Top 10 best NBA players 2026

Rising stars, players in their prime, veterans still going strong… The NBA is brimming with all-time greats, whom we’re going to rank today according to the following criteria, listed in order of importance: impact on the game, performance in big moments, scoring, defence, leadership and mentality. 

SPOILER ALERT : Neither LeBron James nor Kevin Durant feature in this Top 10.

10) Jaylen Brown (Philadelphie 76ers) : Are we on the verge of unravelling the Jaylen Brown mystery? The missing piece of the jigsaw could well be in Philadelphia. Flanked by an ageing Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the 2024 Finals MVP is expected to shoulder the very responsibilities he so desperately sought with the Celtics. In fact, he has been wearing the number one role since the start of this season. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for much of the regular season, Jay-B rose to the occasion by carrying Boston on his shoulders. Whilst they were predicted to have a tough season, the Celtics ultimately climbed to second place in the East. Although that momentum didn’t carry over into the play-offs, the sixth-placed contender in the race for the 2026 MVP award has had a phenomenal year. For a time, his name was mentioned in the same breath as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. His hybrid, almost two-way profile gives him an elite presence at both ends of the court. Now, can he be THE leader of a franchise, THE man who leads HIS franchise to the ultimate title? The fact that he has not yet fully stepped into the role of franchise player places him in 10th place. However, his stock could rise rapidly with the 76ers.

9) Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) : How is this possible? How, in the space of just two seasons, has the best player on the worst team in NBA history become the best player on one of the league’s top sides? This story, straight out of a film, is the tale of Cade Cunningham. The story of a 2021 first-round draft pick who was written off far too quickly due to his injuries. Amidst this period of turmoil, both on the court and off, the Pistons placed their trust in the 1.98-metre point guard, and he certainly repaid them. No player has made such a sensational entrance onto the stage of potential All-Stars as the Texan. The playmaker of a team full of hard-working players, ‘Motor Cade’ uses his natural height to gain a physical advantage over his opponents. Apart from a certain Slovenian, no one in the league is as adept at dictating the tempo in the top flight. He isn’t the most explosive or athletic player off the dribble. However, his basketball IQ makes both him and his teammates shine. Finishing fifth in the MVP voting, Cade Cunningham long sat at the very top of the list of the playoffs’ most prolific scorers, despite his team’s early exit. He appears to possess all the hallmarks of a legendary franchise player. Now, all that remains is for him to prove himself on the court, just as those ranked above him have done.

8) Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) : Having stunned the whole of Europe at the 2024 Olympics, the ‘Devil’ continues to do the same in the NBA. With his shooting accuracy and ball-handling skills as unstoppable as ever, Stephen Curry remains one of the very best players in the NBA today. Once again in the 2025 play-offs, there were the Warriors with Curry – capable of knocking out the Western Conference runners-up in the quarter-finals – and without him – thoroughly outplayed by the Wolves in the semi-finals. It’s simple: when he’s on top form, he’s unstoppable. The only unanimous MVP in history also knows better than anyone the path to the ultimate victory, having won four NBA titles. However, the recurrence of the physical niggles he suffered early in his career raises some questions about his ability to keep going. It’s also hard to remain impartial in the face of this devastating, sudden elimination this season against the Suns in the play-ins. Yes, Jimmy Butler’s injury was a blow, but the disappointment caused by that elimination directly led to his plummet down the rankings. Will he get a ‘last dance’ in 2027? If not, his place in our rankings could quickly evaporate.

7) 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 behind an alien, Anthony Edwards talks a lot but stands by everything he says. Beyond shining individually like most players his age, he manages to lead his team to victory. Yet despite being constantly viewed as mere underdogs, the Timberwolves have reached two consecutive Conference Finals under his leadership in the competitive Western Conference. Once again this season, the guard pulled off an upset against Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. These numerous achievements are largely thanks to the Olympic champion. Even this year, at the All-Star Game, he reminded everyone that his name is already among the league’s greatest by winning the All-Star Game MVP award. The shooting guard combines aggressive scoring, defensive potential, and clutch plays. His room for growth is enormous. Currently ranked 7th, Anthony Edwards has everything it takes to dominate the top spots before long.

6) Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers) : With him, age is no factor. His fourth-place finish in the 2026 MVP rankings, combined with his status as the league’s leading scorer, illustrates just how good – truly, incredibly good – Luka Doncic is! The 2019 Rookie of the Year has already earned six All-NBA First Team selections – six in seven years since his sophomore season. He’s also played in two Western Conference Finals – including one MVP title – and made it to the NBA Finals. “El Matador” is a genius playmaker, known for shots that come out of nowhere, perfect assists, and rebounds galore. The only things missing from his already impressive resume are the championship title and the regular-season MVP award. He was destined to become the greatest player in Mavs history, but Nico Harrison had other plans, sending him to the Lakers in one of the biggest trades of all time. In top form as ever, Luka Dončić seems determined to have his jersey retired at the legendary Crypto.com Arena. Especially since, with the King’s departure, the Slovenian will be at the helm of the team. From now on, the future of the greatest franchise of all time lies in his hands! Stay tuned for Luka Magic…

5) Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) : The 2025 NBA Clutch Player lived up to his title during the postseason. As the third option on Luka Doncic’s MAVS, James Brunson set all kinds of records under Tom Thibodeau. The undisputed franchise player for the reigning NBA champions, the three-time All-Star shines with his composure, accuracy, and consistency. Whether in the regular season or the playoffs, the point guard always delivers. A leader both on and off the court, the New Jersey native entered the second year of this “NBA Champions project” at the start of the season. And as the playoffs approached, few people were betting on the Big Apple team. Then the rounds flew by like a letter in the mail. A sweep against the 76ers, a sweep against the Cavs, and finally a victory in five games in the Finals against Wembanyama’s Spurs. In that final series, the point guard cooled down the Frost Bank Center during the heated moments before setting Madison Square Garden ablaze. Captain Clutch accomplished his mission: bringing the championship title back to New York 53 years later, along with the Conference MVP and Finals MVP awards. Perhaps in terms of raw talent he ranks below his predecessors, but he’s the one who won. Oh, and he’s also the last American on this list…

4) Giannis Antetokoúnmpo (Miami Heat) : He was the undisputed leader of this ranking at the start of this decade. Now in fourth place on this non-U.S. list, the youngest of the Antetokounmpo brothers remains just as dominant. In the world’s premier 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 possesses extraordinary athleticism in addition to his strength. Once he gets going, it takes at least three players to stop him. His shot may not be the most refined, but that’s almost beside the point given how high his other stats are. A true leader capable of leading an army of players to the championship, as he did in 2021, the power forward is also the only player in this ranking to have both a Defensive Player of the Year award and an NBA Cup title. No, the real problem lies in his recent team performances. To find a time when Giannis made it past the first round, you have to go all the way back to… 2022! Of course, the Bucks share some of the blame for this dry spell, but these lackluster performances inevitably cast a shadow on the Greek giant’s legacy. Sent to Miami after years of waiting, the Wisconsin legend finds himself at a point of no return: either cement his name at the top of basketball’s pantheon once and for all, or continue to rack up lackluster seasons.

3) Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) 🥉 : You just have to watch his highlights to understand. On paper, Victor Wembanyama is the perfect player. He gives the impression of having been crafted in a laboratory. It’s as if Dr. Frankenstein had combined Hakeem Olajuwon’s defense, Kevin Durant’s offensive finesse, Yao Ming’s height, and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s work ethic. The result is an otherworldly player decked out in blue, white, and red. The 2024 ROY was coming off a difficult stretch at the end of the 2025 season. After suffering a venous thrombosis, the center recharged his batteries deep in China with the Shaolin monks before returning to the court. At the time, we hoped to see the Spurs battle for a play-in spot or even the playoffs if they had a breakout season. And as for our French star, we expected a Defensive Player of the Year award – and maybe even a spot in the Top 10 of the MVP race. But instead, Wemby simply dominated the league at just 21 years old, going on to become the youngest MVP in NBA history. Except that in basketball, legends are made in the postseason. No problem for the 2.24m giant. The Blazers, the Wolves, and even the Thunder! All in the bag, along with the Western Conference MVP title that goes with it. Had he won it all, his name would undoubtedly have appeared at the very top of that list. But there you have it. One step away from Mount Olympus, Goliath Wemby took a hard fall against David Brunson. Unlike our first two, he hasn’t yet proven he can lead his team to the ultimate title. The day he takes that step, the throne will be his.

2) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) 🥈 : Three years ago, SGA was barely considered one of the top 50 NBA players. Today, he’s closer to first place than to third. Two seasons ago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered one of the greatest individual performances in a single season in NBA history: MVP and leading scorer of the regular season, Finals MVP, Conference MVP – and on top of that, the NBA championship. This combination elevates him into a very exclusive club, consisting of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal. Well on his way to repeating that feat, the two-time MVP hit a brick wall named the “San Antonio Spurs.” Despite having home-court advantage, SGA’s Thunder crumbled in Game 7, leaving behind any hope of a back-to-back championship. That’s a minor blemish preventing him from taking the top spot. Still, OKC’s franchise player is only at the beginning of his prime. In addition to racking up wins, the combo guard can rightfully stake a claim to the DPOY title in the coming years. Hated by his opponents for his ability to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line, the Canadian stands out in the league. If he isn’t No. 1, it’s only because ahead of him is a center who seems to be from another planet. It’s worth noting, though, that the gap is now hanging by a thread!

1) Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) 🥇 : This player from another planet is named Nikola Jokic. As mentioned in our Top 10 list of the greatest European players of all time, at age 30, “ The Joker ” has already revolutionized basketball. As the only 21st-century player – along with LeBron James – and the ninth player in history to win three regular-season MVP titles, the Serbian currently reigns supreme over the world of basketball. The third player of all time to average a triple-double for an entire season can do it all: score, dish out assists, grab rebounds, set up his teammates… in short, dominate! And as if that weren’t enough, the “Mountain of the Balkans” has struck again this season with yet another triple-double average, as well as his sixth consecutive appearance among the two MVP finalists. Such consistency at the highest level is rarely seen in the history of the NBA. Since his NBA title in 2023, no one can dispute his No. 1 spot in this ranking. At least, not until this particularly tough first-round playoff series against Rudy Gobert’s Wolves. This sudden exposure of defensive weaknesses is troubling when it comes time to take stock. The line separating him from second place is melting away like snow in the sun. Nikola Jokic has been warned! Although the most terrifying part of all this is that his style – based solely on technique and court vision – can only get better with age.

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Une publication partagée par Paris Basketball 🏀 (@parisbasketball)