NBA Power Rankings: Best & Worst Teams for 2025-26 Season

The NBA season marches toward Christmas, and the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the best team in basketball.

The defending champions have been better than expected. They remain the NBA championship odds favorites. They are on pace to set a record for most wins in a regular season.

So much for parity, right? Well, at least the rest of the NBA power rankings continue to have adjustments during the 2025-26 season.

NBA Power Rankings 2025-26

Best NBA Teams, 2025-26

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The BetMGM online sportsbook gives the Thunder a +475 price tag (17.39% implied probability) to set the wins record. It’s worth noting that Oklahoma City has the toughest remaining schedule in the league.

2. New York Knicks

After reaching the NBA Cup final, the Knicks have established themselves as the Eastern Conference favorites. They seek their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

3. Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokić remains the best player in the world, making the Nuggets a threat in the Western Conference. That said, Cameron Johnson appears to be a downgrade from Michael Porter Jr., and that’s worth mentioning after all the offseason discourse about that trade.

4. Houston Rockets

The Rockets rank top three in both offensive and defensive rating. They are the only team in the league that can say that.

5. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are off to a surprising lead in the Eastern Conference, making J.B. Bickerstaff the NBA Coach of the Year odds favorite after his runner-up finish last season.

6. San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs have arrived following their upset win over the Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinal.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

If the Timberwolves can trade for a point guard, I’d rank them firmly in the group of legitimate challengers to the Thunder. They are top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating.

8. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are probably due for some regression, as their net rating (+1.5) ranks 14th in the league. Still, Luka Doncic has this team sitting third in the West.

9. Boston Celtics

Despite being without Jayson Tatum, the Celtics are fourth in offensive rating.

10. Orlando Magic

Orlando has rebounded from its slow start and suddenly ranks 11th in offensive rating. The Magic haven’t been top 15 in that metric since 2012.

11. Miami Heat

Miami revamped its offensive system, focusing on transition and isolation plays rather than ball screens. It has made the Heat an intriguing sleeper in the East.

12. Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry is playing out of his mind in his age-37 campaign, averaging nearly 30 points per game. Don’t be surprised if the Warriors climb up the standings in the coming weeks.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have underwhelmed after being the No. 1 seed in the East last year. Can they get back on track?

14. Toronto Raptors

Thanks to some improved health compared to last year, the Raptors are on pace for their first postseason berth since 2022.

15. Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young remains out, but Jalen Johnson is thriving as the Hawks’ No. 1 option. I still think Atlanta makes the most sense as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s next team destination.

16. Phoenix Suns

Despite trading away Kevin Durant in the offseason, the Suns are already nearly halfway toward last year’s win total.

17. Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid recently pouted in a season-best 39 points. Paul George followed that up with a 35-point performance. Could the 76ers be on their way back?

18. Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant is back after being out for 10 games, which should help the Grizzlies’ transition offense.

19. Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg is starting to create some cushion in the NBA Rookie of the Year odds race.

20. Portland Trail Blazers

The theory behind the Trail Blazers was that they’d be elite defensively. Well, they are 22nd in defensive rating.

21. Milwaukee Bucks

Antetokounmpo is out again with another injury, but his name continues to be thrown around in trade discussions.

22. Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte rookies Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sion James have all made an immediate impact in their debut campaigns.

23. Chicago Bulls

After a 5-0 clip in October, the Bulls have crashed back to reality.

24. Utah Jazz

Lauri Markkanen is ninth in the NBA in scoring (27.8 points per game), increasing his trade value for the Jazz.

25. Los Angeles Clippers

The oldest team in the league has had a disastrous start to the season. Now would be a good time to remind you that the Oklahoma City Thunder could end up with the Clippers’ first-round pick.

26. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers could benefit from this gap year, as they own their pick for a 2026 class that features multiple difference-makers.

27. New Orleans Pelicans

It’s possible to believe in Derik Queen and think the Pelicans made a horrible trade (an unprotected 2026 first) to land him.

28. Sacramento Kings

Sacramento ranks 29th in net rating, which seems impossible when you look at the names on this roster.

29. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are the youngest team in the league this year, and it shows.

30. Washington Wizards

Personally, I’m rooting for Darryn Peterson to land with the Wizards, who have the worst net rating in the league and desperately need their franchise cornerstone.

Who is the Best NBA Team this Season?

According to these power rankings, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the best NBA team in the 2025-26 season. The Knicks are ranked No. 2, while the Nuggets are No. 3.

Who is the Worst NBA Team this Season?

The Washington Wizards are rated No. 30 in the league based on these updated power rankings.