Power Ranking Every NBA Team as 2025-26 Season Tips Off
The draft, free agency and the preseason are all in the rearview. We survived. And the 2025-26 NBA campaign is here.
That means it's time to break down the entire league through the lens of power rankings.
Using the same criteria that's guided us for years—team and individual numbers, recent performance, championship chances and plenty of subjectivity—here's how all 30 teams stack up entering opening week.
30. Utah Jazz (17-65)
1 of 30
Previous Rank: 30
Championship Odds: +100000
Ace Bailey exceeding preseason expectations (to the tune of 16.0 points in 26.8 minutes, a 58.8 field-goal percentage and a 41.7 three-point percentage) maybe changes the long-term outlook for the Utah Jazz, but they still figure to be among the worst teams in the league in 2025-26.
The bulk of the rotation minutes are likely headed to players on their rookie contracts. And as the losses pile up, the likelihood of moving the few veterans they have (like Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love) will go up.
It will be plenty of fun to see Bailey, Taylor Hendricks, Walker Kessler and the rest of the young core, but it's not likely to lead to much more than another shot at the lottery.
29. Washington Wizards (18-64)
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Previous Rank: 28
Championship Odds: +100000
It's never a great idea to pull broad, sweeping takeaways from preseason action, but the Washington Wizards' extraordinarily young roster looked, well, extraordinarily young.
And their veterans—CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton—maybe seem even likelier to move at some point this season than Utah's.
That will leave all the minutes to completely (or mostly) unproven players such as rookie Tre Johnson (who averaged 6.7 points and shot 33.3 percent in the preseason), Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly.
And that will mean lots and lots of losses.
28. Brooklyn Nets (26-56)
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Previous Rank: 29
Championship Odds: +100000
The Brooklyn Nets are another team that will be in the mix for the league's worst record, but Michael Porter Jr. looks more than ready to take on a bigger offensive role. And he's the kind of shooter who can singlehandedly swing a game or two.
In four preseason games, MPJ averaged 18.8 points and 3.3 threes, while shooting 50.0 percent from deep.
Add that to another heat-check scorer in Cam Thomas, and it's fair to bump this team above the Wizards, even if they could end up giving five rookies—Egor Dёmin, Nolan Traoré, Ben Saraf, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf—rotation minutes.
27. Phoenix Suns (36-46)
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Previous Rank: 26
Championship Odds: +50000
Devin Booker may still be one of the 15-20 best players in the league. And Dillon Brooks will probably have the entire team playing with a bit more intensity than it previously did.
However, barring some kind of developmental leap from Jalen Green as a playmaker, defender and shot selector, the rest of the roster is woefully light on talent.
Grayson Allen could be this team's second leading scorer. He probably makes more sense as a fourth or fifth starter. Khaman Maluach looks like a potentially dynamic rim protector, but he's a rookie. Mark Williams is always productive when he plays, but he's rarely healthy.
Again, without some kind of seismic, unexpected development, this team is probably headed toward little more than good lottery odds.
26. Charlotte Hornets (19-63)
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Previous Rank: 27
Championship Odds: +30000
The Charlotte Hornets have loads of League Pass potential.
LaMelo Ball is one of the NBA's best and most dynamic offensive players. He's now surrounded by a fair amount of shooting and playmaking upside from Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. And Miles Bridges is still about to finish lobs around the rim or in transition.
However, Charlotte may also have the least battle-tested center rotation in the NBA. And despite Ryan Kalkbrenner's defensive prowess in college, this has the potential to be one of the worst teams in the league on that end.
25. Toronto Raptors (30-52)
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Previous Rank: 25
Championship Odds: +17500
They looked competitive in the preseason, and some of the duplicative aspects of their best players' skill sets fit fairly well, but it's still hard to buy into the upside of the Toronto Raptors.
Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and maybe even Scottie Barnes all make most sense as the third or fourth starter on a good team. And without a true No. 1, the Raptors could be clawing for a play-in spot, even in the softer conference.
If some of the depth pieces, such as Gradey Dick or rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, outperform expectations, this could be a "greater than the sum of their parts" team, but we have to see some regular-season action before moving Toronto up.
24. New Orleans Pelicans (21-61)
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Previous Rank: 24
Championship Odds: +30000
The New Orleans Pelicans have about as wide a range of potential outcomes as any team in the league.
And when those outcomes are dependent on the health of Zion Williamson, it's fair to start the Pelicans outside the top 20.
If he's healthy, though, he and Trey Murphy III make up one of the league's most talented forward duos. And they could easily fly up this board in the first couple weeks of the season.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (36-46)
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Previous Rank: 23
Championship Odds: +40000
It's always a little dangerous to put a lot of stock in late-season surges. Plenty of teams start angling for losses and improved lottery odds after the All-Star break. Injuries can start piling up, too.
However, Deni Avdija put up 26.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists over his last 13 games of 2024-25. And the Portland Trail Blazers were above .500 in their last 41.
Following that up with the offseason addition of Jrue Holiday makes Portland a bona fide play-in contender. If it gets a breakout from one of the younger members of the core, like Shaedon Sharpe or Donovan Clingan, a full-fledged playoff berth could be on the table.
22. Chicago Bulls (39-43)
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Previous Rank: 21
Championship Odds: +50000
Another young team that closed 2024-25 well, the Chicago Bulls are bringing back all the most important members of the core.
Last season, when all four of Coby White, Josh Giddey, Kevin Huerter and Matas Buzelis were on the floor, Chicago was plus-11.7 points per 100 possessions.
The sample is small but encouraging. And that feeling can only swell after a preseason in which Buzelis averaged 17.6 points in just 23.3 minutes.
21. Indiana Pacers (50-32)
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Previous Rank: 20
Championship Odds: +12500
Any team losing its best player (Tyrese Haliburton to a ruptured Achilles) and defensive anchor (Myles Turner to free agency) would be almost certain to fall apart, but that's far from guaranteed for the Indiana Pacers.
They have one of the best coaches in the league in Rick Carlisle, a perennial All-Star contender in Pascal Siakam and three breakout candidates (Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Bennedict Mathurin) who were just hardened by an unexpected Finals run.
At the very least, assuming Indiana doesn't have any more catastrophic injuries, it should be in the hunt for a play-in spot.
20. Sacramento Kings (40-42)
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Previous Rank: 18
Championship Odds: +60000
In case you weren't keeping track, the Nets, Jazz and Wizards are the only teams currently boasting longer title odds than the Sacramento Kings.
That may seem a little odd, given the amount of raw talent on Sacramento's roster, but bookmakers may be pricing in a potential future fire sale.
The Kings look primed to plateau in the loaded West, and unloading as many veterans as possible is probably the wisest path forward.
Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis could all have value to other teams, and it's probably time for Sacramento to focus more on its young(ish) core of Keon Ellis, Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford.
19. Miami Heat (37-45)
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Previous Rank: 17
Championship Odds: +17500
The Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies and four non-NBA teams were the only ones with a worse preseason net rating than the Miami Heat, who look to be in serious offensive trouble until Tyler Herro returns from injury.
And even after Herro comes back, barring a real leap from someone further down the depth chart such as Jaime Jaquez or Nikola Jović, that problem could persist throughout the season.
There's still plenty of defensive talent here, though. Bam Adebayo can anchor a game-changing unit on that end.
And if Kel'el Ware keeps producing like he did in these six exhibitions (when he averaged 17.8 points and 11.5 rebounds in 23.8 minutes), Miami should at least be in the play-in mix again.
18. Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)
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Previous Rank: 14
Championship Odds: +12500
There's enough talent on this roster to warrant a higher spot on the list. Jaren Jackson Jr.'s earlier-than-expected return would have supported a better placement, too.
However, starting center Zach Edey is likely out until mid-November. Ja Morant is already dealing with a sprained ankle. Brandon Clarke is going to miss time with a knee injury. And on Saturday, we learned Scotty Pippen Jr. underwent a toe surgery that could keep him out till January.
The volume of injuries is concerning, and Memphis may have to rely on a lot of inexperienced players, including incoming rookie Cedric Coward, to survive this early portion of the schedule.
17. Philadelphia 76ers (24-58)
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Previous Rank: 22
Championship Odds: +3500
Speaking of earlier-than-expected returns, Joel Embiid played in the Philadelphia 76ers' preseason finale, looked spry and totaled 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in just 19 minutes.
And though "if the Sixers are healthy" have been the famous last words of plenty of basketball prognosticators, they really are a potential title contender... if healthy.
Embiid is a completely unstoppable scorer. Tyrese Maxey is one of the game's most dynamic guards. V.J. Edgecombe already looks ready to make an impact as a slasher and defender. And if Philadelphia gets anything from Paul George this season, this ranking could look silly in hindsight.
16. Boston Celtics (61-21)
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Previous Rank: 19
Championship Odds: +4500
After spending the offseason shedding salary and getting within striking distance of ducking the luxury tax, the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics are an obvious dropoff candidate.
However, Joe Mazzulla had the suddenly younger Celtics defending with effort in the preseason. And even more notable, over half of their shot attempts came from three.
All-Star-caliber individual campaigns for Derrick White and Jaylen Brown are in play. And adding that to Boston's ability to game the math with three-point volume means the Celtics should still be competitive in 2025-26.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
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Previous Rank: 16
Championship Odds: +4500
It's fair to be worried about the Milwaukee Bucks' long-term prospects.
Giannis Antetokounmpo came closer to fanning the flames of trade rumors than pouring water on them this summer. The team has $22.5 million in dead money stacked against the cap in each of the next five years (thanks to the Damian Lillard waive-and-stretch). There are almost no tradable assets in the cupboard. And the third-highest paid player on the roster is Kyle Kuzma, who was disastrously bad after landing in Milwaukee last season.
Giannis is Giannis, though. He averaged 31.2 points and 8.6 assists after Lillard went down with a torn Achilles. And surrounding him with shooters like Myles Turner, A.J. Green and Gary Trent Jr. means we could be getting a full season of that kind of point Giannis production.
Milwaukee certainly isn't an inner-circle contender, but Antetokounmpo is the kind of talent who can give a team a puncher's chance against just about anyone.
14. Dallas Mavericks (39-43)
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Previous Rank: 15
Championship Odds: +3500
Expecting contention from this version of the Dallas Mavericks will require some patience. As long as Kyrie Irving is out, which could be well into 2026, the offense could feel cramped.
However, Cooper Flagg looks ready to help keep them around .500 until that comeback happens. In the preseason, he flashed real upside as a creator, finisher, perimeter defender and weakside shot-blocker.
And if he produces like he did in those four exhibitions (17.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per 75 possessions), Rookie of the Year might be all but locked up.
13. Detroit Pistons (44-38)
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Previous Rank: 13
Championship Odds: +4000
The preseason doesn't generate a ton of meaningful takeaways, but there weren't many players in the league who dominated it quite like Cade Cunningham.
In three contests, he put up 20.7 points, 7.3 assists and 2.3 threes in just 20.5 minutes. His offensive game looks as smooth and effortless as it ever has. And after making an All-NBA team in 2024-25, he now looks ready to be a fringe MVP candidate.
If Cunningham gets moderate improvement out of Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and one or two other young teammates and the Detroit Pistons push toward 50 wins, he could collect a handful of fifth-place votes for the league's top individual honor.
12. Atlanta Hawks (40-42)
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Previous Rank: 12
Championship Odds: +2700
The Atlanta Hawks had one of the best offseasons in the NBA, added Kristaps Porziņģis, Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, will presumably get internal development from Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels and look ready to challenge for a top-four spot in the East.
Title contention may ultimately depend on the longtime face of the franchise, though. And with a lengthy, athletic supporting cast that can help cover his defensive shortcomings, now is as good a time as any for Trae Young to prove his value.
He averaged a league-best 11.6 assists last season, but he was below average in two-point percentage, three-point percentage and effective field-goal percentage. He was still picked on on defense.
Meaningful improvements from Young in any or all of the areas above could have his team pushing toward 50 wins.
11. San Antonio Spurs (34-48)
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Previous Rank: 11
Championship Odds: +6000
There's really no track record to support the San Antonio Spurs' fringe top-10 placement here, but Victor Wembanyama looks ready to start competing for MVP awards.
And I don't mean just a few random fourth- or fifth-place votes. If he carries his young supporting cast to 50 wins and produces like he has this preseason, he might even steal a handful of real votes from the likes of Jokić and SGA.
After a summer spent with Shaolin monks, astronauts and NBA legends, Wembanyama averaged 29.4 points, 15.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 3.5 blocks and 1.7 steals per 75 possessions in five exhibition games.
10. Los Angeles Clippers (50-32)
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Previous Rank: 10
Championship Odds: +1700
The Clippers are a bona fide contender.
And yes, that group is starting with the No. 10 team on the list.
This is the era of parity and the one with the deepest international talent pool in league history. There are several teams that could realistically win it all, and the oldest is among those.
L.A. has one of the best offensive engines in the NBA in James Harden, a two-time Finals MVP at closer in Kawhi Leonard and a supporting cast that's easily 11 or 12 useful players deep.
9. Golden State Warriors (48-34)
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Previous Rank: 9
Championship Odds: +2700
There are a lot of questions about this Golden State Warriors team.
Is it too old? How much does Al Horford have left? Will Brandin Podziemski have a real breakout? Will Jonathan Kuminga be traded?
The answers to all of the above could dramatically swing the outcome of this Warriors campaign, but the foundation keeps them on the contenders' tier.
Last season, Golden State was 22-5 in games that all three of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green played. And with Curry's shooting and that trio's blend of experience, playmaking and defense, the Warriors have a chance against just about anyone in a seven-game series.
8. Orlando Magic (41-41)
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Previous Rank: 8
Championship Odds: +2000
The Orlando Magic boast one of the league's best forward combinations with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Those two and Jalen Suggs lead an often suffocating defense. And this offseason, the addition of Desmond Bane addressed the team's biggest weakness: a lack of three-point shooting.
Despite an underwhelming .500 record in 2024-25 (which was, in part, a product of injuries to Wagner, Banchero and Suggs), Orlando is a real contender, especially in the weaker Eastern Conference.
If Wagner and Banchero can finally start scoring with above-average efficiency, the Magic might even be in the mix for a No. 1 seed.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (50-32)
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Previous Rank: 5
Championship Odds: +1800
The Los Angeles Lakers get a slight bump down just because of the uncertainty surrounding LeBron James.
Sciatica isn't the kind of injury that just goes away, especially for a 40-year-old putting his body through the rigors of NBA basketball. So, even if he is targeting a mid-November return, there's no guarantee that will happen or that he can avoid aggravating the condition after a comeback.
If LeBron is in and out of the lineup or compromised around playoff time, real contention will be a lot tougher for L.A.
Even with that potentially massive concern, though, a team with even decent surrounding talent for a healthy Luka Dončić should be a nightmare to play.
And this season might end up serving as our preview of the Lakers' post-LeBron era.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
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Previous Rank: 7
Championship Odds: +2200
This coming season is a real test of the superstardom of Anthony Edwards, who's generally been ranked as a top 5-10 player in the league in preseason player rankings from all over the internet.
He's already led the Minnesota Timberwolves to back-to-back conference finals appearances, but they got rocked by OKC there. And while Minnesota lost Alexander-Walker this summer, the Denver Nuggets beefed up.
Getting back to that level again—or beyond it—might require Edwards to fully live up to the Michael Jordan comparisons.
5. New York Knicks (51-31)
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Previous Rank: 6
Championship Odds: +1200
Much has been made of the potential impact of Mike Brown on the New York Knicks' offense. By the playoffs, the Jalen Brunson heliocentrism gets pretty predictable. And ideally, Brown will be able to speed the attack up a bit and vary its creators and finishers.
In this preseason, though, the Knicks were 27th in points per 100 possessions and 31st in pace (some non-NBA teams are included in those numbers).
There's a chance that just means there will be a learning curve with the new attack. And ultimately, high-end talent from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns and a bench bolstered by the additions of Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson should keep the Knicks among the contenders, but this is something to keep an eye on.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18)
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Previous Rank: 3
Championship Odds: +650
The Cleveland Cavaliers tumbling one spot from their pre-preseason ranking has more to do with the team in front of them than any failing on their own part.
As long as three of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are available, Cleveland figures to be a regular-season wins machine.
That's obviously nothing new, though. The Cavs won 64 games last season. Mitchell was a top seed with the Utah Jazz.
He and his team are now firmly in the "prove it to us in the playoffs" camp. Everything else is window dressing.
3. Houston Rockets (52-30)
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Previous Rank: 4
Championship Odds: +1800
The Houston Rockets would obviously rather have Fred VanVleet healthy. His three-point shooting and championship experience couldn't hurt.
However, this preseason proved the Rockets are more than ready to contend without their veteran point guard. And as callous as it may sound, the on-the-job training Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson are about to get could make Houston better in the long run.
After failing to consistently crack the rotation as a rookie, Sheppard averaged 15.0 points and 2.8 threes in 23.1 minutes this preseason. Thompson added 17.0 points and 4.0 assists in 25.2 minutes.
Both look ready for prime time. And adding them to lineups with two established stars—Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün—will have the Rockets dominating most opponents this regular season.
2. Denver Nuggets (50-32)
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Previous Rank: 2
Championship Odds: +700
The Denver Nuggets still have the near-unanimous best player in the world in Nikola Jokić. That alone would likely make them contenders.
But this summer, a newly installed front office, led by Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, went about constructing the deepest supporting cast of the Jokić era.
The Michael Porter Jr. trade that landed Cameron Johnson made the starting five more versatile without sacrificing shooting. Adding Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valančiūnas to the bench dramatically increases its chance of being competent.
And if the core four of Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun plays like it did last season, with all that new help around them, the Nuggets have a legitimate shot to return to the top of the league.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14)
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Previous Rank: 1
Championship Odds: +200
Without their second-best player, Jalen Williams, for the start of the season, things could be a bit rockier for the Oklahoma City Thunder than they were through 2024-25.
However, this team is battle- and adversity-tested. Chet Holmgren missed the bulk of last season, and they still broke the all-time record for single-season point differential.
With reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Holmgren and the rest of the title-winning supporting cast back, it's going to be hard for anyone to knock OKC from this perch at any point this season.
