NBA · 1 hour ago

2026 NBA Power Rankings: The Top 10 Players in the Playoffs Right Now

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

The Larry O'Brien Lottery: Who is Your 2026 Finals MVP?
The parity in this league has never been higher. From the 64-win Thunder looking to go back-to-back to a resurgent Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown-led Celtics squad. Pistons’ 60-win resurgence in the East, the road to the trophy is anything but a formality. With Luka Doncic likely sidelined for the opening round and Nikola Jokic looking to carry his Nuggs, the door is wide open for a new hero to dictate the terms of engagement.

Join the Conversation
- Who is your lock for the Finals? Are you riding with SGA and the Thunder, or do the veteran Celtics have another gear left in them before the window closes?
- Which dark horse is a matchup nightmare? Can Tyrese Maxey or Jalen Johnson actually pull off the ultimate first-round upset?
- Who did we miss? Does Kevin Durant deserve a spot despite my admitted disdain for his approach while falling behind the warrior that is LeBron?
Drop your brackets, Finals MVP picks, and hottest takes in the comments!
Ranking the Top 10 Stars in the 2026 NBA Playoffs
The 2026 NBA Playoffs have officially hit the first-round trenches, and the energy is already shifting in ways we didn't see coming. While the stars are definitely out, the injury bug remains a massive wildcard in the postseason narrative. The biggest absence up until last night was Luka Doncic, who is still out indefinitely. Joining Luka is San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, who was diagnosed with a concussion. Wemby left San Antonio's Game 2 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, and when he may be able to return is up in the air. Not only did the injury shake up the Spurs' title chances, but it also scrambled our list, with "The Alien" being removed from his No. 3 spot until clarity on his injury is available.

We’re kicking things off with a legendary veteran who is currently defying every analytical projection on the board. Let’s just say The King isn't ready to pass over the crown just yet, especially after leading his squad to a shocking 2-0 series lead that has the rest of the league on high alert.
10. LeBron James
G/F, Los Angeles Lakers

The King of Los Angeles remains the undisputed engine for the Lakers. LeBron James's 23.5 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 7.4 APG have led Los Angeles to a shocking 2-0 series lead over the heavily favored Houston Rockets. Despite being the league's oldest and slowest player, James is turning back the clock to vintage playoff LeBron, averaging a massive 39 MPG. He has put the Rockets' sixth-ranked defense (109.8 PPG) in a blender, dictating the terms of engagement even after Kevin Durant returned to the floor for Houston in Game 2 after "knocking knees" in practice kept him out of Game 1. Tale of two players or what! Spoiler alert: you won't find KD on this list unless he got a guts transplant while he was out for the opener.

Managing this high-IQ onslaught without the help of Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves proves that the King's impact is nothing short of a miracle (if it weren't LeBron). As long as he’s dominating like this, Houston's in trouble with help potentially on the way

WCF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 2%
9. Jalen Brunson
G, New York Knicks

The King of New York remains the steady hand for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson’s 26.0 PPG and 6.8 APG in the regular season led New York to the third seed in a competitive Eastern Conference. Known for his playoff heroics and gritty work ethic, Brunson is carving up the Atlanta Hawks to the tune of 28.5 PPG and 7.0 RPG through the first two games

ECF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 9%
8. Jalen Johnson
F, Atlanta Hawks

Jalen Johnson has emerged as one of the most versatile forwards in the NBA, putting up an impressive 22.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 7.9 APG in the regular season. His ability to grab a rebound and ignite the break has made the Hawks a nightmare to scout. Atlanta bounced back against the New York Knicks in Game 2 to tie the series at 1-1. All Johnson did was 29 points and seven dimes, to help the unexpected comeback win.

ECF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 5%
7. Jayson Tatum
F, Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum’s season has been a profile in resilience. After coming back early from a season-ending injury suffered in the 2025 playoffs, he continues to look more and more like his former NBA Finals MVP self every day, with 16 regular-season games under his belt. He finished t2026 averaging 21.8 PPG and 10.0 RPG, finding his rhythm just in time for a playoff run. Despite a surprising home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers nearly had a triple-double with 19 points, 14 boards, and nine assists. Despite the series setback, Tatum still leads the ECF MVP field at Kalshi.

ECF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 28% (Favorite)
6. Anthony Edwards
G, Minnesota Timberwolves

Ant-Man remains one of the most feared competitors in the league, though he’s been playing through a nagging knee injury that required maintenance at the end of the regular season; otherwise. Despite the ailment, Anthony Edwards averaged 28.8 PPG and 5.0 RPG coming into the playoffs. Picking up right where he left off, Edwards is putting up 26.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 4.5 APG, while playing top-shelf defense. The T'wolves don't come close to stealing Game 2 in Denver, without Ant-man's 30-10 double-double

WCF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 3%
5. Tyrese Maxey
G, Philadelphia 76ers

Tyrese Maxey carried the Sixers through the Play-In with a 31-point masterpiece to secure the No. 7 seed. On the season, he’s been a scoring machine, putting up 28.3 PPG and 6.6 APG. Now, against the Boston Celtics in the first round, Maxey's team-high nine dimes, paired with 29 points, powered Philly to a shocking Game 2 upset in Boston. Don't forget, this guy plays D, too. Trusting the process means trusting Maxey, not the oft-injured Joel Embiid, as the best player on this squad and one of the best guards in the NBA.

ECF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: Under 1%
4. Cade Cunningham
G, Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are the No. 1 seed in the East, and Cade Cunningham is the primary reason for this historic turnaround. Averaging 23.9 PPG and a staggering 9.9 APG (second in the NBA), Cade has evolved into the ultimate floor general. He heads into the first round against the Magic/Hornets winner, looking to prove that Detroit's 60-win season was no fluke. His poise, size, and toughness at the guard position are reminiscent of the all-time greats, and perfect for a gritty city like Motown.

ECF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 18%
3. Jaylen Brown
G, Boston Celtics

With various injuries hitting the Celtics' roster this year, Jaylen Brown stepped up to post career-high scoring numbers. His 28.7 PPG ranked fourth in the league, and his efficiency remained elite at 47.7 FG%. Brown didn't regress in his opening two postseason games against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the surprising Game 2 defeat, JB led all scorers with 36 points. He's putting up stellar numbers early in the series on both ends of the floor, averaging 31.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.5 SPG. Brown’s aggressive downhill scoring, D, and elite baseball IQ power Boston's hopes of returning to the Finals.

ECF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 18%
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
G, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have officially arrived as the top seed in the West, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the engine making it all go. SGA finished the regular season with an incredible 31.1 PPG on a hyper-efficient 55.3 FG%, proving he is the most unstoppable mid-range force in the game today. The Canadian's innate ability to manipulate defenses and get to his spots makes him the clear-cut heir to the throne. Don't forget, Shai plays stellar D to add a cherry on top of the Thunder pie. The soon-to-be back-to-back NBA MVP just added 2026 Clutch Player of the Year to his growing resume.

Shai also dropped 25 points and seven assists to go along with two blocks in OKC's blowout Game 1 win over Phoenix. Oh ya, he did all that in just 29 minutes.

WCF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 64%
1. Nikola Jokic
C, Denver Nuggets

He may not win MVP every year, but if the Association didn't have awards fatigue, spreading it around, he just might. We keep saying Nikola Jokic is having a career year, and how can you argue against it? It's just so hard to quantify, because he does ish like this every year. The 2023 NBA Final MVP led the league in rebounding (12.9 RPG) and assists (10.7 APG), a feat in itself that is MVP-worthy for anyone, never mind a center. Add in a 27.7 PPG clip, and the Joker is still the best weapon in the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves found out in Game 1 when Joker put up a 25-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist triple double, while shooting a blistering 58% from the field. Even though the T'wolves tied the series, Jokic (yawn) had 24 points, 15 boards and eight dimes. SGA may be the MVP, but there is no one on planet Earth like Nikola.

WCF MVP Kalshi Implied Probability: 11%
The Larry O'Brien Lottery: Who is Your 2026 Finals MVP?
The parity in this league has never been higher. From the 64-win Thunder looking to go back-to-back to a resurgent Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown-led Celtics squad. Pistons’ 60-win resurgence in the East, the road to the trophy is anything but a formality. With Luka Doncic likely sidelined for the opening round and Nikola Jokic looking to carry his Nuggs, the door is wide open for a new hero to dictate the terms of engagement.

Join the Conversation
- Who is your lock for the Finals? Are you riding with SGA and the Thunder, or do the veteran Celtics have another gear left in them before the window closes?
- Which dark horse is a matchup nightmare? Can Tyrese Maxey or Jalen Johnson actually pull off the ultimate first-round upset?
- Who did we miss? Does Kevin Durant deserve a spot despite my admitted disdain for his approach while falling behind the warrior that is LeBron?
Drop your brackets, Finals MVP picks, and hottest takes in the comments!
Ranking the Top 10 Stars in the 2026 NBA Playoffs
The 2026 NBA Playoffs have officially hit the first-round trenches, and the energy is already shifting in ways we didn't see coming. While the stars are definitely out, the injury bug remains a massive wildcard in the postseason narrative. The biggest absence up until last night was Luka Doncic, who is still out indefinitely. Joining Luka is San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, who was diagnosed with a concussion. Wemby left San Antonio's Game 2 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, and when he may be able to return is up in the air. Not only did the injury shake up the Spurs' title chances, but it also scrambled our list, with "The Alien" being removed from his No. 3 spot until clarity on his injury is available.

We’re kicking things off with a legendary veteran who is currently defying every analytical projection on the board. Let’s just say The King isn't ready to pass over the crown just yet, especially after leading his squad to a shocking 2-0 series lead that has the rest of the league on high alert.