NBA player rankings don't sit still.

Back in October, we stacked the top players in the league ahead of the season. What followed was an inevitable whirlwind of trades, injuries, slumps and breakouts, throwing our list for some serious loops along the way.

With All-Star Weekend now behind us, it's time for a reset.

We asked our NBA experts to zoom out, take stock and update their player rankings based on everything we've seen so far. From there, we tallied everyone's votes, which collectively built our B/R NBA 99 player rankings.

Like before, we're not predicting where players will finish at the end of the season. We're assessing the games they've played and the impact they've had on winning up to this point. So yes, Jimmy Butler and other injured stars are on the list, rewarded for their solid first-half performances.

*Hit the comments to let us know who we got right, which players are too high, and who deserves more respect.

**Check out the final slide to see your favorite team's Top 99 players, all in one spot.

2025-26 Stats: 12.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.7 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 44.1 FG%, 38.7 3PT%

Age: 29

Preseason Rank: 59

The Bucks positioned Turner to be their primary in-house Giannis recruiter last offseason, and the two-time MVP remains a Badger State resident. Definite win, right?

Tough question, honestly. Turner isn't among the reasons Antetokounmpo might consider leaving Milwaukee, but he's also not exactly a no-brainer reason to stay. They at least have a smooth-on-paper fit together, but asking Turner to be the second-most important player on a title contender would be setting him up for failure.

He's a good outside shooter and an active shot-blocker, but his skill tree lacks branches beyond those.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 74

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 19.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 47.9 FG%, 39.0 3PT%

Age: 30

Preseason Rank: 57

Just by the law of averages, you'd think Zach LaVine would be a fixture for a good team at least once in his career, but that one time clearly isn't 2025-26.

LaVine is once again a high-volume, high-efficiency outside shooter, but his rebound and steal averages have dropped, and the Sacramento Kings are arguably the worst team in the NBA.

Maybe it's just a matter of recalibrating his role next season. As more of a dedicated catch-and-shoot threat in lineups with plenty of defense, LaVine may be able to move a team's needle in the right direction.

This season, however, is toast. Both LaVine and Kings teammate Domantas Sabonis have been ruled out for the rest of the year.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 75
Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 13.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.4 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 44.1 FG%, 37.0 3PT%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: 76

Toumani Camara is quickly becoming one of the best 3-and-D wings in the NBA.

At 6'7" he has the size and athleticism to defend nearly every position. Camara's defense is perhaps only topped by his durability, as he's missed just four total games the past two seasons, including zero so far this year.

Offensively, most of his work is done outside the arc. Camara is up to 37.0 percent from three on a healthy 7.1 attempts per game while averaging a career-high 13.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

The 52nd overall pick in the 2023 draft, Camara has cemented himself as an everyday starter for a Portland Trail Blazers team very much in the playoff hunt.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 63

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 50.7 FG%, 35.4 3PT%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Devin Vassell finds himself caught inside a gray area with the San Antonio Spurs that's hard to detect if you just look at how much he's playing. The presence of Victor Wembanyama and a trio of downhill guards has nudged Vassell more toward accessory duty, and you can see the dichotomy between who he's been and what they need him to be collide in real time.

Yet, his importance to the spacing remains inarguable even as his efficiency waxes and wanes right along with his already low rim frequency. 

It is no coincidence that the Spurs' collective shooting clip skyrockets from every level with him on the floor. Defenses remain glued to Vassell whether he's stationary or in motion, which helps carve out pathways to the basket that wouldn't otherwise exist. And his comfort level getting to and knocking down his mid-range is an outlet that no one else on the roster, other than De'Aaron Fox, provides.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 78

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 8.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.1 SPG, 42.4 FG%, 34.8 3PT%

Age: 22

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Cason Wallace comes with zero nits to pick at the defensive end. He bears the most responsibility of any perimeter player on the Oklahoma City Thunder other than Lu Dort, and he's damn good at it.

Offensive efficiency remains his wild card. He has moments when he showcases on-ball panache; his corner threes are falling at a higher clip this year; and he doesn't submarine possessions with excessive touch time.

But the utility comes and goes. He has dropped below 33 percent on arc triples and is currently among the league's least effective drivers.

Recurring blemishes have not prevented Wallace from remaining one of the reigning champion's most important players. They will, however, put a cap on his playoff contributions—not to mention this summer's extension negotiations—if they persist.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 69

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 12.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.5 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 45.1 FG%, 46.0 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Eason is a 6'8", 215-pound ball of activity and chaos-creation.

He's also someone who has tantalized minds for years with thoughts of what could happen if he ever added a consistent three-ball to his arsenal. Well, he's shooting 46 percent from range now (on not insignificant volume, at that), and it's made him—well, kind of the same player, honestly. Just with a few triples mixed in.

Make no mistake, that makes him a good player. Because he was a good player without the long ball. Long-term projecting, though, you wonder if this just highlights how he's a super helpful role player as opposed to a budding star.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 75

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 18.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.2 BPG, 1.2 SPG

Age: 36

The season hasn't gone well for the Kings. Still, DeRozan remains one of the best old-school scorers in the league. He's never dominated the game from the three-point line; instead, he attacks in the mid-range or at the basket, generating free throws, etc.

At his age, DeRozan isn't an elite defender, and Sacramento's roster doesn't make up for what he doesn't do particularly well. He may not stick much longer with the Kings, but for as long as DeRozan wants to hoop, there will be a team that can utilize his veteran scoring punch (even if it's off the bench).

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 85

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 16.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 42.4 FG%, 38.2 3PT%

Age: 35

Preseason Rank: 52

Paul George clearly isn't playing up to the value of his hefty contract, but if we can divorce his game from that number, it's not hard to praise what he's done this season.

With Tyrese Maxey's breakout and Joel Embiid's revitalization, PG accepted a supporting role. And there, his outside shooting, secondary creation and defensive experience were huge assets for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Of course, all of that is on hold while he serves a 25-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. But at his age, all the time off ahead of the playoffs could eventually prove helpful.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 62

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 42.3 FG%, 35.2 3PT%

Age: 20

Preseason Rank: Unranked

If asked to describe VJ Edgecombe in one word, the answer needs to be some variation of "fearless." 

The value add he's providing on offense is well-documented. He plays off Tyrese Maxey well and knows how to adjust his pace to particular lineups, such as those that feature Joel Embiid versus those that do not. His shot-making efficiency isn't eye-popping, but he's making an encouraging share of his above-the-break threes, and only Stephen Curry has drilled more triples in crunch time.

Edgecombe deserves more praise for his defensive toughness. Not many rookies can cover stars ranging from Jalen Brunson to Donovan Mitchell and mostly hold their own. He does, and in doing so, he's given the Philadelphia 76ers not just their 2-guard of the future, but also their present.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 75

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 12.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 42.6 FG%, 38.7 3PT%

Age: 21

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Reed Sheppard had a bad rookie season, especially after being selected No. 3 overall by the Houston Rockets. To his credit, the 21-year-old has responded nicely and is having a far better sophomore year in the NBA.

Sheppard has primarily been used as an offensive spark off the bench with his shooting and playmaking. He's averaging 12.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and is shooting 38.7 percent from three, numbers way up from a year ago.

Despite his limited size at 6'2" and 185 pounds, Sheppard is becoming a solid defender for a Rockets team that demands its players perform on that end. Houston is better defensively with Sheppard on the floor and his steal percentage (2.9 percent) ranks seventh overall in the NBA.

Don't be surprised to see Sheppard win the starting point guard job next year, even with a healthy Fred VanVleet in the fold.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 73

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 8.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.2 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 41.7 FG%, 32.7 3PT%

Age: 35

Preseason Rank: 54

Apologies for the noise—and not to totally date myself here—but you might be hearing "End of the Road" playing in the background while you read this. Not saying that Green and his Golden State Warriors are fork-in-them finished, but this movie is either clinging to the last big set piece or into the post-credit sequence.

His processing skills haven't eroded, though, and since they've always been his greatest strength, he can still fill a valuable role. But he's not making as many plays on either end as before. And he's still as prone to reaching his boiling point as ever.

His offense keeps eroding (and he didn't have a ton to begin with). And he's not as nimble as his younger days, but that basketball supercomputer in his brain is doing what it can to fend off the worst effects of the aging curve.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 73

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 43.8 FG%, 34.6 3PT%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: 78

Nothing underscores Coby White's value better than impressions of his trade to the Charlotte Hornets. He has yet to make his Buzz City debut, but nobody's worried about him fitting in. His offense is infinitely malleable, able to be deployed in all different forms: on the ball or off the ball, as a microwave scorer and secondary facilitator, specializing in tough-to-contest jumpers or shot creation around the rim.

Charlotte is betting White's efficiency will climb in a more talented environment. It's a reasonable, if no-brainer, gamble. If nothing else, White should continue swishing over 40 percent of his catch-and-shoot treys like clockwork.

Anyone wondering whether he'll be enough of an upgrade over Collin Sexton is forgiven for pondering as much. The individual lines are beyond comparable. White's more varied usage is the difference. He's someone who can generate a from-scratch look in traffic or torch defenses in motion, coming off a wide range of screens—dials not everyone fitting his archetype can readily turn.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 77

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 6.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.3 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 43.4 FG%, 32.5 3PT%

Age: 31

That Caruso is on the list, with his meager scoring average, speaks volumes about what he brings defensively. The Thunder picked him up before last season, sending Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls. Caruso, who previously won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers, brought championship experience to an otherwise young locker room.

The rest is history, as the Thunder are the NBA's reigning champion—and while Caruso wasn't the primary reason offensively, he was certainly a significant part of what the squad achieved defensively.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 67

Lowest Rank: 108

2025-26 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 56.3 FG%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Every Nic Claxton season feels like a science experiment, with the Brooklyn Nets attempting to gauge and expand the depth of his arsenal. This is how we've come to see his defensive switchability and driving in action, both of which continue to separate him from conventional rim-running bigs. 

This year's new wrinkle: playmaking.

Brooklyn doesn't have Claxton running a metric ton of pick-and-rolls or facilitating out of live dribbles galore. But head coach Jordi Fernandez has trusted him to survey the floor more on catches and dish to guys like Michael Porter Jr., Egor Dёmin and Noah Clowney off their movement. 

The experiment has led to Claxton comfortably averaging a career high in assists—and, more critically, reiterating his value as the consummate can-do-more-than-you-think big man.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 71

Lowest Rank: 106

2025-26 Stats: 11.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 49.8 FG%, 13.3 3PT%

Age: 22

Preseason Rank: 61

Dyson Daniels isn't having a historic defensive season like we saw from him a year ago, although the 22-year-old has improved in other areas as the Atlanta Hawks' new answer at point guard.

Daniels is still a defensive menace with his 6'7" frame and long arms, as his 1.8 steals per game are good for seventh overall in the NBA. He's also improved his passing, up to a career-high 6.2 assists and remains an excellent rebounder for his position with 6.5 boards a game.

With that being said, Daniels may be the worst three-point shooter in the entire NBA.

Only Jarrett Allen (1-of-9, 11.1 percent) has a lower mark than that of Daniels (13.3 percent), a player who actually shoots them on a regular basis. After a career-best mark of 34.0 percent last year, perhaps Daniels misses being set up by the playmaking of Trae Young.

For years the Hawks had to cover for Young's weaknesses on defense. Now, they might have swung too far the other way.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 69

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 12.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.9 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 66.5 FG%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: Unranked

NBA bigs are, by their very nature, enormous. Yet, Williams still stands out among them for his dimensions: 7'1" with a sweeping 7'6" wingspan. And he'll often feel bigger than his size, since he maximizes that length with bounce and energy.

He's your classic rim-runner, for better and worse. If you're content with booms, boards and blocks, he'll check every box with ease. If you get greedy and start searching for shot-making or table-setting, he can't help you.

He can, however, seemingly put his injury woes behind him. After making just 106 appearances over his first three seasons combined, he carried a career-high 50 contests into this All-Star break.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 53

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 48.4 FG%, 37.9 3PT%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: 80

Now that Clint Capela and Kristaps Porzingis have moved on, the Atlanta Hawks' starting center spot officially belongs to Onyeka Okongwu. And he's making the most of his opportunity.

Okongwu is posting an above-average three-point percentage and career highs (by a wide margin) in points per game, assists per game and threes per game.

His being a little undersized isn't ideal for Atlanta's defense, but he can guard multiple positions and switch all over the floor more effectively than some of the league's burlier bigs.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 78
Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.0 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 49.6 FG%, 33.6 3PT%

Age: 20

Preseason Rank: Unranked

It's time to get excited about the future of Alex Sarr.

He's putting up that well-rounded statline listed above in just 28.2 minutes. He moves laterally better than most 7-footers. His instincts as a rim protector are way ahead of schedule. And although his three-point percentage is still below average, his form looks good enough to expect continued improvement there.

All in all, Sarr's versatility on both ends of the floor might be as big a source of optimism for the Washington Wizards as the acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

In fact, he may be the X-factor behind those acquisitions working. He's a dynamic, young lob threat for Young, while also having enough perimeter skill to play alongside AD.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 73

Lowest Rank: 100

2025-26 Stats: 16.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 46.0 FG%, 34.6 3PT%

Age: 22

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Anthony Black is potentially playing the Orlando Magic into some uncomfortable decisions. He is extension-eligible this summer and bound to command the type of money that makes them question whether he's more important to the long-term program than Jalen Suggs or Desmond Bane.

Black's offensive progression gives him a real case. He has far more confidence working off the dribble and navigating traffic in the half-court and has turned himself into a viable threat from the corners, where he's shooting almost 45 percent.

With a (mostly) no-notes defensive package, Black is hinting at an unexpected path to stardom. Honing his touch from above the break and/or on mid-range jumpers will be critical to that best-case scenario, but it speaks volumes that his highest-end outcome is both loftier and more attainable than this time last year.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 76

Lowest Rank: 91

2025-26 Stats: 15.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 47.1 FG%, 39.5 3PT%

Age: 30

Wiggins never quite crested the levels initially hoped for him as the top pick in 2014, but he's in his second decade as a rock-solid, two-way contributor.

He is someone who can be earnestly and easily entrusted with the toughest wing assignment on defense while also going out and giving you a mostly efficient point total, typically somewhere in the high teens.

He's sort of exactly what you picture when you conjure up the image of a three-and-D wing, only with a little more self-creation than the label implies. Solid player, just not spectacular.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 65
Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 8.1 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 41.0 FG%, 23.5 3PT%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: 33

There are still occasional flashes of the athletic brilliance that once made Ja Morant a potential face of the league, but injuries and off-court issues may prevent him from ever truly becoming that player again.

He no longer has the lateral or vertical burst that set him apart from his peers (at least not every night). And without that, his already shaky jumper has torpedoed his efficiency.

Still, we've seen other athletic marvels shift their games as they age. Derrick Rose eventually accepted his decline, became a reserve and even flirted with Sixth Man of the Year contention.

That's not necessarily Ja's path, but streamlining his shot selection and leaning into distribution could help him become a winning player again.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 69
Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 17.0 PPG, 6.1 APG, 4.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 44.5 FG%, 38.0 3PT%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: 95

It took a few years, but the "Toronto Raptors may have won the OG Anunoby trade" crowd finally has a little evidence on their side.

This season, catch-all metrics suggest Immanuel Quickley has been better than Anunoby on his own. And with his combination of passable perimeter defense, volume three-point shooting and good playmaking, he's been one of the more positively impactful players for a team in the hunt for a top-four seed.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 50

Lowest Rank: 104

2025-26 Stats: 21.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 49.7 FG%, 35.8 3PT%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: Unranked (injured)

It would be objectively more fun if this space were used to weigh Herro's merits as a scorer against his defensive deficiencies instead of dissecting his latest struggles staying on the court. And, to be as clear as a post-wash windshield, the first idea wouldn't be much fun.

But when Herro's 2025-26 odometer shows just 11 appearances at the All-Star break, there really isn't another talking point worth…well, talking about. Even if he suits up for every contest left on the schedule, he'll still land short of the 50-game mark for the second time in three seasons.

Adding insult to injury, Miami's revamped, egalitarian offense wasn't exactly fitting Herro like a tailored suit. His 35.8 three-point percentage is the worst of his career, and his 2.7 assists are his fewest since his rookie year.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 60

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 14.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 49.6 FG%, 41.7 3PT%

Age: 23

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Games without Nikola Jokić used to be the genesis of an existential crisis for the Denver Nuggets. This year, they have become a breeding ground for effective self-exploration.

Nobody has benefited more from surrounding injuries and the resulting experimentation than Peyton Watson. Largely out of necessity, the Nuggets have given him more agency as a ball-handler and self-starter. And it's paying off.

Watson has far more drives under his belt, strengthened his finishing around the rim, peppered in some variance from mid-range and hit more of his threes. All the while, his identifying defensive playmaking remains. 

How much do you pay someone on the right side of 25 who joins Derrick White, Andrew Wiggins, Jaden McDaniels, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Onyeka Okongwu as the only players averaging at least one steal and one block while having nailed 75-plus three-pointers? Denver is about to find out.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 70

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 20.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 51.9 FG%, 37.6 3PT%

Age: 36

Jimmy Butler's ACL tear was one of the most consequential moments of this season. With him, the Golden State Warriors were fringe title contenders. Without him, they might be a play-in casualty.

Butler was having an All-NBA-level campaign. His high-efficiency, low-mistake, all-around game made him a perfect complement to Stephen Curry. He'd taken charge of the defense from Draymond Green.

Losing him after just 38 games, and for the rest of the season (again), completely changes its dynamics. And given he and Curry's age, the state of the West and the typical timeline for torn ACLs, Golden State's 2026-27 might be lost too.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 32
Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 20.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.9 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 42.5 FG%, 36.6 3PT%

Age: 23

Preseason Rank: 77

Miller followed his monster rookie season with an injury-impacted, ultimately underwhelming sophomore effort. His third go-round feels like a return to form.

The injury bug bothered him early, but he's healthy now and having a huge say in Charlotte's 2026 climb. He aces the big-wing eye test, splashes jumpers from all over and hot-potatoes the ball around as a secondary playmaker.

Self-creation and at-rim finishing might be the final hurdles between him and an All-NBA-type ascension.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 59

Lowest Rank: 93

2025-26 Stats: 18.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 56.2 FG%, 34.2 3PT%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: 84

RJ Barrett has found close to an ideal role with the Toronto Raptors despite insinuations that he's the odd man out of a perimeter carousel headlined by Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley. 

The three-point clip forever floats around not-quite-high-enough territory, but he has neutralized many of the concerns about possession cannibalization. His movement off the ball is underestimated, and the head of steam he gets in Toronto's offense has bumped up his finishing at the rim.

Quicker decisions were not a hallmark of his style early in his career. They are now. Barrett is the guy who most religiously gets the Raptors out on the break off live-ball turnovers and rebounds—and ranks in the 100th percentile of BBall Index's offensive transition frequency impact as a result.

If he were a touch more efficient from beyond the arc, his argument for higher placement would get much stronger.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 70

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 17.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 7.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 44.1 FG%, 36.4 3PT%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: 82

One of the few bright spots this season for the Indiana Pacers has been the play of Andrew Nembhard, who's enjoying a bigger workload in 32.1 minutes per night.

Not having Tyrese Haliburton has meant more opportunities for the 26-year-old floor general, as his usage rate has jumped by over seven percentage points this season. A tough, gritty defender despite his limited stature, Nembhard is proving he can play point guard on a full-time basis after starting at shooting guard all of last year.

Nembhard and Jamal Murray are the only two NBA players to average at least 17 points, seven assists and fewer than 2.5 turnovers a game this season.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 64

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 10.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.8 BPG, 1.9 SPG, 51.1 FG%, 30.0 3PT%

Age: 23

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Ausar Thompson is proof that top-99 impact doesn't have to come entirely (or even mostly) from the offensive end.

His offensive numbers aren't likely to blow anyone away. What you don't see in the line above is that his two-point percentage (52.2%) and three-point percentage (30.0%) are both comfortably below the league average.

But Thompson still has a positive influence on one of the best net ratings in the NBA, because he's maybe the league's top perimeter defender (he's tied for first in defensive estimated plus-minus).

Thompson will, at the very least, make life far more difficult for whatever assignment he's given.

And though playing alongside one of the NBA's highest-volume playmakers limits his assist numbers, Thompson is still a solid creator.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 61

Lowest Rank: 113

2025-26 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 45.4 FG%, 37.4 3PT%

Age: 35

Preseason Rank: 73

Though the Portland Trail Blazers were broadly trolled for acquiring Jrue Holiday and his contract over the summer, it has taken very little time for them to get the last laugh. 

Mere months away from his 36th birthday, Holiday continues to ferry comparable defensive responsibilities while noticeably boosting his three-point efficiency and shouldering a higher on-ball workload. Absolutely nobody has seen their true usage—which incorporates assists and potential assists—increase more from last year to now than Holiday, according to BBall Index.

The sample is tinier than you'd prefer, thanks to a pesky calf injury. But a Blazers offense prone to scoring troughs rates in the 74th percentile when Holiday plays. More impressively, it flitters around league average during his minutes without the All-NBA-to-be Deni Avdija.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 53

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 46.2 FG%, 35.6 3PT%

Age: 28

Preseason Rank: 96

After spending last season as the league's top substitute, Pritchard is now proving his worth as a legitimate starting point guard. While he may have technically lost the starting title with Boston needing a bench bucket to replace Anfernee Simons, it's all semantics, since Pritchard figures to keep playing starter minutes.

And he's playing them awfully well. Pritchard has above-average shooting rates across the board and a deep divide separating his assists from his turnovers.

While his 6'1", 195-pound frame puts him at a physical disadvantage most nights, you wouldn't know that by how he defends. Or how he rebounds.

Pritchard has proved our preseason voters wrong, jumping 27 spots in these rankings.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 33

Lowest Rank: 86

2025-26 Stats: 14.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 46.9 FG%, 38.5 3PT%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: 72

Naz Reid has been one of the NBA's best and most consistent reserve scorers for most of three seasons now.

His quick (and generally accurate) trigger from three completely changes the dynamic for the Minnesota Timberwolves, whether he checks in for Julius Randle or Rudy Gobert.

Either way, Reid's combination of volume and efficiency from deep forces defenses to pay closer attention to the three-point line, opening up the middle of the floor for the rest of the T'Wolves.

But Reid's spot on this list is about more than shooting. Over the last two seasons, though he's still not a high-volume playmaker, he has proven more willing and capable of taking defenders off the dribble and then finding teammates. And forcing defenders to account for that makes his three-point prowess even more dangerous.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 47

Lowest Rank: 83

2025-26 Stats: 20.1 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 41.8 FG%, 37.3 3PT%

Age: 27

Preseason Rank: Unranked

In his first season with the Atlanta Hawks, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has taken on a much bigger scoring role than he's ever had.

He's stopping and popping off the dribble, creating for others and still hitting his threes at an above-average rate, even with the huge increase in volume.

NAW's emergence as a bona fide playmaker and No. 2 to Jalen Johnson was a big part of why Atlanta was able to easily justify starting its post-Trae Young era.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 61

Lowest Rank: 110

2025-26 Stats: 12.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 49.7 FG%, 40.7 3PT%

Age: 30

Preseason Rank: 69

From rebounding and moving around the positional spectrum to pushing the pace and quietly serving as the New York Knicks' second-in-command initiator, Josh Hart typifies the jack-of-all-trades ideal. 

Such players are almost always celebrated. Last season, and entering this year, Hart became a pariah for the Knicks' limitations. The overwhelming majority of focus was paid to his rickety three-point efficiency and overall reluctance to shoot.

The latter remains a wart in Hart's game. But it's not nearly as prevalent as seasons past. It also gets easier to overlook when he's swishing treys at a 40.7 percent clip. 

Here is a list of every player this season averaging as many points, rebounds, assists, steals and made threes as Hart: Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić and Jalen Johnson. Hart's business is checking as many boxes as possible. And business has arguably never been better.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 44

Lowest Rank: 87

2025-26 Stats: 21.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 44.1 FG%, 34.3 3PT%

Age: 30

Preseason Rank: Unranked

Dillon Brooks shouldn't be so irreplaceable to the offense of a prospective Western Conference playoff team. It's unexpected. It's unsettling. 

It's also working.

The 6'7" combo wing has turned in better three-point shooting seasons, but he's making up for dipping beneath 35 percent from deep by hitting a broad spectrum of ridiculously difficult shots. The turnaround jumper is a thing. It's falling at a 54-plus-percent clip on high volume. 

Brooks is pairing the pinnacle of his bucket-getting with the typically exhaustive workload at the less glamorous end. Naji Marshall is the only other player who ranks in the 95th percentile of both defensive matchup difficulty and self-created shot-making, according to BBall Index.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 58

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 10.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 63.5 FG%

Age: 27

Preseason Rank: 65

Injuries are once again capping the amount of time Isaiah Hartenstein spends on the floor for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Some of it's reflected in his performance. This is the first season in a long time he's looked mortal when getting off his floater.

Still, the Thunder appear at their most complete when he's available. Hartenstein's touch around the basket, screening, hand-offs, dimes to cutters, rebounding and active presence protecting the paint power a seemingly unbeatable version of the reigning champs.

This is never more evident than during the time he spends alongside Chet Holmgren. Oklahoma City is outscoring opponents by nearly 20 points per 100 possessions when they share the floor, with a defensive rating stingy enough to make certain teams consider forfeiting before opening tip. 

Hartenstein isn't the sole reason for anything happening in OKC. But his knack for adding layers without taking any others away is a delicate balance that's essential to the Thunder being, well, the Thunder.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 35

Lowest Rank: 88

2025-26 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.9 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 62.3 FG%

Age: 27

Preseason Rank: 47

Jarrett Allen is enjoying another rock-solid season at center for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His 14.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 "stocks" per game on 62.3 percent shooting are similar to his career averages. And he continues to be one of the game's better rim protectors by holding opponents to 53.4 percent shooting.

Of course, Allen isn't a center who typically generates his own offense; yet it feels like he's always capable of more if given the opportunity. He put on a masterclass of moves in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers en route to 40 points on 16-of-23 shooting and is up to 24.4 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks on 74.6 percent shooting over his last five games.

Allen is already feasting off James Harden passes and should continue to be one of the better two-way centers in the NBA.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 48

Lowest Rank: 67

2025-26 Stats: 18.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 6.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 45.1 FG%, 36.0 3PT%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: 34

The LA Clippers bought low on Darius Garland's stock, a move that's going to age extremely well.

Garland was playing at an All-Star level once again before suffering a toe injury in January. In his last 16 games prior to the trade, Garland averaged 20.2 points and 7.4 assists on 50.4 percent shooting overall and 42.0 percent from three.

Having just turned 26 last month, Garland hasn't even reached his peak yet even after multiple All-Star trips. He'll make the Clippers faster and gives them a new answer at point guard the team can build around.

If Garland can put his toe issues behind him, he'll thrive in LA under Tyronn Lue.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 45

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 15.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 51.9 FG%, 45.4 3PT%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: 67

Sharing the floor with Anthony Edwards means Jaden McDaniels won't get top billing, but he's never been better in his supporting role.

McDaniels is obliterating his previous career highs in assists per game and three-point percentage, while still providing his typically stout defense.

On teams with players like Edwards and Julius Randle, you need someone like McDaniels who's willing to take on some of the floor's less glamorous tasks.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 52

Lowest Rank: 85

2025-26 Stats: 16.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 46.4 FG%, 28.7 3PT%

Age: 21

Preseason Rank: 91

Castle, last season's runaway Rookie of the Year winner, has made notable, nearly across-the-board improvements in his game. It's just that the biggest change everyone's hoping to see—perimeter proficiency to better balance San Antonio's backcourt—hasn't materialized yet.

Shift the focus away from shooting, though, and Castle's contributions look stellar. Being an essential for the Spurs kind of speaks for itself, given their spike in the standings and guard-group glut. He's a wrecking ball on defense, and his offense seems built around a throwback feel for passing, only with modern enhancements like great size (6'6") and athleticism for a primary playmaker.

Shooting remains a major swing skill, but his star is shining plenty bright without it.

Highest Rank: 47

Lowest Rank: 92

2025-26 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 46.2 FG%, 36.6 3PT%

Age: 23

Josh Giddey hasn't so much dispelled reservations about his game as more effectively worked around them. He still can't check opposing point guards or first-option ball-handlers. He still isn't a money finisher around the rim. And he has still yet to show he can have a profound impact as the primary driver of an offense.

Giddey has nevertheless disproved the idea that he can't drill spot-up threes or effectively deploy his floater. What he lacks as an off-the-dribble shot-maker he makes up for by still having to generate the lion's share of his own looks inside the arc. 

No matter where you land on his game, there's no refuting the live-dribble vision or the value his size lends on the glass. The turnovers can be maddening, but they are, in part, unavoidable relative to the personnel around him. 

Even in this era, posting an 18/8/8 line per game is no joke. Jalen Johnson and Nikola Jokić are the only other players doing the same. 

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 44

Lowest Rank: 63

2025-26 Stats: 19.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.5 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 47.2 FG%, 37.2 3PT%

Age: 27

Preseason Rank: 43

Year 1 of Desmond Bane with the Orlando Magic has been mixed, as his production has been steady but hasn't translated into wins.

The 27-year-old is averaging 19.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists, is shooting 37.2 percent from three and Orlando is 7.0 points per 100 possessions better when he's on the floor. At 28-25 and with an offense that ranks just 19th overall, it's hard to justify the price the Magic had to pay for Bane, however.

Four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap is typically the going rate for a superstar, not just a good starting shooting guard. 

Bane was severely underrated coming out of college and during the first few years of his career. A max contract and massive trade return later, the pendulum has swung the opposite way.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 45

Lowest Rank: 94

2025-26 Stats: 19.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 41.5 FG%, 30.5 3PT%

Age: 27

Preseason Rank: 23

Is Trae Young a generational offensive talent, or are his defensive shortcomings doomed to handicap teams who try to build around him?

The answer is probably somewhere in the middle, although the four-time All-Star had a horrendous end to his Atlanta Hawks tenure.

Young juiced up Atlanta's offense by 9.3 points per 100 possessions this season, good enough to rank in the 96th percentile. Unfortunately, the Hawks gave up (and this is not a typo) 15.6 more points over this same stretch. That means that with both ends considered, Atlanta was getting beat by 6.3 points per 100 possessions (22nd percentile) with their star point guard on the floor.

Maybe things will be different with the Washington Wizards, especially with two big-time shot blockers in Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr behind him. Maybe Young's passing is the key to unlocking Washington's young core. Or maybe Young is in danger of losing his position as a starting point guard in the NBA altogether unless he can improve his own shooting efficiency (41.5 percent overall, 30.5 percent from three) and become less of a traffic cone on defense.

We likely won't have the answers until next season.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 54

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 44.3 FG%, 32.5 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 63

With the lone exception of 2023-24, each season of Jalen Suggs' career has been plagued by injuries and subpar three-point shooting.

But in 2025-26, Suggs has been a net-rating supercharger for an Orlando Magic team that desperately needs his perimeter defense and table-setting abilities. 

If he somehow rediscovers his outside stroke from two years ago, Orlando could still be a tough postseason out, in spite of all that's gone wrong this season.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 49
Lowest Rank: 66

2025-26 Stats: 23.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 45.8 FG%, 37.5 3PT%

Age: 22

Preseason Rank: Unranked

The 2025-26 season has taken George from a flashy curiosity to a budding building block. And in the process, he seemingly convinced Utah to fetch out real assets for an acceleration trade for Jaren Jackson Jr.

Long a slithery shot-creator, George has sped up his own elevation by slowing down his processing. He's becoming a step-ahead thinker—as much as a 22-year-old can—and understanding how to convert half-decent shots into great looks for himself and his teammates.

There's still some fluctuation in his output, and decision-making is a work in progress. But given his age and the lack of win-now intentions from his organization, those are footnote concerns in an otherwise wildly successful breakout.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 53

Lowest Rank: 74

2025-26 Stats: 14.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.8 BPG, 0.4 SPG, 61.3 FG%

Age: 28

Preseason Rank: 40

The 2024-25 season was the best of Zubac's career, but the LA Clippers team around him got older, slower and less effective to start the 2025-26 campaign. He's still a dependable big with soft hands. He rebounds well and protects the paint. For a while, earlier in the year, none of that mattered as the Clippers seemed to find ways to lose nearly every game they played.

Somehow, the team rallied to climb back into the play-in chase, potentially even into a playoff berth. Instead, the front office decided to blow up much of its core, sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers (for Darius Garland) and Zubac to the Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson (plus multiple first-round picks).

Indiana is among the worst teams in the NBA this season. With star point guard Tyrese Haliburton out with an Achilles injury, the team is well-positioned for the lottery. Still, the franchise had a massive hole at the center position after losing Myles Turner in free agency to the Milwaukee Bucks. Zubac is an excellent choice as the replacement, though the franchise won't really benefit from the trade until next season when Haliburton returns.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 42

Lowest Rank: 73

2025-26 Stats: 15.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 54.3 FG%, 18.5 3PT%

Age: 29

Preseason Rank: 28

Domantas Sabonis receded into footnote territory even before a torn left meniscus officially ended his season. Dealing with injuries and playing for the Sacramento Kings will do that to you.

All of the routine knocks still apply. Sabonis is not a strong defender, you need to deliberately craft your personnel to optimize him at the offensive end, and his functional limitations look worse when his three-point volume and efficiency have imploded. 

Even so, the 6'10" big man can clean up the defensive glass, pancake opponents on screens, draw two to the ball in the post, spray out to shooters and dump off to cutters in his sleep. And for all his shortcomings, setting him up for offensive success isn't the Herculean undertaking the Kings make it out to be.

Sacramento has won the minutes Sabonis plays with Malik Monk, the stretches he's logged without DeMar DeRozan and even the pockets of time he's spent alongside Dylan Cardwell.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 46

Lowest Rank: 75

2025-26 Stats: 20.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 50.6 FG%, 27.0 3PT%

Age: 32

Preseason Rank: 12

Anthony Davis is one of the toughest NBA players to rank.

On one hand, he's still one of the league's premier defenders who held opponents to just 53.6 percent shooting at the rim and ranks tied-for-eighth with 1.7 blocks a game. His rebounding has stayed consistent over the last few years and Davis is averaging over 20 points per game for the 13th consecutive season.

Unfortunately, injuries have cut short yet another season for the 10-time All-Star, who's not expected to play for the remainder of the year following a trade to the Washington Wizards. He'll finish the 2025-26 season at just 20 games and has averaged 46.5 contests over the past six seasons.

The Wizards bought low on Davis by giving up two bad first-round picks and can afford to give him the next seven months to get completely healthy before training camps open up.

A healthy Davis is still one of the best two-way big men in the NBA, but how much can we actually expect him to stay on the court?

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 35

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 21.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.8 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 47.4 FG%, 36.5 3PT%

Age: 28

Preseason Rank: 60

Relative to his peers, Brandon Ingram is probably still overreliant on the mid-range. And ho-hum rebound, block and steal rates help suppress his advanced numbers.

But his willingness to be just one leg under a pretty balanced scoring table has contributed to the Toronto Raptors' push for a top-four seed in the East.

With his unselfish approach and old-school offensive repertoire, Ingram is still a relatively obvious inclusion on a list like this.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 28

Lowest Rank: 77

2025-26 Stats: 19.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 47.6 FG%, 35.7 3PT%

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: 29

There's definitely an excitement factor with Jackson, but there's a lot of confusion, too. And the confusion aspect only increased with his move to Salt Lake City.

Like, he's a decorated (and disruptive) defender, but he also fouls too much and doesn't rebound enough. And while there's an interesting shooting-finishing blend in his offensive bag, there's rarely a boatload of points and almost never any playmaking.

Assuming the Jazz are only tanking through this season, there will be immediate pressure on Jackson next season to serve as their springboard to competitiveness. That's a big ask, unless he's tasked with being merely the third member of basketball's next Big Three.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 34

Lowest Rank: Unranked

2025-26 Stats: 16.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 47.9 FG%, 37.0 3PT%

Age: 28

Preseason Rank: 44

So few players are truly capable of guarding every position. OG Anunoby is among the exceptions.

Anunoby is the bedrock of the New York Knicks' defensive livelihood, particularly when both Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson are on the floor. The extremes he so often travels to take on marquee assignments and cover up for those in front and behind him cannot be overstated.

Anunoby plays on offense with the edge of someone who thinks he can do more than just drain threes. This is welcomed at times, but it has also led to oversteps in the past. 

The Knicks under Mike Brown are striking the right balance between affording him agency, maximizing the time he spends within his wheelhouse and even having him make quicker decisions. Save for an arctic-cold stretch after the NBA Cup, Anunoby has made good use of the extra latitude, coming as close to the stardom threshold as one can without actually crossing it.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 43

Lowest Rank: 65

2025-26 Stats: 18.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, 48.4 FG%, 43.1 3PT%

Age: 20

Preseason Rank: Unranked

The pre-All-Star portion of Knueppel's rookie season already featured a historic shooting display. If the curtains closed today, he'd be just the 26th sharpshooter ever to tally at least 180 three-pointers with a 43-plus percent splash rate.

Not bad for a 20-year-old with 54 career contests under his belt, right? Especially when said marksman happens to be a capable inside-the-arc scorer and secondary playmaker, too.

He'll have turnover trouble here and there, and defense is far from a great strength, but he's an elite shooter who's more than a shooting specialist. And this is, one can reasonably assume, merely the beginning.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 30

Lowest Rank: 59

2025-26 Stats: 11.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.6 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 70.3 FG%

Age: 33

Preseason Rank: 46

Didn't the proverbial immovable object sound a bit more impactful than this?

Make no mistake, the paint protection is real, and it's all-caps ELITE with Gobert. And those rare, unsightly lowlights you've seen of him getting turned around on the perimeter often pin back to defensive breakdowns by his teammates. If he's manning the middle, Minnesota is about as stingy as it gets.

The less said about his offense, the better, but he does get a bit of credit for never trying to do much. If you're shooting a league-best 70.3 percent from the field, as Gobert is, you're almost never straying outside of your lane.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 38

Lowest Rank: 45

2025-26 Stats: 17.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 50.9 FG%, 40.0 3PT%

Age: 30

Preseason Rank: 50

Aaron Gordon's transformation from "top four pick who wants to be a superstar" to "maybe the best glue guy in the NBA" is one of the last half-decade's best stories.

And over the last two seasons, he's penned another chapter in his late-career development of a reliable three-point shot.

Unfortunately, his recent exploits have also been riddled with injuries, too. If he can get and stay healthy, the Denver Nuggets can win another title. Without his multipositional defense, secondary playmaking and play-finishing ability, they probably can't.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 32

Lowest Rank: 107

2025-26 Stats: 15.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 59.8 FG%, 38.6 3PT%

Age: 29

Preseason Rank: 58

Graded against someone who needs to be your team's second-best offensive player and absolute best defender, Mikal Bridges is a disappointment. Viewed as a red-carpet complement who can toggle between second- and fourth-option responsibilities on offense and star on defense so long as he's not overexposed to point-of-attack duties, he's a player every team wants. 

Turbulence remains baked into the Bridges experience. For the most part, though, the New York Knicks under Mike Brown are putting him in his optimal role. 

The grab-and-go and drive-and-spray models serve Bridges incredibly well. He can be electric with his quick decisions on the move—and is posting the rim-finishing rate and career-high assist totals to prove it. 

Bridges' physical-contact allergens persist. He is too mid-range heavy for someone with his usage profile. But any over-magnification of his flaws, at this point, speaks to a disconnect between what the Knicks might have thought he was (a No. 2 option) and what he actually is (a really damn good player).

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 31

Lowest Rank: 56

2025-26 Stats: 23.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 47.4 FG%, 39.6 3PT%

Age: 32

Preseason Rank: 75

Perhaps unbound by the aging curve that controls the rest of us, Powell, a first-time All-Star, is engineering a second consecutive career campaign—as a 32-year-old.

He doesn't do a lot differently than he did in his younger days; he has just raised his letter grades in his comfort zone. The Heat don't ask for too much creation for him, and he returns the favor by pumping in points as a sneakily premier play-finisher.

Tyler Herro's availability issues have aided Powell's rise atop the Heat's offensive hierarchy. Now, the question becomes whether Miami might prioritize Powell's impending unrestricted free agency over Herro's upcoming extension-eligibility.

Highest Rank: 29

Lowest Rank: 54

2025-26 Stats: 22.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 46.0 FG%, 38.2 3PT%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: 55

Unfortunately, his team hasn't really followed the same trajectory, but Trey Murphy III has developed from a solid three-and-D role player to an all-around (fringe) star.

He's in the top 25 in points per game, while scoring with comfortably above-average efficiency.

But Murphy's breakout over the last two seasons is about more than his off-the-dribble jumper and well-beyond-the-three-point-line range. His assist volume has also skyrocketed, making him a far more difficult defensive assignment for his opponents.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 27

Lowest Rank: 53

2025-26 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 50.5 FG%, 20.5 3PT%

Age: 23

Preseason Rank: 41

Amen Thompson entered this campaign with superstar upside. And if anything, his pre-All-Star-break run has slightly exceeded expectations.

With his combination of slashing, defense and passing, he leads all Houston Rockets rotation players in net rating swing. His athletic burst in two of those categories (the defense and slashing) genuinely explodes off the screen. Whenever he's on the floor, it feels like Houston has a dramatic athletic advantage over just about any opponent.

If Thompson ever develops even an average outside shot (he's not close yet), we're talking about a perennial All-Star.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 28

Lowest Rank: 59

2025-26 Stats: 21.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 45.4 FG%, 30.2 3PT%

Age: 23

Preseason Rank: 19

Paolo Banchero looked like a future superstar following an All-Star appearance and Rookie of the Year award in his first two seasons. He's failed to make the next leap, however, going trophy-less over the last two years as injuries have impacted his time on the court.

Banchero's scoring has taken a hit this year (21.3 points per game, the lowest since his rookie season), although that's more of a product of Desmond Bane being added to the mix and the growth of Anthony Black. The more concerning aspect is that Banchero's shooting efficiency has plateaued, even as the talent around him has multiplied. 

Banchero is a big, athletic scorer and talented passer but needs to become a consistent force on defense. It's also a little worrisome that he's yet to register a positive on/off rating in his NBA career to date.

About to start a five-year, $239 million max deal next season, Banchero needs to play like a No. 1 overall pick again if the Orlando Magic want to make it out of the first round.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 35

Lowest Rank: 60

2025-26 Stats: 20.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.8 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 48.2 FG%, 30.2 3PT%

Age: 19

Preseason Rank: 62

The miracle cure for Mavs fans post-Dončić, Flagg has been everything this franchise could've wanted and more.

It's hard to see the full reach of his skill set and think his competitive drive is actually its best feature, but then you watch him race back for a chasedown block or send some rim protector into viral infamy, and you get it. He just seems to want it most, and that's true even with Dallas routinely being undermanned and perhaps unmotivated to win.

Any remaining skeptics (get a new hobby, folks) might try staining Flagg with a "jack of all trades" slight, but he's more like basketball's version of a five-tool star. Or at least he might meet that sky-high threshold as soon as he can harness a consistent outside shot.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 32

Lowest Rank: 56

2025-26 Stats: 21.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 58.4 FG%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: 30

Zion Williamson's trademark dominance is more muted than in years past, but the slip to more measured production and usage is well worth the trade-off when it's accompanied by some of his best availability over the past half-decade. He has a real shot at appearing in at least 60 games for just the third time in his career.

This isn't to imply Zion has retreated from being a human spectacle. His collaboration between artful technique and raw explosion is unbroken. It just manifests with more of the former rather than the latter.

Most of his shots at the rim remain self-created and heavily contested. He's hovering around a 70 percent conversion rate anyway. Shaedon Sharpe is the league's only other player matching Zion's efficiency at the basket while subsisting on a shot quality as poor, according to BBall-Index.

More telltale than anything, the New Orleans Pelicans have destroyed opponents in the minutes Zion logs without Jordan Poole or rookie Jeremiah Fears on the floor. Sure, the ship has sailed on his chance to anchor a contender. But Zion's megastar impact is still accessible in miniature.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 29

Lowest Rank: 64

2025-26 Stats: 19.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.4 APG, 0.2 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 40.1 FG%, 36.3 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 45

The Hornets have been terrible for a long, long time. A lack of available talent (injuries, roster makeup, etc.) has kept the team in the lottery. Ball was named an All-Star in his second season (2021-22), but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout much of his career.

During the early part of the year, it seemed like Charlotte would be an afterthought, but the franchise has found something magical with a lineup featuring rookie Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Moussa Diabate, Miles Bridges and Ball. Suddenly, opposing defenses had no idea how to stop that group's offensive explosion.

Ball is among the NBA's best bad-shot makers. Wild, step-back threes, contested shots, whatever the case may be—it's all working within the spacing that his teammates provide.

This is the baller the Hornets hoped they had in Ball. He's unorthodox. But provided the team keeps winning (and possibly makes a run to the playoffs), it will be safe to say he's revitalized his career this season.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 33

Lowest Rank: 57

2025-26 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 38.9 FG%, 32.5 3PT%

Age: 31

Preseason Rank: 37

People tire of hearing about one-off advanced-metric darlings who get painted as stars but are clearly not. But Derrick White has cornered the market on advanced-metric darling-ism for, like, a half-decade. 

Dismissing top-20 finishes is a lot harder when he lands inside that range across numerous kitchen-sink measuring sticks, and when it's a multi-year trend. 

White doesn't have the traditional burden of a star and is limited in ways alpha options are not. The Boston Celtics have needed him to generate more of his own threes this year, and his overall efficiency has cratered. Yet, most of his slide is coming on catch-and-shoot attempts, suggesting he's mostly navigating an off-year. 

Whatever the root issue of his three-point recession, the connective ball movement, defensive freneticism and shot-contesting disruption are status quo. Which is to say, unrelenting. Even when he's not at his very best, White is someone who just drives winning at the highest possible levels.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 24

Lowest Rank: 41

2025-26 Stats: 25.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.2 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 47.4 FG%, 32.7 3PT%

Age: 27

Preseason Rank: 74

Very early this season, it became clear that Michael Porter Jr. was much more than a so-called "Jokić merchant" for the Brooklyn Nets.

In fact, unlike the effect that leaving Jokić lineups has on a lot of former Denver Nuggets, MPJ is having, without question, the best year of his career, outside the Nuggets' system.

He's proving that he's not just a catch-and-shoot threat. He's still among the league's best there, but he's also capable of creating for himself and others. And now that we've seen this out of him as a No. 1 option, it's safe to say that Porter is one of the league's very best tough-shot makers.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 27

Lowest Rank: 45

2025-26 Stats: 22.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 49.2 FG%, 32.5 3PT%

Age: 31

Preseason Rank: 42

Randle is among the most skilled rumor-mill regulars you'll find. It's up to you, fine reader, to determine how backhanded that compliment is.

He sounds awesome and often is. There's some 6'9", 250-pound battering ram in him. But there are also legitimate ball skills and a three-ball that hopefully finds the target when he needs it. His stats are loud and sometimes impressively efficient, but the total package is a bit perplexing.

Defense can be a shoulder shrug, and consistency remains an unsolved riddle. But he is playing at one of his highest levels to date—as a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA honoree.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 30

Lowest Rank: 55

2025-26 Stats: 21.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 47.9 FG%, 36.5 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 32

We can debate if Franz Wagner was worthy of the max contract the Orlando Magic handed him coming off his third NBA season, although the 24-year-old has proved he's one of the most gifted offensive forwards in the league.

Injuries have limited Wagner to just 28 games this season, although he recently made his way back to the court before the All-Star break. Orlando is 16-12 with Wagner in the lineup and just 12-13 when he doesn't play.

A tall ball-handler at 6'10", Wagner is averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals. His three-point shooting was a major weakness the past two seasons (28.9 percent), yet he's bumped that number up to a career-high 36.5 percent this year.

There are major questions about an increasingly expensive Magic roster moving forward, although Wagner has looked every bit like a franchise centerpiece so far.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 29

Lowest Rank: 57

2025-26 Stats: 19.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 48.4 FG%, 35.3 3PT%

Age: 28

Preseason Rank: 36

San Antonio's decision to max out Fox this offseason was an eyebrow-raiser at the time, and that forehead fuzz unfortunately remains up. Because while he's a blur with the basketball and a solid decision-maker, he's more of an asterisked All-Star (both career selections came as injury replacements) than a full-fledged elite.

Fox is helpful to have on the roster, obviously, but paying him $223 million over the next four seasons will almost certainly be decidedly unfun.

That ink has dried already, though, so the Spurs will be more focused on his production than his pay rate. Things look good (not great, naturally) on that front, as he's basically been good for nightly contributions of 20 points, six assists and two three-pointers—rock-solid stats for a second option.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 32

Lowest Rank: 37

2025-26 Stats: 18.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.7 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 44.3 FG%, 33.8 3PT%

Age: 28

Preseason Rank: 27

A short-list resident of the NBA's defensive versatility rankings, Adebayo pairs at-rim disruption with superhuman, shape-shifting switching ability.

With his defense being a known commodity, there's been a hyperfocus on his offense—particularly his ability to expand its range. Well, he's finally burst through that barricade this season. Sort of. He looks more comfortable and confident firing from range, but his success rate shows more of a streaky shooter than a reliable one (33.8 percent on the season due to both fiery and frigid months).

That might still be a big win if the rest of his bag was intact, but his field-goal shooting is free-falling (career-worst 44.3 percent), and his playmaking hasn't provided this little punch in years (2.8 assists).

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 23

Lowest Rank: 51

2025-26 Stats: 17.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 47.9 FG%, 31.3 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 15

Anyone concerned by Jalen Williams' play following offseason wrist surgery and amid a hamstring injury was treated to both positive and negative reinforcement entering the All-Star break. 

During just 20 minutes of action in the Oklahoma City Thunder's Feb. 11 win over the Phoenix Suns, J-Dub put up 28 points and five assists on a scorching-hot 11-of-12 clip from the floor. He looked every bit the part of last year's All-NBA revelation with his on-ball movement and variable mix of shot-making. He also happened to leave the game after re-aggravating his hamstring injury.

This is in many ways a microcosm of Williams' entire season. Flashes become extended glimpses of a full-fledged return that then get derailed. 

Concern for all this lies in the eye of the beholder. But early 20-somethings who were just the second-most valuable player to a championship squad don't abruptly retreat in ordinariness. Williams' reputation precedes him, and even in the face of uncertainty elsewhere, he continues to live up to it on the defensive end.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 20

Lowest Rank: 72

2025-26 Stats: 25.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 0.2 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 48.4 FG%, 36.3 3PT%

Age: 27

Preseason Rank: 56

Reaves started the season at an absolutely elite level, reaching the top 10 in scoring. An unfortunate calf injury set him back and spoiled a potential All-Star bid, but the undrafted guard makes up part of one of the most dominant scoring trios in the league with Luka Dončić and LeBron James. When either or both have sat this year, Reaves has carried his team to impressive wins.

His ability to confuse defenders with his footwork helps him get to the line regularly. He can shoot off the dribble or when spotting up without the ball. When given the chance to run the team as the primary distributor, Reaves can dish out double-digit assists.

While he's extension-eligible this year, Reaves is choosing to explore free agency, where he could receive a max contract starting in the $41.5 million range this summer. As James ages out (which eventually has to happen, despite his unparalleled longevity), Reaves projects to be the long-term backcourt partner with Dončić, which will require significant defensive help in whatever roster makeup the front office puts together.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 20

Lowest Rank: 40

2025-26 Stats: 19.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 46.6 FG%, 35.1 3PT%

Age: 30

Preseason Rank: 18

Karl-Anthony Towns continues to vacillate between gripping and grating, sometimes by the possession. 

In his best moments, he remains a transcendent floor-spacer who can also devastate with coordinated physicality on drives and the glass. At his nadir, he is sweepingly destructive, a witch's brew of low-execution and self-sabotage made most evident through his penchant for arguing no-calls so extensively that he falls out of frame while the rest of his team gets back on defense, or his impressively alarming lead on offensive fouls.

This season's version of KAT is definitely worse than last year's iteration. He too often looks lost on offense, and his impact is dulled by a shakier showing on wide-open threes.

We know his ceiling, and it says a lot that he banked another All-Star nod despite his struggles. But if this season marks a new normal, the days of him being a consensus top-25 player are over.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 19

Lowest Rank: 44

2025-26 Stats: 17.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.8 BPG, 0.9 SPG

Age: 22

Preseason Rank: 83

Jalen Duren's production has exploded this season. And what those numbers above don't show you is that he's putting up these numbers in just 27.7 minutes.

Beyond his individual stat line, Duren is the anchor of one of the best defenses in the league and the primary roll man for one of its best distributors.

This season, he's ninth in total points scored as the receiver in pick-and-roll possessions. And he ranks in the 88th percentile for points per roll-man possession.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 21
Lowest Rank: 41

2025-26 Stats: 23.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 48.0 FG%, 36.9 3PT%

Age: 31

Preseason Rank: 25

Pascal Siakam deserves some love for soldiering through this Tyrese Haliburton-less season for the Indiana Pacers.

The team has been hopeless with him on the floor (posting a point differential around that of a 30-win team), but it's been borderline catastrophic without him (playing like a 12-win team).

Even with little to no chance of winning night to night (not having your team's best player has a tendency to do that), Siakam has been a leader, consistently played hard and produced at his typically well-rounded level.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 19

Lowest Rank: 39

2025-26 Stats: 22.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 7.1 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 50.6 FG%, 30.5 3PT%

Age: 41

Preseason Rank: 8

For the first time in his career, James wasn't able to start the season with his team. Dealing with sciatica, he missed the Lakers' first 14 games. Given he's the oldest player in the league, he should be slowing down. But while he's not necessarily prime-James, he's been tremendous for the Lakers this season.

Whether it's power dunks or an occasional chase-down block, James is still a forceful, impact player. He doesn't always rotate well on defense, and teams target the Lakers' shortcomings on that side of the floor for blowout wins. But when the team is playing well, and James is at his best, the Lakers don't give up leads and are among the most clutch franchises in the NBA in closing out close games.

Much of that can be attributed to James, who has a wealth of experience, incredible talent and an age-defying physical makeup that seems to defy Father Time.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 20

Lowest Rank: 36

2025-26 Stats: 26.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 47.0 FG%, 37.4 3PT%

Age: 31

Preseason Rank: 26

Flickers of Joel Embiid's former dominance have become more commonplace as the season wears on. Yet, in both how he moves and how he's used, it's clear he's never going to be the same player who staked his claim to numerous MVP races (and one victory) for more than semi-extended pockets.

That is, obviously, not ideal. It's also OK. 

Embiid is making the transition from headliner to co-star with enviable application. Many of his trademark touches remain, and his usage is still high. But he is also taking cues from Tyrese Maxey (and VJ Edgecombe) rather than issuing them. More of his buckets are coming off assists, and his touch time is down—essential adjustments that were not a given.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 12

Lowest Rank: 43

2025-26 Stats: 26.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.5 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 47.8 FG%, 36.3 3PT%

Age: 28

Preseason Rank: 48

Is Markkanen just a huge-stats-on-a-bad-team player, or can his star keep shining in a more competitive environment? The Jazz will have their answer soon-ish. Maybe. It feels like their costly tank job is down to its final months, but they've lost long enough to worry that the competitive switch may not flip immediately.

Regardless of what happens around him, he's still a great, truly three-level scorer. It's not impossible to picture 25 points per night and enshrinement in the 50/40/90 club.

There may not be a standout skill beyond net-shredding, but point production is kind of the whole point, so that may not be much of a mark against him.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 20

Lowest Rank: 38

2025-26 Stats: 17.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.0 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 51.2 FG%, 30.4 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 14

Evan Mobley continues to show us why he's the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, even if his offensive game has plateaued a bit.

The 24-year-old's 2.0 blocks per game rank third in the NBA and Mobley is holding opponents to just 52.6 percent shooting at the rim. That number ranks first among all players contesting six shots per game or more.

Unfortunately, the offensive leap we saw a year ago from Mobley under Kenny Atkinson hasn't carried over. His three-point shooting has plummeted (30.4 percent, down from 37.0 percent last season) and Mobley's scoring (17.9 points) and rebounding (8.8) have dipped as well.

We could see a James Harden bump coming, however, as the veteran guard has long elevated the play of his big men.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 14

Lowest Rank: 40

2025-26 Stats: 17.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 56.0 FG%, 34.9 3PT%

Age: 23

Preseason Rank: 35

After missing his would-be rookie year, Chet Holmgren began each of the next two seasons in a way that left many wondering whether he, rather than Jalen Williams, was the Oklahoma City Thunder's second-best player. The 2025-26 campaign has been no different—except this time, the "Is he more important than J-Dub?" feeling hasn't faded.

To be sure, Williams' limited availability hasn't helped his case. But Holmgren is doing his darndest to fortify his own.

Victor Wembanyama will be the Defensive Player of the Year if he meets the 65-appearance threshold. Holmgren is a lock to finish second. His meld of rim protection/deterrence and perimeter disruption is unmatched by someone standing over seven feet (non-Wemby division). 

Holmgren's offensive package, meanwhile, is incrementally deeper. It'd be nice if he shot, like, 3 to 4 percentage points better from beyond the arc. He offsets the if-only sting by generating a larger share of his own looks inside the arc, both out of drives and post touches that shine a spotlight onto his heightened physicality. 

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 12

Lowest Rank: 33

2025-26 Stats: 19.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.6 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 50.5 FG%, 30.1 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 38

Scottie Barnes' outside shooting still leaves a lot to be desired (he's made just 30.1 percent of his three-point attempts this season), but he was a worthy 2026 All-Star for a handful of reasons.

For one thing, Barnes is a dynamic, multi-positional defender who can switch all over the perimeter while also providing some rim protection.

And even if he doesn't command a ton of respect beyond the three-point line, Barnes' downhill driving and ability to find and set up teammates for open looks make him valuable on the offensive end, too.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 19

Lowest Rank: 22

2025-26 Stats: 20.7 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 49.7 FG%, 29.9 3PT%

Age: 23

Preseason Rank: 22

The "Baby Jokić" moniker may have been a little premature. After all, the difference in scoring efficiency between Alperen Şengün and the three-time MVP is gargantuan.

But Şengün is already a better defender, one of the league's top passers from the center position and at least capable inside of pulling defensive attention away from the perimeter.

As he tightens up his shot selection and develops his jumper a bit more, Şengün will cement himself as one of the very best 5s in the NBA.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 16

Lowest Rank: 24

2025-26 Stats: 25.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 0.3 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 45.5 FG%, 31.1 3PT%

Age: 29

Preseason Rank: 16

Pairing an elite scorer like Booker with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal never made a ton of sense, and the Suns have improved after shedding significant salary to build around their best player.

Booker wasn't even honored as an All-Star last year, but his role in resurrecting the Suns rectified that oversight earlier this month.

Over the years, Booker's coaches have asked him to become more of a distributor, which has helped him become a lethal combination of scorer and playmaker.

His team won just 36 games last season, but this year, the Suns hit 32 by the All-Star break and are in range of a top-6 seed, in large part because of Booker's high level of play.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 14

Lowest Rank: 28

2025-26 Stats: 25.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 8.2 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 43.8 FG%, 36.2 3PT%

Age: 36

Preseason Rank: 24

James Harden continues to put up impressive numbers even at age 36 and remains one of the best passers in the NBA.

Currently averaging 25.0 points (No. 20 overall), 8.2 assists (tied for No. 6), 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, Harden can still carry an offense (plus-10.7 offensive swing rating, 97th percentile via Cleaning the Glass).

Of course, what Harden gives a team offensively he gives back on defense (plus-7.9 defensive swing rating, 7th percentile). In the last five seasons (across four teams), Harden is shooting just 42.0 percent overall and 35.9 percent from three, a drop from his career averages.

After years of being a No. 1 option and then transitioning into a No. 2 alongside Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard, can Harden be the No. 3 (behind Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley) that the Cavs need him to be?

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 14

Lowest Rank: 30

2025-26 Stats: 23.3 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 8.2 APG, 0.5 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 50.2 FG%, 35.3 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 49

The 2025-26 campaign feels like a crowded crossroads for Johnson—in the best kind of way.

Everything is coming together at the same time. The jaw-dropping tools and game-breaking motor that have long intrigued are now joined by the polish, opportunity and production of a first-time All-Star. It all adds up to the kind of across-the-board production that makes triple-doubles feel within arm's reach every time out.

This isn't his best. In all honesty, it might be far from it. Handle-tightening, range-expansion and getting back some of his defensive playmaking he seemingly lost amid the heavier offensive workload are all on the to-do list. Building off the foundation he's already forming just might help him crack the innermost circles of the elite ranks.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 14

Lowest Rank: 22

2025-26 Stats: 25.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.6 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 46.3 FG%, 34.6 3PT%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: 51

Deni Avdija has developed into one of the game's premier point-forwards. It's no longer theoretical. There are no "good stats, bad team" caveats.

He is simply one of the NBA's best No. 1 options, with top-15 rankings in both points and assists per game.

And his impact isn't entirely confined to the box score. Avdija is a sturdy, multipositional defender who knows how to get opponents into foul trouble, too.

The steal and block numbers may not leap off the screen, but he truly impacts every aspect of the game when he's on the floor.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 13

Lowest Rank: 22

2025-26 Stats: 25.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.6 APG, 0.4 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 48.5 FG%, 42.5 3PT%

Age: 28

Preseason Rank: 39

Whether he consciously set out to do this or not, this Jamal Murray season has been about proving his worth outside of the minutes he shares the floor with Nikola Jokić.

And Murray has never been better in those situations.

The Denver Nuggets are 7-5 in games Murray played without Jokić. And for the entire season, he's averaging 27.5 points and 9.3 assists per 75 possessions when the big man is off the floor.

Beyond that, the swagger of "Playoff Jamal" has accompanied just about every minute he's played this regular season. He's destroying defenders off the bounce and hitting some of the toughest contested jumpers in the NBA.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 15

Lowest Rank: 18

2025-26 Stats: 25.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 50.6 FG%, 40.3 3PT%

Age: 37

Preseason Rank: 11

What Kevin Durant is doing at this age, with this many NBA miles on his legs, truly seems impossible.

He's averaging 25.8 points, while shooting 55.4 percent on twos, 40.3 percent on threes and 88.0 percent from the line. No one in the league matches or exceeds all four of those marks right now. And of the eight such seasons in league history (all of which belong to either KD or Stephen Curry), this is the oldest by three years.

The Houston Rockets have sort of struggled to find an offensive identity in the wake of season-ending injuries to Fred VanVleet (the traditional playmaker) and Steven Adams (the dominant offensive rebounder), but they might be a full-blown disaster on that end without KD.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 8
Lowest Rank: 21

2025-26 Stats: 27.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 47.0 FG%, 37.4 3PT%

Age: 29

Preseason Rank: 10

For as much as the New York Knicks are using Jalen Brunson in different ways under head coach Mike Brown, the crux of his being elite remains the same: He is the team's everything—its necessary default when things go haywire, and oftentimes the entire crunch-time system.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the only other player to have made as many unassisted twos and threes. That Brunson, not unlike SGA, remains a pillar of ball protection despite a high-usage and -attention role further tethers him to the fringes of the MVP discussion.

This isn't to say nothing has changed since last year, or since our offseason rankings. Brunson has put to bed the notion that he can't balance relinquishing control with superstar impact. He can. He is. 

Whether the Knicks are too reliant on him anyway is debatable. His ability to both carry and complement has never been less so.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 11

Lowest Rank: 28

2025-26 Stats: 29.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 0.4 BPG, 1.0 SPG

Age: 29

Preseason Rank: 21

The Celtics were supposed to be bad this season, taking a gap year while Jayson Tatum recovered from an Achilles injury. To get below the aprons and tax threshold, the front office traded away core pieces like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. Despite the leaner roster, Boston has been a problem in the Eastern Conference, and Brown was honored as an All-Star.

Taking almost 23 shot attempts per game, Brown is the clear focus of the Celtics' offense. He's averaging his career-best in scoring, while improving in efficiency over his previous season. Brown is also a willing defender, and the Celtics may finish as the No. 2 seed in the East with a top-5 overall record.

It's easy to overlook Brown when he shares the spotlight with Tatum, but it's no mistake that Brown was the NBA Finals MVP in 2024. He's an elite scorer on one of the NBA's elite franchises.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 3

Lowest Rank: 18

2025-26 Stats: 28.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 46.9 FG%, 37.9 3PT%

Age: 25

Preseason Rank: 31

Tyrese Maxey has come to personify coordinated chaos. He has taken the blazing speed at which he's always played and perfected the integration of unpredictable downshifting, forcing defenses into impossible situations.

A more comprehensive shot profile further disjoints anyone who lines up in front of him. There is not a level from which he can't score. Once upon a time, you wondered whether his jumper was predicated on taking minimal dribbles. Not anymore. He ranks eighth in unassisted two-pointers and fifth in unassisted triples.

Maxey doesn't have the passing versatility of other lead guards, but he doesn't need it. Havoc is his playmaking depth, and it has no bottom. His reads out of the bedlam he creates are at an all-time high, and the vanishingly small frequency with which he turns the ball over is equal parts evidence of his controlled anarchy and totally nonsensical.

Though not a shutdown defender, Maxey plays with an energy that translates into disruption. That's more than many other players of his stature can say. 

Mash it all together, and you don't just have someone who's a shoo-in for his first All-NBA bid—you've got someone flirting with the top-10-star convo.

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 6

Lowest Rank: 16

2025-26 Stats: 27.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 46.8 FG%, 39.1 3PT%

Age: 37

Preseason Rank: 5

Curry feels like the basketball world's embodiment of joy. He'll not only rip the hearts out of defenders with dizzying dribble moves and how-the-bleep-did-he-do-that?! daggers, he'll do so with a smile on his face—and have everyone in the arena smiling in disbelief.

That's what makes his current situation in Golden State such a bummer. Because while he's maintained a level of greatness that makes you forget his 38th birthday is fast approaching, the Warriors haven't held up their end of the bargain. He is absurd (27.2 points on 46.8/39.1/93.1 shooting), but they are decidedly average.

While you hope his twilight years find a way to feature more significance than this, you still want to savor every second of them regardless of team circumstances. His off-ball movement and shot-making difficulty are true 1-of-1 legendary traits.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 5

Lowest Rank: 14

2025-26 Stats: 29.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.8 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 49.3 FG%, 40.2 3PT%

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 7

There are, at any given moment, maybe a couple of handfuls of players with legitimate future-face-of-the-NBA potential. And that's probably being generous.

Whatever that number is, Edwards is one of them. He's an All-Galaxy athlete and All-Universe competitor. Oh, and he's also maybe a Stephen Curry-level shooter, too?!

That's intentionally a bit hyperbolic, but only in the sense that comparing anyone to history's greatest marksman is. Because Edwards' averages from this season and last (3.8 three-pointers with a 39.7 percent splash rate) live just down the street from Curry's career marks (4.0 and 42.2, respectively).

Edwards could leverage his offensive gravity into more playmaking, and his numbers aren't always quite as ridiculously dominant as his tools and raw skills say they could be. The 24-year-old should have at least another half-step in him, and yes, that is every bit as terrifying as it sounds.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 5

Lowest Rank: 10

2025-26 Stats: 29.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 48.7 FG%, 37.6 3PT%

Age: 29

Preseason Rank: 9

Donovan Mitchell is having the best season of his career, which is saying a lot for a guy who just played in his seventh All-Star game.

His 29.0 points per game rank No. 5 overall in the NBA and represent the highest of his nine years in the league. Mitchell's shot attempts have remained similar to previous seasons, with his improved accuracy from nearly all areas of the floor accounting for this bump in scoring.

Mitchell has been a bucket-getting machine from everywhere, shooting 68.9 percent from within three feet, 56.1 percent from 3-to-10 feet, 51.8 percent from 10-to-16 and 45.9 percent from 16 feet to the three-point arc. Nearly all are personal bests.

Mix in his added playmaking duties with Darius Garland hurt for much of the season before the trade, and Mitchell is also registering 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while missing just four games.

Mitchell's combination of strength, footwork and athleticism have made him one of the very best players in the NBA who's clearly in the prime of his career.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 7

Lowest Rank: 9

2025-26 Stats: 25.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 9.6 APG, 0.8 BPG, 1.5 SPG

Age: 24

Preseason Rank: 13

It's still fair to nitpick Cade Cunningham over his turnover volume. Only eight qualified players average more per 100 possessions. His scoring efficiency is still below average, too.

But Cade could still be in the mix for a First Team All-NBA nod because of the sheer volume of his points and assists and the overwhelmingly positive impact on one of the league's best point differentials.

The Detroit Pistons are cruising toward the first seed in the East and are plus-10.1 points per 100 possessions when Cunningham is on the floor. That number drops to plus-3.3 when he's off.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 5

Lowest Rank: 10

2025-26 Stats: 27.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.5 BPG, 2.1 SPG

Age: 34

Preseason Rank: 19

If you forgot about Leonard, he gave a stark reminder in the All-Star game, scoring 31 points in 12 minutes. When he's healthy, Leonard is still one of the most dominant two-way players in the league. He has two NBA Finals MVPs for a reason, and he's kept the Clippers afloat this season after a disastrous start.

It's unclear what's ahead for LA after trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac ahead of the trade deadline. Still, with Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin, Leonard now has a younger group of players to help carry the scoring load.

Behind the scenes, the NBA is conducting an open investigation into whether the Clippers engaged in cap circumvention through one of Leonard's sponsorships (Aspiration). Best case, the team gets a slap on the wrist; worst, and his future with the Clippers could be put into question.

It's a bit messy, but Leonard continues to score with surgical precision nearly every night, shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three, and 91.2 percent from the line.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 4

Lowest Rank: 10

2025-26 Stats: 28.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.6 APG, 0.7 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 64.5 FG%, 39.5 3PT%

Age: 31

Preseason Rank: 3

Let's ignore the trade drama for a minute and recognize that Giannis Antetokounmpo is still playing some other-wordly basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks right now.

His raw numbers have dipped a bit this year, but that's only because the Bucks have done a better job of handling his workload (29.2 minutes per game, the lowest since his rookie season).

The two-time MVP is still putting up 28.0 points (No. 8 overall), 10.0 rebounds (No. 14) and 5.6 assists per game. Nikola Jokić is the only other player to match or exceed these numbers.

At 31, Antetokounmpo is posting a career-best swing rating of plus-14.2, ranking in the 98th percentile overall per Cleaning the Glass. The Bucks are 15-15 overall this season with their superstar, yet slump to just 8-15 when he doesn't play.

Antetokounmpo isn't the peak defender of a few years ago, but he is posting career-best efficiency numbers from two (66.6 percent) and three (39.5 percent), even without another star to help open up the floor.

—Greg Swartz

Highest Rank: 3

Lowest Rank: 10

2025-26 Stats: 24.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.7 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 51.1 FG%, 36.3 3PT%

Age: 22

Preseason Rank: 6

San Antonio's 7'4" celestial hooper has never felt closer to conquering the NBA. He's swatting his way to a third blocks title in three years, snaring his most rebounds in his fewest minutes to date and posting career-highs in points, field-goal percentage and three-point shooting.

It still feels like there's another "the game is cheating" level of domination in front of him, as he sometimes leaves you wanting more interior force than perimeter finesse.

That said, good luck convincing the opposition this isn't actually as difficult as things will get. The list of players with a better estimated plus/minus at this season's All-Star intermission runs all of five players deep.

—Zach Buckley

Highest Rank: 3

Lowest Rank: 10

2025-26 Stats: 32.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 8.6 APG, 0.5 BPG, 1.4 SPG

Age: 26

Preseason Rank: 4

What offense should a team run when Dončić is your star? Dončić is the offense, one of the NBA's elite point generators. The Dallas Mavericks advanced to the NBA Finals in 2024 with a roster built around Dončić—but for perplexing reasons, they sent him to the Lakers for Anthony Davis (who has since been traded to the Washington Wizards).

Can Los Angeles put together a team that accentuates Dončić's strengths, while hiding his glaring weaknesses (primarily his defensive shortcomings)? So far, not well enough to dominate in the Western Conference, but that may change after this year when LeBron James' $52.6 million salary comes off the books.

In the meantime, enjoy the Dončić-led Lakers through incredible highs and several blowout losses. When he gets hot, which is quite often, Dončić puts on a show like none other.

—Eric Pincus

Highest Rank: 3

Lowest Rank: 7

2025-26 Stats: 31.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 55.0 FG%, 39.4 3PT%

Age: 27

Preseason Rank: 2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the runaway favorite to repeat as MVP, so long as the abdominal strain he's recovering from doesn't drag him beneath the games-played threshold. With Nikola Jokić having already missed so much time, SGA's case is beyond reproach. 

No one else has a comparable argument, let alone a potentially stronger one. The Oklahoma City Thunder's back-to-back pursuits are almost uncomfortably hinged upon SGA's high-volume scoring on hyper-efficiency. 

Nearly 80 percent of his buckets go unassisted—the league's highest mark among almost 500 players who have appeared in at least five games. That he's about to average over 30 points while maintaining a turnover rate below 10 deserves more attention. It's the third time he'll do it. Michael Jordan is the only other player to have more than one of these seasons.

Oh, SGA also remains an active participant for the league's scariest defense. The "Best Two-Way Player" crown is most often awarded as a consolation prize to someone who can't seize the "Best Player, Period" throne. This season, though, both may belong to SGA.  

—Dan Favale

Highest Rank: 1

Lowest Rank: 2

2025-26 Stats: 28.7 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 10.7 APG, 0.8 BPG, 1.4 SPG

Age: 30

Preseason Rank: 1

His 16 missed games and the Oklahoma City Thunder's lead in the Western Conference standings have him comfortably behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP betting odds, but on most nights, it's still hard to watch Nikola Jokić without thinking he's the best player in the world.

Jokić controls every aspect of every offensive possession. Though he's not your traditionally dominant rim protector (or really, any kind of rim protector), he's sort of the middle linebacker or signal caller of Denver's defense. And right now, he's on track to be the first player in NBA history to lead the NBA in both assists per game and rebounds per game.

After seeing this kind of production for over half a decade, we may be sort of numb to it, but every once in a while, it's worth remembering that this is not normal.

—Andy Bailey

Highest Rank: 1

Lowest Rank: 2

Atlanta Hawks: Jalen Johnson (17), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (67) Onyeka Okongwu (83), Dyson Daniels (85)

Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown (12), Derrick White (37), Payton Pritchard (69)

Brooklyn Nets: Michael Porter Jr. (36), Nic Claxton (86)

Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball (38), Kon Knueppel (48), Brandon Miller (74), Coby White (88)

Chicago Bulls: Josh Giddey (59)

Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell (8), James Harden (18), Evan Mobley (23), Jarrett Allen (63)

Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (40)

Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokić (1), Jamal Murray (15), Aaron Gordon (46), Peyton Watson (76)

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham (7), Jalen Duren (28), Ausar Thompson (71)

Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (10), Jimmy Butler (75), Draymond Green (89)

Houston Rockets: Kevin Durant (14), Alperen Şengün (20), Amen Thompson (42), Reed Sheppard (90), Tari Eason (94)

Indiana Pacers: Pascal Siakam (27), Ivica Zubac (64), Andrew Nembhard (72)

LA Clippers: Kawhi Leonard (6), Darius Garland (62)

Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James (26), Austin Reaves (30)

Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant (79)

Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo (32), Norman Powell (44), Tyler Herro (77), Andrew Wiggins (80)

Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo (5), Myles Turner (99)

Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (9), Julius Randle (35), Rudy Gobert (47), Jaden McDaniels (61), Naz Reid (68)

New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (39), Trey Murphy III (43)

New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson (13), Karl-Anthony Towns (29), Mikal Bridges (45), OG Anunoby (49), Josh Hart (66)

Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), Chet Holmgren (22), Jalen Williams (31), Isaiah Hartenstein (64), Alex Caruso (87), Cason Wallace (95)

Orlando Magic: Franz Wagner (34), Paolo Banchero (41), Jalen Suggs (56), Desmond Bane (58), Anthony Black (81)

Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey (11), Joel Embiid (25), VJ Edgecombe (91), Paul George (92)

Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (19), Dillon Brooks (65), Mark Williams (84)

Portland Trail Blazers: Deni Avdija (16), Jrue Holiday (70), Toumani Camara (97)

Sacramento Kings: Domantas Sabonis (53), DeMar DeRozan (93), Zach LaVine (98)

San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama (4), De'Aaron Fox (33), Stephon Castle (60), Devin Vassell (96)

Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes (21), Brandon Ingram (51), RJ Barrett (73), Immanuel Quickley (78)

Utah Jazz: Lauri Markkanen (24), Jaren Jackson Jr. (50), Keyonte George (55)

Washington Wizards: Anthony Davis (52), Trae Young (57), Alex Sarr (82)