Top 10 best NBA players 2025-2026

Rising stars, players in their prime, veterans still going strong… The NBA is full of all-time great basketball players, whom we will rank today according to the following criteria, listed in order of importance: impact on the game, presence in big moments, scoring, defence, leadership and mentality.

SPOILER ALERT : LeBron James is not in this Top 10.

10) Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) : The NBA Clutch Player 2025 opens this Top 10. As the third option on Luka Doncic’s MAVS, James Brunson has broken all records under Tom Thibodeau. An undisputed franchise player and serious contender in the East for the past three years, the two-time All-Star shines with his composure, accuracy and consistency. Whether in the regular season or the play-offs, the point guard always delivers. A leader both on and off the court, the New Jersey native is entering year two of this ‘NBA Champions project’. With no MVP title or Conference Finals appearances to his name as yet, Jalen Brunson can only go up in the coming years.

9) Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) : Stuck in a slow-moving project with the Suns, the general public often tends to forget who Devin Booker is. This is despite the fact that he regularly scores more than 50 or 60 points. Very few people have mentioned it, but the guard was one of the key players in Team USA’s gold medal win at the 2024 Olympics. The Michigan native is the franchise’s leading scorer at just 29 years old and one of the best scorers in the league, while also capable of playing a big defensive role. Here too, the 2021 Eastern Conference MVP had his championship ring within reach… before a Greek giant put in one of the greatest performances in history. This campaign also illustrates the shortcomings of the four-time All-Star: a lack of leadership and overall impact compared to the superstars.

8) Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) : Whether you love him or hate him, one thing is certain: Ant-Man leaves no one indifferent. The youngest player in this ranking, Anthony Edwards talks a lot but stands by every word he says. Beyond shining individually like most players his age, he manages to lead his team to victory. Yet despite being constantly considered mere outsiders, the Timberwolves have reached two Conference finals in the Western Conference jungle. This is a remarkable achievement at this level, due in large part to the three-time All-Star. The shooting guard combines aggressive scoring, defensive potential and clutch plays. His margin for improvement is enormous. Currently ranked 8th, Anthony Edwards has everything it takes to reach the top spots in the near future.

7) Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) : Here is our first NBA champion. Since being drafted in 2017, Jayson Tatum has undoubtedly been the greatest player in the greatest franchise of all time. With six consecutive All-Star appearances under his belt, the American has racked up epic performances in the play-offs. Criticised for his lack of leadership in 2022 during his first finals, the forward silenced all his critics in 2024. Tatum is a modern player, comfortable both behind the arc and near the hoop, while also being able to lock down defenders. This combination of consistency and versatility allows him to maintain a very high level of play. But can we really call him a franchise player when he has a two-time MVP in Jaylen Brown by his side? Not sure! This largely explains why the latter cannot aim higher.

6) Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets) : Like a fine wine, Kevin Durant is ageing gracefully as he approaches his 38th birthday. The 2008 Rookie of the Year added a 15th All-Star star to his list of achievements in 2025. With KD, both collective and individual honours are more than ticked off: 1 regular season MVP, two-time NBA champion with two Finals MVPs to boot, 6-time NBA First Team, and the list goes on and on. Even today, his playing style, based on technical accuracy from 3-point range, mid-range and even on drives to the basket, allows him to continue to terrorise defences despite his age. Better still, his experience has allowed him to develop a vision of the game that is very useful in rebounding, passing and even defence. Traded again this summer to the Rockets, his lack of leadership continues to be pointed out, while his level of play, although still incredible, is gradually declining.

5) Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) : After traumatising the whole of Europe at the 2024 Olympics, the ‘devil’ continues to do the same in the Major League. With his skill and unstoppable ball handling, Stephen Curry remains one of the very best players in the NBA today. Last season’s play-offs saw the Warriors with Curry – capable of beating the second-placed team in the Western Conference in the quarter-finals – and without him – largely dominated by the Wolves in the semi-finals. It’s simple: when he’s on form, he’s unstoppable. The only unanimous MVP in history knows better than anyone else how to win it all, with four NBA titles to his name. However, the return of the physical problems he suffered early in his career raises some questions about his ability to keep going. Oh yes: Stephen Curry is also the last American in this ranking…

4) Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers) : With him, age is irrelevant. The fact that Luka Dončić is the only member of the Top 7 not to have won a championship title illustrates just how good he is… really, really good! The 2019 Rookie of the Year has already been named to the All-NBA First Team five times, five consecutive nominations since his sophomore season. But he also has two Western Conference Finals appearances, including one MVP title, as well as one NBA Finals appearance. ‘El Matador’ is a creative genius, adept at scoring baskets out of nowhere, making assists and grabbing rebounds galore. Only the ultimate title and the regular season MVP are missing from his already impressive list of achievements. He was destined to become the greatest player in Mavs history, but Nico Harrison decided otherwise, sending him to the Lakers in one of the biggest trades of all time. Sharper than ever, Luka Dončić seems determined to have his jersey retired at the legendary Crypto.com Arena. Stay tuned for more Luka Magic…

3) Giannis Antetokoúnmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) : He was the undisputed leader of this ranking at the beginning of this decade. Now in third place on this non-American podium, the younger Antetokounmpo brother remains just as dominant. In the world’s biggest league, ‘The Greek Freak’ can rightly be considered one of the most physically dominant players in history. Unlike Shaquille O’Neal, for example, Giannis Antetokounmpo has exceptional athletic abilities in addition to his power. Once he gets going, it takes at least three players to stop him. A true general capable of leading an army of soldiers to the final title, as in 2021, the power forward is also the only player in this ranking to have won a DPOY title and an NBA Cup. Add to that a better shot, and the top spot is within his grasp.

2) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) : Three years ago, SGA was just making the Top 50 list of the best NBA players. Today, he is closer to first place than third. Last season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered one of the greatest individual performances in Major League history: MVP and leading scorer in the regular season, Finals MVP, Conference MVP and NBA champion. This combination puts him in a very exclusive club, alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal. The OKC franchise player is only at the beginning of his prime. In addition to racking up points, the combo guard can rightly claim the title of DPOY in the coming years. Hated by his opponents for his ability to get to the free throw line, the Canadian stands out in the league. If he is not number one, it is only because there is a centre from another planet ahead of him.

1) Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) : This player from another planet is called Nikola Jokic. As mentioned in our Top 10 all-time European players, at 30 years old, the Joker has already revolutionised basketball. The only basketball player of the 21st century alongside LeBron James and the ninth player in history to win three regular season MVP titles, the Serbian currently reigns supreme in the world of basketball. The third player of all time to average a triple-double for a season, he can do it all. Scoring, passing, rebounding, creating opportunities for his teammates, defending… in short, dominating! Since winning the NBA title in 2023, no one can dispute his first place in this ranking. The most terrifying thing about it all is that his style, based solely on technique and vision, can only improve with age.