The 2025-26 NBA season is closing in on the holiday season, and also the official start of trade season (Dec. 15). With over a month in the books, some elite teams are separating from the pack, and certain squads are surprising — for good and bad reasons.
So who are the best of the best, and worst of the worst right now? We look to answer that question with our updated NBA power rankings.
30. New Orleans Pelicans (LW: 30)
After another ugly season, the New Orleans Pelicans moved on from veteran scorers Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum over the last year. Yet, despite the endless trade speculation, they held on to Zion Williamson and continue to hope he can stay healthy and lead them back to prominence. They are still waiting.
While Trey Murphy III has played well, Williamson has suited up just 10 times as he, again, deals with injury issues. They are terrible on defense and not much better on offense. It’s why they are at the bottom of the standings and our latest NBA power rankings.
29. Washington Wizards (LW: 29)
Despite a new head coach, the Washington Wizards and prospects Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly were terrible last season. In the summer, DC shipped out Jordan Poole for an aging but still good CJ McCollum, and they also added former Bucks star Khris Middleton.
It has made no difference, and DC is battling it out with the Pelicans for control of rock bottom in the standings. They are the worst defensive team in the game (128.3 opponent’s PPG) and not much better on offense. The only bright spot is that Sarr is showing signs that he may actually have All-Star potential one day.
28. Los Angeles Clippers (LW: 25)
The Los Angeles Clippers aimed to quiet the off-court noise after they became embroiled in a scandal about how they originally acquired Kawhi Leonard this summer. However, they haven’t because they’ve been an absolute mess this season. And the drama continued in December when the team surprisingly banished franchise great Chris Paul.
Even at 36, James Harden is still playing at an All-Star level, and Kawhi Leonard has been good when on the court. Nevertheless, they’ve been terrible on offense (111.6 PPG), and it shouldn’t be too surprising that there are trade rumors swirling around their well-aged stars.
27. Indiana Pacers (LW: 28)
The Indiana Pacers were expected to struggle mightily this year after top star Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in the Finals, and they lost Myles Turner to the Bucks in free agency. Even at their best, they were a back-15 defensive team. However, with no second scorer after Pascal Siakim, even their vaunted offense is mediocre at best in 2025-26.
Unlike the other teams at the bottom of the standings, Indiana has a good reason for an awful season, and with more opportunities, former lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin is having a career year and averaging over 20 points a game.
26. Sacramento Kings (LW: 26)
On paper, the Sacramento Kings have a pretty good roster. They have two multi-time All-Star guards, a top-notch big man in Domantas Sabonis, and impact veteran guards like Dennis Schroder and Malik Monk. But as some observers expected, the Kings have been a mess this season under head coach Doug Christie.
While no one expected them to be very good on defense, they are surprisingly poor on offense despite some high-level scorers — even with Sabonis out injured. Entering the week, they are averaging just 111.4 PPG, which is only better than the lowly Pacers and Nets.
25. Brooklyn Nets (LW: 27)
In June’s draft, the Brooklyn Nets had four first-round picks and chose to use all of them instead of packaging them in trades for veteran players. They also had the most available cap space in the offseason but held off on splurging in a weak free agent market. Unfortunately, the cautious approach has not delivered results in the new season.
While new addition Michael Porter Jr. has been a great thus far, and Cam Thomas has been reliable as ever as a scorer, it hasn’t mattered, as they aren’t getting enough from the rest of their young roster. It’s why they have nearly three times as many losses as they have wins at the moment.
24. Charlotte Hornets (LW: 24)
While LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges have been reliable to get buckets this season, and Kon Knueppel is looking like a serious rookie of the year candidate, it has not helped turn the Charlotte Hornets into a competitive group in 2025-26.
They are bottom-10 in offense and defense, and if not for somehow being kryptonite for the Raptors, they’d have one of the worst records in the NBA.
23. Utah Jazz (LW: 23)
Last year, Will Hardy and his team took another step back as the Jazz finished dead last in the 2024-25 NBA standings. Not much has changed this season, and hopes are not high in Salt Lake City. Especially after a season-ending injury to talented big man Walker Kessler.
However, they aren’t an easy out most nights because of the fantastic play of Lauri Markkanen and 2023 first-round pick Keyonte George. If the reports are true and they have interest in trading for some impact players this season, they have upside with better pieces around their top scorers.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (LW: 21)
The Portland Trail Blazers have a roster with respectable veterans and youngsters with high upside, including Shaedon Sharpe. However, a dark cloud was immediately placed over their season from the start when head coach Chauncey Billups was implicated in a wild poker game rigging scheme.
Portland got off to a better-than-expected beginning to the season because of Deni Avdija and Sharpe having breakthrough seasons. However, while they are a solid team on offense, their defense is giving up 120.6 points a game. It is a key reason why they continue to fall down the standings and our NBA power rankings this week.
21. Dallas Mavericks (LW: 22)
The Dallas Mavericks should be better than they are, even without Kyrie Irving. Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson are future Hall of Famers who can still play at a high level, and Cooper Flagg is one of the most hyped rookies of the last 20 years. However, Davis’ injury woes have been killer and played a major role in their rough start and GM Nico Harrison getting fired in November.
But there is renewed hope with AD back on the court and Flagg seeming to be more comfortable. Recent wins over the Rockets, Heat, and Nuggets are major signs that this team may be able to salvage this season.
20. Chicago Bulls (LW: 20)
Late last season, the Chicago Bulls surprised many around the league by actually getting better after moving Zach LaVine. Josh Giddy flourished under head coach Billy Donovan, and Coby White had a breakout season. The big question is whether it was a hot streak or proof that they are a team on the rise in the East?
To begin the season, Chicago looked like it could be the breakout team of 2025-26. However, over the last couple of weeks, they have fallen back to earth because of a defense that is among the worst in the NBA — 122.6 points per game. They have solid pieces on the roster, but need some help. That’s why they have been unsurprisingly linked to various trades as we near the start of trade season.
19. Milwaukee Bucks (LW: 18)
The Milwaukee Bucks made some big changes in the summer. They moved on from future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard, and in an attempt to keep top star Giannis Antetokounmpo happy, they made one of the boldest moves of the offseason by luring Myles Turner away from Indiana.
Unfortunately, Milwaukee has been worse for it. Despite Antetokounmpo’s great start, they are around .500 with him on the court, and awful when he’s away. Their 10-15 record to begin the season is part of why the Antetokounmpo rumors had started to pick up serious steam in recent days.
18. Memphis Grizzlies (LW: 19)
The Memphis Grizzlies were always going to be a bit different after firing Taylor Jenkins late last season and replacing him with assistant Tuomas Iisalo. They also began their offseason with the summer’s first blockbuster trade as they sent veteran guard Desmond Bane to the Magic. But few expected a team with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant to struggle this much.
Morant’s points are down significantly compared to his best seasons, and Jackson has not been as dominant as he was last year. A defense that is hovering near the top 10 is a major reason why they aren’t further down the NBA standings.
17. Golden State Warriors (LW: 16)
Entering last season’s playoffs, the Golden State Warriors were seen as a serious dark horse to go all the way. However, Stephen Curry’s first-ever hamstring injury came at the worst possible time, and they were ousted early in the postseason.
After a quick start to the year, they have slumped of late, and veterans Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler have questioned their defense and heart. However, statistically, they have been a good defensive team. It is their offense that has surprisingly struggled, and they are bottom-10 in offensive rating (112.7) this season.
16. Atlanta Hawks (LW: 15)
Led by the face of the franchise, Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks were a handful for opposing defenses last season. Unfortunately, they were terrible on defense. The emergence of youngsters Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels last season, plus the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker this summer, are why the Hawks are a sleeper team in the East.
The depth of their roster has shown so far this season because, despite losing Young for multiple weeks, ATL has played far better than many expected. Thanks almost exclusively to Johnson, who leads the team in points (23.4), rebounds (10.5), and assists (7.9). The youngster is making a case to be an All-Star Game starter.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (LW: 14)
The Cleveland Cavaliers were a dominant team in the East last season. Coach Kenny Atkinson was given one of the league’s better defenses and added the offensive efficiency they lacked. If not for Donovan Mitchell being banged up, they could have made the conference finals.
In the new season, the Cavs have been an inconsistent group. They have shown moments of brilliance, and Donovan Mitchell is off to a stellar start. But they have hit a recent slump that is sure to fire up trade speculation for a team because they severely lack a second scorer deserving of respect.
14. Philadelphia 76ers (LW: 17)
The Philadelphia 76ers were the biggest disappointment in the NBA last season as injuries to their top two players destroyed any plans to be an NBA Finals contender. The only positive from the lost campaign was that Tyrese Maxey confirmed he is a legitimate star in the league and is the new face of the franchise.
That has continued in 2025-26, and the sixth-year talent is among the league’s top scorers to begin the final month of the year. Plus, Quentin Grimes has continued his strong finish to last season. However, Joel Embiid and Paul George have played in a combined 17 games, and the lack of a nightly stud second scorer is why the Sixers are a team hovering around .500.
13. Miami Heat (LW: 10)
The Miami Heat will be drama-free this year, with the Jimmy Butler drama far behind them. In this offseason, they looked to fill that scoring void when they made a trade for All-Star Norman Powell, and he has been outstanding to begin his career in South Beach.
With Tyler Herro finally back, the hope was that a roster that was already among the best scoring teams in the league would really catch fire. However, they have slumped recently, and it’s mostly due to a defense that is bottom 10 in the league, giving up 118.3 PPG. This is not your usual Erik Spoelstra Heat team.
12. Toronto Raptors (LW: 7)
Last season was a major disappointment for the Toronto Raptors. However, they played the long game and had hope that year two for head coach Darko Rajaković, and the addition of veteran scorer Brandon Ingram could make a difference in 2025-26. They were right.
However, instead of being an elite scoring team as many might expect, they have been a top-five group in the East, mostly due to better-than-expected defense. They are giving up just 113.8 PPG. They are also getting solid offensive balance with four different players averaging over 15 PPG.
11. Phoenix Suns (LW: 12)
Outside of the 76ers, the Phoenix Suns were the NBA’s biggest letdown in 2024-25. Their awful performance got head coach Mike Budenholzer fired, and it is why trading Kevin Durant was a must to begin the offseason. In the deal that sent him to Houston, they got back talented young scorer Jalen Green and glue-guy Dillon Brooks.
The huge changes have paid off, and Phoenix has been a pleasant surprise this year. They are in the play-in hunt, and surprisingly, it is because of a defense that is giving up the seventh fewest points in the league. Devin Booker has looked great, and Dillon Brooks has stunned as a surprisingly good No. 2 option to the team’s top star.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (LW: 11)
9. Orlando Magic (LW: 8)
The Orlando Magic dealt with major injuries to key players for large parts of last season, but battled through with their elite defense. Their lack of a playmaker and more three-point shooting in the playoffs are why they made a blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane in the summer.
After some early struggles and top star Paolo Banchero missing a notable amount of time, the Magic have caught fire. Winning seven of their last 10, and they are doing it with strong play on both sides of the ball. They are a problem in the East, but seem another good scoring playmaker away from being a serious Finals contender.
8. Boston Celtics (LW: 13)
Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury in Game 5 of the semifinals completely altered the trajectory of the Boston Celtics this season. Plus, trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, and letting Al Horford walk to cut costs, was always going to mean 2025-26 would be a fight to be a play-in team.
Yet, coach Joe Mazzulla continues to show why he is one of the best coaches in the NBA right now as he has Boston among the top three teams in the East. And the major reason why is a defense that is giving up 110.6 PPG. It also helps that Jaylen Brown is playing some of the best basketball of his career.
7. San Antonio Spurs (LW: 6)
The assumption at the start of the season was that the San Antonio Spurs were a team primed for a breakout season. Victor Wembanyama was back healthy from his blood clot scare — and taller. Plus, he has the best team he’s ever had around him. But no one expected him and his teammates to be this good.
Wemby is playing like a sure-fire All-Star game starter, and De’Aaron Fox has been the player they hoped for when they acquired him in a trade last season. What makes this group intriguing this season and beyond is the growth of first-round pick Dylan Harper, who is starting to show his massive potential.
6. Houston Rockets (LW: 4)
The Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the NBA last season, as they evolved into an elite team in the West with strong defense and the emergence of Alperen Sengun as a new star in the league. In the summer, the Rockets landed league legend Kevin Durant in a trade, but lost floor general Fred VanVleet to a season-ending injury.
Despite being without their floor leader, the Rockets are one of the best scoring teams in the game (120.9 PPG) because of the dynamic combo of Durant and Sengun. However, while Durant was meant to improve their offense, they haven’t lost a step on defense and are holding opponents to just 110.3 PPG. They are a well-rounded group and one of the biggest threats to the Thunder.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (LW: 3)
There are big expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. They got a full training camp with young superstar Luka Doncic, and head coach JJ Redick was better than expected in a big learning curve rookie season. Plus, they still have one of the greatest players of all time in LeBron James.
Interestingly, LA is one of the best teams in the league right now because of Austin Reaves. He and Doncic have formed a dynamic duo that James is fine playing second fiddle to. They can play with any team in the league. The big question is, will their defense hold up against the elites of the NBA in the spring? It has shown some leaks in recent losses to the Suns and Celtics.
4. New York Knicks (LW: 5)
After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks took the bold step of firing Tom Thibodeau despite being one of the winningest coaches in team history. That’s why there were always going to be some early bumps in the road with his replacement, Mike Brown. However, New York has started to build serious momentum recently.
This year’s crew is a top-five team on offense — averaging 120.5 PPG –, and their usually strong defense is starting to finally get back to business. Jalen Brunson is playing like an MVP candidate again, and Mikal Bridges has been very good on both sides of the ball.
3. Denver Nuggets (LW: 9)
When you have the best player on the planet, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. Yet this season is different than recent years after the organization shockingly fired Michael Malone late last year and replaced him with David Adelman.
So far, Adelman has maintained the high standard set by Malone, and Denver has been the NBA’s best unit on offense. Posting 125.0 PPG. A major reason why is more amazing play from superstar Nikola Jokic. However, Jamal Murray is looking more like the player who co-starred in their run to a championship two years ago.
2. Detroit Pistons (LW: 2)
The Detroit Pistons were the top feel-good story in the league last season as they went from the worst team in the league to a formidable playoff squad. Well, they have now become one of the best in the NBA in year two for veteran head coach JB Bickerstaff.
Led by some high-level defense and All-NBA play from Cade Cunningham, Detroit owns the best record in the East (19-5) as we near Christmas. However, the top story for the Pistons in 2025-26 is the emergence of Jalen Duren. The big man is posting 18 points and 11 rebounds a game, and is quickly becoming one of the best big men in the conference.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (LW: 1)
The Oklahoma City Thunder were the best team in the NBA throughout last season. Posting 68 wins with elite defense and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. Things haven’t changed one bit in the new season, and the group is on pace to potentially set a new wins record in 2025-26.
Not only are they the best defensive team in the league, giving up just 106.9 PPG, but their offense is nearly as good. OKC is second in the league with 123.0 PPG. The Thunder just seem unstoppable right now.
