LeBron James’ place in ESPN’s annual NBA rankings has finally taken a sharp turn, and for the first time in the series’ history, he is outside the top 10.
ESPN slotted the Philadelphia 76ers star at No. 18 heading into the 2026-27 season, a 10-spot slide from the No. 8 spot he held last year with the Los Angeles Lakers. That drop also snaps an eye-catching streak: LeBron had been inside ESPN’s top 10 in every edition for 15 straight years.
Dave McMenamin pointed out how unusual it looks to see him this far down the list.
“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.”
The ranking comes after a season that naturally reflected LeBron’s age and a reduced offensive load. In his 23rd NBA season, the 41-year-old played 60 games and averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists. It was his lowest scoring average since his rookie year in 2003-04, though the production still stood out for a player closing in on 42.
He also battled a foot injury that kept him out of training camp, preseason and the Lakers’ first 14 regular-season games. Once he returned, he spent much of the year working behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on offense. But the playoffs reminded everyone that LeBron can still take on more when the moment calls for it.
With Doncic sidelined by a severe hamstring injury, LeBron put up 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists in the postseason. The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in six games before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.
Now he’s in a different setting entirely.
LeBron left the Lakers this summer and signed with the Sixers, joining a roster that includes Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe. McMenamin said the expectation is that LeBron will serve as the team’s point forward and handle the offense rather than shoulder the primary scoring load.
“James already had success as L.A.’s No. 3 option last season and will likely reprise that role behind Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown for the 76ers. The difference is that while James’ scoring took a back seat to Doncic and Reaves for the Lakers, his touches might not suffer too much in Philly. Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has indicated the team will have James play point forward and orchestrate the offense, similar to his role with the Lakers when they won the 2020 title.”
That setup matters because the Sixers already have several established scoring threats. McMenamin also noted that LeBron proved he can thrive as the Lakers’ third option and expects a similar arrangement in Philadelphia behind Embiid, Maxey and Brown.
The key difference may be that LeBron’s value in Philly comes with the ball in his hands as a facilitator, even if his shot volume keeps shrinking.
So No. 18 is more than just a ranking. It’s a reminder of how long LeBron has lived near the top of the league. He entered the NBA in 2003, and even with ESPN’s rankings arriving years later, he still managed to stay in the top 10 for 15 straight editions.
He remains the NBA’s oldest active player and is still ranked inside the top 20. He turns 42 in December, and even after a 10-spot drop, the strange part is that 23 years into his career, No. 18 still feels low for LeBron James.
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