Top 5 NBA Players Heading Into the 2025-26 Season

With the NBA Summer League tipping off earlier this week, we have officially reached the midway point of the offseason. That means the 2025-26 NBA season is a few months away from starting up. Let’s examine and rank the five best players in the NBA heading into next season.

1. Nikola Jokic

The Serbian big man continued his assault on the NBA record books by putting together a season for the ages. The three-time MVP became the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double, with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists per contest. The Nuggets superstar also stepped his game up on the defensive end as well, averaging a career high 2 steals per game last season. While other players on this list had better seasons from an accolades perspective, Jokic’s eye-popping statistical brilliance gives him the edge as the best player in the association.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Speaking of players who piled up accolades from last season, there isn’t a player who took home more hardware than SGA. The reigning league MVP became just the fourth player in NBA history to win the regular season MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season. SGA also set multiple playoff records while leading the Thunder to the title. He set the Thunder franchise record for most 30-point games in a single playoff run. SGA’s monstrous scoring numbers mixed with his impressive trophy case land him firmly at No. 2.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

While the Bucks had a less-than-stellar season with their third first-round playoff exit in the last four years, the “Greek Freak” continued to level up his game for yet another season. The two-time MVP averaged 30 points and 12 rebounds for the fourth consecutive season, becoming just the fifth player in NBA history to average over 30 points over that many consecutive seasons. Although the lack of team success has led to Giannis slipping in the player rankings the past few years, his dominance can’t be overlooked.

4. Luka Doncic

Despite injuries limiting Doncic to only 50 games last season, the Slovenian star still put together another terrific season. The five-time All-Star averaged 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game during his time in both a Mavericks and Lakers jersey last season. Although those numbers are a far cry from Doncic’s near 34-point triple numbers from the previous season, they would be career years for any other player, but for Doncic, it’s just another typical year.

5. Anthony Edwards

Perhaps the most entertaining and electric player on this list, Edwards took his game to another level last season for the Timberwolves. The 23-year-old superstar scored a career-high 28 points per game while also shooting a career-best 40% from three. That improved outside shooting also led to Edwards leading the league in three-pointers made with over 320 last season.

The newly refined shot mixed with Ant’s upgraded playmaking abilities also helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year. While Edwards still has plenty of things to improve in his game, the Wolves superstar has solidified himself as one of the best in the game heading into next season.