US media selected the top 10 of the NBA s new season strength list: Curry is 7th, Jokic is 1st, what about James?

ESPN rated the top 10 players in the NBA's 25-26 season: Curry ranked 7th, Jokic ranked 1st, what about James?

When ESPN's 2025-26 NBA top 10 players were unveiled, the basketball world not only saw the rise of new stars, but also witnessed the tenacity of the legend's continued tenacity. Jokic's top position demonstrates dominance, Curry's seventh place confirms the eternal beauty of shooting skills, and the 40-year-old legend LeBron James, who is most concerned about by fans, finally continues history as the eighth place. This ranking from 10th to 1st is like a condensed history of league evolution, and each player's position hides his own footnotes of the times. Jaylen Brunson, ranked 10th in

, is the best example of "the powerful counterattack". The Knicks defender completely shattered the label of "role player" with his journey to the Eastern Conference Finals. Last season, he led the New York team to break through to the Eastern Conference Finals, completing the transformation from "on-field general" to "team cornerstone" with stable performance. In the first match against the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, he scored 43 points and 5 assists. Although he failed to avoid the team's overtime loss, his 18-time playoff performance of 30+ in a single game has tied Ewing's team record. Average of 26 points and 7 assists per game, combined with 46% shooting percentage, Brunson has become one of the most trusted point guards in the East. His selection is the best compliment for "the little guy's counterattack". Kevin Durant, ranked 9th in

, opened a new chapter in his career with the Houston Rockets. Although the age of 36 has caused the explosive power to decline slightly, the scoring instinct of "Death" has never faded, and he was able to deliver elite data averaged 26 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists last season. As a historical scorer, his signature jump shot is still difficult to guard against. Even if the team is in the transition period of reconstruction, Durant can still change the game trend with his own strength. From the Thunder to the Warriors, from the Nets to the Suns, and finally joining the Rockets, no matter which team he wears in, he always maintains the league's top scoring efficiency. This stability has allowed him to remain in the top ten under the erosion of time. LeBron James, ranked 8th, wrote the myth of "reverse growth" at the age of 40. In his 22nd season in the league, he still has an all-around data averaged 24.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 9 assists per game. His shooting percentage of 51.6% and his three-point shooting percentage of 39.5% even surpass many peak stars. This season, he not only became the oldest "30+ triple-double" winner in history, but also scored 42 points, 17 rebounds and 8 assists against the Warriors, setting a record of 40+ in the NBA. What's even more rare is that the "old and young" composed of him and Doncic makes the Lakers the only team with two top ten players. James' wisdom and key ball ability provide this team with an irreplaceable championship background. At the age of 40, he can still rank among the top ten, and this achievement far exceeds the data itself and is a miracle in sports history. Stephen Curry, who was ranked 7th, continued to define the possibility of basketball with his shot. At the age of 37, he averaged 24 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists per game last season. Although some people believe that his ranking is relatively high, his shooting deterrence is still the core of the Warriors' tactical system. As the greatest shooter in NBA history, his off-ball running and three-point shooting can always open up space for his teammates. Even if his athletic ability decreases with age, he can still connect the team with the change of rhythm and passes. Although the Warriors failed to return to the top last season, Curry's persistence has kept the team competitive, and his presence proves that technical players can fight the erosion of time through wisdom. Anthony Edwards, ranked 6th in

, is rising as a league star at a speed visible to the naked eye. Last season, he led Minnesota to the Western Conference Finals again, defeating many strong teams including the Warriors, and announced the arrival of the "Ant Era" with his average of 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game. At the age of 23, he has both explosive power and self-confidence, sharp breakthroughs, steady projection, and his enthusiasm on the defensive end is also increasing. Many experts predict that if we can continue our current growth trajectory, Edwards is expected to quickly enter the top three and become a star player in the Western Conference and even the league. His ranking is the best interpretation of the impact of the younger generation. Victor Vinbanyama, who ranked fifth in just three seasons, proved the value of "Son of Chosen". Although the journey was shortened by a thrombosis injury last season, the 21-year-old genius still delivered impressive data per game of 24 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks, and is regarded as a strong contender for the league's best defensive player with his defensive ability covering the entire game. The 7-foot-4-inch height and soft shooting feel make him dominant inside and outside shooting. This "unicorn" trait makes him the spokesperson for the future of the NBA. Although the injury risks brought by thinness still exist, the two-way potential he showed is enough to make the outside world highly expect it. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ranked 4th in the team, still maintains dominance even in the turbulent period of the team. Last season, the Bucks experienced lineup adjustments and fluctuations in record performance. There are constant rumors about his future, but this "Greek Monster" still delivered explosive data averaging 30 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists per game. On both offense and defense, he can use his physical talent to complete violent dunks and blocks, and can also connect his teammates through passing the ball. This comprehensiveness makes him one of the most difficult players to limit. Despite occasional problems with injury problems, Giannis, who is at his peak, is still the core puzzle of the championship-level team, and his stable performance has allowed him to firmly occupy the top ten seats. Luca Doncic, ranked third in Los Angeles, completed a key transformation. Although he ended in the first round of the playoffs in his first season, he reshaped his body through weight loss and training during the offseason, showing a stronger competitive state.. Last season, he averaged 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game, and his shooting percentage of 47%, proved that he has fully adapted to the Lakers system. More importantly, he took the initiative to promote the team to introduce Ayton and Smart, showing his responsibility as a leader. Doncic, who signed a three-year contract extension, is determined to write the legend in purple and gold. His growth rate and competition performance make him one of the most dazzling superstars in the league. Shea Gilgers Alexander, ranked 2nd in

, soared with his historic season. Last season, he won the scoring champion, regular season MVP and finals MVP, leading the Thunder to win the first championship in team history, becoming the first player to collect these three honors in a single season after legends such as Jordan and Jabbar. Average of 32.7 points, 5 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, combined with a 51.9% shooting percentage, shows his dual talent as a scorer and organizer. In the seventh game of the finals, even though his shooting efficiency was not good, he still used 12 assists to connect the team and led the team to secure the victory. This "big heart" trait made him the leader of the Middle Age players at the age of 26. Nikola Jokic, who is firmly ranked first in the list, continues his league dominance with his triple-double per game. Last season, he became the first center in NBA history to average triple-double per game with 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.3 assists. His shooting percentage of 57.5% and his three-point shooting percentage of 41.4% created a true shooting percentage of 67.3%, surpassing O'Neal's peak efficiency. As the Nuggets' tactical axis, he can not only launch 32 hand-hand tactics in the elbow area, but also take off rebounds and launch a quarterback-style long pass, accounting for as much as 34% of the game with 16 assists in a single game. Although he almost missed the fourth MVP award, his performance in leading the team into the playoffs made his top spot undisputed. Jokic's success is not only a demonstration of his personal ability, but also subverts the positioning of traditional centers and promotes the evolution of basketball.

This list clearly outlines the "crossroads" pattern of the league: Jokic, SGA, Doncic and other new stars and the Mesozoic have controlled the right to speak, young people such as Vinbanyama and Edwards are accelerating their pursuit, while legends such as James, Curry, and Durant are still sticking to it. James' eighth place may not be the most dazzling ranking in his career, but it is the most important coordinate - it witnesses the power of time and highlights the great background. In this era of old and new, every top ten players are writing history in their own way, and the charm of the NBA lies in the eternal vitality of inheritance and breakthrough.