ESPN ranks Victor Wembanyama as the second-best player in the NBA

Wemby was ranked fifth in the 2025 edition, but his great season, which included a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award and a trip to the Finals, propelled him past Giannis Antetokounmpo , Luka Doncic , and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander .

It's not a surprise to see Wembanyama at the top of most player rankings. What's unexpected about the ESPN ranking is that it has Jokic at the top while the two-time MVP is third. The Ringer also has Wemby second , but Gilgeous-Alexander sits at the top, for example. The panel of Ben Golliver, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Bobby Marks, Dave McMenamin, André Snellings and Matt "Stats" Williams is projecting more growth from Wembanyama, which could explain why he's ranked over SGA :

"The Alien" continues to ace the eye test and advanced stats alike, and he boosted his scoring efficiency in 2025-26 by cutting back on his 3-point attempts in favor of paint opportunities. After leading the league in blocks and defensive win shares during the regular season, Wembanyama posted an excellent plus-12.9 net rating during his first playoff run. What's scarier for opponents: his 7-4 (7-5? 7-6?) frame or his rapid rate of improvement?