Album of the Week: “A Seat at the Table,” Solange Knowles (2016)
Welcome back to the NBA Power Rankings, where internet trends jump the shark. Since everyone is posting about 2016 these days, and I was recently in the city that hosted 2016 All-Star Weekend, I am thinking about next month’s midseason celebration of world-class hoops.
All-Star starters will be announced on Monday. I had a vote this year, so I’ll share those selections. In the spirit of inclusivity, I will assign an All-Star representative to every NBA team. But not every team should have an All-Star, especially because no one wants to play in the game anyway. Keep it to 24, excluding any injury replacements and, this year, fillers for the requirement of at least 16 American All-Stars and eight international All-Stars. So I am opening up All-Star Weekend representatives to the Saturday night events (skills, 3-point, dunk) as well as the Rising Stars challenge.
Fine print: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We’ll retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers each week:
Top Contenders — Locked at five, these are the class of the league
In a Good Place — Could be one team, could be seven teams
The Bubble — Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack
Not the Tier to Fear — Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do
Basement Floor — Bringing up the rear
What to expect from Power Rankings:
These are my subjective rankings. I will consider a variety of objective measures, but it’s my final call.
These rankings are not just a review of the past week — we are projecting forward as well, so it is a balance of the two.
These are subjective, but not biased. There are no agendas in the Power Rankings, and we strive for an inclusive meritocracy
The one quality that these rankings possess: “Ruthless aggression.”
Enjoy the games, and enjoy the rankings, please!
For Week 14 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will explore All-Star reps for each team. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.
Tier 1: Top Contenders1. Oklahoma City Thunder (35-8)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W vs SA, W at HOU, L at MIA
Offensive rating: 118.1 (fifth place)
Defensive rating: 105.4 (first place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, starter
Gilgeous-Alexander as an All-Star is easy. He’s the reigning MVP and defending champion on the team with the NBA’s best record, though the Thunder blew another double-digit lead while losing in Miami. Will Oklahoma City have a second All-Star? Last year, it was Jalen Williams, but a hamstring strain added to an injury-marred season. And while Chet Holmgren is a worthy option, his individual numbers this season pale in comparison to some of his contemporaries.
2. Detroit Pistons (30-10)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W vs PHO, W vs IND
Offensive rating: 116.1 (11th place)
Defensive rating: 108.5 (second place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Cade Cunningham, starter
Jalen Duren is my pick for a second All-Star for the Pistons as a reserve. Detroit has been that good in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons are doing what good teams with strong defenses do: Give themselves a chance to beat any team and absolutely humiliate the teams they should beat (see: 25 first-half points allowed Saturday against the Pacers ).
3. San Antonio Spurs (29-13)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: L at OKC, W vs MIL, W vs MIN
Offensive rating: 116.7 (10th place)
Defensive rating: 111.6 (third place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Victor Wembanyama, starter
Wembanyama’s season ended last season at the All-Star break. The hope is that the Spurs continue seeing Wembanyama evolve even after that weekend in Los Angeles. The hope also is that Chris Paul doesn’t encourage him to cheat the skills challenge.
4. Boston Celtics (26-15)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: L at IND, W at MIA, W at ATL
Offensive rating: 121.6 (second place)
Defensive rating: 114.0 (14th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Jaylen Brown, starter
The Celtics are second in the East and are about to visit Detroit seeking a season split of the regular-season series. And the only player who has made more total field goals than Brown this season is reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Brown’s job this season was to be the centerpiece of Boston’s offense, and the 2024 NBA Finals MVP has responded with a career year.
5. Denver Nuggets (29-14)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W at NO, W at DAL, W vs WAS, L vs CHA
Offensive rating: 121.7 (first place)
Defensive rating: 116.8 (23rd place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Nikola Jokić, starter
Jokić is too good to not be an All-Star despite his knee injury. But this year, for the first time, Jokić should have a partner with him. Murray is a deserving All-Star in his own right, and all the Jokić injury did was solidify Murray’s case. Murray was never merely a Jokić merchant who saved his best stuff for the playoffs. Murray is doing everything better in his 10th NBA season: scoring, rebounding, playmaking and shooting.
Tier 2: In a Good Place6. Houston Rockets (25-15)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: W vs CHI, L vs OKC, W vs MIN, W vs NO
Offensive rating: 119.1 (fourth place)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (eighth place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Kevin Durant, starter
The Rockets aren’t being discussed as a contender anymore. They’re far too reliant on Durant, who was drafted in 2007. But Durant has been a big lift for the Rockets, a team that looks lost without him in the lineup.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (27-16)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W at MIL, L at HOU, L at SA
Offensive rating: 117.5 (sixth place)
Defensive rating: 112.7 (ninth place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Anthony Edwards, reserve
Edwards has yet to start an All-Star Game. There’s a possibility it happens this year, although Edwards hasn’t shown all that much interest in doing anything positively memorable during the All-Star Game either. His ascent toward the best shooting guard in the game continues, even if his 55-point performance in San Antonio came in a losing effort.
Tier 3: The Bubble8. Golden State Warriors (24-19)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: W vs POR, W vs NY, W vs CHA
Offensive rating: 115.4 (13th place)
Defensive rating: 112.4 (sixth place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Stephen Curry, reserve
Curry usually finds himself in the mix to start the All-Star Game, and even if he doesn’t, he’ll be named an All-Star for the 12th time. More importantly for Golden State, the Warriors have won 11 of their last 15 and are really taking advantage of this eight-game homestand that they are on, only losing to the Atlanta Hawks with two games left to play before hitting the road. The win streak hasn’t changed Golden State’s spot in the middle of the West, but it’s trending up, especially if you stay out of Jonathan Kuminga discourse.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, here fighting with the Knicks for a loose ball (and the Nos. 9 and 10 spots in the Power Rankings), should be an All-Star. John Jones/ Imagn Images
9. Phoenix Suns (25-17)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: L at MIA, L at DET, W at NY
Offensive rating: 114.5 (15th place)
Defensive rating: 112.0 (fourth place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Devin Booker, starter
I don’t think it is likely that Booker gets selected as a starter, but I feel like he should be rewarded for a Suns team that basically is in the same spot in the standings as the Lakers despite significantly less talent. Jalen Green is expected to finally play his sixth quarter of the season this week. Booker is one of 20 players averaging at least 25 points per game, and of those 20 players, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham and Jamal Murray have won more games than Booker this season.
10. New York Knicks (25-17)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: L at SAC, L at GS, L vs PHO
Offensive rating: 119.5 (third place)
Defensive rating: 116.1 (19th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Jalen Brunson, starter
The Knicks struck out this week, and now the NBA Cup champions are 8-10 since leaving Las Vegas. New York has played well when Brunson has been available to play and off the floor, but it’s now 1-4 when Brunson misses games entirely, not including a bad loss for head coach Mike Brown in his return to Sacramento. Brunson injured his ankle five minutes into that game against the Kings.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (25-16)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: L at SAC, W vs ATL, L vs CHA, L at POR, W vs TOR
Offensive rating: 116.7 (ninth place)
Defensive rating: 117.4 (26th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Luka Dončić, reserve
Both of the Lakers’ wins during a stretch of five games in seven days came on the second night of a back-to-back. A troubling trend for the Lakers is that they have been outscored with Dončić on the floor in five of the NBA’s leading scorer’s last six games, with the win over the Hawks the exception. The Lakers are on pace for 50 wins, which is how many they won last season. But they are also getting outscored on the season.
12. Toronto Raptors (25-19)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L vs PHI, W at IND, L vs LAC, L at LAL
Offensive rating: 113.5 (22nd place)
Defensive rating: 112.3 (fifth place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, reserves
Toronto should get at least one All-Star. Unimpressive week aside, I feel like both Barnes and Ingram could make it. Barnes is one of the best do-it-all (except shoot) players in the league. He’s the only player averaging more than 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. As for Ingram, he’s Toronto’s leading scorer at 21.7 points per game. The Raptors are fourth in the East, so they’re good enough for multiple All-Stars.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (24-19)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L vs UTA, W at PHI, W at PHI
Offensive rating: 116.9 (seventh place)
Defensive rating: 114.3 (15th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Donovan Mitchell, starter
Mitchell’s 30-point games are decreasing a bit lately, and he hasn’t had a 40-point game in more than a month. But Mitchell has outplayed Tyrese Maxey in head-to-head matchups, with both players averaging similar numbers. Cleveland has more losses than all of last season, but it’s still a top-five team in the East.
14. Philadelphia 76ers (22-18)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at TOR, L vs CLE, L vs CLE
Offensive rating: 114.7 (14th place)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (11th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Tyrese Maxey, reserve
No player is averaging more points in the East than Maxey, who is up to 30.3 points per game. Maxey and the Sixers had a bad week hosting the Cavaliers, with Maxey getting held to a combined 36 points while the Cavs passed the Sixers in the standings. It’s been a great season for Maxey, but Philadelphia hasn’t had a four-game win streak since starting the season 4-0.
15. Orlando Magic (23-19)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: W vs MEM (Berlin), L vs MEM (London)
Offensive rating: 114.4 (16th place)
Defensive rating: 113.6 (12th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Anthony Black, slam dunk contest
“Take! That! With You!” I got a text message that was just a photo of Black dunking on four other tall professional athletes with no context, and I remembered there was a possibility that Michael Grady was calling the game. As some may recall, Grady had the call when Anthony Edwards dunked all over Black the year before. When it comes to dunk play-by-play, it’s Grady, Ralph Lawler and Reign Man-era Kevin Calabro off top. Anyway, I’ve watched the video a hundred times now, and Grady did not disappoint with his call. Hopefully Black has some more dunks to showcase next month.
16. Miami Heat (22-20)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: W vs PHO, L vs BOS, W vs OKC
Offensive rating: 113.7 (19th place)
Defensive rating: 112.5 (seventh place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Norman Powell, reserve
Powell was a snub last year in the West despite averaging 24.2 points per game pre-All-Star break; Powell dropped to 14.4 points per game after the All-Star break. This season, Powell is right back up there at 23.8 points per game with career-best averages in rebounds, assists, steals and 3s. Jimmy Butler never averaged 23 points per game during a regular season in Miami. Powell needs to be there for a Heat team that found a way to knock off the Suns and Thunder to stay over .500.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear17. Portland Trail Blazers (22-22)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L at GS, W vs ATL, W vs LAL, W at SAC
Offensive rating: 113.5 (20th place)
Defensive rating: 115.4 (17th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Deni Avdija, reserve
The Trail Blazers still have a bottom-10 point differential, but they are here at .500 in the second half of the regular season for the first time in three years. Avdija has been a major part of the success, averaging 27.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists since Dec. 14, a period of time that has seen Portland win 13 of 19 games. The only other player averaging double-digit free-throw attempts per game during that stretch besides Avdija has been Luka Dončić.
18. Memphis Grizzlies (18-23)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: L vs ORL (Berlin), W vs ORL (London)
Offensive rating: 112.8 (24th place)
Defensive rating: 113.9 (13th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Cedric Coward, Rising Stars
Coward is one of seven rookies who has reached 1,000 minutes already this season. The only one of the other six players who has won their minutes so far this season, like Coward, is VJ Edegombe. The Grizzlies aren’t good, but they have allowed young players such as Coward, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer to make an impact.
19. LA Clippers (18-23)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: W vs CHA, W vs WAS, W at TOR
Offensive rating: 115.7 (12th place)
Defensive rating: 116.6 (21st place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Kawhi Leonard, reserve
The Clippers enter this week with the NBA’s longest active win streak. LA can’t have too many nice things, so Leonard is out to start the week after putting together a 13-game stretch where he averaged a league-leading 32.7 points per game since Dec. 20, with the Clippers going 11-2 in that span. Leonard’s great play and the Clippers getting wins still have them in the bottom five in the West.
Hawks wing Jalen Johnson is having his best season yet, averaging 22.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Brett Davis / Imagn Images
20. Atlanta Hawks (20-24)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L at LAL, L at POR, L vs BOS
Offensive rating: 113.5 (21st place)
Defensive rating: 115.0 (16th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Jalen Johnson, reserve
The Hawks can’t blame Trae Young for how rotten they were this week. They got a Lakers team playing on zero days’ rest and gave up 141 points. They went to Portland and got blown out to end their road trip. Then the Hawks got home and gave up 52 second-quarter points to the Celtics. Johnson failed to score 20 points in all three games, the first time Johnson had a three-game streak of fewer than 20 points each. But Johnson is still one of two players averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, with the other being Nikola Jokić.
21. Charlotte Hornets (16-27)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: L at LAC, W at LAL, L at GS, W at DEN
Offensive rating: 116.9 (eighth place)
Defensive rating: 116.7 (22nd place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Kon Knuppel, 3-point contest
The Hornets have 16 wins this season — 12 of them have been by double digits and six of them have been by more than 20 points. They’ve now blown out Oklahoma City, Denver and Los Angeles in their buildings this season. Knueppel will obviously be a Rising Stars selection, but he needs to be in the 3-point contest; 30 players have made at least 100 3s this season already, and the only one with a higher 3-point percentage than Knueppel’s 43.5 is Jamal Murray.
22. Chicago Bulls (20-22)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L at HOU, W vs UTA, L at BRK, L vs BRK
Offensive rating: 114.0 (18th place)
Defensive rating: 117.0 (25th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Matas Buzelis, slam dunk contest
Buzelis has one of the best dunk packages; he should be over his jitters from last year, and he’s going to be there anyway for Rising Stars more than likely. And if all that doesn’t fit the bill, then we know the league is going to check with Windy City Bulls guard Mac McClung, the three-time dunk contest winner.
23. Milwaukee Bucks (17-24)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: L vs MIN, L at SA
Offensive rating: 113.1 (23rd place)
Defensive rating: 116.3 (20th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Giannis Antetokounmpo, starter
The Bucks are bad, but Antetokounmpo isn’t. He still gets 28.8 points efficiently, making a career-high 64.7 percent from the field. The Bucks have outscored opponents by 129 points with Antetokounmpo on the floor this season, while the Bucks have been outscored by 266 points with Antetokounmpo off the floor. That’s the difference between being the Warriors with one player on the floor and being the Nets without that player on the floor.
24. Dallas Mavericks (17-26)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: W vs BRK, L vs DEN, W vs UTA, W vs UTA
Offensive rating: 110.4 (27th place)
Defensive rating: 113.1 (10th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Cooper Flagg, Rising Stars
Flagg is the No. 1 overall pick, so this one is easy. But some thought that Flagg may have had a shot at being a rare rookie All-Star. Not happening. The Mavericks had a decent week overall, aided by two home games against a Jazz team sitting Lauri Markkanen. But Dallas is squarely in the bottom five in the West, and that should keep them from having an All-Star for the first time since Luka Dončić’s rookie season.
25. Brooklyn Nets (12-28)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L at DAL, L at NO, W vs CHI, L at CHI
Offensive rating: 111.9 (26th place)
Defensive rating: 116.9 (24th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Michael Porter Jr., reserve
The stealth tank has been in effect for the Nets, and Porter has missed four games this month after missing only four games in the 2025 portion of the regular season. Porter is up to 25.8 points per game while averaging career highs in rebounds, assists, 3s made and free throws. He gives Brooklyn a chance to win when he’s out there, which goes against certain organizational endeavors.
Tier 5: Basement Floor26. Utah Jazz (14-28)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: W at CLE, L at CHI, L at DAL, L at DAL
Offensive rating: 114.3 (17th place)
Defensive rating: 122.3 (30th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Lauri Markkanen, reserve
The Jazz are 14-19 when Markkanen plays this season, and only 10 players average more points per game than Markkanen. Utah is winless without Markkanen, who has missed four of the last five games. Opposing offenses are scoring 127.6 points per game against the Jazz, the second-worst average in NBA history.
27. Sacramento Kings (12-31)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: W vs LAL, W vs NY, W vs WAS, L vs POR
Offensive rating: 109.4 (29th place)
Defensive rating: 119.0 (27th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Maxime Raynaud, Rising Stars
The Kings had what was a four-game win streak snapped against the Trail Blazers on Sunday. Sacramento has continued to start second-round rookie Raynaud, even with Domantas Sabonis finally returning from injury. If nothing else, Raynaud puts the ball in the basket, averaging 10.1 points on 54.9 percent shooting.
28. Indiana Pacers (10-33)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: W vs BOS, L vs TOR, W vs NO, L at DET
Offensive rating: 108.0 (30th place)
Defensive rating: 116.0 (18th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Andrew Nembhard, Skills
We’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel here to get a Pacer to Inglewood. Nembhard has quietly made some improvements as a playmaker, compiling three double-digit assist games this month after having only two all season before January. Of the 16 players averaging at least 7.0 assists per game this season, only Davion Mitchell averages fewer than Nembhard’s 2.2 turnovers per game.
29. New Orleans Pelicans (10-35)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L vs DEN, W vs BRK, L at IND, L at HOU
Offensive rating: 112.2 (25th place)
Defensive rating: 119.2 (28th place)
All-Star Weekend reps: Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, Rising Stars
The Pelicans might have pawned off their lottery pick for next season, so at least the Pels are getting Fears and Queen. New Orleans is so low in the standings that its only realistic path for All-Star Weekend representation is through young players.
30. Washington Wizards (10-31)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L at LAC, L at SAC, L at DEN
Offensive rating: 109.6 (28th place)
Defensive rating: 120.9 (29th place)
All-Star Weekend rep: Kyshawn George, Rising Stars
The Wizards could legitimately have five players in this game. They’re that green. George has been one of my favorite developmental stories of the season as a 6-foot-8 dribble-pass-shoot threat. Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington, Washington’s 2024 lottery picks, have shown some growth as well. Rookie Tre Johnson has been as advertised as a shooter. And rookie Will Riley is a long shot to be in the Rising Stars Challenge, but he’s getting extended run now as well for a Wizards team that hasn’t won since acquiring an injured Trae Young.