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NBA Power Rankings: Los Angeles Lakers Rise as LeBron James Returns
Now a month into the 2025-26 season, we're starting to get a better handle on several teams around the NBA.
The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to cruise at a 70-plus-win pace. The Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets both look capable of at least putting a scare in OKC. And after cautiously following the Detroit Pistons' surge, it's time to give them a little more of the respect they deserve.
Of course, other teams are keeping us on our toes.
LeBron James is back for the Los Angeles Lakers, and we'll need more than one game with him alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to really know how much of a contender they might be. Other Pacific Division teams are spiraling. And the Toronto Raptors are destroying the expectations established by their 1-4 start.
As teams all over the league continue to jostle for position, we're here to sort all 30 by the same criteria that has guided us for years: team and individual numbers, recent performance, championship chances and plenty of subjectivity.
30. Washington Wizards (1-13)
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Previous Rank: 30
Net Rating: -15.7
The Washington Wizards' record probably isn't all that surprising, but the near-minus-16.0 net rating is abysmal, even in this era of aggressive, transparent tanking.
Losing games this badly is almost impressive, and it suggests there probably aren't any rotational adjustments that will suddenly lead to a win streak.
So, Washington might as well play rookie Tre Johnson a little more than it currently is. Sure, there's some value in CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton getting up shots and potentially upping their trade value, but Johnson needs the on-court reps. And he's proven worthy.
In just 24.6 minutes per game, Johnson is averaging 11.4 points and shooting 38.0 percent from deep. It's time to give him some more playing time and scoring opportunities.
29. Brooklyn Nets (2-12)
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Previous Rank: 29
Net Rating: -11.6
The Brooklyn Nets beat the Wizards this week. So we know, at least for now, they're not quite as bad as Washington.
And though this is a team clearly barreling toward good odds in the draft lottery, this week's triumph isn't the only reason for optimism.
Despite a salary of $38.3 million this season (and $40.8 million in 2026-27), Michael Porter Jr. may be playing his way into some real trade value. He's averaging 24.2 points on the season and 27.0 over his last seven games.
Contenders in need of some floor spacing could be interested between now and February. And if the Nets can turn MPJ into a young player and/or a future pick, they might have to make a deal.
28. Indiana Pacers (2-13)
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Previous Rank: 28
Net Rating: -13.1
With the obvious exception of Tyrese Haliburton, who'll miss the entire campaign recovering from his ruptured Achilles, some of the injured Indiana Pacers are starting to filter back into the lineup.
That should mean a little more competitiveness from the East's 2025 NBA Finals reps.
At the very least, the recently returned Bennedict Mathurin is showing the kind of scoring punch to at least give Indiana, well, a puncher's shot against middling opponents. After scoring 24 points in Wednesday's win, he is averaging 27.8 over his four appearances this season.
27. New Orleans Pelicans (2-13)
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Previous Rank: 27
Net Rating: -13.0
Zion Williamson returned to action for the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, but he managed just 14 points on 13 shots in a loss to the Denver Nuggets, and his impact was dwarfed by the team's new starting center.
Derik Queen may not have led New Orleans to victory, but he ably went toe-to-toe with Nikola Jokić, often made him look silly on defense and finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in just 30 minutes.
And while it's still too early to relitigate the trade that landed Queen with the Pelicans (the outgoing pick in that deal could wind up being No. 1 in 2026), fans can at least feel optimistic about the big man's individual future.
Over his last nine games (with the three most recent being starts), the 20-year-old is averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in 26.9 minutes. He's quickly starting to look like a multifaceted, playmaking 5 in the mold of the three-time MVP he lit up on Wednesday.
26. Sacramento Kings (3-13)
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Previous Rank: 23
Net Rating: -12.6
The Sacramento Kings were already in a tailspin before news broke on Thursday that Domantas Sabonis could miss the next few weeks with a partially torn meniscus.
A few hours later, they were annihilated by the Memphis Grizzlies, 137-96. It suddenly feels like the only real suspense with this team may be over the eventual trade destinations of Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and any other veterans other teams might be willing to take.
In a shocking turn of events, reuniting DeRozan and LaVine, who didn't work as a pairing in the weaker conference, hasn't worked in the West. Trading two All-Star-caliber point guards over the years (De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton) led to a dearth of playmaking. And putting a defense anchored by Sabonis on the floor is allowing opponents to score at will.
This organization needs a full, tear-the-roster-down-to-the-studs rebuild.
25. Dallas Mavericks (4-12)
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Previous Rank: 25
Net Rating: -5.8
The Dallas Mavericks are still hovering around the bottom of the Western Conference standings after ending their week with a loss sealed by a controversial offensive foul call.
And things are bad enough now that we're starting to hear whispers of a possible Anthony Davis trade before February's deadline.
Of course, that should have been on the table before this campaign even started. As soon as the basketball gods blessed Dallas with the No. 1 pick in June, the most logical path forward was a rebuild around Cooper Flagg (who missed his first game on Wednesday). However, that was never going to happen with Nico Harrison, the architect of the disastrous Luka Dončić trade, at the helm.
Now that the executive who was most invested in this experiment is gone, Dallas can scrap it and do what's best for the long-term health of the franchise. That includes making just about every veteran available, trying to recoup as many picks and as much young talent as possible.
It also means trying to tailor a roster that fits Flagg's game, rather than shoehorning him into all-forward lineups that have contributed to the Mavs having the worst offense in the NBA.
24. Charlotte Hornets (4-11)
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Previous Rank: 22
Net Rating: -3.6
After an 0-4 week, it's starting to feel like the Charlotte Hornets could again be in the mix for the draft's top pick, but their net rating (which is just outside the top 20) suggests they could stay in the play-in mix.
No, they're not winning much, but staying in games is a positive sign. And if we ever get a few-week stretch in which LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are all healthy, they could jump some teams in the back half of the softer conference.
If not, fans can at least take solace in an increasingly impressive rookie campaign from Knueppel. After dropping 28 points in Wednesday's loss, he is up to 18.3 points, 3.3 threes and 3.0 assists per game.
23. Los Angeles Clippers (4-11)
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Previous Rank: 21
Net Rating: -6.1
It may be time to sound the alarm on this Los Angeles Clippers season.
They followed up their 50-win 2024-25 campaign with a widely praised offseason that included several veteran acquisitions. The resulting team has just looked old, especially since Kawhi Leonard went down with an ankle injury.
After their 28-point beatdown at the hands of the Orlando Magic on Thursday, L.A. has now lost nine of its last 10. The only win was in double overtime and against the lowly Dallas Mavericks.
And if this keeps up much longer, the front office might have to seriously consider drastic, maybe even rebuild-triggering moves.
22. Utah Jazz (5-9)
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Previous Rank: 26
Net Rating: -5.2
This question is going to follow the Utah Jazz until they make a big trade or the deadline passes: Will they move Lauri Markkanen and lean even harder into the rebuild?
Right now, his value has to be about as high as it's ever been. He's averaging 30.6 points and 3.7 threes, while shooting 38.5 percent from deep. Among players averaging at least 10 minutes, he's second in the league in points per touch.
His high-volume, no-frills offense, which includes the ability to hit threes and finish above the rim, would make him an easy fit on just about any team in the league.
If Utah traded him, it would almost certainly start spiraling toward the bottom of the West's standings. On the season, the Jazz are minus-0.8 points per 100 possessions when Markkanen is on the floor, but they're minus-17.5 when he's off.
Of course, while moving him would obviously help with upcoming lottery odds, there's also no guarantee that leads to a potential superstar in the draft. Utah has been chasing that since the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert trades. And none of the prospects currently on the roster look like safe bets to eventually be as good as Markkanen is now.
21. Memphis Grizzlies (5-11)
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Previous Rank: 24
Net Rating: -5.0
With veterans Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. out, the Memphis Grizzlies got one of their most inspired outings of the season on Thursday.
Granted, it was against the free-falling Sacramento Kings, but a 137-96 win is still encouraging, especially when it included big nights from several members of the team's younger core.
Cedric Coward, who has a strong argument for Rookie of the Year, had 19 points and hit four threes. Zach Edey had 16 points without missing a shot from the field. And Santi Aldama, who's still just 24, had 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting.
Seeing what this group is capable of (or at least seeing the effort level it's willing to give) could make something once unthinkable slightly more palatable: a trade and post-Morant rebuild.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (6-9)
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Previous Rank: 14
Net Rating: -1.3
The Portland Trail Blazers' solid start has given way to a four-game losing streak and a slide to ninth place in the Western Conference.
And while Deni Avdija (25.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists) continues to play like a star, it's becoming increasingly clear he'll need someone else to come along for the ride for Portland to stay in the play-in mix.
Shaedon Sharpe is a candidate for that role, but he's shooting 25.8 percent from deep. Jerami Grant is another, but his lack of contributions outside the scoring column remains a concern.
Ultimately, the Blazers finishing around where they are now wouldn't be all that surprising, but they have showed us they're capable of a little more in the early portion of the season.
19. Milwaukee Bucks (8-8)
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Previous Rank: 11
Net Rating: -1.4
The Milwaukee Bucks' suspect depth is about to be tested during Giannis Antetokounmpo's first extended absence of the season.
The star big man is out for one to two weeks with a groin strain, and after losing to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, Milwaukee is now 1-3 without him (if you include the game he left early with the injury).
Ryan Rollins, one of this season's biggest breakouts, had 32 points and 14 assists against Philly. And while he's doing his best to pick up the offensive slack, there may not be enough firepower to tally more wins than losses during Giannis' absence.
Milwaukee's next four games are against the Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks, with the last two being on the road.
18. Boston Celtics (8-7)
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Previous Rank: 19
Net Rating: 5.4
The Boston Celtics quietly crept over .500 this week, and perhaps even more impressively, into the top 10 in net rating.
Without Jayson Tatum, and after moving on from Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford, they're still very much in the mix for an above-the-play-in playoff spot. And Jaylen Brown, operating as the first option in Tatum's absence, is probably the biggest reason why.
Beyond his career-high 27.5 points, Brown is third on the team in assists per game at 4.1 and in the top 25 in the league in wins over replacement player.
17. Phoenix Suns (9-6)
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Previous Rank: 20
Net Rating: 4.9
This may not be exactly what the Phoenix Suns set out to do this season, but they're proving that culture, if not quite as important as raw talent, is pretty darn close.
After two seasons of the Devin Booker-Kevin Durant-Bradley Beal superteam went horribly awry, the Suns traded KD and ate the rest of Beal's contract with the waive-and-stretch provision. From there, they just surrounded Booker with role players who have no issue with being role players.
The result looks like a much better, much more cohesive team that allows Booker to focus on what he does best: lead the offense.
Through 15 games, he is putting up 27.8 points, 6.9 assists and 1.9 threes.
Of course, Phoenix has faced the second-easiest schedule in the West to this point. Adversity could be right around the corner (sheesh, look at this upcoming schedule). At the very least, though, the remade Suns are tougher than many of us expected heading into this campaign.
16. Atlanta Hawks (9-7)
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Previous Rank: 18
Net Rating: 2.0
Their week ended with back-to-back losses to the Detroit Pistons and Victor Wembanyama-less San Antonio Spurs, but the Atlanta Hawks are still 8-4 without Trae Young (if you count the game he left early due to injury).
It's starting to feel fair to wonder how this team might look in the long term without its longtime face of the franchise.
The Hawks are piecing together enough playmaking with Jalen Johnson (22.3 points and 6.6 assists), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (19.7 points and 3.6 assists), Dyson Daniels (5.8 assists and 2.4 steals) and three other rotation players averaging at least two assists.
Without Young in the rotation, there's also no longer an obvious weak link on the defensive end.
15. Chicago Bulls (8-6)
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Previous Rank: 15
Net Rating: -0.1
Based on their post-Jimmy Butler history and preseason expectations, it would have been easy to dismiss the Chicago Bulls after a five-game losing streak that stretched into this week and ended with a double-overtime heartbreak against the Utah Jazz.
Chicago had the Denver Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back immediately after that thriller. It looked like a scheduled loss, but the Bulls were resilient, made mincemeat of an uninspired Denver defense and ended the streak.
Two nights later, thanks to another game-winning jumper from Nikola Vučević, they started a new one.
Now, this success on the road probably isn't worth proclaiming Chicago a title contender or anything, but it's enough to say it's better than the team that dropped five straight.
Coby White is back and has 52 points in his two appearances. Josh Giddey (20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.7 assists) is still averaging a near-triple-double. And five other Bulls are averaging double figures in the points column (plus three more are at 7.8 or higher).
This team plays together, plays hard and isn't the guaranteed play-in participant it's been in the past.
14. Golden State Warriors (9-8)
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Previous Rank: 12
Net Rating: 0.6
The "if healthy" caveat is going to follow the Golden State Warriors all season, and we probably should have expected that from the start.
The Warriors have the second-oldest roster in the league, and absences have been relatively common for superstars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler over the last few years.
On nights when both are out, as they were on Wednesday, Golden State has almost no chance. And hovering around .500 almost means a spot in the play-in when you're in the West.
We're used to Curry playing for a contender, but the play-in is a tough spot from which to start a deep playoff run.
13. Miami Heat (9-6)
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Previous Rank: 13
Net Rating: 3.1
In typical fashion for an Erik Spoelstra-led team, the Miami Heat are picking up wins in the face of adversity.
Tyler Herro still hasn't played a single game this season, and prior to Wednesday's win, Bam Adebayo had missed six in a row. However, during the latter's absence, an undersized starting five of Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson, Norm Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Kel'el Ware went 4-2, with wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.
And now that Adebayo is back and Herro's return is around the corner, the Heat are starting to look like one of the deeper teams in the East.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (9-6)
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Previous Rank: 10
Net Rating: 2.3
The Philadelphia 76ers slipped a bit in these rankings, but that has more to do with the teams that jumped them than it does the Sixers.
As we officially enter this organization's Tyrese Maxey era, there's plenty to be excited about.
On Thursday, the 25-year-old guard dropped 54 points in an overtime win over the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks, pulling his average up to 33.4. His backcourt mate, rookie VJ Edgecombe, had a double-double.
And while it's tough to look at this team without thinking about the burdensome contracts for Joel Embiid and Paul George (who made his season debut this week), it's impossible to do so without some intrigue for these two guards.
Regardless of what's happening with the rest of this roster or in its typically busy training room, Philadelphia fans know they have one of the league's most exciting and explosive duos for the foreseeable future.
11. Orlando Magic (9-7)
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Previous Rank: 16
Net Rating: 3.2
It took some time (and maybe a rotation-clarifying injury), but the Orlando Magic are finally starting to look a little more like the team many expected them to be prior to this season.
Orlando is 8-3 in its last 11 and 5-1 in its last six. And moving Tristan da Silva into the starting five in the absence of the recently injured Paolo Banchero is a big reason why.
No, Da Silva isn't a better individual player than Banchero. That's obvious, but he's a shooter, who doesn't stop the ball on offense and frees up Franz Wagner a bit more. He's averaging 12.2 points and shooting 41.5 percent from deep. And Orlando's point differential is dramatically better when he's on the floor.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-6)
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Previous Rank: 6
Net Rating: 3.8
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still on pace for over 50 wins, and Donovan Mitchell, with averages of 30.2 points and 5.3 assists, has been spectacular.
However, the biggest takeaway from this first month of the season may be how important Darius Garland is to the offense.
In his three 2025-26 appearances, he looked banged up. However, in 2024-25, Cleveland's attack scored 4.1 more points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor.
His three-point shooting, more traditional playmaking and unselfishness takes pressure off Mitchell and creates more easy opportunities at the rim for Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Cleveland may be able to survive Garland's absence, but it clearly needs him at full strength to put a scare into any other contenders.
9. Toronto Raptors (10-5)
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Previous Rank: 17
Net Rating: 5.0
It's time to take the Toronto Raptors a little more seriously.
They started 1-4 and have faced one of the softer schedules in the Eastern Conference, but the balance and dynamism from their star forwards should keep them in the playoff hunt all season.
After an undefeated week, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram are all between 19.2 and 20.9 points and 3.9 and 5.3 assists.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-5)
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Previous Rank: 7
Net Rating: 6.0
This isn't likely to be the case all season, but as Anthony Edwards has missed some time with injury and had four straight games shooting below 50 percent from the field and less than 20 percent from three, Julius Randle has been the Minnesota Timberwolves' best player.
Randle tops Edwards in box plus/minus, wins over replacement player, rebounds and assists per game, field-goal percentage and three-point percentage.
There's no internal squabbling here, though. Randle isn't trying to usurp Edwards' role, and Ant could start a hot streak any game to restore some balance.
If that happens, and Randle keeps playing as effectively as he's started the season, the T-Wolves are going to be a tough out for just about anyone.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (11-4)
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Previous Rank: 9
Net Rating: 2.4
LeBron James already has more NBA records than anyone could have possibly predicted when he first showed up on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2002.
This week, he added a new one.
LeBron made his 2025-26 debut for the Los Angeles Lakers, making him the first player in league history to appear in a 23rd season. And what was certainly more exciting for Lakers fans is that he played well in that debut.
The soon-to-be-41-year-old, despite dealing with sciatica in the early portion of the season, played 30 minutes, handed out 12 assists and had a double-double. And though this won't be the case in every game, he had fewer shot attempts than every other starter.
If LeBron embraces the opportunity to be a distributor for high-level scorers such as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the "how do we get all three of these guys to fit together" puzzle will be a lot easier to put together.
6. San Antonio Spurs (11-4)
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Previous Rank: 5
Net Rating: 6.2
Victor Wembanyama is sidelined for the next few weeks with a calf strain. While that might feel like grounds for a slide down the power rankings, his supporting cast is 3-0 without him.
The real takeaway may be the fact that this roster may be a little deeper than we realized. The 11-4 start is about more than Wembanyama, as special as he's been this season.
Seven games into his 2025-26 campaign, De'Aaron Fox is averaging 23.1 points and 6.6 assists. Stephon Castle, who missed the last two wins with a hip flexor strain, is following up his Rookie of the Year campaign with 17.3 points and 7.5 assists. Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes are each averaging 2.5 threes. And Keldon Johnson is adding 12.5 points off the bench.
Whenever this entire group is healthy and playing alongside Wemby, it might even be able to challenge the teams at the very top of the West.
5. New York Knicks (9-5)
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Previous Rank: 4
Net Rating: 6.1
It's at least mildly concerning that the New York Knicks barely squeaked by a Dallas Mavericks team without Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on Wednesday. Their 9-5 record doesn't really leap off the screen either, especially with the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors both ahead of them in the standings.
However, all five of their losses are to teams that are currently above .500. They have the third-best offense in the NBA, and Karl-Anthony Towns hasn't even hit his stride yet.
Through 14 games, KAT is shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from three, marks that are way below his career norms. An individual hot streak is almost certainly on the way, and it's likely to lead to team wins, too.
4. Detroit Pistons (13-2)
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Previous Rank: 8
Net Rating: 6.7
The Detroit Pistons' current winning streak stretched to 11 games this week, and it's time to acknowledge the second star on this roster.
Cade Cunningham has rightfully had most of the attention for the organizational turnaround, but Jalen Duren is tied for the team lead in 2025-26 wins over replacement player and has a higher box plus/minus than his teammate.
During the streak, Duren is averaging 23.9 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals in just 32.9 minutes, while shooting 70.3 percent from the field and absolutely bullying opposing bigs all over the floor.
3. Denver Nuggets (11-3)
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Previous Rank: 2
Net Rating: 11.2
Ever since they won the 2023 NBA Finals, the Denver Nuggets have been as prone as any good team to just sort of float through the regular season. On any given night, you might catch them for a game they appeared to simply not care all that much about.
And while that general approach hasn't really plagued them under new head coach David Adelman, they reminded us that it's still in there when they gave up 130 points and lost at home to a Chicago Bulls team that was on the second night of a back-to-back and played two overtimes on the first night.
Two nights after the dud, Denver was on the road to play the New Orleans Pelicans in Zion Williamson's first game back after a prolonged absence. With Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon both out, another letdown wouldn't have been all that surprising.
However, Peyton Watson, who will enter restricted free agency this summer, wouldn't allow it. Starting in place of the injured Braun (who was in the same draft class and signed a lucrative extension on the eve of this season), the 23-year-old went for career highs in both points (32) and rebounds (12). He went 13-of-19 from the field and 5-of-9 from three.
Watson also played with the kind of effort older Nuggets often reserve for the postseason or marquee matchups (speaking of which, Denver did beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road this week).
If Watson can keep this up throughout Braun's injury-induced absence (which should last a few more weeks) and into his return to the second unit, he could be the jolt of energy this team needs during the doldrums of the regular season.
2. Houston Rockets (10-3)
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Previous Rank: 3
Net Rating: 11.4
The formula for the Houston Rockets has become abundantly clear, but it's not getting any less effective.
Whether Steven Adams is on the floor or not (but especially when he is), Houston blitzes the offensive glass. The Rockets have overwhelming leads in both offensive rebounds per game and offensive rebounding percentage over the rest of the league.
So, even if the skill players like Kevin Durant or Reed Sheppard happen to miss a shot, one of the bigs (Adams, Alperen Şengün or even Clint Capela), the freak athlete (Amen Thompson) or someone else will be in the mix for an extra crack at the possession.
That formula has given Houston the best offense in the NBA by points per 100 possessions.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-1)
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Previous Rank: 1
Net Rating: 15.3
A year after setting the NBA's all-time point differential record and cruising to a championship as one of the youngest teams in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder have picked up right where they left off.
Their only loss was on the road and by just two points. Eleven of their 15 (and each of their last 10) victories have been by double digits. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is quietly (somehow) averaging 32.0 points and 6.5 assists. And Chet Holmgren is having his breakout to the tune of 20.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 threes per game.
OKC has played, by far, the weakest schedule in the league to date, but this is exactly how a championship team should handle a stretch like this. And it hasn't even had a minute from Jalen Williams yet.
Assuming he's back for some of the tougher opponents, expect the Thunder to just keep tallying wins and staying on pace for 70-plus.
