25 Best NBA Players Right Now (2025)

The NBA is home to the greatest basketball players in the world, with fans around the world witnessing historic records being broken left, right and centre. The game has evolved to the extent where scoring averages have gone through the roof, and the three-point shot has never been as valuable.

Whether it’s 7-foot centers stretching the floor, or more position-less basketball than ever, the NBA landscape has changed significantly since the days of Michael Jordan and even Kobe Bryant. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was crowned the MVP of the league, taking over the mantle from Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, but can he lay genuine claim to being the greatest basketball player in the world today?

Below is a ranking of the 25 best players in the NBA right now following the start of the 2025/2026 season, and there are some very big names to miss the cut.

Ranking Factors

• Recent individual and team performances (play-offs included)
• Individual awards like MVPs, DPOYs, All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections
• Team achievements like NBA titles
• Stats including points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals
• Impact on their team and how important they are

25

Chet Holmgren

Now an NBA champion, Chet Holmgren is the first of three Oklahoma City Thunder players to make this list of the best basketball players in the world right now. A 7-foot, floor-spacing center, the 23-year-old averaged over two blocks per game in the 2024/2025 season, as well as shooting almost 38% from three. If he can steer clear of injury problems, the Thunder have the kind of versatile big man who possesses all the elite touch to become a real force from an offensive point of view, let alone his impressive defensive IQ too.

24

Jaylen Brown

As the Boston Celtics look to rebuild following the devastating knee injury suffered by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown will virtually be running things as a one-man show. A former NBA Finals MVP, Brown is an elite two-way wing who can change the game at both ends of the floor. He has incredible athleticism, and while his three-point mark wasn’t great last season – he shot it at just 32.4% – he has enough finishing around the rim to be a threat going forward.

23

Pascal Siakam

One of the key reasons as to why the Indiana Pacers reached the NBA Finals last season, Pascal Siakam continues to be one of the most underrated players in the league today. A former champion with the Toronto Raptors, Siakam has a terrific arsenal of moves, including his patented spin, while defensively, his length makes him a nuisance for opposition wings and forwards. Now that Tyrese Haliburton is set to be out for the entire season, Siakam could well take a significant jump forward in terms of the points scoring burden, which should only aid his case of being a potential All-NBA nominee.

22

James Harden

One of the best NBA players of the modern generation, James Harden may have lost some of the insane scoring that marked out the early years of his career, but there’s no questioning he remains a hugely influential part of the Los Angeles Clippers franchise and their quest for an elusive NBA title. Now more of a passer and facilitator, Harden desperately needs some real playoff success to banish some of the criticism that usually comes his way for not delivering when the title is on the line. Nevertheless, he will be key to the Clippers’ success for the 2025/2026 season.

21

Paolo Banchero

A rising star in the NBA, Paolo Banchero can really underline his credentials as one of the best in the league by leading a young Orlando Magic team to real playoff success this season. A strong finisher at the rim whose size at 6 foot 10 and 250 pound frame makes him stand out like an old-fashioned power forward, there are not many players who can push Banchero out of the way when he chooses to get his head down and bulldoze to the rim. Capable of scoring 25 points a night, the next step is for the 22-year-old to be the man the Magic can rely on in crunch time in the playoffs.

20

Donovan Mitchell

The scoring machine of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team’s lack of post-season success somewhat counts against Donovan Mitchell and his place on this ranking. Injuries, of course, didn’t help the Cavs during the playoffs, but the manner in which they were eliminated from contention was something for them to be concerned about.

Nevertheless, Mitchell remains one of the league’s most potent scorers when on fire, able to get to his spot from the mid-range and with a threat from three-point range too. Athletic as anyone, Mitchell is an All-Star caliber player who is desperate to make his mark in the playoffs.

19

Karl-Anthony Towns

One of the major reasons as to why the New York Knicks were so successful last season, Karl-Anthony Towns’ ability to space the floor from either the four or the five make the franchise one of the most dangerous teams in the league. When Towns is locked in, he can be a real handful for anyone, but his defence can be called into question.

Averaging almost 25 points per game last season, Towns shot well over 40% from the three-point line, and you would expect him to figure prominently once again if the Knicks are to make another step-up this coming campaign.

18

Jalen Williams

The man who helped lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to their NBA title last season, while much of the focus surrounded MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, no-one should forget the contributions or the leap in production and responsibility that Jalen Williams took. A genuine two-way force, Williams isn’t far off from making either an All-Star or even All-NBA team on a perennial basis.

Standing at 6 foot 6, Williams averaged over 20 points per game and 1.5 steals per game too last season, and is the perfect compliment to Gilgeous-Alexander as they seek to build a dynasty in Oklahoma.

17

Anthony Davis

Given all the focus on the Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers part of the trade, Anthony Davis moving to the Dallas Mavericks and teaming up with Kyrie Irving and now no.1 draft pick Cooper Flagg has somewhat gone under the radar. A wrecking ball at the four, AD can be a true game-changer when he is fit and firing on all cylinders.

Last season saw him average close to 25 points per game, as well as putting up almost 12 rebounds, more than two blocks and over one steal per game too. If Davis can keep himself fit and healthy, then who knows just how far the Mavericks can go.

16

Devin Booker

One of the game’s elite scorers, Devin Booker is desperate for the Phoenix Suns to reclaim some relevancy and build the kind of roster that can actually help him to title success. Booker’s output for the Suns has remained constant, and is a reliable 25-point a night scorer even on a team that has badly struggled.

At 28, Book can still have room to grow, while his passing numbers have improved significantly too. It makes sense for the Suns to continue to work hard to retool a roster that can compete for a championship once again.