NBA Rank 2026: 10 players to watch in next season's top 100 - ESPN

ESPN's NBA Rank top 100 is underway, with players Nos. 100-51 for the 2026-27 season already unveiled. (The countdown continues Wednesday with Nos. 50-11 and Thursday with our top 10.)

But here, we're focusing on players who missed the cut. Which young stars are on track to make their NBA Rank debut next season? Which veterans are poised for a return? Let's breaking down 10 names to watch for the 2027 countdown, including a reigning Western Conference champion, a former Defensive Player of the Year runner-up and a onetime No. 2 draft pick.

It's easy to lose sight of the 20-year-old Bryant in the Spurs' sea of promising prospects. As a rookie and a 2025 lottery pick, Bryant occupied a minor bench role as a wing defender and played sparingly during San Antonio's memorable playoff run.

But the future looks bright for the 6-foot-6 forward, who fits neatly between franchise center Victor Wembanyama and young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper on the positional depth chart. San Antonio will be thrilled if Bryant can fulfill the classic 3-and-D archetype: He already has the size, strength and quickness to defend multiple positions, and he shot 37% from deep as a freshman at Arizona. The babyfaced Bryant also flashed his athletic tools and charming smile while competing in the 2026 slam dunk contest.

Realistically, a breakthrough might still be a few years away. Bryant was guilty of his fair share of rookie mistakes, and he seems destined to be an afterthought on offense given San Antonio's scoring talent. — Golliver

Honestly, Camara should have been included in this year's NBA Rank. The 6-foot-7 forward, who earned 2025 All-Defensive honors, started all 82 games for Portland and averaged a career high in scoring while