N.B.: Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, DeJounte Murray and Fred VanVleet are not included in this edition of the Top 100 due to serious injuries that have cast a shadow over their seasons.
60 - Zach LaVine (Sacramento Kings) +19 places
LaVine still a prolific scorer and a great offensive weapon, but his stats are often in a vacuum. And his move from Chicago to Sacramento has done nothing to change that. His team is keen to get back to the play-offs, or even better, but it won't be without him having a big season. It's already his 12th and his only record is the Slam Dunk Contest. It's probably the season or never for him.
2024/2025 stats: 23.3 points, 44.6% three-pointers
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 25 points / All-Star candidate
59 - Brandon Ingram (Toronto Raptors) -16 places
When it comes to empty stats... that's the case with the former Laker, who ultimately failed to take the Pelicans to the next level. Now he's in Toronto, where he has yet to put on the jersey due to an injury that ruined his final season. Individually, Ingram will undoubtedly remain important, but will he be able to blend into a team that is looking for the key?
2024/2025 stats: 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists (18 games)
Target for 2025/2026: 25 points / All-Star candidate
58 - Norman Powell (Miami Heat) - ENTRY
As the Clippers' luxury sixth man, Powell took the opportunity to record the best season of his career, no less. But he faces a new challenge: with the Heat in need of key players and a clear offensive hierarchy, he will have to work with Tyler Herro on the outside lines. At 32, he has a chance to be his team's offensive leader. Will he take it?
2024/2025 stats: 21.8 points, 41.8% three-pointers
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 25 points
57 - Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers) -5 places
A former All-Star, the Cavs point guard is a quality player, but there are still a few doubts about his partnership with Donovan Mitchell. The reason: a recent play-off campaign full of injuries and disappointing games. Cleveland are still a force to be reckoned with in the East and have their sights set on the title. That will only happen if Garland plays his role as orchestra conductor to the best of his ability. He needs to become a real leader of the game.
2024/2025 stats: 20.6 points, 6.7 assists
Target for 2025/2026: 22 points / 9 assists
56 - Coby White (Chicago Bulls) +4 places
The Bulls sharpshooter is coming off a first season averaging 20 points. It was an expected scenario, given his free hand, especially since the departure of Zach LaVine. However, much more is expected of White, particularly in terms of managing his game and even playmaking in place of Josh Giddey. But above all, he is undoubtedly the Bulls' No.1 forward this season, a status he will have to live up to if Chicago remain stuck in the bottom half of the table.
2024/2025 stats: 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, 37% three-pointers
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 25 points / 40% three-point percentage
55 - Trey Murphy III (New Orleans Pelicans) - ENTRY
We didn't see enough from TMIII, who was hampered by injuries and only played 53 games last season. It's a shame, because with 6.4 more points on the board, he could have had his say in the race for the Most Improved Player. New Orleans have changed its face again, so he is a guarantee of stability, but the Pelicans need to look upwards.
2024/2025 stats: 21.2 points, 36.1% three-pointers
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 25 points / 40% three-pointers
54 - Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers) - ENTRY
One of last season's big surprises. In his first season with the Trail Blazers, Avdija imposed his all-around game and left his mark, but above all, you can sense that he is far from having reached his ceiling. With a team bolstered by veterans and in much better shape than last season, everything is in place for him to explode. But it will have to happen quickly, as he is entering his sixth season in the NBA...
2024/2025 stats: 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1 steal
Reasoned objective for 2025/2026: 20 points minimum / Most Improved Player candidate
53 - Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks) - ENTRY
He's the Most Improved Player. After arriving in Atlanta last summer, Daniels has been incredible on both ends of the court, proving that he has a place in the NBA, something that might have been in doubt after two lacklustre first seasons in Louisiana. He is now an indispensable defensive player (and a Defensive Player Of the Year finalist to boot) and it is no doubt on this end of the court that he will be most eagerly awaited for confirmation.
2024/2025 stats: 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3 steals
Target for 2025/2026: 16 points / 3 steals / Defensive Player Of the Year candidate
52 - Myles Turner (Milwaukee Bucks) +17 places
We weren't expecting him. After 10 seasons in Indiana, where Turner helped his team rise to within a game of the NBA title, the pivot went to Milwaukee to cash in on his talents. His partnership with a certain Giannis Antetokounmpo promises to be particularly interesting, but between the Bucks' limitations and the unknown as to his level outside the Pacers, he has a lot to prove - or risk falling back into anonymity.
2024/2025 stats: 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2 assists
Reasoned target for 2025/2026: 20 points / 3 assists
51 - LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets) +2 places
Over the last few seasons, Ball has been a Top 80 player. At his actual level, he is top 20, which no doubt explains this ranking. That is because we're running out of patience with the No. 3 player in the 2020 draft. A raw talent, a bluff all-round game, but his physical limitations are sinking his career, and he seems to be taking Charlotte with him. Except we can't be satisfied with seeing him healthy: he has to become his team's No. 1 player again.
2024/2025 stats: 25.2 points, 7.4 assists (47 games)
Target for 2025/2026: 28 points / 10 assists / 75 games minimum
