The power rankings return as one week of play has happened in the NBA in the 2025-26 season. A lot has happened in this opening week from gambling scandals to 50-point games to game-winners to incredible comebacks, this week had it all from this great game of basketball.

It’s time to size up the league. The Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls have raced out to fast starts in the East, but are they on the same level as the New York Knicks? Or the Cleveland Cavaliers? Are the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks maybe not as good as many thought? There are questions to answer.

Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to reign supreme while teams like the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets look to make their move to dethrone the defending champs.

Here are the power rankings one week into the 2025-26 season:

This is going to be a long season in Brooklyn. The Nets are fully committed to being in the best position they can to potentially select BYU star AJ Dybansta in the draft in June which makes for some bad basketball on the court at the moment. With that being said, Michael Porter Jr. has played some good basketball and Cam Thomas has had some big moments, at least.

One has to wonder if the Pelicans regret trading their pick for this draft. They have gotten off to a tough start and it looks as if they are in for a long season–which would be fine if they had a selection in what should be a deep 2026 draft. On a positive note, at least Zion Williamson is playing well to begin the season.

28. Sacramento Kings (1-4)

Where is this team going? The Kings feel like they are directionless at the moment as they try to win with aging former All-Stars in DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Russell Westbrook. When Keegan Murray returns from injury, he will be a big help, but Sacramento feels like it is headed for another long season in the capital of California.

The Pacers have fought hard in all four games, but the injuries have been too much to overcome. It hasn’t just been Tyrese Haliburton either. Indiana hasn’t had TJ McConnell while also losing Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard to injuries. It’s a lot to ask of Pascal Siakam to carry the team at the moment.

The Suns had their second win in their grasp on Wednesday night, but then lost on a Ja Morant floater in the lane. It has been a tough start for Phoenix as Devin Booker is once again tasked with carrying this team on his back. They have to get it together defensively as they rank 27th in the league in defensive efficiency.

25. Toronto Raptors (1-4)

The Raptors have some talent, but they are struggling on the defensive end as they ranked 28th in defensive rating. They have received star production out of Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett, but Toronto can’t get enough stops to win consistently. That has to change in year 3 under coach Darko Rajakovic.

24. Washington Wizards (1-3)

Yes, Sixers Wire likes the Wizards. They are still a young group that is growing, but the foundation is there. Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr, and Bub Carrington look like they have grown over the summer and rookie Tre Johnson has shown a lot of good moments in terms of being able to shoot the ball and provide spacing. The Wizards are also awaiting the return of Bilal Coulibaly who will be a big help.

23. Orlando Magic (1-4)

The Magic still can’t shoot. While coach Jamahl Mosley changed up the offensive game plan to try and get Orlando to play faster, it hasn’t worked as it ranks 28th in offensive rating and the defense has suffered. The Magic rank 22nd in defensive rating which is a big drop off from being ranked No. 2 the season before. There is a lot to figure out for this group.

22. Atlanta Hawks (2-3)

Another team off to a disappointing start, the Hawks are still looking to find their footing. The talent is there, but there have been some inconsistencies on both ends of the floor. Now, Trae Young left Wednesday’s win in Brooklyn with an injury so that is something to keep an eye on as Atlanta looks to move forward.

21. Utah Jazz (2-2)

The Jazz have had some impressive wins to begin the season including a smack down of the Clippers on opening night. Lauri Markkanen has been awesome to start and coach Will Hardy is engineering a top 5 offense at the moment. Also, Walker Kessler is building a case for Most Improved Player at the moment as he’s averaging 17.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 blocks.

20. Dallas Mavericks (2-3)

Top pick Cooper Flagg has been solid to begin his career, but one can see he’s clearly adjusting to the NBA game. The Mavericks have also been dull on the offensive end as they rank dead last in the league on that end of the floor and have struggled to shoot the ball. D’Angelo Russell has had a tough time finding a rhythm while coming off the bench which has held the offense back.

19. Boston Celtics (2-3)

After an 0-3 start, the Celtics have won two in a row and are beginning to figure it out on both ends. They rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating despite ranking 23rd in the league in 3-point shooting percentage. Coach Joe Mazzulla is still figuring out the rotation, but Boston is getting production up and down the roster and that depth is something it will lean on.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-3)

The usual stout defense the Timberwolves put on every night has not been there to begin the season as they rank No. 25 on that end to start. The loss of Anthony Edwards to a hamstring injury will be something to keep an eye on in the Twin Cities, but Julius Randle is more than capable of carrying the offense until Edwards returns.

17. Charlotte Hornets (2-2)

The Hornets have shown signs that they are ready to break out and at least make a play-in appearance. LaMelo Ball has faced questions about whether or not he’s a “winning player”, but he has done a great job of bringing it on the defensive end and has stepped up as a leader. Specifically by demanding more out his teammates and they are responding at a high level.

16. Los Angeles Clippers (2-2)

The Clippers are trying to find the right pieces in the starting lineup around James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac. Coach Ty Lue has done his best to try and find the right combinations as Bradley Beal is battling another injury, but it’s obvious that this roster is old and aging and LA has to hope a younger piece can step forward and produce.

15. Portland Trail Blazers (3-2)

Despite losing their coach after just one game, the Blazers have had some good production on the defensive end. Portland ranks No. 8 in defensive rating and is piecing it together under interim coach Tiago Splitter on the offensive end. It helps that veterans Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant are around to steady the ship in the midst of the Chauncey Billups situation.

14. Houston Rockets (2-2)

Things look a bit clunky on the offensive end for Houston to begin the season. Despite having offensive maestros such as Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, it has been a struggle to get into the offense at times. The Rockets will certainly need to find a point guard or hope Amen Thompson can continue taking steps in the ball-handling department of his game.

In the middle of the pack in both offense and defense, the Grizzlies are already battling the injury bug as they are missing key pieces such as Zach Edey and Ty Jerome. The positive thing is Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are on the floor to steady this team on the floor. Rookie Cedric Coward looks like he is the steal of the draft thus far.

12. Los Angeles Lakers (3-2)

The Lakers are receiving a big boost from Austin Reaves at the moment as he’s stepping in for the injured Luka Doncic and LeBron James and has thrown LA on his back. Reaves is averaging 34.2 points and 10.0 assists to begin the season and the Lakers will need him to hold them down until they can get healthy again out on the floor.

11. Detroit Pistons (3-2)

The Pistons are certainly feeling the losses of Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dennis Schroder to begin the season, but when Jaden Ivey returns from injury, one has to believe he will fill a lot of holes. With that being said, Cade Cunningham continues to be a monster for Detroit and Duncan Robinson has been important as a floor spacer. Jalen Duren has been good around the rim as well.

10. New York Knicks (2-2)

The Knicks have looked a little off on the offensive end of the floor. Coach Mike Brown is a terrific coach who will figure everything out for this group, but there have been some issues to start. With that being said, this roster is too talented not to eventually get going. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns form one of the better duos in the league and will look to get New York moving in the right direction again.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (3-2)

The Cavs are still feeling the loss of Darius Garland to begin the season and that has limited them in many ways to start. With that being said, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley have been terrific and Sam Merrill has been a knockdown 3-point shooter to begin the season. They just need Garland back to run things on the offensive end and make life easier for everybody involved.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (3-1)

This roster doesn’t look great on paper, but Giannis and friends look fun in Milwaukee. The Bucks have received good production out of Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, and Gary Trent Jr. while the bench unit has produced for coach Doc Rivers and Co. They still have a long way to go, but the Bucks appear to have something moving in the right direction.

Are the Heat…fun? After a miserable 2024-25 season in which watching the Heat was like watching paint dry, they look much different to begin the season. Coach Erik Spoelstra has everybody involved on offense while Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell have held everything down until Tyler Herro returns. One player that has stood out has been Jaime Jaquez Jr. who has been great after a sophomore slump the previous year.

6. Golden State Warriors (4-1)

Steph Curry is still Steph Curry which makes life easier for the Warriors all over the floor. This has helped everybody else settle into roles as the roster had to come together quickly in training camp after the Jonathan Kuminga saga. Speaking of Kuminga, he’s been terrific to start the season and has given a boost to Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.

5. Philadelphia 76ers (4-0)

The Sixers have put a miserable 2024-25 season behind them as they are sitting at 4-0 for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Joel Embiid is working his way back from surgery, Tyrese Maxey has taken another leap forward, the guards have been great, and VJ Edgecombe looks like a star. However, there is cause for concern. The guards are playing heavy minutes in October and they rank No. 26 in defensive rating. Those issues have to be shored up.

4. Denver Nuggets (3-1)

Four games and four triple-doubles for Nikola Jokic who is averaging 20.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 11.3 assists, and 2.0 steals to begin the season for the Nuggets. Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, and Tim Hardaway Jr. have been terrific around Jokic while one has to believe Christian Braun and Cam Johnson will find their rhythm from 3-point distance. This Nuggets team is deep and still very much in the title conversation.

3. Chicago Bulls (4-0)

Have the Bulls found something? After being stuck in mediocrity in recent years, they are off to a blazing start and rank No. 4 in the league in defensive rating. Josh Giddey has been awesome as he’s averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 42.9% from deep and Chicago has received contributions from up and down the roster to begin the season. One has to wonder if this level of play is sustainable.

2. San Antonio Spurs (4-0)

The age of Victor Wembanyama is upon us. He’s averaging 31.0 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 4.8 blocks per game as he anchors the best defense in the league in San Antonio. The Spurs will have to figure out the guard rotation once De’Aaron Fox returns to join Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, but talent is a good problem for coach Mitch Johnson to have. It appears the Spurs are ready for the next step in the West.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-0)

The defending champs are still at the top. They rank No. 2 in defense and have continued to find ways to win even without All-Star Jalen Williams around to help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the offensive end. In place of Williams, the Thunder have received big production out of Chet Holmgren who is making his case for Most Improved Player in the early part of the season.