We are just a day away from opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season, as 30 franchises begin their basketball journey with various degrees of hope.
The 
Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending champions after beating the 
Indiana Pacers in a thrilling seven-game series to win their first-ever NBA title.
In the era of the second apron, it’s harder than ever for franchises to build dynasties, meaning that plenty of teams will enter this season, believing they can knock off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company.
But which squads are pretenders, which are contenders, and who’s already tanking? GIVEMESPORT has decided to provide you with all of those answers before tip-off. Here is our ranking of all 30 NBA squads heading into the 2025-26 season.
The Tankers
30. Brooklyn Nets
29. Washington Wizards
28. Utah Jazz
These are the teams in full rebuild mode that are not expected to win more than 20 games this year. The 
Brooklyn Nets subsequently used all five of their first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, with many of them coming under heavy scrutiny.
That class will go a long way toward determining how soon this franchise can dig itself out of the Eastern Conference cellar. Meanwhile, the 
Washington Wizards and 
Utah Jazz have some encouraging young talent on the roster.
Alexandre Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington are a trio to keep an eye on going forward, while Cam Whitmore could be a candidate for Most Improved Player this season.
In Utah, Brice Sensabaugh is one of the most underrated young players in the league, while rookie forward Ace Bailey is already turning heads.
Nevertheless, despite some optimism here and there, these three basement dwellers have understandably low expectations.
Historically Injured rosters with Intriguing Upside
27. Phoenix Suns
26. Charlotte Hornets
25. Toronto Raptors
These three franchises are a mess, but still have some All-Star-level talent at their disposal. The 
Phoenix Suns are coming off a dismal 2024-25 campaign.
Devin Booker now leads a team with a surplus of shooting guards and very little depth in the rest of the rotation. Out East, the 
Charlotte Hornets and 
Toronto Raptors are led by young All-Stars ( LaMelo Ball and Scottie Barnes), who could be among the best players in the conference should they stay healthy.
Toronto especially needs a good season, considering its limited financial flexibility going forward. Overall, it would be a stretch if any of these teams made the Play-In, let alone the NBA Playoffs.
Play-In At Best Squads
24. New Orleans Pelicans
23. Sacramento Kings
22. Chicago Bulls
21. Portland Trail Blazers
We were considering putting the 
New Orleans Pelicans in the group above, but this roster’s youthful talent, along with a hopefully in-shape and healthy Zion Williamson, could have this franchise returning to the Play-In.
Even though swapping CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole at point guard is certainly a boom-or-bust risk. Meanwhile, the 
Sacramento Kings have one of the best centers in the league in Domantas Sabonis, but there are a lot of questions about this team outside of him, especially on defense.
Despite the turnover they recently underwent, the 
Chicago Bulls found themselves once again in the Play-In, and Coby White and company have the potential to return exactly to where last season ended.
Lastly, the 
Portland Trail Blazers should continue turning a corner under head coach Chauncey Billups. Adding Jrue Holiday only raises this team’s floor, and Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara are two of the most exciting young wings in the Western Conference.
Teams that Could Surprise or Implode
20. Miami Heat
19. Philadelphia 76ers
18. Indiana Pacers
17. Boston Celtics
16. Milwaukee Bucks
We have no idea whether three of these five Eastern Conference teams should be tanking or trying to win now. As for the 
Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, both of these powerhouses are in a gap year phase with their superstars, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, recovering from Achilles’ tears.
The 
Miami Heat added Norman Powell this offseason, but All-Star guard Tyler Herro is set to miss some time after ankle surgery. Bam Adebayo is in desperate need of a bounce-back season after a poor campaign by his standards.
Unfortunately, Miami has dropped in the Eastern Conference hierarchy since trading Jimmy Butler III away, even though its hand was clearly forced. Speaking of awful seasons, the 
Philadelphia 76ers were the NBA’s greatest disappointment in 2024.
It’s unclear whether we will ever see prime Joel Embiid ever again, while Paul George currently has one of the worst contracts in the league.
Fortunately, Tyrese Maxey is still on this squad and No. 3 overall pick V.J. Edgecombe has already impressed with his blazing speed and dynamic athleticism.
Lastly, the 
Milwaukee Bucks have the best player in the Eastern Conference, but still seem very far away from contending for anything.
Adding Myles Turner in free agency helps Giannis Antetokounmpo, but considering this team’s guard situation, winning a playoff series is pretty unlikely.
Can Win a Playoff Series
15. Detroit Pistons
14. Atlanta Hawks
13. Memphis Grizzlies
12. San Antonio Spurs
All of these teams should expect to make the playoffs, and some will look to even improve on that front. The 
Detroit Pistons justifiably will have a lot of belief in themselves after pushing the 
New York Knicks to the brink.
Cade Cunningham is a budding superstar in this league, but he lost several key veterans this offseason, which is why we have the 
Atlanta Hawks in front of Detroit.
Quin Snyder’s team has a dangerous mix of high-upside young talent and reliable veterans like Kristaps Porzingis (when healthy), Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard. Jalen Johnson is certainly a potential first-time All-Star if he can stay healthy this season.
Out West, the 
Memphis Grizzlies are looking to climb back up the conference ladder, and need their best player, Ja Morant, to play like the MVP candidate he once was.
But even with Memphis’ experience, the 
San Antonio Spurs are the most formidable dark-horse team in the league, given their top-end ceiling with Victor Wembanyama.
If the transcendent center can stay on the floor like he did in his rookie year, he will make his first postseason appearance.
Dark-Horse Contenders
11. Dallas Mavericks
10. Orlando Magic
9. Los Angeles Clippers
8. Golden State Warriors
7. Los Angeles Lakers
Are any of these teams likely to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy? Probably not, but the same thing could’ve been said about the Indiana Pacers last year, and look how close they came to shocking the world.
The 
Dallas Mavericks are the most mysterious team in the league, considering Kyrie Irving‘s recovery from an ACL, Anthony Davis’ questionable durability, and Cooper Flagg’s readiness to make an instant impact.
If this Big 3 is together for enough time to build chemistry, Jason Kidd’s team could be a nightmare matchup for any of the Western Conference contenders.
On the coast, the 
Los Angeles Clippers, 
L.A. Lakers, and 
Golden State Warriors all have their roster flaws and heavily rely on aging superstars. Yet, these three veteran-laden squads should be in the mix this season.
There is, of course, the dark cloud of the Kawhi Leonard salary-cap circumvention scandal hanging over Steve Ballmer’s franchise.
As for the 
Orlando Magic, adding Desmond Bane will solve a lot of this team’s shooting woes. Still, Paolo Banchero will need to take a superstar-sized jump for this franchise to challenge the top two teams in the East at full strength.
Title Contenders
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. New York Knicks
3. Houston Rockets
These franchises have every right to call themselves championship or bust squads. The 
Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off two straight Western Conference Finals appearances and have the potential future face of the league, Anthony Edwards.
Meanwhile, the 
Cleveland Cavaliers return their core players for year two under Kenny Atkinson after a 64-win campaign.
The New York Knicks have a new head coach in Mike Brown, but this franchise added to its depth over the offseason after making its first Conference Finals in 25 years.
Another year of continuity in the Big Apple, specifically more defensive consistency from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and offensive consistency from OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, and this roster can compete with anyone.
Lastly, the 
Houston Rockets are the only team from this group to lose in the first round, but head coach Ime Udoka has two of the brightest stars in the league, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengün, now alongside all-time great forward Kevin Durant.
That being said, losing Fred VanVleet for the season could be a damaging blow to the Rockets’ championship hopes.
Title Favorites
2. Denver Nuggets
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The NBA may not be as top-heavy as in the past, but heading into this season, two teams currently stand above the rest. The Oklahoma City Thunder still have one of the youngest rosters in the league after winning 68 games and their first NBA championship.
And one of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company’s biggest roadblocks last year was the 
Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the world, and his franchise has finally added to its depth with players like Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown, and Tim Hardaway Jr..
Cameron Johnson is also expected to be an upgrade over Michael Porter Jr. as this team’s third option. Time will tell whether everything comes together on the basketball court, but as we head into this NBA season, the Nuggets are the largest threat to an OKC repeat.