NBA Top 100

July 25, 2026

NBA top 100: LeBron James to 76ers on minimum deal, list moves at No. 37

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LeBron James ends a three-week wait by signing a two-year, $8 million minimum with Philadelphia. The list moves at No. 37, with no rank change elsewhere.

LeBron James chooses the 76ers

The wait is over. LeBron James announced Friday he is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract with a second-year player option, agent Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania. It is the veteran minimum, about $3.88 million in 2026-27, for a player who made nearly $53 million with the Lakers last season (AP).

James, 41, said he had been "pretty sure" he played his last game before reconsidering. "This is my last decision," he wrote on X. "I still truly love this game, and I have more to give." He chose Philadelphia over returns to Cleveland and Miami, the two betting favorites for most of the month, calling it his final run at a fifth championship entering a record 24th season (CBS Sports).

He joins a Sixers core of Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, a starting five that moved Philadelphia from 20-1 to +900 to win the Finals at DraftKings. The fit is a lighter load for a player who turns 42 in December, and Philadelphia still needs a small roster trim to clear apron space and make the deal official (Hoops Rumors).

The list moves at No. 37. James has been parked there as a Free Agent since the July 11 debut, with the note all along that his team tag would update the moment he chose. It does. His rank holds. A minimum contract and an openly contemplated retirement are not the profile of a riser, and a stacked roster means less individual usage rather than more. He stays at 37, now in a 76ers uniform.

Tracking

Kawhi Leonard (No. 14, Toronto Raptors). The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov reported the Aspiration investigation has concluded, with the NBA now reviewing the law firm's findings. But no ruling or punishment has been issued and the Clippers-to-Raptors trade remains on hold. Nothing moves until Silver decides, so Kawhi holds at 14.

DeMar DeRozan (No. 80) and Bradley Beal (No. 100) remain unsigned. LeBron's decision unfreezes the rest of the market, with Miami expected to reopen talks with DeRozan and Boston and Miami circling Beal, but neither has signed, so neither moves. Philadelphia's planned addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on a Grizzlies buyout does not touch the top 100: KCP averaged 8.4 points last season and missed the final two months to pinky-finger surgery.

Movers

The list is otherwise identical to the July 20 edition. Row 37 is the only line that reads differently, and no player rose, fell, entered, or dropped out, so the numbered list below carries no movement markers.

The full list

  1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Oklahoma City Thunder
  2. Victor Wembanyama — San Antonio Spurs
  3. Nikola Jokic — Denver Nuggets
  4. Luka Doncic — Los Angeles Lakers
  5. Giannis Antetokounmpo — Miami Heat
  6. Jalen Brunson — New York Knicks
  7. Anthony Edwards — Minnesota Timberwolves
  8. Jayson Tatum — Boston Celtics
  9. Cade Cunningham — Detroit Pistons
  10. Donovan Mitchell — Cleveland Cavaliers
  11. Anthony Davis — Washington Wizards
  12. Devin Booker — Phoenix Suns
  13. Jaylen Brown — Philadelphia 76ers
  14. Kawhi Leonard — Toronto Raptors
  15. Joel Embiid — Philadelphia 76ers
  16. Paolo Banchero — Orlando Magic
  17. De'Aaron Fox — San Antonio Spurs
  18. Jalen Williams — Oklahoma City Thunder
  19. Stephen Curry — Golden State Warriors
  20. Karl-Anthony Towns — New York Knicks
  21. Evan Mobley — Cleveland Cavaliers
  22. Jimmy Butler — Golden State Warriors
  23. Bam Adebayo — Miami Heat
  24. Ja Morant — Portland Trail Blazers
  25. Alperen Sengun — Houston Rockets
  26. Pascal Siakam — Indiana Pacers
  27. Kevin Durant — Houston Rockets
  28. Trae Young — Washington Wizards
  29. Jamal Murray — Denver Nuggets
  30. Chet Holmgren — Oklahoma City Thunder
  31. Jaren Jackson Jr. — Utah Jazz
  32. Zion Williamson — New Orleans Pelicans
  33. Domantas Sabonis — Sacramento Kings
  34. Scottie Barnes — Toronto Raptors
  35. Tyrese Maxey — Philadelphia 76ers
  36. LaMelo Ball — Minnesota Timberwolves
  37. LeBron James — Philadelphia 76ers
  38. Lauri Markkanen — Utah Jazz
  39. Darius Garland — Cleveland Cavaliers
  40. Derrick White — Boston Celtics
  41. Zach LaVine — Sacramento Kings
  42. Desmond Bane — Orlando Magic
  43. Cooper Flagg — Dallas Mavericks
  44. James Harden — Cleveland Cavaliers
  45. Draymond Green — Golden State Warriors
  46. Amen Thompson — Houston Rockets
  47. Tyler Herro — Milwaukee Bucks
  48. OG Anunoby — New York Knicks
  49. Rudy Gobert — Minnesota Timberwolves
  50. Mikal Bridges — New York Knicks
  51. Brandon Ingram — Toronto Raptors
  52. Tyrese Haliburton — Indiana Pacers
  53. Kyrie Irving — Dallas Mavericks
  54. Damian Lillard — Portland Trail Blazers
  55. Paul George — Boston Celtics
  56. Kristaps Porzingis — Atlanta Hawks
  57. Myles Turner — Milwaukee Bucks
  58. Dejounte Murray — New Orleans Pelicans
  59. Austin Reaves — Los Angeles Lakers
  60. Ivica Zubac — Los Angeles Clippers
  61. Jalen Suggs — Orlando Magic
  62. Trey Murphy III — New Orleans Pelicans
  63. Christian Braun — Denver Nuggets
  64. Deni Avdija — Portland Trail Blazers
  65. Isaiah Hartenstein — Oklahoma City Thunder
  66. Dyson Daniels — Atlanta Hawks
  67. Alex Caruso — Oklahoma City Thunder
  68. Josh Hart — New York Knicks
  69. Aaron Nesmith — Indiana Pacers
  70. Luguentz Dort — Atlanta Hawks
  71. Cameron Johnson — Denver Nuggets
  72. Michael Porter Jr. — Brooklyn Nets
  73. Jabari Smith Jr. — Houston Rockets
  74. Dereck Lively II — Dallas Mavericks
  75. Coby White — Charlotte Hornets
  76. Brandon Miller — Charlotte Hornets
  77. Jaden McDaniels — Minnesota Timberwolves
  78. Onyeka Okongwu — Atlanta Hawks
  79. Andrew Wiggins — Miami Heat
  80. DeMar DeRozan — Free Agent
  81. Julius Randle — Brooklyn Nets
  82. Andrew Nembhard — Indiana Pacers
  83. Toumani Camara — Portland Trail Blazers
  84. RJ Barrett — Toronto Raptors
  85. Walker Kessler — Los Angeles Lakers
  86. Payton Pritchard — Boston Celtics
  87. Norman Powell — Chicago Bulls
  88. Jrue Holiday — Portland Trail Blazers
  89. Jalen Johnson — Atlanta Hawks
  90. Naz Reid — Charlotte Hornets
  91. Stephon Castle — San Antonio Spurs
  92. Jakob Poeltl — Toronto Raptors
  93. Mitchell Robinson — Boston Celtics
  94. Jalen Green — Phoenix Suns
  95. Devin Vassell — San Antonio Spurs
  96. P.J. Washington — Dallas Mavericks
  97. Bobby Portis — Miami Heat
  98. Dylan Harper — San Antonio Spurs
  99. Herb Jones — New Orleans Pelicans
  100. Bradley Beal — Free Agent

That’s the reading for this issue.