The Top 50 Players In the NBA (2026 Edition)

Now that the NBA season is over for a few weeks now, it gave me time to no longer overreact and move on to giving my 2026 edition of my top 50 players in the league.

So while we get into this, I just wanted to say what I truly value when I look at this list. I'm someone who tries to respect what players have done in the past, but I won't lie, there's also a bit of projection here when you'll see players coming off their first year in the league.

You might be surprised where they are, but it is just my top. I do think they're top 50 players right now because not just of what's coming in the future, but what they showed this year. I know we have to respect what other players have done in the past, but if you ask me at this current moment who I think the better basketball player is, I do have to value what I just saw last season, even if it was a player's first year.

With that, let's get underway!

50–41: Impact Starters With Clear Limitations

This tier consists of players who can impact winning in a major but have one or two clear limitations that prevent them from being considered among the "upper tier" in the league. Whether that be durability concerns, defensive weaknesses, restricted offensive roles, or the need to prove themselves over a larger sample size. Each player in this group possesses the talent to be a high-level starter or even an All-Star but is still ways away from being near the top 25ish.

50. Jalen Duren - C, Detroit Pistons

49. Trey Murphy III - SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans

48. Zion Williamson - PF, New Orleans Pelicans

47. Rudy Gobert - C, Minnesota Timberwolves

46. Joel Embiid - C, Philadelphia 76ers

45. Aaron Gordon - PF/SF, Denver Nuggets

44. Desmond Bane - SG, Orlando Magic

43. Franz Wagner - SF, Orlando Magic

42. Kon Knueppel - SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets

41. Lauri Markkanen - PF/SF, Utah Jazz

40-31: Impact Starters (Again)/Borderline Stars

This tier is for the NBA's borderline stars. These are players I believe have established themselves as All-Star-calibre talents or are well on their way to becoming one. Each has the ability to take over games, elevate an offence, or be considered a foundational piece for a franchise moving forward, but they're still missing the consistency, two-way impact, or postseason résumé required to be even higher on this list. Whether they're ascending young stars, proven veterans, or high-level complementary players, this group no doubt has talent across it.

40. Derrick White - SG/PG, Boston Celtics

39. James Harden - PG, Cleveland Cavaliers

38. De’Aaron Fox - PG, San Antonio Spurs

37. Amen Thompson - SG/PG, Houston Rockets

36. Austin Reaves - SG, Los Angeles Lakers

35. Dylan Harper - PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs

34. LaMelo Ball - PG, Minnesota Timberwolves

33. Alperen Sengun - C, Houston Rockets

32. Jalen Johnson - SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks

31. Paolo Banchero - PF, Orlando Magic

30–21: Borderline All-NBA / High-End Stars

This tier is made up of borderline All-NBA-level players and high-end stars who can firmly impact winning in a major way. These players are either established two-way players, elite offensive creators, or quickly becoming some of the best young talent in the league. While many have All-Star or All-NBA potential (or resumes), they still sit just outside the true elite due to gaps in consistency, playoff dominance, or overall control of the game. This group of players is near the finish line of getting to be considered true star players.

30. Chet Holmgren - C, Oklahoma City Thunder

29. Cooper Flagg - SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks

28. Stephon Castle - PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs

27. Jalen Williams - SF/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder

26. Pascal Siakam - PF, Indiana Pacers

25. Evan Mobley - PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers

24. OG Anunoby - SF/PF, New York Knicks

23. Bam Adebayo - C, Miami Heat

22. Deni Avdija - SF/PF, Portland Trail Blazers

21. Jamal Murray - PG, Denver Nuggets

20–11: Close to Being Superstars & Legends of the Game

This tier represents players who are on the verge of superstardom or have long-term/legacy status in the NBA. These are established All-NBA-level talents; some are even MVP-calibre performers and historically significant players who consistently influence winning at the highest level. While many are already superstars in practice, they are separated from the top 10 due to factors like competition at the very top, team success (or lack thereof), age curve, or consistency at the absolute peak.

20. Devin Booker - SG, Phoenix Suns

19. Scottie Barnes - PF, Toronto Raptors

18. Kevin Durant - SF/PF, Houston Rockets

17. Karl-Anthony Towns - PF/C, New York Knicks

16. Tyrese Maxey - PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers

15. Jaylen Brown - SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers

14. Stephen Curry - PG, Golden State Warriors

13. Donovan Mitchell - SG, Cleveland Cavaliers

12. LeBron James - PF/SF Team TBD

11. Tyrese Haliburton - PG, Indiana Pacers

10-1: The NBA's True Elite

This final tier represents the absolute elite of the NBA. AKA, the players who I think either have or will define their eras, control games at the highest level, and consistently operate as true franchise changers. These are MVP winners, perennial MVP candidates, and even generational talents who will impact both the regular season and playoff landscape in the league for the forseeable future. Whether through scoring, playmaking, two-way dominance, or in a historical context, each player here is capable of being the best player in the world at any given moment. This tier is reserved for the league’s true standard-setters and the faces of the NBA.

10. Cade Cunningham - PG, Detroit Pistons

9. Kawhi Leonard - SF/PF, Toronto Raptors

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF, Miami Heat

7. Anthony Edwards - SG, Minnesota Timberwolves

6. Jayson Tatum - SF/PF, Boston Celtics

5. Jalen Brunson - PG, New York Knicks

4. Luka Doncic - PG, Los Angeles Lakers

3. Nikola Jokic - C, Denver Nuggets

2. Victor Wembanyama - C, San Antonio Spurs

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Full List:

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Victor Wembanyama – C, San Antonio Spurs

3. Nikola Jokić – C, Denver Nuggets

4. Luka Dončić – PG, Los Angeles Lakers

5. Jalen Brunson – PG, New York Knicks

6. Jayson Tatum – SF/PF, Boston Celtics

7. Anthony Edwards – SG, Minnesota Timberwolves

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo – PF, Miami Heat

9. Kawhi Leonard – SF/PF, Toronto Raptors

10. Cade Cunningham – PG, Detroit Pistons

11. Tyrese Haliburton – PG, Indiana Pacers

12. LeBron James – SF/PF, TBD

13. Donovan Mitchell – SG, Cleveland Cavaliers

14. Stephen Curry – PG, Golden State Warriors

15. Jaylen Brown – SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers

16. Tyrese Maxey – PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers

17. Karl-Anthony Towns – PF/C, New York Knicks

18. Kevin Durant – SF/PF, Houston Rockets

19. Scottie Barnes – PF, Toronto Raptors

20. Devin Booker – SG, Phoenix Suns

21. Jamal Murray – PG, Denver Nuggets

22. Deni Avdija – SF/PF, Portland Trail Blazers

23. Bam Adebayo – C, Miami Heat

24. OG Anunoby – SF/PF, New York Knicks

25. Evan Mobley – PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers

26. Pascal Siakam – PF, Indiana Pacers

27. Jalen Williams – SF/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder

28. Stephon Castle – PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs

29. Cooper Flagg – SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks

30. Chet Holmgren – C, Oklahoma City Thunder

31. Paolo Banchero – PF, Orlando Magic

32. Jalen Johnson – SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks

33. Alperen Şengün – C, Houston Rockets

34. LaMelo Ball – PG, Minnesota Timberwolves

35. Dylan Harper – PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs

36. Austin Reaves – SG, Los Angeles Lakers

37. Amen Thompson – SG/PG, Houston Rockets

38. De’Aaron Fox – PG, San Antonio Spurs

39. James Harden – PG, Cleveland Cavaliers

40. Derrick White – SG/PG, Boston Celtics

41. Lauri Markkanen – PF/SF, Utah Jazz

42. Kon Knueppel – SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets

43. Franz Wagner – SF, Orlando Magic

44. Desmond Bane – SG, Orlando Magic

45. Aaron Gordon – PF/SF, Denver Nuggets

46. Joel Embiid – C, Philadelphia 76ers

47. Rudy Gobert – C, Minnesota Timberwolves

48. Zion Williamson – PF, New Orleans Pelicans

49. Trey Murphy III – SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans

50. Jalen Duren – C, Detroit Pistons