Ranking best remaining players in NBA playoffs, from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama to Jalen Brunson originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Just four teams still have their eyes on the 2026 Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Each have taken far different paths to the conference finals, but the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have all relied on their stars to lead them deep into the playoffs. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't lead the Thunder to a second-straight title, then one of Victor Wembanyama, Donovan Mitchell or Jalen Brunson will earn their first ring.
While each of those four players have remained elite in the playoffs, more than ever, high-level depth is also critical. The Thunder, Spurs, Knicks and Cavaliers have all benefitted from more than just one player stepping up in the postseason.
As the conference finals begin, here's a ranking of the 10 best players still alive in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ:Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket
NBA player rankings for 2026 Conference Finals
10. Evan Mobley, Cavaliers
-
2026 playoffs (14 games): 17.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.1 APG
-
Mobley hasn't made a ton of noise in these playoffs, but when he's playing to his highest capability, he can significantly impact a game on both ends of the court.
On one hand, if they're going to make a title run, the Cavaliers can't afford no-show performances from Mobley like Game 4 against the Raptors (8 points, 5 fouls in 32 minutes) or Game 2 against the Pistons (9 points, 1 rebound in 36 minutes). But the former No. 3 pick has also stepped up when needed, including a stat line of 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals in Cleveland's Game 7 win in the second round.
He was just the fifth player ever to record a 20-10-5-2-2 game in a Game 7, per Stat Muse.
When he's engaged and involved on both ends of the floor, Mobley can slow down the best opposing big man defensively while providing some finishing and shooting on the other end. It still feels like he has another gear to hit, especially after shooting 29.7% from deep this season, but Mobley's all-around game can make the Cavaliers dangerous.
There were a few notable omissions from the top-10. Ajay Mitchell has been an outstanding backup guard for the Thunder in the playoffs, Mikal Bridges looked terrific for the Knicks in Round 2 with his elite defensive skill set, while all three lead Spurs guards, De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, have stepped up alongside Wembanyama this postseason.
But at the end of the day, as an All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year, Mobley is one of the more proven talents still playing. His presence on both ends of the floor will be much-needed against the Knicks' size in the Eastern Conference Finals.
MORE:Where Pistons-Cavaliers ranks among biggest Game 7 blowouts in NBA history
OG Anunoby
Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images
9. OG Anunoby, Knicks
-
2026 playoffs (8 games): 21.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.3 APG
Watch some of the plays OG Anunoby has been making for the Knicks in these playoffs, and you may see flashes of prime Kawhi Leonard.
In reality, Anunoby hasn't proven to be anything more than an elite role player in his career, but his shot-making skills combined with shutdown defense can make him look like the best player on the floor in flashes. In New York's close-out Game 6 against the Hawks, Anunoby shot a ridiculous 78.7% from the floor on 14 shots, including four 3-pointers, for a 29-point, four-steal performance.
He only played in Games 1 and 2 against the 76ers due to a hamstring ailment, but Anunoby carved Philadelphia up in both matchups. In Game 1, he shot 7-of-8 from the floor in a blowout win, and in Game 2, he added 24 points, five rebounds and four steals in 37 minutes.
Anunoby's health will be worth monitoring, but if he continues playing at the level he has this postseason, the Knicks are undoubtedly capable of claiming the Larry O'Brien. When their elite two-way wing is knocking down shots all over the floor next to Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, New York can look unbeatable.
MORE: What to know about OG Anunoby's hamstring injury
James Harden 033026
Imagn Images
8. James Harden, Cavaliers
-
2026 playoffs (14 games): 20.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.2 APG
Which version of James Harden the Cavaliers will get each night is a bit of a gamble at this point in his career. If there's one thing that he brings to every matchup, it's elite playmaking, capable of running Cleveland's offense with his Hall of Fame-level vision. But Harden's shotmaking skills are extremely on-and-off at age 36.
Still capable of playing 40 minutes per night despite his lengthy career, the former MVP is making a return to the conference finals for the first time since 2018 — and of course, Harden is still seeking the ring that has consistently eluded him. He's no longer the nightly triple-double threat he once was, but in a lighter role as a floor general, Harden remains elite.
For example, in a Game 4 win over the Pistons in the second round, Harden connected on five 3-pointers with 11 assists, his best performance of the series. When his shots from deep are falling, he makes the Cavaliers difficult to stop, and he's been surprisingly active in forcing turnovers as a defender.
Harden also had a 30-point, eight-rebound performance in Game 5 thanks to his 14 free-throw attempts, along with 23 points and seven assists in Game 6. But consistency can be a problem — despite Cleveland's blowout Game 7 win, Harden managed just nine points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Especially when his shots are falling, Harden remains one of the best all-around guards in the NBA — and fortunately for Cleveland, the better version of Harden has showed up in these playoffs. But when those shots aren't falling, he can become somewhat of a liability.
MORE: Sporting News polls insiders, media members to name best player in the NBA
Chet Holmgren
7. Chet Holmgren, Thunder
-
2026 playoffs (8 games): 18.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.3 APG
With Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way and elite depth on the Thunder bench, Chet Holmgren's impact can sometimes go unnoticed. But he's undeniably one of the most versatile big men in the league.
After averaging new career-highs with 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in the regular season, Holmgren's presence in the playoffs has continued to open everything up for Oklahoma City; he's knocked down 12 threes so far against the Suns and Lakers, leaving opponents no choice but to consider leaving the pain open for Gilgeous-Alexander and others to drive.
Even if his 3-pointers aren't connecting, Holmgren's length makes him so dangerous as a finisher and shot-blocker that he can remain highly impactful. In Game 4 against the Suns, Holmgren put up 24 points and 12 rebounds, which he then followed with the exact same numbers in Game 1 against the Lakers.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams may be the Thunder's go-to scorers, but when defenses go all-in on stopping them, it often leaves Holmgren with room to work from all over the floor, also an elite pick-and-pop option. He'll have a tall task in defending Victor Wembanyama in the Western Conference Finals, but Holmgren may also be on the short list of players capable of slowing the Spurs star down.
Jalen Williams Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Entertainment
6. Jalen Williams, Thunder
-
2026 playoffs (2 games): 20.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG
The fact that the Thunder have been so dominant in their title defense with Jalen Williams appearing in just 33 regular season games and two playoff games should not be reflective of his talents. Williams' presence can often take Oklahoma City from elite to historically great.
Offensively, he remains one of the toughest players to stop in the NBA when he gets downhill, but Williams' willingness as a passer and defender also makes him one of the more versatile wings in the league. On any given night, he's capable of filling a different role in the frontcourt for the Thunder.
Outside of his health, the biggest question for Williams in 2025-26 has been his 3-point shooting. After being a solid-to-good outside shooter over the first three years of his career, Williams shot just 29.9% from deep in the regular season — but he's masked those concerns by going 4-of-8 from deep against the Suns in Round 1.
With all the attention Gilgeous-Alexander gets, Williams often directly benefits, which leaves one of the NBA's best all-around players with room to work. With Williams set to return for the Western Conference Finals, his defensive presence will be key against a group of Spurs guards that love to run in transition, and his shooting ability with Wembanyama lurking in the paint could prove critical if Oklahoma City is going to return to the Finals.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
5. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
-
2026 playoffs (10 games): 17.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.6 APG
Towns' 2026 playoff numbers aren't fully indicative of the impact he's been making for the Knicks. Every fan is familiar with Towns as a scorer and elite shooter, averaging 20.1 points and 1.5 threes made per game in the regular season, but he's shown a newfound willingness to run the Knicks' offense over the last few weeks.
While only having to play 28.5 minutes per game due to a combination of Knicks blowouts and foul trouble, Towns has averaged 17.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in these NBA playoffs. He's been sacrificing some shot attempts to get his teammates better looks while also contributing more on the glass and defensively — and those sacrifices are partially why New York looks like a true title contender.
After never averaging more than 4.8 assists per game in a regular season, Towns' willingness a passer has left defenses scrambling for answers against the Knicks' offense. On one hand, he's capable of knocking down threes at an elite clip or backing down most NBA players. When he's on the floor and seeking to get looks for Brunson, Anunoby or Bridges, Towns becomes almost a Jokic-type offensive hub for the Knicks.
Nobody is mistaking Towns' impact for Jokic's, of course, but he's been so great in limited spurts of the playoffs that the former No. 1 overall pick likely has his best chance at a championship yet.
Imagn Images
4. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers
-
2026 playoffs (14 games): 25.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.3 APG
Mitchell remains in the upper-echelon of NBA scorers — so much so, that even on his "off" nights, you'll check the box score and see he's still cleared 20 points. With nearly full freedom to get as many shots up as he needs for the Cavaliers, Mitchell has led them to the Eastern Conference Finals despite some up-and-down efficiency this postseason.
Performances like Game 1 against the Raptors (32 points, 11-of-20 shooting) or Game 4 against the Pistons (43 points, 13-of-26 shooting) have proven that Mitchell can be the best player on the floor thanks to his ridiculous athleticism and shot-making skills. Especially with Harden around to run the offense and alleviate some of the scoring burden, the Cavaliers' offense has an elite ceiling with Mitchell focusing on putting the ball in the basket.
There's also nights like Game 5 against Detroit (21 points, 1-of-8 from 3-point range) that Mitchell's willingness to keep putting shots up can hurt Cleveland. If his shot's not falling, he's better off trying to find looks for his teammates — Mitchell played a significant role in the Cavaliers' Game 7 win over the Pistons by dishing out eight assists on top of his own 26 points despite fouling out.
Mitchell has long proven himself as the type of offensive talent who can step up when his teams need a bucket in the playoffs, whether in Utah or Cleveland. Now, he's finally making his first conference finals appearance, the biggest stage of his career to date.
SN NBA AWARDS:POY (Victor Wembanyama)| ROY (Kon Knueppel) | COY (Joe Mazzulla)
Imagn Images
3. Jalen Brunson, Knicks
-
2026 playoffs (10 games): 27.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 6.1 APG
There are times when Jalen Brunson is on the court and it's hard to remember he was once a second-round pick whose long-term NBA future was in doubt. On most nights, he takes full command of games. Offensively, he can do it all, knocking down shots at the rim, from mid-range or from 3-point range while creating looks for his teammates. But the aspect that makes Brunson so indispensable for New York is his leadership and hustle as Mike Brown's star.
At this point, no matter what defenses throw at Brunson, he has an answer. When they take away the mid-range, he can find open teammates. When they play drop coverage, he kills them with jump shots and floaters. And when he's left open from deep, he knocks those shots down.
Among all active NBA players, Brunson is one of the few who consistently takes his game to a new level in the playoffs. As the Knicks have gone on a tear, including a sweep of Philadelphia, he's averaging 27.4 points and 6.1 assists on 48.5% shooting from the floor and 40.9% from 3-point range.
Brunson is about everything you could want in a franchise point guard: reliable, creative, smart and tough. He's one playoff series win away from putting Becky Hammon's comments about leading a championship-level team to rest for good.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander IMAGN 02252026
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
-
2026 playoffs (8 games): 29.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 7.1 APG
Putting the now-two-time reigning MVP as the No. 2 spot on the list was tough, but more on that in a moment.
Gilgeous-Alexander may already have a Hall of Fame argument at age 27. After proving in 2024-25 that his growth into one of the NBA's premiere talents could lead to a title, he's made his excellence look lackadaisical in 2025-26. Over 68 games in the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander torched defenses nightly, averaging 31.1 points and a career-high 6.6 assists per game while shooting a ridiculous 55.3% from the floor as a guard.
Gilgeous-Alexander isn't just capable of knocking down shots from anywhere on the floor, finishing through contact or drawing contact to get to the free-throw line. He's doing it all on historic efficiency, also making double teams look like silly decisions by finding his teammates often.
In the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander's dominance has been no different. The Suns and Lakers had no answers for him, including a red-hot 15-of-18 shooting in Game 3 against Phoenix for 42 points and a 35-point performance to close out the Lakers in Game 4 of the second round.
No guard in the NBA brings a better blend of offensive genius with elite defense every game than Gilgeous-Alexander. With his second MVP now secured, he's looking to join even more exclusive lists with a second championship.
MORE:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins exclusive list of back-to-back MVP winners
Victor Wembanyama
Imagn Images
1. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
-
2026 playoffs (10 games): 20.3 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.4 APG
If we're looking for the best player in the NBA right now, it's too difficult to not go with the 7-4 22-year-old in San Antonio who is single-handedly changing the dynamics of games on both ends of the floor — all in his first playoff run.
Wembanyama's by-game regular season numbers (25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds per game) don't stand out as much as some of his peers', but he also plays far fewer minutes than most star No. 1 options. In the regular season, he averaged just 29.2 minutes per game. In these playoffs, he's crossed the 40-minute threshold just once. Most stars are doing that regularly.
Despite his limited time on the floor, when he is playing, Wembanyama is simultaneously the Spurs' offensive engine, whether as an unstoppable finisher at the rim, a 3-point shooter or good passer, and arguably the greatest defender in the history of the NBA. Wembanyama's length continues to stifle opposing defenses — he went from averaging 3.1 blocks in the regular season to 4.1 so far in the playoffs.
When defenses challenge Wembanyama, he responds by swatting shots all over. Most times, they choose not to even try it, leaving offenses struggling to find shots on the perimeter.
There is no player in the NBA right now who is as impactful on the floor as the Spurs' star — he's virtually unstoppable when he's dialed in and involved offensively. The questions over San Antonio's potential to win a title in Wembanyama's first playoff run are less about his capability and more about his supporting cast. Wembanyama is a stat-stuffing machine. There's no real, proven ways to stop him — like many "best players in the league" of the past, opponents can only simply hope to contain him.
MORE: Explaining Victor Wembanyama's Thunder "ethical basketball" comments
