ESPN is releasing its NBA ranking of the top 100 players for the 2025-26 season, and four Houston Rockets made the list.

Alperen Şengün is ranked 25th, Amen Thompson is ranked 37th and Jabari Smith Jr. is ranked 74th.  The top 10 won’t be revealed until Thursday, but we already know Kevin Durant is in it for the second year in a row (he was 9th last year).

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Due to his recent ACL injury, Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was not eligible to be included in this year’s rankings.

The Rockets had four players ranked last year: Şengün (54th), Jalen Green (69th), VanVleet (79th) and Smith (92nd). Houston traded Green, forward Dillon Brooks and draft picks to the Phoenix Suns in July in order to acquire Durant.

Thompson’s ascension sticks out. He was unranked in the 2024 Top 100 and is now considered a top-40 player in the league following a breakout sophomore season in which he made the NBA all-defensive team and was named a Rising Star for All-Star weekend.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks predicted that next year, Thompson will crack the top 20.

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“I am not yet ready to put Thompson on the All-NBA Team, but the body of work on defense last season in Houston warrants talk for NBA All-Defensive Team and Defensive Player of the Year honors this season,” Marks wrote. “Thompson had a breakout sophomore season, leading the NBA in effective field goal percentage allowed as a contesting defender. He ranked fifth in defensive estimated plus-minus. Granted, his offensive continues to be a work in progress, as he shot 27.5% on 3-pointers and 68.4% from the foul line.”

Şengün also had an impressive rise in the rankings, jumping 29 spots to land at No. 25. Coming off a phenomenal showing at FIBA EuroBasket, where Şengün was named to the all-tournament team after he helped Turkey earn the silver medal, ESPN’s Matt Williams thinks the Rockets’ All-Star center could evolve into a top-10 player.

“Although it came in a series loss, Şengün shined for the Rockets in the first round against the Warriors, becoming the fifth player in league history to average 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in his first career playoff series,” Williams wrote. “Plus, an added attention from defenses toward Durant should only continue to unlock Şengün’s game.”