It feels like every time a major sports publisher releases a new player ranking, it generates controversy more than anything else. The same situation unfolded with ESPN's annual list of the top 100 NBA players heading into the 2025-26 season.
Among those weighing in was Jeff Teague , who admitted to having problems with several placements. However, the one decision that troubled him the most was Victor Wembanyama 's ranking fifth overall — a spot Teague felt was completely undeserved given the French phenom's limited success.
To be fair, ESPN's top four sports were hard to argue with. Nikola Jokic , Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are expected to lead their respective team in the title race and compete tightly for the 2026 MVP award.
But to place Wemby right after them, ahead of all-time greats like LeBron James , Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant , raised questions about how much of ESPN's rankings relied on projection rather than production.
Furthermore, considering that Wembanyama hasn't led his San Antonio Spurs to the playoffs once in two years or earned his first All-NBA nod, ranking him among the top five players seems unfair.
Adding to Teague's frustration was how role players like Derrick White were placed higher than franchise cornerstones like Trae Young . At the end, for Teague, it was nothing short of blasphemy to see such unjust rankings being done days before the start of the training camp, where quality players were underappreciated and, on the contrary, potential face of the league athletes like Wemby were given sky-high placements.
"This is a bad list right here. Hell No!" Teague reacted after being made aware of Wemby's position in the ESPN Top 100 list. "Hell No, Wemby too high, bro ."
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Of course, Wembanyama's unique talent cannot be denied. In both of his first two seasons, he led the league in blocks and made a legitimate case for the DPOY award as a rookie.
Undoubtedly, his length, agility and instincts have already made him one of the most feared defenders in the league. However, the main concern is that availability has limited his impact. In the recently concluded 2024-25 season, Wembanyama failed to appear in 50 games, raising doubts about his durability.
Meanwhile, players such as Anthony Edwards have not only stayed healthy but also led their teams to consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances — achievements that, in Teague's eyes, make a stronger case for a top-five placement than what Wembanyama has shown so far.
Safe to say that the heart of the issue comes down to a familiar NBA debate: how much weight should be given to potential versus proven results? If Wembanyama wants to justify his palace, he must register a campaign that justifies his "once-in-a-lifetime" talent label.
With the Spurs' front office giving him a bunch of quality young players and experienced veteras in De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes , it remains to be seen if Wembanyama can finally attain his ceiling.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
