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Power Rankings for NBA teams in the 2025-2026 NBA season. RotoBaller's Kevin Larson analyzes every NBA Team with Power Rankings from worst to first as of December 29, 2025.
NBA Power Rankings: Every Team From Worst to First
The new year is right around the corner and with that will come change. In our rankings that means a bit of a shake-up at the top. The Spurs are no longer a secret. How high did they jump? Meanwhile, both LA teams are struggling, much to the chagrin of many fans across the league. What resolutions do the Lakers need to make and are they anywhere near as good as their record says they are? Read on to find out as we dive into the final power rankings of the 2025 calendar year.
30. Washington Wizards
The good news for the Wizards is that maybe the offense is starting to wake up. They’ve put up two separate 130+ point performances since the 20th, showing a marked improvement over their norms. Unfortunately the defense still isn’t stopping anyone so that’s not resulting in wins. Not the worst thing in the world given what Washington’s likely aiming for, which is the top pick in the draft, but improvement wherever they can get it would be a pleasant surprise for their fans.
29. Indiana Pacers
A positive for the Pacers is that they’re starting to get back some of their guys. Most notably, Aaron Nesmith made his return from a lengthy knee injury on Saturday. Unfortunately it still didn’t result in anything positive for Indiana and they lost to the Heat by 26, extending their current losing streak to eight games. But, as we’ve noted quite a few times in these rankings, that’s probably fine for Indiana as they aim for a top lottery pick to pair with Tyrese Haliburton’s return next season.
28. New Orleans Pelicans
After a nice five game winning streak the Pelicans have now lost three straight, two to the Suns. That’s muddied the returns of Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole to their lineup, both of whom are providing their minutes off the bench for now. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been exciting moments in their games, though. Jose Alvarado sure did provide some sparks over the weekend, just not the type you traditionally want during games. At the very least, the Pelicans just want healthy basketball and they’re working their way towards that.
27. Sacramento Kings
A couple wins this past week for the Kings are a great change of pace compared to where they’ve been this season, making it feel just a bit less gloomy for now. DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook have led the way for the Kings in scoring over the past five games, which you would expect. But they’re also getting great contributions from Maxime Raynaud, who’s averaging 17.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG over the Kings’ last five games prior to Sunday’s tilt against the Lakers. This season may not be the best for Sacramento, but these surprising contributions will help provide silver linings for the future.
26. Brooklyn Nets
If I told you that the Brooklyn Nets had the best net rating in the league over the last five games you’d probably laugh. But it’s a true fact. Their +15.9 rating is even better than the +12.6 rating from the Spurs, just for comparison’s sake. More great news for the Nets, they welcomed Cam Thomas back to the lineup on Saturday in their 123-107 win over the Timberwolves. Thomas put up 30 points in a little over 19 minutes of action. That’s going to be a solid offensive boost. Now Brooklyn will have to ask if they want to make a run at the play-in or if they want to position Thomas as a solid rental at the deadline for contenders in need.
25. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are starting to look a little bit more like what we expected them to be over their last few games, winning three straight prior to their game Sunday night against the Pistons. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, as expected, are huge reasons for their offensive success during this stretch. Brook Lopez going 9-14 from three was a big surprise as well and very welcomed by the Clippers. If they can keep this streak up then maybe they can work their way back into the play-in in the West.
24. Utah Jazz
Speaking of the play-in in the West, the Jazz are right here with the Blazers in the 10-seed and looking to find their way in the bracket. It’s a great spot for Utah to be in considering they were projected to have the lowest win total in pretty much every sportsbook out there. Lauri Markkanen is averaging 27.8 PPG in December. With Keyonte George’s ascension, that’s a solid one-two combo for the Jazz. The play-in is in sight if they want it in Utah.
23. Charlotte Hornets
Winners in four of their last six games, Charlotte may be showing that they’re not a team that anyone in the East can sleep on. At the very least, they’re going to give you a fight. There could be some Eastern Conference play-in potential here, but the Hornets need continuous health. They’ll be battling more of those issues as Kon Knueppel suffered an ankle injury in Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic. Luckily it’s not expected to be serious, but he will be evaluated further this week during Charlotte’s homestand. If the Hornets want to make a run to the play-in, they need his three-point production in the lineup.
22. Dallas Mavericks
Another standout rookie, Cooper Flagg is starting to look the part of everything he was promised to be. Flagg just turned 19 before Christmas and has been spectacular in December, averaging 24.3 PPG along with 6.2 RPG and 4.6 APG. The Rookie of the Year Award will be his to lose if he keeps up this kind of production. Dallas, however, has lost five of its last seven games and is losing ground in the play-in race. Injuries are playing a part, but Flagg’s teammates are going to need to step it up further if they want to compete.
21. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers have largely been in the thick of the play-in race for much of the season but we may be getting to a point where their schedule is going to force them out of it. Or, at the very least, make it a whole lot tougher. Games against the Thunder, Spurs, Rockets and Knicks all are awaiting them over the next few weeks. The Jazz and Mavericks are right on their heels in the play-in race, along with the Clippers if LA decides it wants to be semi-decent any time soon. Portland has a moment of realization coming soon and that moment may push them into lottery pick territory.
20. Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo made his much awaited return to the lineup on Saturday and helped lead the Bucks to a 112-103 win over the Chicago Bulls. That improved their record to 4-7 in December, highlighting just how needed that win was. The Bucks currently find themselves on the outside of the play-in bracket in the East. With Giannis’ return you’d expect they jump up into the bracket. But if they struggle over the next few weeks then those trade rumors he’s been involved in are only going to intensify and take over all the trade deadline talk.
19. Memphis Grizzlies
Sitting right in the middle of the play-in bracket in the West, the Grizzlies are probably right where they should be given how strong the top teams in the West are. They also welcomed Ja Morant back into the lineup after Morant had been dealing with multiple injuries over the past month plus. As long as Memphis doesn’t slip up too much they should be a near lock for the play-in, though Grizzlies fans wouldn’t mind if they were able to creep closer to the six seed. Two games against the Lakers in LA are on deck and NBA fans know those games are always exciting, especially with a healthy Morant.
18. Atlanta Hawks
Can December end already? Hawks fans have had enough this month after watching their team put up just a 2-10 record in the month. With two games remaining in December against the Thunder and Timberwolves they may be looking at 2-12. Much of this coincides with Kristaps Porzingis being absent with an illness called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) that has kept him out nearly all of December. There’s a bit of mystery surrounding that illness, but Atlanta has to find a way to win without KP. And while Jalen Johnson has done all he can, the Hawks just haven’t found a way to be successful.
17. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls seem to be a streaky team and are finding themselves on the right side of a hot streak currently. They’ve won six of their last eight games, moving up to the nine-seed and providing some confidence that maybe their roster is the right roster to move forward with. There are still going to be questions around the deadline revolving around Nikola Vucevic’s availability, with him becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, but for now things are looking OK for the Bulls.
16. Phoenix Suns
Very quietly the Phoenix Suns have put together quite the season, currently sitting in the seven-seed in the West. Almost all of this has also happened without Jalen Green, who they acquired from the Rockets in the offseason. He’s set to have his hamstring injury re-evaluated in early January. However, with what Phoenix has been able to do without him they’ve afforded him more time to get his hamstring right. The Suns, much like the Grizzlies, are pretty set in their positioning to make at least the play-in. As long as they keep doing what they’ve been doing then they’ll be fine to let Green heal himself up properly.
15. Golden State Warriors
While it hasn’t been the smoothest road for the Warriors this season, maybe there are some better days ahead. Their net rating would lead you to believe that. Though it’s just +2.5 this season, that’s ninth overall in the league and right behind the Timberwolves. Positive regression seems to be coming for them. They’d won five of their last eight games prior to Sunday’s matchup against the Raptors and find themselves in the midst of the play-in bracket. If that positive regression does get realized, they could easily find themselves as a top six seed by season’s end.
14. Miami Heat
December’s been a rather ugly month for Miami. They’ve posted just a 4-8 record and have struggled offensively compared to their norms. Their 111.6 offensive rating in the month ranks 24th overall. That can’t happen going forward, especially with their schedule through January. Tyler Herro continues to battle injuries, this time with a toe injury that has held him out since the 15th. If Miami can’t find a way to get better offensively then they’ll find themselves near the bottom of the play-in bracket yet again.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
Probably the most surprising team with a play-in position in the whole league is the Cavaliers, who are sitting in the eight-seed in the East. Their defense has largely let them down, posting up a 118.4 defensive rating that ranks 25th overall in December. It’s a 5-7 record they’ve posted this month, way below what we’ve grown accustomed to from the Cavs. Similar to Miami, their schedule through January isn’t exactly the easiest so they will have to find a way to get back on the right track real quick if they want to avoid the play-in.
12. Toronto Raptors
Another team with an underwhelming December, the Raptors are 5-7 in the month. But thanks to the teams below them all having more struggling Decembers, they’re still sitting in a great spot in the East. RJ Barrett made his way back into Toronto’s lineup on Sunday for the first time in a month. His presence should help the Raptors get back on track. If they do, they’ll be a real threat in the East. But they’ve got to put the issues of December far behind them to stand a chance against the top of the East.
11. Los Angeles Lakers
No team’s record may be more deceiving that the Lakers’ record. They’re the only team in the league with a negative net rating that’s .500 or better. For perspective, their 19-10 record matches that of the Houston Rockets. Yet the Rockets have a +8.6 net rating and the Lakers have a -0.6 net rating. That’s already screaming negative regression. Now add in the fact that Austin Reaves is set to miss multiple weeks. His contributions have helped LA stave off plenty of losses earlier in the season, but now the Lakers will need more offensive production elsewhere. Luka Doncic and LeBron James can hold their own, but who else on the Lakers can support them? It’s about to get rocky in LA.
10. Philadelphia 76ers
The last three games haven’t been the best for Philadelphia, failing to break 106 points in all three contests. Naturally, all three have been losses. And in all three the Sixers just haven’t gotten their big three all on the same page at the same time. Joel Embiid is starting to put up Joel Embiid type numbers again, but he missed Sunday with an ankle sprain. Tyrese Maxey is still the driving force in Philly. Paul George, on the other hand, is kind of sputtering as of late. He has his moments but he needs to be ready to take over whenever Maxey or Embiid have an off night. Only then will the Sixers finally regain enough confidence to believe they can win the East.
9. Orlando Magic
Maybe one of their more impressive wins over the last month, the Magic found a way to claw back and win the second leg of a back-to-back against the Nuggets on Saturday night. Anthony Black exploded for 28 points and the Magic got a much needed win. Their injury issues continually seem to get to them, but if there’s a silver lining it’s getting the young guys to see just how much they can succeed in place of injured team members. The Magic still have work to do. And if they can get some things correct before Franz Wagner’s return to the lineup then they should be able to find themselves with a top four seed in the East.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
A couple recent hiccups shouldn’t drown out a very positive month for the Timberwolves, but the way they lost to Denver on Christmas and a follow up loss against Brooklyn are going to sting a little. But the month has been a good one for them. They’ve held opponents to just a 52.0% eFG% in December, third best this month. Defense travels and Minnesota knows that. If they keep that up then they’ll continue to see the wins racking up. With a four game road trip coming up against a streak of iffy Eastern Conference teams, they’re likely to keep those tallies in the win column adding up.
7. Boston Celtics
It’s right about here where we really start to see some separation between teams. The Celtics are showing very few signs of losing three key starters, including MVP candidate Jayson Tatum. Prior to Sunday night’s matchup against the Blazers, the Celtics had posted up an offensive rating of 126.4 in December to go along with a 114.5 defensive rating. That’s absolutely stellar and shows just how good Boston can be. Unfortunately when they’re not hot from three they’re very beatable. This has been a common theme for Boston the past few seasons. If they can find a way to become stronger in the interior they may be able to sneak out of the East come May and June.
6. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have had a very good December, but that’s getting marred by a couple losses against the Jazz and Clippers recently in matchups that the Pistons really should be winning. The loss against the Jazz came down to free throws while the loss against the Clippers was because of an ineffective starting lineup (outside of Cade Cunningham) and allowing Kawhi Leonard to put up 55 points. Detroit is still in a great spot to have a top spot in the East, but there’s still work to do before they can truly show they’re a dominant team that can win it all.
5. New York Knicks
The Knicks don’t hold the top seed in the East yet but their December has been absolutely dominant. They’ve only lost two games but have otherwise rolled over everyone else in their way. They have scored 126 or more in three of their last four games. The main weak spot lately may be their defense, which has also given up 124 or more in each of those three wins. That’s not going to be a formula for success for long, but for now the Knicks are playing at a very high level and will look to do something they couldn’t do last season: Win the Eastern Conference Finals.
4. Houston Rockets
December has been a bit questionable for the Rockets, posting just a 6-6 record in the month. It’d look even more questionable but they were able to make a statement win on Christmas against the Lakers and then smacked the Cavaliers by 17 on Saturday. There’s a lot to love with the Rockets but maybe they just need a little more consistency before they can really be seen as a threat to represent the West. It’s better to get these hiccups out of the way early, but the top of the West is absolutely loaded and these kinds of things can’t happen come playoff time.
3. Denver Nuggets
There is simply no better player on the planet than Nikola Jokic. His last three games have been masterful as he’s become the first player in NBA history to record 110+ points, 40+ rebounds and 40+ assists in a three game span. Yet the Nuggets lost two of those three games. They’re battling injury issues to their starters, missing three of them currently (Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson). They need them to truly be the best in the West. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray can win a title, but they need their supporting cast to get there.
2. San Antonio Spurs
You can’t sleep on San Antonio any longer. The Spurs have put themselves on the map in December, posting up a 7-2 record (NBA Cup excluded) that includes three wins over the Thunder. They’re no longer a secret and they’re more than just Victor Wembanyama. But there are still some injury issues that they have to worry about, specifically with De’Aaron Fox. The 28-year-old is dealing with an adductor injury, which may not keep him out long but isn’t something to play around with. Regardless, the Spurs have enough weapons and should be rolling regardless. They’re on the rise and you need to look out if they’re on your schedule going forward.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Our top seed yet again is the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, thanks to our number two ranked Spurs, they’re looking a bit vulnerable. In three of their last four losses, two to the Spurs, they’ve posted an eFG% of 46.2% or worse. The Spurs may have laid out a blueprint that the Timberwolves picked up on too, and it’s clear that defense may be the key. But the Thunder still have a strong grasp on the top seed in the West. If anything, they can be expected to be fueled by these losses and that may not be good news for the West. Their biggest tests won’t happen until mid-January, so until at least then expect the Thunder to continue to be our top ranked team.
