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Fresh NBA Power Rankings with a New Team in the Top 5
We're closing in on the end of the 2025-26 NBA campaign.
And while the internet and sports commentariat are battling over the MVP cases of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić and... Jaylen Brown(!?), we're here to give you the lay of the land for the entire league.
All 30 teams are sorted below by the criteria that have served us for years: team and individual numbers, recent performance, championship chances and plenty of good old-fashioned subjectivity.
30. Brooklyn Nets (17-56)
1 of 30
Previous Rank: 29
Net Rating: -9.4
The Brooklyn Nets went 0-4 this week, with one loss coming to another team competing for a bottom-three record (the Sacramento Kings) and another that sure looks like it might tank the play-in tournament (the Golden State Warriors).
In other words, it was another stretch that affirmed this team's ongoing commitment to losing (and potentially landing the top overall pick this summer).
Brooklyn is currently on a nine-game losing streak and is 2-19 in its last 21 games.
29. Washington Wizards (17-55)
2 of 30
Previous Rank: 30
Net Rating: -11.0
Tanking seasons can bring some unexpected and exciting surprises, and that's exactly what the Washington Wizards appear to have on their hands with Julian Reese.
After playing four years at Maryland and averaging a respectable (though unspectacular) 11.1 points and 7.6 rebounds, Reese went undrafted. He didn't sign with the Wizards until February, and his contract is a two-way.
But his motor has been undeniable, particularly on the boards. And his finishing around the rim has him leading his team in field-goal percentage.
Reese has appeared in only six games, but he's averaging 12.0 points and 10.7 rebounds. And he may have already done enough to earn himself a spot on next season's team.
28. Indiana Pacers (16-57)
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Previous Rank: 28
Net Rating: -8.6
Thanks in large part to Pascal Siakam's 37 points, the Indiana Pacers shocked the Orlando Magic this week (in Orlando), but the fans of the tank have little to fear.
That win was the only one the Pacers have since before the All-Star break.
And while the Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets will all stay in the mix between now and the end of the season, it'll be tough to knock the Pacers out of their bottom-three spot (and 14 percent chance at the No. 1 pick).
27. Sacramento Kings (19-55)
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Previous Rank: 27
Net Rating: -10.1
The Sacramento Kings have obviously had a terrible season, especially since they had eyes on competing for a playoff spot before it started.
But that doesn't mean the campaign has been devoid of bright spots, and DeMar DeRozan has certainly been one.
It's flown under the radar—probably because of how bad the Kings are and because of Kevin Durant's own pursuit of history—but DeRozan's 33 points on Thursday brought his 2025-26 total to 1,343.
This season alone, he's passed Alex English, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, John Havlicek, Paul Pierce, Stephen Curry(!) and Tim Duncan to move into 18th place in NBA history in total points scored.
26. Milwaukee Bucks (29-43)
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Previous Rank: 26
Net Rating: -5.9
Giannis Antetokounmpo may have already played his final game in a Milwaukee Bucks jersey.
An offseason trade almost feels inevitable now. Putting him back on the court can only hurt the team's lottery odds and open up the possibility of a value-affecting injury.
The players' union has publicly gone after the Bucks for their apparent shutdown of the superstar, but it really is in the best interest of the organization and its future to lose as much as possible (and keep Giannis as healthy as possible) between now and the end of this campaign.
After going 1-2 this week, Milwaukee is now 12-24 when Antetokounmpo is out of the lineup.
25. Utah Jazz (21-52)
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Previous Rank: 25
Net Rating: -7.6
Things couldn't have gone much better for the Utah Jazz this week.
They didn't win a single game (lottery odds!), and the Ace Bailey breakout gained even more momentum.
He only had 15 points on 19 shots in his last appearance, but Bailey is averaging 25.4 points, 3.2 assists and 2.2 blocks(!), while shooting 40.7 percent from three, over his last five games.
It's looking more and more like Utah may have gotten a foundational-level talent with their fifth overall pick, after all.
24. Dallas Mavericks (23-50)
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Previous Rank: 24
Net Rating: -5.0
Cooper Flagg had to shake off a little rust when he first returned from injury earlier this month, but he's playing about as well as he has all season now.
Over his last seven games, Flagg is putting up 23.7 points, 7.4 assists, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals.
His three-point percentage is a paltry 22.7 in those games, but the overall production is undeniable. And once he adds a little consistency from deep, Flagg will almost certainly be a perennial All-Star.
In the meantime, the Dallas Mavericks keep losing (they're 2-14 over their last 16 games) and potentially improving their chances of pairing Flagg with another young star from the 2026 draft.
23. Memphis Grizzlies (24-48)
8 of 30
Previous Rank: 23
Net Rating: -4.1
The Memphis Grizzlies have entered the tank race with a vengeance.
After trading Desmond Bane last offseason, trading Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline and seemingly shutting Ja Morant down for the season, Memphis has lost 12 of its last 13 games and is 4-19 since the JJJ move.
This stretch, of course, has helped the Grizzlies' lottery odds, and it's also giving some of the younger players on the roster a chance to show off some upside.
That includes GG Jackson, who's averaged 17.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in just 26.4 minutes, while shooting 37.3 percent from deep, since the trade deadline.
22. Chicago Bulls (29-43)
9 of 30
Previous Rank: 22
Net Rating: -4.5
It's been a tough couple months for Chicago Bulls fans (outside of those who've been hoping for better odds in the draft lottery).
On January 24, they beat the Boston Celtics to move to a game over .500, but they're 6-19 since then. And on Wednesday, they surrendered a whopping 157 points to the Philadelphia 76ers.
But a solid young player can do a lot to lessen the sting of watching through a tank, and Matas Buzelis fits that billing.
Over his last 13 appearances, the second-year forward is averaging 22.0 points and 3.5 threes, while shooting 37.1 percent from deep.
21. Golden State Warriors (35-38)
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Previous Rank: 21
Net Rating: 0.3
It's been a borderline disastrous season for the Golden State Warriors. Age and injuries (Moses Moody was lost to a season-ending torn patellar tendon this week) have them barreling toward the bottom of the play-in tournament.
And once they're there, it'll probably be in their best interest to lose and get into the draft lottery.
But that's at least one silver lining. The Warriors desperately need a foundational young talent, and the incoming class of rookies figures to include several with that kind of potential. Golden State would need to get awfully lucky to move up, but missing the playoffs at least gives it that chance.
The other reason for optimism (or at least something to cheer for) is the emergence of Gui Santos. After scoring a career-high 31 in Wednesday's win over the Brooklyn Nets, the 23-year-old Brazilian is averaging 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals over his last 11 games.
20. New Orleans Pelicans (25-49)
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Previous Rank: 20
Net Rating: -3.6
The New Orleans Pelicans were blown out by the Cade Cunningham-less Detroit Pistons on Thursday and are now on a three-game losing streak, but they've been a bit more competitive of late.
Before the current skid, they'd won 11 of 17 games and were starting to look like a potential spoiler this season and play-in contender for the next.
And perhaps most encouraging, they've gotten 57 games out of Zion Williamson. Keeping him on the floor will obviously be crucial in accomplishing either of the possible goals above.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (37-37)
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Previous Rank: 19
Net Rating: -1.3
They haven't faced the stiffest competition, but the Portland Trail Blazers are 5-1 in their last six games. And several members of the young core are driving the winning.
In these six games, Deni Avdija is averaging 22.3 points and 6.3 assists, Donovan Clingan is adding 17.0 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.5 threes, while shooting 42.9 percent from deep, and Toumani Camara is putting up 17.0 points while shooting 58.8 percent from three.
Even Scoot Henderson is showing some signs of life. His burst looks a little closer to the pre-injury levels that got him drafted third overall, and he's knocking down some jumpers. In this stretch, Henderson is averaging 14.2 points and 3.5 assists in 24.3 minutes, while shooting 38.5 percent from deep.
18. Phoenix Suns (40-33)
13 of 30
Previous Rank: 16
Net Rating: 1.0
Injuries are taking their toll on the Phoenix Suns. Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks are still out, and the team is 1-6 in its last seven.
But regardless of who's available, the Suns are all but guaranteed to play with a ton of effort. And after spending much of this season as one of the NBA's least efficient volume shooters, Devin Booker is starting to look a little more like his old self.
Over his last 12 games, Booker is averaging 28.9 points, 5.3 assists and 2.3 threes.
If he can keep up that level of production after Brooks and Williams get back, the Suns won't be anyone's idea of an easy first-round matchup.
17. Orlando Magic (39-34)
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Previous Rank: 15
Net Rating: 0.9
It was another bad week for the Orlando Magic. Their only win came against the Sacramento Kings, and it was only by four points. With that victory, the Magic are now 1-6 in their last seven.
And it continues to feel like the team is just in a sort of basketball purgatory while it awaits the return of its best player, Franz Wagner.
In the meantime, Thursday's win, though uninspiring, may have revealed something this team should remember even after Wagner's return. Orlando is now 13-6 when Tristan da Silva makes at least three threes (and 26-28 in all other games). Getting him more involved could go a long way toward curing the team's shooting woes.
16. Philadelphia 76ers (40-33)
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Previous Rank: 18
Net Rating: -0.3
Joel Embiid returned to action against the tanking Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, and he did not disappoint.
The Philadelphia 76ers, who'd dropped seven of 13 heading into that win, got 35 points in 28 minutes from Embiid. He was plus-33 and shot 12-of-17 from the field. His jumper looked as automatic as ever, and his team totaled 157 points.
Paul George coming back helped, too. He had 28 in the victory.
And though it's tough to draw much analysis out of a game against the Bulls (who put up 137 points of their own), nights like this one are a reminder of a pretty high upside.
If Philadelphia finds a way to get George, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey all on the floor for the playoffs, the Sixers are going to be a tough out.
15. Toronto Raptors (40-32)
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Previous Rank: 13
Net Rating: 1.6
It was a down week for the Toronto Raptors, who went 1-3, but all of those losses were against above-.500 Western Conference teams. And they were all on the road.
Over the rest of the season, they have games against the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets.
If they take care of business in those games and sneak a couple upsets in the others, a win total in the high 40s and the fifth seed are still in play.
14. Miami Heat (39-34)
17 of 30
Previous Rank: 14
Net Rating: 2.6
It's not as though Bam Adebayo's 83-point explosion earlier this month wasn't already one of the most shocking performances in league history, but each passing game somehow makes it less believable.
Since then, Adebayo is putting up 22.7 points per outing (up from his season average), but he's shooting 39.6 percent from the field and 23.3 percent from deep. And before picking up a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, the team had lost five straight.
Finding some offensive consistency has been a season-long quest for this team, and it'd have a much better shot of attaining it if Adebayo provided some himself. He's been one of this year's least efficient volume scorers, despite playing center.
13. Los Angeles Clippers (37-36)
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Previous Rank: 17
Net Rating: 1.3
The Los Angeles Clippers had a down week heading into the last edition of the power rankings, but they followed that up by winning three straight and getting back over .500.
And during that little streak, they've gotten a pretty good glimpse of the upside Darius Garland can bring.
Over these three games, Garland averaged 26.7 points, 7.7 assists and 5.3 threes, while shooting 64.0 percent from deep.
He obviously won't be able to produce at that level consistently, but if Garland is healthy for the playoffs, L.A. should be one of the tougher seventh or eighth seeds in recent memory.
12. Houston Rockets (43-29)
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Previous Rank: 11
Net Rating: 3.9
Kevin Durant made history this week, when he passed Michael Jordan and moved into fifth place in NBA history in career points scored.
One of the purest scorers the league has ever seen now has Kobe Bryant in his sights, and he'll likely pass him next season.
In the meantime, things still feel a little rocky for KD's Houston Rockets, who went 2-2 this week and are just 6-8 in their last 14.
Moving Reed Sheppard into the starting lineup answered some offensive questions. His shooting and playmaking undoubtedly help on that end. And when he shares the floor with Durant and Alperen Şengün, Houston scores 120.0 points per 100 possessions (a mark that ranks in the 84th percentile leaguewide).
But that same trio has an abysmal 124.1 defensive rating. That has to be tough for the defensive-minded Ime Udoka to accept, especially after all three were on the floor for most of a 15-0 Minnesota Timberwolves run in Wednesday's overtime loss.
If the Rockets can't figure out, in the next couple weeks, which combination of players allows them to succeed on both ends, they could be in for a quick playoff run.
11. Atlanta Hawks (41-32)
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Previous Rank: 12
Net Rating: 1.7
The Atlanta Hawks are now 14-1 in their last 15 games, but until Wednesday's victory over the Detroit Pistons, only two of those wins were against above-.500 teams. And in those games against the Philadelphia 76ers and Pistons, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Cade Cunningham were out.
In other words, it's probably still fine to take this surge with a little grain of salt.
But Atlanta also deserves credit for its midseason overhaul. Embracing Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker as the team's foundational young(ish) players and replacing Trae Young with a more reliable shooter in CJ McCollum (who had 27 in Wednesday's win) has undoubtedly made this a better team.
When those three are all on the floor, the Hawks are plus-18.6 points per 100 possessions.
10. Denver Nuggets (46-28)
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Previous Rank: 10
Net Rating: 4.4
A couple of the wins were a little too close for comfort, but the Denver Nuggets went 4-0 this week. And right when it looked like the voters were ready to write Nikola Jokić out of the MVP conversation, he had a truly absurd run of performances.
Jokić—who's already averaging a triple-double and is on track to be the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists per game in the same season—put up 22.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 14.8 assists in these four contests.
He also became the first player in league history to have a 15-15-15 game in each leg of a back-to-back.
Add this recent Jokić run to Jamal Murray's 26.8 points per game over his last 15 (which included a 53-point masterpiece against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday), and it feels like Denver still has to be considered, at least, a "puncher's chance" team in the title conversation.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (45-28)
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Previous Rank: 9
Net Rating: 3.6
After a thrilling victory over the Houston Rockets that ended with a 15-0 run in overtime, the Minnesota Timberwolves are 4-1 during Anthony Edwards' current absence.
And while it's obvious that Minnesota will need its alpha scorer and best player for another potential run to the Western Conference Finals, the team's point differential has actually been better when he's off the floor this season. And that swing is a good reminder of what really makes this team dangerous.
When Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo are all on the floor without Ant, the Timberwolves have a stifling 105.6 defensive rating that ranks in the 97th percentile leaguewide.
8. New York Knicks (48-26)
23 of 30
Previous Rank: 6
Net Rating: 6.8
The New York Knicks had their seven-game winning streak ended by the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, and the closing kick of their schedule is about to get brutal.
Each of those seven wins was against tanking or sub-.500 teams, and now New York has the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks on the road, the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors at home and one more matchup with the Charlotte Hornets.
There's a couple more games against non-playoff teams mixed in there, but this is the toughest remaining schedule in the East. And it might be hard enough to push the Knicks from third to fourth before the playoffs start.
7. Charlotte Hornets (39-34)
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Previous Rank: 8
Net Rating: 4.7
The Charlotte Hornets aren't just a cute little midseason turnaround anymore.
After beating the New York Knicks by 11 on Thursday, they're now 23-6 since mid-January. They're tied for seventh in the league in total double-digit victories. They're up to sixth in net rating and are fifth in points scored per 100 possessions.
The rough start still has them technically in the play-in, but this is not a play-in team. Sixth place is within reach, but even if they don't get there, the Hornets should be able to fight their way through the play-in and could then be one of the toughest seventh or eighth seeds we've ever seen.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (45-28)
25 of 30
Previous Rank: 5
Net Rating: 4.0
The Cleveland Cavaliers ended their week with a loss to the Miami Heat, but they're still 11-4 when Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are both in the lineup.
And assuming they get Jarrett Allen back at something close to full strength for the playoffs, the Cavs are absolutely among the East's legitimate title contenders.
When he's on the floor, Cleveland has a point differential around that of a 54-win team.
5. Detroit Pistons (53-20)
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Previous Rank: 7
Net Rating: 8.0
We preemptively bumped the Detroit Pistons down a few spots after Cade Cunningham left the rotation with an injury, but it looks like we may have been too hasty.
But after Thursday's blowout win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Pistons are now 4-1 during this current Cunningham absence. The defense has generally survived without him, and Jalen Duren has been a monster.
In a stretch that dates back to before his teammate's injury, Duren is averaging 26.1 points and 10.9 rebounds, while shooting 69.8 percent from the field, over his last eight games.
4. Los Angeles Lakers (47-26)
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Previous Rank: 4
Net Rating: 1.3
Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers had a little hiccup in a road loss to a Detroit Pistons team missing Cade Cunningham, but they're still a blistering 13-2 in their last 15 games.
And Dončić's individual push into the MVP race really didn't lose any steam at all.
After totaling 43 points and seven assists in Wednesday's win, the 27-year-old has now led the Lakers in scoring in all but one game since February 20 (when he returned from an injury) and is averaging 35.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists in that stretch.
3. Boston Celtics (48-24)
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Previous Rank: 3
Net Rating: 7.8
As Jayson Tatum continues to work his way back toward pre-injury form, Jaylen Brown is making a very real case for the second All-NBA nod of his career.
Brown is scoring with well-below-average efficiency, and the Celtics' point differential is significantly better when he's off the floor.
But after totaling 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a statement win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, Brown's up to third in the league in total points.
And while Boston's depth, Derrick White's defense and playmaking and Joe Mazzulla's coaching deserve plenty of credit for this Boston campaign, it's tough to have a great team without an alpha scorer. Brown has filled that role well.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-16)
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Previous Rank: 2
Net Rating: 10.8
The Oklahoma City Thunder finally dropped a game on Wednesday (their first loss since February 25), but it was in Boston, at the tail end of a long road trip and against a Celtics team quickly reintegrating Jayson Tatum.
And it's tough to nitpick OKC over one random road loss, especially since it was just Jalen Williams' second game back in the rotation since early February.
Williams only had seven in Boston, but he dropped 18 points in 20 minutes two nights earlier. If he's close to full strength by the time the playoffs start, opponents will have to be near-perfect to beat them in a seven-game series.
1. San Antonio Spurs (52-18)
30 of 30
Previous Rank: 1
Net Rating: 8.0
The Victor Wembanyama MVP push is on.
This week, he passed Nikola Jokić to move into second place on the leaderboard for Dunks and Threes' estimated plus-minus (one of the most trusted catch-all metrics in NBA front offices).
And after the Oklahoma City Thunder ended their week with a loss, San Antonio is now just two games out of first place (with OKC having one of the West's toughest remaining schedules).
If the Spurs capture the top seed in the league's premier conference, plenty of MVP voters will be swayed by the two-way impact of the superstar who carried them there.
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