This will be the sixth installment of a 10-part series ranking the top 100 players in the NBA for the 2025-26 season.
A few things to note before I start.
- This is a projective list of what I think will happen this season. While I rely heavily on the past two to three seasons to evaluate them, if a younger player has shown a lot of progression, I will assume they will play even better this season. The opposite is also true. If an older player has shown signs of consistent regression, I will assume they will play worse.
- My criteria, in short, is answering the following question: “If I am building a team to win a championship, who would I rather have on my team?” In other words, I am prioritizing ceiling raisers over floor raisers on my team. For example, if Player A is better at leading bad teams to relevance, but Player B is much better at playing his role on an elite team, I will likely rank Player B higher.
- Since this is a projective list, I unfortunately have to apply an “injury tax” for players who have a history of serious injuries or already have concerns for this year.
- This is only about predicting what will happen this season. Therefore, while Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard would all be on this list when healthy, they are dealing with long-term injuries and therefore do not qualify. Hopefully, they will all be back on this list next year.
Without further ado, here are the top 50-41 players for the 2025-26 NBA season.
#50 Jarrett Allen
We start off the list with one of the most underrated players in the league. Sure, he is not the best scorer and needs to be in an ideal situation to be effective. However, he is extremely efficient on offense and great on defense. People give all the credit in the world to Evan Mobley for his defense, but I give Allen a ton of credit for making Mobley’s job easier and mentoring him to be the best defender he could be. I think the Cavs can win the championship this season, and Allen will be a key factor.
2024-25 Ranking: 55
#49 Desmond Bane
Up next, we have a guy who was traded to a new team this offseason. In my opinion, this was a top-five most significant move of the summer. If there is one thing that the Magic have lacked the past few seasons, it is three-point shooting. Adding Bane will help significantly. Between the Celtics and the Pacers losing their stars to injuries, and the Bucks waiving Damian Lillard, this has the chance to be a top-three team in the East. Bane will be a main contributor.
2024-25 Ranking: 50
🔮Desmond Bane:
🪄19.0 ppg
🪄4.8 rpg
🪄3.0 apg
🪄0.5 bpg
🪄47.5 FG% (15.3 shots per game)
🪄59.0 2P% (9.8 shots per game)
🪄27.3 3P% (5.5 threes per game)
🪄92.3 FT% (3.3 FT per game)
🪄32.8 mpg pic.twitter.com/uhZfj9D1ER— Rayshard❼ (M✭GIC 👑 ) (@Rayshard07) October 28, 2025
#48 Brandon Miller
If you have been keeping up with this series, you’ll know that I have already placed Miller’s teammate, LaMelo Ball, lower than him. This is not a slight to Ball, but an expectation that Miller will take that big jump. Last season, he only played 27 games. While this may be a concern for many, I think that as long as the Hornets cleaned up what they needed to with him, he should be good to go and drive the Hornets to being relevant for the first time since Kemba Walker left.
2024-25 Ranking: 54
#47 OG Anunoby
Up next, we have one of the best role players in the game. If you need a guy who can shut down any wing on your team and shoot the three-ball well, then Anunoby is your guy. The Knicks were a good team before they traded for Anunoby, and it ended up being the best move they could have made. Give Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns all the credit you want (because they deserve it), but the Knicks would not be where they are without Anunoby.
2024-25 Ranking: 58
#46 Julius Randle
Up next, we have Anunoby’s former teammate. Before last season, Randle was viewed as a reliable regular-season player but struggled to deliver in the playoffs. However, he played great in the playoffs last year. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that he was playing in Minnesota, and not the bright lights of New York. I had lower expectations for him last year than I do this year, yet I rated him lower this year. This mostly has to do with the fact that there is so much talent in the league, and a lot of the young guys will jump him even if he improves himself.
2024-25 Ranking: 41
#45 Ivica Zubac
Up next, we have one of the best stories from last year. Zubac has been one of the only players on the Clippers who has been consistently available for a few seasons now. However, last season he took a big step on both ends of the floor. Zubac exceeded his existing career-high in PPG by five points and had easily his best defensive season, as well. The Clippers finished with a top-three defense led by him, and he was top six in Defensive Player of the Year voting. I’m not sure what the Clippers’ ceiling is this year, but it will be pretty high if Zubac has a similar season to last.
2024-25 Ranking: 94
Ivica Zubac board. Ivica Zubac score.
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📲 https://t.co/YtbVtKdsiX pic.twitter.com/Bypr5Bsnib— NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2025
#44 Rudy Gobert
Speaking of one of the league’s best defenders, Rudy Gobert comes in at No. 44. Gobert had a super slow start to the year, but he recovered towards the end and was able to make Second Team All-Defense. In addition to this, Gobert also played the best playoff game of his career in the closeout game in the first round to knock out the Lakers. I’m not sure what Gobert’s ceiling is anymore, but I do think that his defense is still as impactful as anyone in the league. Similar to Draymond Green, I would never want him leading my team, but would love him on my team as a second or third option.
2024-25 Ranking: 28
#43 Jamal Murray
Up next, we have an interesting player to think about. On one hand, he is an NBA champion, and was a key contributor not too long ago. Having a player who can elevate his game in the playoffs is not only a plus but essential if you want to win a championship. With that being said, it has been two years since then, and he has never been a great regular-season player. At the end of the day, I will rank guys higher than their talent if they have a history of playoff rising.
2024-25 Ranking: 36
#42 Deni Advija
This might be one of the more controversial placements on the list, but I have full faith in Advija. The Blazers were supposed to be a team that tanked all season long last year, but they were competitive in a ton of games towards the end of the season. I’m not sure if the Blazers can squeak their way into the playoffs, but if they do, it will take Advija having a breakout year, which I expect him to.
2024-25 Ranking: Not Ranked
Deni Avdija: Combines his scoring threat and passing vision seamlessly pic.twitter.com/slimwCw52j
— NBA ClipWork 🎞️ (@NBAclipwork) October 28, 2025
#41 Derrick White
To finish off, we have arguably the best third option in the league. White will be the second option for most, if not all, of this season due to Jayson Tatum’s injury. I expect White to flourish in this role, given how it seems like every time he is in high-pressure situations, he plays even better. Remember, we are answering the question of who we would want if we want to win a championship, and not only is Derrick White a champion, but he also plays exactly like one.
2024-25 Ranking: 46
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