N.B: Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, DeJounte Murray and Fred VanVleet do not feature in this edition of the Top 100, due to serious injuries that cast a shadow over their seasons.
70 - Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder) - ENTRY
One of the great stories of the NBA. An undrafted player who rose through the ranks to become an important part of a title-winning franchise. His impact goes beyond his stats, as it is in defence that he is now respected. Proof of this came when he was selected for the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time in his career. Will he maintain this level of performance?
2024/2025 stats: 10.1 points, 1.1 steals, 41.2% three-pointers
Target for 2025/2026: 12 points / 2 steals / Defensive Player Of the Year candidate
69 - Alex Caruso (Oklahoma City Thunder) +22 places
Caruso too also not drafted. He also went through the ranks one by one, being passed from the Lakers to the Bulls before OKC sacrificed Josh Giddey for him. It was a risk that was quickly validated, as his stifling defensive presence benefited the Thunder, and he provided a number of options that were useful in the heat of the moment. Like Dort, he will have to maintain his level if Oklahoma City are to aim for a double that has become almost impossible to achieve.
2024/2025 stats: 7.1 points, 1.6 steals
Target for 2025/2026: 12 points / 2 steals / NBA All-Defensive First Team candidate
68 - Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers) -4 places
We do not really know if Luka Doncic's arrival has benefited Reaves. What is certain is that he broke the 20-point average for the first time in a season. But that did not stop him being in the middle of trade rumours throughout the off-season. Between LeBron James ' latest fire and the arrival of De'Andre Ayton, we still don't know what his real role will be, but his potential remains certain. It will undoubtedly be a decisive season in his career.
2024/2025 stats: 20.2 points, 5.8 assists
Target for 2025/2026: 23 points minimum
67 - Desmond Bane (Orlando Magic) -12 places
Here is a case to talk about. It came as a complete surprise when Orlando dropped 4 first-round draft picks for the Grizzlies sniper. On paper, Bane is a great player who will no doubt average 20 points. But finding his place with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, when his so-called 'Big Three' at Memphis with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr never really worked (though that's not all his fault), raises questions.
2024/2025 stats: 19.2 points, 5.3 assists, 39.2% three-pointers
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 22 points / 40% three-pointers
66 - Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) -19 places
What applies to one player applies to the other, as Paolo Banchero is undoubtedly the Magic's No. 1. Mechanically, Wagner's stats could drop slightly to make room for Bane, and both in terms of complementarity and role, it looks very complicated. Here, we don't really believe it. Nevertheless, we'd love to be proved wrong.
2024/2025 stats: 24.2 points, 29.5% from three-point range
Reasoned goal for 2025/2026: 25 points / 40% three-pointers
65 - Cam Thomas (Brooklyn Nets) -2 spots
One of the complicated cases of the off-season, he opted to re-sign for another season in the hope of collecting the big money next summer, in Brooklyn or elsewhere. He's coming off the best season of his career, but in a team without a goal or a rudder, where his hands are free. For one thing, he will have to deal with the arrival of Michael Porter Jr, and for another, the fact that no one wanted to bet on him is not a very encouraging sign...
2024/2025 stats: 24.0 points, 3.8 assists, 34.9% three-pointers
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 25 points / 5 assists
64 - Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons) +25 places
Cade Cunningham finally exploded last season, which took up space for his team-mates. But Detroit are one of the expected darlings of the season, and it could be said that it's probably their pivot's turn. After an exciting 2023/2024 season, Durenhit a bit of a wall last season, but with an ambitious team and a distributor of caviars, everything is in place for him to take a big step forward.
2024/2025 stats: 11.5 points, 10.2 rebounds
Target for 2025/2026: 17 points / 12 rebounds / Most Improved Player candidate
63 - Mikal Bridges (New York Knicks) -13 places
New York bet big on Bridges. It's fair to say that his confidence has been restored, and he had a fine season, continuing his defensive undermining and scoring a few goals offensively. But in the play-offs, things were more complicated, and he clearly seems to have slipped down the Knicks' pecking order. If this season is more complicated than the last, will he be sacrificed?
2024/2025 stats: 17.6 points, 35.4% three-pointers
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 20 points / NBA All-Defensive First Team candidate
62 - Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers) =
Allen shone to the point of being an All-Star, but is now a utility player for a contender. He had to make room for the explosion of Evan Mobley, and that has had an impact on his stats and his number of balls touched. Nevertheless, he remains the undisputed starter for a title contender, and that seems to suit him perfectly. We can therefore expect a classic season from him.
2024/2025 stats: 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 70.6% shooting
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 15 points / 11 rebounds
61 - Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trail Blazers) - ENTRY
Portland are one of the big questions of the season, and many expect this team to turn a corner. Their swingman should be one of the key players. Many hopes have been raised by Sharpe's spectacular play, his enormous talent and undeniable potential, but he has yet to live up to his ambitions. He's on the verge of exploding, but not all players like him manage to do that...
2024/2025 stats: 18.5 points, 33.5% three-pointers
Target for 2025/2026: 22 points / Most Improved Player candidate