DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 03: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is guarded by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on January 03, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesSpurs superstar Victor Wembanyama wants to be regarded as the world’s best basketball player.
According to ESPN’s NBA Rank 2026, only one player stands between the 22-year-old Frenchman and that coveted title. After unveiling Nos. 100-51 on Tuesday and Nos. 50-11 on Wednesday, ESPN made its top 10 public Thursday.
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Denver’s Nikola Jokic topped the list for the third consecutive year after averaging a triple-double in 2025-26 for the second straight season to join Russell Westbrook at the only players to accomplish the feat multiple times.
ESPN’s Ben Golliver, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Bobby Marks, Dave McMenamin, André Snellings and Matt Williams ranked Wembanyama No. 2 just ahead of Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time defending league MVP.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ Nikola Jokic, Miami’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, New York’s Jalen Brunson, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell rounded out the top 10.
Three other Spurs players joined Wembanyama in the top 100 in the wake of the the club’s five-game loss to the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals: Stephon Castle (No. 38), De’Aaron Fox (No. 43) and Dylan Harper (No. 50). Carter Bryant was named by ESPN as a player to watch who didn’t make the top 100 list this season but is poised to make a jump into the list for 2027.
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“The margin between Jokic, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was razor-thin for the top spot in ESPN’s NBA Rank,” according to ESPN’s story accompanying the rankings. “All three players deserved the No. 1 slot, but it’s Jokic in the first position for the third consecutive year.”
Last season, Jokic also became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists per game.
The panel ranked players “based on predicted contributions — quality and quantity — for the 2026-27 regular season only,” per ESPN.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoffs series in Minneapolis, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Eric Gay/AP
“If not for a series of Spurs’ collapses in the NBA Finals, basketball fans everywhere would have crowned Wembanyama ‘Best Player in the World’ in June,” Golliver wrote. “Instead, the 22-year-old center will enter his fourth season seeking championship validation and his first MVP award to go with the Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-NBA honors he earned last season.
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“‘The Alien’ continues to ace the eye test and advanced stats alike, and he boosted his scoring efficiency in 2025-26 by cutting back on his 3-point attempts in favor of paint opportunities. After leading the league in blocks and defensive win shares during the regular season, Wembanyama posted an excellent plus-12.9 net rating during his first playoff run. What’s scarier for opponents: his 7-4 (7-5? 7-6?) frame or his rapid rate of improvement?”
In leading the NBA in blocks for the third straight season, Wembanyama also became the first unanimous choice for Defense Player of the Year in league history.
On the negative side of the ledger, “Wembanyama appeared to display physical and mental fatigue during his team’s second-half struggles (in the Finals). What’s more, he rightfully praised Knicks guard Jalen Brunson for dictating the late-game action,” Golliver wrote.
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So what does Wembanyama need to do to overtake Jokic?
“To claim his first title, Wembanyama must improve his stamina and avoid an over-reliance on isolation jumpers when playoff games tighten. Throughout its history, San Antonio has always won as a team,” Golliver added.
