker in a straitjacket in the first round of the playoffs, holding him to “only” 21.3 points (well below his postseason career average) and forcing him into 4.0 turnovers per game in what was a breezy sweep of a series. Book’s struggles can mostly be chalked up to the lack of creation around him on a defensively-slanted Phoenix squad. In the regular season, he registered 26.1 PPG as the Suns somewhat surprisingly made the ‘offs in the first place.
20: James Harden
2025 rank: 16
Prediction rank: 22
It’s ironic and fascinating that every time James Harden, one of the all-time great scorers, falls apart in the playoffs, it’s his ability to put the ball in the basket that fails him. At age 36, he’s still a massively influential floor raiser. He was awesome in the regular season, and Cleveland wouldn’t have made the Conference Finals if they hadn’t brought him in. But, when the lights are brightest, he can go ghost or, even worse, utterly embarrass himself (see: Game 1 vs. the Knicks in the ECF).
19: Jamal Murray
2025 rank: 49
Prediction rank: 38
Denver’s iconic Robin had some Batman moments in what was easily his finest individual campaign. Murray finally captured the All-Star and All-NBA mantles that had been alluding him after averaging 25.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on 48.3% from the field and 43.5% from three, all of which were career highs, across 75 games. He had a rough go in the playoffs, but so did every other Nugget.
18: Deni Avdija
2025 rank: 72
Prediction rank: 51
Avdija’s trajectory arrow is stuck facing up. He made himself an MIP contender for the third straight year in 2025-26, and this was his most impressive jump yet. The slashing sensation powered Portland to the postseason, dropping 24.2 points and 6.7 assists per game in the regular season and exploding for 41 and 12 in the play-in win that secured the seven seed for the Blazers. Avdija made his first All-Star team and nearly cracked All-NBA, too.
17: LaMelo Ball
2025 rank: 34
Prediction rank: 34
Charlotte wouldn’t have achieved the same blend of success and excitement that they did in 2025-26 without their engine, LaMelo Ball. His incautious and occasionally outrageous style distracts watchers from the fact that he can be a high-octane dynamo of an offense unto himself. He reigned himself in a smidge last season, averaging 20.1 points on 17.3 field goal attempts, both of which were his fewest since 2021-22, but his sacrifice paid off as he led the Hornets out of the NBA’s doldrums.
16: Scottie Barnes
2025 rank: 52
Prediction rank: 54
Scottie Barnes is Scotiabank Arena’s superhero. He did everything for the Raptors last season. The two-time All-Star commandeered the league’s fifth ranked defense, smothering opponents of all sizes and hogging stocks on his way to a fifth place DPOY finish. He ran the show offensively too, especially in the playoffs, where he shredded the Cavs for 24.1 points and 8.6 assists per game, almost backpacking Toronto to a series win over the eventual Eastern Conference finalists.
15: Karl-Anthony Towns
2025 rank: 18
Prediction rank: 21
Every year, Towns makes anyone who has doubted his ability to be a winning player look foolish. Now that he’s an NBA champ, he’s permanently silenced those haters. We saw KAT at his most poised and determined during the playoffs. His uncharacteristically low average of 15.9 points from the banner run profoundly unsells his contributions. New York reaching the pinnacle was made possible by Towns’ passionate efforts on both ends.
14: Jaylen Brown
2025 rank: 27
Prediction rank: 25
Over a half-decade of debates were on the line when Brown stepped up to the plate as top dog for the first time in his career. Was he better than Jayson Tatum? No. Did he wear the Superman cape admirably, though? Absolutely. JB put his nose to the grindstone and tore up the association with 28.7 points per game, ensuring the Celtics were still a buzzsaw.
13: Tyrese Maxey
2025 rank: 35
Prediction rank: 31
Tyrese Maxey is special. There’s a reason why he’s become known as “The Franchise” in Philly. At 25 years old, he just averaged 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.9 steals while pacing the league in minutes per game. Each and every night, he cooks defenses with a mix of Flash-like speed, artisan craft, and habitual haymakers. Maxey is the ultimate gamer, and the All-NBA Third Team nod he got in 2025-26 was simply not enough recognition for the year he had.
12: Stephen Curry
2025 rank: 9
Prediction rank: 9
Steph needs help! That’s probably never been said before, but with the level he’s been balling at this late in his career, it’s nothing short of a travesty that he didn’t sniff the playoffs in two of the past three seasons. In 2025-26, Curry only played 43 games, but in those appearances, he was exactly what’d you expect him to be— a court-warping shooter whose hot nights spell humiliating defeat for his adversaries.
11: Kevin Durant
2025 rank: 8
Prediction rank: 8
Houston brought in KD to be their halfcourt savior, and for the most part, he was. The Rockets really had no business being the eighth ranked offense last year considering they were 28th in three-point attempts, and Durant’s unbelievable bailout shotmaking deserves at least some of the credit for that overperformance. The Slim Reaper was a few missed free throws short of a 26.0 PPG 50/40/90 season. Unshockingly, Houston had a problem or two in the playoffs after he got injured.
10: Donovan Mitchell
2025 rank: 14
Prediction rank: 13
Mitchell’s been a fabled playoffs riser for some time, but 2026 was the year he got over the hump and into the Conference Finals. Although he had some spells of sketchy play during the postseason, his holistic body of work from the year is hard to critique. Spida, a tantalizing talent with a flair for heroics, averaged 27.9 points, the second highest rate of his career, on 61.3% TS while placing seventh on the MVP ballot.
9: Cade Cunningham
2025 rank: 20
Prediction rank: 12
Cunningham has officially entered superstar territory. Detroit’s inconceivably quick turnaround from laughing stock to juggernaut wouldn’t have come close to happening without their 2021 number one pick. Cade put on a ridiculous carry job offensively last season, orchestrating everything for the East’s top seed. He averaged 23.9 points and 9.9 assists in the regular season while making All-NBA First Team and landing fifth in MVP voting.
8: Anthony Edwards
2025 rank: 5
Prediction rank: 4
The NBA’s charismatic wunderkid adds more fuel to the “future face of the league” fire every year. Ant is a supreme scorer with an implacable desire to tear up opponents and be the greatest. He averaged a career-high 28.8 points in 2025-26, channeling his blazing shooting and authoritative slashing in unison to destroy defenses nightly. A knee injury nagged Edwards in the playoffs, which played a part in Minnesota falling short of the Conference Finals, but he and his team made sure to dumbfound their rival Nuggets before they were defeated.
7: Jalen Brunson
2025 rank: 7
Prediction rank: 7
The magic of Jalen Brunson and his 2025-26 season transcends what happens between the four lines of the hardwood. Brunson is, of course, a wizard on the court. He’s like a kid with bad hygiene at prom— nobody wants to dance with him in isolation. But, the newly minted Finals MVP’s imprint in New York can’t be quantified, certainly not with any award or statistic. He’s been crowned a king, a deity in the streets of a city that can feel like the beating heart of the league. What a joy it was to watch Brunson last year.
6: Kawhi Leonard
2025 rank: 13
Prediction rank: 17
Kawhi is full of surprises. The seven-time All-Star just had a career offensive campaign at age 35, averaging 27.9 points on 50/39/89 splits. He’s the human embodiment of a zen used for NBA2K. It truly feels like dude physically cannot miss, specifically in the mid-range. The crown jewel of Leonard’s year was his 65 games played— he did his best to stay available and drag the Clippers out of the 6-21 hole they dug themselves into in December. We likely would’ve seen a healthy Kawhi in the playoffs if LA didn’t face a possessed Al Horford in the play-in.
5: Giannis Antetokounmpo
2025 rank: 2
Prediction rank: 2
The Greek Freak’s year was clouded with drama, injuries, and general negativity. The vast majority of news covering Giannis in 2025-26 had nothing to do with his active performance. He only logged 36 games for the Bucks, but while at times his care and motor levels were disappointingly low, he displayed scorched-earth dominance in 90% of his limited burn. He somehow amassed enough layups and dunks in those 36 contests to qualify as the official two-point field goals per game leader, underscoring the gravity of his paint prominence.
4: Luka Doncic
2025 rank: 6
Prediction rank: 5
Luka’s numbers from 2025-26 sound made up. He averaged a league-leading 33.5 points along with 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists while also pacing the NBA with 4.0 three-pointers made per game. What’s even crazier is he can, and has, reached higher heights. Doncic is maybe the most gifted offensive player in hoops when he’s in peak form, and he wasn’t in peak form last season. Yet, he still posted those video game stats. Insane.
3: Nikola Jokic
2025 rank: 1
Prediction rank: 1
We’ll get the gloomy stuff out of the way first here. In Denver’s series against Minnesota, Jokic had one of the worst playoff showings from an MVP-caliber player in recent memory. His defensive drawbacks were exposed (understatement) and his offensive tricks were solved. But, the Timberwolves seem to be the only team that can slow down Joker, who finished top two in MVP for the sixth straight year in the regular season after averaging a 27.7 point, 12.9 rebound, 10.7 assist triple double, which is just comically remarkable. Jokic may not be the best in the world anymore, but he’s not far from it.
2: Victor Wembanyama
2025 rank: 10
Prediction rank: 6
Wemby is turning the NBA into The War of the Worlds. The 7’4” demigod engulfed the landscape of the league in 2025-26 with his utter dominance. He made the DPOY race look rigged, flustered defenders with his outlandish offensive skills, and led the way for a spirited Spurs team that charged all the way to the Finals. Oh, and he’s only 22, by the way. He doesn’t have BITW polish just yet, but it’s a matter of if, not when, for the Frenchman who has today’s kids feeling like how 90s kids or 2000s kids must have felt watching Michael Jordan or LeBron James soar to the top.
1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2025 rank: 3
Prediction rank: 3
Shai isn’t a hooper, he’s an artist. The court is his canvas, and he paints it with strokes of beautiful crossover combos and fallaway jumpers. He’s a non-traditional BITW belt holder because he lets his game, not his mouth, do the talking, but the results are undeniable for the two-time MVP. Nobody in the NBA is closer to an impeccable basketball player than him. Gilgeous-Alexander’s trademark consistency, stupidly good efficiency, and silently infectious leadership should be revered with the same energy his foul-drawing tendencies get frowned upon.
It’s been an extraordinary journey for Shai. He grew from a trade throw-in to a franchise cornerstone, but obviously, he didn’t stop there, and he’s far from done. Somehow, along the way, he went from underrated to overhated, despite the inspirational nature of his tale. He wasn’t supposed to be here, but he is. He’ll have to fight to maintain the throne, but for now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best in the world.
