Entering 2026, LeBron James had never been ranked outside of the top 10 players in ESPN's NBA Rank series. A year ago, it felt strange seeing him fall as far as No. 8. In the latest entry in the series, however, James didn't just fall out of the top 10—he barely held on to a spot in the top 20 at No. 18.
Though ESPN's explanation for James' decline is somewhat understandable, it also sets the stage for a redemption season from one of the greatest athletes in documented human history.
ESPN has been releasing its NBA Rank series for 15 years. That provides remarkable context into how startling it is to see James outside of the top 10, as well as how remarkable his longevity has truly been, as he's sustained an elite level of play for longer than most even stay in the NBA overall.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN acknowledged as much when explaining that, while James' decline in the rankings is "jarring," his top-20 status is still significant considering he'll turn 42 in December.
"Seeing James outside the top 10 is jarring. Then again, seeing a guy who turns 42 in a few months still inside the top 25 is probably the better framing to appreciate what the 22-time All-Star continues to accomplish."
For as valid as that explanation may be on some levels, James now has a whole new level of motivation to prove the skeptics wrong and turn in yet another season that would be a career-year for players half his age.
LeBron James falls to No. 18 in ESPN's NBA Rank—his lowest spot ever
James is coming off of a season during which he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 three-point field goals made on .515/.317/.737 shooting. His dip in efficiency as a shooter was noticeable, as was the fact that he averaged his fewest points since his rookie season—all the way back in 2003-04.
In saying that, James also adapted to a new role as JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers opted to prioritize Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as the first and second options.
As if that weren't enough, James missed training camp, the preseason, and the Lakers' first 14 regular season games in 2025-26 due to sciatica. With the odds stacked against him, he still turned in an excellent campaign that included leading Los Angeles to the second round of the playoffs despite Doncic missing the entire postseason and Reaves sitting for their first four games.
James also ranked No. 2 in the NBA in fast break points and joined Doncic, Jalen Johnson, and Nikola Jokic as the only players to average at least 20.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 2025-26.
Thankfully, James will have a chance to prove that his role and sciatica overshadowed the possibility that he's still a top-10 player. He'll be the 76ers' point forward and will be trusted to run an offense that has an MVP in Joel Embiid, a Finals MVP in Jaylen Brown, an All-NBA honoree in Tyrese Maxey, and a rising star in VJ Edgecombe. If he succeeds, accolades will likely follow.
With ESPN's NBA Rank declaring that James is no longer a top-15 player and therefore not a health-permitting All-NBA type of talent, James has even more ammunition for a massive redemption year.
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