The 2026-27 NBA season has already given us some great basketball (and some unfortunate injuries) as we begin to get a feel for how all 30 teams will shake out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat are downright bad now, while Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James are thriving in new situations.
Both the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs have stumbled out of the gate following their appearances in the NBA Finals, and one recent champion should be in full-out panic mode right now.
It's time to pass out some early report card grades for every NBA team following a whirlwind of a first week.
Note: All records and stats are accurate as of Oct. 27.
Atlanta Hawks: B+
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We saw a glimpse of how special this Atlanta Hawks team can be on both ends in a 128-81 thumping of the (now 3-1) Charlotte Hornets.
The Hawks (now equipped with Lu Dort off their bench) held the Hornets to just 11-of-51 shooting from three (22 percent) while only one Charlotte starter registered more than six points.
A win over the Orlando Magic and some respectable losses to a good Houston Rockets team shouldn't hurt our confidence in Atlanta, a team that's perhaps deeper than any version we saw in the Trae Young era.
With the Hawks currently top-eight in both offense and defense to begin the year, fans should feel good (although maybe not great) about their team so far.
Boston Celtics: B
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A 3-1 record with a lone loss to a good Detroit Pistons team looks decent on the surface, but these Boston Celtics are far from a championship team right now.
Paul George is carrying a large offensive load (22.3 points) but will inevitably miss time at some point. The Celtics needed overtime to beat a bad Brooklyn Nets team at home and Jayson Tatum is struggling from three right now (24.1 percent).
There's still talent here, but Boston looks like the lite version of the squad that won the 2024 title.
Brooklyn Nets: D
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This is going to be a long, sad season for Brooklyn Nets fans.
An 0-4 record to start the year isn't all that surprising, even with the additions of players like Julius Randle, Keon Ellis and No. 6 overall pick Mikel Brown Jr., who's shooting just 28.6 percent overall in his first three games.
Yes, the Nets kept it close against teams like the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, although developing the team's young talent is more important than overall record. Of the seven first-round picks that Brooklyn has made over the past two years, only one (Brown) is averaging more than 10 points per game to begin the season.
With zero wins to date and little progression from the team's young talent, the Nets only get a D for some close losses.
Charlotte Hornets: B+
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The Charlotte Hornets got throttled by the Atlanta Hawks in their home opener, but other than that the season has been a success thus far.
A 3-1 record is very respectable, especially considering both Kon Knueppel and Coby White have yet to make their season debuts due to injury. Naz Reid (19.5 points, 41.2 percent from three) and Grayson Allen (16.8 points, 48.3 percent from three) have been terrific pickups, and the Miles Bridges trade looks like a huge win for Charlotte.
Simply treading water without their two best guards would be a success for the Hornets, who have exceeded expectations to this point.
Chicago Bulls: F
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Saying the Chicago Bulls have been hot garbage is an insult to high-temperature trash everywhere.
Yes, the Bulls have managed to win a game, albeit against the Milwaukee Bucks. Chicago still ranks dead last in the NBA in offense (101.8 rating) and net rating (minus-18.3), as they've already suffered multiple losses of 35 points or more.
Starting point guard Josh Giddey is averaging just 7.0 points on 33.3 percent shooting overall and 15.4 percent from three, Norman Powell and Matas Buzelis are both shooting under 39.0 percent and rookie Caleb Wilson clearly looks like the team's best player (not a good thing).
No one was penciling the Bulls in as a playoff team in the East this season, but growth was expected. So far, Chicago looks worse than ever.
Cleveland Cavaliers: C
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It's been a roller coaster of a season already for the Cleveland Cavaliers, one that began in their very first game.
The Cavs looked unstoppable in the first half of their season opener against the high-powered Philadelphia 76ers, as Cleveland built a 29-point halftime lead only to see Philly come all the way back and win the game.
The Cavaliers also nearly blew a double-digit home lead vs. the Brooklyn Nets before taking down a very good Minnesota Timberwolves team in overtime.
James Harden is starting to show his age, shooting just 35.1 percent overall while averaging 4.3 turnovers per game. Peyton Watson has struggled with his shot early into his Cavs career, although he's been terrific defensively.
We need a bigger sample size to see if Cleveland deserves to be called a true contender in the East.
Dallas Mavericks: B
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The Dallas Mavericks have already picked up a pair of quality wins against the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat while Kyrie Irving has looked good coming off a missed season due to a torn ACL. Add in Cooper Flagg continuing his ascent to superstardom and things have been overwhelmingly positive in Dallas to date.
Flagg's playmaking ability has taken a step forward and the 19-year-old currently leads the NBA in steals (3.7 per game). Irving is averaging 19.0 points on 51.2 percent shooting overall in just 27.1 minutes as the Mavs have posted an offense in the top half of the league.
Losses to good teams like the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are understandable, as the Mavericks are trying to balance winning with developing the young talent on the roster.
Denver Nuggets: F
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The Denver Nuggets are just 1-2 to begin the season, needing overtime just to take down the New Orleans Pelicans at home. A 20-point home loss to a bad Golden State Warriors team was a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that entered the season with championship aspirations.
Nikola Jokić is already beefing with the fans while his individual numbers and efficiency are all down from the previous few years. Denver's offense was the best in the NBA last year, yet has fallen all the way to 18th overall now. An already shaky defense has plummeted to No. 26 overall.
Is it too early to panic for a Nuggets team that's still above the second apron? Or has the championship window closed?
Detroit Pistons: A
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Starting this season 4-1 overall with arguably the NBA's hardest schedule, the Detroit Pistons should be very pleased with how the 2026-27 season has begun.
Wins over the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers helped prove that the Pistons belong at the top of the East despite an offseason of inactivity. A lone loss to a hungry New York Knicks team was understandable.
Duncan Robinson (17.8 points per game) can't be a No. 2 offensive option for the rest of the season, however, and Ron Holland II (3.5 points on 31.6 percent shooting) is looking more and more like a bust now in Year 3.
There are certainly some question marks surrounding this roster, although Detroit should be happy with its record overall.
Golden State Warriors: D
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A 22-point opening night loss to the Los Angeles Lakers may have set the tone for the Golden State Warriors' season.
A 1-3 record to begin the year feels about right when looking up and down a roster that's missing an injured Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porziņģis and Moses Moody.
Draymond Green has made four shots in three games, ranking 14th among the Warriors' 15 players. Golden State has never relied on Green to fill up the basket, yet he now has 10 more turnovers than made shots. That's a troubling imbalance for the 36-year-old, who is averaging just 3.3 points per game.
Even Green's defense can't save the Warriors, as a 121.1 rating ranks 28th overall, barely besting the Sacramento Kings.
Houston Rockets: A
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The return of Fred VanVleet from a torn ACL has helped stabilize a Houston Rockets offense that now ranks No. 3 overall in the NBA, fueling the team's 4-0 start. The veteran point guard has 21 total assists against just two turnovers.
Kevin Durant (23.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 blocks, 47.1 percent from three) continues to defy father time now at age 38. The Rockets have been hot from outside the arc (39.0 percent, fifth-best in the NBA) and rebounding remains a strong suit with the size of this frontline.
Quality wins over the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks (twice) have the Rockets sitting at the top of the West.
Indiana Pacers: D+
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The return of Tyrese Haliburton didn't magically make the 2-2 Indiana Pacers a contender again overnight, as a bad loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and wins over the lowly New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets haven't inspired much confidence.
Haliburton has looked good in his return from a torn Achilles (21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 1.3 steals), yet is now expected to miss at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Obviously, the Pacers will be extremely cautious with any injury issues involving Haliburton. This group will have to prove it can stay afloat in the East without him, something they failed to do for most of last year.
Los Angeles Clippers: C
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The Los Angeles Clippers were always going to struggle to piece together wins this season with a retooled roster. Injuries to Brandon Ingram and Max Strus have only complicated matters.
Darius Garland looks healthy and ready to rock once again (24.0 points, 7.0 assists), yet needs to cut down on his turnovers. He's probably being asked to do too much right now, with a usage rate (31.3 percent) exceeding even that of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson.
The Clippers aren't going to go far with Brook Lopez as their second-leading scorer (18.0 points), although Keaton Wagler has looked promising and should take on a larger offensive role as the year progresses. A 1-2 start to the season should be considered a win.
Los Angeles Lakers: B+
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Luka Dončić has been the best player in the NBA so far this season, leading all scorers with 36.0 points per game and guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to a 3-1 start.
Now with a roster that's been built around him, Dončić is lighting the league on fire. There's simply no guarding him when Dončić's confidence is flowing, as he only needs an inch of space to get a shot off.
Even Walker Kessler hasn't fixed a 22nd-ranked defense, although Dončić and Austin Reaves have led the second-best offense in the NBA (126.7 rating) and the league's best three-point shooting attack (41.3 percent).
The Lakers don't yet have a win over a team with a winning record, however, so we'll need more time to see just how good this new-look roster really is.
Memphis Grizzlies: A+
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Just one of three teams to begin the season a perfect 4-0, the Memphis Grizzlies are the biggest surprise of the NBA season.
A healthy Ty Jerome has always been dangerous, although he's never been given this big of an offensive role before. Jerome's 29.8 points per game rank third overall in the NBA, only behind Luka Dončić and Anthony Edwards.
No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer hasn't shot the ball well, yet has made his impact in a number of other ways. The 19-year-old is averaging 14.8 points, 10.5 rebounds (fifth-most in the NBA) and 4.8 assists to begin his career. He's going to make a lot of future All-Star teams.
A fifth-ranked defense after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. is a nice surprise, as Memphis has shocked the NBA world thus far.
Miami Heat: F
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The Miami Heat are finally in the win column, although a 1-4 start to the season has been a disaster of a debut for Giannis Antetokounmpo in South Beach.
Ranking in the bottom seven in the NBA in both offense and defense, Miami hasn't gotten much from its guards while Bam Adebayo averaged just 11.8 points on 16.7 percent shooting from three in his first four games.
The additions of Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. have made little impact, as neither player defends well at this stage of his career, and both have struggled to shoot from deep.
There was always going to be an adjustment period given the amount of roster sacrificed to bring in Antetokounmpo, although this is a worse start than we all predicted.
Milwaukee Bucks: D
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A 1-3 record to begin the season with losses to the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards is about what we expected for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Beyond a bad record, however, is the miserable play of Myles Turner, who's starting over Kel'el Ware in what we can assume is an attempt to increase the veteran center's trade value. Instead, Turner is averaging a career-low 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 36.7 percent overall.
This was never going to be an easy year for the Bucks. Milwaukee hasn't been the worst team in the NBA this year, but that distinction is certainly still in play.
Minnesota Timberwolves: A
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A perfect 3-0 start with all three wins coming by 20 points or more had the Minnesota Timberwolves buzzing to begin the year. Even an overtime loss in Cleveland against the Cavaliers saw Anthony Edwards go for 47 points, moving him up to second overall in scoring in the NBA.
Unfortunately, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Edwards will miss up to two months following an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, putting him out until around Christmas.
This doesn't mean the Wolves' season is doomed, of course. LaMelo Ball (14.8 points, 6.3 assists, 1.8 steals) has helped electrify the offense while also playing the best defense of his career. Ayo Dosunmu, Jonathan Kuminga and Terrence Shannon Jr. are all capable of stepping into bigger roles.
A plus-16.8 net rating (second in the NBA) will drop with no Edwards, although Minnesota should be thrilled by how their new healthy core looks together.
New Orleans Pelicans: D-
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Despite being 0-3 this season, the New Orleans Pelicans are only 18th in net rating (minus-2.4). That tops even some two- and three-win teams, as the Pels have kept all of their games close.
Still, a loss is a loss. Following a summer of inactivity, New Orleans opting to run back the same roster that missed the playoffs last year was a puzzling decision, one that looks even worse now.
Jeremiah Fears is struggling (8.3 points on 29.0 percent shooting) and Herb Jones has been squeezed to the back part of the rotation for some reason.
The Pelicans are a mess, but they've at least been a respectable mess.
New York Knicks: D
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This is the same starting five that won a championship just four months ago, right? Or do we have some sort of Monstars situation on our hands?
The New York Knicks have begun the 2026-27 season just 1-3 overall, with some of their top players struggling. Mikal Bridges looks like a shell of himself on offense (5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 27.3 percent shooting overall) while even Jalen Brunson has struggled with his efficiency (36.6 percent shooting overall, 20.0 percent from three).
A 27th-ranked offense looks nothing like the version that finished fourth overall last year, despite the same starting five returning. The Knicks will eventually climb back above .500 and towards the top of the East, although it's been a rough start for the defending champs.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A
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No team has been hit harder by injuries this season than the Oklahoma City Thunder. No team is better suited to handle those absences than OKC, either.
Jalen Williams is expected to miss the entire season with a fractured fibula and dislocated left ankle. Cason Wallace could be out months with a torn labrum while players like Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso have also missed time due to injury.
Have we mentioned that the Thunder are a perfect 4-0 to begin the season?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may win MVP number three at this rate, as he's once again putting up big scoring numbers (27.3 points per game) in a role that will only increase with Williams and Wallace out.
Orlando Magic: D+
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Death. Taxes. The Orlando Magic losing key starters to injuries.
A 1-3 start to the season by Orlando can be attributed to the loss of Paolo Banchero (ankle sprain) and Jalen Suggs (bone bruise), both of whom will be out at least for a few weeks.
The Magic offense is once again offensive to watch, as a 106.5 rating ranks 26th overall in the NBA even with players like Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane suiting up in every game thus far.
Is it time to make a big move to shake up this roster? Or can a healthy Orlando team still compete in the East?
Philadelphia 76ers: A
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A 4-1 start for the new-look Philadelphia 76ers is about as good as anyone could have hoped for, especially with quality wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.
A single loss to the 4-1 Detroit Pistons isn't anything for Philly to hang their heads over.
This team is still prioritizing Tyrese Maxey as the main scoring threat, as they should. His 28.8 points per game rank fourth in the NBA, while Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown are both breaking north of 20 themselves.
LeBron James appears to be adapting to his role as the fourth option on offense while serving as a playmaker and super Swiss Army knife. A fourth-ranked defense (103.3 rating) is particularly impressive, especially given the amount of offensive firepower we know this roster possesses.
Phoenix Suns: D
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The "Big 4" of Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges is off to a rough start for the 1-2 Phoenix Suns.
In their first 101 possessions together, Booker, Green, Brooks and Bridges have a net rating of minus-42.6. Even for a relatively small sample size, this is shockingly bad.
The Suns rank dead last in the NBA in defense (124.5 rating), a mark that should (hopefully) improve whenever Mark Williams can return to the court from a torn labrum. There's talent on this roster, although the trade for Bridges looks both unnecessary and harmful to the team's ability to upgrade in the future.
Jalen Green will almost certainly have to be moved to a sixth man role or traded outright at some point. He simply doesn't fit alongside Booker and company here.
Portland Trail Blazers: A+
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Outside of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Portland Trail Blazers have been the biggest surprise in the NBA this season.
After the first week-plus, Portland ranks:
- No. 1 in net rating (plus-16.9)
- No. 1 in offense (126.8 rating)
- No. 1 in made threes (17.0 per game)
- No. 1 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.24)
- No. 1 in rebound percentage (57.5 percent)
This has been a remarkable showing for a team that looked like it could have a real fit issue between Damian Lillard and Ja Morant, both of whom have shined in their respective roles.
Deni Avdija looks like an All-Star once again (22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists) and Toumani Camara is 13-of-22 from deep to begin the season (59.1 percent).
Sacramento Kings: F
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If there's something more powerful than a green light for a shooter, rookie Darius Acuff Jr. certainly has it.
His 23.3 shot attempts per game are second in the NBA only to Anthony Edwards and almost as many as the next two Sacramento Kings players combined (Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, 28.1).
However, a 34.4 percent shooting mark from the field and 20.6 percent success rate from three mean that most of these attempts are missing their target.
The 0-4 Kings are predictably horrible on defense (122.1 rating, 29th overall) but are also dreadful on offense (105.1 rating, 28th overall).
This is the worst team in the NBA, and it may not be close.
San Antonio Spurs: B
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A 2-2 San Antonio Spurs team is tinkering with a new starting lineup that features all three of their star guards, making sure everyone is at least somewhat happy.
The results have been solid so far, with Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama registering a net rating of plus-9.2 together (88 total possessions).
Wembanyama ranks just 30th overall in scoring this season (22.3 points per game) and is making 21.1 percent of his threes, essentially bailing the defense out whenever he hoists up an outside shot.
This doesn't look like the well-oiled machine that tore through the Western Conference last spring, but the Spurs have still played well, losing only to the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.
Toronto Raptors: B
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The Toronto Raptors look like a dark horse to come out of the Eastern Conference thanks to the addition of Kawhi Leonard and an incredible defense, but it's still too early to tell how good they are.
Wins against the lowly Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards were expected, although a 23-point loss to a formidable Minnesota Timberwolves team was a disappointment. The Raptors do own the NBA's best defense right now (97.8 rating), a figure that may climb now with the latest Leonard news.
The seven-time All-Star is expected to miss a period of weeks due to swelling in his left knee, per ESPN's Shams Charania, meaning Leonard made it exactly two regular season games before having to miss time.
There's enough talent on this Raptors team to win without him, although this may not be the elite East team we thought that it could be with Leonard.
Utah Jazz: D+
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Expectations were beginning to shift for a Utah Jazz team that's finally fielding a competitive NBA roster.
A 1-3 start to the season has been a disappointment, especially considering Utah's lone win came against the 0-3 New Orleans Pelicans (by a single point, no less).
The Jazz began the season without Jusuf Nurkić due to a foot injury, and now Jaren Jackson Jr. is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a torn MCL in his right knee.
No 2. overall pick Darryn Peterson is going to have to adjust quickly following a slow start (11.5 points on 36.0 percent shooting overall), as the team will need his scoring with so many frontcourt bodies now out.
Washington Wizards: C+
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A 2-2 record with a net rating of exactly 0.0 is about as average as it gets, although the Washington Wizards deserve a slight bump up from a C grade here.
No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa did not play in the Wizards' first four games but should make his NBA debut soon. Trae Young currently leads the league in assists (11.0) and Anthony Davis (22.8 points, 9.3 rebounds) has looked dominant at times.
We know the injury bug will hit Davis at some point, so staying at a .500 pace to begin the season is a good start for a Wizards team desperate to return to relevancy.
