Flashscore’s NBA top 100 for 2026/27: Players ranked 30–21 – LeBron James and James Harden face big questions

For the fourth consecutive year, Flashscore presents its ranking of the 100 players fans are most excited to watch during the upcoming NBA season. In the eighth instalment of the series, attention turns to players ranked between 30th and 21st, including established superstars, rising talents and veterans facing important questions about their future.

As LeBron James prepares for another historic campaign, younger players are looking to take the next step, while experienced stars such as James Harden aim to prove they still have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

30. James Harden – Cleveland Cavaliers (-3 places)

James Harden remains in pursuit of the one achievement missing from his remarkable career: an NBA championship.

After an impressive start to the season in California, the former MVP moved to Ohio to join Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although the change reduced his individual production, his arrival helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals, making the trade a valuable move despite Cleveland ultimately falling short against the eventual champions.

With much of the roster remaining intact, Harden will need to make an even greater impact if the Cavaliers are to take the next step and mount a serious championship challenge.

The former 2018 NBA MVP still possesses the playmaking ability and offensive creativity to transform a team’s attack. The question is whether he can deliver consistently enough to help Cleveland reach the NBA Finals.

2025/26 season statistics: 23.6 points per game on 43.4% shooting, including 37.5% from three-point range, and 8 assists across 70 games.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 25 points and 10 assists per game, with an All-NBA Team selection within reach.

29. Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat (+4 places)

Bam Adebayo produced one of the most extraordinary individual performances of last season, scoring a remarkable 83 points against the Washington Wizards.

The historic display generated widespread discussion, attracting both praise and criticism, but it demonstrated the Miami big man’s ability to take over a game when everything falls into place.

The challenge now will be finding the right balance between individual production and his role within the Miami Heat system. With a new superstar teammate arriving in South Beach, Adebayo may need to adjust his approach to ensure the partnership works effectively.

An intelligent and versatile player, Adebayo has the defensive ability and offensive tools to remain central to Miami’s ambitions. However, how well he adapts to his new surroundings could determine the team’s ceiling in 2026/27.

2025/26 season statistics: 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game across 73 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 23 points and 11 rebounds per game.

28. Paolo Banchero – Orlando Magic (unchanged)

Paolo Banchero enjoyed a spectacular start to his NBA career, establishing himself as an All-Star during just his second season.

Since then, however, questions have emerged about whether the Orlando Magic forward has made the progress expected of a franchise cornerstone.

Orlando have also struggled to translate their potential into postseason success, suffering three consecutive first-round playoff exits. As the team’s leading star, Banchero will be under pressure to demonstrate that he can take both his individual game and the franchise to another level.

A change in coaching could provide the spark Orlando need, but Banchero must also continue developing his shooting efficiency and overall decision-making.

The 2026/27 campaign represents another important opportunity for the young forward to establish himself among the NBA’s elite.

2025/26 season statistics: 22.2 points on 45.9% shooting, including 30.5% from three-point range, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game across 72 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 25 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists per game.

27. Alperen Sengun – Houston Rockets (-13 places)

The Houston Rockets entered last season with considerable expectations, but another early playoff exit left plenty of questions to answer. Among those facing scrutiny was Turkish centre Alperen Sengun, whose performances did not always match his considerable potential.

Sengun remains a highly skilled offensive player, capable of creating opportunities for himself and his teammates. However, defensive limitations and inconsistent production in the postseason have prevented him from taking the next step towards genuine superstardom.

At just 24, he still has time to develop into one of the league’s leading big men. His combination of passing, footwork and scoring touch gives him an excellent foundation, but greater consistency will be essential.

The challenge for Sengun is to turn his obvious talent into the kind of dominant performances expected from a potential top-10 NBA player.

2025/26 season statistics: 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game across 72 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 25 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists per game, alongside a potential All-NBA Team selection.

26. Pascal Siakam – Indiana Pacers (-4 places)

The Indiana Pacers faced an uncertain season amid changes to their roster, but Pascal Siakam continued to demonstrate his ability to carry a significant offensive workload.

The Cameroonian forward has rediscovered much of the dynamic form that made him a key figure during his time with the Toronto Raptors, combining aggressive drives to the basket with improved scoring consistency.

However, Siakam may need to return to a secondary offensive role as Indiana reshapes its team. It is a position he knows well, having already helped Toronto win the 2019 NBA Championship alongside its leading stars.

His experience, versatility and ability to perform in high-pressure situations could prove invaluable. If he maintains his current level, Siakam should remain one of Indiana’s most important players.

2025/26 season statistics: 24 points on 48.4% shooting, including 35.8% from three-point range, and 6.6 rebounds per game across 62 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: At least 25 points per game and a place in the All-NBA Team conversation.

25. LeBron James – Philadelphia 76ers (-12 places)

Few players present a more fascinating case in this year’s rankings than LeBron James.

As he prepares for another NBA season, questions about age, workload and declining production are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Nevertheless, the longevity required to remain competitive at the highest level for so long deserves enormous respect.

James now joins the Philadelphia 76ers, where a talented roster raises several intriguing questions about his role. Will his usage rate decrease? Can he remain as influential if he handles the ball less frequently? And where will he fit into the team’s hierarchy?

Perhaps the biggest question of all concerns his future: could this be the final season of one of the greatest careers in basketball history?

Since entering the league in 2003, James has remained one of the NBA’s defining figures. Even at this stage of his career, his ability to influence winning basketball makes him one of the most compelling players to watch.

2025/26 season statistics: 20.9 points on 51.5% shooting, including 31.7% from three-point range, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game across 60 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists per game.

24. Trae Young – Washington Wizards (-7 places)

Trae Young enters the new season looking to rebuild his momentum after a difficult campaign that saw him appear in just 15 games before being traded to the Washington Wizards.

Once one of the league’s most productive point guards, Young now faces the challenge of proving that he can return to his previous level while helping a developing team take meaningful steps forward.

His partnership with Anthony Davis offers plenty of potential, particularly in the pick-and-roll. Young’s passing and perimeter shooting could complement Davis’s interior scoring, creating an intriguing foundation for Washington’s offence.

However, questions remain about Young’s defensive limitations and whether he can contribute to winning basketball consistently. He will need to combine his individual production with improved leadership as the Wizards continue building their roster.

2025/26 season statistics: 17.9 points on 45.8% shooting, including 33.8% from three-point range, and 8 assists per game across 15 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 23 points and 10 assists per game.

23. Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks (+24 places)

The departure of Trae Young has opened the door for Jalen Johnson to take on a much larger role with the Atlanta Hawks.

Johnson has already shown that he possesses the athleticism, versatility and all-round ability required to become a major force in the NBA. Now, with greater responsibility and a talented supporting cast around him, the next step is turning that potential into sustained team success.

The challenge is significant. Young previously helped Atlanta reach the Eastern Conference Finals, and Johnson will need to demonstrate that he can lead the franchise into a new era.

His combination of scoring, rebounding and playmaking makes him an exciting candidate for a breakout season. If he continues improving his shooting and decision-making, he could establish himself among the league’s leading forwards.

The 2026/27 campaign may be the moment when Johnson moves from promising young talent to genuine superstar.

2025/26 season statistics: 22.5 points on 48.9% shooting, including 35.2% from three-point range, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game across 72 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 26 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists per game, with an All-NBA Team selection a realistic ambition.

22. Evan Mobley – Cleveland Cavaliers (-6 places)

Evan Mobley remains one of the NBA’s most intriguing young big men, although questions persist about how much further he can develop offensively.

The Cleveland Cavaliers forward-centre has already established himself as an elite defensive presence, using his length, mobility and timing to protect the rim and disrupt opposing offences.

However, despite flashes of offensive improvement, Mobley has yet to establish himself as the undisputed leader of the Cavaliers. With Donovan Mitchell continuing to occupy a central role, Mobley’s task is to become a more consistent scoring threat while maintaining his defensive excellence.

The arrival of an experienced playmaker could help him find better opportunities around the basket and expand his offensive game.

His potential remains enormous, but the next step involves proving that he can influence games at both ends of the floor. A major offensive breakthrough could also strengthen his case for individual honours.

2025/26 season statistics: 18.2 points on 54.6% shooting and 9 rebounds per game across 65 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 23 points and 12 rebounds per game, alongside consideration for Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA Team honours.

21. Scottie Barnes – Toronto Raptors (+25 places)

Scottie Barnes enjoyed an impressive rise in the rankings after helping the Toronto Raptors return to the playoffs following a three-year absence.

Rather than relying on increased shot volume, Barnes made important strides in efficiency, improving his shooting percentages and expanding his all-round contribution. His development became particularly noticeable during the second half of the season and the playoffs.

Barnes offers Toronto a valuable combination of versatility, rebounding, playmaking and defensive ability. His willingness to contribute across multiple areas makes him a central figure in the franchise’s plans.

The next challenge is turning that progress into a consistently dominant season. Players who enjoy a major breakthrough are often judged by whether they can maintain their momentum, and Barnes will be expected to deliver even more in 2026/27.

With further development, he could become one of the Eastern Conference’s most influential forwards and strengthen his reputation as a potential All-NBA talent.

2025/26 season statistics: 18.1 points on 50.7% shooting, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game across 80 appearances.

Reasonable 2026/27 target: 23 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists per game, with an All-NBA Team selection within reach.