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NBA's Top 10 Western Conference Players Revealed: LeBron James, Luka Doncic Receive Surprising Spots

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Ishaan Bhattacharya | Last updated Aug 6, 2025 2:29 PM ET

NBA.com has unveiled its official Top 10 Western Conference Players for the 2025-26 NBA season, with Luka Doncic and LeBron James featuring prominently but not without controversy.

As the Los Angeles Lakers gear up alongside heavyweights like the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, these official NBA rankings offer an early glimpse into how the league’s elite stack up ahead of opening night.

Luka Doncic Misses Top Three in the NBA's Western Conference Rankings

Despite averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists last season, Doncic ranks behind three players who went deeper in the playoffs last year.

Nikola Jokic (No. 1) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 2) had a tense MVP battle in which Gilgeous-Alexander prevailed, which is also what happened when they faced off in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.

Anthony Edwards (No. 3) eliminated Doncic's Lakers in the playoffs, avenging his loss to Doncic's Dallas Mavericks from the 2024 Western Conference Finals.

While there's a strong argument for Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander to rank ahead of Doncic as former MVPs, Edwards' production (27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season) and track record of winning fall short of Doncic's.

As Doncic prepares for his first full season with the Lakers, expectations are sky-high, but his placement at No. 4 in the NBA Western Conference player rankings reflects playoff outcomes more than individual excellence.

LeBron James' Ranking Might Signal the End of an Era

LeBron James ranks ninth despite averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists last season and being named to an All-NBA team. However, it's fair to assume the 40-year-old might lose a step after becoming the team's solidified No. 2 option behind Doncic.

The claim he's finally been surpassed by his peers from the last decade, such as Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, might be a sobering one for James as he embarks on a historic 23rd NBA season.

While James and his counterparts still land on this list, their advancing age means it may be the last time we see these names. The next generation is quickly catching up.

Complete NBA Top 10 West Player Rankings for 2025-26 Season

The top 10 players in the West, according to NBA.com, are:

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Former MVP James Harden Left Off the List Along with Other Notable Omissions

There are multiple notable omissions from this list.

The OKC Thunder duo of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren didn't make this list despite their title-winning contributions, while former NBA finalist Devin Booker also was left off. The only former MVP in the West to miss the list was James Harden.

Harden proved he could still be a No. 1 option last season, orchestrating the Clippers' offense into a playoff seed despite Leonard missing most of last season. He averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists, keeping the Clippers competitive all year.

His point guard prowess has been declining in the eyes of many, but his production is still solid. However, it's hard to argue his position as a top-10 player in the West right now. The conference is deep right now, but the likes of Harden, Booker and Williams will have a shot at earning their spots in this list if they perform at a high level next season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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