- The Oklahoma City Thunder remain the best team in the NBA.
- The Washington Wizards sit at No. 30.
The NBA regular season is in its home stretch.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have cooled off from their record-setting pace to start the year, but they remain the team to beat as the NBA championship odds favorites. As such, they continue to lead my updated NBA power rankings.
Read on for the full list:
NBA Power Rankings 2025-26
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Thunder |
| 2 | Pistons |
| 3 | Spurs |
| 4 | Celtics |
| 5 | Knicks |
| 6 | Cavaliers |
| 7 | Nuggets |
| 8 | Timberwolves |
| 9 | Lakers |
| 10 | Rockets |
| 11 | Suns |
| 12 | Raptors |
| 13 | Hawks |
| 14 | Magic |
| 15 | Heat |
| 16 | Clippers |
| 17 | Hornets |
| 18 | 76ers |
| 19 | Trail Blazers |
| 20 | Warriors |
| 21 | Pelicans |
| 22 | Bucks |
| 23 | Bulls |
| 24 | Mavericks |
| 25 | Grizzlies |
| 26 | Jazz |
| 27 | Nets |
| 28 | Pacers |
| 29 | Kings |
| 30 | Wizards |
Best NBA Teams, 2025-26
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
My power rankings don’t overreact throughout the year. The Thunder remain the best team in the sport and the championship favorites for a reason.
2. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons continue to lead the Eastern Conference, making J.B. Bickerstaff the NBA Coach of the Year odds favorite after his runner-up finish last season.
3. San Antonio Spurs
The future is now for the Spurs, who have shattered preseason expectations and emerged as the second-best team in the Western Conference.
4. Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum is back. The Celtics were a pleasant surprise without him, but they are East favorites with Tatum in the lineup.
5. New York Knicks
The Knicks boast a 26-9 record in Madison Square Garden this year, which puts pressure on them to finish high enough in the East to use that advantage in the postseason.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
Since trading for James Harden, the Cavaliers have taken off and returned to being among the favorites in the East.
7. Denver Nuggets
As long as Nikola Jokić is healthy, the Nuggets project to be one of the top challengers in the West.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards won All-Star MVP, reminding everyone that he’s one of the best players in the league. The Wolves still have plenty of upside after consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals.
9. Los Angeles Lakers
I’m not falling for another March run by the Lakers, who have benefitted from having the best 3-point defense during their nine-game win streak. I’d still make them series underdogs against any team above them.
10. Houston Rockets
Houston has the league’s best offensive rebound rate at 35%. That is how the Rockets rank 10th in offensive rating without Fred VanVleet.
11. Phoenix Suns
Nobody saw this season coming from the Suns, who traded away Kevin Durant after winning 36 games last year.
12. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors haven’t won a playoff series since 2020, but they are hoping to change that this year in a wide-open East.
13. Atlanta Hawks
Here come the Hawks, who have surged into the top six in the East following an 11-game win streak.
14. Orlando Magic
The Magic continue to be without Franz Wagner, but they have a soft schedule to close the regular season.
15. Miami Heat
Miami continues to play at the fastest pace in the league this year.
16. Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard can only miss one more game to remain eligible for All-NBA.
17. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte has been one of the more fun teams this season, building a strong foundational core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel.
18. Philadelphia 76ers
With Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid out, the 76ers have slipped down to the play-in picture.
19. Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers were supposed to have this stout defense, but they are allowing 117.2 points per game.
20. Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry hasn’t played since January, but the Warriors’ play-in hopes hinge on his health.
21. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are basically the only bad team without any motivation to lose, so it’s no surprise to see them playing their best basketball of the year right now.
22. Milwaukee Bucks
Get ready for another offseason of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors.
23. Chicago Bulls
Chicago has too many combo guards on its roster, but at least it picked a direction after becoming sellers at the deadline.
24. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg is no longer the NBA Rookie of the Year odds favorite following an eight-game absence.
25. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies gave up on their core by trading Desmond Bane last summer and Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline.
26. Utah Jazz
The Jazz started deliberately tanking before the break by pulling key players in the fourth quarter. It’s sparked an ongoing debate over how to address tanking.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn has the worst clutch record in the league.
28. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have been one of the most injured teams in the NBA this year, which is fine since they own their 2026 pick.
29. Sacramento Kings
Sacramento ranks 29th in the NBA in net rating, which seems impossible when looking at the names on this roster.
30. Washington Wizards
After trading for Trae Young and Anthony Davis, the Wizards are hoping to make a leap next season.
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 Pistons are ranked No. 2, while the Spurs 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.
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