NBA Rank 2026: Snubs, surprises and reaction from insiders
Did LeBron, Steph and KD rank right? NBA insiders breakdown their biggest snubs, surprises and predictions from this year's rank.
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ESPN continues its countdown of the top 100 players entering the 2026-27 NBA season after rolling out 50-11 today and 100-51 on Monday.
LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant continue their reign near the top of NBA rank as some of the longest-tenured players in the league. But what new faces made their debut?
Before we reveal the top 10 best players in the league, our expert panel breaks down this year's list, answering the biggest questions on surprise snubs and who's up next to break through the rankings.
LeBron James' No. 18 ranking is _____.
Jamal Collier: Questionable. What's the argument for LeBron still being ranked several spots behind the other "old guys" of his generation -- Curry, Durant or Kawhi Leonard?
LeBron carried the Los Angeles Lakers to a playoff series win last year with Luka Doncic injured and Austin Reaves out for most of the series against the Houston Rockets. Injured or not, Durant hasn't won a playoff series since 2023. Curry is still the engine for the Golden State Warriors but didn't get out of the play-in tournament and has played fewer games than LeBron. Leonard is coming off one of the best regular seasons of his career, but he's far from reliable from a health perspective.
LeBron transitioned into a new role with the Lakers and, after an adjustment period, excelled. It might take some time for everyone to adjust in Philly, but James has continued to be as consistent a bet as nearly everyone ahead of him.
Tim MacMahon: Fair. At the ripe age of 41, he's still a legitimate All-Star, which is an unprecedented feat in NBA history. But James is a cut below All-NBA-caliber at this point in his legendary career. He's no longer capable of being the best player on a championship contender, but there has never been a better bargain on a veterans minimum contract.
Anthony Slater: A hint at both the talent glut and offensive challenges ahead for the Sixers. James is behind two of his younger teammates in this rank. Tyrese Maxey (No. 11) is exploding into his prime, and Jaylen Brown (No. 14) is coming off a top-six MVP finish. James had to rearrange his game to take a supplementary role last season next to Doncic and Reaves (when both were healthy). Finding that sweet spot when sharing the floor with Maxey and Brown will define Philadelphia's season.
Brian Windhorst: Appropriate. After the All-Star break last season, LeBron shot 54% and averaged seven rebounds and seven assists while having the lowest usage rate of his career. He morphed midyear into one of the best transition scorers in the league and an off-ball cutter. Had he played five more games and gotten to 65, he very well could have made the All-NBA team.
Which player's ranking surprised you the most?
Collier: Tyrese Haliburton at No. 19 is too low. Haliburton played like a top 10 player during the 2025 playoffs, and he has had more than enough time to recover from an Achilles tear. His regular-season stats might not be as gaudy as some of the guys ahead of him on this list, but his past two seasons have ended in the Eastern Conference finals. I'm not ready to underestimate him again.
2026 NBA Rank: The league's top 100 players
• Nos. 50-11: Ranking LeBron, Curry, Durant, Kawhi • Nos. 100-51: Four rookies make the countdown • NBA Rank debate: Snubs, surprises, top 10 picks • 10 players to watch in NBA Rank... 2027 • NBA team rankings: Three-year outlooks for all 30
MacMahon: Walker Kessler managed to move up 25 spots from last year's rankings after playing a total of five games last season. Such is the benefit of the Lakers limelight, I guess. An argument could be made that Kessler will improve significantly simply by playing alongside Doncic, the league's premier pick-and-roll creator. But it's on Kessler to prove the Lakers made a wise move by paying so much -- in draft capital and dollars -- to bring him to Los Angeles. Our panel is giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Slater: Jaden McDaniels. I covered Minnesota's first-round series win over the Denver Nuggets. McDaniels, without Anthony Edwards, closed it down in Game 6 with 32 points while holding Jamal Murray to 4-for-17 shooting. It capped one of the best trash-talking two-way series performances in recent memory from a young wing. Murray couldn't do anything against McDaniels for two weeks, and his offense took a leap. McDaniels is No. 56, and Julius Randle is No. 54. The Timberwolves just traded one to generate more room for the other. You could make a coherent argument that McDaniels should be ranked higher than players all the way up into the early 30s.
Windhorst: Scottie Barnes at No. 17. Solely based on last season, this is a fair spot for him, however, this positioning underrates him looking forward, which is the point of this list. He has grown into one of the best two-way players in the league and was an absolute force for Toronto last season. With Leonard arriving to support him, he has a chance to be a top 10 guy this season.
Which player outside the top 25 will get there next season?
Collier: I'd look to this year's rookie class. A lot of talent just came into the league through the draft, especially among the top four picks. AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson might be the easiest bet to rise into these ranks, similar to how Cooper Flagg went from No. 52 last year to No. 23 entering this season. Someone from this incoming class is bound to arrive All-Star ready.
MacMahon: Stephon Castle moved up 61 spots since last year and could make another leap, especially if he continues to improve as a 3-point shooter. He made significant statistical improvement across the board in his sophomore NBA season, averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists. An All-Star berth and All-Defensive Team selection are reasonable goals for Castle this season.
Slater: I'm going to cheat slightly and discuss the player ranked No. 25. Jalen Williams is primed to reclaim a place higher on this list. He dropped from No. 11 last season after missing 49 games and a chunk of the Thunder's playoff run because of persistent injuries. But the word is that he has had a laser-focused summer attempting to correct his issues. At 23 years old, he was an All-NBA second teamer, an All-NBA defender and a fringe top-10 player. Now, he's 25 and more than capable of rediscovering that form if he can stay healthy.
Windhorst: Dylan Harper is a quiet storm. He was probably the Spurs' second-best player down the stretch last season. He's a bit undervalued because he came off the bench, but I believe in Year 2 he'll be unleashed and getting way more attention from opposing teams.
Stephon Castle led the San Antonio Spurs during the team's postseason run with 6.1 APG. EPA/ADAM DAVIS SHUTTERSTOCK OUT Which player on a new team will most outperform their ranking? Collier: I like the potential that LaMelo Ball could sneak into the top 25. There's a lot of upside if he can build off last season in his transition to the Minnesota Timberwolves and continue to be a winning player. The Wolves haven't ever put a point guard with this much potential next to Anthony Edwards, and it could unlock something for both players if all goes well.
MacMahon: At 27 years old, Jaren Jackson Jr. should be entering his prime. He has proved that he can average 20-plus points per game and dominate defensively. That's why the Utah Jazz gave up a bundle of first-round picks to get him last season. That two-way impact would make Jackson much better than the 53rd-best player in the league. He was No. 31 in last year's rankings and is likely to return to that range.
Slater: I'll go way off the board and take a stab at an unranked late lottery rookie: Yaxel Lendeborg. Looking at the Warriors roster, Curry is their only player ranked in the top 90, and he missed half of last season. Jimmy Butler III probably won't appear until the new year. They ache for talent. Steve Kerr has already hinted that a path to a starting role and major minutes awaits for Lendeborg, if he can seize it. He's an older rookie, turning 24 later this month but already has the strength and size of a midprime wing. If he can burst onto the scene and help drag the Warriors to a better-than-expected record, he will quickly vault into these types of conversations.
Windhorst: Anthony Davis is highly incentivized to have a massive season, and the Washington Wizards, even though they are not going to extend his contract right now, are invested in him doing so. Obviously, his health is the X factor, and counting on him is dangerous. But he's not the 40th-best player in the league when he's active and healthy.
The top three was one of the closest races in NBA Rank history. What's your prediction?
Collier: It's easy to see why Victor Wembanyama will be in position to take the No. 1 spot after his impressive Finals run, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's consistency might be a bit overlooked at this point. He's the best offensive engine in the league, hits consistent 30-point games and despite injuries and a disappointing series from Chet Holmgren, he carried the Thunder through the postseason. He shouldn't be unseated lightly. But the potential for an even greater level up from Wembanyama this season is too tantalizing to ignore.
MacMahon: Is it premature to anoint Wemby as the league's best player? Perhaps, given that he has yet to hoist an MVP or championship trophy. But he'd get my vote, just ahead of SGA and Nikola Jokic.
Breaking News from Shams Charania
Slater: Wembanyama in the top slot because he conquered the Thunder in the conference finals. Gilgeous-Alexander in the second slot because of his back-to-back MVPs. Jokic in the third slot and perhaps with a little chip on his shoulder to reclaim both his and the Nuggets' place at the top of the NBA mountain.
Windhorst: In this group there's a two-time reigning MVP in his prime, and history suggests that this player would enter the following season regarded as the league's No. 1. But something tells me that SGA won't be No. 1, and for him it'll be nothing but motivation. I would guess that Wembanyama takes that pedestal, and he plainly believes he is No. 1. But the guy who was No. 1 when it mattered most last season currently plays in New York, so let's see where this panel placed Jalen Brunson.
BONUS! Make a bold prediction for any player in ESPN's top 100
Collier: Detroit Pistons' Ausar Thompson will make a leap on this list next year. He's already up to No. 59 after not being ranked the previous year. He has offensive limitations, but he's almost certainly the best perimeter defender in the league right now. Thompson terrorized the Cleveland Cavaliers during last season's playoffs, so much that coach Kenny Atkinson revealed one of their adjustments was "throw the ball wherever Thompson isn't." If Thompson can improve his jump shot and finishing around the rim, he'll certainly reach that next level. But still, being a lockdown defender with assignments against the best wings in the league is going to earn Thompson a nice living
MacMahon: At least five top 100 players will be wearing different uniforms after the trade deadline. That list will include at least two of our top 40.
Slater: The stage is set for Cason Wallace's breakout season. He is respectably ranked No. 75, considering he has been mostly a lower-usage defensive ace for the Oklahoma City Thunder his first few seasons. But the Luguentz Dort trade cleared the way for him to claim a permanent starting slot, and he appears more than ready to leap into the next stage of his career right as he is due for an extension.
Windhorst: I don't make predictions, but I will say that throughout all last season, Cooper Flagg kept giving me flashbacks to LeBron James as a rookie. By LeBron's second season, he was a top-five player, and I feel strongly that this is Flagg's destiny too. We'll just have to wait and see how fast that prophecy is fulfilled.
