Album of the Week: “Moisturizer,” Wet Leg (2025)
We’re at the end of March. It took until now, but I have seen all 30 NBA teams live at least once this season. And soon, we will be ending the regular season, so that means we need to do some necessary housekeeping.
One of the affairs that needs to be in order is awards. I’m not here to discuss the eligibility of things — that rant was last week. The funniest thing about awards is that they make snubs out of those who don’t win, or weren’t even considered. But a lot of players don’t want your love; they just wanna fight.
I’ll vote for the real awards this year, but here, we are recognizing one player per team with the Power Rankings Frontier Award! It’s the third-most prestigious award you can get, behind the MVP and the Player Hater of the Year. I’m guessing Sixth Man of the Year is like the sixth-most prestigious. (Why Frontier Awards? Look, we love tiers.) On that note…
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 24 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will have Frontier Awards for each team. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.
Tier 1: Top Contenders1. San Antonio Spurs (56-18)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W at MIA, W at MEM, W at MIL
Offensive rating: 118.4 (fourth place)
Defensive rating: 110.1 (third place)
Frontier Award: Julian Champagnie
Center Victor Wembanyama already made his case for MVP, and presumably Defensive Player of the Year and supreme alien leader. But he did not advocate for the Power Rankings Frontier Award. That is going to Champagnie this season, who went from undrafted in 2022 and waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023 to a fixture in San Antonio’s starting lineup since the turn of the new year. Champagnie has been durable and consistent, playing in every Spurs game this season and hitting 38.3 percent of his 3s. Along the way, the Spurs have continued to steamroll the league, winning 24 of 26 games since the beginning of February.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W at PHI, L at BOS, W vs CHI, W vs NY
Offensive rating: 117.3 (seventh place)
Defensive rating: 106.3 (first place)
Frontier Award: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
You can’t win them all! (Although the Thunder might want to win them all, because the loss at Boston keeps the door open for the Spurs.) Oklahoma City did well to come home and recover nicely, blowing out the Chicago Bulls while earning a tough win against New York that saw Gilgeous-Alexander outscore the entire Knicks team 10-7 by himself in the last 5:12 of the game. He served a pair of easy buckets for fellow All-Star Chet Holmgren to keep the final margin in double digits as well. If the season began in October, and I’m quite sure it did, then Gilgeous-Alexander is the league’s MVP.
3. Detroit Pistons (54-20)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W vs LAL, L vs ATL, W vs NO, W at MIN
Offensive rating: 117.0 (ninth place)
Defensive rating: 108.7 (second place)
Frontier Award: Cade Cunningham
The lung injury to Cunningham could cost him a chance at a deserved All-NBA spot, and while the Pistons are continuing to win games in his absence, they need him back in time for the postseason. Cunningham was probably a better individual player last year when his points and rebounds and percentages were better. But his impact on winning has been better this season.
4. Boston Celtics (50-24)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W vs OKC, W vs ATL, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 119.4 (second place)
Defensive rating: 111.5 (fourth place)
Frontier Award: Derrick White
A statement week for the Celtics. They ended the Thunder’s win streak, got a win against the Hawks and then avenged one of their worst defeats of the season by spanking Charlotte. The last of those two wins came with Jaylen Brown out to recover from an Achilles injury. White also missed the Charlotte game while struggling in the Hawks game, but he has been a remarkably consistent and stable force for the Celtics on both ends of the floor, leading the team in assists, steals, blocks and 3s.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-28)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W vs ORL, L vs MIA, W vs MIA
Offensive rating: 118.2 (sixth place)
Defensive rating: 113.9 (15th place)
Frontier Award: Donovan Mitchell
This one is easy, as Mitchell has been a consistent presence for the Cavaliers this season, and he reached 65 games this week as well. The Cavaliers split their home miniseries with the Heat, while also beating the Magic. The return of Jarrett Allen makes this a solid week overall for a Cleveland team that heads west for a few games.
Tier 2: In a Good Place6. Los Angeles Lakers (48-26)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: L at DET, W at IND, W vs BRK
Offensive rating: 117.2 (eighth place)
Defensive rating: 115.7 (20th place)
Frontier Award: Luka Dončić
The Lakers have a powerful force in Dončić, the league’s leading scorer at 33.7 points per game. Dončić has 15 40-point games this season; that’s almost one 40-point game per technical foul. Fortunately, 40-point games don’t get rescinded, and neither does the fact that the Lakers haven’t lost consecutive games this month.
7. New York Knicks (48-27)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W vs NO, L at CHA, L at OKC
Offensive rating: 118.5 (third place)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (sixth place)
Frontier Award: Mikal Bridges
When it comes to being present, no one quite defines that like Bridges, a player who is eight seasons deep into the league and has yet to miss a single game. Bridges’ scoring dropped this year, but everything else improved while he fills his role as a well-compensated glue guy who plays a major role in allowing the Knicks to play some of the guard-heavy lineups they have. Hopefully, those lineups will continue to include Miles McBride, whose return to play was cut short in Sunday’s visit to Oklahoma City. The Knicks began this month with quality wins, but they came up empty this week.
8. Denver Nuggets (48-28)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: W at PHO, W vs DAL, W vs UTA, W vs GS
Offensive rating: 120.7 (first place)
Defensive rating: 116.0 (21st place)
Frontier Award: Jamal Murray
The Nuggets get a couple of days off, and they have no more back-to-backs. They’re also mostly healthy (except Aaron Gordon, who is now dealing with calf tightness) and on a six-game win streak, their longest in three months. Never mind the teams they played to get those wins, because their last loss was at Memphis. Win the games you can and should. I’m giving the award to first-time All-Star Murray here, because in his 10th NBA season, he was able to hit career bests in points, rebounds, assists, 3s and field goal and 3-point percentages while appearing in 70 games for the first time this decade. It was a necessary achievement, especially for a Denver team missing Nikola Jokić, Gordon, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson and Peyton Watson for as long as it did this season.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (45-29)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: W vs HOU, L vs DET
Offensive rating: 115.5 (12th place)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (eighth place)
Frontier Award: Julius Randle
You can say a lot about Randle’s shortcomings, and now would be a good time while he’s colder than Minnehaha Falls. But the one thing that must be noted is that he shows up to play. He hasn’t missed a Timberwolves game since the end of February 2025. Randle was responsible for the last seven points of Minnesota’s historic overtime comeback against the Rockets, and he’s leading Minnesota in assists as well. The Timberwolves need Anthony Edwards back, but Randle is a big reason why the floor doesn’t bottom out.
10. Houston Rockets (45-29)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: L at CHI, L at MIN, W at MEM, W at NO
Offensive rating: 116.6 (11th place)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (seventh place)
Frontier Award: Amen Thompson
The Rockets ended their road trip with wins at Memphis and New Orleans, but not before humiliating defeats at Chicago and Minnesota. Houston games are very exciting, because you can never be sure that a game is truly over. You’ve never seen a team blow a double-digit overtime lead until the Rockets did it last week. I feel the worst for Thompson, a wildly impactful player who shouldn’t have to be a team’s primary scorer or playmaker and might never be a shooter.
Toronto’s Scottie Barnes can affect the game in many ways. Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images
11. Toronto Raptors (42-32)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at UTA, L at LAC, W vs NO, W vs ORL
Offensive rating: 114.5 (16th place)
Defensive rating: 112.1 (fifth place)
Frontier Award: Scottie Barnes
Five years ago, in an otherwise forgettable season, the Tampa Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors by 53 points. That summer, the Raptors relocated back to Toronto and drafted Barnes. Now, Barnes was there leading his own 52-point Raptors win, this time against the Magic, to clinch a winning season for Toronto. Barnes isn’t the best scorer for the Raptors, but he’s clearly their best player with how he is able to impact the game.
12. Atlanta Hawks (42-33)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: W vs MEM, W at DET, L at BOS, W vs SAC
Offensive rating: 114.8 (14th place)
Defensive rating: 113.2 (11th place)
Frontier Award: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Another strong week for the Hawks, a team that hasn’t lost back-to-back games since the All-Star break. They found a quality win in Detroit as well. And they would not be in this position without Alexander-Walker, a player so good that Trae Young was traded and Zaccharie Risacher was moved to the second unit. Alexander-Walker was a celebrated free-agent transaction in the offseason, but he has somehow exceeded expectations and will be on many Most Improved Player ballots. He might wind up starting more games this season (65 through Week 23) than his previous six NBA seasons combined (68).
Tier 3: The Bubble13. Philadelphia 76ers (41-33)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L vs OKC, W vs CHI, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 114.5 (15th place)
Defensive rating: 114.8 (17th place)
Frontier Award: Tyrese Maxey
First of all, what glorious returns from Joel Embiid (from injury) and Paul George (suspension) against the Bulls: 157 points! I grew up in Philadelphia in the 1990s — 157 points was a good week for the pre-Iverson 76ers. But we are here because the most important return of all happened Saturday in Charlotte. I’m not talking about Kelly Oubre Jr., although he planted a daffodil on Moussa Diabate after he had 18 days off. I’m talking about Maxey, the Prince of the City, who came back after three weeks out and picked up right where he left off in leading a 15-point comeback in the Queen City. Massive win for the 76ers, who now get two weeks to possibly get in some kind of full-health rhythm before the playoffs begin while clinching the regular-season series against the Hornets in the process. Trust it!
14. Phoenix Suns (41-33)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L vs DEN, W vs UTA
Offensive rating: 114.3 (18th place)
Defensive rating: 112.9 (10th place)
Frontier Award: Collin Gillespie
After the five-in-seven schedule they had the previous week, the Suns could have used a three-day break. They were instead rewarded with a five-day break, as the Jazz came to visit. Gillespie’s jump shot took the night off Saturday, as he missed all eight shots (all 3s). He’s still been a revelation in Phoenix, making up for the early-season loss of Jalen Green while finally freeing Devin Booker from point guard duties. Think about the fact that he’s here starting, while former Sun Tyus Jones is in Denver, Gillespie’s original NBA team.
15. LA Clippers (39-36)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: W vs MIL, W vs TOR, W at IND, W at MIL
Offensive rating: 116.6 (10th place)
Defensive rating: 115.1 (19th place)
Frontier Award: Kris Dunn
For the first time all season, the Clippers are three games over .500 and are on track to finish a 15th straight season with a winning record. Last year, Dunn missed out on being eligible for All-Defensive teams despite playing in 74 games because he played 20 minutes in only 53 of them. Dunn has played in all 75 Clippers games so far and has played at least 20 in 73 of them, so he’s eligible this time around. Only Dunn, Cason Wallace and Dyson Daniels have at least 100 steals and more steals than turnovers this season.
16. Charlotte Hornets (39-36)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: W vs SAC, W vs NY, L vs PHI, L vs BOS
Offensive rating: 118.2 (fifth place)
Defensive rating: 113.8 (14th place)
Frontier Award: Kon Knueppel
Vibes hit a zenith in the Charlotte win against the Knicks. You had Brandon Miller dunking and finding DaBaby immediately! The statement ended there, though, as the Hornets blew a 15-point lead on the front end of the back-to-back against the 76ers and then got blown out on the back end by the shorthanded Celtics. Aside from that, Knueppel has fit the Hornets perfectly, establishing himself as arguably the greatest rookie shooter in NBA history while missing only one game all season.
17. Miami Heat (39-36)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: L vs SA, W at CLE, L at CLE, L at IND
Offensive rating: 114.9 (13th place)
Defensive rating: 112.8 (ninth place)
Frontier Award: Bam Adebayo
It’s gotta be Adebayo, who has remained a rock for a Miami team that had to start the season without Tyler Herro and has been missing at least one of Andrew Wiggins or All-Star Norman Powell all month. Adebayo didn’t just drop 83 points in a game; he does what Miami needs on both ends of the floor to make the game easier for his teammates. Unfortunately, that task has been much harder lately, as the Heat continued their descent into their annual spring Play-In Tournament destination by collapsing defensively yet again. The Heat have lost seven of eight games, the latest at Indiana, while allowing at least 130 points in five of those losses.
18. Orlando Magic (39-35)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: L vs IND, L at CLE, W vs SAC, L at TOR
Offensive rating: 114.3 (17th place)
Defensive rating: 114.2 (16th place)
Frontier Award: Desmond Bane
The vultures appear to be circling in Orlando, and if there’s one player who is familiar with that, it’s Bane. Last year, Bane was on a Memphis Grizzlies team that fired head coach Taylor Jenkins with nine games left in the season as they hurtled toward the Play-In. The Magic had just won seven games in a row, but they have undone that by losing seven of eight, with the lone win requiring clutch time against the visiting Kings before the first 50-point loss in franchise history. Don’t put this on Bane, though. The offseason trade acquisition has played in every game and delivered the advertised production while the rest of Orlando’s young core took turns missing double-digit games.
Portland’s Toumani Camara has been a reliable 3-and-D player all season. Soobum Im / Imagn Images
19. Portland Trail Blazers (38-38)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: W vs BRK, W vs MIL, L vs DAL, W vs WAS
Offensive rating: 112.7 (23rd place)
Defensive rating: 113.6 (12th place)
Frontier Award: Toumani Camara
Here’s the reality of the NBA: A lot of people love looking at strength of schedule and doing a lot of “analysis” based on that. But you have to still play these teams. The Trail Blazers had as cupcake a schedule as you could ask for last week. They went 3-1. On paper, that’s a good week. But, oh, how the Trail Blazers will regret their home loss to the Mavericks. They have the Clippers this week and next week, and they likely need to win both for any chance to pass them in the Play-In standings. The award here goes to Camara, a player who has shown up every night as a reliable 3-and-D wing in his third season out of Dayton. Camara has 17 games this season with at least four 3s, including a career-best nine makes against the Nets last Monday.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear20. Golden State Warriors (36-39)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: W at DAL, W vs BRK, W vs WAS, L at DEN
Offensive rating: 113.8 (19th place)
Defensive rating: 113.7 (13th place)
Frontier Award: Brandin Podziemski
The Warriors had themselves a nice cupcake week, and then they looked like they were ready to graduate with a quality road win in Denver when they led by double digits in the first half. Alas, they wound up getting steamrolled after halftime. Golden State gets two days off and a five-game homestand, and the Warriors don’t need to leave the state for the rest of the regular season. But unless Stephen Curry can come back in rhythm, this team is probably cooked. I will acknowledge the efforts of Podziemski, though, a player who is far too stretched as any kind of primary offensive hub but has done well to make himself a consistently available player who can do a variety of helpful things, including take more charges than anyone in the league not named Jalen Brunson or Marcus Smart.
21. Memphis Grizzlies (25-49)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: L at ATL, L vs SA, L vs HOU, W vs CHI
Offensive rating: 113.0 (22nd place)
Defensive rating: 117.1 (22nd place)
Frontier Award: Cedric Coward
I’ve been a fan of Coward all season, if nothing else, for being able to put a reasonable amount of games together following his final collegiate season ending because of left shoulder surgery. On Saturday against the Bulls, Coward finally had his first 20-point game since Jan. 11. Memphis did well to trade up to the lottery to get Coward in last year’s draft, and he should be a fixture on the wing while the Grizzlies rebuild.
22. Chicago Bulls (29-45)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: W vs HOU, L at PHI, L at OKC, L at MEM
Offensive rating: 112.5 (24th place)
Defensive rating: 117.2 (23rd place)
Frontier Award: Jalen Smith
Smith’s season is over due to a right calf strain that he struggled with this season. But the top-10 pick had a solid season for the Bulls, weaponizing his 3-point shot more than ever while adding strong defensive rebounding at forward and center. The Bulls will mercifully not be in this season’s Play-In and will instead focus on shenanigans such as their silly finish in Memphis.
23. Dallas Mavericks (24-50)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L vs GS, L at DEN, W at POR
Offensive rating: 110.1 (26th place)
Defensive rating: 114.9 (18th place)
Frontier Award: Dwight Powell
Powell turns 35 years old this summer, is in the final year of his contract and got to Dallas in the middle of a rookie season that saw him thrown into a Rajon Rondo trade back in 2014. This man is the last link to the Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks. We all know that player should be Luka Dončić, but, well, you know. Injuries to Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford left Powell starting 10 games this season, and this Mavericks team won seven of those 10 games. Salute!
24. Milwaukee Bucks (29-45)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L at LAC, L at POR, L vs SA, L vs LAC
Offensive rating: 111.9 (25th place)
Defensive rating: 118.2 (27th place)
Frontier Award: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Four years ago, I reintroduced my concept of “Playoff Purgatory,” which noted how any team in NBA history that had any stretch of five consecutive playoff appearances that did not result in a conference finals visit would miss the playoffs before they were to win a championship. There have been 23 instances of this phenomenon, and the Bucks (championship in 2021, early exits in four years since) were threatening to join it. But they missed the playoffs altogether this year, with Giannis only making it through 36 games. I appreciate Giannis for allowing me to bring up Playoff Purgatory in this spot. This Bucks season can’t end soon enough.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (25-51)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L at NY, L at DET, L at TOR, L vs HOU
Offensive rating: 113.2 (20th place)
Defensive rating: 117.5 (24th place)
Frontier Award: Dejounte Murray
That little spark the Pelicans had is gone, and now they’re on their longest losing streak in two months. That included a meek loss in Toronto, with Murray not participating on the second night of a back-to-back following a blowout loss at Detroit. Murray still gets the award for coming back from an Achilles tear and giving the Pelicans a sense of legitimate bite before this current five-game losing streak.
Tier 5: Basement Floor26. Indiana Pacers (17-58)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: W at ORL, L vs LAL, L vs LAC, W vs MIA
Offensive rating: 110.0 (28th place)
Defensive rating: 118.2 (26th place)
Frontier Award: Pascal Siakam
The Pacers have the most losses in the NBA. But they have an All-Star in Pascal Siakam, which was part appreciation for his possessed playoff run from last year and part acknowledgment for toiling through this gap season for Indiana. This was by far the best week for the Pacers since the All-Star break, as they found ways to compete with the Southern California teams while beating the Florida teams. Siakam was right there in the midst of both wins, dropping at least 30 points in each.
27. Brooklyn Nets (18-57)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L at POR, L at GS, L at LAL, W vs SAC
Offensive rating: 108.7 (30th place)
Defensive rating: 117.8 (25th place)
Frontier Award: Day’Ron Sharpe
Despite their best efforts, Brooklyn finished the week with a win, beating the Kings despite not playing Ziaire Williams at all and not having starters Nicolas Claxton, Noah Clowney or Terance Mann play in the fourth quarter. There aren’t many worthy candidates for the Nets, but Sharpe is the choice for how much better the Nets were defensively when the steady backup center was on the floor this season.
28. Washington Wizards (17-57)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: W at UTA, L at GS, L at POR
Offensive rating: 109.5 (29th place)
Defensive rating: 120.7 (29th place)
Frontier Award: Tre Johnson
The Wizards hope this is the last of their rebuilding seasons, given the presence of Trae Young and Anthony Davis on the roster. But this year was littered with the current young corps being thrown out there in the name of development. I’ll acknowledge the youngest of those players here in Johnson, who just turned 20 this month. He was drafted to do what none of the young Wizards could do last season, and that’s shoot. For the most part, Johnson has been acceptable, making 36.4 percent of his 3s despite beginning his rookie season as a teenager.
29. Sacramento Kings (19-57)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L at CHA, L at ORL, L at ATL, L at BRK
Offensive rating: 110.1 (27th place)
Defensive rating: 120.3 (28th place)
Frontier Award: Killian Hayes
Hayes was brought to Sacramento as a certified tank commander based on his time in Detroit. But he has come in and won seven of his 17 games, including two of his three starts. The Kings were sure not to start Hayes against the Nets again like they did the previous Sunday, securing a winless week.
30. Utah Jazz (21-54)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L vs TOR, L vs WAS, L at DEN, L at PHO
Offensive rating: 113.0 (21st place)
Defensive rating: 120.8 (30th place)
Frontier Award: Blake Hinson
The Jazz have won three games since the All-Star break. All of them came with two-way contract Hinson on the roster, highlighted by a game-winner against the Warriors 20 days ago. Hinson hasn’t played in consecutive games since. Is it because he’s too good for the tank? I think he’s too good for the tank. Hinson has hit multiple 3s in 10 of his 11 NBA games, and he dropped 21 points on the Wizards in 11 minutes, a game that saw the Jazz get outscored by 38 points in the minutes Hinson was off the floor. Let me repeat: The Jazz were outscored by 38 points for the majority of a game at home against the Wizards.