NBA Rank is here! Experts stack the best players, from Nos. 100 to 51

NBA Rank is backmost and acceptable to number down the champion players successful the league for the 2025-26 season. Which players made the apical 100 this twelvemonth and who missed the mark?

From Sixth Man of the Year Candidates similar Naz Reid and Alex Caruso to astonishing sophomores, players crossed the league person proved to our voters that they merit a spot connected the database of champion players entering adjacent season.

To get the last NBA Rank prediction, we asked our adept sheet to ballot connected subordinate versus subordinate matchups from much than 20,000 imaginable pairings and to take based connected which subordinate volition beryllium amended successful 2025-26.

Our countdown tips disconnected with our ranking of players Nos. 100-51, which includes immoderate astonishment risers and fallers from past year's fertile and a fewer reigning champions. The rollout continues connected Wednesday with Nos. 50-11 and Thursday with the season's apical 10 players.

Note: ESPN's NBA Rank panel, comprising much than 150 reporters, editors, producers and analysts, was asked to fertile players based connected their predicted contributions -- prime and quantity -- for the 2025-26 play only.

100. RJ Barrett, G, Toronto Raptors

2024 NBA Rank: 53

Barrett averaged a career-high 21.1 points per crippled past play for the Raptors, his archetypal afloat play playing for his hometown squad aft being acquired by Toronto midway done the 2023-24 campaign. Barrett's relation entering this play is simply a spot successful flux; however, a extremity for the squad is to harvester his talents with the recently acquired Brandon Ingram and ascending prima Scottie Barnes. -- Tim Bontemps

Signature stat: Last season, Barrett joined Pascal Siakam to go the lone players successful Raptors past to mean 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Fantasy projection: 20.9 PTS, 6.1 REB, 4.9 AST

99. Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs

2024 NBA Rank: Unranked

The No. 4 prime of the 2024 NBA draft, Castle unwittingly applied a small unit connected incoming No. 2 prime Dylan Harper: He became San Antonio's 2nd consecutive subordinate to triumph NBA Rookie of the Year and the 4th Spur to seizure the honor, joining Victor Wembanyama, Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Castle started 47 games arsenic a rookie and led his draught people successful full points (1,190), made tract goals (423) and steals (74). The runner-up successful past season's Slam Dunk Contest, Castle is San Antonio's stickiest perimeter defender. -- Michael C. Wright

Signature stat: On his mode to winning Rookie of the Year, Castle had 26 20-point games past season, astir among rookies and the fifth-most by a rookie successful Spurs history.

Fantasy projection: 15.8 PTS, 3.9 REB, 4.4 AST

98. Walker Kessler, C, Utah Jazz

2024 NBA Rank: Unranked

The Jazz person made it wide the fourth-year halfway is portion of their aboriginal by consistently rebuffing commercialized calls from inquiring teams. From the infinitesimal Kessler came into the league, helium has been an elite changeable blocker and antiaircraft presence...