Deni Avdija Jumps to 27th in ESPN's Top 100 NBA Players Ranking
ESPN's top 100 NBA players ranking placed Israeli star Deni Avdija at number 27, marking a massive 39-spot jump following his breakout All-Star season with Portland.
The annual ESPN ranking of the top 100 NBA players continued with the release of spots 50 through 11, bringing major recognition for Israeli star Deni Avdija. Following a stellar breakout season in 2025/27, Avdija jumped 39 spots to land at number 27, cementing his growing reputation across the league.
ESPN highlighted Avdija's meteoric rise, noting that few anticipated his explosive development after being acquired by the Portland Trail Blazers from the Washington Wizards in 2024. The tough forward set new career highs in points, efficiency ratings, and win shares, earning his first All-Star nod and leading Portland back to the playoffs for the first time in five years.
Meanwhile, the top of the list saw historic shifts. LeBron James fell out of the top 10 for the first time since the ESPN rankings began in the 2011/12 season, landing at number 18. Veterans Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant also slipped out of the top ten, both settling at number 12 and 13 respectively.
