The NBA Finals are today, and Nuggets fans around the world are (most likely) rooting for the Indiana Pacers to upset the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that knocked out the Denver Nuggets and is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the player who stole this season’s MVP award from Nikola Jokic.
There has only been one other player this decade that has stolen an MVP award from Jokic’s grasp, Joel Embiid. After a toxic debate on TV and social media — and numerous arguments between Nuggets and Sixers fans — a rivalry was born that ended with the Nuggets getting the last laugh as NBA Champions back in 2023.
The Ringer just released its NBA top 100 rankings ahead of the Finals, and Nuggets fans got another laugh in the Jokic-Embiid rivalry. Embiid came in ranked as the 84th-best player in the association, a mark that is lower than all five players from Denver’s 2025 starting lineup. For Denver, Jokic was ranked as the league’s top dog, Jamal Murray came in at 29th, Aaron Gordon 42nd, Michael Porter Jr. 73rd, and Christian Braun slotted in at 83rd, one spot ahead of Embiid.
Were the Nuggets players put in the right spot?
No. 1 — Nikola Jokic
There’s no question marks surrounding Jokic being ranked as the No. 1 player in the league. The three-time MVP put the nuggets on his back to force a Game 7 against the top-seeded Thunder and was oh-so-close to winning yet another MVP, but his fifth consecutive top-two finish put him in rare air with the legendary Larry Bird. He averaged 29.6 ppg/12.7 rpg/10.2 apg this season, becoming the first player to finish in the top three in all three of the major categories in a season.
SGA winning the MVP this season is nice, but most people know that if Jokic had the same roster as this year’s MVP has over in OKC, the debate wouldn’t even be close.
No. 29 — Jamal Murray
Murray was tabbed as an “Iron-willed point guard with a championship résumé and a worrisome injury history.” His rank was higher than James Harden, Trae Young and Ja Morant, three very talented players who have all had their moments as some of the top guards in the league. He got off to a very slow start this season, then found his stride in February and March before cooling off at the wrong time in the postseason.
Yes, he had the 43-point explosion in Game 5 against the Clippers which arguably won the Nuggets the series. However, Oklahoma City’s physicality was too much for him in the Conference Semifinals, just like Minnesota’s a season ago, and he wasn’t his normal self. He has All-Star flashes throughout the season, but his inconsistency is what has him slotted at No. 29 among the other guys who don’t show up on a nightly basis.
No. 42 — Aaron Gordon
Arron Gordon is arguably the one who got snubbed in these rankings, as his gritty performance throughout the playoff games should’ve been enough to put him in the 30s. He’s the glue guy for Denver, and his retooled 3-point shot made him a different type of weapon this season alongside Jokic. He was ranked ahead of NBA legends such as Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard, but was behind Amen Thompson (are we really ready to put a young guy with a limited offensive skillset that high?).
No. 73 — Michael Porter Jr.
Porter being at No. 73 is not a surprise. He was labeled as an “Unsung hero for a contender that needs his shooting, role recognition, and size,” in the same tier as Cam Johnson (possible trade target?), Coby White and Naz Reid. There are a lot of people calling for Porter to be run out of town after another lackluster playoff performance given that he’s making the exact same amount of money as Gilgeous-Alexander.
Porter’s postseason was tough to assess after he suffered a serious shoulder sprain in just the second game of the playoffs. He was receiving injections before games and was playing with a shoulder pad bigger than Bo Nix’s. He made just 25% of his shots from distance after shooting at a 44.1% clip against the Clippers, highlighted by a 4-for-7 performance in the crucial Game 4 victory.
Could the Nuggets find way to spend the money they’re paying Porter? Yes. However, his spacing and potential are crucial to Denver’s success, and if he’s going to be back in the Mile High City next season, the Nuggets need him to play to his potential to make it back to the mountaintop.
No. 83 — Christian Braun
The final Nugget on the list is Braun, coming in at No. 83 just ahead of Embiid, CJ McCollum and San Antonio’s Devin Vassell. Again, this ranking feels right for the 24-year-old, as he grouped with older stars and younger, talented role players like himself. He had a career year in 2025, averaging 15.4 points per game (more than double his career average heading into the season), 5.2 rebounds per game (career high) and 1.1 steals per game (career high).
The Nuggets needed him to be enough of an offensive threat in the wake of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s departure in free agency last offseason. No one expected him to be a 15-point-per-game scorer, as he became one of the best players in the league in transition. If he can build on his 3-point shooting, which dipped from 40% in the regular season to just 30% in the playoffs, he will become an even better fit next to Jokic.
The Nuggets are one of eight teams to have at least five players crack the top 100. This list is further proof that it’s not the starting lineup that’s the issue for a Denver team looking to win another championship, it’s the depth that hasn’t existed since Bruce Brown and Jeff Green left town after winning the title.
