Andy Bailey@AndrewDBailey
HNI*, or every NBA player with 500+ minutes in 2025-26, sorted by the AVERAGE OF THEIR RANKS in 10 catch-alls...
1. Nikola Jokić (1.8)
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (1.9)
3. Luka Dončić (4.1)
4. Victor Wembanyama (4.9)
5. Kawhi Leonard (5.3)
6. Donovan Mitchell (8.5)
7. Cade Cunningham (9.1)
8. Tyrese Maxey (12.6)
9. Jalen Duren (13.4)
10. James Harden (17.9)
11. Kevin Durant (18.8)
12. Chet Holmgren (19.5)
13. Karl-Anthony Towns (21.4)
14. Anthony Edwards (21.6)
15. Jamal Murray (22.6)
16. Giannis Antetokounmpo (24.1)
16. Jalen Brunson (24.1)
18. Derrick White (25.2)
19. Scottie Barnes (28.1)
20. Jaylen Brown (28.2)
21. LaMelo Ball (29.1)
22. Stephen Curry (29.8)
23. Jalen Johnson (31.4)
24. Jimmy Butler (32.9)
25. Donovan Clingan (33.4)
26. Austin Reaves (34.2)
27. Bam Adebayo (35.9)
28. Kon Knueppel (37.1)
29. Deni Avdija (37.7)
30. Neemias Queta (43.2)
31. Devin Booker (43.9)
32. Collin Gillespie (47.1)
33. Immanuel Quickley (47.5)
34. Joel Embiid (47.7)
35. Mikal Bridges (47.8)
36. De'Aaron Fox (48.2)
37. Jarrett Allen (48.7)
38. Amen Thompson (48.8)
39. Evan Mobley (49.5)
40. Trey Murphy III (50.4)
41. Zion Williamson (51.9)
42. LeBron James (52.6)
43. Lauri Markkanen (52.7)
44. Desmond Bane (55.4)
45. Payton Pritchard (55.9)
46. Stephon Castle (58.5)
47. Alperen Şengün (58.9)
48. Rudy Gobert (60.1)
49. Julius Randle (62.5)
50. Norman Powell (62.7)
51. Isaiah Hartenstein (63.5)
52. Michael Porter Jr. (64.2)
53. OG Anunoby (64.3)
54. Ajay Mitchell (64.7)
55. Sandro Mamukelashvili (66.4)
56. Josh Hart (67.7)
57. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (68.5)
58. Brandon Miller (70.8)
59. Moussa Diabaté (72.8)
60. Dyson Daniels (73.9)
60. Paolo Banchero (73.9)
62. Kel'el Ware (74.9)
63. Ausar Thompson (75.4)
64. Mitchell Robinson (77.0)
65. Julian Champagnie (79.4)
66. Robert Williams (80.3)
67. Josh Giddey (82.9)
67. Grayson Allen (82.9)
69. Paul Reed (83.1)
70. Jalen Suggs (83.6)
71. Naz Reid (85.1)
72. Keldon Johnson (85.5)
73. Jrue Holiday (85.8)
74. Franz Wagner (86.2)
75. Saddiq Bey (86.8)
76. Pascal Siakam (87.0)
77. Donte DiVincenzo (87.4)
78. Kevin Porter Jr. (89.5)
79. Onyeka Okongwu (92.7)
80. Isaiah Joe (93.4)
81. Luke Kornet (94.8)
82. Miles Bridges (95.1)
83. Nikola Vučević (96.5)
84. Duncan Robinson (96.6)
85. Cam Spencer (97.0)
86. Goga Bitadze (98.8)
87. Andrew Wiggins (99.8)
88. Day'Ron Sharpe (102.2)
89. Tobias Harris (102.6)
90. Aaron Gordon (103.4)
91. Mark Williams (105.7)
92. Kristaps Porziņģis (106.2)
93. Cooper Flagg (108.0)
94. Sam Merrill (110.2)
94. Dylan Harper (110.2)
96. Jaylin Williams (110.6)
97. Jordan Goodwin (111.5)
98. Tre Jones (112.2)
99. Luka Garza (113.4)
100. RJ Barrett (113.7)
101. Jaylon Tyson (114.1)
102. Cason Wallace (115.5)
103. Jalen Williams (116.4)
104. Wendell Carter Jr. (116.5)
105. Paul George (116.9)
106. Devin Vassell (119.6)
107. CJ McCollum (119.8)
108. Alex Caruso (121.1)
109. Brandon Ingram (121.4)
110. Brandin Podziemski (122.2)
111. Jabari Smith Jr. (123.1)
112. Moses Moody (123.3)
113. Keyonte George (124.7)
114. Reed Sheppard (125.1)
115. Javonte Green (126.1)
116. Ryan Rollins (127.1)
117. T.J. McConnell (128.2)
117. Miles McBride (128.2)
119. Jalen Smith (128.3)
120. Tyler Herro (128.6)
121. Bones Hyland (130.4)
121. Anthony Davis (130.4)
123. Jerami Grant (131.5)
123. DeMar DeRozan (131.5)
125. Collin Sexton (133.4)
126. Sam Hauser (133.7)
127. VJ Edgecombe (134.0)
128. Jaden McDaniels (134.9)
129. Dru Smith (135.7)
130. Darius Garland (135.8)
131. John Collins (136.6)
132. Jaren Jackson Jr. (136.7)
133. Naji Marshall (136.8)
134. Ryan Kalkbrenner (137.0)
135. Ayo Dosunmu (139.1)
136. Gary Payton II (142.4)
137. Oso Ighodaro (142.5)
138. Santi Aldama (144.2)
139. Anthony Black (144.9)
140. Anfernee Simons (145.3)
141. Brandon Williams (146.6)
142. Harrison Barnes (146.9)
143. Collin Murray-Boyles (147.1)
144. Ivica Zubac (149.3)
145. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (150.4)
146. Pelle Larsson (152.0)
147. Jakob Poeltl (153.6)
148. Jusuf Nurkić (154.9)
149. Derrick Jones Jr. (155.0)
150. Davion Mitchell (155.4)
151. Josh Minott (155.5)
152. Tim Hardaway Jr. (156.5)
153. Jock Landale (156.9)
154. Matas Buzelis (157.1)
155. Isaiah Stewart (157.3)
156. Clint Capela (157.7)
157. Simone Fontecchio (159.4)
158. Daniel Gafford (160.2)
159. Toumani Camara (161.0)
160. Gui Santos (162.4)
161. Jaxson Hayes (164.1)
162. Dean Wade (164.9)
163. Karlo Matković (165.7)
164. Thomas Bryant (166.2)
165. Andrew Nembhard (166.8)
166. Kris Dunn (167.1)
167. Cameron Johnson (168.4)
168. Coby White (170.4)
169. Dillon Brooks (171.4)
170. Landry Shamet (171.7)
171. Craig Porter Jr. (172.1)
172. Deandre Ayton (172.5)
173. Baylor Scheierman (173.3)
174. Al Horford (173.8)
174. Myles Turner (173.8)
176. Marvin Bagley III (174.1)
177. Justin Champagnie (174.4)
178. Tristan Da Silva (175.6)
179. Cedric Coward (176.8)
180. Jordan Walsh (177.1)
181. Kevin Huerter (179.5)
182. Quentin Grimes (179.8)
183. Javon Small (180.3)
184. Nic Claxton (180.7)
185. Precious Achiuwa (181.7)
186. Derik Queen (182.1)
187. Alex Sarr (182.2)
188. De'Anthony Melton (184.7)
189. Peyton Watson (187.3)
190. Marcus Smart (188.2)
191. Jordan Miller (190.2)
192. Kenrich Williams (190.5)
193. Russell Westbrook (190.6)
194. Grant Williams (191.6)
195. Jonas Valančiūnas (192.3)
196. Steven Adams (192.7)
197. Jay Huff (192.8)
198. Royce O'Neale (196.4)
199. Ron Holland (197.9)
200. Daniss Jenkins (198.1)
201. Quinten Post (200.6)
202. Shaedon Sharpe (200.9)
203. Dominick Barlow (201.2)
204. Bobby Portis (201.8)
205. Yves Missi (201.9)
206. Bennedict Mathurin (202.2)
207. Brook Lopez (203.3)
208. Aaron Wiggins (203.4)
209. P.J. Washington (205.4)
209. Christian Braun (205.4)
211. Ryan Dunn (207.4)
212. Josh Green (208.1)
213. Domantas Sabonis (208.8)
214. Micah Potter (209.2)
215. Luke Kennard (209.3)
216. Ja Morant (209.6)
217. Tari Eason (211.4)
218. Ja'Kobe Walter (212.8)
219. Keon Ellis (212.9)
220. Kelly Oubre Jr. (213.9)
221. Jamaree Bouyea (216.3)
222. Ziaire Williams (216.8)
223. Isaiah Jackson (217.0)
224. Jose Alvarado (217.3)
225. Kyle Filipowski (218.6)
226. Kyshawn George (219.3)
227. Jake LaRavia (220.1)
228. Josh Okogie (220.3)
229. Mouhamed Gueye (220.5)
230. GG Jackson II (221.9)
231. Will Richard (223.1)
232. Dylan Cardwell (223.5)
233. Zach LaVine (224.5)
234. Andre Drummond (224.7)
235. Hugo González (226.8)
236. Jaylen Wells (226.9)
236. Jamal Shead (226.9)
238. John Konchar (228.7)
239. Kevin Love (228.9)
240. Kasparas Jakučionis (229.5)
241. Sion James (229.9)
242. Kyle Kuzma (233.8)
243. Dennis Schröder (234.1)
244. Jalen Green (234.3)
245. Klay Thompson (234.4)
246. Max Christie (236.3)
247. Tidjane Salaün (236.6)
248. Jonathan Kuminga (238.4)
249. Vít Krejčí (239.7)
250. Egor Dёmin (239.8)
251. Herbert Jones (240.9)
252. Malik Monk (241.3)
253. Zaccharie Risacher (244.7)
254. Tyler Kolek (247.6)
255. Corey Kispert (247.7)
256. Olivier-Maxence Prosper (249.5)
257. Nae'Qwan Tomlin (250.3)
258. Quenton Jackson (250.5)
259. Jaden Ivey (251.0)
260. Vince Williams Jr. (252.0)
261. Svi Mykhailiuk (252.2)
261. Tristan Vukcevic (252.2)
263. Kyle Anderson (252.5)
264. Bilal Coulibaly (253.7)
265. Dwight Powell (253.8)
266. Caris LeVert (255.6)
267. Brice Sensabaugh (255.8)
268. Jared McCain (257.3)
269. Jonathan Isaac (258.0)
270. Noah Penda (260.3)
271. Luguentz Dort (260.8)
272. Justin Edwards (261.0)
273. Adem Bona (262.3)
274. Julian Strawther (263.4)
275. Kris Murray (263.7)
276. Jaylen Clark (264.1)
277. Lonzo Ball (264.8)
278. Danny Wolf (265.2)
279. Draymond Green (268.0)
280. De'Andre Hunter (268.1)
281. Buddy Hield (269.1)
282. Aaron Nesmith (269.2)
283. Bryce McGowens (269.5)
284. Isaiah Collier (270.9)
285. Jevon Carter (271.4)
286. Pat Spencer (274.7)
287. Jarred Vanderbilt (276.2)
287. Jett Howard (276.2)
289. Scoot Henderson (276.3)
290. Spencer Jones (277.1)
291. Jordan Clarkson (278.9)
292. Rui Hachimura (279.0)
293. A.J. Green (280.3)
293. Dalen Terry (280.3)
295. Jamir Watkins (281.1)
296. Guerschon Yabusele (281.7)
297. Jabari Walker (281.9)
298. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (282.8)
299. Khris Middleton (283.1)
300. Jeremiah Fears (283.3)
301. Maxime Raynaud (283.8)
302. Pete Nance (284.6)
303. Mohamed Diawara (285.5)
304. Noah Clowney (287.7)
305. Jordan Poole (290.2)
306. Mike Conley (290.3)
307. Nicolas Batum (290.9)
308. Bruce Brown (292.0)
309. Keegan Murray (292.4)
310. Gradey Dick (292.6)
311. Rasheer Fleming (292.8)
312. Jase Richardson (294.3)
313. Ace Bailey (294.4)
314. Trendon Watford (296.6)
315. Sidy Cissoko (298.2)
316. Jalen Pickett (298.4)
317. Jarace Walker (299.3)
318. Terance Mann (299.4)
319. Kobe Sanders (299.7)
320. Caleb Martin (299.8)
320. Taylor Hendricks (299.8)
322. Ousmane Dieng (303.9)
323. Nikola Jović (304.9)
324. Tyrese Martin (305.7)
325. Carter Bryant (306.0)
326. Nique Clifford (306.2)
327. Cam Thomas (306.5)
328. Isaac Okoro (307.6)
329. Ben Sheppard (308.2)
330. Aaron Holiday (308.7)
331. Drew Eubanks (309.0)
332. Johnny Furphy (309.2)
333. Caleb Love (310.2)
334. Jaden Hardy (311.1)
335. Tyus Jones (311.8)
336. Tre Johnson (316.1)
337. Zeke Nnaji (316.6)
338. Anthony Gill (321.5)
339. Ryan Nembhard (322.2)
340. Ochai Agbaji (324.5)
341. Walter Clayton (324.7)
342. Will Riley (325.0)
343. Nick Richards (329.0)
344. Sharife Cooper (329.6)
345. Daeqwon Plowden (329.8)
346. Kobe Brown (329.9)
347. Gary Harris (332.6)
348. Jalen Wilson (332.9)
349. Bub Carrington (334.3)
350. Cole Anthony (335.2)
351. Jericho Sims (335.7)
352. Dalton Knecht (339.5)
353. Micah Peavy (339.7)
354. Patrick Williams (340.8)
355. Tre Mann (340.9)
356. Cody Williams (342.6)
357. Gabe Vincent (343.2)
358. Dorian Finney-Smith (345.4)
359. Gary Trent Jr. (349.5)
360. Rob Dillingham (350.7)
361. Drake Powell (353.4)
362. Rayan Rupert (353.7)
363. Nolan Traoré (356.6)
364. Ben Saraf (358.1)
365. Jordan Hawkins (359.1)
A number of catch-all metrics from the around the internet endeavor to tell us who's playing best every year. And though many of the different adjusted plus-minuses attempt to measure the same thing (an individual player’s impact on the game when he’s on the floor), they have slightly different ways of getting there.
If you want to acknowledge the most accessible ones, you could say something like…
“Jayson Tatum is 3rd in Basketball Reference’s box plus/minus and 7th in wins over replacement player; 3rd in Dunks and Threes’ estimated plus-minus and 5th in estimated wins; 9th in Basketball Index's LEBRON and 31st in LEBRON WAR; 6th in ESPN's Net Points per 100 possessions and 21st in Net Points WAR; and 2nd in Basketball Reference’s game score per 100 possessions and 17th in total game score..."
…but that’s quite a mouthful.
For the last several seasons, I’ve been sharing something of a shorthand for the above. Instead of rattling off that list for any and all players one might want to discuss, I sort every qualified player by the average of their ranks in those stats (as well as their cumulative variants).
The results give credit to each of the metrics, throw a bone to basic numbers (through the use of game score) and reward players for availability (through the addition of the cumulative marks).
The lists produced by this exercise aren’t perfect, but none are. Strictly subjective rankings obviously have their own flaws. This is at least a guide. And it can give you a pretty good idea of who’s been the best (or worst) in 2025-26.
If you’re looking for a specific player (like, oh say, Paolo Banchero), do the handy little “control (or command) plus F” trick on your keyboard and type in that player’s name.
Oh, and one more caveat. If someone looks lower than you thought he should be (a warranted reaction to some placements), bear in mind that cumulative numbers (think points, rather than points per game) are in play. So those who've missed plenty of time are affected by that.
*Shout out to Tim MacMahon for coming up with the name "Huge Nerd Index" or HNI.
