Ranking the NBA's top 100 players: Victor Wembanyama enters 2026-27 season at No. 1

Wemby is ahead of SGA and Nikola Jokić as a new season begins ... so what about everyone else? Oct 13, 2026 at 8:00 am ET • 56 min read Adam Eargle, CBS Sports There was a time not so long ago in NBA history when teams believed that they could simply assemble two or three of the top 20 players in the NBA and waltz their way to an NBA championship. Not anymore. Just consider how the last handful of NBA champions have fared in our annual ranking of the top 100 players in the league: All five starters from the 2025-26 New York Knicks, plus backup center Mitchell Robinson, were ranked as top 100 players a year ago.Six members of the 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder were selected two seasons ago.All five starters on the 2023-24 Boston Celtics ranked within the top 62 of that year's list.The 2022-23 Denver Nuggets placed four players within the top 75.Your inclination will almost certainly be to focus on the beginning of the list. Who's No. 1? Who's rising into superstardom? What older players are starting to slip? But winning a championship in the 2020s means having players scattered throughout the entire list. You need your superstars, of course, but you need your Josh Harts and your Alex Carusos and your Al Horfords just as badly. Six CBS sports analysts submitted ballots for this year's list: Brad Botkin, John Gonzalez, Robby Kaland, Jack Maloney, Sam Quinn and Cameron Salerno. The players were ranked on how we expect them to fare in the 2026-27 season, meaning injuries factored in both for players returning from lengthy absences (like Kyrie Irving and Tyrese Haliburton) and ones who will miss time to open the season (like Jimmy Butler). So, with all of that in mind, let's dive into our ranking of the 100 best players in the NBA entering the 2026-27 season, which tips off in one week. NBA Top 100 Player Rankings: 2026-27 No. 100-91: Veteran scorers, young promise and the next Draymond? Cam Boozer is one of two rookies on our top 100 list this year. Getty Images No. 90-81: Morant, Herro trying to rebuild their stock Ja Morant has a new team and a new role in the 2026-27 season. Getty Images No. 80-71: Agitators and aging All-Stars Dillon Brooks (No. 72) checks in seven spots ahead of Draymond Green (No. 79) on this year's Top 100. Getty Images No. 70-61: Essential role players, plus fresh starts for PG and Dame Paul George is entering his 17th NBA season ... and his first in Boston. Getty Images No. 60-51: Trae, Zion and Fox tumble Zion Williamson appeared in 62 games for the Pelicans last season. What does 2026-27 have in store? Getty Images 50-41: LaMelo moves up, Magic duo drops Magic teammates Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero have both fallen out of the top 40. Getty Images 40-31: Spurs supporting cast levels up, while Embiid and AD face questions Neither Stephon Castle nor Dylan Harper were in the Top 100 last year. They're both top-40 players this season. Getty Images 30-21: Flagg, Avdija and Anunoby on the rise Cooper Flagg rose to No. 25 on this year's Top 100. What does Year 2 have in store for the Mavs star? Getty Images 20-11: LeBron stays in top 20 ... but is behind two new teammates Jaylen Brown (No. 17), LeBron James (No. 19) and Tyrese Maxey (No. 13) are all Sixers who rank in the top 20. Getty Images 10-1: Wemby jumps Jokić and SGA for top spot Victor Wembanyama has ascended to the top of our Top 100 rankings as the 2026-27 season begins. Imagn Images Top 100 by the numbers Biggest risers from '25-26 Biggest fallers from '25-26Jalen Duren (+67) Ja Morant (-55) Dylan Harper (+63) Jalen Suggs (-39) Stephon Castle (+61) Tyler Herro (-34) Kon Knueppel (+53) Darius Garland (-33) Deni Avdija (+51) Draymond Green (-31) Keyonte George (+44) Julius Randle (-30) Nickeil Alexander-Walker (+42) Trae Young (-29) VJ Edgecombe (+41) Ivica Zubac (-29) Top 100 by team Thunder 7 players 76ers, Cavaliers, Hawks, Knicks, Spurs, Trail Blazers 5 players Celtics, Magic, Nuggets, Pacers, Raptors, Rockets, Timberwolves, Wizards 4 players Hornets, Jazz, Lakers, Pistons 3 players Bucks, Bulls, Clippers, Heat, Mavericks, Pelicans, Suns, Warriors 2 players Grizzlies, Kings, Nets 1 player