TOP NBA PLAYERS 2025
Guidelines:
* Rankings reflect the overall quality of a given player, not necessarily their anticipated performance during the 2025-26 season alone, as it includes currently injured players. Factors include talent, trustworthiness, and ability to contribute to winning basketball.
* Takes into account growth potential but prioritizes current performance.
* Currently injured players are still ranked as though they are healthy unless there are persistent concerns of health, which impact the ranking, as that influences reliability.
* Doesn’t include rookies, as we cannot judge what we have not seen.
* Underlined players have moved tiers since the last ranking
Notable Moves Within Top-50:
5 Biggest Risers: Cade Cunningham (+29), Evan Mobley (+26), Karl-Anthony Towns (+21), Jalen Williams (+21), Franz Wagner (+19)
5 Biggest Fallers: Joel Embiid (-29), Ja Morant (-23), Zion Williamson (-18), Kawhi Leonard (-16), Lauri Markannen (-13)
Arrivals and Departures:
9 In / 9 Out
In: Evan Mobley, James Harden, Franz Wagner, Jalen Johnson, Amen Thompson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Aaron Gordon, Ivica Zubac
Out: Paul George, Damian Lillard, Mikal Bridges, Desmond Bane, DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Ingram, Kristaps Porzingis, Dejounte Murray, Jrue Holiday
The Rankings
The Greats (#1 guys where all things their team does revolve around them, like the sun)
Nikola Jokic (LR: 1) --
Giannis Antetokounmpo (LR: 3) +1
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (LR: 4) +1
Luka Doncic (LR:2) -2
Franchise Shifters (#1 guys who alter/change the direction of your franchise)
Jayson Tatum (LR: 6) +1
Victor Wembanyama (LR: 10) +4
Anthony Edwards (LR: 8) +1
Steph Curry (LR: 7) -1
Jalen Brunson (LR: 9) --
Cade Cunningham (LR: 39) +29
Glass Ceiling Breakers (Established #1 guys who have something to prove. They have the lead role stats, but can they get over the top in their current situation?)
Donovan Mitchell (LR: 18) +7
Kevin Durant (LR: 15) +3
LeBron James (LR: 14) +1
Tyrese Haliburton (LR: 19) +5
Questionable Stars (#1 guys with major question marks - injury, past performance, age, etc. Are they destined to be awesome options on a bad team or can they actually lead a team to contention? Emperors of no man’s land.)
Anthony Davis (LR: 11) -5
Devin Booker (LR: 12) -4
Paolo Banchero (LR: 22) +5
Jaylen Brown (LR: 16) -2
Trae Young (LR: 23) +4
Right Hand Men (Really good #2 guys on a championship team. Despite their talent, don’t ever see them really being the #1 option on a title-contending team. What we’ve seen is really good, but we’ve seen what we need to see.)
Pascal Siakam (LR: 33) +13
Jalen Williams (LR: 42) +21
Karl-Anthony Towns (LR: 43) +21
De’Aaron Fox (LR: 21) -2
Jaren Jackson Jr. (LR: 31) +7
Evan Mobley (LR: UR) +26
Bam Adebayo (LR: 26) --
Tyrese Maxey (LR: 25) -2
Jamal Murray (LR: 28) --
James Harden (LR: UR) +22
Jimmy Butler (LR: 24) -6
Franz Wagner (LR: UR) +20
Talented Troublemakers (have the skills of a #1 and have been labeled that at times, but the team just really isn’t sure where this person stands at any given time. Can they stay healthy? Are they committed to the team? Can they consistently contribute to winning basketball?)
Kawhi Leonard (LR: 17) -15
LaMelo Ball (LR: 41) +8
Joel Embiid (LR: 5) -29
Kyrie Irving (LR: 27) -8
Ja Morant (LR: 13) -23
Zion Williamson (LR: 20) -17
Budding Bambis (young guys who are still trying to find their ceiling and clear role within the team. Jury’s still out on if they could be a #1 or just a really good complementary piece on a good team)
Darius Garland (LR: 48) +10
Alperen Sengun (LR: 37) +2
Chet Holmgren (LR: 40) --
Jalen Johnson (LR: UR) +10
Amen Thompson (LR: UR) +9
Scottie Barnes (LR: 38) -5
Unsung Heroes (overqualified 3rd options who can punch up to be the 2nd best or even the best player for games / stretches. Reliability is their calling card.)
Derrick White (LR: 49) +5
Domantas Sabonis (LR: 32) -12
Julius Randle (LR: UR) +5
Lauri Markannen (LR: 34) -13
OG Anunoby (LR: UR) +3
Aaron Gordon (LR: UR) +2
Ivica Zubac (LR: UR) +1
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10 guys who missed the cut in no particular order
Desmond Bane
Trey Murphy
Deni Avdija
Coby White
Josh Giddey
Dyson Daniels
Mikal Bridges
Austin Reaves
Draymond Green
Rudy Gobert
