We are a couple of weeks into the new NBA season, and there are already some interesting storylines emerging around the game. Including the unbelievable play of young stars Victor Wembayama and Austin Reaves. But who are the best teams in the Association right now? We look to answer that with our all-new NBA power rankings.
30. 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.
While new addition Michael Porter Jr. has played well in Brooklyn, he and Cam Thomas have not been able to stop the Nets from being one of the worst teams in the league. Their defense is among the absolute worst in the game, and their offense, after Thomas and Porter Jr., has disappointed.
29. Washington Wizards
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Despite a new head coach, the Washington Wizards and prospects Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly were terrible last season. In the summer. DC shipped out Jordan Poole for an aging but still good scorer, in CJ McCollum, and they also added former Bucks star Khris Middleton.
They need the veterans to play well if they want to be better than awful this season. That has not been the case, and the Wiz remain bottom feeders this season.
28. New Orleans Pelicans
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Injuries absolutely decimated the New Orleans Pelicans last season. In response, 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.
While Williamson has played, they have nonetheless been terrible and started the year 0-5. They are the worst-scoring team in the NBA, and their defense isn’t much better. Head coach Willy Green is in the hottest seat in the league.
27. 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.
The Pacers were expected to struggle, and the pundits were right. Even at their best, they were a back-15 defensive team. However, without a high-level offense, they are not a competitive team. Along with several key injuries, their 1-5 start should not be a surprise.
26. 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.
Under new head coach Jordon Ott, they have been a bottom-10 team on defense, but their offense has not helped balance the scales. However, Jalen Green will return soon to give Devin Booker some support to what has been a strong start to the season.
25. Dallas Mavericks
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On paper, the Dallas Mavericks have a rock-solid team. Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson are future Hall of Famers who can still play at a high level, and Cooper Flagg is one of the most hyped rookies of the last 20 years. However, the absence of Kyrie Irving has been noticeable as they are among the worst scoring teams in the game to begin the new season.
They need Flagg to play very well at a young age if they want to be competitive. But he has been just okay over his first couple of weeks in the league. The demand on him won’t decrease with Davis now dealing with another injury.
24. Toronto Raptors
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If the Toronto Raptors 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.
As expected, they have played well on offense as Ingram and Scottie Barnes have led the way. Unfortunately, their defense has been trash and is among the five worst to begin the season.
23. 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 new season, Miles Bridges has returned to being the borderline All-Star he was two years ago, and it’s why the Hornets have one of the best offenses in the NBA.
Unfortunately, their defense (123.6 PPG) is a major Achilles heel and is why they have a below .500 record to start the season.
22. Sacramento Kings
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Like the Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings have a 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 some around the game feel Sactown could be a big disappointment this season.
So far, not so good. Despite their talent, they have struggled on offense and defense to begin the season. Inexperienced head coach Doug Christie has a big challenge in front of him to make the pieces of this roster fit.
21. Utah Jazz
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Last year, 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.
Hopes are not high in Salt Lake City, but the team has been alright this season. Lauri Markkanen has been amazing, and Walker Kessler continues to grow. It’s why they surprisingly have one of the better offenses in the game early in 2025-26. Unfortunately, their defense is holding them back from being the first-half surprise they were a few seasons ago.
20. Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic dealt with major injuries to key players throughout last season, but battled through with their elite defense. They lacked another playmaker and three-point shooting. However, they believe they answered those issues with a trade for Desmond Bane in the summer.
Unfortunately, as they try to build chemistry with the new addition, their patented defense has suffered and played a major role in a surprisingly four-game skid early in the season.
19. 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.
As expected, it has been a struggle for the Cs this season. However, to their credit, they are playing outstanding defense early in the new season. It is why they are hovering around .500 and staying competitive nightly.
18. 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.
There were expectations they might struggle offensively under new head coach Mike Brown, and that has been the case thus far. They are bottom 10 in the league in scoring, and All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns has not been able to find his groove. It is a big reason why they have slumped a bit to begin their 2025-26 campaign.
17. Memphis Grizzlies
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The Memphis Grizzlies will feel a bit 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.
So far, there are some worrying signs of unrest between top star Ja Morant and Iisalo’s approach. Also, while they have been a good unit on offense, they have struggled big time on defense and are bottom five in the league on that side of the ball. It’s why they got off to a 3-3 start to begin the new campaign.
16. 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.
Defense has been a hallmark of the Wolves the last few years, and why they are among the elites in the league. However, much like last year, they are playing average defense to start the season. While Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle are off to strong starts, they haven’t gotten enough on from the rest of the team and which is why they started the season with a 3-3 record. A new injury to Edwards won’t help matters.
15. 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. However, with Darius Garland still sidelined, the offense has struggled to start the new season. It is a key reason why they have suffered surprise losses to the Raptors and Celtics to begin the year.
14. 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 has had a decent start to the new season, but their offense has not been as impactful as it was last year. They are going to get worse in the weeks ahead, with Young expected to miss the next month because of a knee sprain.
13. 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. However, Stephen Curry’s first-ever hamstring injury came at the worst possible time, and they were ousted early in the postseason.
Despite a strong veteran roster, the Warriors have gotten off to a slow start in the new season. They are playing rock-solid defense but are surprisingly averaging 117 points a game. Buddy Hield’s slump to begin the season (seven points a game) has played a key role in their sluggish start.
12. 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. It certainly helps that Tyron Lue is one of the best coaches in the NBA and is a big reason why the Clippers will always be a competitive team, at least.
If they want to go anywhere this season, Leonard must stay healthy, and so far, so good. While LA has not gotten off to a hot start, its top star is staying on the court and playing at a high level.
11. 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 different than recent years after shockingly firing Michael Malone late in the campaign and replacing him with David Adelman.
Denver has an okay start to the new season, but that is to be expected after adding several new players and Adelman fully implementing his own style. Instead of just continuing what Malone was doing.
10. Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat will be drama-free this year, with the Jimmy Butler drama far behind them. In this offseason, they looked to fill that scoring void when they made a trade for All-Star Norman Powell.
So far, he has been everything they could have hoped for as the vocal point of their offense. Despite being without Tyler Herro, and Terry Rozier gone because of being involved in a gambling scandal, the Heat have gotten off to a nice start to the season. And have surprisingly been led by an offense that is one of the best in the game (125.4 PPG).
9. Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the NBA last season, as they 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.
To begin the year, Houston has been one of the league’s best on offense. While their defense struggled a bit earlier in the year, it has started to look a lot more like last season in recent games.
8. 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.
With the coach out of the picture due to his involvement in a wild poker rigging scheme, the Trail Blazers have been the biggest surprise of the new season. A major reason is the outstanding player of Deni Avdija, who is having a career year in his sixth season in the league after being the ninth pick overall in 2020 by Washington.
7. 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. Their young core returns this season and is expecting even bigger things in 2025-26.
If Detroit wanted to elevate its status, it needed some of its other young players to get better. They have gotten that early from Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, and it’s a big reason why they began the year 4-2.
6. 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.
Despite LeBron James not having played this season and Doncic missing several games, the Lakers have gotten off to a nice start due to some absurd play by Austin Reaves, including a 51-point game. If he can play like this when James returns, the Lakers will be a problem in the West.
5. 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?
It looks like it was no fluke. They have been one of the best teams in the league after getting off to an impressive 5-0 start. Yet, what makes Chicago’s strong play so intriguing is not only that they are playing well on offense, but they are also top 10 in defense, giving up just 114.0 PPG to opponents.
4. 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.
Many wondered if this group would work, especially without a true point guard. However, the Greek freak has been outstanding to start the season. Plus, the strong play of guards Ryan Rollins and Gary Trent Jr. is why the Bucks have one of the better records in the East right now.
3. 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.
The youngster is still playing at a high level. However, few expected rookie VJ Edgecombe to be so good so fast. While Embiid works his way back into form and George sits on the sidelines, the pair of youngsters have been outstanding and are why the Sixers have one of the better records in the NBA.
2. 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.
Those facts have been shown early in 2025-26. However, no one expected the French phenom to be playing like one of the best players on Earth already. The youngster has been an absolute monster to begin the year and is already getting MVP talk due to his absurd start. Plus, they have the best defense in the game.
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. Things haven’t changed much in the new season. They began the year 6-0 and are again playing defense while SGA continues to play like one of the top three players on Earth.
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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