Bristol, Conn. — ESPN's NBA Rank Top 10 Has Razor-Thin Race for No. 1

ESPN's NBA Rank 2026 finale, published Sept. 24, does not crown a clear No. 1: the network's top-10 reveal shows Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama separated by just three voting points, with each player finishing atop at least one of seven panelists' individual ballots, according to ESPN.

The list capped a three-part rollout that started with Nos. 100-51 on Tuesday, continued with Nos. 50-11 on Wednesday and closed with the top 10 on Thursday, ESPN said.

How Close Was the Vote for No. 1?

Three points, by ESPN's own account, separated Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama at the top of the countdown. ESPN described it as a "razor-thin race," noting that each of the three earned a first-place vote from at least one panelist rather than a single player sweeping the ballots.

Why Did ESPN's Voting Panel Change?

The voting group shrank for 2026. Previously, ESPN said, more than 100 NBA insiders, reporters, editors and producers voted on NBA Rank. This year's edition relied on seven panelists instead. ESPN's material does not explain the reason for the smaller panel, but the math means a single panelist's top vote carried more weight in a race decided by only three points.

Where Did Jalen Brunson Land After His Finals MVP Run?

Brunson enters the piece as reigning Finals MVP after the Knicks won the title, a run that ended the franchise's championship drought, according to HTT News' earlier coverage of the team's single-game ticket release. Despite that resume, Brunson placed outside the top five of NBA Rank, per a companion ESPN video captioned "Perk voices displeasure about Brunson being outside top 5 of ESPN NBA Rank." ESPN's released material does not specify Brunson's exact numerical slot.

Who Else Made the Top 10?

Beyond the top three and Brunson, ESPN's headline for the package lists Luka Doncic among the players "featuring" in the finale. Sidebar links tied to the same package reference Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards in connection with the top 10. The full numbered order for spots four through ten was not included in the material reviewed.

NBA Rank 2026, By the Numbers

• 3: voting points separating Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama atop the countdown
• 7: panelists who voted in 2026, down from more than 100 in prior editions, per ESPN
• 3: days ESPN spread its top-100 reveal across, from Nos. 100-51 to the finale

What Happens Next With the Countdown?

ESPN has already published companion pieces auditing its own metrics against the rankings and previewing "10 players to watch in NBA Rank... 2027," according to the same package — a signal the network treats the list as an ongoing argument rather than a settled verdict heading into the 2026-27 season.

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