Hollinger's Top 10 for 2025-2026.

[ball_takes23]

Its impossible for any intelligent person to rate Wembanyama ahead of ANT.

Wemby watch:

1st game of the season he puts up 40 points and 15 rebounds on 74.1 TS% with 3 blocks and a +/- of +31, but it’s “impossible for any intelligent person to rate Wemby ahead of Ant.”

November 2023 ROOKIE Wembanyama @ Phoenix = 38 points, 10 rebounds, 15-26 field, 3-6 threes, 5-6 free-throws
March 2024 ROOKIE Wembanyama vs Knicks = 40 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists, 13-22 field, 4-9 threes, 10-12 free-throws
And last season Wembayama scored 50 points vs. Washington, 42 points vs. Atlanta, and 42 points @ New York.

Wembanyama already had high-scoring and efficient games last season and the season before, but NOBODY rated him ahead of ANT last season or the season before.
What has changed?

the difference is he only made 1 three today. he transformed his body this summer and made one of the best defenders in the world look like scraps on the floor. oh yeah and he also has a post game too.

[bonita_the_frog]

the difference is he only made 1 three today. he transformed his body this summer and made one of the best defenders in the world look like scraps on the floor. oh yeah and he also has a post game too.

Oh in that case I think its possible for an intelligent person to rate Wembanyama ahead of ANT.

[cupcakesnake]

Wembanyama already had high-scoring and efficient games last season and the season before, but NOBODY rated him ahead of ANT last season or the season before.
What has changed?

Last year, Wemby got hurt. Before that injury, the media was widely talking about him being on MVP ballots. Lot of MVP ladders and things like that had him around 4 or 5. Ant finished tied for 7th in MVP voting. It's not a stretch to assume Wemby might have been "rated" higher than Ant last season, had he stayed healthy.

[PistolPeteJR]

J-Dub was legit injured so it doesn't matter but fwiw, it's a pretty big gap. the guys on the of your list had entire defenses and schemes and multiple double and triple teams of all sorts - on them, trying to slow them down. J-Dub didn't have anywhere near that amount of pressure and had alot more space to work with

Bingo.

People don't realize the massive difference in being THE GUY vs #2 in terms of how defenses account for you.

its not always that simple. there have been plenty of examples throughout history of players who transitioned from a #2 role to the #1 guy and were able to increase volume while also maintaining or even increasing efficiency. Pippen, Kobe, Brunson just to name a few. It takes a very specific type of player to excel in a #2 role and in some ways its actually harder because you are going to be out of rhythm more often and have more irregular shot patterns. Lillard had a hard time transitioning from a #1 to a #2, going from a 64% TS in his last year in Portland to a 59% TS in his first season in Milwaukee.

That's fine, but now we're starting to speculate more than anything else.

[NZB2323]

Its impossible for any intelligent person to rate Wembanyama ahead of ANT.

Wemby watch:

1st game of the season he puts up 40 points and 15 rebounds on 74.1 TS% with 3 blocks and a +/- of +31, but it’s “impossible for any intelligent person to rate Wemby ahead of Ant.”

November 2023 ROOKIE Wembanyama @ Phoenix = 38 points, 10 rebounds, 15-26 field, 3-6 threes, 5-6 free-throws
March 2024 ROOKIE Wembanyama vs Knicks = 40 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists, 13-22 field, 4-9 threes, 10-12 free-throws
And last season Wembayama scored 50 points vs. Washington, 42 points vs. Atlanta, and 42 points @ New York.

Wembanyama already had high-scoring and efficient games last season and the season before, but NOBODY rated him ahead of ANT last season or the season before.
What has changed?

He almost had a triple double with blocks in his 2nd game.

29 points, 11 rebounds, 9 blocks.

[NZB2323]

It's pretty simple to rank Wemby above Ant. Any knowledgeable basketball fan would know that Wemby has a higher ceiling than Ant.

If they both remain healthy, it would be surprising if Ant ever reaches a higher peak than Wemby based on what we've seen so far in Ant's career.

This "Ant unquestionably ahead of Wemby" take has a chance to be one of the worst takes ever.

Call me when Wembanyama has eliminated some superstars from the playoffs as ANT has - Durant, Booker, Jokic, Doncic, LeBron and Butler (and the injured Curry).
I honestly wouldn't trust Wembanyama (instead of ANT) to carry the Wolves in last year's playoffs.

We haven't even seen Wembanyama carry a team in the regular season to a playoff birth.
It may happen, but not in 2025-26, and all we're talking about is 2025-26... not Wembanyama's 10-year ceiling... (though even that is not a given, considering the history of players his size and injuries).

So was Isiah Thomas better than Jordan going into 91 because Isiah Thomas had beat Magic, Bird, and Jordan in the playoffs?

[CobraCommander]

J Dub and Mobley aren't in this conversation. Does anyone realistically think they could singlehandedly flip a lotto team into the play in?

This - they in the Brown conversation - best side kicks on earth

[Thaddy]

J Dub and Mobley aren't in this conversation. Does anyone realistically think they could singlehandedly flip a lotto team into the play in?

This - they in the Brown conversation - best side kicks on earth

I'd say the potential is there but they need to show they can be the alpha player on a talented team first. On Cleveland that is very obviously Mitchell. Being a number 1 / alpha on a team requires someone to take a risk on you for the max. I'd say in the near future Mobley should ask for a trade so he can be on his own team like Giannis and prove he's a true alpha. Same goes for Jalen Williams.

[CobraCommander]

Wemby watch:

1st game of the season he puts up 40 points and 15 rebounds on 74.1 TS% with 3 blocks and a +/- of +31, but it’s “impossible for any intelligent person to rate Wemby ahead of Ant.”

November 2023 ROOKIE Wembanyama @ Phoenix = 38 points, 10 rebounds, 15-26 field, 3-6 threes, 5-6 free-throws
March 2024 ROOKIE Wembanyama vs Knicks = 40 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists, 13-22 field, 4-9 threes, 10-12 free-throws
And last season Wembayama scored 50 points vs. Washington, 42 points vs. Atlanta, and 42 points @ New York.

Wembanyama already had high-scoring and efficient games last season and the season before, but NOBODY rated him ahead of ANT last season or the season before.
What has changed?

He almost had a triple double with blocks in his 2nd game.

29 points, 11 rebounds, 9 blocks.

Yeah wemby is better than anyone and he is 22 and already locked in. Will he perform in the playoffs at the level of the 3 guys in their prime with rings and MVPs? Who knows -

But who has been the best this year so far? wemby - who has the highest upside - wemby - who is doing things no one else can ? Wemby - wemby is just better - if sga, Giannis or jokic slip even a little - wemby will be the guy -

It’s already a foregone conclusion that he has the best body with amazing work ethic and higher basketball iq.

He is doing these things in ways that set him apart and he wants to be great even in the offseason…

Think about that - it’s self motivation- that’s the perfect combo

[bonita_the_frog]

November 2023 ROOKIE Wembanyama @ Phoenix = 38 points, 10 rebounds, 15-26 field, 3-6 threes, 5-6 free-throws
March 2024 ROOKIE Wembanyama vs Knicks = 40 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists, 13-22 field, 4-9 threes, 10-12 free-throws
And last season Wembayama scored 50 points vs. Washington, 42 points vs. Atlanta, and 42 points @ New York.

Wembanyama already had high-scoring and efficient games last season and the season before, but NOBODY rated him ahead of ANT last season or the season before.
What has changed?

He almost had a triple double with blocks in his 2nd game.

29 points, 11 rebounds, 9 blocks.

Yeah wemby is better than anyone and he is 22 and already locked in. Will he perform in the playoffs at the level of the 3 guys in their prime with rings and MVPs? Who knows -

But who has been the best this year so far? wemby - who has the highest upside - wemby - who is doing things no one else can ? Wemby - wemby is just better - if sga, Giannis or jokic slip even a little - wemby will be the guy -

It’s already a foregone conclusion that he has the best body with amazing work ethic and higher basketball iq.

He is doing these things in ways that set him apart and he wants to be great even in the offseason…

Think about that - it’s self motivation- that’s the perfect combo

I never trust the bodies of players this tall, so I won't lock anything in regarding Wemby's future.
And this season, I'm not convinced San Antonio will make the playoffs, at least not automatically, but they should make the play-in.

Whereas Milwaukee have a shot at finishing Top 2 in the East, and given how dominant Giannis is every year (last year Giannis averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, .601 field... and so far this season Giannis averaging 34.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, .675 field) there's a good chance Giannis wins MVP.

[CobraCommander]

He almost had a triple double with blocks in his 2nd game.

29 points, 11 rebounds, 9 blocks.

Yeah wemby is better than anyone and he is 22 and already locked in. Will he perform in the playoffs at the level of the 3 guys in their prime with rings and MVPs? Who knows -

But who has been the best this year so far? wemby - who has the highest upside - wemby - who is doing things no one else can ? Wemby - wemby is just better - if sga, Giannis or jokic slip even a little - wemby will be the guy -

It’s already a foregone conclusion that he has the best body with amazing work ethic and higher basketball iq.

He is doing these things in ways that set him apart and he wants to be great even in the offseason…

Think about that - it’s self motivation- that’s the perfect combo

I never trust the bodies of players this tall, so I won't lock anything in regarding Wemby's future.
And this season, I'm not convinced San Antonio will make the playoffs, at least not automatically, but they should make the play-in.

Whereas Milwaukee have a shot at finishing Top 2 in the East, and given how dominant Giannis is every year (last year Giannis averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, .601 field... and so far this season Giannis averaging 34.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, .675 field) there's a good chance Giannis wins MVP.

I agree with all of this- but honestly wemby has been so amazing so far and his defense is so far beyond everyone else in a league with no defense that he is a lock for DPOY already - if he top 5 or even ten offense this is a lock for MVP..

[Wolves21]

Jokic
Gannis
SGA
Luka
Edwards
Brunson
Wemby
Curry
Mitchell
Cunningham

That's the top ten and in order.

[bonita_the_frog]

Yeah wemby is better than anyone and he is 22 and already locked in. Will he perform in the playoffs at the level of the 3 guys in their prime with rings and MVPs? Who knows -

But who has been the best this year so far? wemby - who has the highest upside - wemby - who is doing things no one else can ? Wemby - wemby is just better - if sga, Giannis or jokic slip even a little - wemby will be the guy -

It’s already a foregone conclusion that he has the best body with amazing work ethic and higher basketball iq.

He is doing these things in ways that set him apart and he wants to be great even in the offseason…

Think about that - it’s self motivation- that’s the perfect combo

I never trust the bodies of players this tall, so I won't lock anything in regarding Wemby's future.
And this season, I'm not convinced San Antonio will make the playoffs, at least not automatically, but they should make the play-in.

Whereas Milwaukee have a shot at finishing Top 2 in the East, and given how dominant Giannis is every year (last year Giannis averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, .601 field... and so far this season Giannis averaging 34.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, .675 field) there's a good chance Giannis wins MVP.

I agree with all of this- but honestly wemby has been so amazing so far and his defense is so far beyond everyone else in a league with no defense that he is a lock for DPOY already - if he top 5 or even ten offense this is a lock for MVP..

Wemby obviously has no chance of winning MVP when the Spurs aren't even a champinoship contender (Spurs are unlikely to finish Top 6).
There are too many dominant players (who score just as much, and with better playmaking skills and higher IQs) who will lead their teams to better records.

Watch on YouTube

Plus apart from a couple of blocks, Wemby looked ineffective when he had to defend Zion...
Not that his defense is a weakness, just saying he's not a perfect defender by any stretch.

[Blame Rasho]

It is hard to take a person seriously when Wemby had 6 blocks on Zion and say he was ineffective… but hey… think what you want amigo.

[CobraCommander]

It is hard to take a person seriously when Wemby had 6 blocks on Zion and say he was ineffective… but hey… think what you want amigo.

Yeah Zion is a monster- and was rejected like me at the club! Over and over but he kept coming back for more..but Zion is also special lol