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2025-26 NBA Thread: clocking in for another year at the bad take factory (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Capella
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Mister CIA
Footballguy
Go Spurs Go!
Frostillicus
Footballguy
Yo Mama
Footballguy
Kev4029
Footballguy
I've been mostly sitting on this waiting for the new thread...
Here are my top 50 players for the 25-26 season. I'll start from the bottom and moved through my tiers.
Not considered due to injury this season
Here are my top 50 players for the 25-26 season. I'll start from the bottom and moved through my tiers.
Not considered due to injury this season
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Jayson Tatum
- Damian Lillard
- Kyrie Irving
- DeMar DeRozan - He's more of an offensive floor raiser for a bad team and his game doesn't scale well to a modern championship contender, but the dude is productive.
- Julius Randle - Before the playoffs, I wouldn't have even had him here as I thought he was a bad fit for a good team BUT
- Jarrett Allen - Near elite defender and rebounder that knows his role and is incredibly good at it. He will eventually be the odd man out in Cleveland, but it won't be his fault.
- Rudy Gobert - I still hold some of my Gobert stock. He's kind of annoying as a person, has hands made of bricks, but he's still elite defensively.
- Kristaps Porzingis - Not sure exactly where to put a just sub-All Star level player that can only play 30 mpg for 50 games a year.
- OG Anunoby - Probably the best "3 and D" player in the league - anybody that is better wouldn't qualify as just 3-D. Elite defender, very good shooter, passable in other aspects.
- Cameron Johnson - We'll see what the Jokic-factor does to his game - He's more intuitive as a player than MPJ and he might really shine this year.
- Alex Caruso - Not a top 75 guy but he's a Tasmanian Devil of chaos for 20 mpg that feels like a top 30 guy for a few minutes a game.
- Zaccharie Risacher - My pick for best sophomore - post all-star he averaged 15 ppg on .498/.407/.711 shooting (.609 TS%).
- Trey Murphy III - Skills, combined with (hopefully) health, and opportunity. He could really pop this year if he can finally stay healthy.
Kev4029
Footballguy
Tier 7 - Elite Role Players and Zach LaVine
41 - Chet Holmgren - I can't figure out if the idea of what he is, is tainting the league's perception on what he actually is. The idea is a top 15 player someday but he needs to get stronger and the jump shot needs to be better.
42 - Tyler Herro - His growth into something of a real PG changes how I feel about him. He's overrated because he's white and in Miami, but he's turned himself into a legit combo guard.
43 - Desmond Bane - Jack of all trades, master of (almost) none. Ideal glue guy as he takes nothing off the table and is a legit stud as a shooter.
44 - Derrick White Kind of a tough guy to judge as he's been the 4th offensive option - we'll see if he is just elite role player or semi-legit star this year as he's forced into a bigger role.
45 - Aaron Gordon - He remade his shot last offseason and shot 44% from three for the year. Like White above him, I think he is more Tier 1 glue guy than star, but he's everything a contender needs.
46 - Lauri Markkanen - One of the tougher dudes to rank. He was closer to top 25 two seasons ago but his game has slipped as the Jazz have tanked even harder.
47 - Amen Thompson - He could be the biggest riser in the league in 2025-26 but to get into the top 25 type discussion he'll need either explosive growth with all his game again this year or to magically learn how to shoot.
48 - Austin Reaves - His growth into something of a real PG changes how I feel about him. He's overrated because he's white and in LA, but he's turned himself into a legit combo guard.
49 - Zach LaVine - A very good player overshadowed by a terrible contract. Look at him versus 5 all-stars from last season: https://stathead.com/tiny/P18Sy
50 - Cooper Flagg - This is a high goal for a rookie but he has a well-rounded game that should be immediately transferable to the NBA. Other prospects of his caliber have generally been very good rookies.
Kev4029
Footballguy
Tier 6 - Flawed #2s
30 - Jalen Johnson - If he stays healthy, he'll get his first all-star nod this season. He might actually be the best player on the Hawks, not Trae.
31 - Karl-Anthony Towns - I'm bending to general consensus a bit here - I don't think a team can win a title with his defense playing 30+ mpg. He’s elite offensively at center, but a terrible defender, but at PF he isn’t special.
32 - Domantas Sabonis - Maybe the king of good stats, bad team. His defense and lack of reliable jumper make him impossible to win with.
33 - Jamal Murray - Murray has stretches where he feels a couple tiers above but has other stretches where he feels a tier or two below. If he comes into the season in shape, he could jump a tier.
34 - Tyrese Maxey - He had a way down year shooting the ball and struggled through some injuries but the talent is there. Hopefully the team doesn't drag him down.
35 - De'Aaron Fox - Third worst contract in the league? Maybe. But that is 2028's problem. He is still a very valuable player that should find his game with Wemby this year.
36 - Alperen Sengun - He's a better defender than Sabonis with a similar offensive skillset but he needs to be significantly more efficient offensively
37 - Ivica Zubac - Low key, may have been the best player on the Clippers when taking the entire season into consideration.
38 - James Harden - He didn't deserve an All-NBA nod but he does offer a team a real offensive identity and still brings a rare level of offensive floor to a team… in the regular season. He'll continue his slow decline.
39 - LaMelo Ball - He might be my player I would most like to see in a "real" situation. There is a fair chance there is a top-10 NBA player here or maybe just an unredeemable unserious player.
40 - Scottie Barnes - This is something of a reflection of the team make up. I think he should show a lot better with better shooting around him, similar to how Cade had a breakout last season.
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Kev4029
Footballguy
Tier 5 - All-NBA Adjacent Players
21 - Pascal Siakam - While his usage rate has dipped slightly in Indiana, the rest of has game has improved. Clearly he is more impactful as an elite #2 then a middling #1.
22 - Jaylen Brown - Under-discussed storyline to the Celtics (relative) struggles last year - Brown had .463/.324/.764 (.555 TS%) shooting splits. He's getting the keys this year so we'll see if he is still an All-NBA performer.
23 - Jimmy Butler - In the regular season, he's a tier (or two) down, but I still think in the post season he is a tier above this.
24 - Trae Young - I think he'll get a bump this year as he'll have a legit team around him for the first time since Trae was an All-NBA player 4 seasons ago.
25 - Bam Adebayo - I'm hoping for a bounce back season. He's a top 5 defender in the league (maybe not last year) and a good offensive player but his efficiency was terrible last year.
26 - Franz Wagner - He is a re-discovered jump shot away from being an All-NBA player. I don't think that will happen, but I do think he makes his first AS game.
27 - Ja Morant - Before all of his legal issues, I would have had him top 10 but he seems slightly less effective, he's hurt too often, and his maturity is a huge issue.
28 - Zion Williamson - The only two players that averaged more points per 36 were SGA and Giannis. I'm not sure we have ever seen somebody this often injured but so good in between.
29 - Joel Embiid - The most difficult person to place. Hopefully his knee heals and he can return mostly to form, but I doubt it. He could end next season a tier or two above, or he could retire.
Kev4029
Footballguy
Tier 4 - All-NBA Contenders
11 - Anthony Davis - If he wasn't hurt all the time and wasn't masquerading as a power forward, I would have him in the tier above.
12 - LeBron James - This might be a little too optimistic for the best player of all time in his age 41 season but I'll believe a big age regression when I see it.
13 - Donovan Mitchell - Played a little better than this last but I'm worried about his knee and his three point shooting has never been quite as good as one would hope.
14 - Kawhi Leonard - He was briefly looking like the player from 5 years ago towards the end of the season and the first couple games of the playoffs. I think this ends up a tier too high or a tier too low.
15 - Devin Booker - Hopefully he can wash the stink of the last three years off of him. Before Durant came around, he was a top 10 player but last year he was outside of the top 20.
16 - Kevin Durant - Something cancerous about him keeps him from the bottom of the previous tier, plus he's starting to consistently miss too many games.
17 - Jaren Jackson Jr. - Due to his excessive fouling and tendency to get injured I might have him in too high of a tier. At the same time he offers a blend of offensive and defensive skill as a big that only Wemby exceeds.
18 - Darius Garland - I'm not 100% convinced that he isn't the best guard on the Cavs but he needs to stay healthy for that to be a real conversation.
19 - Jalen Williams - Despite the championship, I probably would have had him ranked a smidge higher before the playoffs although that may have been because of his wrist injury.
20 - Paolo Banchero - I'm not 100% on board with him yet. He strikes me of a young Melo, just less talented from mid-range. He might end up a top 8 talent in the league but needs more efficiency.
Kev4029
Footballguy
Tier 3 - Super-Stars
6 - Anthony Edwards - Entering his age 24 season, he should still be at or near his physical peak while he blends that with some of the guile and skill of a 6 year vet.
7 - Evan Mobley - His offensive game is coming around a bit while being probably the second best defender in the NBA (Wemby).
8 - Stephen Curry - As long as he continues to avoid being a big defensively liability, he'll stay in the all-NBA discussion.
9 - Jalen Brunson - Mike Brown might be bringing in a more egalitarian offense to NY - I'm curious if Brunson can adapt.
10 - Cade Cunningham - He was finally surrounded by players that can shoot and he shined last season. Unfortunately, I think they downgraded in that department in the offseason.
Kev4029
Footballguy
Tier 2 - MVP Candidates
3 - Giannis Antetokounmpo - Diminished cast (not his fault but won't shine) and potential age regression keep him out of the top tier.
4 - Luka Doncic - 2024 Doncic was at least one tier down but I think he'll rebound. If he can lead the Lakers to 50+ wins, I think he wins MVP.
5 - Victor Wembanyama - I think Wemby is one more season from potentially competing for an MVP but northing would surprise me with him.
Kev4029
Footballguy
Tier 1 - Fight For Best Player in the World
1 - Nikola Jokić - Best player in the world. I think he'll play a little less this year with a real backup but that may result in the best efficiency for a player ever.
2 - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - MVP & Finals MVP. The only player in the world who I think could compete with Jokic for best player in the world.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Zow
Footballguy
Yep. Well done.
strykerpks
Footballguy
I don't chime in here very often, but just so you're all aware, Giannis is NOT leaving Milwaukee. No matter how hard the 4 letter network will have you believe he wants to go to San Francisco or Miami or New York or LA or.....
I thought being tough to win with was a factor? See also #39
Juxtatarot
Footballguy
Not this year or ever?
strykerpks
Footballguy
Ever heard Chris Rock? I'm saying never.
Back to your usual Kuminga drama. Good day sir.
General Malaise
Footballguy
I see the Blazers have nobody in the top 50. Neat team.
Juxtatarot
Footballguy
Bulls have zero too but three ex-Bulls are there. Also, 2 ex-Bulls made honorable mention.
That’s OK, though. Next year Matas Buzelis and Hansen Wang will make it!
the moops
Footballguy
His name is Yang Hansen, FYI
msudaisy26
Footballguy
Right now I am choosing violence against my Pistons because of how horrible I believe this offseason was. (Seriously. ****ing Duncan Robinson)
But... if Ivey breaks out, Thompson and Duren show some offensive and Holland continues to develop and the Pistons make the playoffs again, then I will comeback and ask for forgiveness for my sins against the Pistons and pledge my allegiance to Trajan Langdon and name him the smartest mam alive. Please prove me wrong.
But... if Ivey breaks out, Thompson and Duren show some offensive and Holland continues to develop and the Pistons make the playoffs again, then I will comeback and ask for forgiveness for my sins against the Pistons and pledge my allegiance to Trajan Langdon and name him the smartest mam alive. Please prove me wrong.
General Malaise
Footballguy
Sorry, no. He goes by Young Handsome here. I should know. It's my city.
General Malaise
Footballguy
My wife and kids are at the Tigers' game today. Looks sweltering there!
67 degrees and light drizzle in Handsome's town.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
Yeah, first hot day in about week. They are all nice when you work from home though!
Encyclopedia Brown
Footballguy
Wasn't that Dave Twardzik's nickname?
Capella
Footballguy
Well the good news is you have significant portions of your cap devoted to up and comers like Jrue Holliday and Damion Lilliard’s Achilles.
the moops
Footballguy
Jerami Grant says hi
Major
Footballguy
Agree with the assessment. Definitely Tier 5 by year's end. I think an improved midrange is going to surprise some folks.
Kev4029
Footballguy
Initially, I had Hart, Bridges, and OG on there but decided that OG is by far my favorite of the group.
Kev4029
Footballguy
You could say that Deni Avdija was on the honorable mentions of the honorable mentions list. It's possible that Sharpe or Henderson (more likely Henderson) end up on this list next year. But I think things are pretty bleak there.
Kev4029
Footballguy
I never said I was logical or consistent. I'm guessing I like him more than the consensus - I just looked him up on the Ringer's list and he's 33, The Athletic had him in a tier somewhere between 28 and 24. I am very confident that a team with Young at PG with his flaws is easier to build around than KAT with his flaws.
Kev4029
Footballguy
Also, the honorable mentions group isn't necessarily the 51st through 60th best players. I would say the first 6 guys on that list would probably be 51-56 but the next 4 are just interesting guys to me. I think if I were ranking Bridges, he wouldn't be too far below that group but his new shooting form is trash and he isn't the defensive player that he used to be. What makes him a better player in 2025 that guys like Andrew Wiggins, De'Andre Hunter, Deni Avdija, RJ Barrett... I guess the answer is availability, but otherwise, I'm not sure he is a top 75 talent anymore. That's why there was some backlash in the NBA-sphere on his extension.
Fair enough! And you can't build "around" either of them - you have to do what the Knicks and Wolves did and make those guys the 3rd-5th option.
scoobus
Footballguy
I just don't know how you could have guys like Cam Johnson and Risacher above him, but again, minor nitpick.
I also would take the elite 3&D guys (a player type I typically covet, someone like OG especially) over Austin Reaves, but again again, minor nitpick.
Kev4029
Footballguy
I don't really have either of those guys above Bridges, they are just more interesting to me - Johnson because I'm a homer and Risacher (who I would not put in the top 100) because last year's draft is so fascinating. The 2024 draft could end up with like 30 rotation players but zero all-stars.
With regards to the Austin Reaves of the world - it depends on the team. I think on an average team, Reaves is much more valuable because he can drive offense. On a top tier contender, OG is way more valuable because have a couple dudes that can drive effective offense. Floor raisers vs ceiling raisers.
scoobus
Footballguy
Ceiling raisers!
General Malaise
Footballguy
Zow
Footballguy
But Dame is back with his kids!
General Malaise
Footballguy
But Dame is back with his kids!
Looking forward to the day his son Damey gets drafted by the Blazers and they play together.
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