The idea of a ‘big three’ in the NBA has become a little bit antiquated in recent years. It’s almost impossible to fit three max contracts on a cap sheet in the ‘second-apron’ era of the league, especially when depth throughout a rotation is becoming more important than ever.
None of that will ever stop NBA teams from chasing their ‘big three’ — especially when the Oklahoma City Thunder are poised to run the league for the next five years. The Phoenix Suns might have crashed and burned with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal the last couple years, but the idea of three stars leading a team to a championship will never lose its appeal.
There’s no arguing over the league’s best trio right now, but there’s plenty of room for debate after that. With the 2025-26 NBA season right around the corner, let’s rank the league’s best ‘big threes’ entering the season.
30. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, C.J. McCollum
The Wizards are still waiting to land their franchise cornerstone, but so far lots of losing hasn’t equaled lottery luck. Sarr has real long-term potential as a mobile 7-foot defender with developing perimeter skills on offense, but he’s such a soft finisher (45 percent on two-pointers as a rookie) that he still has a long way to go. I picked Johnson over teammate Bilal Coulibaly before he’s ever played an NBA game because his offensive upside as a knockdown shooter is much higher. McCollum was still decent for the Pelicans last year, and is just waiting to get traded.
29. Brooklyn Nets: Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr., Cam Thomas
There’s no secret about the Nets’ intentions this year. After finishing with the sixth worst record in what was supposed to be a tanking season a year ago, Brooklyn tore down its roster even more and is fully engaged in a youth movement behind its five 2025 first-round picks. Claxton, a mobile defensive center, feels like the lone veteran here who could have a place in Brooklyn’s long-term future. Porter Jr., a big wing shooter, and Thomas, an unrepentant bucket-getter, are only here until they’re freed to a more competitive situation.
28. Utah Jazz: Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Kyle Filipowski
The Jazz are tanking again, and that makes Lauri Markkanen the league’s most obvious trade candidate entering the season. Markkanen has a huge contract, but his malleable skill set as a 7-footer who can shoot makes him a good fit for a lot of teams. Kessler might also be a trade candidate as a young rim protecting center without much offensive utility. Filipowski feels like the best of Utah’s young core right now, which isn’t exactly a compliment.
27. Portland Trail Blazers: Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday, Donovan Clingan
The Blazers are forming a defensive identity as they try to climb up the Western Conference standings with a young core. Avdija emerged as their best player last year as a skilled all-around forward who has steadily made progress as a shooter. Clingan has a chance to become one of the league’s best rim protecters as he enters his second season, and Holiday is a legendary veteran starting to slip at age-35. Toumani Camara had a case for this list too after being named Second-Team All-Defense last year.
26. Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams
At least Devin Booker is getting paid well to stay in Phoenix. The Suns’ failed Kevin Durant experiment is going to haunt them well into the future without control of any of their first-round picks through 2032 plus Bradley Beal’s stretched deal taking up $20 million on the cap sheet the next five years. I’m high on rookie center Khaman Maluach, who can hopefully be on this list next year.
25. Chicago Bulls: Coby White, Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic
The Bulls are fully locked into mediocrity by winning either 39 or 40 games each of the last three years. At least this version of the team is younger? White finally emerges as the leading man this season after spending most of his career in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan’s shadow, and his transition scoring and volume shooting could help him put up big numbers in the Bulls’ fast-paced offense. Giddey struggled most of last year before a terrific closing kick, but he needs to cut down the turnovers and show more fight defensively. Vuc was probably this team’s best player last year, but it’s hard to think he’s going to shoot 40 percent from three again. Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue are the future here.
24. Sacramento Kings: Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan
This trio feels like less than the sum of its parts. Sabonis puts up monster numbers every year, but some holes in his game (rim protection, volume three-point shooting) makes him a tough fit on a great team. LaVine is one of the league’s best three-point shooters and has real juice going to the basket, but he’s too mistake-prone on both ends to have a major impact. DeRozan is still doing his thing from mid-range and foul line even at age-36.
23. Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George
It’s hard to properly evaluate the Sixers without knowing what type of physical condition Joel Embiid is in, but at this point he has to earn the benefit of the doubt. Embiid being broken down at age-31 would be a death blow to the Sixers, but there’s still plenty of young talent here to be excited about. Tyrese Maxey, on the brink of his 25th birthday, needs to put together his second All-Star season and prove he can be the engine of the team going forward. Paul George feels like a shell of himself after an injury-ravaged campaign a year ago. The Sixers’ young big three (Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jared McCain) is way more exciting than their veteran one.
22. Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel
The Hornets young core looks promising on paper, but it’s past time for it to translate to wins. LaMelo Ball just hasn’t been able to stay healthy yet, but the 24-year-old is one of the league’s most gifted ball handlers, passers, and pull-up shooters if he can rein in his worst tendencies. Brandon Miller lost most of his sophomore season to a wrist injury, but he needs to come back stronger to play through contact to make a meaningful leap. I’m high on the rookie Knueppel as a high-IQ movement shooter who should theoretically play well off Ball. Here’s hoping Charlotte can actually put it together one of these years.
21. Indiana Pacers: Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith
We can’t rank Tyrese Haliburton since these rankings are for the 2025-26 season. The Pacers could still be spunky this year with Pascal Siakam stepping into a lead option role, and Andrew Nembhard getting the keys to the offense full-time for the first time in his pro career. If Nembhard can shoot from three like he did in last year’s playoffs (46.5 percent) instead of the regular season (29.1 percent), Indiana could still be a playoff team in a weakened East. Haliburton’s up-tempo, no-turnovers game was the biggest part of Indiana’s identity, so it’s hard to be too optimistic without him.
20. Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Jakob Poeltl
The Raptors have a ton of money and years tied up in their current core, and their front office may be the only group of people alive who believes it has enough upside to win multiple playoff series. Ingram and Barnes will be a fascinating pairing because they both like to operate from similar parts of the floor. Ingram really improved his three-point rate last year in New Orleans, and that will have to stick for this to have any hope of working. Barnes probably can’t be as inefficient as he was last year as a scorer, and Poeltl is a fine defensive center who gives this group a higher floor. I predict Collin Murray-Boyles will be included in this group soon.
19. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones
Do you believe in Skinny Zion? That’s the question at the heart of the Pelicans this season. Williamson looks slim and explosive so far in training camp, but at this point it’s hard to believe he’s going to stay healthy until he finally does it again. Murphy and Jones should be ideal fits next to a peak version of Zion. Murphy is one of the league’s best shooters who stand 6’8 or above, and Jones is a ferocious defender who makes plays all over the court. If only the Pelicans were in the East, maybe I could talk myself into them.
18. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama
The Grizzlies are in a weird spot post-Desmond Bane trade, and it’s hard to tell if they want to tank or compete this year. Morant’s lack of shooting development has capped his ceiling, but he’s still one of the league’s best passers as well as a formidable rim attacker. Jackson Jr. combines perimeter skill offensively with high-level rim protection and mobility, but his lack of rebounding is frustrating. Aldama takes Bane’s spot in the ‘big three’ in my view as a skilled 7-footer who could step into a bigger role as Zach Edey recovers from injury.
17. Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard
This is an arguably top-5 trio with a healthy Jayson Tatum in for Pritchard. The idea of Tatum returning this season fresh off Achilles surgery just feels totally unnecessary to me, so I’m not considering him for this list. Brown could put up big scoring numbers in Tatum’s absence, but his efficiency will be in question. White is a fantastic connecting guard in the running as the league’s best role player, and it will be fun to see what he can do with a bigger offensive load. Pritchard was just sensational off the bench last season, and it will be fascinating to see how he levels up with more usage this season.
16. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle
Can Wembanyama be a top-5 player in the world this season? Can he even be a top-3 player? These are wild expectations for a 21-year-old, but Wemby is that good. De’Aaron Fox just got a lot of money to prove he can be the second-best player on a Western Conference contender, and Castle is a solid glue guy who badly needs to improve as a shooter to improve his value.
15. Miami Heat: Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell
The Heat have been mediocre since their shocking 2023 NBA Finals run, but there’s just enough talent here to hold off on a full-scale rebuild. Tyler Herro is one of the East’s better microwave scorers who grew into an All-Star last season by improving his efficiency inside the arc. Herro is currently recovering from foot surgery and will miss the start of the season. Adebayo is a great paint defender with a bit of scoring and playmaking punch, but he’s never taken the offensive leap he hinted at earlier in his career. Like Herro, Powell is another walking bucket-getter who doesn’t add much defensively. The Heat say they always swing for the stars, but this team is more led by sidekicks.
14. Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson
Cunningham finally got to play in proper spacing last year, and immediately turned in an All-NBA season. He’s the sun the rest of the Pistons will revolve around, but it would help if he could cut down the turnovers and get more easy buckets at the foul line. Harris is an important if unexciting veteran at this point, and Thompson feels like the best of a talented young core of potential co-stars for his wrecking ball ability as a defender, rebounder, and transition scorer.
13. Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a top-3 player in the league, but he won’t have a lot of help this year. Myles Turner comes over from the Pacers as a stretch five who can protect the rim, but he’s more of a solid starter than a secondary star. Bobby Portis feels like this team’s third best player, which is damning. The Bucks need Giannis to play at his best level for something close to 82 games to get a decent playoff seed in the East. He’s great enough that it just might happen.
12. Dallas Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively II
Nico Harrison’s horrible Luka Doncic trade somehow netted him an even better asset in Cooper Flagg. The No. 1 pick is the youngest player in the league this year, but he’s also one of its best future building blocks. I’d like to see the Mavs align to get on Flagg’s timeline, but that’s not going to happen until they trade Davis and Kyrie Irving. Liveley II seems like a great fit next to Flagg as a super long, super athletic defensive center, but it’s hard to tell how big of a role he’ll have this year in a deep front court. It stinks Irving is likely out of the year, or this team would be really fun.
11. Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, Kristaps Porzingis
The Hawks have successfully built a roster stocked with length and athleticism around Trae Young, and now it’s time to see if he can graduate out of the play-in also ran tier. Young is a supremely gifted passer and talented scorer who needs to continue to improve his three-point accuracy and defensive effort. Johnson could end the year as Atlanta’s best player as an explosive forward who crushes in transition and always cleans the glass. Porzingis would give this team a stretch five dimension its never had in the Young era, but he needs to stay healthy, and that’s rarely a good bet.
10. Los Angeles Clippers: Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac
The Clippers are a team of aging stars trying to prove they have one more competitive run left in them. Kawhi Leonard will be under the spotlight all season after Pablo Torre discovered the Clippers’ cap circumvention to re-sign him, and it would be something if this was the rare season he was actually regularly available. Harden is still a very good lead engine with his pull-up shooting and playmaking, but the wheels can fall off at any point at age-36. Zubac is an elite defensive center who has great chemistry with Harden in the pick-and-roll. Los Angeles pushed the Nuggets to a Game 7 last year before the Nuggets pushed the eventual champion Thunder to Game 7. I’m skeptical they have another level up in them, but this team should have a high floor.
9. Golden State Warriors: Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green
Stephen Curry is nearing the end of his career, but he still feels like one of the best players in the world when he’s healthy. Curry turns 38 years old before the playoffs, and the Warriors still need him to be special for a team this old to make a deep playoff run. Jimmy Butler’s ability to get to the free throw line on offense and force turnovers on defense turned around Golden State’s season last year. Green remains an elite defender ahead of his 36th birthday, and still has a huge impact on winning. Add in Al Horford, and the Warriors are really the last dance for Millennials everywhere.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle
The Wolves have proven they have a winning formula in back-to-back Western Conference Finals runs: Anthony Edwards’ scoring plus an elite defense helmed by Rudy Gobert. Edwards took a big leap as a three-point shooter last season, but he still needs to prove he can beat blitzes as a passer and develop a mid-range scoring bag before he’s an MVP contender. Gobert’s rim protection remains fantastic, and Julius Randle proved his bully ball scoring can work in the playoffs even without great spacing. The Wolves are a high-floor team that really might breakthrough one of these years.
7. Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane
The Magic are all-in on making a push to the top of the East, but it’s only going to happen if their two best players can finally make each other better. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are both capable offensive engines as oversized forwards with perimeter skills, but each are shaky shooters and the on/off data with both on the floor is scary. The Magic traded four first-round picks for Bane to finally help give this duo proper spacing, and he feels like a perfect fit for this roster. If Paolo and Franz can mesh, Orlando is a dark horse NBA Finals contender.
6. Houston Rockets: Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson
The Rockets felt like a fringe championship contender this season before Fred VanVleet went down with a torn ACL weeks before tip-off. While Houston might be light on ball handling and shooting now, this team will still be very good. I have Sengun as a dark horse MVP candidate coming off an All-Star season and a dominant run in EuroBasket. Durant will give the Rockets a halfcourt release valve to jolt what was a stilted offense last season. Thompson is the most athletic player in the league for my money, and he’s going to be an elite defender and a good offensive player despite his terrible jump shot.
5. New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby
It’s NBA Finals or bust for the Knicks this season. Mike Brown takes over as head coach, and his mission is to figure out if Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns can play together deep into the playoffs. Brunson has been an indefatigable little engine for New York since signing as a free agent, but less Brunson in the regular season might eventually pay dividends in the playoffs. Towns is an elite shooter for a 7-footer, but his defense is so plodding that he can be targeted on that end. I gave Anunoby the edge over Mikal Bridges, though both are great. This really might be the year the Knicks put together a full playoff run …. until the Finals, anyway.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland
The Cavs were a regular season wins machine last year until injuries and Tyrese Haliburton broken them in the second round of the playoffs. Donovan Mitchell is coming off an All-NBA season, and remains one of the league’s most explosive guards in the prime of his career. Evan Mobley is a freakishly long and quick big man who can guard anyone and keeps improving his ability to play with force. Garland is a super shifty little guard with deep range as a shooter, but can he survive a playoff run defensively next to Mitchell? Like the Knicks, the Cavs have to be thinking Finals-or-bust this season.
3. Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves
Luka Doncic is skinny, and could finally be ready for the MVP run he’s widely expected to eventually have in him. Doncic is a top-5 player in the world at his best, not a mention a playoff monster whose blend of scoring and playmaking can’t be matched by anyone but Nikola Jokic. This Lakers team will go as far as Luka takes them, but having LeBron James as a sidekick, even as he readies to turn 41 years old, is never a bad thing. I don’t expect James to play a full slate in the regular season, but he can still be very good if he’s somewhat fresh for the playoffs. Austin Reaves is a talented scoring guard who can play on or off the ball, but his defensive questions next to Doncic make his long-term fit a bit questionable as he enters a contract year.
2. Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray
The Nuggets have the best player in the world on their roster, but he’s also their only All-Star. Nikola Jokic remains as great as ever with league-best (or close) scoring, passing, and rebounding, and he should be in for a special season with an improved supporting cast. Gordon had an inspiring season last year as he made big strides as a shooter, and he continues to be a perfect complement to Jokic at both ends. Murray is the one under the most pressure to deliver, but at least he has Cameron Johnson around to take some weight off his shoulders. The Nuggets are more of a one-man show with a solid ensemble than a true big three, but Jokic counts for a lot in these rankings.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren
It’s terrifying how good OKC’s big three is when they’re all under still so young. The 27-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander is the best guard in the world right now, and his shifty mid-range scoring and foul drawing is built for the playoffs. Jalen Williams is a two-way tank at 25 years old, and Chet Holmgren is already an elite rim protector with developing perimeter offensive skills at 23 years old. The Thunder have the type of big three every team dreams of, and they aren’t going anywhere any time soon.
