Andy Bailey@AndrewDBailey
HNI*, or every NBA player with 500+ minutes in 2025-26, sorted by the AVERAGE OF THEIR RANKS in 12 catch-alls...
1. Nikola Jokić (1.8)
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2.0)
3. Victor Wembanyama (4.0)
4. Luka Dončić (4.3)
5. Kawhi Leonard (4.9)
6. Donovan Mitchell (8.2)
7. Cade Cunningham (9.9)
8. Tyrese Maxey (15.3)
9. Jalen Duren (15.7)
10. Kevin Durant (17.1)
11. Chet Holmgren (18.1)
12. James Harden (19.1)
13. Jamal Murray (20.2)
14. Anthony Edwards (22.2)
15. Karl-Anthony Towns (22.9)
16. LaMelo Ball (24.3)
17. Jalen Brunson (24.4)
18. Giannis Antetokounmpo (25.9)
19. Scottie Barnes (26.0)
20. Jaylen Brown (26.3)
21. Derrick White (28.2)
22. Stephen Curry (32.9)
23. Jalen Johnson (34.7)
24. Neemias Queta (35.7)
25. Bam Adebayo (35.9)
26. Jimmy Butler (36.9)
27. Kon Knueppel (37.6)
28. Devin Booker (37.8)
29. Austin Reaves (38.3)
30. Deni Avdija (39.2)
31. Evan Mobley (42.3)
32. De'Aaron Fox (42.7)
33. Jarrett Allen (43.7)
34. Joel Embiid (44.3)
35. Amen Thompson (44.7)
36. Donovan Clingan (46.0)
37. Alperen Şengün (46.9)
38. LeBron James (52.3)
39. OG Anunoby (53.0)
40. Isaiah Hartenstein (53.8)
41. Immanuel Quickley (54.8)
42. Payton Pritchard (56.0)
43. Zion Williamson (56.1)
44. Rudy Gobert (56.6)
44. Sandro Mamukelashvili (56.6)
46. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (56.7)
47. Stephon Castle (56.8)
48. Lauri Markkanen (57.0)
49. Collin Gillespie (58.5)
50. Desmond Bane (62.2)
51. Brandon Miller (63.8)
52. Moussa Diabaté (65.6)
53. Michael Porter Jr. (67.1)
54. Dyson Daniels (67.5)
55. Mikal Bridges (67.8)
55. Julius Randle (67.8)
57. Ajay Mitchell (70.5)
58. Ausar Thompson (71.2)
59. Trey Murphy III (71.4)
60. Julian Champagnie (71.8)
61. Norman Powell (72.3)
62. Mitchell Robinson (73.7)
63. Robert Williams (76.2)
64. Paul Reed (77.3)
65. Onyeka Okongwu (78.1)
66. Jrue Holiday (80.9)
67. Jalen Suggs (82.9)
68. Josh Hart (83.1)
69. Franz Wagner (84.6)
70. Pascal Siakam (84.9)
71. Paul George (85.9)
72. Donte DiVincenzo (88.0)
72. Isaiah Joe (88.0)
74. Miles Bridges (88.5)
75. Tobias Harris (92.2)
76. Duncan Robinson (92.6)
77. Jalen Williams (94.8)
78. Grayson Allen (95.2)
79. Kristaps Porziņģis (98.1)
80. Cason Wallace (98.9)
81. Paolo Banchero (99.6)
82. Kel'el Ware (99.7)
83. Kevin Porter Jr. (100.9)
84. Luke Kornet (101.2)
85. Aaron Gordon (103.4)
86. RJ Barrett (104.7)
87. Keldon Johnson (105.5)
88. Day'Ron Sharpe (106.1)
89. CJ McCollum (106.7)
90. Josh Giddey (108.2)
91. Devin Vassell (108.3)
92. Luka Garza (108.6)
93. Dylan Harper (109.7)
93. Jaylin Williams (109.7)
95. Alex Caruso (110.3)
95. Saddiq Bey (110.3)
97. Jordan Goodwin (110.6)
98. Naz Reid (111.1)
99. Cooper Flagg (112.3)
100. Reed Sheppard (112.7)
101. Brandin Podziemski (113.8)
102. Goga Bitadze (114.8)
103. Ryan Rollins (116.4)
104. Cam Spencer (119.1)
105. Sam Hauser (119.6)
105. Tre Jones (119.6)
107. Jabari Smith Jr. (120.2)
108. Andrew Wiggins (120.3)
109. Wendell Carter Jr. (120.8)
110. Jakob Poeltl (123.7)
110. Jalen Smith (123.7)
110. Sam Merrill (123.7)
113. Javonte Green (124.0)
114. Brandon Ingram (125.0)
115. Darius Garland (125.2)
116. John Collins (125.5)
117. Anthony Davis (126.5)
118. Moses Moody (126.9)
119. Jaden McDaniels (128.2)
120. Jaren Jackson Jr. (128.8)
121. Jaylon Tyson (129.4)
122. Tyler Herro (129.7)
123. Collin Sexton (130.8)
124. Toumani Camara (132.8)
125. Bones Hyland (133.9)
126. T.J. McConnell (134.8)
127. Josh Minott (136.6)
128. Nikola Vučević (136.8)
129. Mark Williams (137.1)
130. Miles McBride (137.4)
131. Oso Ighodaro (137.8)
132. Ryan Kalkbrenner (138.5)
133. Ivica Zubac (139.1)
134. Clint Capela (144.5)
135. Gary Payton II (145.3)
136. Anthony Black (145.6)
136. Pelle Larsson (145.6)
138. Derrick Jones Jr. (146.7)
139. Harrison Barnes (147.0)
140. Ayo Dosunmu (147.2)
141. Brandon Williams (148.9)
142. Collin Murray-Boyles (149.8)
143. Jerami Grant (150.9)
144. Cameron Johnson (152.1)
145. Gui Santos (152.4)
146. Jaxson Hayes (152.5)
147. Coby White (153.2)
148. Santi Aldama (153.6)
149. Kris Dunn (155.7)
150. Landry Shamet (157.1)
151. Keyonte George (158.7)
152. VJ Edgecombe (160.3)
153. Deandre Ayton (160.5)
154. Daniel Gafford (161.1)
155. Dru Smith (161.4)
156. Naji Marshall (162.7)
156. Simone Fontecchio (162.7)
158. Dean Wade (162.9)
158. DeMar DeRozan (162.9)
160. Tim Hardaway Jr. (164.8)
161. Justin Champagnie (165.3)
162. Davion Mitchell (167.4)
163. Jock Landale (167.6)
164. Jusuf Nurkić (169.7)
165. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (169.9)
165. Jordan Walsh (169.9)
167. Grant Williams (170.0)
168. Andrew Nembhard (173.3)
169. Javon Small (173.6)
170. Kyle Filipowski (174.8)
171. Steven Adams (175.3)
172. Marcus Smart (175.5)
173. Anfernee Simons (176.7)
174. Kevin Huerter (178.3)
175. Ja'Kobe Walter (178.6)
176. Thomas Bryant (178.8)
177. Kenrich Williams (179.0)
178. Daniss Jenkins (180.3)
179. Isaiah Stewart (181.5)
180. Marvin Bagley III (183.1)
181. Craig Porter Jr. (183.3)
182. Baylor Scheierman (183.6)
183. Dillon Brooks (183.8)
184. De'Anthony Melton (185.6)
185. Tari Eason (186.2)
186. Christian Braun (187.4)
187. Tristan Da Silva (188.0)
188. Precious Achiuwa (188.5)
189. Aaron Wiggins (188.9)
190. Al Horford (189.3)
191. Myles Turner (189.8)
192. Jay Huff (189.9)
193. Matas Buzelis (190.5)
194. Jamal Shead (191.3)
195. Micah Potter (191.7)
196. Keon Ellis (192.8)
196. Karlo Matković (192.8)
198. Ja Morant (194.6)
199. Shaedon Sharpe (195.8)
200. Jalen Green (198.1)
201. Jordan Miller (198.6)
202. Cedric Coward (198.8)
203. Ryan Dunn (200.3)
204. Peyton Watson (202.5)
205. Mouhamed Gueye (203.3)
206. Brook Lopez (205.3)
207. Quinten Post (205.7)
208. Ron Holland (206.3)
209. Jose Alvarado (209.3)
210. Jonas Valančiūnas (209.8)
211. Olivier-Maxence Prosper (210.8)
212. Josh Green (211.2)
213. Quentin Grimes (211.3)
214. John Konchar (211.5)
215. Josh Okogie (212.0)
216. Nic Claxton (212.3)
217. Domantas Sabonis (212.7)
218. Bobby Portis (214.1)
219. Dominick Barlow (214.8)
219. Royce O'Neale (214.8)
221. Jamaree Bouyea (215.2)
222. Alex Sarr (215.8)
223. Isaiah Jackson (216.1)
224. Yves Missi (218.3)
225. Kasparas Jakučionis (219.3)
226. Derik Queen (219.7)
227. Bennedict Mathurin (220.6)
228. Luke Kennard (220.8)
229. Kelly Oubre Jr. (222.0)
230. Dylan Cardwell (224.0)
231. Russell Westbrook (225.3)
232. GG Jackson II (226.2)
232. Tristan Vukcevic (226.2)
234. Luguentz Dort (227.6)
235. Herbert Jones (227.8)
236. P.J. Washington (228.4)
237. Ziaire Williams (228.8)
238. Jake LaRavia (230.3)
239. Draymond Green (231.1)
240. Dwight Powell (232.8)
241. Sion James (232.9)
242. Quenton Jackson (234.6)
243. Kyshawn George (236.3)
244. Andre Drummond (237.1)
245. Hugo González (237.5)
246. Will Richard (237.8)
247. Jonathan Kuminga (237.9)
248. Kris Murray (239.1)
249. Jonathan Isaac (239.2)
250. Svi Mykhailiuk (239.3)
250. Vít Krejčí (239.3)
252. Tyler Kolek (239.9)
253. Adem Bona (241.0)
254. Brice Sensabaugh (241.4)
255. Kevin Love (241.8)
256. Leonard Miller (241.9)
257. Jaylen Wells (243.2)
258. Tidjane Salaün (244.5)
259. Malik Monk (247.1)
260. Egor Dёmin (248.7)
261. Kyle Anderson (248.8)
262. Zach LaVine (249.1)
263. Jaden Ivey (250.3)
264. Jarred Vanderbilt (251.2)
265. Vince Williams Jr. (251.6)
266. Scoot Henderson (251.7)
267. Aaron Nesmith (253.3)
268. Klay Thompson (254.3)
269. Dennis Schröder (254.5)
270. Jaylen Clark (254.6)
271. Jamir Watkins (255.0)
272. Zaccharie Risacher (255.3)
273. Noah Penda (255.4)
274. Kyle Kuzma (256.3)
275. Devin Carter (258.4)
276. Corey Kispert (258.9)
277. Lonzo Ball (261.7)
278. Nae'Qwan Tomlin (262.3)
279. Max Christie (265.3)
280. Buddy Hield (266.4)
281. Justin Edwards (267.3)
282. Dalen Terry (267.8)
283. Jabari Walker (268.0)
284. Pete Nance (268.3)
285. Caris LeVert (268.9)
286. De'Andre Hunter (271.4)
287. Pat Spencer (272.6)
288. Jared McCain (273.0)
289. Danny Wolf (273.3)
290. Jordan Clarkson (274.6)
291. A.J. Green (274.7)
292. Bryce McGowens (275.3)
293. Rasheer Fleming (275.5)
294. Keegan Murray (277.1)
295. Jeremiah Fears (277.5)
296. Jevon Carter (279.8)
297. Julian Strawther (279.9)
298. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (282.7)
299. Bilal Coulibaly (282.8)
299. Rui Hachimura (282.8)
301. Spencer Jones (285.7)
302. Mohamed Diawara (287.2)
303. Isaiah Collier (287.4)
304. Sidy Cissoko (288.9)
305. Guerschon Yabusele (289.1)
306. Mike Conley (291.2)
307. Maxime Raynaud (291.3)
308. Jett Howard (291.5)
309. Aaron Holiday (291.7)
310. Johnny Furphy (292.8)
311. Nicolas Batum (293.0)
312. Kobe Brown (298.1)
312. Noah Clowney (298.1)
314. Trendon Watford (298.3)
315. Taylor Hendricks (299.4)
316. Gradey Dick (301.5)
317. Elijah Harkless (301.9)
318. Kobe Sanders (303.3)
319. Jordan Poole (303.7)
320. Drew Eubanks (304.1)
320. Nikola Jović (304.1)
322. Jalen Pickett (305.0)
323. Bruce Brown (305.1)
324. Will Riley (305.3)
325. Jase Richardson (306.1)
326. Anthony Gill (306.8)
327. Jaden Hardy (307.6)
328. Ben Sheppard (308.4)
329. Caleb Martin (309.0)
330. Khris Middleton (309.3)
330. Tyrese Martin (309.3)
332. Jarace Walker (309.4)
333. Zeke Nnaji (311.1)
334. Terance Mann (311.5)
335. Tyus Jones (311.6)
336. Nique Clifford (313.0)
337. Ethan Thompson (315.7)
338. Isaac Okoro (315.8)
339. Carter Bryant (316.8)
340. Ace Bailey (317.1)
340. Gary Harris (317.1)
342. Daeqwon Plowden (317.2)
343. Cam Thomas (320.8)
344. Caleb Love (321.9)
345. Ochai Agbaji (322.3)
346. Dorian Finney-Smith (323.2)
347. Ousmane Dieng (323.6)
348. Nick Richards (324.8)
349. Sharife Cooper (325.8)
350. Jalen Wilson (327.0)
351. Micah Peavy (328.1)
352. Ryan Nembhard (331.5)
353. Jericho Sims (335.6)
353. Tre Johnson (335.6)
355. Dalton Knecht (336.7)
356. Walter Clayton (338.3)
357. Tre Mann (340.3)
358. Cole Anthony (340.8)
359. Gabe Vincent (340.9)
360. Bub Carrington (344.5)
361. Kam Jones (344.6)
362. Jahmai Mashack (345.3)
363. Gary Trent Jr. (348.0)
364. Cody Williams (348.3)
365. Drake Powell (352.4)
366. Patrick Williams (353.6)
367. Rayan Rupert (354.9)
368. Rob Dillingham (355.9)
369. Nolan Traoré (358.8)
370. Ben Saraf (360.9)
371. Jordan Hawkins (361.8)
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.
It's a little late in the game to do this, but I was curious to see if or how adding DARKO DPM to the mix might affect things. So, I did. Being just one-sixth of the stew didn't make much of a difference, but there's certainly an argument for getting another reputable number in there. And the real math people might hate me for mixing a predictive number in with non-predictive ones, but they've never cared for me much anyway. So, it's in!
