NBA Rank 2026: Where LeBron, Steph, KD check in

NBA Rank is back! With less than one month until opening night, let's continue counting down the league's best players for 2026-27. After unveiling players Nos. 100-51 on Tuesday, our rankings now enter the top 50. It's a group headlined by former MVPs, future first-ballot Hall of Famers and young stars expected to take major leaps this season. It's also where LeBron James checks in, his first time outside the top 10 in NBA Rank's 15-year history. (You can jump to LeBron's NBA Rank here.) The rankings rollout concludes Thursday with our expert panel's top 10 players. And that panel has been overhauled for the 2026 edition. In previous seasons, more than 100 ESPN NBA insiders, reporters, editors and producers voted on thousands of possible player vs. player matchups to arrive at the final top-100 list. That "wisdom of the crowd" approach has given way to the wisdom of seven: ESPN's Ben Golliver, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Bobby Marks, Dave McMenamin, André Snellings and Matt "Stats" Williams. (The panelists' individual top-100 lists were combined to create our final rankings.) Voting guidelines, however, remained unchanged. The panel was asked to rank players based on predicted contributions -- quality and quantity -- for the 2026-27 regular season only. Let's get to the list, which features plenty of superstars who just missed our top 10. Note: Signature stats provided by ESPN Research. 50. Dylan Harper G | San Antonio Spurs Age: 20 2025 NBA Rank: NR The youngest member of the Spurs was the one who seemed to rise highest in the altitude of the Finals and stands to make a big jump in Year 2, whether he stays coming off the bench or makes the leap to the first five. He will earn more respect from the officials (1.7 free throw attempts in 69 games as a rookie), take a bigger role in the offense and improve on his already-respectable playmaking. Harper is an All-Star in the making. -- Vincent Goodwill Signature stat: Harper had six games with at least 15 points and 65% shooting from the field in the 2026 playoffs, the most by a guard in NBA postseason history. Fantasy projection: 15.2 PTS, 5.0 AST, 4.4 REB 49. Lauri Markkanen F | Utah Jazz Age: 29 2025 NBA Rank: 43 Markkanen, a scoring forward who can stretch the court, has languished as a forgotten man in Utah. The Finnish star's competence often came into conflict with the Jazz's desire to improve their draft positioning during a multiyear rebuilding effort, and he has appeared in only one game in April over the past four seasons. Though his contract is overly generous for a player lacking All-NBA credentials, Markkanen should benefit from Utah's recent talent upgrades as he eyes his first career postseason appearance. -- Ben Golliver Signature stat: Markkanen has nine seasons with at least 100 3-pointers, tied with Karl-Anthony Towns and Dirk Nowitzki for the most by a 7-footer in NBA history. Fantasy projection: 23.8 PTS, 7.2 REB, 1.9 AST 48. Kon Knueppel G | Charlotte Hornets Age: 21 2025 NBA Rank: NR Knueppel had a historic debut season. He finished second for Rookie of the Year behind a rookie-record, Hornets-record and NBA season-high 273 made 3-pointers. There will be change for Knueppel this upcoming season, as LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges are both gone. Ball assisted on 73 of Knueppel's 3s last season, the fourth most by any passer-scorer combination. Bridges assisted on 49, the second most on the team. -- Matt Williams Signature stat: Knueppel was the first rookie to lead the NBA in made 3-pointers (272). Prior to last season, no first-year player had ever finished in the top three. Fantasy projection: 20.0 PTS, 5.8 REB, 3.7 AST 47. Derrick White G | Boston Celtics Age: 32 2025 NBA Rank: 26 An inconsistent season on offense has White sliding back twenty-one spots. White continues to be one of the league's best defenders but an inconsistent season on offense has him sliding back 21 spots. For the first time in his career, White shot less than 40% from the field. In the playoffs, White's points per game decreased from 16.5 in the regular season to 8.7 in the first round. He shot 30.9% from the field and 26.5% on 3s. With Jaylen Brown traded to Philadelphia, the Celtics need consistency from White to contend in the revamped Eastern Conference. White has three years and $98 million remaining on his contract. -- Bobby Marks Signature stat: Among qualified players, White saw the largest drop in effective field goal percentage from 2024-25 to 2025-26. Fantasy projection: 16.6 PTS, 5.3 AST, 1.2 BLK 46. Brandon Miller F | Charlotte Hornets Age: 23 2025 NBA Rank: 76 Charlotte's deals with Minnesota (LaMelo Ball) and Phoenix (Miles Bridges) weren't just signals of a change in the franchise's direction, but they were a tacit endorsement of Miller. Selected No. 2 in 2023, the 6-7 forward is a proven scorer (19.0 points per game for his career) and made strides in his efficiency last season by setting personal bests in accuracy from 3 (38.3%) and the foul line (89.2%). -- Dave McMenamin Signature stat: Led Hornets with 20.2 PPG last season Fantasy projection: 22.3 PTS, 5.4 REB, 3.7 AST 45. Franz Wagner F | Orlando Magic Age: 25 2025 NBA Rank: 32 Wagner is a talented shooter-scorer on the wing whose 6-10 size makes him a nightly mismatch. The main thing standing between Wagner and his first All-Star selection has been health, with him playing only 94 of a possible 162 games the past two seasons. But Wagner has averaged 22.9 points per game in that span and matches with Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane to give the Magic one of the most formidable 2-3-4 combos in the NBA. -- André Snellings Signature stat: Orlando went 20-14 in Wagner's career-low 34 games played last season (25-23 without). Fantasy projection: 22.5 PTS, 5.7 REB. 4.2 AST 44. Trae Young G | Washington Wizards Age: 27 2025 NBA Rank: 29 Other than finagling his way to a new four-year, $212.8 million contract -- a huge win, to be fair -- the past year was one to forget for Young. He played only 15 games due to injuries and was traded to the team with the worst record in the league. Meanwhile, the Hawks took off in the standings after dealing him. In his first full season as a Wizard, Young will surely do his part to boost an offense that ranked 29th in efficiency last year, but he won't help a defense that ranked 30th. One major question for Washington is how much Young dominates on the ball, versus occasionally spacing the floor and deferring to the Wizards' young playmakers on the perimeter. -- Kram Signature stat: Young, Oscar Robertson, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic are the only players in NBA history with at least 25 points and 10 assists per game in consecutive seasons. Fantasy projection: 23.8 PTS, 10.8 AST, 1.2 STL 43. De'Aaron Fox G | San Antonio Spurs Age: 28 2025 NBA Rank: 35 Fox smoothly downshifted into his new life as Wembanyama's sidekick in their first full season together, but the 6-foot-3 guard's poor play in the Finals led critics to call for him to be benched or traded. San Antonio stood by Fox this summer, opting to keep the two-time All-Star and the bulk of its 62-win team intact. However, the scrutiny on Fox will only intensify with 2025 lottery pick Dylan Harper eyeing an expanded role. Fox's unsightly 41/29/76 shooting splits in the 2026 playoffs simply must improve for the Spurs to fulfill their championship dreams. -- Golliver Signature stat: Fox ranks fourth in clutch time points since entering the league in 2017-18, behind DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic. Fantasy projection: 20.6 PTS, 5.6 AST, 1.4 STL 42. Rudy Gobert C | Minnesota Timberwolves Age: 34 2025 NBA Rank: 49 The Timberwolves ranked eighth in defensive efficiency last season, but their success varied depending on the presence of Gobert. When he was on the floor, they had a 108.0 defensive rating. That rose to 115.9 when Gobert was on the bench. But the intriguing part of Gobert's game this season will be his partnership with LaMelo Ball in the pick-and-roll. Ball ranked second in on-ball screens as the ball handler last season, while Gobert was third in picks set as the screener, according to GeniusIQ player tracking. -- Williams Signature stat: Gobert's four Defensive Player of the Year awards are tied for the most in NBA history with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace. Fantasy projection: 11.9 PTS, 11.7 REB, 1.7 BLK 41. Joel Embiid C | Philadelphia 76ers Age: 32 2025 NBA Rank: 47 When Embiid plays, he's productive and must be accounted for on every scouting report -- a shoo-in for 27 points and eight boards and a matchup nightmare with his ability to score at all three levels. But "when he plays" is still an issue, the biggest question mark for whether this talent-laden 76ers experiment can lead to a run through May. Since winning MVP in 2023, he has played in a possible 96 of 246 games (39%). -- Goodwill Signature stat: Embiid has averaged 27.64 points per game throughout his career, fourth most in NBA history and second most by a frontcourt player (Wilt Chamberlain: 30.07). Fantasy projection: 27.4 PTS, 8.2 REB, 1.2 BLK 40. Anthony Davis F | Washington Wizards Age: 33 2025 NBA Rank: 14 It has been a disastrous couple of seasons for Davis since his shocking trade from the Lakers to the Mavericks. He has appeared in just 29 games since late-January 2025 and was traded a second time to the Wizards in February. Davis has yet to play for Washington due to a hand injury but enters 2026-27 fully healthy, and his on-court performance this season will be key to his long-term future after Davis' representatives and the Wizards shelved extension talks this summer. He's owed $58.5 million this season and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. -- McMenamin Signature stat: Davis is one of 11 players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in at least 10 seasons. The only other player among the 11 to have played in 21st century is Shaquille O'Neal, with a league-record 13 20-10 seasons. Fantasy projection: 22.6 PTS, 11.4 REB, 2.1 BLK 39. Kyrie Irving G | Dallas Mavericks Age: 34 2025 NBA Rank: NR (injury) Irving was 25th two years ago but dropped out of the top 100 while recovering from a torn right ACL. The 34-year-old has averaged at least 20 points per game in nine straight seasons and rejoins a revamped Maverick roster featuring Cooper Flagg and new coach Dusty May. A healthy Irving will improve an offense that ranked 22nd in assists and 29th in 3-pointers made. Irving has two years left on his contract, including a player option in 2027-28, and could be a trade candidate if Dallas is out of playoff contention by February. -- Marks Signature stat: Irving, who has routinely flirted with shooting splits of 50% from the field, 40% from 3 and 90% from the free throw line, pulled off the feat in 2020-21. He is one of three players in NBA history with a 50/40/90 season on at least 20 shots per game (Stephen Curry in 2015-16, Larry Bird in 1986-87 and 1987-88). Fantasy projection: 24.6 PTS, 4.8 AST, 1.3 STL 38. Stephon Castle G | San Antonio Spurs Age: 21 2025 NBA Rank: 99 Castle raised his game in every way as a sophomore. He was a dominant defender coming out of college, with the size and strength of a big wing but with the quickness and tenacity to lock up opposing point guards. Castle's offensive game is developing as he improves as both a shooter and a distributor, both skills building from his natural ability to get to the rim off the dribble. Castle joins Wembanyama and Harper as the young, supremely talented nucleus of a Spurs team that seems destined for many more Finals trips. -- Snellings Signature stat: Last season, Castle became the youngest player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists in game. Fantasy projection: 18.1 PTS, 7.6 AST, 5.6 REB 37. Austin Reaves G | Los Angeles Lakers Age: 28 2025 NBA Rank: 60 Reaves' dream season was cut short in April by an oblique injury that, paired with Luka Doncic's hamstring strain, helped derail the Lakers' postseason. He was still rewarded with a four-year, $180 million extension to stay in L.A. and build the next era with Doncic after LeBron James' departure to the 76ers in free agency. The 6-5 combo guard has shown his ability to make plays for himself and others at a high level. The next step in him reaching All-Star status will be his continued improvement defensively and having health on his side like in 2023-24 when he played all 82 games. -- McMenamin Signature stat: Reaves is one of two undrafted players to sign a $100 million NBA contract, along with fellow Wichita State alum Fred VanVleet. Fantasy projection: 23.4 PTS, 5.9 AST, 4.9 REB 36. Paolo Banchero F | Orlando Magic Age: 23 2025 NBA Rank: 17 Banchero is an imposing forward whose stock has taken a slight hit due to his inability to smooth out his rough edges. While the 2022 No. 1 overall pick has regularly stuffed the stat sheet and led the Magic to three straight playoff appearances, he has also collected naysayers who decry his anachronistic shot selection and choppy decision-making. Banchero ranked 33rd in true shooting percentage out of the 42 players who attempted at least 1,000 shots last season, and the Magic have never ranked higher than 18th in offensive efficiency during his career. -- Golliver Signature stat: Last season, Banchero joined Luka Doncic as the only players to score at least 35 points in their first two career Game 7s. Fantasy projection: 23.4 PTS, 7.9 REB, 5.2 AST 35. LaMelo Ball G | Minnesota Timberwolves Age: 25 2025 NBA Rank: 63 The Timberwolves needed a point guard and additional creator next to Anthony Edwards and they got that in Ball. Health had been an issue over the past few seasons, but Ball played 72 games in 2025-26, his most since 2021-22 (75). And despite a career low in minutes, Ball ranked second in made 3-pointers and was one of eight players to average 20 points and seven assists per game. -- Williams Signature stat: Ball averages 3.22 made 3-pointers per game for his career, the second most in NBA history among players with at least 300 games played. (Stephen Curry's 3.97 per game is first.) Fantasy projection: 23.1 PTS, 8.0 AST, 5.4 REB 34. OG Anunoby F | New York Knicks Age: 29 2025 NBA Rank: 41 It all came together for Anunoby last postseason. One of the league's most consistent players, despite never making an All-Star team, stepped into the forefront. That tip-in in Game 4 of the Finals was one of the biggest baskets in Madison Square Garden history, and he'll be royalty forever for it. Quietly, though, he might've been the Knicks' second-best player in the postseason (20.1 points on ridiculous 56/49/85 splits) while still playing lockdown defense. He'll be tasked with guarding wings and bigs as the Knicks try to repeat. -- Goodwill Signature stat: Anunoby joined Walt Frazier and Bernard King as only Knicks players to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and 55% shooting in the postseason. Fantasy projection: 16.9 PTS, 5.2 REB, 1.5 STL 33. Jalen Duren C | Detroit Pistons (restricted FA) Age: 22 2025 NBA Rank: NR An All-NBA season puts Duren in the top 35 for the first time, but questions remain despite last year's regular-season success. First, will the contract stalemate end before the start of training camp or will Duren play out this season on a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer? The deadline to sign the offer is Oct. 1. Second, will Duren's postseason struggles carry over? In the 2026 playoffs, Duren averaged 10.1 points per game, the second-largest scoring decrease from the regular season to the postseason in NBA history, according to ESPN Research. -- Marks Signature stat: Last season, Duren became the first Piston to average at least 15 points, 10 rebounds and 60% shooting from the field. Fantasy projection: 20.3 PTS, 11.7 REB, 1.0 BLK 32. James Harden G | Cleveland Cavaliers Age: 37 2025 NBA Rank: 23 In many ways, Harden remains the same player now, in his late 30s, as he was half a decade ago, or even to some extent in his prime. He always orchestrates efficient offenses. He takes (and makes) smart shots and still generates gobs of free throws. And he's an indifferent defender at the best of times. After a midseason trade to Cleveland, Harden meshed well with Donovan Mitchell, as the Cavaliers posted a 126.4 offensive rating with that duo on the floor, per databallr. Cleveland is hoping for more of the same, or an even better performance, in their first full season together. -- Kram Signature stat: Harden has seven seasons with at least 20 points and 8 assists per game, tied with Oscar Robertson (10) for second all-time. Fantasy projection: 20.6 PTS, 8.1 AST, 5.0 REB 31. Amen Thompson F | Houston Rockets Age: 23 2025 NBA Rank: 37 At 6-7 with a sturdy frame and explosive leaping ability, Thompson profiled as a prototypical 3-and-D wing. But his offensive game has developed rapidly in each of his three seasons, allowing him to play a lot of point forward with his ability to penetrate off the dribble and break down opposing defenses with an eye for playmaking. Thompson is the basketball equivalent of a five-tool prospect who is growing into a franchise centerpiece. -- Snellings Signature stat: Thompson and Cleveland's Evan Mobley were the only players with at least 200 dunks last season. Thompson's 201 dunks were the most by a player shorter than 6-10 since Montrezl Harrell in 2018-19 (203). Fantasy projection: 17.7 PTS, 7.7 REB, 5.1 AST, 1.5 STL 30. Alperen Sengun C | Houston Rockets Age: 24 2025 NBA Rank: 25 In Houston's first game last season, Sengun made a career-high five 3-pointers against the Thunder; it seemed as if he was poised to take a leap. But the rest of the season didn't quite work out that way, as Sengun finished with essentially the same numbers as he has in every recent season. For instance, his player efficiency rating has been 22.0, 21.4 and 21.4 over the past three years. Those numbers are still sufficient to make Sengun an All-Star, but not the primary option on a contender. Combine that offensive plateau with a minor step back defensively, and Sengun's ceiling looks lower now than it did a year ago. -- Kram Signature stat: Sengun, Oscar Robertson and Luka Doncic are the only players in NBA history to average 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists in multiple seasons before turning 24 years old. Fantasy projection: 20.0 PTS, 9.4 REB, 5.7 AST 29. Pascal Siakam F | Indiana Pacers Age: 32 2025 NBA Rank: 22 Siakam was the lone bright spot in a miserable Pacers season following Tyrese Haliburton's injury in the 2025 NBA Finals. He made the All-Star team and put up the second-highest scoring average in his career on higher volume. This season, Haliburton returns and Siakam returns to his role as co-star on a team that has designs on getting back to the NBA Finals. At 32 years old, his game should still be highly effective, and at times he can be a potent scorer (14 games of 30 points or more). -- Goodwill Signature stat: Siakam is one of three players with at least 2,000 minutes and 1,000 points in each of the past eight seasons (DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Jokic). Fantasy projection: 22.8 PTS, 7.3 REB, 4.0 AST 28. Bam Adebayo C | Miami Heat Age: 29 2025 NBA Rank: 21 Last season, Adebayo joined Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning as the only Heat players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in a season. The highlight of Adebayo's campaign came on March 10, when he scored 83 points, the second most in a game in NBA history. The next chapter in his Heat career pairs him with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP and former Buck has experience playing with floor-spacing centers, and Adebayo can provide the same help in Miami. He attempted 400 3-pointers last season, more than his first eight seasons combined. -- Williams Signature stat: Adebayo's 83-point night was the highest scoring game since Wilt Chamberlain's 100 in March 1962. Fantasy projection: 20.2 PTS, 10.0 REB, 1.2 STL 27. Deni Avdija F | Portland Trail Blazers Age: 25 2025 NBA Rank: 66 Few observers saw Avdija's rapid ascension coming when the Blazers acquired him from the Wizards in a largely overlooked 2024 trade. The punishing wing enjoyed a breakout 2025-26 campaign, posting career highs in scoring, player efficiency rating and win shares while earning his first All-Star selection and leading Portland to the playoffs for the first time in five years. There's more good news: Avdija projects as one of the NBA's best values in 2026-27 given that his bargain $13.1 million salary is less than the midlevel exception. -- Golliver Signature stat: Avdija finished fourth in NBA in drawing fouls last season, but he was at his best drawing contact in the paint. Avdija drew 267 fouls in the paint, second in the NBA behind Paolo Banchero (275), per Genius IQ. Fantasy projection: 23.0 PTS, 7.2 REB, 6.3 AST 26. Evan Mobley F | Cleveland Cavaliers Age: 25 2025 NBA Rank: 13 The Cavaliers extended Donovan Mitchell, re-signed James Harden and traded for Peyton Watson. But the wild card in how far the Cavaliers go this season could become Mobley. Named Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 (he was also named All-NBA second team), Mobley saw a small dip on the defensive end and regressed offensively. The Cavaliers were plus-5.9 points per 100 possessions with Mobley on the court in the regular season but nearly 10 points worse in the postseason. -- Marks Signature stat: Since entering the league in 2022, Mobley is one of six players with 400 blocks and 200 steals. Fantasy projection: 18.9 PTS, 9.8 REB, 1.7 BLK 25. Jalen Williams G | Oklahoma City Thunder Age: 25 2025 NBA Rank: 11 Injuries sabotaged Williams' 2025-26 season and ultimately could be the No. 1 reason why we're not talking about the Thunder as back-to-back champs. First, offseason wrist surgery following the title over Indiana caused Williams to miss 19 games to start the regular season, then hamstring strains to both legs sidelined him for most of the postseason. Still only 25, the 6-5 Williams is a three-level scorer who commits on the defensive end. His 3-point accuracy will be an X factor for him this season. He shot 42.7% from deep in 2023-24 but just 29.9% in limited action last year. -- McMenamin Signature stat: Injuries limited Williams to a career-low 33 games last season, and he played in just five of Thunder's 15 playoff games. Fantasy projection: 20.6 PTS, 5.3 AST, 1.4 STL 24. Chet Holmgren C | Oklahoma City Thunder Age: 24 2025 NBA Rank: 24 Holmgren has the length and timing as a shot blocker to make him the best defender of his generation outside of Wembanyama. Holmgren also has the shooting touch and quickness off the dribble to make him a mismatch for most opposing big men to defend. Holmgren's skill set is so strong, in fact, that the biggest criticism he faces is that he isn't aggressive enough on offense to take advantage of those mismatches. Holmgren remains a pillar for the Thunder, but a shift in offensive mindset could put him on the brink of superstardom. -- Snellings Signature stat: Last season, Holmgren set career highs in points per game (17.1), rebounds per game (8.9) and field goal percentage (56%). Fantasy projection: 16.5 PTS, 8.4 REB, 2.1 BLK 23. Cooper Flagg F | Dallas Mavericks Age: 19 2025 NBA Rank: 52 Flagg's rookie season began with a whimper, as he struggled to adjust to the NBA while being thrust into the unfamiliar position of point guard. But it ended with a bang at his rightful position of small forward, as a torrid late-season burst -- including back-to-back games with 51 and 45 points in April -- propelled him to his expected Rookie of the Year honor. The former No. 1 pick doesn't even celebrate his 20th birthday until December, yet he's already one of the best two-way wings in the league, with a strong defensive foundation and a budding offensive skill set. Flagg must improve his jump shot (29.5% on 3s last year), but that might be the only real obstacle standing in the way of an All-Star berth. -- Kram Signature stat: Flagg is the first teenager in NBA history to record a 50-point game. Fantasy projection: 22.3 PTS, 7.0 REB, 4.8 AST 22. Jalen Johnson F | Atlanta Hawks Age: 24 2025 NBA Rank: 44 The Hawks clearly made the right call by passing the torch from Trae Young to Johnson, who earned his first All-Star selection with an absurdly productive 2025-26 season. The 6-8 forward thrived as a playmaker and finisher in Atlanta's up-tempo attack, and he helped lead the franchise to its most wins since 2015-16. What's more, his plus-3.2 net rating surpassed Young's best mark in any of the previous four seasons. To climb even further up these rankings, the 24-year-old Johnson must prove his game can fully translate to the postseason after an underwhelming series against the Knicks. -- Golliver Signature stat: Johnson's 13 triple-doubles last season set the Hawks franchise record. Fantasy projection: 23.0 PTS, 10.6 REB, 7.9 AST 21. Jamal Murray G | Denver Nuggets Age: 29 2025 NBA Rank: 46 Murray had one of the bigger jumps in the rankings after being named an All-Star and making All-NBA for the first time in his career. He was the only player to average at least 25 points, seven assists and 40% on 3-pointers in 2025-26. Murray also finished second for Clutch Player of the Year after ranking top two in clutch time points and assists. -- Williams Signature stat: Last season, Murray set career highs in points per game (25.4), assists per game (7.1) and 3-pointers made (245). Fantasy projection: 23.1 PTS, 6.6 AST, 4.1 REB 20. Devin Booker G | Phoenix Suns Age: 29 2025 NBA Rank: 16 Booker is one of the most malleable stars as the Suns have assembled various teams around him in recent years and yet, he continues to thrive. From teaming with Chris Paul to playing alongside Kevin Durant to now, having Dillon Brooks as a running mate. Pencil him in for 26 points and 6 assists, the ability to play both guard positions and playing through nicks and bruises. His 11 years in the league have been in the Valley, and he's signed through 2029-30 -- a rare one-team star. -- Goodwill Signature stat: Booker was one of five players with at least 1,000 drives last season and was one of eight players to score 1,000 points when he drove (min. 500 drives), per Genius IQ tracking. Fantasy projection: 26.5 PTS, 6.7 AST, 4.2 REB 19. Tyrese Haliburton G | Indiana Pacers Age: 26 2025 NBA Rank: NR (injury) Haliburton would have been in the top 15 last year had he not suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. On the sidelines for all last season, Haliburton witnessed one of the best offenses plummet in all statistical categories. The Pacers ranked 27th in offensive efficiency, 26th in field goal percentage, 20th in 3-point percentage and 18th in fast-break points. -- Marks Signature stat: Haliburton has the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio (3.81) in NBA postseason history (min. 300 assists) since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78 (John Paxson, 4.31). Fantasy projection: 19.2 PTS, 9.9 AST, 1.3 STL 18. LeBron James F | Philadelphia 76ers Age: 41 2025 NBA Rank: 8 Seeing James outside the top 10 is jarring. Then again, seeing a guy who turns 42 in a few months still inside the top 25 is probably the better framing to appreciate what the 22-time All-Star continues to accomplish. James already had success as L.A.'s No. 3 option last season and will likely reprise that role behind Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown for the 76ers. The difference is that while James' scoring took a back seat to Doncic and Reaves for the Lakers, his touches might not suffer too much in Philly. Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has indicated the team will have James play point forward and orchestrate the offense, similar to his role with the Lakers when they won the 2020 title. -- McMenamin Signature stat: The 41-year-old James finished second in the NBA in fast-break points last season, behind only his new teammate, Tyrese Maxey. Fantasy projection: 21.0 PTS, 7.0 AST, 6.3 REB 17. Scottie Barnes F | Toronto Raptors Age: 25 2025 NBA Rank: 30 Barnes has developed from the 2022 Rookie of the Year to a two-time All-Star entering his sixth season. He has been the do-everything engine for the Raptors on both offense and defense, finishing fifth in the Defensive Player of the Year vote while leading the team in assists and scoring nearly 20 points per game. This season he will join Kawhi Leonard as the nucleus of a Raptors squad that is trying to make the leap from play-in scrappy competitors to playoffs contenders. -- Snellings Signature stat: Barnes led his team in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks last season. Since 2017-18, LeBron James (2021-22) and Nikola Jokic (2017-18) are the only other players to accomplish the feat. Fantasy projection: 18.8 PTS, 7.7 REB, 6.0 AST, 1.4 STL 16. Karl-Anthony Towns C | New York Knicks Age: 30 2025 NBA Rank: 27 Few players saw their reputations rise as high last season as Towns. Throughout his career, the former No. 1 pick had been dogged by criticisms of his foolish mistakes -- costly turnovers, silly fouls -- and even in the middle of last season, drama swirled about his role in New York's offense under coach Mike Brown. But that all changed during a magical playoff run, in which Towns made 46% of his 3-point attempts and played the best, most consistent defense of his career en route to a title. He only averaged 16 points during the playoffs, but he was a picture-perfect role player. With Mitchell Robinson gone to Boston in free agency, the Knicks don't have much of a Plan B if Towns' struggles at center return. But he more than proved himself in the postseason. -- Kram Signature stat: During the Knicks' run to the 2026 title, Towns became the first player in NBA postseason history to record 55/45/90 shooting splits with least 400 minutes played. Fantasy projection: 21.9 PTS, 11.2 REB, 4.4 AST 15. Kawhi Leonard F | Toronto Raptors Age: 35 2025 NBA Rank: 20 Leonard flew the coop to Canada after his seven-season run with the Clippers ended in infamy. While the seven-time All-Star escaped the NBA's salary cap circumvention investigation with only a $700,000 fine, his Raptors reunion will reportedly play out under the cloud of a separate federal investigation. On the court, Leonard posted career highs in points and player efficiency rating last season -- a remarkable feat considering he turned 35 in June. Toronto's young roster should benefit from his championship experience, but Leonard, who hasn't advanced past the first round since 2021, must prove he can still crank it up in the playoffs. -- Golliver Signature stat: Leonard, who set a career high with 27.9 points per game last season, scored at least 20 in each of his final 57 games for the Clippers. That tied Bob McAdoo for the longest streak in franchise history. Fantasy projection: 25.1 PTS, 6.2 REB, 1.7 STL 14. Jaylen Brown F | Philadelphia 76ers Age: 29 2025 NBA Rank: 19 With Jayson Tatum missing most of the 2025-26 season, Brown posted the third-highest usage rate in the league behind Doncic and Antetokounmpo. He delivered in those minutes, averaging 28.7 points, the fifth most in a season in Celtics history. In addition, Brown became the fourth Celtics player to average 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a season in franchise history, joining Tatum, Larry Bird and John Havlicek. But the move to the 76ers opens questions about what his usage looks like playing alongside James, Embiid and Maxey. -- Williams Signature stat: Last season, Brown set career highs in points (28.7), rebounds (6.9), and assists (5.1) per game. Fantasy projection: 23.9 PTS, 5.9 REB, 4.3 AST 13. Kevin Durant F | Houston Rockets Age: 37 2025 NBA Rank: 9 For all the talk of the ageless wonders in the NBA, 38-year-old (on 9/29) Kevin Durant doesn't quite fly under the radar, but his longevity feels somewhat underappreciated. He made the All-NBA team for the 12th time, tied for seventh in the history of the league with the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Hakeem Olajuwon and Jerry West, among others. Since his right Achilles injury in 2019, he has averaged 27/6/5 on 53/41/88 splits. He helped keep the Rockets afloat in his first season, but they flamed out in the first round against the Lakers. Durant is a leader by example, and this seemed to conflict with the youth on the roster at times. Do the Rockets have enough leadership, and will he have enough gas in a top-heavy West? -- Goodwill Signature stat: Durant enters 2026-27 on a four-season streak of at least 25 points per game, 50% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from 3. No other player has more than three such seasons for their career. Fantasy projection: 25.0 PTS, 5.6 REB, 4.4 AST 12. Stephen Curry G | Golden State Warriors Age: 38 2025 NBA Rank: 7 Durability concerns have Curry falling out of the top 10. After missing most of the 2025 second round with a hamstring injury, Curry played the third-fewest games of his career in 2025-26. (He missed 29 games after Jan. 24 with a right knee injury.) Managing Curry's minutes will be key even with Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody out an extended period. Last season, he averaged his fewest minutes of the past six seasons. The 38-year-old is eligible to sign up to a two-year, $137 million extension. -- Marks Signature stat: Curry has 26,528 career points with Warriors, third most with a single franchise in NBA history behind Kobe Bryant (33,643 with Lakers) and Dirk Nowitzki (31,560 with Mavericks). Fantasy projection: 25.8 PTS, 5.3 AST, 4.2 REB, 4.6 3PM 11. Tyrese Maxey G | Philadelphia 76ers Age: 25 2025 NBA Rank: 28 Maxey's scoring average has increased in each of his six seasons in the league, topping out at 28.3 points per game last season (No. 5 in the league) to earn him an All-NBA third team selection. It cannot be overstated how much Maxey's presence factored into LeBron James' decision to sign with the 76ers, and it will be on the 25-year-old combo guard to make James and Jaylen Brown feel welcome, while still maximizing the holdover talents of Embiid and VJ Edgecombe. There's nothing about Maxey's game or personality that would suggest that he won't be able to continue to thrive with the spotlight even brighter this season. -- McMenamin Signature stat: Maxey has increased his points per game and 3-point percentage in each season of his NBA career. Fantasy projection: 24.8 PTS, 5.8 AST, 1.6 STL