NBA Rank 2025-26: Predicting the Next 10 Top Players

This year`s NBA Rank has seen substantial changes compared to 12 months ago. A remarkable 25 players among our top 100 were not featured on last year`s list, marking the most significant turnover from one ranking to the next since 2019. While one notable player (first overall pick Cooper Flagg) was ineligible prior to his sole season at Duke, the remaining newcomers significantly boosted their standing in the league through strong performances.

Considering this trend, let`s explore which players are poised to break into the NBA Rank top 100 next season, having missed the cut this year.

It`s worth noting that we are deliberately excluding players whose absence from the list is solely due to injury. Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum, all projected to miss the entire 2025-26 season recovering from Achilles ruptures sustained in the playoffs, along with Kyrie Irving (potentially returning from a previous ACL tear), are clear candidates to rejoin the rankings once fully healthy.

Instead, our focus will be on 2025 draft selections, promising young talents poised for a breakthrough, and players who dropped out of the top 100. In our predictions last year, we successfully identified six out of ten, including Flagg. This time, we`re aiming to surpass that achievement.

Second-year stars

Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Unsurprisingly, second-year players frequently emerge as new additions to the NBA Rank, with roughly three joining the list annually over the last decade. Given that this year`s list featured only one rookie, a significant portion of the draft class remains eligible to join this elite group. Historically, eight of the eleven players drafted second overall since 2014 have secured a spot in the NBA Rank top 100 by their sophomore season. The few exceptions include Brandon Ingram (who first appeared in his third season), James Wiseman, and last year`s second pick, Alex Sarr. Harper might have a limited role as a rookie, playing behind veteran De`Aaron Fox, which explains his current absence from the top 100. However, he is expected to demonstrate sufficient potential to earn a spot on the list within the next year.

Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

Beyond the top two draft selections, the correlation between a player`s draft position and their likelihood of reaching the NBA Rank as a sophomore diminishes significantly. Instead, it largely depends on their on-court production, as exemplified by this year`s inclusion of the No. 9 pick, Zach Edey. Knueppel, who earned MVP honors in the NBA Summer League championship game after leading the Hornets to the title, appears to be as prepared to contribute as any rookie, aside from his Duke teammate Flagg. He also benefits from more immediate playing opportunities compared to Harper and the No. 3 pick, VJ Edgecombe. Therefore, I predict he will join the distinguished list next year.

Rising young stars

Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

In his rookie season, Clingan promptly established himself as one of the NBA`s premier rim protectors. While on the court, he blocked an impressive 7.5% of opponents` 2-point attempts, ranking second in the league only to Victor Wembanyama. Clingan`s offensive skills are still developing, and he averaged just 19.8 minutes per game. However, Portland`s buyout of Deandre Ayton creates a starting opportunity for Clingan, who averaged a double-digit rebound total (10.0 per game) in 37 starts last season. If he consistently achieves a double-double and averages over 2 blocks, Clingan is highly likely to secure a spot in the top 100.

Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

Risacher stands as the sole No. 1 overall pick in the last decade who failed to secure a spot in the top 100 entering his sophomore season. This is somewhat understandable given his modest rookie output (12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and minimal averages in other key statistics) and the general perception of the 2024 draft class as relatively weak. Nevertheless, Risacher finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting while turning 20 at the season`s close. Continued strong development within an Atlanta team expected to contend for the playoffs positions him as a strong candidate for next year`s list.

Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons

Among the recent additions to NBA Rank, only Ivica Zubac was ranked higher than Thompson`s twin brother, Amen. While Ausar`s offensive game isn`t as polished as Amen`s, he showcased comparable defensive prowess following his return from a blood clot. Post-All-Star break, Thompson averaged 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks. Last season, only two players achieved averages of at least 1.5 steals and one block per game: the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and new NBA Rank entrant Jalen Johnson of the Hawks.

Kel`el Ware, Miami Heat

Starting 36 games in his rookie season, Ware posted impressive averages of 10.8 points and 10.0 rebounds, achieving a double-double. His performance benefited from playing alongside All-Star Bam Adebayo in the Miami frontcourt, although he doesn`t possess the same elite rim protection abilities as Clingan. Despite this, Ware`s development has progressed far more rapidly than anticipated for a player initially viewed as a long-term project from Indiana. Further improvement in his 3-point shooting next year would firmly place Ware on a path to the top 100.

Returning to the list

Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

Here, I believe the NBA Rank made an oversight. Having reached as high as No. 53 in 2023, heading into his final season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Giddey was notably absent from the list after a disappointing 2024 playoffs. This now appears to be an overcorrection, especially considering that Giddey averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists post-2025 All-Star break, shooting an impressive 46% from beyond the arc. While Giddey`s weaknesses can make him a challenging fit in a secondary role, entrusting him with the primary offensive responsibilities, as in Chicago, allows him to orchestrate a potent attack.

Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans

Remarkably, last year`s ranking marked Jones`s sole appearance in the top 100, despite earning a spot on the All-Defensive First Team and finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2023-24 season. Injuries sidelined Jones for much of last season; he appeared in only 20 games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in February. Now expected to return to full health, Jones is poised to regain his significant value.

Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors

Placing Podziemski at No. 78 based solely on his rookie campaign might have been considered a bold move. His selection to the All-Rookie First Team was largely influenced by his impressive 38.5% 3-point shooting, a figure that slightly decreased in his second year. Concurrently, Podziemski`s usage rate increased as he took on a playmaking role for the Warriors` second unit, leading to an overall improvement in efficiency. A breakout third season is anticipated for Podziemski, which should solidify his position within the top 100.

Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors

Quickley was largely overlooked last season, as injuries restricted him to just 33 appearances. When healthy, he posted averages of 17.1 points and 5.8 assists in only 27.8 minutes—a decrease from his playing time after joining Toronto mid-way through the 2023-24 season. Should Quickley replicate this production across 60-plus games and contribute to the Raptors reaching the play-in tournament or further, he is well-positioned to return to the list, having been ranked No. 64 just a year prior.