Sentiment · 2026-27

Player sentiment

How fans and media talk about players and teams. The two are shown side by side, never merged into one number.

Data as of Oct 6, 2026Headlines· Oct 61,543 headlinesFans· Oct 631,071 fan postsCurated· Aug 22prototype values, not measured

A language model rates the tone of headlines, fan posts and comments toward the players they name. Team scores and fan posts from before the model still use a word list, so read those as rough.

Sources and method

Headlines· Oct 6Media lanes. 1,543 NBA headlines from 23 publishers, Jul 24 to Oct 6. A player needs 3 headlines in the last 7 days to get a score. A language model rates each headline as positive, neutral or negative toward each player it names. Checked against 127 labeled headlines, it matched the label about 7 times in 10 and never rated one the opposite way. Players named only in the summary, and team scores, still use a word list. 72% of this week's player mentions have a model rating.
Fans· Oct 6Fan lanes. 31,071 fan posts: 1,329 headlines from 30 team fan blogs, 1,919 social posts and 27,823 video comments, Jun 25 to Oct 6. A player or team needs 5 posts in the last 7 days to get a score. Comments under the same video share weight, so 100 comments on one video count for less than 100 posts spread across many places. Fan blog headlines get the same model rating as news headlines. Social posts and video comments that name a player are rated by the same model when they are collected, up to a nightly limit. Checked against 143 labeled fan posts, it matched the label about 3 times in 4 and rated 2 the opposite way. The word list matched about half and rated 18 the opposite way. Older posts, posts past the nightly limit and team scores keep the word list. 18% of this week's player mentions in posts and comments have a model rating.
Curated· Aug 22Hand-written prototype values dated Aug 22, 2026. They show how the board works and are not measurements.

How often the tone rating matches a hand labelSame as the labelOne step offOpposite side

News headlines 63 headlines

Language model

71% match0 opposite.

Word list

52% match2 opposite.

Social posts 72 posts

Language model

76% match0 opposite.

Word list

44% match6 opposite.

Video comments 71 comments

Language model

72% match2 opposite.

Word list

54% match12 opposite.

A coding agent labeled each one positive, neutral or negative toward one named player, not a human panel. One step off means a neutral rating where the label picked a side, or the reverse. The headline set leaves out the half used to tune the word list.

Fan and media tone are kept separate from performance metrics and Movement Center evidence. The privacy page lists what is kept from each source.

Players

266 players for 2026-27. 264 have at least one measured lane. Filtering topic training camp.

How this works

Trend compares the last 7 days of headline tone with the 7 days before. It stays blank until both weeks have enough headlines. DRBL/100 is last season's.


LeBron James	PHI	54%Fans	53%Headlines	−3	98	+0.2
Giannis Antetokounmpo	MIA	54%Fans	69%Headlines	—	60	+1.9
Luka Doncic	LAL	56%Fans	60%Headlines	−10	57	+1.1
Jalen Duren	DET	55%Fans	80%Headlines	+64	51	+2.0
Karl-Anthony Towns	NYK	53%Fans	38%Headlines	−7	46	+0.3
Stephen Curry	GSW	60%Fans	58%Headlines	−4	43	+1.2
Jaylen Brown	PHI	61%Fans	65%Headlines	+35	33	-0.1
Austin Reaves	LAL	57%Fans	55%Headlines	−26	29	+0.4
Joel Embiid	PHI	56%Fans	53%Headlines	−18	26	+0.2
Ariel Hukporti	PHI	52%Fans	9%Headlines	—	24	-0.7
Victor Wembanyama	SAS	57%Fans	52%Headlines	—	20	+1.7
Draymond Green	GSW	46%Fans	43%Headlines	−24	19	-1.7
Walker Kessler	LAL	62%Fans	52%Headlines	—	18	—
Anthony Davis	WAS	44%Fans	34%Headlines	−24	17	-0.2
Brandon Boston Jr.	CHI	57%Fans	62%Headlines	—	17	—
Bronny James	LAL	54%Fans	66%Headlines	−1	17	-0.9
Kawhi Leonard	TOR	51%Fans	44%Headlines	+3	16	+2.4
Dalton Knecht	LAL	61%Fans	22%Headlines	—	15	+0.1
Dillon Brooks	PHX	48%Fans	10%Headlines	—	15	-0.0
Jimmy Butler III	GSW	51%Fans	52%Headlines	−8	15	+1.6
Ben Simmons	SAC	53%Fans	56%Headlines	+17	14	—
Max Strus	LAC	18%Fans	0%Headlines	—	14	+0.1
Tyrese Maxey	PHI	60%Fans	70%Headlines	—	14	+1.3
Anthony Edwards	MIN	63%Fans	55%Headlines	—	13	+1.4
Kevin Durant	HOU	56%Fans	49%Headlines	—	12	+1.2
LaMelo Ball	MIN	59%Fans	85%Headlines	—	11	-0.0
Brandin Podziemski	GSW	56%Fans	85%Headlines	—	10	+0.1
Bub Carrington	WAS	48%Fans	35%Headlines	—	10	-1.5
Jayson Tatum	BOS	60%Fans	83%Headlines	—	10	-0.3
Klay Thompson	MIA	66%Fans	78%Headlines	—	10	+0.1
Nikola Jokic	DEN	64%Fans	63%Headlines	−9	10	+1.4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	OKC	55%Fans	55%Headlines	—	10	+2.8
Ja Morant	POR	65%Fans	56%Headlines	—	9	-1.2
Kristaps Porzingis	GSW	63%Fans	56%Headlines	+56	9	-0.0
Matisse Thybulle	LAL	67%Fans	57%Headlines	—	9	+1.5
Coby White	CHA	29%Fans	7%Headlines	—	8	+0.0
Darius Garland	LAC	57%Fans	53%Headlines	—	8	-0.3
Keshon Gilbert	ATL	—	50%Headlines	—	8	—
Tobias Harris	SAS	54%Fans	14%Headlines	—	8	+0.8
Adou Thiero	LAL	64%Fans	81%Headlines	—	7	—
Rui Hachimura	LAC	65%Fans	76%Headlines	—	7	+0.3
VJ Edgecombe	PHI	61%Fans	88%Headlines	—	7	0.0
Bam Adebayo	MIA	58%Fans	67%Headlines	—	6	+0.0
Buddy Hield	CHI	62%Fans	70%Headlines	+7	6	-0.2
Damian Lillard	POR	56%Fans	52%Headlines	—	6	—
Khaman Maluach	PHX	71%Fans	74%Headlines	—	6	-0.3
Mike Conley	BOS	72%Fans	67%Headlines	—	6	-0.8
Mohamed Diawara	NYK	66%Fans	67%Headlines	—	6	-0.1
Nikola Jovic	MIA	69%Fans	50%Headlines	—	6	-1.7
OG Anunoby	NYK	58%Fans	73%Headlines	—	6	+1.0
Tyler Herro	MIL	53%Fans	18%Headlines	—	6	+0.7
Al Horford	GSW	64%Fans	70%Headlines	—	5	-0.3
Cason Wallace	OKC	53%Fans	30%Headlines	—	5	+0.7
De'Anthony Melton	GSW	59%Fans	80%Headlines	—	5	+0.1
DeMar DeRozan	DEN	57%Fans	71%Headlines	—	5	+0.2
Jalen Brunson	NYK	59%Fans	53%Headlines	−39	5	+0.6
Keon Ellis	BKN	—	94%Headlines	—	5	+0.6
Paul George	BOS	44%Fans	74%Headlines	—	5	+0.8
Trae Young	WAS	56%Fans	30%Headlines	—	5	-0.2
Amen Thompson	HOU	60%Fans	61%Headlines	—	4	+0.4
Collin Sexton	LAL	59%Fans	31%Headlines	—	4	+0.7
Dean Wade	PHI	57%Fans	88%Headlines	——	4	+0.5
John Collins	DET	56%Fans	25%Headlines	—	4	+0.6
Julius Randle	BKN	54%Fans	73%Headlines	—	4	-0.0
Kyle Kuzma	MIL	51%Fans	5%Headlines	—	4	-0.5
Miles McBride	NYK	43%Fans	50%Headlines	—	4	+1.1
RJ Barrett	TOR	60%Fans	26%Headlines	—	4	+0.2
Ryan Nembhard	DEN	86%Fans	72%Headlines	—	4	-1.6
Scottie Barnes	TOR	45%Fans	71%Headlines	—	4	+0.0
Zion Williamson	NOP	51%Fans	25%Headlines	—	4	+1.3
Devin Booker	PHX	55%Fans	84%Headlines	—	3	-0.0
Domantas Sabonis	SAC	55%Fans	67%Headlines	—	3	-0.6
Dylan Harper	SAS	58%Fans	16%Headlines	—	3	+0.3
Jalen Williams	OKC	87%Fans	85%Headlines	—	3	+0.1
James Harden	CLE	55%Fans	56%Headlines	—	3	+0.0
Jared McCain	OKC	68%Fans	67%Headlines	—	3	-0.3
Jarred Vanderbilt	LAL	47%Fans	45%Headlines	—	3	-0.7
Kel'el Ware	MIL	73%Fans	64%Headlines	—	3	+0.8
Matas Buzelis	CHI	66%Fans	59%Headlines	—	3	-0.0
Naz Reid	CHA	75%Fans	61%Headlines	—	3	+0.2
Nic Claxton	CHI	55%Fans	26%Headlines	—	3	-0.1
Norman Powell	CHI	—	59%Headlines	—	3	+1.4
Payton Pritchard	BOS	68%Fans	67%Headlines	—	3	+0.7
Rudy Gobert	MIN	53%Fans	88%Headlines	—	3	+0.5
Tim Hardaway Jr.	MIA	55%Fans	67%Headlines	—	3	+0.8
Aaron Gordon	DEN	71%Fans	—	——	—	+0.8
Ace Bailey	UTA	60%Fans	—	——	—	-0.8
Adem Bona	PHI	62%Fans	—	——	—	-0.5
Ajay Mitchell	OKC	75%Fans	—	——	—	+0.4
Alex Caruso	OKC	53%Fans	—	——	—	+0.7
Alex Sarr	WAS	66%Fans	—	——	—	-0.3
Alijah Martin	TOR	50%Fans	—	——	—	—
Anfernee Simons	PHI	56%Fans	—	——	—	+0.0
Ausar Thompson	DET	64%Fans	—	——	—	+0.3
Blake Hinson	UTA	68%Fans	—	——	—	+1.6
Blake Wesley	LAC	56%Fans	—	——	—	-0.8
Brandon Ingram	LAC	45%Fans	—	——	—	-0.0
Brook Lopez	LAC	69%Fans	—	——	—	-0.3
Charles Bassey	GSW	75%Fans	—	——	—	—
Chet Holmgren	OKC	51%Fans	56%Curated	——	—	+1.1
Chris Manon	LAL	72%Fans	—	——	—	—
Christian Braun	DEN	65%Fans	—	——	—	+0.1
Corey Kispert	ATL	67%Fans	—	——	—	-0.1
Davion Mitchell	MIA	51%Fans	—	——	—	-0.4
Deni Avdija	POR	44%Fans	—	——	—	+0.1
Dominick Barlow	PHI	48%Fans	—	——	—	-0.1
Duncan Robinson	DET	53%Fans	—	——	—	+0.7
Gary Payton II	GSW	69%Fans	—	——	—	+0.8
Gary Trent Jr.	MIL	50%Fans	—	——	—	-0.5
GG Jackson	MEM	47%Fans	—	——	—	-0.1
Immanuel Quickley	TOR	50%Fans	—	——	—	+0.4
Isaiah Hartenstein	OKC	53%Fans	—	——	—	+0.1
Isaiah Stewart	MEM	59%Fans	—	——	—	+0.3
Ivica Zubac	IND	68%Fans	—	——	—	-0.2
Ja'Kobe Walter	TOR	49%Fans	—	——	—	+0.9
Jabari Walker	PHI	71%Fans	—	——	—	-0.1
Jakob Poeltl	TOR	57%Fans	—	——	—	+0.5
Jalen Smith	CHI	72%Fans	—	——	—	+0.5
Jamal Murray	DEN	55%Fans	—	——	—	+0.7
James Wiseman	NYK	67%Fans	—	——	—	—
Jamison Battle	TOR	49%Fans	—	——	—	+0.5
Jeremiah Fears	NOP	70%Fans	—	——	—	-0.7
Joan Beringer	MIN	61%Fans	—	——	—	+0.2
Jonathan Kuminga	MIN	68%Fans	—	——	—	-0.3
Jordan Poole	NOP	52%Fans	—	——	—	-0.8
Jrue Holiday	POR	61%Fans	—	——	—	+0.4
Jusuf Nurkic	UTA	55%Fans	—	——	—	-0.5
Kelly Oubre Jr.	IND	60%Fans	—	——	—	+0.2
Keyonte George	UTA	73%Fans	—	——	—	+0.3
Kobe Sanders	LAC	32%Fans	—	——	—	-0.6
Kyle Anderson	TOR	60%Fans	—	——	—	+0.1
Lauri Markkanen	UTA	56%Fans	—	——	—	+1.8
Luke Kennard	PHX	44%Fans	—	——	—	+0.9
Marvin Bagley III	DEN	63%Fans	—	——	—	+0.8
Miles Bridges	PHX	57%Fans	—	——	—	+0.2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	ATL	63%Fans	—	——	—	+0.8
Noah Clowney	BKN	58%Fans	—	——	—	-0.1
Paul Reed	DET	61%Fans	—	——	—	+1.1
Pelle Larsson	MIA	65%Fans	—	——	—	-0.2
Peyton Watson	CLE	66%Fans	—	——	—	-0.3
Quentin Grimes	LAL	67%Fans	—	——	—	-0.3
RayJ Dennis	ATL	59%Fans	—	——	—	—
Ryan Rollins	MIL	55%Fans	—	——	—	+0.2
Scoot Henderson	POR	62%Fans	—	——	—	-0.3
Trayce Jackson-Davis	TOR	54%Fans	—	——	—	-0.1
Will Riley	WAS	61%Fans	—	——	—	-0.3

Showing 146 of 266 players. Trend is in percentage points on the 0–100% scale.