Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs forward, has been ranked as the second-best player in the NBA according to ESPN’s 2026 player rankings, only behind Nikola Jokic. Wembanyama made a significant leap from his fifth-place ranking in 2025 after a standout season, which included winning the Defensive Player of the Year award and reaching the NBA Finals. This performance surpassed players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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ESPN's rankings have sparked discussion, particularly with Jokic at the top and Gilgeous-Alexander placed third. While The Ringer also lists Wembanyama second, it places Gilgeous-Alexander first. The ESPN panel, consisting of analysts such as Ben Golliver and Zach Kram, predicted further growth for Wembanyama, highlighting his impressive scoring efficiency and ability to focus on paint opportunities rather than excessive 3-point shooting. He led the league in blocks and defensive win shares, finishing his playoff run with a robust plus-12.9 net rating.
Despite the excitement surrounding Wembanyama’s ranking, some surprises occurred in the lower rankings. Notably, Devin Vassell was omitted from the top 100, which raised eyebrows among analysts. Other Spurs players included in the top ranks are Dylan Harper at 50th, De’Aaron Fox at 43rd, and Stephon Castle at 38th. If the upcoming 2026/27 season unfolds as anticipated, Wembanyama could potentially ascend to the number one position in future rankings.