NBA Rank 2026: Snubs, surprises and reaction from insiders - ESPN

ESPN continues its countdown of the top 100 players entering the 2026-27 NBA season after rolling out 50-11 today and 100-51 on Monday.

LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant continue their reign near the top of NBA rank as some of the longest-tenured players in the league. But what new faces made their debut?

Before we reveal the top 10 best players in the league, our expert panel breaks down this year's list, answering the biggest questions on surprise snubs and who's up next to break through the rankings.

Jamal Collier: Questionable. What's the argument for LeBron still being ranked several spots behind the other «old guys» of his generation — Curry, Durant or Kawhi Leonard?

LeBron carried the Los Angeles Lakers to a playoff series win last year with Luka Doncic injured and Austin Reaves out for most of the series against the Houston Rockets. Injured or not, Durant hasn't won a playoff series since 2023. Curry is still the engine for the Golden State Warriors but didn't get out of the play-in tournament and has played fewer games than LeBron. Leonard is coming off one of the best regular seasons of his career, but he's far from reliable from a health perspective.

LeBron transitioned into a new role with the Lakers and, after an adjustment period, excelled. It might take some time for everyone to adjust in Philly, but James has continued to be as consistent a bet as nearly everyone ahead of him.

Tim MacMahon: Fair. At the ripe age of 41, he's still a legitimate All-Star, which is an unprecedented feat in NBA history. But James is a cut below All-NBA-caliber at this point in his legendary career. He's no longer capable of being the best player on a championship contender, but there has never been a better bargain