The 2026 NBA All-Star break offered the chance for the entire league to catch its breath, reset and look ahead to the playoffs, which – seemingly suddenly – start in two months.
The break is also giving us the chance to revisit the USA TODAY Sports Top 25 NBA player rankings for the 2025-26 season, which we published in early October.
Where did we get it right? Where did we get it wrong?
Rankings and perceived value, of course, are subjective, so we welcome the debate. But for the purposes of this list, we’re omitting star players who are likely to miss at least most of the remainder of the season due to injury – players like Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving.
USA TODAY Sports’ Top 25 NBA players, ranked
25. Paolo Banchero, forward, Orlando Magic
2025-26 stats: 21.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.8 apg
His scoring numbers and efficiency have lagged significantly, and the Magic – before Franz Wagner got hurt – often played better when he was off the floor.
Pre-season ranking: 16th
24. Jalen Duren, center, Detroit Pistons
2025-26 stats: 17.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.8 apg
With a steadily-improving mid-range jumper, his offensive game has developed. And, with his size and defensive presence down low, Duren is becoming a force for the Pistons.
Pre-season ranking: unranked
23. Lauri Markkanen, forward, Utah Jazz
2025-26 stats: 26.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.1 apg
Pre-season ranking: unranked
22. Jalen Johnson, forward, Atlanta Hawks
2025-26 stats: 23.3 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 8.2 apg
He’s quickly becoming one of the more versatile players in the entire NBA and is a player who impacts the game in several ways. He also often puts up monster stat lines.
Pre-season ranking: unranked
21. Karl-Anthony Towns, forward-center, New York Knicks
2025-26 stats: 19.8 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 2.9 apg
His defensive effort and propensity to fall into foul trouble often compromise his ability to be a consistent, game-changing force, but his shooting range and rebounding still make him a unique talent.
Pre-season ranking: 18th
20. Scottie Barnes, forward, Toronto Raptors
2025-26 stats: 19.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 5.6 apg
Now in his fifth season, Barnes is quietly becoming a consistent force on both ends. His scoring isn’t eye-popping, but he’s a play-making presence on a Raptors team that has been the biggest surprise in the East.
Pre-season ranking: unranked
19. Joel Embiid, center, Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 stats: 26.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.9 apg
Both Embiid and the 76ers have been calculated and cautious when it comes to the soon-to-be 32-year-old’s knee issues. And while Embiid has missed his share of games, he has been very productive when on the floor. He’s not quite at his MVP levels from 2022-23, but he nonetheless remains a dominant force.
Pre-season ranking: 19th
18. Pascal Siakam, forward-center, Indiana Pacers
2025-26 stats: 26.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.9 apg
To look at the impact Siakam has had on the Pacers, all you need to do is take a quick peek at the team’s injury reports from this season. Yet, despite being the focus of opposing defenses, Siakam has been the team’s lone bright spot.
Pre-season ranking: 24th
17. Jamal Murray, guard, Denver Nuggets
2025-26 stats: 25.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.6 apg
During the stretches when Nikola Jokić has had to miss time, Murray has carried the Nuggets. And, after Denver lost some of its perimeter shooting with the trade of Michael Porter Jr., Murray has filled in that void, tying his career-best 3-point shooting percentage (42.5%) on a career-high 7.4 attempts per game.
Pre-season ranking: unranked
16. LeBron James, forward, Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26 stats: 22.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 7.1 apg
What James is doing at 41 years old does not have a precedent. He remains an impact player who can drive, make the right pass and rebound. He has lost a step, however, and isn’t as efficient with his shot and needs to manage back-to-backs. But at his age, that’s only natural.
Pre-season ranking: 8th
15. Tyrese Maxey, guard, Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 stats: 28.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.8 apg
Perhaps the most glaring oversight of the unranked players, Maxey ranks sixth in the NBA in scoring and is proving that he’s an elite shot maker. He’s also showing that he can drag the Sixers to victories, even if Embiid is unavailable.
Pre-season ranking: unranked
14. Devin Booker, guard, Phoenix Suns
2025-26 stats: 25.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.3 apg
Although the Suns were seemingly entering an apparent rebuild, Booker’s play has helped Phoenix (32-23) become one of the surprises out West. His silky jumper and ability to orchestrate an offense has been on display following the departures of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Pre-season ranking: 15th
13. Jalen Brunson, guard, New York Knicks
2025-26 stats: 27.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.1 apg
Although the ball sometimes stagnates in his hands, it’s for a good reason; Brunson is effective in the clutch, can get to the line and has excellent understanding of body positioning and leverage. He’s also a tireless worker.
Pre-season ranking: 11th
12. Kevin Durant, forward, Houston Rockets
2025-26 stats: 25.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.4 apg
His assimilation into the Rockets hasn’t been without its hiccups, but Durant remains one of the elite scorers in the game, even at 37 years old. He’s more reliant than ever on his jumper, but it’s still lethal.
Pre-season ranking: 9th
11. Donovan Mitchell, guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
2025-26 stats: 29.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.9 apg
He still needs to dispel the notion that he cannot perform well in the postseason, and the acquisition of James Harden will only intensify that pressure. But Mitchell is a strong guard who can score at all three levels, take over games and distribute when needed.
Pre-season ranking: 10th
10. Jaylen Brown, guard, Boston Celtics
2025-26 stats: 29.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.7 apg
This season has shown what Brown can do when he’s the No. 1 threat on a team. He ranks fourth in the league in scoring, has become a nightmare matchup on defense and has willed the Celtics (35-19) all the way to the current No. 2 seed in the East, even without Jayson Tatum (Achilles) and the departures of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.
Pre-season ranking: 20th
9. Kawhi Leonard, forward, Los Angeles Clippers
2025-26 stats: 27.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.7 apg
He was the main reason why the Clippers came back from the dead, after an abysmal start to the season. Yet, with James Harden and Ivica Zubac now gone, Leonard becomes even more important. His absolute clinic in the 2026 All-Star Game showed that he’s among the best in the world when he’s on.
Pre-season ranking: 14th
8. Stephen Curry, guard, Golden State Warriors
2025-26 stats: 27.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.8 apg
The greatest shooter of all-time and the player who fights hardest to get separation and space, Curry is a singular talent. He’s also the Warriors’ only hope to make a run, and Golden State’s window to win is quickly closing.
Pre-season ranking: 6th
7. Cade Cunningham, guard, Detroit Pistons
2025-26 stats: 25.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 9.6 apg
Somehow, Cunningham still flies under the radar relative to other stars in the NBA. Yet he is the main reason the Pistons (40-13) have had their remarkable turnaround over the last two seasons, and his command of Detroit’s offense makes him a legitimate MVP candidate.
Pre-season ranking: 12th
6. Luka Dončić, guard, Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26 stats: 32.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 8.6 apg
He leads the league in scoring, and he’s arguably the premier offensive player in the NBA, but he has become such a defensive liability, it’s hard to justify him being in the Top 5. Opposing teams constantly seek him out and attack him on the other end. Still, with the game on the line, or when L.A. needs a big shot, you know who’s going to take it.
Pre-season ranking: 4th
5. Anthony Edwards, guard, Minnesota Timberwolves
2025-26 stats: 29.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.7 apg
The 2026 NBA All-Star Most Valuable Player, Edwards is a threat to score from anywhere. Though it may appear as though he’s too reliant on his 3, he’s converting those at a career-high 40.2%.
Pre-season ranking: 5th
4. Victor Wembanyama, forward-center, San Antonio Spurs
2025-26 stats: 24.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.8 apg
Arguably no player impacts the game on both ends of the floor more than Wembanyama. He leads the NBA with 2.7 blocks per game and his offensive portfolio continues to evolve. His greatest asset, however, might be his competitiveness.
Pre-season ranking: 7th
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, forward-center, Milwaukee Bucks
2025-26 stats: 28.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 5.6 apg
His future in Milwaukee seems secure – for now – but Antetokounmpo needs to shake off nagging calf injuries that have robbed him of time on the court. He’s the best transition scorer in the world and his size, power, length and athleticism make him a nightmare to defend. His jump shot, though, is still a weakness.
Pre-season ranking: 3rd
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder
2025-26 stats: 31.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.4 apg
Though he was banged up headed into the All-Star break, Gilgeous-Alexander is the preeminent model of consistency in the NBA. His scoring streak of at least 20 points stands at 121 games, which is just six away from Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record.
Pre-season ranking: 2nd
1. Nikola Jokić, center, Denver Nuggets
2025-26 stats: 28.7 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 10.7 apg
The only player this season to average a triple-double, Jokić is the most dominant presence in the entire NBA. His vision is unparalleled. His footwork and finesse under the basket is flawless. His knowledge and expertise of the game gives Denver such a massive advantage. For a lot of fans, the most frustrating part about Jokić is his apparent apathy when it comes to things like the All-Star Game. Don’t fall into that trap; he’s one of the all-time great players in history.
Pre-season ranking: 1st
Players who were ranked in the preseason Top 25, but fell off the list: Ja Morant, Grizzlies (25th); James Harden, Cavaliers (23rd); Jimmy Butler, Warriors (22nd); Evan Mobley, Cavaliers (21st); Jalen Williams, Thunder (17th); Anthony Davis, Wizards (13th).
Other Articles
