2024 NBA Power Rankings: Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks rise after Week 8 of NBA schedule

By Jason Burgos

·Updated: December 16, 2024

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

With the 2024-25 regular season underway, our latest NBA power rankings offer an evaluation of all 30 clubs in the association. Along with an appraisal of every squad around the association, stay up to date with the upcoming slate of games on the NBA schedule and see who are the 50 best NBA players in the new season.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at where every NBA team ranks right now.

Also Read: 20 Worst NBA players of all-time, including Greg Oden

The 10 worst NBA teams right now

30. Washington Wizards (Last Week: 30)

Even with new head coach Brian Keefe, the Washington Wizards have been an absolute mess this season and are without a doubt the worst team in the NBA right now. Jordan Poole has been better in his second season, however, top star Kyle Kuzma is off to a very rough start. They surprisingly ended a sad 16-game losing skid with a pair of wins over the Hawks recently. But followed that up with losses to East elites soon after.

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29. New Orleans Pelicans (Last Week: 29)

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green has a very talented roster. But who knows when he will get it at full strength? Brandon Ingram has played well as he looks to boost his value for a potential trade in February. But he has been one of the few key players on the roster that’s been around for most of the season.

With so many of their top players sidelined at times with injuries this season, it should come as no surprise that the team is dead last in scoring right now (105.1 PPG). Their bottom 10 defense isn’t helping either.

28. Utah Jazz (Last Week: 28)

In year three as head coach, Will Hardy is feeling a lot more pressure after a season and a half of poor play from the Utah Jazz. The goal from the top to start the season was to be better this year. Unfortunately, they have been one of the worst teams in the NBA over the first half. After getting a massive $195 million deal in the summer, Lauri Markkanen has disappointed in 2024-25. While John Collins has improved it has not stopped the Jazz from being near the bottom of the current NBA standings.

27. Toronto Raptors (Last Week: 27)

On the offensive side of the ball, the Toronto Raptors are a pretty solid group led by top star Scottie Barnes and Canadian native RJ Barrett. And they could be far better once Immanuel Quickley returns from injury — which could be soon. However, despite their ability to put the ball in the basket, they are near the bottom of the standings mostly due to their poor play on defense. Heading into the week, they are giving up the sixth most points in the league (117.1).

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26. Charlotte Hornets (Last Week: 26)

LaMelo Ball is back healthy and playing like a no-doubt All-Star. Plus, second-year man Brandon Miller is off to a nice start this season. Unfortunately, that is where it ends, and despite their performances, the Charlotte Hornets have been awful on the offensive side of the ball after the first eight weeks of the season. While they are a solid group defensively (112.4 points against per game), they are the third-worst scoring team in the NBA right now (106.6 PPG).

25. Portland Trail Blazers (Last Week: 25)

On paper, the Portland Trail Blazers roster looks like a team that should be contending for a play-in spot this season. Unfortunately, they have several players who would be good third options on any team. So the lack of a legit No. 1 or No. 2 scoring threat is why they are among the worst scoring teams in the league heading into the week (106.9 PPG). Also, top draft pick Donovan Clingan has not made much of an impact over the first few months of his NBA career.

24. Philadelphia 76ers (Last Week: 24)

The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA over the first half as injuries and in-fighting have led to an awful start. However, it seems like things are finally starting to turn for the Sixers in recent weeks. With Joel Embiid and Paul George on the court more often, the team is slowly rising in the standings and has been doing it with some top-10-level defense (110.6 PPG). However, their offense has a long way to go before it climbs up from the doldrums and gets them back in playoff contention.

23. Brooklyn Nets (Last Week: 21)

The Brooklyn Nets were always expected to struggle mightily in 2024-25. They are in a full-blown rebuild and are punting until next summer. Nevertheless, new head coach Jordi Fernandez has done a decent job with a limited roster. Cam Thomas has continued his play from last year and could be in the running for an All-Star spot early next year.

They showed recently they can’t be slept on when they won three straight against the Kings, Warriors, and Suns. But then followed that up by losing five of their next six.

22. Detroit Pistons (Last Week: 23)

The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA last season. However, things have turned around for Motown’s favorite team this year. After the first eight weeks, they are playing surprisingly decent ball. New head coach JB Bickerstaff has made a difference and helped former first-round pick Jaden Ivey turn into an impact player this season. They will head into the holidays with double-digit wins. It took them well into the New Year to achieve that feat last season.

21. Chicago Bulls (Last Week: 22)

Over the first two months of the season, the Chicago Bulls have evolved into one of the better offenses in the game. Especially when veteran point guard Lonzo Ball is on the floor. Heading into the week, they are scoring the sixth most PPG (118.7) in the NBA. But they are the exact opposite on defense. The Bulls’ defense would be the worst in the game (121.9) if not for the awful Wizards owning the rock-bottom spot.

At this point, players are playing to bolster their value in the hopes of being traded to better teams before February’s deadline.

20. Indiana Pacers (Last Week: 20)

There were big hopes for the Indiana Pacers heading into the season. They had two legit stars in Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam and one of the best offenses in the league heading into the season. However, Haliburton and the offense have disappointed big time this fall. But making matters worse is their defense is as bad as it was last year (118.2 points against). The lack of an elite offense this time around is why they are several games under .500 heading into the holidays.

Also Read: NBA standings – Get a look at the latest win-loss record for all 30 NBA teams

19. San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 17)

The hope was that a year of experience and the help of NBA legend Chris Paul could help elevate Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs this season. After the first two months of the season, the Spurs are a competitive team. They have a middle-of-the-road offense and defense, so it should come as no surprise they have hovered around .500 recently. Nevertheless, it is still a major improvement from where they were at this time a year ago.

18. Sacramento Kings (Last Week: 19)

There were big expectations for an already good Sacramento Kings team that added DeMar DeRozan in the offseason. Unfortunately, they have been underwhelming to start the season. Heading into the holidays, they are hovering around .500, and the offense with three gifted scorers has just now worked their way into being among the 10 best in the league. Kings fans are hoping they can ride a recent offensive surge back into better playoff positioning in the weeks ahead.

17. Atlanta Hawks (Last Week: 18)

The Atlanta Hawks have a very nice one-two punch in franchise face Trae Young and rising star Jalen Johnson. Both are averaging over 20 points per game, and that is why they have been far more competitive than many NBA analysts expected going into the season. However, the Hawks have one of the absolute worst defenses in the league (118.7 points against).

It has hampered them all season, but since the East is not nearly as strong as the West the Hawks remain among the conference’s seven best.

Also Read: NBA playoffs predictions for the 2024-25 season, including who will win it all next spring

16. Los Angeles Lakers (Last Week: 12)

The expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season were not high. That’s what comes with having a new head coach with no experience at any level in the job. However, over the first seven weeks of the season, newbie JJ Redick has done a solid job in his first year leading the bench. Nevertheless, the sand is quickly going out of Lebron James’ career hourglass. So a team hovering around .500 won’t due and it is why trade rumors are hovering over the team heading into the holidays.

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15. Phoenix Suns (Last Week: 15)

Under new head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Phoenix Suns got off to a very good start. And they were actually playing some really good defense. However, injuries to top star Kevin Durant have short-circuited the momentum this group has tried to build. If they can stay healthy they are a top-six team in the West. However, at this point, they have not shown any signs they can be a title contender.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 16)

The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the best squads in the NBA all of last season. However, their preseason move that sent Karl-Anthony Towns out of time has hurt them in a major way on offense this season. Furthermore, for months their trademark defense struggled. However, they are now among the top three in the NBA (105.6 opponents PPG). T-wolves fans will hope that is a big sign they can get back to their form of a season ago soon.

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13. Denver Nuggets (Last Week: 11)

When you have the best player on the planet, Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. However, so far this has not been a vintage Denver team in 2024. While they are an elite scoring group (118.7 PPG), their defense is a mass, and No. 2 star Jamal Murray continues to have a nightmarish season. It is why the Nuggets have been linked to trade speculation in recent weeks.

12. Miami Heat (Last Week: 14)

The Miami Heat will be competitive all season — thanks to Erik Spoelstra — but they are still a big piece away from turning into a power player in an Eastern Conference that is strong at the top. They are playing their usual strong defense and it makes them a formidable able group each night. It’s been key in a recent win streak that includes a victory over the conference’s best team the Cavaliers.

However, this group has a ceiling and Jimmy Butler trade rumors are sure to continue in the weeks ahead.

11. Los Angeles Clippers (Last Week: 11=0)

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue continues to show why he is one of the best in the game. Despite being without top star Kawhi Leonard due to (of course) injury, the team has played far better than anyone expected. After eight weeks, they are a couple of games over .500 and are backed by a top-five defense (107.8 opponents PPG). When Leonard returns — which should be this week — the Clippers could be a force in the West.

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10. Milwaukee Bucks (Last Week: 13)

The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the biggest shocks in the NBA to begin the season. They have a pair of ultra-talented stars in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, a good roster, and a Hall-of-Fame-worthy coach. Yet the Bucks were somehow one of the worst teams in the NBA well into November. However, they have looked much more like the squad we all expected over the last few weeks.

While they have a ways to go to evolve into the elite Eastern squad many expected, they are slowly but surely making their way toward a top-five spot in the East. And the group making it to the in-season tourney finals is proof of their major progress this month.

9. Orlando Magic (Last Week: 9)

The Orlando Magic got hit with a massive blow early in the season when top star Paolo Banchero suffered a torn oblique. However, head coach Jamahl Mosley was able to help his team persevere and were among the league’s best due to an elite defense. However, Franz Wagner suffering a torn oblique could be a death blow that sends the Magic spiraling down the standings and these rankings in the weeks ahead. Losing four of six heading into the week isn’t a good sign.

8. Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 8)

The 2024 edition of the Golden State Warriors got off to a red-hot start, and after the first month, they had one of the best records in basketball. But De’Anthony Melton’s loss has been felt, and the Warriors have hit a serious slump heading into the holidays. A franchise known for scoring is not among the top 10 on that side of the ball. And they have surprisingly leaned on their defense to keep them in playoff position heading into the New Year.

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7. New York Knicks (Last Week: 7)

The New York Knicks have a ton of potential. But the first half was always going to be about building chemistry among their retooled starting five. Especially on defense. Heading into the New Year they have one of the most efficient offenses in basketball. However, their usually good defense has been shaky at times. They are top 10 on both sides of the ball but need to improve on D if they want to compete with conference elites like the Celtics and Cavaliers.

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6. Houston Rockets (Last Week: 5)

The Houston Rockets showed some late-season promise in year one for head coach Ime Udoka. They have continued that momentum in 2024 by kicking off the season with a 16-8 start. What is exciting is that the strong showing is led by young stars Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun and backed by a top-five defense (106.1 points against). Like the Kings and Thunder the last two years, The Rockets are the new “it” team for this season.

5. Dallas Mavericks (Last Week: 6)

While the Dallas Mavericks had some bumps in the road early in the season, they have caught fire over the last month. They have won 12 of their last 14, including a big revenge win for Klay Thompson back in Golden State. They can fill it up, Luka Doncic is his usual superstar self and they have rock-solid defense. The Mavs will remain in the thick of the chase for the top spot in the West over the months ahead.

4. Memphis Grizzlies (Last Week: 4)

The Memphis Grizzles were expected to be far better this season with superstar Ja Morant back. And so far, the results have been very good. They had a recent streak where they won 10 of 12 and have flown up the standings led by their league-leading offense (122.1 PPG). If not for the time Morant missed in November, the Grizzlies very well could have the best record in the NBA and be making a case for the top spot on this list.

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3. Oklahoma City Thunder (Last Week: 3)

The Oklahoma City Thunder have twice been hit by huge injuries this season. However, they have endured and remained one of the best squads in the NBA this season. They could be better on offense, but Chet Holmgren will improve that area upon his eventual return from injury. Until then, they will remain an elite defensive team (122.1 points against per game) that is led by one of the best players on the planet, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (Last Week: 1)

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ start to the new season was one of the biggest stories in the NBA. Some around the league were confused by JB Bickerstaff’s firing after leading a strong team last season. However, Kenny Atkinson has proven to be a tonic that has taken Cleveland’s play to new heights. They are among the best-scoring teams in the league (121.2 PPG) and are backed by a rock-solid defense that is giving up 111.2 per game.

They are deep and when Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are on the same page they are a problem for any team in the league.

1. Boston Celtics (Last Week: 2)

The defending champion Boston Celtics were one of the top teams in our NBA power rankings throughout last season and will remain there all of this year — barring a major injury. They have one of the best-scoring teams in the league (119.9 PPG), and big man Kristaps Porzingis has only recently started playing. He has looked solid thus far and has slotted in again as an elite third option for the Cs. But most importantly his return will improve a defense that is already among the 10 best in the league.

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NBA stats leaders

Below our stats app offers a full rundown of the leaders in every major statistical category from the 2024-25 NBA season.

NBA Power Rankings FAQ

What is the best NBA team right now?

After starting the season with a 22-4 record, there is no doubt the Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the league right now. They are the best offense in the NBA to start the season and have an underrated defense that makes them one of the most complete teams in the league.

Who is the highest-rated NBA player?

There are many amazing players in the league today. However, after winning a third MVP award this past season, it is hard to argue that Denver star Nikola Jokic is not the best player in the league right now.

Also Read: 10 best centers in the NBA

What is the best NBA team all time?

Picking the greatest NBA team of all time is very subjective. However, if there were two popular options, it would be the Michael Jordan-led Bulls team from 1995-96 that won 73.

Another top choice would be the Warriors squad from 2015-16 which also won 73 games.

Which NBA team is most popular?

It is debated which NBA team is most popular. However, the Lakers have always had a very strong fanbase. Likewise for the Warriors and Celtics. But with the Knicks expected to be a serious title contender this season, New York’s favorite team is likely to drive a lot of interest in the 2024-25 NBA season.