After a summer roster moves and training camp this fall, opening night for the 2025-26 NBA season is finally here. Every team in the Association is hopeful for serious progress or a trip to the Finals this season. But who really is the best of the best and worst of the worst to begin the regular season? We look to answer that question with our opening night NBA power rankings.
30. Utah Jazz
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In year three as head coach, Will Hardy and his team took another step back as the Jazz finished dead last in the 2024-25 NBA standings. Making matters worse, they didn’t land the top overall pick and the chance to get Cooper Flagg in June. They will hope that top pick Ace Bailey and the additions of veteran bigs Jusuf Nurkić and Kevin Love can make them better than the worst in 2025-26.
29. Washington Wizards
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Despite a head coach change to begin the season, the Washington Wizards and prospects Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly did not make a case for rookie of the year honors. In the summer. DC shipped out Jordan Poole for an aging but still good scorer, in CJ McCollum. They also added former Bucks star Khris Middleton, and with their top pick in the draft, they added Texas’ Tre Johnson. They need a surprise season from any of the above if they want to be competitive this season.
28. Charlotte Hornets
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While LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller put up some pretty good scoring numbers last season, it did not help to make the Charlotte Hornets a competitive team. In the draft, they used the fourth overall pick on Duke star Kon Knueppel. Of the various draft prospects, outside of college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knueppel is the most ready to make an impact despite his athletic limitations. If he doesn’t, the Hornets could be a lottery team again in the 2025-26 season.
27. Brooklyn Nets
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In June’s draft, the Brooklyn Nets had four first-round picks, but opinions on the players they took are mixed. However, BYU’s Egor Demin has the potential to be an even better version of Ben Simmons at his best, and France’s Nolan Traore is an exciting playmaker Nets fans could quickly grow to love. They also moved Cam Johnson for versatile veteran forward Michael Porter Jr. The Nets need their youth to take a step forward this season or remain at the bottom of the East standings.
26. Toronto Raptors
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Despite some good scorers on the roster, the Toronto Raptors struggled offensively last season. It must also be noted that injuries definitely hindered their progress. If they can stay healthy, they have a team that can be a force on offense, especially with Brandon Ingram on the roster. Things can easily go either way for the Raptors in 2025-26, because it will all come down to what head coach Darko Rajaković does in his third season.
25. Portland Trail Blazers
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The Portland Trail Blazers have a roster with some rock-solid, respectable veterans and youngsters with high upside, including Shaedon Sharpe. However, they again struggled last season, and head coach Chauncy Billups is in the hottest seat in the NBA. If he can’t show early signs that he has finally turned the corner as a head coach, the Pistons legend will be on firing watch during the early months of the season.
24. New Orleans Pelicans
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The New Orleans Pelicans will go down as one of the biggest “what if” stories of last season. On paper, they had a very talented roster that could have been a force in the West. However, injuries absolutely decimated them all year. Last season, they traded Brandon Ingram and moved on from CJ McCollum this summer. But as always, any chance of being competitive this year will rest on the injury-prone body of Zion Williamson.
23. Indiana Pacers
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The Indiana Pacers had a year to remember in 2024-25 as they reached the Finals for the first time in over two decades. Top star Tyrese Haliburton also shut up all his doubters and played like a superstar in the playoffs. However, they won’t have him all year after suffering a torn Achilles in the Finals, and they lost Myles Turner to the Bucks in free agency. After not filling those spots this summer, Indy is likely to have a major down season in 2025-26.
22. Chicago Bulls
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Late last season, the Chicago Bulls surprised many around the league by actually getting better after moving Zach LaVine. Josh Giddy flourished under Billy Donovan, and Coby White had a breakout season. The big question is whether it was a hot streak or proof that they are a team on the rise in the East?
21. Phoenix Suns
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Outside of the 76ers, the Phoenix Suns were the league’s biggest letdown in 2024-25. It got head coach Mike Budenholzer fired, and it is why trading Kevin Durant was a must to begin the offseason. In the deal, they get back talented young scorer Jalen Green and glue-guy Dillon Brooks. Then, they cut ties with injury-prone former star Bradley Beal. In theory, they should be worse, but don’t be surprised if they improve from addition by subtraction.
20. Sacramento Kings
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Like the Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings have a really good roster, on paper. They have two multi-time All-Star guards, a top-notch big man in Domantas Sabonis, and impact veteran guards like Dennis Schroder and Malik Monk. But they have a head coach still trying to get his feet under him in Doug Christie. They should be good, but many around the league feel Sactown could be a big disappointment this season.
19. Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat will be drama-free this year, with the Jimmy Butler drama far behind them. However, in the deal that sent him to Golden State, they did not get better at all as a team. However, an offseason trade for All-Star Norman Powell was a big addition. Coach Erik Spoelstra is one of the best in the game. We will get to see how good he is this season with a group that could be a sleeper unit or struggle to make the play-in.
18. Memphis Grizzlies
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The Memphis Grizzlies will look and feel different after firing Taylor Jenkins late last season and replacing him with assistant Tuomas Iisalo. They also began their offseason with the summer’s first blockbuster trade as they sent veteran guard Desmond Bane to the Magic. They got an impressive haul in the deal that includes Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four first-round picks. Adding Ty Jerome in NBA free agency further rounded out a rock-solid roster around top stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson.
17. Dallas Mavericks
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On paper, the Dallas Mavericks have a very good team. Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson are future Hall of Famers who can still play at a high level. Cooper Flagg is one of the most hyped rookies of the last 20 years, and Kyrie Irving can be a top 10 player in the game. However, the latter is out until midseason, the greybeards are old and injury-prone, and Flagg is still a rookie. It will be interesting to see what Jason Kidd can do with this talented but flawed group.
16. Atlanta Hawks
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The Atlanta Hawks were a handful for opposing defenses last season. Led by the face of the franchise, Trae Young, the team was a force on offense. Unfortunately, they were terrible on defense. However, there is reason to expect further growth in 2025-26 due to the emergence of youngsters Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels last season, and the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker this summer. Atlanta is a team to keep an eye on.
15. Philadelphia 76ers
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The Philadelphia 76ers were the biggest disappointment in the NBA last season as injuries to their top two players destroyed any plans to be an NBA Finals contender. The only positive from the lost campaign was that Tyrese Maxey confirmed he is a legitimate star in the league and is worth building around. Nevertheless, if Joel Embiid and Paul George can stay healthy, the 76ers can be a serious problem for every team in the conference. However, it is another huge if in 2025-26.
14. Boston Celtics
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Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury in Game 5 of the semifinals completely altered the trajectory of the Boston Celtics this season. Plus, the cut costs by trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, and letting Al Horford walk in free agency. They still have Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and talented coach Joe Mazzulla, but this group will have to fight for a play-in spot this season.
13. San Antonio Spurs
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The San Antonio Spurs are a team ready for a breakout season. Victor Wembanyama is back healthy from his blood clot scare and taller. Plus, he has the best team he has ever had around him in the NBA. The French phenom has shown just a taste of what he can be in his first two seasons. This should be the year when he establishes himself as a dominant top-10 player in the game with the help of players like De’Aaron Fox.
12. Detroit Pistons
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The Detroit Pistons were the top feel-good story in the league last season as they went from the worst team in the league to a formidable playoff squad. The Pistons have the core pieces of a very competitive team back in 2025-26. While they lost key bench stars Tim Hardaway and Dennis Schroder in free agency, Heat veteran Duncan Robinson should help fill the void. Detroit will be a tough out for any team this season.
11. Milwaukee Bucks
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The Milwaukee Bucks made some big changes in the summer by moving on from future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard. However, in an attempt to keep top star Giannis Antetokounmpo happy, they made one of the boldest moves of the offseason by luring Myles Turner away from Indiana. Nevertheless, unless they are a top team in the East the will he or want Giannis trade chatter will persist. But with the conference weaker than previous years, they can be one of the East’s best in 2025-26.
10. Los Angeles Clippers
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The Los Angeles Clippers will look to quiet the off-court noise after a scandal about how they originally acquired Kawhi Leonard. In the summer, they locked up James Harden to a new deal in NBA free agency and brought in grey beards Brook Lopez, Chris Paul, and Bradley Beal. Plus, they moved first-time All-Star Norman Powell to Miami in a three-team swap that landed them John Collins.
Tyron Lue is one of the best coaches in the NBA and should field another very competitive team with his crew of older stars.
9. Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic dealt with major injuries to key players throughout the season, but battled through with their elite defense. However, just like last season, scoring — especially from behind the arc — bedeviled them during the playoffs. That is why they gave up so much to get Desmond Bane in June. He gives them both the playmaking and three-point shooting they badly lacked. The Magic can be a sleeper team in the East this season.
8. Denver Nuggets
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When you have the best player on the planet, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. Yet this season is very different than recent years. After shockingly firing Michael Malone late in the campaign, David Adelman replaced him and did a rock-solid job. However, now, expectations are fire higher and he will be expected to have his team competing for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Fan-favorite Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway, and Jonas Valančiūnas should help the bench, while Cam Johnson brings a new dimension to the starting five in Adelman’s first full year leading the team.
7. Los Angeles Lakers
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At the start of the postseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were a popular dark horse pick in the West. And why not? They had an NBA icon in LeBron James, a top-five player in Luka Doncic, and an impressive young coach in JJ Reddick. Yet, the West’s dark horse pick got matched up with the conference’s sleeper team in the Timberwolves and was ousted in the quarterfinals.
Things should be better this season after a full summer and training camp together for the two superstars and the coach. However, they could get off to a slow start with James not expected to suit up until mid-November.
6. Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the NBA last season. After showing some real growth under coach Ime Udoka two years, they continued the momentum and evolved into an elite team in the West with strong defense, and the emergence of Alperen Sengun as a new star in the league. In the summer, the Rockets made the biggest trade of the year by acquiring league legend Kevin Durant. The hope is that the 15-time All-Star gives them the elite go-to, late-game scorer they lacked last year.
5. Golden State Warriors
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Entering last season’s playoffs, the Golden State Warriors were seen as a serious dark horse to go all the way. And after storming through the Play-In tourney and beating the two-seeded Rockets, they looked like they could be the team to beat out West. However, Stephen Curry’s first-ever hamstring injury came at the worst possible time.
They are led by a trio of future Hall of Famers still with some good years left in them again this season. If they can stay healthy, the Warriors can easily be a top-five team in the West in 2025-26.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
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Although it took longer than many expected, the Minnesota Timberwolves maintained their place as a top team out West last season. Unfortunately, the eventual champion Thunder ended their campaign in the conference finals for a second straight year.
In the offseason, they were able to lock both Naz Reid and Julius Randle into new long-term deals. Solidifying their talented frontcourt for a few more seasons. They are one of OKC’s biggest threats in the new season.
3. New York Knicks
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The New York Knicks took another big step closer to a title last season. They were tested early in the playoffs, but went all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, they couldn’t overcome the Pacers for a second straight year, and it likely cost coach Tom Thibodeau his job.
Replacing him will be former Cavs and Kings head coach Mike Brown, and he will have an absurd amount of pressure on his shoulders. However, the front office did a very nice job of improving the bench in free agency to give Brown a deep and talented roster in his first year in New York.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
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The Cleveland Cavaliers were a dominant team in the East last season. Coach Kenny Atkinson was given one of the league’s better defenses and added the offensive efficiency they lacked. Unfortunately, when push came to shove in the playoffs, the Cavs could not get past the semifinals. Much of last year’s team is back in 2025-26, and with the East being weaker this time around, a 70-win year is not out of the question for Cleveland.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
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The Oklahoma City Thunder were the best team in the NBA throughout last season. Posting 68 wins with elite defense and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. And in June, the team brought home the franchise’s first championship. In the summer, they made sure to lock up their core long-term, and that is why they are a heavy favorite to get back to the Finals this season.
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After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos