6 NBA Players Push LeBron James and Stephen Curry Down in ESPN Ranking Amid Retirement Buzz

ESPN has been doing its yearly player survey, asking its expert panel to make predictions ahead of the new season. And after ranking the first 90, the top 10 is where the anticipation lies. Last year, two pillars, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, cracked that list. But the landscape has changed. Both are at the end of their careers, and unprecedented talents are flowing into the league.

Still, experts view them as one of the best 10 players, owing to their production last season. However, with them aging, experts feel the era of them being the two best players has passed. Curry was ranked 6^th on ESPN’s list, while the Akron Hammer was right below at seven. So, which are the six players chosen ahead of them?

ESPN’s panel continues to believe that three-time MVP Nikola Jokic retains his crown as the world’s best player. The MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, came second, followed by James’ teammate Luka Doncic. They rounded up the top six with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, and Anthony Edwards, respectively.