Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. have landed in the top 60 of ESPN's NBA Top 100 player rankings, a bright spot for a Brooklyn Nets team mired in a difficult stretch. The Nets' recent form shows just one win in their last five outings, a 1W-0D-4L run culminating in a 125-108 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on 2026-04-11. This context makes the individual accolades for their new star forwards all the more significant as Brooklyn looks to climb from the NBA's basement.
Julius Randle is ranked 54th on ESPN's list, a drop of 12 spots from the previous year. The three-time All-Star averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game last season. But his playoff performance hurt his standing. In 12 postseason games, Randle's numbers fell to 16.0 points per game on 39.0% shooting from the field.
Michael Porter Jr. Saw a rise, moving up 10 spots to land at number 60. His first season in Brooklyn was a career-best. The 6-foot-10 forward put up 24.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, shooting 46.3% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range. That efficiency placed him in elite company with Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic as one of three players to average 24+ points and 7+ rebounds on those shooting splits.
The Nets finished the 2025-26 season with the NBA's 30th-ranked offense. Pairing Randle's driving and playmaking with Porter's elite catch-and-shoot ability is the planned foundation for a turnaround. Randle himself believes they fit well. "We're two completely different players," Randle said. "I think we actually complement each other very well. I can do a lot with the ball off the dribble, creating."
Randle's ability to facilitate could be huge. In Minnesota lineups without a point guard, he averaged 5.0 assists. His contract has two years left, including a player option. Porter is on an expiring $40.8 million deal but is eligible for a massive extension. Their partnership needs to gel quickly to change the team's fortunes.
The team's struggle is evident in the recent results. After a 96-90 win over Milwaukee on 2026-04-07, they dropped their next two games. They fell 123-94 to the Indiana Pacers on 2026-04-09 before the recent loss to the Bucks. Earlier losses include a 117-86 defeat by Charlotte and a tight 109-106 loss to Golden State.
This tough run shows the challenge ahead. The Nets are leaning on Randle and Porter to lead a young squad, and their integration is a work in progress. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page. The hope is that this top-60 duo can start translating individual talent into much-needed team success and help the offense escape its league-worst ranking.
