The 10 Best 82-0 Players After the 2025-2026 Season
The 2025-2026 NBA season just wrapped up, and the modern era of basketball continues to produce elite scoring, versatility, and playmaking at levels that would have been unimaginable even fifteen years ago. If you're building your 82-0 Challenge roster, the 2020s decade is loaded — arguably the deepest offensive decade in NBA history.
Here's our definitive ranking of the 10 players you should be targeting after this season, based on 2020s decade stats, All-Star selections, MVP hardware, and overall value in the Franchise Lab simulation engine.
The Top 10
Nikola Jokić
Jokić is the most complete player in basketball history at his position. Three MVPs, seven All-Star selections, and a stat line that no center has ever matched. His playmaking alone makes him a top-5 all-time pick in any simulation. In the 82-0 engine, his combination of scoring, rebounding, and assists creates a roster multiplier effect that no other player replicates.
Luka Dončić
Luka quietly became one of the five best offensive players in NBA history during this decade. His scoring average with Dallas sat at 30.2 and climbed even higher with the Lakers. The triple-double threat is real every single night. At his peak, there's an argument he's the best offensive player alive.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak remains one of the most physically dominant players the NBA has ever seen. Near-30 per game with double-digit rebounds and two MVPs in this decade alone. His athleticism-to-production ratio is unmatched by any forward in the game. If you're building a Milwaukee-themed roster, he's the obvious centerpiece.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA's ascent has been one of the best stories in the NBA this decade. Leading a young Thunder squad to consistent playoff success while scoring 28 points a night, he finally earned his MVP. His scoring efficiency and defensive contributions make him one of the best two-way guards in the simulation engine.
Joel Embiid
When healthy, there isn't a more dominant offensive big man in the game. Embiid's 29.3 scoring average and MVP hardware put him in rarefied air. His only knock has always been availability — but in the 82-0 Challenge, you're drafting peak Embiid, and that's a different story entirely.
LeBron James
LeBron is the only player in history who spans five decades as an elite contributor. His 2020s numbers remain elite even as he ages — 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists per game while still winning games at the highest level. Four MVPs make him one of the greatest values in the entire game across all decades.
Stephen Curry
Steph Curry changed the way basketball is played, and the 82-0 simulation rewards his shooting efficiency accordingly. His 2020s numbers — 27 points on ridiculous percentages — combined with two MVPs make him one of the most efficient scoring picks in the game. If you're chasing a Warriors-era team, he's the foundation.
James Harden
Harden's Houston years represent some of the most prolific individual scoring runs in NBA history. His 33.3 PPG season made him the most unstoppable offensive player of that era. If you're building a Houston Rockets roster, he's an automatic first pick — nobody else in franchise history comes close to those numbers.
Jayson Tatum
Tatum's six All-Star selections during the 2020s reflect his consistency as one of the top-5 forwards in basketball. His scoring and rebounding combination makes him a great fit at SF in any 82-0 roster construction. For Celtics fans building a franchise squad, he's the cornerstone of the modern era.
Donovan Mitchell
Spida Mitchell quietly became one of the most decorated guards of this decade with six All-Star nods. After his trade to Cleveland reignited his career, he's been a consistent 26-point scorer who elevates everyone around him. In the simulation, his scoring at the guard position provides excellent balance to a big-man-heavy roster.
Honorable Mentions
Kevin Durant's move to Phoenix kept his All-Star streak alive and his scoring average in the mid-to-high 20s. If you're building a Nets or Suns squad and want a small forward who can carry an offense, Durant remains one of the most skilled scorers in game history and absolutely worth a top pick.
The 2020s decade is the best source of guard depth in the entire game. If you can lock up Jokić or Embiid at center, then stack Luka/SGA/Tatum/Mitchell across the perimeter, you'll be nearly impossible to beat in the simulation engine.
How the 82-0 Game Uses These Stats
The 82-0 Challenge uses each player's decade stats — points, rebounds, assists, plus All-Star and MVP counts — to simulate an 82-game season. Players from the 2020s decade represent the strongest offensive generation in the game's database, with scoring averages routinely above 25 points per game for franchise-level stars.
MVP counts carry significant weight in the simulation, which is why Jokić (3 MVPs), LeBron (4 MVPs), and Curry (2 MVPs) score higher than their raw numbers might suggest. The accolade multiplier rewards proven excellence over raw volume.
Build Your Dream 2020s Roster
Draft Jokić, Luka, Giannis and go 82-0 with the best decade in NBA history.
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