Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg lead NBA small forward preseason rankings

Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg occupy the top two spots in HoopsHype's preseason rankings for NBA small forwards ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Tatum earned the top position after a limited but productive 16-game return from an Achilles injury last season. Flagg enters his second year as the reigning Rookie of the Year following a debut season where he averaged 21.0 points for the Mavericks. The Dallas roster now features supporting additions including Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama, and Marcus Sasser, intended to assist Flagg. Conversely, Tatum enters the season with an increased workload in Boston following the departure of Jaylen Brown. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett also appeared in the top 20, keeping the Duke alumni presence significant at the position.

• 4:01 PMYahoo Sports — Jayson Tatum, Cooper Flagg rank as NBA’s top two small forwards