Feb 20, 2026
Jokic Tops BR NBA 99 Midseason Rankings
Merlin sees the NBA’s midseason hierarchy get a cleansing rain. B/R’s experts retooled their B/R NBA 99 rankings after All-Star Weekend, weighing trades, injuries, slumps and breakouts. As they write, "we're not predicting where players will finish at the end of the season. We're assessing the games they've played and the impact they've had on winning up to this point," so the list rewards what happened, not what might happen. Merlin notes the peaks remain familiar with Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge, while young stars, reliable role players and injured veterans shuffle the middle. The chart is a living thing; health and roster moves will redraw it before the playoffs arrive.
🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction
Odds of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning MVP this season: 60%.
