Top 25 NBA players for 2025-26 include Jokic, SGA and Giannis
USA TODAY Sports asked its top writers and reporters to rank the top 25 NBA players heading into the 2025-26 season and this is their consensus list.
Sports Pulse
The NBA has finally returned.
The league tips off Tuesday, Oct. 21 with a doubleheader featuring the Houston Rockets against the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder, with the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriors in the nightcap.
For teams, a new season presents a blank slate as they all chase the same thing: the Larry O’Brien trophy.
For players and coaches, team goals take precedence – to be sure – but their individual successes can also lead to historic greatness. Take Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s season as a comparison: he became just the fourth player in league history to win regular season Most Valuable Player, the regular season scoring title and NBA Finals MVP.
Who will take home the biggest prizes at the conclusion of this season? USA TODAY Sports reporters Lorenzo Reyes, Scooby Axson, Mark Giannotto, Jon Hoefling and James Williams made their preseason predictions for individual awards, conference finals and the eventual NBA champion:
NBA BEST PLAYERS: Our experts ranked the top 25 players for 2025-26
NBA playoff predictions
Our experts make their picks for the conference final matchups, the NBA Finals matchup, the 2025-26 NBA champion and the Finals MVP.
Eastern Conference finals matchupReyes: New York Knicks vs. Detroit PistonsAxson: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland CavaliersGiannotto: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland CavaliersHoefling: New York Knicks vs. Orlando MagicWilliams: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland CavaliersWestern Conference finals matchupNBA Finals matchupReyes: New York Knicks vs. Denver NuggetsAxson: New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City ThunderGiannotto: New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City ThunderHoefling: New York Knicks vs. Denver NuggetsWilliams: New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City ThunderNBA championReyes: Denver NuggetsAxson: Oklahoma City ThunderGiannotto: New York KnicksHoefling: Denver NuggetsWilliams: Oklahoma City ThunderNBA Finals Most Valuable PlayerReyes: Nikola Jokić, Denver NuggetsAxson: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City ThunderGiannotto: Jalen Brunson, New York KnicksHoefling: Nikola Jokić, Denver NuggetsWilliams: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City ThunderNBA individual awards
Our experts make their picks for 2025-26 MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Most Valuable PlayerReyes: Nikola Jokić, Denver NuggetsAxson: Nikola Jokić, Denver NuggetsGiannotto: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota TimberwolvesHoefling: Nikola Jokić, Denver NuggetsWilliams: Nikola Jokić, Denver NuggetsDefensive Player of the YearReyes: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio SpursAxson: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio SpursGiannotto: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio SpursHoefling: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio SpursWilliams: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio SpursRookie of the YearReyes: Cooper Flagg, Dallas MavericksAxson: Cooper Flagg, Dallas MavericksGiannotto: V.J. Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ersHoefling: Cooper Flagg, Dallas MavericksWilliams: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
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Sixth Man of the YearReyes: Jordan Clarkson, New York KnicksAxson: De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland CavaliersGiannotto: Bruce Brown, Denver NuggetsHoefling: Reed Sheppard, Houston RocketsWilliams: Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City ThunderMost Improved Player of the YearReyes: Amen Thompson, Houston RocketsAxson: Ausar Thompson, Detroit PistonsGiannotto: Benedict Mathurin, Indiana PacersHoefling: Reed Sheppard, Houston RocketsWilliams: Andrew Nembhard, Indiana PacersClutch Player of the YearReyes: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota TimberwolvesAxson: Luka Dončić, Los Angeles LakersGiannotto: Luka Dončić, Los Angeles LakersHoefling: Luka Dončić, Los Angeles LakersWilliams: Jalen Brunson, New York KnicksCoach of the YearReyes: Mitch Johnson, San Antonio SpursAxson: Ime Udoka, Houston RocketsGiannotto: Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles ClippersHoefling: Ime Udoka, Houston RocketsWilliams: Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
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