2024 NBA Power Rankings: Surprising Pistons and Rockets continue their rise to close the first month of the NBA schedule

By Jason Burgos

·Updated: November 19, 2024

David Reginek-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. Toronto Raptors (Last Week: 29)

On the offensive side of the ball, the Toronto Raptors were one of the best-scoring teams in the league to begin the year. However, injuries to players like Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickly have sapped the life out of their offense. Unsurprisingly, they own the worst record in the NBA heading into the week. With both expected to miss a notable amount of time, there are some rough days ahead for the Raptors.

29. Utah Jazz (Last Week: 30)

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 is to be better this season. Unfortunately, they have been one of the worst teams in the NBA to start the year. Injuries have certainly hurt this team, but the biggest concern is top star Lauri Markkanen has had an awful start to the season. It is even more worrisome after getting a massive $195 million extension in the summer.

28. Washington Wizards (Last Week: 28)

Even with new head coach Brian Keefe the Washington Wizards remain one of the worst NBA teams so far this season and being dead last in opponent scoring (123.9 PPG) sure isn’t helping. While Jordan Poole has played better in his second season with the team, it has seemingly come at the expense of Kyle Kuzma who has had a down season thus far. The Wizards have solid talent on their roster but it has not avoided another awful start for the Wiz.

27. Philadelphia 76ers (Last Week: 25)

The Philadelphia 76ers should be a major player in the East this season — when their top two players are on the floor. Unfortunately, Joel Embiid and Paul George have missed much of the new season. They are among the worst teams in the NBA right now due to a 2-11 record. However, when the two All-Stars are back on the floor with regularity they should start to rise quickly in our NBA power rankings.

Also Read: Best Philadelphia 76ers players ever – Ranking 10 best 76ers players of all time

26. New Orleans Pelicans (Last Week: 23)

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green has a very talented roster. But who knows when he will get it at full strength? Dejounte Murray just recently made his Pels debut, CJ McCollum is sidelined and now top star Zion Williamson will be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury. This has been a first month to forget for the Pelicans. Their 4-10 hole will be tough to dig out of if they keep piling up Ls.

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

25. Charlotte Hornets (Last Week: 21)

Last season top star LaMelo Ball mirrored his brother Lonzo as a gifted player who had trouble staying on the court. In the new year, Ball is healthy and playing like an All-Star for the Charlotte Hornets. Unfortunately, it has not resulted in a good start to the season. While Miles Bridges and 2023 first-round pick Brandon Miller have played solid, they need to elevate into becoming a No. 2 option to fear or the Hornets will have a ceiling on their potential.

24. Milwaukee Bucks (Last Week: 26)

The Milwaukee Bucks are 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 have one of the worst records in the league to start the season. They have struggled offensively and defensively and are an absolute mess after the first four weeks. While they are among the worst teams in the league to begin the year, it just seems like a matter of time before they turn things around.

23. Chicago Bulls (Last Week: 22)

Over the first few weeks, the Chicago Bulls have played well and Zach LaVine boosted his trade value by returning to his All-Star form. Likewise for bigman Nikola Vucevic. Over the first month team has played okay and is among the best-scoring teams in the league (115.6 PPG). Unfortunately, their defense has been bottom of the barrel (123.7 opponent PPG) and it has undercut good starts to the year for LaVine and Vucevic.

22. Portland Trail Blazers (Last Week: 27)

The Portland Trail Blazers got off to another slow start this season and were among the worst-scoring teams in the NBA. The most shocking thing is that Anfernee Simons has gone from being a borderline All-Star to a struggling secondary scorer in the new season. However, over the last week, there have been some meaningful signs of life after they surprisingly scored back-to-back wins over the Timberwolves. In that time, long-time project Shaedon Sharpe has started to look like a No. 1 option on offense.

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21. San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 17)

Despite being without Devin Vassell for much of the season, the San Antonio Spurs have gotten off to a solid start. Victor Wembanyama is playing like an All-Star again but the pieces around him — like third-year man Jeremy Sochan — have elevated their game from last season. If they were in the East they would be in the top 10.

However, with the West as deep and strong as ever, the Spurs may be a team on the fringes of the playoff hunt all season unless they make a big move.

20. Atlanta Hawks (Last Week: 24)

After months of trade rumors, the Atlanta Hawks finally broke up the failed duo of Dejounte Murray and Trae Young in the summer. This season, top star Trae Young will play the role of elder statesman on a young team. Over the first four weeks of the season, ATL has played solid basketball and is hovering around .500. The most exciting part of their start is that Jalen Johnson has continued the momentum from a breakout season in 2023-24 and is turning into a worthwhile No. 2 scorer on the roster.

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

19. Detroit Pistons (Last Week: 20)

The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in basketball last season. However, things have turned around for Motown’s favorite team this season. After the first month, they are hovering around .500 and are playing competitive ball. New head coach JB Bickerstaff has made a difference and helping former first-round pick Jaden Ivey turn into a real difference-maker has played a massive role in Detroit’s positive start to the season.

18. Miami Heat (Last Week: 19)

The Miami Heat should be a competitive team again this season. But they are still a big piece away from being a power player in a stacked Eastern Conference. They have gotten off to a decent start this season despite Jimmy Butler’s numbers being down. Thankfully, veteran Tyler Herro is again making a case for All-Star honors for the first time this year as the Heat’s undisputed top scorer (24.8 PPG).

17. Indiana Pacers (Last Week: 18)

While the Indiana Pacers can fill it up on a nightly basis, they have gotten off to a sluggish start in 2024-25. The reason is twofold. Firstly, the same old problem from last season persists. The Pacers’ defense continues to be a major Achilles heel, and the 116.6 points they are giving up on average is among the worst in the NBA right now.

However, one of the scariest problems thus far is a rough start for top star Tyrese Haliburton. With him not being in vintage form the offense has not been elite and instead, they are a middle-of-the-road squad.

16. Brooklyn Nets (Last Week: 16)

On paper, the Brooklyn Nets are very much a team in rebuild mode. However, despite the organization looking toward the future, they have been very competitive this season. Cam Thomas is on his way to being an All-Star and greybeard Dennis Schroder is having a career renaissance for new head coach Jordi Fernandez. The Nets may not make the playoffs but they are not the easy out most expected them to be this year without Mikal Bridges.

15. Los Angeles Clippers (Last Week: 13)

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) another injury, and Paul George being in Philly the team has played solid ball this season. While the Bucks and 76ers have struggled despite better talent, the Clippers continue to keep their head above water as they wait for their top start to return.

14. Dallas Mavericks (Last Week: 8)

In the offseason, the Dallas Mavericks added future hall-of-famer Klay Thompson. And they will have key role players Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington on the roster from the start of the season. While the defense has been top-10 after the first month, it has not led to an impressive start. Midway through November, the Mavericks are hovering around .500. And that is not a good place to be in a very good Western Conference.

13. Sacramento Kings (Last Week: 12)

There are big expectations for an already good Sacramento Kings team that added DeMar DeRozan in the offseason. While they have had a solid start to the season, they have the bad luck of being in the best conference in the sport. After the first month, Sactown has a top-five offense (117.5 PPG). However, until they can get better defensively, the Kings have a built-in ceiling.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 10)

The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the best squads in the NBA all of last season. However, they made a massive blockbuster trade just days before the start of training camp. When adding major pieces to a roster, it takes time to gel and that has been the case for the T-Wolves after the first month. While their defense has been good this year it has not been elite like it was in 2023-24. If that doesn’t come back they may not be an elite team again this year.

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11. Denver Nuggets (Last Week: 17)

The Denver Nuggets got off to a worrisome start to the season. While they were not as bad as the Milwaukee Bucks — mainly because Nikola Jokic is playing out of his mind — they did not play anywhere close to expectation. However, despite being without Aaron Gordon they have overcome a slow start and are playing better. While Denver should be very good due to the excellence of the reigning MVP, Jamal Murray’s poor play from last season and the Olympics persists. And that is cause for serious concern.

10 best NBA teams after the first month of the 2024-25 season

10. Orlando Magic (Last Week: 15)

After a pair of very nice seasons, the Orlando Magic were expected to be among the best teams in the East this season. Sadly, they were hit with a massive blow to their potential this week when top star Paolo Banchero suffered a torn oblique. However, head coach Jamahl Mosley deserves a huge amount of credit. Despite being without their top player the team has persevered and has a top-four record in the East after the first month of the season.

9. New York Knicks (Last Week: 14)

The New York Knicks front office went all in this summer to bolster this roster for a serious championship run. On paper, they have one of the best rosters in the league and should be a force on both sides of the ball. However, when adding a pair of stars to the mix, it takes time and it has meant mixed results for New York.

While Tom Thibodeau’s team has had some bumps in the road this season, the talent is undeniable and they have started to play better in recent games. Once this team gets on a roll, things will begin to get very interesting at the top of the Eastern Conference.

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8. Memphis Grizzlies (Last Week: 6)

The Memphis Grizzles were expected to be far better this season with superstar Ja Morant back. And so far the results have been positive. Yet, what makes their start so promising is that many talent evaluators felt Jaren Jackson Jr. would take another development step forward in the new season. And so far the defensive ace is proving to be a legitimate No. 2 to Morant.

However, injuries have started to pile up for Memphis in recent weeks and their momentum has been slowed in November.

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7. Los Angeles Lakers (Last Week: 11)

The expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season were not high. That’s what comes with having a new head coach. However, over the first month, JJ Redick is making the LA front office look like geniuses after getting off to a 9-4 start. It is still very early, but the newbie coach is pressing the right buttons. And the fact that 10-year veteran D’Angelo Russell bought into being benched and has been better for it sends an exciting message about their potential.

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6. Phoenix Suns (Last Week: 5)

There is a lot of pressure and high expectations on this Phoenix Suns roster. And thus far, this team under new head coach Mike Budenholzer has been better. The most fascinating part of their nice start is they have quickly taken on the defensive mindset of their coach and aren’t just relying on bludgeoning the opposition with their offensive might each night.

5. Houston Rockets (Last Week: 9)

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 10-4 start. What is exciting is that the strong showing is led by young stars Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun and backed by one of the best defenses in the NBA (106.1 PPG). The Rockets are quickly turning into the new “it” team of this season.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (Last Week: 3)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are without big-ticket free agent addition Isaiah Hartenstein and it hasn’t mattered. OKC has one of the best records in the league and one of the NBA’s best defenses. However, a serious injury to young star Chet Holmgren will limit them over the next few months. Once Hartenstein returns, the Thunder should return to playing at the elite level they did throughout October.

3. Boston Celtics (Last Week: 2)

The Boston Celtics were one of the top teams in our NBA power rankings throughout last season and will remain near the top all season long barring a major injury. They have one of the best-scoring teams in the league and big man Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t even played yet. However, their defense has regressed a bit in recent games, and that is why they racked up a pair of losses. Porzingis is likely to help in that area as well once he returns.

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2. Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 4)

The 2024 edition of the Golden State Warriors has been fascinating. Klay Thompson is gone, and Jonathan Kuminga has not turned into a third star for the team. Even the legendary Steph Curry is not putting up his usual wild scoring stats. Nevertheless, they are one of the best teams in the NBA by playing a fun team ball style with a top five, and most importantly, a top 10 level defense.

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1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Last Week: 1)

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ start to the new season has been one of the biggest stories in the NBA this season. 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 the best-scoring team in the league (123.7 PPG) and are backed by a top-10-level defense.

Their 15-0 start has been a massive surprise and is changing perceptions of how good this team can be in 2024-25.

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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 15-0 record, there is no doubt the Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the league right now. Not only are they performing at an elite level on offense, but they are also backed by a top-10-level defense.

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.

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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.