It's funny how fast things change. If you told someone two years ago that the Lakers would be built around a 26-year-old Slovenian wizard while LeBron James happily took a backseat, they’d probably tell you to stop playing 2K. But here we are in January 2026, and the hierarchy of the league has been completely flipped on its head.
Honestly, trying to rank the top NBA basketball players right now is a bit of a nightmare because the "old guard" isn't actually gone—they've just shifted. We're in this weird, beautiful transition where the guys we grew up watching are still elite, but they aren't the ones driving the bus anymore.
The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Takeover
Let's just be real: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player in the world right now. Some people will argue for the "Big Honey" in Denver, but if you look at what Shai is doing in Oklahoma City, it’s basically historical fiction.
He’s currently sitting at about 31.9 points per game. That’s elite, sure. But it’s the efficiency that’s disgusting. He doesn't turn the ball over. He plays defense like his life depends on it. In fact, he’s the only player this season to block Victor Wembanyama twice in a single year. Think about that. A 6-foot-6 guard meeting a 7-foot-4 alien at the summit and winning. Twice.
The narrative used to be that Shai was just a "stats on a bad team" guy. Now? The Thunder are the class of the Western Conference, and he’s the undisputed MVP frontrunner. He is currently on pace to break Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games scoring 20-plus points. He’s at 111 games. He needs 126. It feels inevitable.
The Lakers' New Reality: The Luka Era
There was a lot of noise when Luka Dončić landed in Los Angeles. People wondered if he and LeBron could coexist.
They can.
Luka is currently leading the league in scoring at 33.6 points per game. He’s also putting up roughly 8.7 assists and 12.2 rebounds. He’s basically a walking triple-double who looks like he’s playing at 50% speed while everyone else is sprinting.
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What's wild is that he set a Lakers franchise record earlier this season by dropping 165 points across his first four games. That blew past Jerry West. It blew past Kobe Bryant. You’ve got to realize that Luka is just entering his physical prime (he's 26 now), and the "slow" game he plays is going to keep him at the top of the top NBA basketball players list for another decade.
Why the Stats Don't Tell the Whole Story
- The Gravity Factor: When Luka is on the floor, the defense collapses like a dying star.
- The LeBron Effect: James is still elite, but he’s playing more of a "point-power-forward" role, allowing Luka to be the primary engine.
- Clutch Time: Dončić is currently shooting over 50% on "clutch" shots this season.
The Nikola Jokić Conundrum
We have to talk about the injury.
Nikola Jokić was arguably having his best season ever—which is saying a lot for a guy with three MVPs—before the knee injury sidelined him. Before he went down, he was averaging a monstrous 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists. A 30-point triple-double average. In 2026.
The advanced metrics still love him more than any other human being. Basketball-Reference's MVP tracker still had him as a massive favorite before the missed time started piling up. The problem now is the 65-game rule. If Jokić doesn't hit that mark, he’s ineligible for major awards.
Does that mean he’s not a top-three player? Of course not. If you’re starting a team for one playoff series tomorrow, most GMs are still taking the big man from Sombor. His "stocks" (steals + blocks) are actually higher than Giannis Antetokounmpo’s this year. His hands are like magnets.
The "Alien" in the Room: Victor Wembanyama
Wemby is no longer a prospect. He is a problem.
At 22 years old, Victor Wembanyama has officially entered the top five conversation. He’s averaging 26.2 points and leading the league with 3.6 blocks per game. But it’s the three-point shooting that’s changed. He stopped settling for bad shots and started working with Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett over the summer.
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The result? A guy who can cross you up at the perimeter and then dunk without jumping. He’s the most dominant defensive force we’ve seen since prime Dwight Howard, maybe even further back. The Spurs are currently the No. 2 seed in the West, largely because teams are terrified to go into the paint when he's lurking.
The Forgotten Elite: Giannis and the New Guard
It feels weird to call Giannis Antetokounmpo "forgotten," but with the rise of OKC and the Luka-Lakers show, Milwaukee has slipped slightly from the national spotlight.
Giannis is still Giannis. He’s giving you 28.8 points and 9.5 rebounds. But there are persistent trade rumors. The Hawks and Spurs are constantly linked to him. When a top-five talent is potentially on the move, it shifts the entire landscape of the league.
Then you have guys like Cade Cunningham. Cade has finally had the "leap" everyone predicted. He’s averaging 27.5 points and nearly 10 assists. He hasn’t scored under 27 points in a single game since the calendar turned to 2026. He’s the reason the Pistons aren't a punchline anymore; they’re a playoff threat.
Quick Look at the Scoring Leaders (PPG)
- Luka Dončić (LAL): 33.6
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 31.6
- Tyrese Maxey (PHI): 30.3
- Nikola Jokić (DEN): 29.6
- Jaylen Brown (BOS): 29.4
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about the top NBA basketball players right now is that the league is "softer."
It’s not softer; it’s just smarter. The spacing is so insane that traditional "toughness" looks different. A guy like Jalen Johnson in Atlanta is a perfect example. He’s a 6-foot-9 freight train who can also pass like a guard. He’s the only player besides Jokić who can reliably give you an efficient triple-double on any given night.
The "old" stars—Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron—are still top-15 players. Steph is still hovering around 28 points a game. KD is still a walking bucket in Houston. But they aren't the ones you build a 5-year plan around anymore. The torch hasn't just been passed; it's been snatched.
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Actionable Insights for NBA Fans
If you want to actually keep up with the shifting hierarchy of the league, you need to look past the basic box scores.
First, watch the "on/off" numbers for OKC. When Shai sits, the Thunder are still good, but when he’s on, they’re a historical juggernaut (+17 net rating). Second, pay attention to the 65-game eligibility tracker. This year, more than ever, the All-NBA teams are going to look weird because several superstars are flirting with that cutoff.
Lastly, keep an eye on the trade deadline. If Giannis actually moves, or if a team like the Knicks makes a desperation play for a disgruntled star, the power balance in the East—which currently belongs to Jaylen Brown’s Celtics and Jalen Brunson’s Knicks—could evaporate overnight.
The best way to evaluate players in 2026 is to look at "Clutch Usage." In a league where everyone can score, the players who can generate a high-quality look in the final three minutes are the ones who actually matter. Right now, that’s Shai, Luka, and a surprisingly poised Cade Cunningham.
Stop waiting for the "next" LeBron. He’s already here, and he’s wearing a Lakers jersey, but his name is Luka. And the "next" Jordan? He’s in Oklahoma City, wearing Converse, and he doesn't miss mid-range jumpers.
Next Steps for Tracking Player Impact:
- Check the NBA MVP Award Tracker weekly to see how the 65-game rule is impacting Jokić and Embiid.
- Monitor the Defensive Win Shares leaderboard; Wembanyama and Shai are currently the only "non-traditional" bigs dominating this category.
- Watch Detroit Pistons games—seriously. Cade Cunningham's fourth-quarter scoring is currently the most undervalued stat in the league.