Summary
NBA Power Rankings are an easy way of assessing how well each team in the league have been performing.
Numerous aspects, such as current injuries and standings for next season, have contributed to the ranking.
The leading team on this list have a core of players that could lead them for years.
Each season of the NBA is, in total, around about eight months in length, though a solid few weeks of that, at the end of every campaign, is the play-offs. 16 teams, playing within the very moment of a season that so many organisations hope to reach each year.
At the time of writing, the Conference Finals of the 2024/25 NBA season are underway. One of either the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers or Oklahoma City Thunder will be crowned as champions of the entire league, with the Knicks having eliminated the Boston Celtics, who were defending the title.
Of course, not every team in the league is focused on the play-offs. Some will have had their eye on the draft all year and as such, have endured a poor season to better their prospects for the future. A number of these teams have planned better, however, than others. With every team’s current predicament being considered, what are the Power Rankings of the NBA?
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Ranking Factors
This list has been ranked on a number of things, such as each team's regular season form, their showings in the play-offs if they made the post-season and how their fortunes are looking for the upcoming 2025/26 campaign, be it due to draft picks or injuries.
NBA Power Rankings
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10 Los Angeles Lakers
Number 10
Luka Doncic pointing
Many are still in shock that Luka Doncic was traded away to Los Angeles from the Dallas Mavericks. It will take time for the Slovenian superstar to adapt his game, playing alongside NBA legend LeBron James.
When Doncic and James played together, the Lakers were 15-9 and the guard has seemingly inspired the Lakers to shoot more from range. Having consistently defied Father Time in campaigns past, James and his partnership with Doncic will no doubt carry significant threat in the upcoming NBA season.
9 Houston Rockets
Number Nine
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and point guard Fred VanVleet
Ime Udoka has done an exceptional job with the Houston Rockets, who hired him two years ago after a 22-win season that came with 60 losses. After a 41-41 record in the 2023/24 season, the Rockets improved by 11 victories to finish second in the Western Conference, ahead of the likes of the Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Rockets were beaten in the first round of the play-offs by Golden State, but it is a positive sign for Houston. They have a young team full of potential, who a brilliant coach has already guided to the post-season.
8 Golden State Warriors
Number Eight
Stephen Curry
Golden State are not quite the dynasty that they were in the 2010s, but that is not to suggest by any means that they are a poor team. Steph Curry is still an incredible point guard, leading the team in both points scored and assists with averages of 24.5 and 6.0 respectively.
Curry has been supported by the likes of Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler, with Golden State reaching the second round of the play-offs by beating Houston in round one. Though they were eliminated in the second round by Minnesota, Golden State are well-primed to reach the play-offs again next season.
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7 Cleveland Cavaliers
Number Seven
Darius Garland Cleveland Cavaliers
After five seasons of service, J.B. Bickerstaff was sacked by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his place, the franchise hired Kenny Atkinson and were reaping the rewards of their decision immediately. The Cavs won their first 15 games of the season and had secured their place in the play-offs by March, going onto win their Divisional title with a 64-18 record.
The Cavs have a young, exciting team and have proven in recent seasons that they belong in the play-offs. As proven by their fairly comprehensive defeat to Indiana in the post-season, Cleveland still have areas to develop, but are well-placed to oversee this happening.
6 Boston Celtics
Number Six
Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics
As defending champions, ending the season with anything other than the Larry O’Brien trophy would have been a disappointment for the Boston Celtics, something that was confirmed after their defeat to New York in the play-offs. In the regular season, it had been business as usual for Boston, finishing with over 60 wins for the second straight year.
Losing in the play-offs was one thing for Boston, but made much worse by the long-term injury suffered by their star forward, Jayson Tatum. As a result of his injury, Tatum will likely miss most of next season, which will severely hamper Boston’s capabilities.
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5 Denver Nuggets
Number Five
Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray
Champions just two years ago, Denver remain in a brilliant position with a team centred around three-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic. Having sacked title-winning coach Mike Malone after losing to Oklahoma in the play-offs, however, it is unclear what direction Denver will go in.
The Nuggets will, most likely, remain a play-off team, given the calibre of their roster. Their new permanent head coach will be crucial in shaping the immediate future of Denver, who remain one of the best teams within the league.
4 Minnesota Timberwolves
Number Four
Anthony Edwards Timberwolves
Many were confused when the Timberwolves moved for Rudy Gobert in the 2022/23 season, given they already had Karl Anthony-Towns on the roster. Three years later and Minnesota, now without Towns, have reached the Conference Finals in two straight seasons, with Gobert in a team alongside the likes of Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards.
Minnesota are, at the time of writing, 1-0 down to Oklahoma in the Conference Finals. Regardless of the outcome, the Timberwolves are in a strong position for the immediate future, with a nice blend of talents that are young and stars that are in their prime years.
3 New York Knicks
Number Three
Jalen Brunson LeBron James Knicks Lakers
Tom Thibodeau has, in five years as the head coach of the New York Knicks, revitalised the organisation. The Knicks have struggled for much of the 21st century, scarcely challenging for much despite their incredible fanbase and location. Thibodeau, however, has turned New York’s fortunes around.
For the first time in 25 years, New York are in the Conference Finals. While they are 1-0 down to Indiana at the time of writing, fans will be confident that their side can overturn the deficit. Either way, New York are in a better place now than they have been for years, regardless of how the play-offs end.
2 Indiana Pacers
Number Two
Tyrese Haliburton Pacers
A title winner with Dallas back in 2011, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle is no stranger to what is needed in winning an NBA Championship. In his fourth year as Pacers boss, Carlisle has the organisation well-positioned for a place in the NBA Finals, holding a 1-0 lead over New York as things stand.
Star guard Tyrese Haliburton has led the team, surrounded by the likes of Bennedict Mathurin, Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam, as Indiana look to win their first-ever NBA title.
1 Oklahoma City Thunder
Number One
According to ESPN Insider Shams Charania, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is set
to be named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024/25 season. The guard, who has been with the Thunder since 2019, averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists as his team recorded the best regular season record with just 14 losses and 68 wins.
1-0 in their play-off series against Minnesota, the Thunder have long been regarded as title favourites and given their league form, have been considered one of the best teams in the NBA, if not the best team overall. The Thunder have a near-endless supply of draft picks to bolster an already young core, meaning they will be in contention for honours for some time yet.
( All stats are from eitherBasketball ReferenceorSofaScoreand are correct as of 22/05/2025 )
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