The 2026-27 NBA season is still two months away, allowing fans plenty of time to theorize about the highly-anticipated upcoming campaign.
With that, Lakers Nation is taking the time to rank the 100 best players in the NBA this season.
This ranking looks at players only for the 2026-27 campaign, with no regard for future seasons. Our series will have seven total installments. The first – revealing the player ranks from 76-100 – is already available and can be seen here.
Below, we continue our climb with the players from 51-75 and how they landed where they did on our ranking.
Nos. 51-75 on Lakers Nation’s Top 100
51. Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves
McDaniels continued his ascension to becoming one of the best two-way players in the NBA with a strong 2025-26 campaign. He averaged career highs in points, assists, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage, while elevating his game in the playoffs. He’s now the likely starting power forward for the Timberwolves.
52. Norman Powell, Chicago Bulls
The 33-year-old got his first All-Star selection last season, and signed a lucrative two-year deal with the Bulls. He’s averaging 21.8 points per game over his last two seasons on 47.7/40.0/81.6 shooting splits.
53. Julius Randle, Brooklyn Nets
Randle was dealt from the Timberwolves to the Nets in a cost-cutting move. However, don’t let that detract from his regular season impact. Randle has been one of the most consistent 82-game performers in the league, and if the Nets make a big leap in wins, Randle will be one of the main reasons why.
54. Trae Young, Washington Wizards
Young’s career 9.8 assists per game is by far the best in basketball since he entered the league in 2018. Next to a healthy Anthony Davis, No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and ascending big man Alex Sarr, Young could continue to be an elite distributor of the ball.
55. Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the world when Gordon is healthy, as he has established himself as one of the sport’s best role players. However, injuries have limited him to 87 total games over his last two seasons, including two postseason injuries.
56. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets second-year sharpshooter finished as the runner-up in the best Rookie of the Year race in several seasons. He’s already one of the best shooters in the sport, and should continue his ascension with a more traditional backcourt running mate in Coby White.
57. Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans
Murphy’s 2025-26 campaign made him one of the most coveted trade targets in the entire league. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on 47.0/37.9/88.6 shooting splits. The Pelicans have so far opted to hang on to him.
58. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
Allen is highly athletic and skilled, bringing elite defensive instincts and touch around the rim to a Cavaliers team looking to finally break through in the Eastern Conference.
59. Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder
Hartenstein, like Allen, is skilled and impactful on both ends of the floor while playing similar roles for their respective teams. Hartenstein was rewarded for his efforts with a three-year, $75 million deal to remain in Oklahoma City.
60. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks
The 2025-26 Most Improved Player is one of the best two-way guards in the league right now. He averaged 20.8 points for a Hawks team that looks to be nearing an ascension while shooting 39.9% from three.
61. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
Injuries have been a story for the No. 2 overall pick from the 2023 NBA Draft. But his on-court impact is undeniable. He can score the basketball with consistency and efficiency while making dramatic leaps as a defender from year to year.
62. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
George has gotten significantly better each year of his career, and if he makes another equivalent leap in 2026-27, an All-Star selection is firmly in his reach.
63. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons
Thompson finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and earned his first All-NBA Defense nod on the First Team. He still has a long way to go offensively, but his impact is already palpable for a Pistons team looking to take another step forward.
64. Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks
The NBA’s lone true iron man has been a model of consistency for the NBA champion Knicks. He enters his ninth season having never missed a game.
65. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Much has been said about Williamson’s health, availability and size over the six years of career, but the Pelicans forward has been hugely effective any time he plays. Last season, he amassed averages of 21.0 points and 5.7 rebounds on 60.0% shooting over 62 games.
66. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
Porter broke out as the Nets’ No. 1 offensive option last season, setting career-bests in points and assists per game. With the Nets assembling a slightly more cohesive roster in 2026-27, Porter and Randle should be able to get Brooklyn a bump in their regular season success.
67. Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
Caruso is no longer asked to play a significant 82-game role, but he is one of the league’s greatest playoff weapons. The Thunder have perfectly saved and deployed Caruso’s elite two-way skillset over the last two years.
68. Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors or L.A. Clippers
It’s still undecided which team Ingram will suit up for in 2026-27, as the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to Toronto remains on hold. Regardless, Ingram brings two All-Star selections and a knack for putting the ball in the hoop from all three levels with him.
69. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Sabonis is one of the trickiest players to rank in the league landscape. He is highly productive on the stat sheet, averaging a double-double in seven straight seasons with three All-Star and two All-NBA Third Team selections. But his stats have yet to contribute to meaningful winning basketball over that span.
70. Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs
Vassell has been asked to take a step back in his usage rate with the Spurs due to the ascensions of Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Julian Champagnie, but he still started every game in the playoffs for the team that finished three games shy of an NBA title.
71. Paul George, Boston Celtics
George was part of the oft-criticized return for Boston in the Jaylen Brown trade. However, when George is healthy, he is still highly productive and efficient, and should be a perfect fit in Joe Mazzulla’s offense.
72. Josh Hart, New York Knicks
The NBA champions’ Swiss Army Knife is coming off of the best 3-point shooting season of his career, and will be pivotal to their repeat efforts.
73. Tyler Herro, Milwaukee Bucks
The former All-Star and Sixth Man of the Year winner returns home to Wisconsin, where he’ll be the face of a rebuilding Bucks team. He’s averaged at least 20 points per game on at least 37.5% from 3 in each of his last five seasons, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t continue that trend.
74. Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns
Brooks was the breakout star of the Suns’ surprising playoff run in 2025-26. He averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game while maintaining his reputation as a pesky defender.
75. Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder
Mitchell enters his third NBA season on arguably the best value contract in the NBA. He’ll make $2.85 million this year despite averaging 13.6 points, 3,6 assists and 1.2 steals in the sixth man role for the Thunder.
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