The 50 Best NBA Players Right Now

Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Last Ranking: —
2025-2026 Stats: DNP

Dame D.O.L.L.A. is back where it all began in Rip City after the Bucks waived and stretched him in the summer of 2025 while he was rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon. Lillard returned to Portland on a three-year $41 million deal and sat out the 2025-26 season. What kind of return should the Blazers expect? Before his injury, Lillard, a 9-time All-Star, was essentially a one-way player, an inefficient bucket-getter (24.9 points per game on 44/37/92 shooting) and a liability on defense. He’s now 36 years old and coming off a major injury.—Thomas Golianopoulos

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Last Ranking: 34
2025-2026 Stats: 18.6 Points Per Game 3.8 Rebounds Per Game 6.2 Assists Per Game 48% Field Goal Percentage / 33% 3-Point Percentage / 76% Free Throw Percentage

A little low? An overreaction to his Finals performance? Perhaps! Fox was always going to sacrifice shots and stats following his move from bottom-dwelling Sacramento to ascending San Antonio but he notched his lowest point total since the 2018-19 campaign. Yet he was still productive enough to merit an All-Star berth, his second. Fox’s season turned after suffering a high ankle sprain in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. He went on to have a nightmare NBA Finals against the Knicks—12.8 points per game on 36% shooting and a series-turning brain fart in Game 4—that led to questions as to whether Fox is the right backcourt fit next to rising stars Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.—TG

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Ranking: 42
2025-2026 Stats: 10.9 PPG 11.5 REB 1.7 AST 66%/0%/52%

Shaquille O Neal’s least favorite big man of the modern era was never worth the massive haul Minnesota traded for him (four first round picks, a swap, and the rights to Walker Kessler) but he’s still one of the best team defenders and rim protectors in the game and has stabilized the TImberwolves’ front line. He will need to be better than ever for the Wolves to compete with San Antonio and Oklahoma City as Minnesota lacks front-court depth after losing Julius Randle and Naz Reid. —TG

Team: Charlotte Hornets
Last Ranking: 45
2025-2026 Stats: 20.2 PPG 4.9 REB 3.3 AST 43%/38%/89%

Brandon Miller is reportedly in talks to sign a contract worth more than $200 million, and he’s got the length and shot-making skill to make it a worthwhile contract. The Hornets have the pieces, but he needs to up his scoring efficiency to at least above league average to ensure they make good on their potential—and that his contract doesn’t become an eye sore.—Peter A. Berry

Team: Orlando Magic
Last Ranking: 35
2025-2026 Stats: 20.1 PPG 4.1 REB 4.1 AST 48%/39%/90%

In his first season with the Magic, Desmond Bane proved to be one of the most potent third option scorers in the league, getting more than 20 points a game on elite efficiency while spacing the floor and remaining a capable defender. Assuming Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero can remain healthy, he should be even more devastating this season. —PAB

Team: Utah Jazz
Last Ranking: 32
2025-26 Stats: 26.7 PPG 6.9 REB 2.1 AST 47%/35%/89%

Markkanen played in just 42 games last season, but he made his presence felt in each of them. The 7-foot-1 forward was phenomenal for the Jazz in the early portion of last season, highlighted by a career-high scoring night on October 27, 2025 in a 138-134 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns. Markkanen scored 51 points that night and pulled down 14 boards. He was a perfect 17-of-17 from the free-throw line. —Matt Burke

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Last Ranking: —
2025-2026 Stats: 11.8 PPG 3.4 REB 3.9 AST 50%/34%/75%

Harper’s development over his rookie season triggered a good problem for the Spurs: How to divide playing time between Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle when the three of them can’t and should not simultaneously be on the court? Don’t expect Harper, a three-level scorer who was the Spurs most dependable offensive threat in the Finals, to be content with coming off the bench again. When asked about his role for 2026-27, he told GQ, “What’s the political answer here?” he said. “I’m going to do whatever the team needs me to do, man. If that’s come off the bench. . . That’s crazy. F**k no. I ain’t coming off no bench.” —TG

Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Last Ranking: 44
2025-26 Stats: 21.5 PPG 5.7 REB 3.8 AST 47%/37%/88%

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 (three years $87 million) are a pillar of the Pelicans future or a huge chip to trigger their latest rebuild. —TG 

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Last Ranking: 39
2025-26 Stats: 23.3 PPG 4.7 REB 5.5 AST 49%/36%/87%

Big performances by Austin Reaves once felt like a fluke. Sure, role players have high-scoring nights here and there. That’s nothing new. But then he started to do it again and again—and in high-pressure situations. All of a sudden, his four-year, $54 million deal turned into a bargain as he was averaging over 20 points a night. Now toting a contract worth over $180 million, expectations are much higher. With a revamped Lakers roster, he still has a lot to prove, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. —Zac Dubasik

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Last Ranking: 30
2025-26 Stats: 26.9 PPG 7.7 REB 3.9 AST 48%/33%/85%

Despite an MVP season under his belt, and countless other All-NBA years, the Embiid-era of the Sixers has still left us with a lot to be desired. A lot of it isn’t Embiid’s fault. When he is healthy, few players in the modern NBA are as dominant. But that’s the rub: He’s been plagued with injuries throughout his career. The biggest difference this year is that he has the right supporting cast to shoulder the load. That means we may finally get a full strength Embiid for what can hopefully be a deep playoff run. This might sound like a broken record, but maybe this season is when The Process will finally be fulfilled. —Mike DeStefano

Team: Washington Wizards
Last Ranking: —
2025-2026 Stats: 20.4 PPG 11.1 REB 2.8 AST 50%/27%/72%

Anthony Davis barely played last year, and when he did, he was a heaping pile of mid. But give the legend some credit. The time off can do a man wonders, and his reflexes and still-elite mobility should make him one of the game’s premier big men once again—especially now that he’ll share the court with a gifted playmaker like Trae Young and budding superstar AJ Dybantsa. He wanted a chance to be competitive, and he should get it.—PAB

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Ranking: 40
2025-2026 Stats: 20.1 PPG 4.8 REB 7.1 AST 40%/36%/89%

When healthy, LaMelo Ball has been one of the league’s most talented shot creators for years. Now that he’s joining forces with the guy that was selected ahead of him in the 2020 NBA Draft he’ll have the chance to make it matter more than ever before, with Anthony Edwards’ rim pressure giving him the space to attack titled defenses with savant court vision and inventive shot-making.—PAB

Team: Dallas Mavericks
Last Ranking: —
2025-2026 Stats: DNP

When Kyrie Irving was last seen on the court, the Mavericks were still reeling from the disastrous Luka Doncic trade and Cooper Flagg was preparing for March Madness. After nearly 20 months on the shelf, Irving is now attempting to come back from a torn ACL at the age of 34. Will he still resemble the nine-time All-Star who dazzled with his ball-handling and finishing prowess around the rim? That’s up in the air. One thing is certain though: Irving is a prime trade candidate. There’s a new regime in Dallas (arrivederci Nico Harrison!) and its focus should be building a long-term winner around Flagg, their 19-year-old franchise player. —TG

Team: Orlando Magic
Last Ranking: 33
2025-26 Stats: 22.2 PPG 8.4 REB 5.2 AST 45%/ 30%/ 77%

The 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year made a statement in the 2026 NBA Playoffs as his 8-seeded Magic had the 1-seeded Pistons on the ropes. Banchero averaged 26.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in the 7-game series, which was eventually won by Detroit. The 23-year-old scored a career-high 45 points in Game 5 of the series against the Pistons. Banchero also tallied three triple-doubles during the 2025-26 regular season. —MB

Team: Houston Rockets
Last Ranking: 38
2025-26 Season Stats: 18.3 PPG 7.8 REB 5.3 AST 53%/21%/77%

Fourth-year pro Amen Thompson is one of the most intriguing guards in the Western Conference. At the age of 23, he displays an incredibly dynamic skill set. His athleticism and frame (6-foot-7) allows him to defend positions 1-4 on the floor. Additionally, Thompson’s speed and explosiveness at the rim is something to marvel at, however, his lack of an outside shot is a glaring weakness. Which way does he trend next? The Rockets’ fate likely depends on it. —Gabriel Santiago

Team: Charlotte Hornets
Last Ranking: 37
2025-26 Stats: 18.5 PPG 5.3 REB 3.4 AST 47%/ 42%/ 86%

With LaMelo Ball gone, Kon Knueppel will need to develop into more of a volume scorer as either the No. 1 or No. 2 option in Charlotte. The good news is that he should be ready for it. Last year, he broke the NBA’s rookie record for most threes in a season. He was also the only eligible rookie to ever score more than 18 points per game on over 60 true shooting percentage. —PAB

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Ranking: 25
2025-26 Stats: 17.1 PPG 8.9 REB 1.7 AST 55%/36%/79%

Despite a forgettable exit to last postseason, 7-foot-1 Chet Holmgren is still one of the association’s premier rim protectors. He averaged a career-low 1.9 blocks per game in 2025-26, but simultaneously, his 55.7 FG% was his best over three years in the NBA. From there, Holmgren has not played in more than 70 regular season games since his rookie campaign in 2023-24. (He sat out the 2022-23 season with foot issues.) He’ll need to be both more present and dominant if SGA & the Thunder are to make another championship run. Life comes at ya fast in the league. —GS

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Ranking: 22
2025-2026 Stats: 23.6 PPG 4.8 REB 8.0 AST 43%/37%/88%

Harden’s stats were understandably down following his mid-season trade from the Clippers to the Cavs as he was asked to share playmaking responsibilities with Donovan Mitchell. But he looked fitter and more engaged in Cleveland—until the postseason got under way. Harden, now 37, flamed out once again in the playoffs, yet he was rewarded with a three-year $97 million contract last summer. Now on a contender in the competitive East, the Beard will be judged by how he performs in April, May, and June. That’s the burden of being a former MVP and future first-ballot Hall of Famer. —TG

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Last Ranking: 46
2025-26 Season Stats: 16.7 PPG 5.3 REB 7.4 AST 47%/33%/73%

The 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year took another leap forward last season, improving in every statistical category while playing All-NBA caliber defense. Castle then saved his best for the postseason as he was a key factor in the young Spurs run to their first NBA Finals since 2014. But the five-game series loss to the Knicks—in which Castle shot 37.7% from the field and was regularly torched by Jalen Brunson on the other end of the floor—led to some uncomfortable questions for the Spurs: Is Castle a primary ball-handler on a championship team? Can he play alongside De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper? Will his 3-point shooting improve? For now, it appears the Spurs are willing to be patient with the 21-year-old from UConn. —TG

Team: Houston Rockets
Last Ranking: 29
2025-26 Stats: 20.4 PPG 8.9 REB 6.2 AST 51%/30%/69%

Last year, Alperen Şengün was one of only four players to average at least 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. The others were Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, and Jalen Johnson. Despite taking an L to LeBron James and the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs last year, his stats held up pretty well. At this point, the only thing truly holding Şengün back from All-NBA status is his middling efficiency. —PAB

Team: Detroit Pistons
Last Ranking: 19
2025-26 Stats: 19.5 PPG 10.5 REB 2.0 AST 65%/N/A/74%

Let’s just start with the obvious: if the playoffs are the ultimate lie detector test, Jalen Duren failed it. After putting up about 20 ppg on elite efficiency during the regular season, he averaged less than 11 points and 9 rebounds per game in the postseason. It looks like that was enough to cause the Pistons to balk at offering him a full max. But not enough that he’d be less anything than the still-massive $200 million he’ll receive.—PAB

Team: Dallas Mavericks
Last Ranking: 36
2025-26 Stats: 21.0 PPG 6.7 REB 4.5 AST 46%/29%/82%

Mavericks fans will never get over the stunning trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers, but Cooper Flagg is certainly easing the pain in Dallas. Flagg has a very real chance to win NBA MVP one day—perhaps multiple MVPs, and perhaps as soon as this season. Last season, Flagg became the first rookie to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since a guy named Michael Jordan accomplished the feat in 1984-85. —MB

Team: Indiana Pacers
Last Ranking: 23
2025-26 Stats: 24.0 PPG 6.6 REB 3.8 AST 48%/35%/69%

Siakam was the last man standing from the Pacers’ core that made an improbable run to the 2025 NBA Finals: Tyrese Haliburton sat out the season rehabbing a torn Achilles; Myles Turner signed with Milwaukee in July 2025; and Bennedict Mathurin was traded to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac. (A 2025 draft pick that became Keaton Wagler was also sent west—oops!) Siakam took a much larger role in the offense and averaged a career high in points but the Pacers won just 19 games. With Hali back, Siakam should revert to his 2025 form as one of the best hybrid forwards in the game. —TG

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Ranking: 43
2025-26 Season Stats: 17.1 PPG 4.6 REB 5.5 AST 48%/29%/83%

When healthy, Jalen Williams’ length, agility and on-ball skillset made him one of the 15 best players in the Association. Alongside Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Chet Holmgren, his dynamism made the Oklahoma City Thunder pretty much unstoppable during their 2025 championship run. The problem is, last season, he was rarely healthy, and OKC will need him to be if they want to seriously threaten to win another chip.—PAB

Team: New York Knicks
Last Ranking: —
2025-2026 Stats: 16.7 PPG 5.2 REB 2.2 AST 48%/38%/82%

OG Anunoby already won the heart of New Yorkers after his championship-changing putback. Now he’s trying to reach another benchmark: the second-best Knick in the city. He’s right there. He's been less injury-prone in recent years, and the holes he’s displayed over the years—streaky shooting, spotty handle—will get better now that he’s in his prime earning years. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Ranking: 24
2025-2026 Stats: 18.2 PPG 9.0 REB 3.6 AST 54%29%/60%

Despite winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 (and triggering a bonus to the max extension that accompanied it), the Cavs have been waiting for Evan Mobley to have that elusive breakthrough offensive season for his entire career. It can be easy to overlook his versatility and the small things he does off the ball in search of 35-point games, but when Mobley asserts himself, he’s a legitimate weapon on both sides of the court. —ZD

Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Last Ranking: 18
2025-26 Stats: 24.2 PPG 6.9 REB 6.7 AST 46%/31%/80%

With Damian Lillard in the wind, it looked like the Portland Trail Blazers were in the dirt, and likely going to stay there for a while. And then a funny thing happened: Deni Avdija became a do-it-all superstar. Last year, he was the only player besides Jokic and Dončić to score more than 24 points per game while also collectively over 6 rebounds and 6 assists. If Ja Morant and Damian Lillard can return to anything resembling their previous form, Deni could find himself leading a very dangerous team come playoff time. —PAB

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Last Ranking: 26
2025-26 Stats: 20.9 PPG 6.1 REB 7.2 AST 51%/31%/73%

King James enters Year 24 with a new team and a new two-year contract. Surely this is the last stop in the most decorated NBA career of all time, right? Here’s where 42-year-old LeBron’s game stands: He’s still the best passer in the league and the smartest. He took fewer 3-pointers last season (which is good) but his athleticism noticeably slipped (which is concerning) and he hasn’t committed to playing 48 minutes of passable defense since the 2020 COVID bubble. Having said that, he’s the second best player of all time, a legit All-Star, and immediately makes the Sixers a title contender. —TG

Team: Toronto Raptors
Last Ranking: 27
2025-2026 Stats: 18.1 PPG 7.9 REB 5.9 AST 50%/30%/81%

Barnes has steadily progressed in each of his five seasons with the Toronto Raptors. A versatile 6-foot 8 forward, he’s a versatile, aggressive defender, a solid rebounder, and can defend one-through-four on the court. On offense, he’s a slasher who has become more comfortable shouldering playmaking responsibilities when needed. The two-time All-Star should slot nicely next to a returning Kawhi Leonard. —TG

Team: Miami Heat
Last Ranking: 20
2025-26 Stats: 20.1 PPG 10 REB 3.2 AST 44%/31%/77%

It seems like he’s been in the league forever, but Bam is just 29-years-old and is in the prime of his career. Adebayo showed his dominance and then some on March 10, 2026 when he scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. It was the second-most points scored in a game by an individual player in NBA history. Bam is one of the top defenders in the league, having made NBA All-Defensive First Team once (2024) and having made NBA All-Defensive Second Team five times (2020-23, 2026). He could very well put up the best numbers of his career this season as he now has Giannis as his frontcourt running mate. —MB

Team: Indiana Pacers
Last Ranking: —
2025-2026 Stats: DNP

The last time we saw a healthy Tyrese Haliburton on court, he was in the midst of a career-defining postseason that featured a clutch performance at MSG, the introduction of his own signature sneaker line, and a game-winning shot in the NBA Finals. But with his profile at an all-time high, and on the brink of upsetting the OKC Thunder, Haliburton went down with a torn Achilles in Game 7 that sidelined him for the entire 2025-26 season. Now with a clean bill of health, his return makes the Pacers one of the more interesting teams in the league. —ZD

Team: Atlanta Hawks
Last Ranking: 17
2025-2026 Stats: 22.5 PPG 10.3 REB 7.9 AST 48%/35%/78%

Last year, Jalen Johnson had one of the more efficient superstar ascensions in recent NBA history. After putting up triple double adjacent numbers during the regular season, he managed to prove he was official in the playoffs too. His numbers dropped a little bit, but he was a big factor in producing one of the most impressive feats of the spring: handing the New York Knicks two of their only three losses of the 2026 postseason. —PAB

Team: Phoenix Suns
Last Ranking: 16
2025-2026 Stats: 26.1 PPG 3.9 REB 6 AST 45%/33%/87%

By the historical data points, Devin Booker is smack in the middle of his prime. He’s also stayed loyal to a Phoenix Suns team that showed some spunk last season after the Booker/Beal/KD “superteam” imploded. But Booker has been stuck in basketball purgatory since the Suns’ run to the 2021 NBA Finals. He’s kept getting his buckets while transitioning to lead playmaker. Now the 12-year veteran, who turns 30 in late October, will be tasked with leading this mismatched roster to the playoffs. —DS

Team: Denver Nuggets
Last Ranking: 15
2025-26 Stats: 25.4 PPG 4.4 REB 7.1 AST 48%/43%/88%

Last year was technically the best of Jamal Murray’s career, as his health held up throughout the season and he scored and assisted at All-NBA levels. It’s just too bad his miserable showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves was enough to almost make you forget his dominance. Still, if he repeats last season’s production, the Nuggets will remain dangerous.—PAB

Team: New York Knicks
Last Ranking: 28
2025-26 Stats: 20.9 PPG 11.9 REB 3.0 AST 50%/36%/85%

For 11 seasons, the scouting report on KAT read, Second-best shooting big man in NBA history (shout out Dirk!) but, to put it kindly, a poor defender. He couldn’t protect the rim or guard the pick and roll and he always seemed to be committing silly fouls. That all changed last spring during the Knicks improbable championship run when the New Jersey native morphed into 90s era Hakeem Olajuwon on the defensive end. Simply put: The Knicks do not win the chip if not for KAT’s defense. Will it carry over into 2026-27? Who cares? He helped end the Knicks 53-year championship drought. Now embroiled in a predictable contract dispute. —TG

Team: Golden State Warriors
Last Ranking: 14
2025-2026 Stats: 26.6 PPG 3.6 REB 4.7 AST 46%/39%/92%

The NBA’s 3-point king is still consistently knocking ’em down from deep at 38-years of age. Go to a Warriors game and it’s almost a lock that Curry will drain a 3-pointer as he hasn’t gone a game without hitting one since Dec. 19, 2024. The Warriors have missed the playoffs in two out of the last four seasons, but with Curry on the floor they always have a chance. Due mostly to Curry still being on the roster, the Warriors are favored to make the 2027 NBA Playoffs at Fanatics Sportsbook as they own a -130 price. —MB

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Last Ranking: 13
2025-26 Stats: 28.3 PPG 4.1 REB 6.6 AST 46%/36%/89%

Tyrese Maxey has been everything that the Sixers organization could have wished for, and more, when they drafted him 21st overall back in 2020. He has grown his game year over year on his way to multiple All-Star appearances and a career-best 28.3 PPG in 2025-26. That was when he had to be the team’s second option. Now, with a loaded Sixers roster that has added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, it takes some of the pressure off of Maxey. We expect that to pay huge dividends for the guard down the stretch. He’s still a certified bucket getter, but now has the right tools around him to take that extra step. —MD

Team: Houston Rockets
Last Ranking: 12
2025-26 Stats: 26.0 PPG 5.5 REB 4.8 AST 52%/41%/ 87%

KD enters the 2026-27 season with 18 years of NBA tenure under his belt, however, his quest for a title outside of Golden State continues. Even at the ripe age of 38, Durant’s shooting ability combined with his towering height (6-foot-11) and ball-handling skill makes for one of the NBA’s most difficult covers. His fit on this youthful Rockets team both on and off the court remains a concern (see, last season’s burner account scandal). —GS

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Last Ranking: 8
2025-26 Stats: 28.7 PPG 6.9 REB 5.1 AST 47%/34%/79%

The most stunning trade of the chaotic NBA summer of 2026 occurred when Celtics boss Brad Stevens dealt Brown to the rival Philadelphia 76ers. Brown proved last season that he could be the alpha on a successful team as he led the Celtics to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 56-26. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP is now one of the main players in Philly’s “Super Team” experiment that also features LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe. —MB

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Ranking: 9
2025-26 Stats: 27.9 PPG 4.5 REB 5.7 AST 48%/36%/86%

Last year, Donovan Mitchell finally made the conference finals. The issue is that he got swept once he got there. Still, his burst, combined with his pull-up shooting make him one of the most explosive three-level scoring threats in the game, and it feels like he’s nowhere near the end of his prime.—PAB

Team: Detroit Pistons
Last Ranking: 10
2025-26 Stats: 23.9 PPG 5.5 REB 9.9 AST 46%/34%/81%

Coming off his first All-NBA season, Cade Cunningham is trying to shake the stink of playoff disappointment. The problem in the Motor City is that this roster looks less settled than last year’s, with Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart gone. That means Cade needs another leap from top 10 to top 5—and a better three-point shot—if the Pistons are going to realistically take out the Knicks or Sixers in the suddenly loaded Eastern Conference. —DS

Team: Boston Celtics
Last Ranking: 21
2025-26 Stats: 21.8 PPG 10 REB 5.3 AST 41%/32%/82%

MVP season incoming? Tatum is fully healthy, and for the first time in his career he is Boston’s true No. 1. With Jaylen Brown now in Philly, we will finally find out if Tatum is truly worthy of being called a top 5 player in the NBA. Tatum is +1700 to win NBA MVP at Fanatics Sportsbook heading into the season. Only Wemby, SGA, Luka, and Giannis have shorter odds. —MB

Team: Toronto Raptors
Last Ranking: 6
2025-2026 Stats: 27.9 PPG 6.4 REB 3.6 AST 50%/38%/89%

Sometimes a fresh start—different weather, a new country, more poutine—is all you need. That’s the theory Kawhi is testing as he puts a controversial, largely disappointing Clippers era behind him. He’s now leading a scrappy Toronto Raptors team with title dreams—albeit long-shot ones. Don’t count them out, though; we’ve seen Kawhi work miracles in the 6ix before. —DS

Team: Miami Heat
Last Ranking: 7
2025-26 Stats: 27.6 PPG 9.8 REB 5.4 AST 62%/33%/65%

The Greek Freak finally ended the exasperating will-he-stay-or-will-he-go drama when he accepted a trade from Milwaukee to the Miami Heat. Now let’s see how he adapts to Heat Culture. The two-time MVP is still an astute playmaker and more unstoppable than ever in the paint—Giannis is the closest thing this generation has to Shaq—but he's no longer a world class defender capable of guarding all five positions and injuries limited him to a career-low 36 games last season. —TG

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Ranking: 5
2025-26 Stats: 28.8 PPG 5 REB 3.7 AST 48%/39%/79%

Ant-Man is undoubtedly one of the NBA’s brightest and most exciting young superstars. While his play has mostly lived up to the hype, the face of the T-Wolves has yet to clinch an NBA Finals appearance and fully live up to the “face of the league” status that was anointed on him. Each season, we have seen Edwards steadily round out his game, from highlight reel high flyer to sharpshooter. Now, we get to see if he can share the spotlight with LaMelo Ball in Minnesota. The electrifying addition will either be exactly what Edwards needs to finally get over the hump or bring on some difficult growing pains. Either way, we’ll be watching to see how one of the best players in the NBA adapts to his new circumstances. —MD

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Last Ranking: 4
2025-26 Stats: 33.5 PPG 7.7 REB 8.3 AST 47%/36%/78%

LeBron is now in Philly, so we will now get to see Luka as the unquestioned leader of the Lakers. Dončić led the NBA in scoring last season at 33.5 points per game and he is one of the favorites to win MVP this season, owning a +550 price at Fanatics. Dončić appears to have lost a good amount of weight heading into the 2026-27 season. His head coach, JJ Redick, took notice, saying, “[Luka] worked his butt off all summer on staying in shape and actually ran this summer. He actually did sprints and stuff and came into camp in fantastic shape.” —MB

Team: San Antonio Spurs
Last Ranking: 3
2025-2026 Stats: 25 PPG 11.5 REB 3.1 AST 51%/34%/82%

The NBA has never seen anyone quite like Victor Wembanyama. Yes, there have been giants in the league before—but none of the players that checked-in around 7-and-a-half feet prior could jack 3s, block shots, and move with the fluidity of Wemby. The Spurs’ superstar set a single-game playoff blocks record in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves this past spring as he recorded 12. “The Alien” is poised to have the Spurs as NBA title contenders for the rest of this decade and well into the 2030s. But certain million-dollar questions persist: Will he lean into his postseason heel turn? More importantly, can he shake off the disappointment of his NBA Finals crashout? Wemby and the Spurs held double-digit leads in Games 1, 2, 4, and 5 (all Spurs losses) and blew a 29-point third-quarter advantage in Game 4. —MB

Team: New York Knicks
Last Ranking: 11
2025-26 Stats: 26 PPG 3.3 REB 6.8 AST 46%/36%/84%

Typically, being the best, most important player on a title team means you’re the best player in the league. But that logic works better in eras without multiple clear freaks at the top. 2026-27 isn’t just about repeating for the Knicks; it’s about proving whether Brunson—coming off one of the all-time great NBA Finals performances—maintains his spot in the SGA-Jokić-Wemby upper echelon. —DS

Team: Denver Nuggets
Last Ranking: 1
2025-26 Stats: 27.7 PPG 12.9 REB 10.7 AST 56%/38%/83%

Three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic is back for Year 12 with the Denver Nuggets. Joker’s size, skill set and basketball IQ will still wreak havoc on any opposing defense in the association, however, it should be noted that he is coming off a career-low in terms of games played last regular season (65). A healthy Jokic is a scary sight. He’s the most skilled big man of all time. The best playmaking big of all time. A walking triple-double. Etc. Etc. But the Nuggets championship window is closing with the emergence of the much younger and deeper Thunder and Spurs. —GS

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Ranking: 2
2025-26 Stats: 31.1 PPG 4.3 REB 6.6 AST 55%/38%/87%

The two-time defending MVP is the perfect modern-day player on both sides of the ball. SGA is a three-level scorer with a knack for creating contact and drawing whistles (NBA Twitter has dubbed him the Free Throw Merchant) and an aggressive defender with supreme ball-hawking skills. Last season he led OKC to 64 wins while notching his fourth consecutive season averaging over 30 points per game, and—stop reading here Knicks fans—would’ve likely won his second consecutive NBA Championship and Finals MVP if Jalen Williams hadn’t gotten hurt. Don’t be surprised if SGA becomes the first three-peat MVP winner since Larry Bird (1984-1986). —TG