The 2025-26 season is now two weeks old and a lot has happened around the league during the early part of the season. From the gambling scandals to the incredible individual play to terrific comebacks to team drama (pointing at you, Memphis), the NBA has had it all.

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? What about the Detroit Pistons? 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:

Previous ranking: 30

The Nets won a game! After an 0-7 start, the Nets went into Indiana and knocked off the Pacers on Wednesday. However, it isn’t enough to get them out of the No. 30 spot in the rankings. The effort from this Brooklyn team–even though it needs to lose–has been unacceptable in some moments and coach Jordi Fernandez needs to get more out of his group.

Previous ranking: 24

The Wizards still have a long way to go. Coach Brian Keefe is still looking to get the most out of this group, and while the talent on this roster is obvious, they are still a bunch of young pieces looking to develop and grow. The presence of CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton help, but it’s still painful in the nation’s capital.

Previous ranking: 27

Honestly? The Pacers might as well commit to the tank. The Tyrese Haliburton injury took a lot of wind out of the defending Eastern Conference champion’s sails and they are now dealing with a ton of injuries to this current roster. Following a loss to the dreadful Nets, it may be time to pivot to the draft.

27. New Orleans Pelicans (2-6)

Previous ranking: 29

Break up the Pelicans! They’ve won two in a row! Seriously, though, all it took was a Zion Williamson injury for New Orleans to start playing rookie Derik Queen consistently. It’s important for New Orleans at this point to see what it has in Queen and other youngsters on the roster. Especially, after trading away their 2026 first round pick.

26. Memphis Grizzlies (3-6)

Previous ranking: 13

What a week, huh? The Grizzlies have lost four in a row and are in the middle of more drama concerning star Ja Morant as they suspended him for a game after some questionable effort and then a spat with coach Tuomas Iisalo. That has since sparked trade rumors, but the Grizzlies have bigger questions to answer as they have to decide if they want to keep building around Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. or not.

25. Dallas Mavericks (2-6)

Previous ranking: 20

The Mavericks have lost three in a row and decided to switch things up before falling to the Pelicans on Wednesday. They moved Klay Thompson to the bench in favor of D’Angelo Russell and it didn’t pay off in the short term as they took another loss. One has to wonder if the point guard experiment for rookie Cooper Flagg has run its course already.

24. Utah Jazz (3-5)

Previous ranking: 21

Losing big man Walker Kessler for the season is such a big loss for the Jazz. The franchise has a good core in place, and Kessler is a big part of that, so it’s almost like losing an entire year of development for him at this point. On the flip side, Utah is seeing Keyonte George take another step forward alongside Lauri Markkanen who continues to carry a heavy load in Utah.

23. Sacramento Kings (3-5)

Previous ranking: 28

Russell Westbrook’s still got it. The future Hall of Famer had 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win over the Warriors on Wednesday while shooting 9-for-13 overall and 3-for-4 from deep. If the Kings are going to get this version of Westbrook consistently, then maybe things are looking up in SacTown.

22. Phoenix Suns (3-5)

Previous ranking: 26

The Suns are hopping on Devin Booker’s back and hoping the star guard can carry them to wins on a nightly basis. He’s playing like a superstar at the moment, but the rest of his teammates need to give him some help. Collin Gillespie has been a nice surprise for Phoenix, and Mark Williams has played well, but the Suns need to find some consistency.

21. Charlotte Hornets (3-5)

Previous ranking: 17

The Hornets are showing flashes of a possible breakout team, but then they have losses like they did in New Orleans that remind you that they’re still the Hornets. This is a talented roster and they have shown they can hoop, but they need to find some health for once as they look to turn potential into something tangible.

20. Orlando Magic (3-5)

Previous ranking: 23

The Magic have been the early-season disappointment thus far, but emphasis on it’s still early. This is a talented roster and Paolo Banchero is too good and too motivated to be struggling like this. He and Franz Wagner will lead Orlando together to get it back on track. As for Desmond Bane? He better start knocking down 3s as he did in Memphis to justify his price tag.

19. Los Angeles Clippers (3-4)

Previous ranking: 16

The Clippers can’t stop anybody right now. They rank No. 25 in the league in defensive rating and it has hindered them from finding any type of consistency on the floor. Bradley Beal has also had some struggles really finding his niche in LA so there is a lot to figure out for James Harden and Co. as the Clippers look to make the leap into contender status.

18. Boston Celtics (4-5)

Previous ranking: 19

The Celtics had a terrific win in Philadelphia to start the week, but then followed that up with losses to the Rockets and Jazz before knocking off the Wizards. That’s what it seems like the Celtics will be in the coming season. A bit up and down. Good enough to beat anybody, but middling enough to lose to anybody.

17. Atlanta Hawks (4-4)

Previous ranking: 22

The Hawks have righted the ship for the moment after a rocky start despite losing star Trae Young to injury. Luckily for Atlanta, Kristaps Porzingis has had some great moments while 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher has been able to put together some solid play. Jalen Johnson needs to find his rhythm, but the Hawks have shown what they could possibly be.

16. Toronto Raptors (4-4)

Previous ranking: 25

The Raptors are playing well as they have won three in a row including a beatdown of the Bucks at home and a win over the Cavaliers on the road. Toronto has some good talent–that’s obvious–and it’s up to coach Darko Rajakovic to put it all together. They have a test coming up with a back-to-back on Friday against the Hawks and on Saturday against the Sixers.

15. Miami Heat (4-4)

Previous ranking: 7

The Heat have come back down to earth a bit, but there are some positive signs. Coach Erik Spoelstra and his staff have instituted a more free-flowing offense that has allowed others to succeed and the defense has been solid. Bam Adebayo has been knocking down 3s at an efficient rate and Norman Powell has shown that he fits with what Miami wants to do.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-4)

Previous ranking: 18

The Wolves have been up and down to begin the season as they have shown flashes of being an elite team along with some head-scratching moments. Either way, this is a veteran team that has reached the conference finals two seasons in a row. One has to believe Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle will make sure Minnesota stays on track.

13. Golden State Warriors (5-4)

Previous ranking: 6

The Warriors got off to a fast start and showed what they can do if they’re healthy, but losses to the previously winless Pacers and the hapless Kings showed some warts that GM Mike Dunleavy must figure out. With that said, as long as Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green are out on the floor, Golden State is going to have a shot to beat anybody.

12. Portland Trail Blazers (5-4)

Previous ranking: 15

The Blazers are putting it all together under interim coach Tiago Splitter following the Chauncey Billups drama. They had an impressive win over the previously unbeaten Thunder on Wednesday night and are continuing to follow the calming influence of Jrue Holiday out on the floor. This is a good team that should challenge for a playoff spot in a tough Western Conference.

11. Milwaukee Bucks (5-3)

Previous ranking: 8

For the moment, the Bucks have been successful led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and a cast of reliable role players, but at some point, they’re going to have to get another star in Milwaukee to pair with Antetokounmpo to get it done in the East. There are a lot of solid teams, but the Bucks can make that leap if they can bring in another star in a wide-open conference.

10. Philadelphia 76ers (5-3)

Previous ranking: 5

They were due for a come back down to earth moment. The Sixers saw a 24-point lead slip away in a loss to the Bulls on Tuesday before struggling in Cleveland on Wednesday as the basketball gods seemed to catch up with them a bit after all the comebacks they had to begin the season. Either way, this is a talented roster that is waiting for some key pieces to return to provide much-needed depth.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-3)

Previous ranking: 9

The Cavs welcomed Darius Garland to the party on Wednesday against Philadelphia and the results were solid. On a minutes restriction, Garland had some good moments and was able to provide a lift to Cleveland as it begins to work its way back toward the top in the Eastern Conference. The Garland-Donovan Mitchell backcourt is one that can really put in a lot of work in the East.

8. New York Knicks (5-3)

Previous ranking: 10

The Knicks have won three in a row as they begin to find themselves under coach Mike Brown. They knocked off the Bulls to hand them their first loss of the season before defeating the Wizards and the Timberwolves as they begin to round into form here in the early part of the season. New York is the clear favorite in the East and just need a little momentum to build off.

Previous ranking: 2

The Spurs are in the top 5 in defensive rating and top 10 in offensive rating as they continue to surge under coach Mitch Johnson. They had a few bumps in the road recently, including a loss to the Lakers, but this is a good roster led by a young superstar in Victor Wembanyama and they will continue to grow.

6. Detroit Pistons (6-2)

Previous ranking: 11

The Pistons have won four in a row as star guard Cade Cunningham has completely taken games over in the fourth quarter. He has thrown Detroit on his back and refused to let them to lose games they shouldn’t. They have a chance to keep things moving in the right direction when they face Brooklyn and Philadelphia on the road coming up.

5. Houston Rockets (5-2)

Previous ranking: 14

The Rockets have won five in a row as they have begun to show the potential that made them such a popular pick to contend in the Western Conference. Kevin Durant has begun to fit in nicely and Houston has garnered the No. 1 offensive rating in the league. Coach Ime Udoka and Co. have the makings of a serious challenger to OKC, Denver, and others in the West.

4. Denver Nuggets (5-2)

Previous ranking: 4

Let’s keep it real. As long as Nikola Jokic is on the floor, then the Nuggets are going to be serious contenders in the West. They have a talented supporting cast around him that knows how to play together and coach David Adelman has pushed the right buttons to be sure everybody is in the right position to succeed. This team is OKC’s top challenger.

3. Chicago Bulls (6-1)

Previous ranking: 3

So, Josh Giddey? The Bulls locked up the young guard on a big deal after a long restricted free agency battle and he has been fantastic to begin the season. He had a huge triple-double including making the tough skip pass to Nikola Vucevic for the go-ahead 3 with 3.2 seconds left to lead Chicago to that win over the Sixers on Tuesday. If the Bulls keep this up, Giddey is on his way to an All-Star appearance in LA.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (7-2)

Previous ranking: 12

The Lakers have won five in a row and have hopped on the back of Luka Doncic as he continues to remind everybody of his greatness and make his trade from the Mavericks all the more baffling. Doncic is averaging a mind-boggling 40.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.2 assists to begin the season as he has kept the Lakers near the top of the West awaiting the return of LeBron James.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-1)

Previous ranking: 1

The Thunder took their first loss of the season in Portland on Wednesday, but they’re still No. 1 in the rankings. They have the best defensive rating in the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still at the top of his game, Chet Holmgren continues to impress, and the role players are still terrific. It will be interesting to see the rest of the league try and knock them off when the playoffs roll around in April and May.