Ranking the top 25 NBA players for 2025-26

We enlisted 12 NBA experts across USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network and asked them to rank the best players ahead of the 2025-26 season. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 

Read in browser eNewspaper   |    Crosswords   |   Horoscopes Sports Thu Oct 2 2025 Who are the best players in the NBA? We ranked the top 25 for 2025-26 We enlisted 12 NBA experts across USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network and asked them to rank the best players ahead of the 2025-26 season. READ MORE Dodgers machine dispatches Reds to set up epic Phillies showdown The Dodgers can clinch a spot in the National League Division Series with a win. Follow for updates. READ MORE NFL rookie rankings: Who's surprising as top picks struggle? The top picks in the 2025 NFL draft have had a rough start to the season, but there are still several emerging rookie success stories. READ MORE Bill Belichick, Dabo Swinney lead college football Week 6 pressure points Pressure is on players, coaches and teams in Week 6 of the college football season. We look at the key games to watch Saturday. READ MORE Meet Red Sox's unlikely starting pitcher for finale vs. Yankees The Red Sox and Yankees are both turning to rookies for Game 3. Boston's Connelly Early gets the nod after only four starts. READ MORE There's a new leader in this week's college football quarterback rankings There's a new leader in this week's college football quarterback rankings. Oregon's Dante Moore ascends to the top spot after a defeat of Penn State. READ MORE As WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert is no Roger Goodell WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert's comments to Napheesa Collier were her latest means of disrespecting players ahead of a new CBA. READ MORE Yankees and Red Sox set for do-or-die clash: Who has more at stake? Yankees, Red Sox face off in winner-take-all MLB postseason game, Who needs the win more? READ MORE Toppmeyer: Listen up, Paul Finebaum for Senate is no joke We'd be better served if our politicians spent a little more time listening, and a little less time bloviating. Paul Finebaum can do both. READ MORE The perfect gift: USA TODAY's kid's guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics "Chasing Gold: A Kid's Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics" from USA TODAY will transform screen time into story time with this colorful hardcover book. READ MORE Sign up for the news you want Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔ Newsletters   |    eNewspaper   |   Crosswords Follow Us Problem viewing email? View in browser Unsubscribe  •   Manage Newsletters  •  Terms of Service  •   Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights  •  Privacy Notice  •  Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy  •   Feedback