The 2025-26 NBA season is set to tip off. Can anyone dethrone the Oklahoma City Thunder? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company were absolutely dominant last season.
It will be interesting to see if the Thunder can repeat as champions.
On this page, you’ll find my NBA Power Rankings for the 2025-26 season.
All NBA odds are current as of Sunday, October 19, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
NBA Power Rankings 2025-26
| Rank | Team | 2024-25 Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thunder | 68-14 |
| 2 | Nuggets | 50-32 |
| 3 | Cavaliers | 64-18 |
| 4 | Knicks | 51-31 |
| 5 | Rockets | 52-30 |
| 6 | Warriors | 48-34 |
| 7 | Timberwolves | 49-33 |
| 8 | Lakers | 50-32 |
| 9 | Magic | 41-41 |
| 10 | Clippers | 50-32 |
| 11 | Mavericks | 39-43 |
| 12 | 76ers | 24-58 |
| 13 | Bucks | 48-34 |
| 14 | Hawks | 40-42 |
| 15 | Spurs | 34-48 |
| 16 | Pistons | 44-38 |
| 17 | Celtics | 61-21 |
| 18 | Pacers | 50-32 |
| 19 | Raptors | 30-52 |
| 20 | Grizzlies | 48-34 |
| 21 | Heat | 37-45 |
| 22 | Kings | 40-42 |
| 23 | Suns | 36-46 |
| 24 | Pelicans | 21-61 |
| 25 | Bulls | 39-43 |
| 26 | Trail Blazers | 36-46 |
| 27 | Wizards | 18-64 |
| 28 | Hornets | 19-63 |
| 29 | Nets | 26-56 |
| 30 | Jazz | 17-65 |
NBA Power Rankings: Trending Up 📈
Houston Rockets (No. 5)
The Rockets went 50-32 last season and have now added Kevin Durant. Despite entering his age-37 season, Durant can still play at a high level, averaging 26.6 points per game last season.
Even though the Rockets lost Fred VanVleet to a season-ending knee injury, this is still a loaded roster and Durant could be the final piece.
Betting Tip: The Rockets have the fifth-shortest odds to win the NBA Championship at (+1100). If you’re in on Houston, I would take this NBA bet of the day before the season begins.
Philadelphia 76ers (No. 12)
The 76ers are relatively high in NBA Finals odds at 12th despite finishing with a 24-58 record last season.
We all know they’re much better than that. They just need Joel Embiid and Paul George to stay healthy for the majority of the year.
Don’t be surprised if we see a resurgence in Philadelphia this season.
Toronto Raptors (No. 19)
Don’t sleep on the Raptors, especially with Brandon Ingram now healthy. This is a guy who can create his own shot and carry the load on offense.
Toronto now has an intriguing duo with Scottie Barnes.
I could see the Raptors returning to the playoffs and potentially even winning a round this year.
NBA Power Rankings: Trending Down 📉
Boston Celtics (No. 17)
It’s a shame that the Celtics will have to play without Jayson Tatum this season, but there’s an outside chance that he can return at the end of the year.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Boston has a 2024-25 76ers-type of season, where it’s just a lost year due to injuries.
Even if it doesn’t get that bad, this is still a team trending downward.
Indiana Pacers (No. 18)
The Pacers are similar to the Celtics in that they’re forced to play without their star player after Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles.
It’s a shame for a team that went to the NBA Finals last year.
But this is a team that plays hard every night, so perhaps they can surprise us.
Phoenix Suns (No. 23)
The Suns were already bad last year, and now they’re without Kevin Durant.
We may see this team emerge as one of the worst in basketball this year.
Devin Booker is still there, but this is a rebuilding season in Phoenix.
