(Image via NBC Universal) 

Staff Editor: Aidan Danforth

Email: adanforth@umassd.edu 

We have finally made it: the 2025-2026 NBA is about to be underway with thirty teams and their own purpose. For some, it’s a year where they can contend for a title; some are in a mix of good and bad; and some are just praying they can win some games. 

It’s not easy to rank 30 teams—though some definitely reign supreme over others. Here are my NBA power rankings right as we’re about to tip off for what is to be another incredible season. 

The Rankings

30. Brooklyn Nets: An obvious worst team. No stars. Michael Porter Jr and Cam Johnson have too many flaws. Just a horrendous draft. Going to be a long rebuilding year for the Nets. 

29. Utah Jazz: Another team with barely any star power. Traded a few stars  for pennies. I do like Ace Bailey, but beside him and Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz are another rebuilding unit.  

28. Washington Wizards: Another team reconstructing, but at least Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington have much potential to break out. They also acquired some veteran talent which should see them slightly improving. 

27. Charlotte Hornets: You look at this team, you think they’d be good. There’s just too many holes. Lamelo Ball and Miles Bridges are too inconsistent, the team has no true center, though their bench is looking a bit better thanks to the offseason. 

26. Phoenix Suns: Poor Devin Booker. The Suns are just wasting his career. He’s forced to play with Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, who do not complement Booker’s talents and they have far too many question marks regarding health and consistency. 

25. Chicago Bulls: The definition of mid. Josh Giddey and Coby White are both great players but everything else around them screams mid as the Bulls are nothing but a play-in team at best.  

24. Sacramento Kings: The western conference version of mid. Domantas Sabonis is so good, yet this team keeps walking backwards. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Dennis Schroder are good but have their flaws that hold this team back from greatness.   

23. New Orleans Pelicans: By far the team with the highest ceiling and lowest floor. If Zion Williamson can stay healthy, CJ McCollum can bounce back, and Herb Jones and Trey Murphy can develop, playoff contenders but injuries and inconsistency could land them in the basement. 

22. Miami Heat: I love the addition of Normal Powell. Him, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo will pair well together and hopefully give them a chance at securing a play-in spot.  

21. Portland Trailblazers: A young core that is shaping to become something along with an improving defense with veteran Jrue Holiday will keep this team interesting, it’s just tough to imagine they can be fully competitive in this stacked western conference. 

20. Toronto Raptors: Their players may be heavily overpaid, but Scottie Barnes, Rj Barrett, and newly acquired Brandon Ingram are quality starters. They just need someone else to step up so they can elevate to greater heights. 

19. Indian Pacers: With Haliburton out and the loss of Myles Turner, the Pacers are stuck in the play-in bubble. Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell will keep them competitive but nowhere near returning to the championship. 

18. Boston Celtics: With Tatum out all year, Boston is not afraid to call this a rebuilding year. Jaylen Brown could prove himself to be a number one option. Though all is on the Celtics mind is Tatum’s return in 2026. 

17. Memphis Grizzlies: A great team on paper with many questions. Can Ja Morant have a huge breakout? Who can step up as the team’s second option? Was last year’s collapse bad luck or are they heading in that direction?  

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Another team with a high ceiling and low floor. If Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul Goerge can all stay healthy and play well, they are an easy playoff contender, or the opposite happens and the 76ers remain a bottom feeder.  

15. San Antonio Spurs: A fully healthy Wemby, ROTY Stephon Castle, DeAaron Fox, and Dylan Harper makes this team appear stacked. There’s just one issue. Who can shoot from deeper. Something a team must have to compete for a title. 

14. Atlanta Hawks: Finally a competent team around Trae Young featuring defense, depth, and players that can complement his skill set. This team’s peak is high with a chance to surprise a lot of teams. 

13. Milwaukee Bucks: As long as they have Giannis, the Bucks will always be a top team in the east. And that’s it. A cast consisting of Myles Turner and a bunch of decent roleplayers is by far the worst support Giannis has had in his career.   

12. Detroit Pistons: One of the biggest surprises from last year. They regressed a bit, yet if Cade can reach that next level and their other stars can step up, Detroit can easily become a front runner in the eastern conference.   

11. Orlando Magic: For a while, they’ve had the defense to compete. They just lacked offense. Hopefully the addition of Desmond Bane and the continued improvement of Paolo and Wagner can give the Magic the ability to fully compete. 

10. Dallas Mavericks: Even after making the worst trade in NBA history, Dallas is stacked with health being their weakness. AD, Klay, #1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, a solid bench, and a soon-to-return Kyrie. Not a very stable team but one can definitely be a force. 

9. Los Angeles Lakers: Plenty of questions remain about the defense, any team with Luka Doncic is going to remain competitive. And when LeBron returns, they are going to be even more dangerous.  

8. Golden State Warriors: Same team except Butler is here for a full season, we have an actual center, and added depth on the defense. Should be another year where they attempt to get Curry his fifth ring.  

7. Cleveland Cavaliers: The reigning #1 seed in the east didn’t add too much to their roster. The addition of Lonzo Ball adds great depth to their bench. All they can hope for is the same kind of success as last year along with a deeper playoff run. 

6. Houston Rockets: They would be ranked higher if it weren’t for VanVleet’s injury. Still, KD, Sungun, and Thompson will make them a team that can win on any given night and a sure playoff contender. 

5. Minnesota Timberwolves: A team with the same core who has made the Western Conference Finals two years in a row. They are weak at point guard, but Edwards, Randle, and Gobert are a scary big three that are looking to finally get over the hump.    

4. Los Angeles Clippers: So much depth everywhere on this roster. This could be the year for the Clippers. Harden, Leonard, Zubac, Paul, Collins, Jones, Lopez. They are stacked with veterans who are all fighting to secure their first or second ring. 

3. New York Knicks: The easy frontrunner in a weak eastern conference. One of the best starting fives in the NBA led by Brunson and KAT that can take advantage of their situation and came up on top in the east. 

2. Denver Nuggets: You have Nikola Jokic who plays basketball like a God with a team with added depth on the bench and new acquired Camerson Johnson, making them the most likely to dethrone the #1 team. 

1. Oklahoma City Thunder: Until someone else wins the title, the Thunder remain at #1. Same team as last year. SGA, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams all got paid. This team is going to remain a force to be reckoned with as the current kings of the NBA. 

Let’s see where this new season takes the teams!