The 50 Best NBA Players Right Now (Updated)

50.Zion Williamson

Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Last Ranking: —
2025-2026 Stats: 22.3 Points Per Game 5.7 Rebounds 3.4 Assists 57% Field Goal Percentage / 0% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage / 71% Free Throw Percentage

Now in season seven, it’s still unclear whether Zion Williamson is an all-time bust or a potential All-NBA performer. The numbers are damning: Coming into this season, Williamson missed more career games (268) than he has played in (214). He has played in 26 of the Pelicans 42 games in 2025-26, enough to give fans hope that he's ready to turn the corner. After all, his talent is so tantalizing that we can’t quit on him despite the glaring red flags concerning his conditioning and durability. He’s an unstoppable force in the paint and an underrated playmaker but those skills are inconsequential if he isn’t on the court. —Thomas Golianopoulos

49.Ivica Zubac

Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Last Ranking: 42
2025-2026 Stats: 14.8 PPG 10.7 REB 2.4 AST 60%/N/A/72%

It took about a decade, but last year, Ivica Zubac went from “kind of alright” to “pretty damn good,” and it’s one of the biggest reasons the Clippers have rebounded from their slow start. For years he’d been a magnificent screener, prolific rebounder, and solid rim protector, but after getting consistent playing time, he proved himself a more than reliable tertiary scorer, too; his points per game total raised about as much as his minutes. With James Harden and a hopefully healthy Kawhi Leonard, it’s a late-career leap that has Clippers fans hoping they can soar past the second round.—Peter A. Berry

48.Jaren Jackson Jr.

Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Last Ranking: 41
2025-26 Stats: 18.5 PPG 5.8 REB 1.9 AST 47%/36%/76%

Jaren Jackson Jr. is amongst the most talented and perplexing players in the NBA. The 6’10 stretch big is a class act and All-Star at his best, yet over his career averages almost as many personal fouls a game (3.6) as he does rebounds (5.5). Both peculiar figures lend to the fact that JJJ is one of the best post defenders in the entire league and also one of the best shooting bigs, keeping him active amongst contact and far from the offensive glass. When Jackson and Ja Morant are healthy the Grizzlies are often as good as any team in the West. However, when JJJ enters the postseason, foul trouble increases and his offensive output craters. Memphis has bet big on Jackson being a cornerstone of their franchise and they’ve invested in an all-world guy. Getting the Grizz back to contention will rely on JJJ continuing to climb as he enters year eight. - Ian Stonebrook

47.Franz Wagner

Team: Orlando Magic
Last Ranking: 37
2025-26 Season Stats: 22.7 PPG 6.1 REB 3.7 AST 49%/36%/82%

The question ‘Can Franz Wagner shoot’ has haunted the Orlando Magic forward four years into his career. The Berlin-born baller is the rare wing that’s both a creator and a connector. At 24.2 PPG in 2024-25, Franz can certainly shoot – just not from 3 Point Land. An abysmal 18% beyond the arc in last year’s first round exit to the Celtics cemented that stance for doubters, though Eurobasket brilliance months later gave light to believers. Deep ball aside, feathery footwork and a real feel for the game make OnlyFranz the perfect Paolo Banchero co-star for downhill bully ball. A high ankle sprain has sidenlined Wagner since December.—Ian Stonebrook

46.Desmond Bane

Team: Orlando Magic
Last Ranking: 43
2025-2026 Stats: 19.2 PPG 4.6 REB 4.5 AST 45%/33%/92%

When Desmond Bane was traded to the Orlando Magic last year, the team immediately jumped to the top of the, “Wow, they’re deeper than I thought,” Power Rankings. In Bane, Orlando gained a reliable volume scorer and floor spacer with the physicality to fit in nicely with a Magic defense that ranked No. 1 last year in points against average. Combined with versatile shot-creators like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Bane has the chance to help make the Magic, well, magical. —Peter A. Berry

45.Joel Embiid

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Last Ranking: —
2025-26 Stats: 23.7 PPG 7.1 REB 3.3 AST 47%/22%/84%

Hampered by knee problems, the 2022-23 NBA MVP was a shell of his former self last season. Embiid looked slow and stiff laboring through 19 games, his lowest total since missing back-to-back seasons in 2014 and 2015. Before the season started, the 76ers stated there was a plan in place (a process?) to manage Embiid this season. Though he missed most of November with right knee soreness, Embiid has made progress since returning to the lineup. Though far from his MVP form, he's consistently playing over 30 minutes a night and is good for 20 points when on the floor, which has been more often than not recently. —Thomas Golianopoulos

44.Keyonte George

Team: Utah Jazz
Last Ranking: —
2025-2026 Stats: 23.8 PPG 4.2 REB 6.9 AST 45%/37%/90%

In recent years, the Utah Jazz have drafted a slew of ballhandlers in hopes they'd find their point guard of the future. George, a volume scorer out of Baylor, may not be a true point guard but he's filling the role for now.—TG

43.Kon Knueppel

Team: Charlotte Hornets
Last Ranking: —
2025-26 Stats: 19.1 PPG 5.1 REB 3.6 AST 48%/ 42%/ 88%

The surprise standout of the 2025 rookie class, Knueppel is a marksman from deep and a gifted athlete. Though the Hornets are (once again) near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, they have another building block and potentially a future All-Star.—TG

42.Brandon Ingram

Team: Toronto Raptors
Last Ranking: 48
2025-26 Stats: 21.7 PPG 6 REB 3.7 AST 47%/ 34%/ 82%

Now in his tenth season, BI is finally part of a winning culture. Ingram's mid-level game is a perfect compliment to Scottie Barnes' all-around attack, and together they've made the Raptors the surprise team in the Eastern Conference.—Thomas Golianopoulos

41.Josh Giddey

Team: Chicago Bulls
Last Ranking: 36
2025-2026 Stats: 19.2 PPG 8.9 REB 9 AST 46%/38%/76%

Though the Bulls have come back to Earth following their scorching start, Giddey is still putting up huge numbers, flirting with a triple double on a nightly basis. He's getting to the line more than ever and continuing to improve his shot from deep.—TG

40.Cooper Flagg

Team: Dallas Mavericks
Last Ranking: 45
2025-26 Stats: 19.1 PPG 6.4 REB 4.3 AST 48%/29%/81%

The ping-pong balls landed in the Mavericks’ favor last spring allowing them to pick one of the most complete prospects to enter the NBA since—dare we say —LeBron James. Flagg can shoot, distribute and bang on the boards. He’s also a twitchy athlete with a dogged competitive streak. As expected, the point guard experiment has been rocky, but Flagg has made a seamless transition to the NBA.—Thomas Golianopoulos

39.Michael Porter Jr.

Team: Brooklyn Nets
Last Ranking: —
2025-26 Stats: 25.9 PPG 7.5 REB 3.4 AST 49%/40%/83%
Already an NBA champion, Michael Porter Jr has proven that he is one of the game's elite scorers since the trade sending him from Denver to Brooklyn. He's always been a knockdown shooter but is finding multiple ways to get buckets as a lead option. Though a potential All-Star, he might not be long for Brooklyn. Porter will be highly sought after at the trade deadline.—TG

38.Trey Murphy III

Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Last Ranking: 46
2025-26 Stats: 21.9 PPG 6.2 REB 3.5 AST 50%/38%/90%

Trey Murphy III provides some stability for a New Orleans Pelicans franchise that’s been in a constant state of flux since Chris Paul departed 15 years ago. He’s a two-way 3-and-D guy with budding playmaking skills and a 7-foot wingspan with still room for improvement on the defensive end. It’s up to the new front office to decide whether Murphy and his team-friendly contract (four years $112 million) are a pillar of the Hornets future or a huge chip to trigger their latest rebuild. —Thomas Golianopoulos 

37.De'Aaron Fox

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Last Ranking: 33
2025-2026 Stats: 20.5 PPG 4.2 REB 5.8 AST 46%/32%/81%

De’Aaron Fox must be good. Steph Curry trusts him enough to make him the only other NBA player with a signature shoe under his Curry label with Under Armour. His production dropped slightly following the trade from Sacramento to San Antonio but he’s also not the only guy anymore, either. He’s got Wemby, and they are going to be a terror running pick and rolls this season.—Matt Welty

36.Bam Adebayo

Team: Miami Heat
Last Ranking: 31
2025-26 Season Stats: 16.8 PPG 9.7 REB 2.7 AST 45%/33%/75%

It appeared for a moment that Bam Adebayo hit a wall last year. A slow start coming off an Olympic Gold Medal summer and severe mileage from seven seasons of Heat Culture were fair reasons for a 6’9 center to not be at the peak of his powers. The declining narrative changed quickly as Bam began getting 30 point double-doubles before returning to the hub heroics he’s known for. As the Miami Heat start the season with Tyler Herro on the IR, a slow start can’t be in the cards. All of Bam’s running mates exist in prove-it purgatory until proven otherwise, putting the offensive onus on the man in the high post. Will he raise his reputation and that of his team’s in an up-for-grabs East? The burden will be on Bam’s broad shoulders all season long.—Ian Stonebrook

35.Austin Reaves

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Last Ranking: 28
2025-26 Stats: 26.6 PPG 5.2 REB 6.3 AST 50%/36%/87%

From undrafted to MVP candidate. Though it's uncertain whether Reaves can continue stuffing the stat sheet, one thing is certain for the impending free agent: He is poised to cash in this summer. A calf strain has sidelined him since Christmas Day.—TG

34.Julius Randle

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Ranking: —
2025-26 Stats: 22.9 PPG / 7.5 REB / 5.5 AST 49%/35%/82%

One of the most underappreciated stars in the NBA, Randle is having another All-Star caliber season as Anthony Edwards' running mate in Minnesota. He keeps adding to his game, improving as a playmaker and turning into a dependable defender.—TG

33.Paolo Banchero

Team: Orlando Magic
Last Ranking: 23
2025-26 Stats: 20.9 PPG 8.7 REB 4.9 AST 45%/ 25%/ 75%

Few defenses have an answer for Paolo Banchero. At 6’10” with a linebacker’s build, the 22-year-old forward can create off the dribble as easily as he can bully smaller wings in the paint. To hit true All-Star status, he’ll need to bring that same intensity on defense and consistently lead Orlando’s hungry core, night in and night out. So far, his 2025-26 has been a bit of a disappointment.—John Kennedy

32.Norman Powell

Team: Miami Heat
Last Ranking: 40
2025-26 Stats: 23.9 PPG 3.8 REB 2.7 AST 48%/41%/85%

Underrated no more. Powell arrived last summer from the Clippers with a reputation for getting buckets and he has not disappointed during his first season in Miami. The 32-year-old is averaging career high shooting numbers across the board and is one of the reasons the Heat have stayed afloat in the East despite their injury issues.—TG

31.Jalen Duren

Team: Detroit Pistons
Last Ranking: 34
2025-26 Stats: 17.9 PPG 10.6 REB 1.7 AST 63%/N/A/72%

Duren, a rim-running lob threat, has proven to be the perfect compliment to Cade Cunningham's all-around offensive game. With Duren patrolling the paint, the Pistons are currently atop the Eastern Conference.—TG

30.Amen Thompson

Team: Houston Rockets
Last Ranking: 32
2025-26 Season Stats: 18.8 PPG 7.6 REB 5.1 AST 51%/19%/80%

No 14 PPG scorer has had more eyeballs entering a season since Tracy McGrady moved to Orlando. Nevertheless, Amen Thompson is undoubtedly among the most exciting players in the NBA despite uncertainty regarding his role. Perhaps a point guard, absolutely an athlete, Amen has made a name for himself by bringing energy and verticality to both sides of the ball. An innate competitiveness got him in Ime Udoka’s good graces almost immediately while viral videos of in-game dunks made him a fan favorite. With all eyes on Amen this season, basketball’s best science project is taking off in Space City. —Ian Stonebrook

29.Jimmy Butler III

Team: Golden State Warriors
Last Ranking: 30
2025-2026 Stats: 19.8 PPG 5.6 REB 4.9 AST 51%/38%/86%

Whether he’s trolling the world with his emo haircut, becoming the face of ALO’s sneakers, or being bud with Morgan Wallen, Jimmy Butler gives you the unexpected. But on the court, he's as dependable as ever. At 36, he can still be Jimmy Buckets, a clutch scorer who can put his team on his back and turn a team’s season around. The Warriors went 23-8 after trading for Butler last February and were 16-2 when both Butler and Curry suited up.—Matt Welty

28.Lauri Markkanen

Team: Utah Jazz
Last Ranking: 35
2025-26 Stats: 27.9 PPG 7.2 REB 2.2 AST 48%/36%/88%

The Finnish star has rebounded following a down 2024-25 and has reclaimed his status as one of the best stretch bigs in the game. Though he's been connected to trade rumors since arriving in Utah, Markkanen is making a case for the Jazz to hold on to him past the deadline.—TG

27.Scottie Barnes

Team: Toronto Raptors
Last Ranking: 29
2025-2026 Stats: 19.3 PPG 8.3 REB 5.3 AST 50%/33%/84%

It would be fair to argue that Scottie Barnes’ game has stagnated. After all, he started the season ranked 34th just like last season. But the fact remains that he’s a capable volume scorer with power forward size and the ability to create offense for others and rebound the ball. He’s also just 24. With Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett beside him, the Raptors are outperforming last season’s 25-win record. Coming into his prime, Barnes is an embodiment of that potential. But the clock is ticking.—Peter A. Berry

26.Chet Holmgren

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Ranking: 26
2025-26 Stats: 17.9 PPG 8.4 REB 1.6 AST 57%/36%/78%

Chet Holmgren entered 2025-26 with both promise and pressure. After injuries slowed his first two seasons, the Thunder’s 7-foot-1 forward-center has flashed dominant defensive instincts and a growing offensive touch. His health remains the biggest question: if he stays on the floor, Holmgren’s blend of rim protection and shooting could help OKC defend its title. —Brighid Tully

25.Jalen Williams

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Ranking: 18
2025-26 Season Stats: 17.7 PPG 4.8 REB 5.5 AST 47%/28%/82%

Jalen Williams went from a guy to that guy in just three seasons. An NBA Finals outing for the ages capped off a Championship run, All-Defensive Second Team selection, and All-NBA Third Team honors. Entering year four as an All-Star and NBA Champion, J-Dub’s ceiling has shifted from a working class Kawhi Leonard to a more creative and compact Scottie Pippen. Typically speaking, big wings with a 7 foot wingspan, two-way talent, and three level scoring ability end up with orange jackets. But Williams has struggled since returning from injury this season. So far, the team hasn't missed a beat but Williams will have to step up if OKC is to repeat.—Ian Stonebrook

24.Evan Mobley

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Ranking: 14
2025-2026 Stats: 17.9 PPG 8.6 REB 4.1 AST 51%/32%/64%

There’s an alternate world where Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and Darius Garland were all healthy last season at the same time and made a run to the finals. Their 64-18 record says they were that good, and Evan Mobley’s multi-positional, Defensive Player of the Year-winning defense and efficient scoring were a big reason why. But Mobley seems to have plateaued this season, which is one of the main reasons that the Cavs are stuck in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference.—Peter A. Berry

23.Pascal Siakam

Team: Indiana Pacers
Last Ranking: 24
2025-26 Stats: 23.5 PPG 6.8 REB 3.8 AST 48%/37%/68%

Spicy P has been as good as advertised since finding his footing in Indiana, becoming the picture perfect blueprint of everything you’d ever want from a modern 4 and second option. Reliable, active, great vibes, and made for the moment, Siakam soared in the Pacers playoff run averaging over 20 points and six rebounds a night. With Tyrese Haliburton out for the season, Pascal has returned to the top dog role he once held in Toronto. Another All-Star selection seems imminent, even though the Pacers reside in the Eastern Conference basement.—Ian Stonebrook

22.Karl-Anthony Towns

Team: New York Knicks
Last Ranking: 19
2025-26 Stats: 21.2 PPG 11.4 REB 3 AST 47%/35%/86%

Put some respect on the big man’s name. Karl-Anthony Towns remains one of the most gifted offensive players the NBA has ever seen, and moving to power forward in Mike Brown’s system has freed him to dominate the perimeter. Yet, defensive lapses and foul issues persist, limiting consistency even if his offensive ceiling remains All-NBA caliber. —Brighid Tully

21.James Harden

Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Last Ranking: 20
2025-2026 Stats:25.8 PPG 4.8 REB 8 AST 42%/36%/89%

At 36, James Harden is coming off of what could be called a bounce back season. His scoring jumped from 16.6 points per game in 2023-24 (his lowest total since 2010-11) to 22.8 and he looked fitter and more engaged than he had in years. But is that enough to lead the geriatric Clippers to the NBA Finals? (Harden is one of eight 30-plus Clippers.) Though the Clippers have rebounded from their dreadful start, The Beard will be judged by how he performs in April and May. That’s the burden of being a former MVP and future first-ballot Hall of Famer.—Thomas Golianopoulos 

20.LeBron James

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Last Ranking: 13
2025-26 Stats: 22.4 PPG 5.7 REB 6.9 AST 51%/31%/73%

It’s a strange time for LeBron James. For the first time in his career, he’s entering the season as a clear second banana, which is part of why there’s a simmering tension between Bron and the Lakers that feels destined to come to a head at some point this year. After starting the season in street clothes due to a bout with sciatica, an unpredictable and nagging nerve injury, he's returned to be close to the LeBron of last season. Though he's taken another step back defensively, James, now 40 and in year 23, remains one of the best players in the world—capable of dominating every aspect of a game at will, especially when he’s able to pace himself. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

19.Jamal Murray

Team: Denver Nuggets
Last Ranking: 21
2025-26 Stats: 25.6 PPG 4.6 REB 7.6 AST 48%/44%/88%

After years of cost-cutting, Denver’s front office finally built a competent team around Jokic this summer. One of the biggest beneficiaries should be Jamal Murray, who’s struggled with consistency in the past—partly due to injuries, partly due to slow starts. (He was particularly brutal in the first quarter of last season.) Jokic is Superman, so he doesn’t necessarily need Murray to be Batman if he’s got a squad of Super Friends. But since Joker went down with a knee injury, the Nuggets have maintained their winning ways and Murray has reclaimed his role as a capable number two on a championship team.—Dimas Sanfiorenzo

18.Deni Avdija

Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Last Ranking: 39
2025-26 Stats: 26.1 PPG 7.1 REB 6.9 AST 46%/35%/80%

The leading candidate for Most Improved Player is a 24-year-old do-it-all forward on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the sport (three years $39 million remaining). Though it's yet to be seen if he can continue this pace, Avdija currently has the Blazers in the play-in spot in the treacherous Western Conference.—TG

17.Alperen Sengun

Team: Houston Rockets
Last Ranking: 16
2025-26 Stats: 21.7 PPG 8.9 REB 6.6 AST 50%/30%/72%

Sengun is now a top 20 guy. Part of that comes earning his first All-Star appearance, while establishing himself as the offensive anchor for the No. 2 seed in the West last season. But the real hype around Sengun came from his performance at EuroBasket last summer. Playing for Turkey, he was cooking, looking like a baby Joker and leading his team to the finals, where they fell to Germany. Now, he’s carrying that momentum into the season, teaming up with KD to form one of the most potent one-two offensive punches in the league. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo 

16.Devin Booker

Team: Phoenix Suns
Last Ranking: 15
2025-2026 Stats: 25.2 PPG 4.1 REB 6.5 AST 45%/30%/86%

If there’s a light at the end of the tunnel in Phoenix, Devin Booker can see it. With Kevin Durant leaving for the Houston Rockets, he was left with a roster of journeymen and neophytes. But the Suns are on the cusp of making the playoffs thanks to Booker’s smooth scoring and playmaking. It will be up to the Phoenix front office to add at the deadline to ensure the Suns avoid the play-in.—Peter A. Berry

15.Jalen Johnson

Team: Atlanta Hawks
Last Ranking: 27
2025-2026 Stats: 23.4 PPG 10.1 REB 8.1 AST 52%/36%/79%

Now that the Atlanta Hawks have moved on from Trae Young, they have a new face of the franchise. At 6’9” with altruistic court vision and slam dunk contest bounce, Jalen Johnson is a 24-year-old with the length, athleticism, and offensive creativity to become one of the NBA’s next great two-way threats. Injuries have kept him to only 92 games the last two seasons, but he’s been healthy this season and will be an All-Star in February. —Peter A. Berry

14.Kawhi Leonard

Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Last Ranking: 25
2025-2026 Stats: 28.1 PPG 6.4 REB 3.4 AST 50%/38%/93%

When healthy, Kawhi Leonard remains a devastating three-level scorer who can still defend at All-NBA levels. But that hasn’t been the case recently. The 2019 NBA Finals MVP played in just 37 regular season games last season. Leonard had the Clippers rolling heading into the playoffs where they had the misfortune of drawing the best player in the world in the first round. Leonard has endured the Clippers' slow start and has them rolling as the season reaches the midway point. If—if!—Leonard can stay healthy, the Clippers will be a team no one wants to face in the postseason.—Peter A. Berry

13.Kevin Durant

Team: Houston Rockets
Last Ranking: 12
2025-26 Stats: 26.1 PPG 5.4 REB 4.5 AST 52%/40%/ 89%

A million and one questions followed KD in Year 18 as he joined his third team in six seasons. Could he mesh with Houston’s young, defensive-minded squad? Could Durant lead the Rockets past their potential and back to the promised land? Yes and maybe. The Slim Reaper can still get buckets on anyone, from anywhere on the court but the Rockets are in the middle of the pack of a loaded Western Conference playoff picture. —John Kennedy

12.Jaylen Brown

Team: Boston Celtics
Last Ranking: 17
2025-26 Stats: 29.5 PPG 6.4 REB 5 AST 49%/37%/77%

With Jayson Tatum sidelined, Jaylen Brown has thrived as Boston’s undisputed No. 1 option. A 2022 All-NBA nod, 2023 super-max deal, and 2024 Finals MVP reflect his steady ascent into the league’s upper echelon. Now, Brown’s scoring versatility and two-way impact have the Celtics near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.—Brighid Tully

11.Cade Cunningham

Team: Detroit Pistons
Last Ranking: 9
2025-26 Stats: 26.7 PPG 6.2 REB 9.7 AST 46%/34%/83%

For a second it looked like it might not happen for Cade Cunningham. Early injuries and deplorable Pistons records kept Cade out of the next up conversation even if counting stats suggested otherwise. Last year, that all changed. Playing point guard and alpha dog for an upstart team took Cade to his first All-Star appearance and the Pistons to the postseason. It all clicked as the 6’6 floor general showcased the ability to lead, the poise to control pace, and just enough nasty to make everyone around him buy-in. With the Pistons atop the Eastern Conference, don’t be surprised if the once doubted top pick becomes a darkhorse MVP candidate. —Ian Stonebrook

10.Tyrese Maxey

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Last Ranking: 11
2025-26 Stats: 30.9 PPG 4.5 REB 6.7 AST 48%/40%/87%

The Sixers entered this season with unanswered questions: Can Joel Embiid play more than 30 games? Will Paul George put down the podcast mic? What can we expect from rookie V.J. Edgecombe? So far, they've endured and the Sixers are contenders in the East. One thing is for certain: Tyrese Maxey, one of the most reliable bucket-getters in the league, is the unquestioned leader of the Sixers now. After shaking off last year’s injury issues, Maxey is playing at an elite, All-NBA-level. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

9.Donovan Mitchell

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Ranking: 10
2025-26 Stats: 29.5 PPG 4.7 REB 5.5 AST 49%/38%/84%

After a First Team All-NBA season last year, Spida is looking to take another leap. The question now: Can he evolve from an elite scorer and playmaker on a deep, regular-season powerhouse into the undisputed alpha—a top-five player leading a true championship contender? If there’s ever a time to do it, it’s this season: he’s 28, right in the heart of his athletic prime and the Eastern Conference is in shambles, with the Knicks as the only real threat. But the Cavs early season struggles have continued into 2026. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

8.Stephen Curry

Team: Golden State Warriors
Last Ranking: 8
2025-2026 Stats: 28.1 PPG 3.8 REB 4.9 AST 46%/38%/92%

Though now in his post-prime era, Steph Curry is still capable of being the best player on a championship team. The 37-year-old marksman continues to evolve. He can still push the pace and hit the big shot but he’s now also a plus defender. While Golden State’s two timelines plan failed to materialize, Curry now leads a veteran championship core that can still contend in the loaded Western Conference.— Thomas Golianopoulos

7.Jalen Brunson

Team: New York Knicks
Last Ranking: 7
2025-26 Stats: 28.9 PPG 3.3 REB 6.3 AST 48%/38%/85%

Nobody is tougher in crunch time than Jalen Brunson. The NBA’s reigning Clutch Player of the Year led the Knicks to their deepest playoff run in 25 years thanks to his unshakable poise and big-time shotmaking. With Big Body Brunson at the helm, these ‘Bockers have good reason to believe they can take the wide-open East.—John Kennedy

6.Anthony Edwards

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Ranking: 6
2025-26 Stats: 28.9 PPG 5 REB 3.8 AST 50%/40%/78%

Ant-Man has improved steadily over his first five seasons solidifying a spot amongst the NBA’s elite, while leading a mismatched Timberwolves roster to back-to-back Western Conference Finals berths in the process. Now comes the hard part: Making the leap into the rarefied air occupied by the best of the best. He’s got the athleticism and skills to achieve it. Just as important: Edwards aspires to be great. Like Kobe and LeBron before him, he seems to refine his game each summer. And at 24 years old, he has time on his side. —Thomas Golianopoulos

5.Victor Wembanyama

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Last Ranking: 5
2025-2026 Stats: 24 PPG 11 REB 3 AST 51%/35%/83%

Victor Wembanyama is something that should only work in theory. The Frenchman is 7’5” (with an 8-foot wingspan), wears a size 20.5 shoe (we’re still waiting on him to get a signature Nike sneaker), and can move and shoot. He’s given the Spurs a new hope after the team drifted into mediocrity following the departure of their championship core, which is what happens when your ceiling happens to be Hakeem Olajuwon on the defensive end and KD on the other. Full stop: Wemby is a potential GOAT. He seems fully recovered from the calf strain that sidelined him earlier this season —Matt Welty

4.Giannis Antetokounmpo

Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Last Ranking: 4
2025-26 Stats: 29.1 PPG 9.7 REB 5.7 AST 64%/38%/65%

The Greek Freak is still putting up numbers comparable to his back-to-back MVP campaigns in 2019 and 2020 yet has become something different. He can no longer be goaded into taking silly three-pointers, is an astute playmaker, and more unstoppable than ever in the paint. Giannis is the closest thing this generation has to Shaquille O’Neal. But he's also no longer a world class defender capable of guarding all five positions. He's also stuck in basketball purgatory for the first time in his career with the Bucks nowhere near contending, not even in the unsettled Eastern Conference. —Thomas Golianopoulos

3.Luka Dončić

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Last Ranking: 3
2025-26 Stats: 33.4 PPG 7.9 REB 8.8 AST 46%/32%/79%

The shock of the trade sending Luka Dončić from Dallas to Los Angeles hasn’t subsided but it’s time to move on and look at the state of his game. The Don is the most lethal offensive weapon in the NBA. He’s a maestro in the pick and roll, lethal from behind the arc, and a savvy playmaker. But he’s been roasted for his defense and conditioning since his rookie season. An off-season workout regimen should have helped in that regard. (Did you hear that he toned up this summer?) —Thomas Golianopoulos

2.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Ranking: 2
2025-26 Stats: 31.9 PPG 4.5 REB 6.4 AST 54%/39%/88%

SGA and OKC are here to stay. The defending MVP is the perfect modern-day player on both sides of the ball. He’s a three-level scorer with a knack for creating contact and drawing whistles (NBA twitter calls it a cheat code) and an aggressive defender with supreme ball-hawking skills. Don’t be surprised if Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the first person to repeat as both MVP and Finals MVP since LeBron James in 2012 and 2013. —Thomas Golianopoulos

1.Nikola Jokic

Team: Denver Nuggets
Last Ranking: 1
2025-26 Stats: 29.6 PPG 12.2 REB 11 AST 60%/43%/85%

The superlatives tossed around don’t do Nikola Jokic justice. He’s the most skilled big man of all time. The best playmaking big of all time. A walking triple-double. Etc. Etc. Like MJ and LeBron, he’s reached the point where MVP voters have gone numb to his greatness and look for reasons to bestow the honor upon others. The Joker is better than ever. Last season, he averaged a career high in points and assists en route to becoming the third NBA player to average a triple-double in a season. He’s now also a plus defender. With a retooled supporting cast in Denver, he remains the biggest obstacle in Oklahoma City’s path towards repeating as champion. After suffering a hyperextended knee in late December, Jokic is on track for an early February return.—Thomas Golianopoulos