Victor Wembanyama ranked second in ESPN's 2026 NBA player rankings

Victor Wembanyama has been ranked as the second-best player in the NBA in ESPN’s 2026 player rankings, rising from fifth place in the previous year. The San Antonio Spurs center follows only Nikola Jokic, who secured the top spot for the third consecutive year.

Jokic’s ranking is supported by an anonymous NBA general manager who noted that Jokic’s ability to elevate his entire team distinguishes him from Wembanyama. The executive cited Wembanyama’s “young mistakes in the playoffs” as a deciding factor, noting that while Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds during the regular season, his efficiency and scoring dipped during his first playoff run.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder was ranked third. Wembanyama’s ascent follows a season where he earned a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award and led the Spurs to the NBA Finals.