NBA Rank 2026: Snubs, surprises and reaction from insiders

ESPN has released its NBA Rank 2026 list covering the top 100 players entering the 2026-27 NBA season, with the 50-11 segment published on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, following the 100-51 reveal on Monday. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant remain near the top of the rankings, with debate surrounding LeBron's placement relative to his peers despite leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a playoff series win over the Houston Rockets while Luka Doncic was injured. The expert panel highlights LeBron's case for a higher ranking, noting that Durant has not won a playoff series since 2023 and Curry failed to advance past the play-in tournament.