NBA Top 100

July 11, 2026

NBA top 100: The debut ranking, SGA at No. 1, Brunson in the top 6, Giannis on the Heat

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The first edition of Readbox's running NBA top 100, calibrated for current value entering the 2026-27 season after a championship June and a roster-reshuffling July. The list moves only when the league does, and this is where it starts.

This is the debut. There is no previous list to move from, so every name is a fresh entry. The ranking reflects how good each player is right now, going into the next game: talent, recent form, availability, and age trajectory, not career resumes. Injured stars slide down with expected time missed rather than disappearing. Stability is the feature going forward. Movement needs a reason you can cite.

SGA's repeat MVP sets the ceiling

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes the top spot after winning his second consecutive Kia MVP, making him the 14th player in league history to go back-to-back. He also took Clutch Player of the Year with 96 of 100 first-place votes. The Thunder fell to Wembanyama's Spurs in a seven-game Western Conference Finals, but SGA's two-way dominance at 29 years old is the safest bet in the sport. Behind him, Victor Wembanyama is close enough that a strong October could flip the order. Wembanyama finished third in MVP voting at 22, led San Antonio to the Finals, and signed a five-year max extension this month. Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP, holds at No. 3, still the best offensive engine in basketball but on a Nuggets roster that has not matched his level.

Jalen Brunson lands at No. 6, and that might look low for a man who just won Finals MVP unanimously after averaging 32.6 points in a five-game Finals win over those same Spurs. Brunson scored 45 in the clincher, erasing a 16-point deficit, and delivered the Knicks' first championship in 53 years. The ranking rewards that form, but it also accounts for the fact that five players above him have been consensus top-five talents for longer. If Brunson picks up where he left off, he climbs.

Giannis reshuffles to Miami

The trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and a pile of draft capital became official on July 6, ending Giannis's 13-year run in Milwaukee. He slides in at No. 5, still a top-three talent when healthy, but he played just 36 games last season due to calf strains and the Bucks were 15-31 without him. Pairing him with Bam Adebayo (No. 23) gives Miami the most intimidating frontcourt in the East, and Giannis is eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension in January. The ranking assumes he is healthy to open the season. If the calf issues recur, he drops.

The Bucks, meanwhile, inherited Herro (No. 47), who goes from secondary creator in Miami to primary option in a rebuild. Herro's ranking holds steady. He is a gifted scorer, but the question is whether he can carry a No. 1 load for a losing team.

The offseason's other megadeals

Three more blockbuster trades reshaped team contexts without dramatically moving individual rankings:

The Celtics sent Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George and draft picks, a stunning move that landed Brown (No. 13) next to Joel Embiid (No. 15) and Tyrese Maxey (No. 35) in Philadelphia. Brown is coming off a career year, second-team All-NBA, and he carried Boston while Jayson Tatum rehabbed. George (No. 55) goes the other way, 36 years old and coming off a 25-game suspension, but still productive when available.

The Timberwolves acquired LaMelo Ball from the Hornets in a four-team deal that also sent Julius Randle to Brooklyn and Naz Reid to Charlotte. Ball (No. 36) now pairs with Anthony Edwards (No. 7) in Minnesota's backcourt, giving the Wolves their most explosive guard duo in years. Ball played 72 games last season after three injury-plagued years, and his ranking reflects the talent with a discount for the availability track record.

The Grizzlies traded Ja Morant to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, closing the book on a Memphis era that also saw Desmond Bane (to Orlando) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (to Utah) depart. Morant (No. 24) gets a fresh start with the Blazers, who already roster Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija. His value has dropped from where it was in 2022, but he is still 26 and the talent is undeniable.

Kawhi in limbo

Kawhi Leonard checks in at No. 14, but his team affiliation is a question mark. The Raptors agreed to acquire Leonard from the Clippers on June 30, reuniting him with the franchise he led to the 2019 title, but the trade is on hold pending an NBA investigation into whether Clippers owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap through a sponsorship arrangement with the now-bankrupt company Aspiration. The league has no timeline for a conclusion. If the investigation clears the Clippers, the trade goes through and Leonard heads to Toronto. If Leonard's contract is voided, he becomes a free agent in a market with almost no cap space left. Either way, Leonard is healthy and was elite in the second half of last season. The uncertainty is about the jersey, not the player.

The Achilles returnees

Four stars who missed most or all of 2025-26 with torn Achilles tendons are expected back for the start of 2026-27, and each one re-enters the ranking at a discounted but respectful position:

Jayson Tatum (No. 8) returned in March, about 10 months after surgery, and played the final 20 games plus a first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia. He was on a minutes restriction and did not look like his usual self, but he will have a full offseason to rebuild. At 28, with four consecutive first-team All-NBA selections before the injury, the ceiling is still top five. He starts at eight.

Tyrese Haliburton (No. 52) is on schedule in his recovery and is expected to play opening night, but the Pacers are managing expectations. He missed all of 2025-26 after going down in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. Before the injury he was a first-team All-NBA point guard. The ranking bets on the talent but accounts for a long layoff.

Damian Lillard (No. 54) targeted the start of 2026-27 for his return after tearing his Achilles in April 2025. He will be 36, back in Portland on a three-year deal, and roughly 15 months removed from surgery. He won the 3-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend, proof that his shot is intact. The question is whether his burst survives.

Kyrie Irving (No. 53) is nearing full recovery from a torn ACL suffered in March 2025, which is a different injury but a similar timeline. He will be 34 and roughly 19 months from his last NBA game when the season opens, sharing a Dallas backcourt with Cooper Flagg (No. 43), the reigning Rookie of the Year. Irving's ranking assumes he recaptures most of his All-Star form.

LeBron's open market

LeBron James (No. 37) informed the Lakers he will play elsewhere in his 24th season, and as of this writing he has not chosen a team. Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia, and Minnesota are all in the mix. He turns 42 in December. The ranking places him at 37, which is simultaneously remarkable for his age and a comedown for a player who was top 10 as recently as last October. The reasoning is simple: he is still a very good NBA player, but the gap between "very good" and "great" widens when you are 42, and the list measures current value, not legacy. Wherever he lands, his ranking will adjust based on fit and role.

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 - Free Agent
  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 - Oklahoma City Thunder
  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 - Sacramento Kings
  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 - LA Clippers

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