Lakers Nation’s ranking of the top 100 players in the NBA for the 2026-27 season is entering the top tiers, players who by all accounts should be All-Stars, and maybe All-NBA, this season.
We have spent the last few weeks breaking down the best players in the league for the upcoming season alone, with no regard for future seasons. Here is what we’ve come up with so far.
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-75
76-100
The ranking continues as we get into the top 20 below.
Nos. 11-20 on Lakers Nation’s Top 100
11. Kawhi Leonard, L.A. Clippers/Toronto Raptors
It is unclear exactly what team Leonard is currently on as the league continues its investigation into salary cap circumvention. Leonard’s play in his 14th season, though, was undeniable. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game with 50.5/38.7/89.2 shooting splits, while finishing 10th in win shares and fifth in box plus-minus and Value Over Replacement Player (VORP). His availability remains his biggest concern, but the 35-year-old still has plenty of elite basketball left to play.
12. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell’s team success in the playoffs leaves something to be desired, but there is no denying that the Cavaliers star is one of the most productive players in the world. He’s fifth in total points since his NBA debut in 2017 and has been an All-Star in seven consecutive seasons. He is coming off an All-NBA Second Team campaign that saw him lead Cleveland to their first non-LeBron James conference finals appearance since the 1990s.
13. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Prior to the 2025-26 season, the belief on Towns was that he was a great regular season player that likely would never win a title as a No. 1 or No. 2 option. He then had one of the great defensive turnarounds of a career in league history, posting a league-best 5.5 defensive box plus-minus in the playoffs while averaging a double-double on elite shooting to help lead New York to a historic title.
14. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Recency bias is affecting how the general public views Holmgren, after a pitiful showing against Victor Wembanyama in the Western Conference Finals. However, the Thunder star is still the second-best defensive player in the world and had the 11th-best true shooting percentage in the league last season, earning him All-NBA Third Team honors.
15. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
Durant is entering his 19th healthy season and will be 38 on Opening Night. Yet, his offensive game is as steady and flawless as it has ever been. 26.0 points per game on ridiculous 52.0/41.3/87.4 shooting splits despite playing for a Rockets team that too heavily relied on him in crunch time. Hopefully, the return of Fred VanVleet will open the court up even more for one of the best scorers the game has ever seen.
16. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Ranking Haliburton was a tough task. The last time we saw him, he was potentially 40 minutes away from securing Finals MVP. But that was June of 2025, and he has been out ever since with a torn achilles. Still, Haliburton is one of the best playmakers in today’s game, and even starting the season a step slow athletically shouldn’t stop him from doing what he does best.
17. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mobley took a step back offensively in his fifth season, but he remains one of the best defensive players on the planet. Hopefully, a full season with James Harden should allow Mobley to get better looks and return to the game that saw him earn All-NBA Second Team honors in 2024-25.
18. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
The story of the Nuggets 2025-26 season was how injuries marred their group. But quietly, Murray had the best – and healthiest – season of his career amid the chaos. He averaged 25.4 points, 7.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds on 48.3% from the field and 43.5% from three. All five of those figures were career bests.
19. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
There will be plenty of discussion surrounding whose team it is in Philadelphia. Well, Maxey ranks the highest of the team’s elite starting five on this list. He averaged 28.3 points per game last season, finishing sixth in VORP and seventh in box plus-minus while guiding the 76ers to the postseason and a shocking first-round win over the Boston Celtics.
20. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Adebayo has been Miami’s best two-way player since Jimmy Butler’s unceremonious exit, and arguably even before that. He averaged 20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds last season while landing on the All-NBA Defensive Second Team. And now, he has one of the best players in the world sharing his frontcourt. Adebayo should be in for an exciting season as an off-ball No. 2.
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