RADIO
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 November 10, 2025.
NBA Power Rankings: Every Team From Worst to First
Another week in the books and it still looks chaotic trying to determine who’s for real and who’s not. The top few teams are clear, the bottom few teams are clear. But everyone else in the middle? It’s all up for grabs. So let’s dig in and try to figure it all out in our latest edition of NBA Power Rankings.
30. Brooklyn Nets
It’s simply going to be a rebuilding year for the Nets, but we already knew that. Michael Porter Jr. is enjoying his expanded role in Brooklyn, posting up 23.1 PPG and 8.0 RPG as one of the Nets’ best options. But another injury to Cam Thomas will keep him out 3-4 weeks. With this being a major year for his contract, that’s not ideal for either him or the Nets. Brooklyn’s going to be in for a long season.
29. Washington Wizards
The Wizards actually have the league’s worst net rating, but they’ve had a schedule that’s been rather tough. Not that it would change their record much, but you’d expect fewer blowout losses. They still want to see improved production from CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton so they can trade them at the deadline, but both vets have been underwhelming. On top of that, third year guard Bilal Coulibaly is out again with another injury and has only been able to play in four games. The season is shaping up to be disappointing in Washington yet again.
28. New Orleans Pelicans
Back-to-back wins over the Hornets and Mavericks got the Pelicans feeling better about how the season has started as those wins snapped a six-game losing streak that started the year. But as is the case for the Pelicans the past couple seasons, wins and losses won’t define their season as much as injuries will. Only Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones have started all nine games for New Orleans. Zion Williamson is going to be out a few more days, missing at least a week due to a hamstring injury. This season was going to need some magic for the Pelicans to be competitive anyways but it’s not shaping up to be a magical season.
27. Indiana Pacers
Speaking of injuries, keep your head on a swivel in Indiana. It’s unfortunate that the injuries have racked up the way they have for the Pacers, especially after last season’s run and this season’s opening game against OKC that they performed so well in. The rest of their games have been awful for Pacer fans to watch and they’re certainly ready for next season when their roster is all ideally healthy. Until then they’ll hope that their team ball mentality can potentially catch a spark that gets them to the play-in, but that’s a long ways away from being a reality.
26. Utah Jazz
Utah started the season looking like things weren’t going to be terrible, especially after many people had projected them to be the worst team in basketball this season. But as of late it’s gotten worse, especially on the defensive side. On top of that, they lost Walker Kessler for the year due to a shoulder injury. It’s very unfortunate for the 24-year-old but won’t change Utah’s trajectory this season. Instead, guys like Keyonte George are going to have to carry a larger load going forward in order to at least keep this team somewhat entertaining to its fans.
25. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks aren’t exactly at rock bottom; that would be the feeling they had after the Luka trade. But how this season has started certainly has to feel like the world is crumbling around them. Anthony Davis is already missing games, the product on the court doesn’t look great and Cooper Flagg doesn’t look like the fantastic on court product he was promised to be (at least not quite yet). The hope was going to be that their roster could at least still be competitive, but that’s not the feel in Dallas right now.
24. Charlotte Hornets
There’s nothing a Charlotte fan wants than for the Hornets to have just one healthy season. Brandon Miller has only been able to play in two games this season with a shoulder injury and LaMelo Ball is dealing with an ankle injury that’s going to force him to miss Monday night’s game, his fourth game missed in a row. If those two are healthy and active then Charlotte could stand a real chance at being a competitive play-in team. But neither seem to stay healthy. At least for now they’ll have Kon Knueppel producing well. If they can’t make the play-in then at least they can push for Knueppel to win Rookie of the Year.
23. Sacramento Kings
There’s a lot of work to do in Sacramento. With a 112.1 offensive rating that ranks 24th overall, they’re a far cry from the playoff team they were a few seasons ago. We’re used to a high-powered performance out of the Kings. Used to be you had to do bring your A game on offense if you wanted to beat them. But this season is different. And with a 118.1 defensive rating, fifth worst in the league, most teams have their A game on offense against Sacramento while the Kings only bring their B- game. The roster is too talented to continue failing like this. They may have a lot of questions they need to try and answer by the trade deadline if they can’t get things turned around.
22. Memphis Grizzlies
It’s just another day wondering if Ja Morant and the Grizzlies can get things worked out. The suspension has led to a ton of tension within the organization and lots of speculation within the media and on places like Twitter. But on the court it doesn’t appear to be affecting Morant much. In fact, he’s actually seen an uptick in his assists, averaging 10.3 APG in his three games since the suspension (excluding Sunday night’s game against the Thunder). That’s not yielding results in terms of record, though, and if the record doesn’t improve then rumors and speculations about his departure will only continue to grow.
21. Boston Celtics
Boston continues to be a confounding team that doesn’t seem to be very predictable. The only thing you can guarantee in a Celtics game is that they’re going to shoot a ton of threes. Outside of that, good luck. They can beat the Cavaliers by 20 one night and follow that up by losing to the Jazz the next. The uncertainty may be great if you’re a fan of unpredictability, but Celtics fans may find it maddening that there’s no consistency. With a minimized roster compared to past seasons, though, maybe you can’t ask for much more. If they can figure things out then Boston’s a surefire play-in team with a chance at sneaking into the playoffs as a six seed or better.
20. Phoenix Suns
After Friday night’s 13-point win over the Clippers it looks like maybe all Phoenix needed was a healthy Jalen Green. His 29 point outburst in his season debut was very reminiscent of his best days in Houston and exactly what Phoenix needed. And then on Saturday Green aggravated his hamstring injury and is expected to miss another 4-6 weeks. That’s quite the blow to take with the Suns having banked on Green’s offensive contributions. Still, they are 4-1 in their last four games and maybe, just maybe they have found a way to turn it around. That’ll be put to the test yet again.
19. Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are the only team in the league to have beaten the Oklahoma City Thunder. In fact, four of their five wins are actually very impressive wins when you factor in that they came over OKC, Denver, Golden State and the Lakers. The opening schedule has been rather tough, yet they’re walking away with a 5-4 record. That may be a great sign for them as they look to be a surprisingly competitive team. There was a shot they could make the play-in last season and this year looks to be the year that’s going to be an obtainable goal. Things are looking up in Portland.
18. Los Angeles Clippers
Things are NOT looking up for the Clippers. Losers of four straight, and five of their last six games, they have to be asking what exactly is going on. Their offseason moves were set to position them for a very competitive season as a potential favorite in the West. And while it’s still early, that assumption looks to be wildly off. Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss at least a few games with an ankle injury. He’s already missed three straight games, repeating a pattern of injury worries that have plagued his career. James Harden is going to need to step it up in order to get the Clippers back into the right mindframe.
17. Orlando Magic
With three wins in their last five games, the Magic may be starting to figure some things out now. Sure, their wins haven’t been over impressive competition, but it’s at least a confidence boost. Paolo Banchero is continuing to do it all for the Magic, averaging 22.2 PPG and 9.4 RPG. But Orlando still needs Desmond Bane to be the player he was in Memphis. Bane is averaging just 14.8 PPG while shooting just 30% from three this season. Orlando has some time to get things corrected but they really need Bane at his best to reach their true offensive potential.
16. Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta notched its most impressive win of the season on Saturday night, beating the Lakers on the second leg of a back-to-back while having many of their key contributors out (Jalen Johnson, Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Trae Young). Sure, the Lakers looked wholly unprepared but it showcased the Hawks’ depth on the roster. That’s a great sign for them as they move to 3-2 without Young active. We’ll find out a lot about Atlanta here in the next couple weeks as nine of their next 12 games are on the road.
15. Toronto Raptors
Speaking of those Hawks, the Raptors had an impressive win over Atlanta this past Friday night in the in-season tournament that extended Toronto’s win streak to four. That got snapped on Saturday with a loss in Philadelphia, but the Raptors look like they’re starting to click a bit. The defense has picked it up a notch as well, posting a 106.8 defensive rating over their last five games. That ranks as second best in the league in that span behind only the Thunder. The Raptors have a chance to be a surprising playoff team in the East and will have a chance to keep improving with two of their next three games coming against very subpar competition with Brooklyn and Indiana.
14. Miami Heat
The Heat have been doing really well this season with what they have, always putting up a high score on offense and having it all add up to a 6-4 record. A sweep of their most recent back-to-back was impressive considering it came without Bam Adebayo. But that’s going to be put to the test coming up here as Miami is set to face off against the Cavaliers twice followed by the Knicks twice. With no clear timetable for Adebayo to return, Miami is going to need Kel’el Ware to really step up as they face some very stout competition in the coming weeks.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are glad to have Anthony Edwards back in action. He was subpar in his return against the Knicks, but he’s lit it up from three against the Jazz and the Kings. The amount of attempts from deep are reminiscent of his start last season when it seemed like double-digit attempts from deep were simply part of the routine. That offensive production is helping to get Minnesota out of the small hole they dug themselves earlier this year and they’re now positioning themselves to be a playoff team yet again. If Edwards can perform like this when the postseason comes then maybe Minnesota can finally break the seal and win the Western Conference Finals.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
We mentioned Atlanta having a solid win over the Lakers on Saturday night, which it certainly was. But as someone who was streaming that game, I have to ask what exactly they were thinking while playing that game because it was ugly, sluggish, uninspired and made me question how they got to their 7-3 record. Sure, that was without Austin Reaves but they didn’t look anything the part of a very competitive team. Reaves is questionable for Monday night’s game against Charlotte, but if the Lakers want to get back on the right foot they’re likely going to want him to suit up as soon as possible.
11. Chicago Bulls
So maybe the Bulls’ hot start was a bit of fool’s gold. Maybe it was because most of their games this season have been played in Chicago and they need more tests on the road. They’re going to get quite a few tests on the road coming up here as they have four game road trip coming up against tough competition in Detroit, Denver and Portland. Monday features a real test at home against San Antonio. We’ll learn a lot about Chicago and just how real they are. In the meantime they’ll hope Josh Giddey can help power them forward as he’s nearly averaging a triple-double this season (21.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 9.3 APG).
10. Golden State Warriors
Golden State hasn’t looked all that great as of late, but part of that can be attributed to Steph Curry missing time with an illness. Either way, they’ve lost four of their last six games and that’s going to be enough cause for concern for a roster that started the season well and has been a solid regular season team since acquiring Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline last season. The offense has been lacking during this stretch of losses, averaging just a 110.8 offensive rating prior to Sunday’s win against Indiana. They’ll need their A game shortly, though, as they embark on a six game road trip starting on Tuesday. And it won’t be easy either as it starts in OKC and heads to San Antonio right after that.
9. Philadelphia 76ers
A hot start in Philly has become a bit stunted after losing four of their last six games. Still, those are Philly’s only four losses on the season. And with Embiid on a minutes restriction, and Paul George nowhere to be found, it’s fairly impressive what they’ve been able to do. Tyrese Maxey continues to be the man in Philadelphia and has led them in both points and assists in eight of 10 games this year. When Embiid’s minute restriction is lifted, and Paul George finds a way to return to the lineup, the Sixers should look very competitive and be a potential force in the Eastern Conference.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Speaking of players leading their team in multiple categories per game, Giannis Antetokounmpo is putting up performances in all categories that can really only match that of Nikola Jokic. This season he’s led the Bucks in both points and rebounds in eight of ten games. He’s led the Bucks in points, rebounds AND assists in five of ten games. A lot of that has been needed due to the Bucks’ roster construction, but part of it has always been in Antetokounmpo’s game. His 6.6 APG is a great example of that as it looks like a high number for him, but he’s averaged 6.5 APG in each of the past two seasons. He needs to continue to be the driver in Milwaukee while getting support from guys like Ryan Rollins, whose 16.7 PPG and 5.4 APG are going to be needed whenever Giannis is having an off night.
7. New York Knicks
The Knicks’ three game losing streak is far in the rear view mirror now as they’ve won four straight and are back as a top three seed in the East, tied with Chicago. Speaking of Chicago, we mentioned how they had issues on the road so it may also be important to note that all three of New York’s losses this season have come on the road. But have no fear Knicks fans as the next three games for New York will be at Madison Square Garden. After that they’ll embark on a five game road trip, but the level of competition on that trip isn’t all that inspiring. New York is aiming upwards yet again this season as it looks to finally win the Eastern Conference for the first time since the 1998-1999 season.
6. Detroit Pistons
The current number one seed in the East? Look no further than Detroit. Cade Cunningham and the Pistons are on a mission this season after getting knocked out in the first round last year. After beating Philadelphia on Sunday they’ve now won six in a row with four of those six coming by 11 points or more. The defense has been spectacular as well, only allowing more than 110 points once in those six games. Cade Cunningham is playing at a very high level, putting up 10 or more assists in five of those six wins while normally pairing that with a 30 point performance. The Pistons were a surprise last season but they’re out to show they should be feared in 2025-2026.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s not last season’s 15-0 start but Cleveland is quietly doing its thing yet again. They’re currently on a four game winning streak where they’ve put up 128 points or more in three of them. As an offensive powerhouse, you know that you’re going to have to have your A+ game to even stay close to them. It’s no coincidence that Donovan Mitchell has been on fire during these four games, putting up 34.0 PPG while knocking down 5.8 threes per game in this span. With two games coming up this week in Miami, and the Heat being a generally high scoring team, expect Cleveland to continue putting up a ton of points.
4. San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio’s hot start was cooled off a touch this week after losses to Phoenix and Los Angeles, but they’ve corrected the course and have won two straight. If there’s any knock on the Spurs right now it’s that the schedule hasn’t exactly been the toughest. It’s why their convincing win over Houston on Friday night was very important. Not only does the record look great but they’re proving it may not matter who’s in front of them. They also saw De’Aaron Fox return to the lineup on Saturday against the Pelicans and put up 24 points. That’s great news for the Spurs as they have a tough stretch this weekend against the Bulls on Monday, followed by two straight against Golden State.
3. Houston Rockets
If you just looked at the stats you’d have no idea that Houston’s missing their veteran point guard in Fred VanVleet. That’s because Alperen Sengun has taken over as their main facilitator, averaging 7.4 APG. Kevin Durant is doing his part, averaging 24.0 PPG in his first season in Houston. The Rockets are playing very, very well. But, as we pointed out with a few teams already, the wins haven’t come over the best competition. Milwaukee is easily Houston’s best win and we’ll want to see a few more wins over really good competition to confirm the belief that this team can win not only the West, but the NBA title. That test will come on November 19th when Houston challenges the Cavs in Cleveland, followed by a date with Denver two days later.
2. Denver Nuggets
It may get a bit redundant always hearing about Nikola Jokic’s gaudy accomplishments that seem to happen on a nightly basis but it’s only because he continues to get better and better. In his last four games he’s averaged 31.3 PPG, 13.3 APG and 11.3 RPG. That includes two triple-doubles that each featured at least 32 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists. The Nuggets continue to be a force because of him, though the bench issues of the past seem to be improving. Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 11.4 PPG leads the way for the bench unit that’s finally not destroying games for the Nuggets. Denver is just a few small mistakes from being undefeated and will challenge the Thunder for the top seed in the West all season.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Though they’re no longer undefeated, the Thunder stay as our top seed yet again. They come into the week with a 10-1 record that’s been driven by an incredibly stout defense. That’s not all that surprising given who they’ve been the past two seasons. But they’re locking down opponents with a 104.5 defensive rating. The most points they’ve allowed in regulation, prior to their only loss of the season on the second leg of a back-to-back against Portland, is 113. Offenses simply can’t do anything against them and that’s going to make them incredibly tough to beat. They’re the top seed until proven otherwise.
