ESPN had just released who they think are the top 100 players heading into the 2025-2026 season, but there are obviously a handful of names they definitely snubbed. From rising big man Jalen Duren to controversial scorer Jordan Poole, here are the six NBA players who should have been on that list.
Jalen Duren
The Detroit Pistons finally have a squad they can be proud of–a group of young stars ready to take over the East. One of the key players in this team is no other than Jalen Duren.
Duren ia reportedly entering his fourth season in much better shape and strength, thanks to his offseason training with Pistons legend Rasheed Wallace. The 6-foot-10 big man is the ideal power forward, with his quick feet, athleticism, and finesse. As the team’s defensive anchor, he can be a great rim protector and perimeter defender, considering how fluid he moves on the court. Although he still has a long way to go, Duren is a scary double-double machine who can hold his own against the top power forwards and centers in the NBA.
2024-2025 Stats: 11.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 BPG, 26 MPG
Quentin Grimes
It’s official, trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers wasn’t the only bad decision the Dallas Mavericks made during the trade deadline in February. They didn’t even know that sending Quentin Grimes was another one of those team-altering moves.
Grimes got traded mid-season, but from averaging 10.2 PPG as a Maverick, his numbers quickly rose and he was immediately putting 21.9 points per game as a Sixer, doubling his previous scoring output. He had just signed a 1-year, $8.7 million contract to return to the Philadelphia 76ers.
2024-2025 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG
Malik Monk
His 2024-2025 season was Malik Monk’s best scoring year since joining the league in 2017, despite having three great scorers in the Sacramento Kings roster (i.e., Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis).
However, his shooting efficiency fluctuated, perhaps due to the conundrum of playing both as a point guard and a shooting guard. Still, Monk is an insanely athletic scorer who can also be a threat from deep while also playing decent defense. It still shocks many fans why he wasn’t included in ESPN’s list despite a fantastic season.
2024-2025 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.6 APG
Josh Giddey
If not for the controversies and anomalies Josh Giddey had last year, he would have been a strong contributor for Oklahoma. Despite the repercussions, Giddey was still playing absolutely well in Chicago and was, most of the time, overlooked and forgotten.
The Australian point guard was putting up way better numbers as a Bull, which is why he got that $100 million deal in his first year with Chi-town. At only 22 years old, Giddey is already considered one of the mid-tier guards in the league, which could truly change in the future, given how fast he has improved in the last couple of seasons. Although there are some concerns regarding his ankle injuries, Giddey might still end up the better player compared to some of the “undeserving” guys in ESPN’s top 100.
2024-2025 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.2 SPG
Jordan Poole
Jordan Pool just had his best season with the Washington Wizards as the team’s top scorer and is surprisingly snubbed in ESPN’s top 100 list for the 2025-2026 season.
Although he has quite the rap sheet due to being notorious for taking bad shots, making bad plays, and having a bitter relationship with some of his former teammates in Golden State, Poole is still undeniable one of the better players in the NBA right now. People may call his numbers in Washington “empty stats”, but at least he makes buckets.
With Dejounte Murray out due to injuries, Poole is more likely to take a bigger role in New Orleans’ offense.
2024-2025 Stats: 20.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.5 APG
Cam Thomas
Having Cam Thomas out of the picture is understandable, yet still absurd. The 23-year-old rising star was having a blast scoring in the basketball season, but injuries got in the way.
Thomas only played 25 games after hurting his left hamstring in November and March, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. In those 25 appearances, Thomas averaged a career-best 24 points per game after recording six 30-point games and a season-high 43 points against the New York Knicks back on November 15, 2024. Despite the setbacks, it’s clear that the 23-year-old guard is a walking bucket! The question now is, will he stay in Brooklyn?
2024-2025 Stats: 24 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.8 APG
