FS1’s Nick Wright has once again stirred the NBA discourse with his latest “Way Too Early King of the Hill” rankings. In classic Nick Wright fashion, the list spans nine tiers, capturing the current NBA hierarchy based on performance, potential, and narrative dominance heading into the 2025-26 season. While some placements echo general consensus, others as always sparked controversy.
Tier 1 – Nikola Jokic
Tier 2 – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Tier 3 – Luka Doncic Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards
Tier 4 – LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant
Tier 5 – Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell, Alperen Sengun, Paolo Banchero
Tier 6- Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Williams, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid
Tier 7 – Jimmy Butler, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jaren Jackson Jr. Pascal Siakam, Jamal Murray, Bam Adebayo
Tier 8 – Ja Morant, De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Maxey, Trae Young, Rudy Gobert, Chet Holmgren, James Harden, Amen Thompson
Tier 9 – Franz Wagner, Derrick White, Domantas Sabonis, LaMelo Ball, Ivica Zubac, Aaron Gordon, Draymond Green, Julius Randle, Cooper Flagg
At the top sits Nikola Jokic in Tier 1, unchallenged. Despite the Denver Nuggets’ unexpected collapse late in the 2025 postseason, Wright acknowledged Jokic’s historic year, as he had one of the greatest individual seasons of all time.
The Serbian superstar led the league in total points, rebounds, and assists while nearly pulling off a second title. In Wright’s eyes, he remains the undisputed best player in the world.
Tier 2 includes Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Wright praised Giannis as still the most dominant two-way force in the game, though he noted the Bucks’ early playoff flameout for a second straight year.
Shai, meanwhile, saw his stock skyrocket after becoming the first player since LeBron James to win both MVP and Finals MVP in the same season, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first-ever championship.
Tier 3 features Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, and Anthony Edwards. Doncic’s mid-season blockbuster trade to the Lakers started a new era in LA. Brunson and Edwards, meanwhile, earned praise for guiding their respective teams to the Conference Finals, solidifying themselves as legitimate alpha dogs.
Tier 4 brings the legends: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Durant. Though all are past their primes except Davis, who now finds himself in Dallas after being swapped for Luka, while Durant, was traded to the Houston Rockets. Curry and LeBron continue to defy age, as both look to get their fifth title
Tier 5 includes a mix of rising stars and breakout performers: Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell, Alperen Sengun, and Paolo Banchero. Wright sees Wemby’s massive leap coming and Sengun’s rise in Houston with KD’s arrival. Banchero and Cunningham round out a group filled with future franchise leaders.
Tier 6 is a star-studded, yet flawed, tier: Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Williams, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, and Joel Embiid. Injuries, playoff inconsistencies, or team context hold these names back from jumping higher, but their talent remains undeniable.
Tier 7 includes the NBA’s elite supporting cast: Jimmy Butler, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jaren Jackson Jr., Pascal Siakam, Jamal Murray, and Bam Adebayo. All have been All-Star or DPOY-level players, yet Wright signaled their inability to consistently be the best player on a title team.
Tiers 8 and 9 cover fringe stars and high-potential youth. Notably, Ja Morant, De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Maxey, Trae Young, and Chet Holmgren landed in Tier 8, with Ja needing to prove more. Tier 9 includes Franz Wagner, Derrick White, and top rookie Cooper Flagg.
Love it or hate it, Nick Wright’s tier list guarantees one thing — conversation. And plenty of it.
