Our annual Top 100 NBA player rankings have once again ignited discussions and debates among basketball enthusiasts. This year’s list illustrates an aggregate projection of player performance, capturing both the expected rise of emerging talents and the surprising declines of established stars.
Wembanyama’s Remarkable Rise
Perhaps the most significant leap seen in this year’s rankings comes from Victor Wembanyama. Catapulting from 58th to 12th, Wembanyama’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Following the All-Star break, he delivered an impressive average of 23.5 points, 12 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 4.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. Sam Quinn aptly noted, "We're not just talking about the next great NBA player here. We're talking about the sort of player this sport has never seen, the next step in its evolution." Quinn continued, "He is the ultimate marriage of size and skill, the culmination of everything this sport has been building towards for the past decade."
The Surge of Young Talents
Joining Wembanyama in notable upward movement is Chet Holmgren, who soared from 68th to 30th. Jasmyn Wimbish commented on Holmgren's trajectory, "Holmgren is on a career trajectory to be a mainstay at the All-Star Game, as well as a frequenter of end-of-season awards ballots like All-NBA and All-Defense." This is indeed a promising indication of what the future might hold for Holmgren. Another player making a significant jump is Alperen Sengun, who climbed from 85th to 47th. Wimbish also highlighted Sengun's unique abilities, adding, "Sengun's strength and finesse around the rim make it difficult to defend him when he catches the ball on the move."
Tyrese Maxey similarly impressed, vaulting from 60th to 24th in the rankings. Additionally, Brandon Miller, Jalen Suggs, and Coby White leapfrogged from unranked positions to secure their spots at 66th, 70th, and 71st, respectively.
The Unexpected Downward Slides
Not all stories reflected positive trajectories. Andrew Wiggins, who was previously ranked 48th, beside Josh Giddey, who was at 61st, have now fallen out of the rankings altogether. Wiggins faced personal challenges, with Brad Botkin remarking, "His father, former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, recently died, and Andrew had taken multiple leaves of absence the past two years as his father's health was in decline.”
Long-standing veterans Brook Lopez, Marcus Smart, Zach LaVine, Klay Thompson, Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, and Malcolm Brogdon also faced significant drops. Lopez descended from 50th to 88th, Smart from 56th to 93rd, LaVine from 43rd to 76th, Thompson from 67th to 99th, and Beal saw a slip from 38th to 69th. "Brogdon is a good player but not a top-100 guy under these conditions," Botkin assessed bluntly.
Mixed Journeys
Other players experienced less extreme but notable movement. Derrick White, who had an incredible jump to 36th, and Jalen Williams, now at 37th, demonstrate the fluidity and competitiveness of the NBA ranks. Draymond Green, however, fell from 30th to 56th, indicative of shifting evaluations pertaining to veterans in the league.
Holmgren's evolution as a player underscores Jack Maloney's observation: "Holmgren has the on-and-off-ball skills to easily scale up and down depending on the situation." This versatility is becoming increasingly valued in an ever-dynamic NBA landscape.
This year's rankings provide a vivid snapshot of the NBA’s continually evolving ecosystem. New talents are seizing the spotlight, while some of the familiar faces are recalibrating their positions in a league that never stands still. The dramatic shifts in player standings draw a compelling portrait of a season full of promise, challenge, and extraordinary talent.