2026-27 Nba Power Rankings Week 4: 76ers Move Into Top Spot, Focus On Unexpected Standouts

This week's NBC Sports NBA Power Rankings see some teams we expected to be in the top 10 all season move back in: San Antonio, Oklahoma City. Philadelphia takes over the top spot as it keeps finding ways to win.

This week we will focus on an unexpected standout for each team, guys who might not always get the shine they deserve but contribute a lot to winning for their teams.

Unexpected standout: VJ Edgecombe. Starting with four other future Hall of Famers (a bit of projection, but not crazy), Edgecombe has accepted being a role player, doing whatever needs to be done to win, and yet we still get chances to see him showcase his talent. "I think his role has shifted a little bit for us this year in that one of the things at the top of his priority list is to supply energy," 76ers head coach Nick Nurse told NBC Sports Philadelphia. "He's the youngest of the crew. He's got to have explosive energy at the start of most games. And it's a little shift for him because he was playing super huge minutes … last year. He doesn't have the ball in his hands as much, so he's got to go get it and find it... And he's probably going to be [defending] the best backcourt player. Him coming out with that kind of spark is what we need."

Unexpected standout:Julian Champagnie. He's not really an unexpected standout, but is there one on a high-profile team that was in the NBA Finals last June? When Mitch Johnson decided to start three guards — De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper — Julian Champagnie was the odd man out and got pushed to the bench. He's handling it like a pro, and he's still producing, shooting 42% from 3, giving them almost 10 points a night, and defending well.

Unexpected standout: Walker Kessler. I seriously considered one of or a combination of, the three wings who have played well for the Lakers this season — Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia and Matisse Thybulle — but the reality is their perimeter, turnover-forcing defense isn't possible without a high-level rim protector in the paint. So far this season, Kessler has proven to be the big man the Lakers need him to be (and paid him to be). He has thrived rolling to the rim and finishing passes from Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The Lakers are clicking, and none of it works on either end without Kessler. Also, this is why they paid Austin Reaves so much money this summer:

Unexpected Standout: Luka Garza. At some point, Joe Mazzulla just needs to give Garza a chance. Last season, Garza got bumped down the center pecking order when Boston traded for Nikola Vucevic, at least until deep in the playoffs when Mazzulla was forced to give Garza a chance. This offseason, Boston spent money on Mitchell Robinson, but in his limited minutes (13 a night so far), Garza is giving the Celtics 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and, unlike Mitchell, he can space the floor with his shooting (54.2% from 3 so far this season, which is inflated, but defenders have to respect the shot). Garza has developed his game and deserves more run.

Unexpected standout: Aday Mara. When I watched Aday Mara struggle at Summer League last July, I thought the Michigan center would need a season or two in the Thunder development program to be NBA-ready. Then there he was on opening night, blocking Victor Wembanyama at the rim and already in the rotation. Mara is playing nearly 20 minutes a night off the bench — taking on a larger role while Chet Holmgren is out — and averaging 8.1 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. Sam Presti nails another draft pick.

Unexpected standout: Ayo Dosumnu. Since Anthony Edwards went out for knee surgery, Dosumnu has been the best and most consistent Timberwolves player, averaging 17.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 42.5% from 3-point range. Dosumnu was my preseason Sixth Man of the Year pick, but with Anthony Edwards out he's going to get too many starts, still, he's the guy keeping the Timberwolves afloat.

Unexpected standout: Paul Reed. With Jalen Duran out, Reed has stepped up on both ends of the floor and is currently the Pistons' third-leading scorer. He has so much craft to his game. He's finding a way to get to 12.8 points and 6.8 rebounds a game, and with him and the expected elite play from Cade Cunningham, the Pistons don't miss a beat. This team remains a regular-season juggernaut.

Unexpected standout: Fred VanVleet. This wasn't unexpected to everyone, some of us have been saying since early in the summer that VanVleet's return and role as floor general was going to solve a lot of problems in Houston. It has. The Rockets are playing at a faster tempo while turnovers are down, spacing is far better in the half-court offense, and VanVleet understands how to manipulate a defense to get the ball to plays in spaces that play to their strengths. He's the reason the Rockets have the second best offense in the NBA early this season.

Unexpected standout: Yaxel Lendeborg. Nobody saw a 24-year-old rookie stepping in and being the secondary scoring option the Warriors needed next to Stephen Curry, but here we are. Lendeborg is the two-timeline guy the Warriors needed. Here is Curry on Lendeborg: "He's just got composure, feel. His size on the court, he's a matchup problem. He's never really in a hurry, and he's starting to see the pictures really well. Distributing, being aggressive, getting to the free-throw line, offensive rebounding. Kind of the full package. So, we want him to continue to play aggressive."

Unexpected standout: Landry Shamet. I'm not sure there actually can be an unexpected standout on the defending NBA champions, a team in the nation's largest media market, where even casual fans know the role players, but if we have to go with one, we go with Shamet. Nobody is smarter off the ball at confusing defenders and finding space to get off his shot (or draw a foul). Check out Fred Katz’s great breakdown of Shamet’s game at The Athletic. Shamet rarely starts but he's fifth on the team in scoring and defenders are told not to lose him on the perimeter or he will make them pay.

Unexpected standout: Toumani Camara. He was already an All-Defensive player and one of the league's best on-ball defenders, able to lock guys down 1 through 5. However, this year Toumani Camara has put the "3" in 3&D and is hitting 45.2% of the more than seven 3-pointers he is taking a game. With that, he becomes a key part of what Portland is building around slashers like Ja Morant (once he gets healthy) and Deni Avdija.

Unexpected Standout: Mario Hezonja. Anyone who remembers Hezonja from his first five years in the league — drafted No. 5 by Orlando in 2015 and playing for the Magic, Knicks and Trail Blazers before washing out of the league — may not recognize him after six years in Europe. Most notably, the skinny 6'8" wing has filled out and is bigger, stronger and knows how to use that. Also, the kid who wanted to be the playmaker has accepted a 3&D role and is thriving off the bench for Cleveland this season. It's a great story, and he's been important to the Cavs this season.

Unexpected standout: Immanuel Quickley. If you wanted to see how much Immanuel Quickley matters to this team, watch the fourth quarter of the Raptors' come-from-behind win against the Clippers from a week ago. Quickley had 14 points, attacking and getting to the line and also hitting a 3. Like all the Raptors, he's also a plus defender. In his seventh NBA season, the guard is giving Toronto 17.4 points and nearly six assists a game, and he's part of what makes this team dangerous (when Kawhi Leonard is healthy).

Unexpected standout: Ty Jerome. The long-time darling of the analytics community, Jerome has shown this potential at times — he averaged 19.7 points a game last season, but he played only 15 games — but this season he is an offensive juggernaut, averaging 26.6 points per game and shooting 36.4% from 3-point range. There are so many Grizzlies who could be spotlighted here, and I seriously considered Zach Edey, who is quietly central to this team, as well as Cedric Coward. But Jerome is the definition of an unexpected standout.

Unexpected Standout: Trevon Brazile. It's a little difficult to find a player in Denver playing well outside of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, which is part of the problem. However, Brazile, the rookie out of Arkansas, has been that guy, averaging 8 points and 6.4 rebounds a night in 22 minutes and bringing a much-needed burst of athleticism to the team. He said it took a minute to get used to the spacing and style of the NBA game. "It's just learning where to go on the floor, it's different from college," Brazile said. "In college I was just trying to run in the rim. You know, I get a lob or something, but you know, it's different type of space in the NBA."

Unexpected Standout: Aaron Wiggins. It's too early to talk about end-of-season awards, but if we did, Wiggins might be the frontrunner for Six Man of the Year, averaging 14.9 points and 3.7 rebounds a game off the bench, and the team is outscoring opponents when he is on the floor (and they are slightly in the negative when he is not). Special shout-out to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who could have qualified here and should be an All-Star this year but doesn't get thought of that way.

Unexpected Standout: Daniel Gafford. With Derek Lively out and rookie Morez Johnson as the only other big, Dallas is leaning heavily on Daniel Gafford at the five — and he is thriving. Gafford has a specific skill set, but it's one that complements playing with Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, and that plus his defense in the paint is why the Mavericks outscore opponents by when he is on the court and struggle when he is not (he also plays most of his minutes with Flagg and/or Irving).

Unexpected standout: Kyshawn George. On a team with bigger names — Trae Young, Anthony Davis, AJ Dybantsa — Kyshawn George is taking another step forward. The 6'8" wing is demanding a bigger role with his play. He's third on the team in points per game, but he's doing more than just getting buckets, he's improved as a playmaker — he's second on the team in assists. If George can be consistent, his next contract (he is extension-eligible next summer) will just get bigger and bigger.

Unexpected standout: Davion Mitchell. When Miami's defense clicked in the second half against the Clippers last week, it started with Mitchell's ball pressure — he is critical to making this Heat team work on both ends of the court. He's averaging 16.1 points and 8.2 assists per game, shooting 40.8% from 3, but maybe more important is his on-ball defense.

Unexpected Standout: Obi Toppin. For a few seasons now, Toppin has been a guy Rick Carlisle can trust off the bench to play smart, play hard and get them a few buckets. This season, still coming off the bench but forced into a larger role due to injuries, he's fourth on the team in scoring, hitting 37.8% of his more than five 3-point attempts a game, and the Pacers are simply better when he is on the court.

Unexpected standout: Jeremiah Fears. The sophomore has staked his claim as the Pelicans' starting point guard and a guy who should be part of New Orleans' future, whatever that looks like. He hasn't been consistent, his shooting has to become more efficient, but the Pelicans have been solid to start the season and Fears is part of what's working.

Unexpected standout: Oso Ighodaro. Last week, coach Jordan Ott finally made the smart move and moved Oso Ighodaro into the starting lineup — if the Suns want to win games, it had to be done (they won the first two he started). The third-year center out of Marquette is an efficient scorer who is solid on the glass and a good passer, averaging 3.5 assists a game, and he's a guy Ott can trust to make the right, unselfish play, something too often lacking in Phoenix this season.

Unexpected standout: Tristan Da Silva. On a team hit hard by injuries (again!), third-year German wing Tristan Da Silva has stepped up, giving the Magic 15.1 points a night while shooting 40% from beyond the arc. His shooting is what the Magic need to make it all work, especially once Paolo Banchero returns (though another injury to Jalen Suggs reminds us he may be the ultimate glue guy for this team).

Unexpected Standout: Grayson Allen. With Coby White and Kon Knueppel out to start the season, Allen stepped up, averaging 14.1 points a night off the bench, and he recently dropped 27 on Philadelphia. Allen also brings some gritty toughness the Hornets could use. As Charlotte gets healthy, Charles Lee has to find a way to keep getting Allen minutes, he's earned it.

Unexpected Standout: Kobe Sanders. On a team that needs a spark, Sanders is providing one nightly off the bench. "Him being able to shoot the basketball the way he does, being 6'8", being able to defend one through five, I think he understands his role and how he needs to play," Tyronn Lue said of Sanders. "I think he's not trying to do too much on a night-to-night basis, he just taking what the defense gives him....Then, in the Minnesota game, we put the ball in his hands to run some pick-and-rolls off of DHOs and things like that. He was really good, so we got to start testing a little bit more."

Unexpected Standout: Nolan Traore. All the focus in Brooklyn seems to be on other draft picks from the past couple of years — Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. — but second-year French point guard Traore is third on the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game, and he is hot from 3, hitting 48.5% (although that’s almost all catch-and-shoot, he's hesitant to take them off the bounce). Traore is one of the quickest players in the league with the ball and he is figuring out how to use that more coming off screens to get downhill. It's been a positive for the Nets after Traore had a rough rookie season and was injured in Summer League.

Unexpected standout: Keyonte George. While Keyonte George is an obvious standout for the Jazz, saying he is unexpected is not really fair — he was a standout last season when he averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists per game. What was unexpected is that this is George's team — not Lauri Markkanen's, not Scott Peterson's, not the injured Jaren Jackson Jr.'s. Despite all the moves made to win now, this is still George's team. He's averaging 21.3 points and 6.2 assists a game this season. What Will Hardy has to do is figure out how to make George and Peterson mesh better, that backcourt can be the future in Utah.

Unexpected standout: Darius Acuff. I get this is cheating the system, because while Acuff is a standout, this was not unexpected, we all knew he was going to get the keys to the offense. We knew he would put up points — he is the first player in NBA history with 200+ points and 50+ assists through eight games — and be inefficient doing so (at least as a rookie). We knew his defense was an issue. Here's what really matters. He is fluid, he grasps the geometry of the game and how to find the open guy, and he's not flustered. He's calm. The efficiency, the finishing at the rim will come, but he has the important things.

Unexpected standout: Brayden Burries. It's challenging to find optimism in Milwaukee, but with Ryan Rollins in a sophomore slump to start the season, coach Taylor Jenkins has moved Burries, the No. 10 pick last June, into the starting lineup. It's a smart move, while Burries has struggled some against starting-level defenses, but this is how he develops and grows. Burries isn't blowing anyone away, but he's a rookie who has been solid in his first games and that's a promising start.

Unexpected Standout: Tre Jones. Honestly, it's hard to name an unexpected standout in Chicago because, outside of rookie Caleb Wilson's play, there is not much to be positive about. Tre Jones is the exception, playisolid point-of-attack defense, taking care of the ball, and averaging 10.9 points anding 3.1 assists per game. He should probably be getting a little more run.