70: CJ McCollum (Atlanta Hawks) +22 places
CJ McCollum will never be an All-Star, but he remains a safe pair of hands in the league. On an Atlanta team undergoing a major rebuild, he will take on a veteran role that he appears to have already embraced. After a few months of adjustment, he will likely return to the level of performance we have come to expect from him over the past decade. You could even argue that his consistency will determine the fate of an ambitious team this season.
Stats 2025/26: 18.7 points on 45.5% shooting, including 37.5% from three-point range (76 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 22 points, 50% shooting, including 40% from three-point range
Listen to Flashscore News!
Selected editorial stories, including this article, are also available as audio. Listen and follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
69: Cameron Johnson (Denver Nuggets) -19 places
The Nuggets' last season was disappointing, ending in a first-round playoff exit in the truest sense of the word. Much of the blame was placed on Nikola Jokic's supporting cast. The former Net is part of that group, having gone from promising player to quality role player. But at 30, Cameron Johnson is on a slippery slope, even if he remains a good shooter from beyond the arc. If he fails to convince in the opening months, watch out for the trade deadline.
Stats 2025/26: 12.2 points on 48% shooting, including 43% from three-point range (54 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: At least 17 points
68: Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics) +25 places
Without making much noise, Payton Pritchard is now firmly established on one of the most successful teams of the past decade. And after winning Sixth Man of the Year, he is now the starting point guard, forming a solid backcourt with Derrick White. But there is a sense that his development is not over yet. His transformation from fearless scorer into a solid, consistent point guard should continue this season, and we would not bet against a major statistical leap as he takes some of the shots previously given to Jaylen Brown.
Stats 2025/26: 17 points on 46.4% shooting, including 37.7% from three-point range, and 5.2 assists (79 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 20 points, eight assists
67: Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers) -5 places
Jarrett Allen plays for a contender and a reigning conference finalist. But he constantly has to make room for Evan Mobley, and the pairing between the two in the frontcourt has never fully convinced. Hence the constant trade rumours, which hardly provide the ideal conditions for him to express himself fully. Whenever his team goes through a poor run, he is made the obvious scapegoat, despite quietly doing his job efficiently. That should remain the case this season, unless Cleveland decide to push the panic button.
Stats 2025/26: 15.4 points on 63.8% shooting, 8.5 rebounds (56 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 18 points, 10 rebounds
66: Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) NEW ENTRY
Charlotte were one of the NBA's darlings last season, perhaps the darling of them all. Their rookie was a major reason why, living up to his reputation. Kon Knueppel was ready from day one, proved to be an outstanding shooter, showed that he was not afraid of the moment and convinced everyone. But with LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges gone, it is time to prove himself with even greater responsibility. Easier said than done.
Stats 2025/26: 18.5 points on 47.5% shooting, including 42.5% from three-point range (81 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 22 points, 50% shooting, 45% from three-point range
65: Jalen Green (Phoenix Suns) -17 places
Jalen Green's move to Arizona was supposed to launch his career properly as Devin Booker's second-in-command. Instead, he brought a certain inconsistency and poor shooting with him, leading to a statistical decline. To make matters worse, an injury ruined his season. It was disappointing for a player who, it should be remembered, was the No. 2 pick in his draft. Some of his fellow 2021 draftees are already All-Stars, something that does not appear to be on the horizon for him. Unless he finally shifts up a gear.
Stats 2025/26: 17.8 points on 42.2% shooting, including 31.3% from three-point range (32 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 22 points, 50% shooting, 40% from three-point range
64: Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs) NEW ENTRY
After one season, Dylan Harper has clearly justified his status as the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft. That is mainly because he increased his production and impact in the playoffs, putting together several quality performances all the way to the Finals. It is probably already time for him to break out, although he will have to share the court with Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox while serving a certain French centre. But he looks set to become the team's official second option in the medium term, provided he confirms this promise.
Stats 2025/26: 11.8 points on 50.5% shooting, including 34.3% from three-point range (69 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 17 points, 40% from three-point range
63: Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota Timberwolves) +18 places
Jaden McDaniels is possibly one of the most underrated players in the NBA. That is understandable when you ask for nothing, do the dirty work every night and watch the star collect all the praise. But even with LaMelo Ball arriving, there are high hopes for a genuine rise from the forward, who still has room to improve offensively but remains an outstanding defensive force deserving of far more recognition.
Stats 2025/26: 14.8 points on 51.5% shooting, including 41.2% from three-point range (73 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 19 points, Most Improved Player candidate, NBA All-Defensive Team candidate
62: Alex Caruso (Oklahoma City Thunder) +7 places
Speaking of underrated players... The Thunder may have lost their crown, but their do-it-all man continues to go about his work with little to no recognition, having been snubbed from the NBA All-Defensive Teams for the past two seasons. Alex Caruso will never be a shooter, but he remains a defensive menace who deserves his place in this ranking. He should once again be entrusted with the kind of unsung work he seems perfectly built for.
Stats 2025/26: 6.2 points, 1.3 steals (56 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 10 points, two steals, NBA All-Defensive Team candidate
61: Trey Murphy III (New Orleans Pelicans) -6 places
Trey Murphy III is now firmly established at a good level, comfortably averaging more than 20 points. And he never seems to force the issue. That is probably the problem. His individual quality is not in question, but he has had little to no impact on a team that has been treading water in the middle of the standings for far too long. That is undoubtedly the forward's biggest challenge: becoming the leader.
Stats 2025/26: 21.5 points on 47% shooting, including 37.9% from three-point range (66 games)
Reasonable target 2026/27: 25 points