We ranked the best player on every NBA team. 76ers among biggest surprise

Another NBA regular season is set to begin, and the preseason player rankings have already been rolled out. While debates over the league’s top stars never end, the exercise also offers a revealing snapshot of where each franchise stands entering the 2026-27 season.

USA TODAY’s top 100 player rankings highlight the biggest names expected to lead championship contenders, excel for rebuilding teams and shape the league’s future. There is widespread agreement that two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama sit atop the NBA entering the season, with only their order up for debate.

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But a team-by-team breakdown of each franchise’s highest-ranked player revealed several surprises, including Tyrese Maxey’s standing among his new, more accomplished 76ers’ teammates and the one team that didn’t have a player ranked among the top 100 heading into the season.

Here’s what stood out while determining the highest-ranked player on each of the NBA’s 30 teams entering the 2026-27 season:

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1 / 50

Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

(Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images)

1 / 50

Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

(Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images)

2 / 50

Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

(Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images)

3 / 50

Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

(Wendell Cruz, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

4 / 50

Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers

(Marc Lebryk, Imagn Images)

5 / 50

Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat

(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)

6 / 50

Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

6. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)

7 / 50

Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

7….

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ranked-best-player-every-nba-093107067.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-20 09:31:00

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