Star-studded rosters recalibrated: LeBron, Curry and Durant drop into Tier 2 in 2026 NBA Player Tiers
The Athletic's 2026 NBA Player Tiers move LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant into Tier 2 (the top 30 players) as teams increasingly need multiple stars; Curry and Brunson anchor Tier 2A, with Durant and Leonard in that sub-tier, while 2B–2E flesh out other All-Stars—Harden, Booker, Fox, Murray, Embiid, Haliburton and more—plus a red-flag sub-tier for players dealing with injuries. The piece emphasizes that championships require stacked talent across rosters, not just a single superstar, citing Cavaliers, Knicks and Thunder as examples, and notes health and age influence placement (e.g., Embiid, Haliburton, Kyrie).
