2026–27 NBA Power Rankings: Best Teams Entering the New Season

The 2026-27 NBA season is set to kick off after an eventful offseason in which top contenders retooled their rosters. Some teams hit the reset button for a rebuild while others bet on continuity, hoping to recapture the magic that carried them to a title. But only one team can finish the season on top. Here is how we expect the league to shake out.

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2026-27 NBA Power Rankings

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (2025-26 record: 64-18)

Oklahoma City posted a league-best 64-18 record and reached the Western Conference Finals last season before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in a thrilling seven-game series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the back-to-back MVP, nearly carried the Thunder to a title by himself, but injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell proved too much to overcome.

The Thunder lost valuable rotation pieces in Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, along with longtime starter Luguentz Dort. They re-signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year deal and added front-court depth by drafting 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara out of Michigan. Oklahoma City’s ability to reload through the draft while staying financially flexible remains its biggest edge. It’s close, but a two-time MVP still in his prime gives OKC the regular-season edge and another shot at the Finals.

2. San Antonio Spurs (2025-26 record: 62-20)

At the start of last season, most around the league expected San Antonio to enter the playoff picture. No one expected a trip to the Finals. Victor Wembanyama, the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, became a household name. His historic playoff run led San Antonio past their new rivals in Oklahoma City in a seven-game Western Conference finals. Dylan Harper turned in a sensational rookie season and an even more impressive playoff run. Stephon Castle quarterbacked the offense with maturity beyond his years, and Julian Champagnie kept knocking down big threes to keep San Antonio in games.

The Spurs’ biggest offseason advantage may simply be another year of development. Another year of growth from Wembanyama, Castle and Harper should make the team better on its own. Still, they added veteran scorer Tobias Harris, who averaged 18 points a game for Detroit in last year’s playoffs, to help during scoring droughts. They also drafted Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance, who will likely miss much of the season recovering from an ACL injury, and acquired UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. in a draft night trade with Denver, a strong rebounder who should let Wembanyama roam more freely on defense.

The West’s path almost certainly runs through Oklahoma City or San Antonio, and if the Spurs build on their Finals run, the rest of the league is in trouble for a long time.

3. New York Knicks (2025-26 record: 53-29)

Few outside the tri-state area believed in the Knicks as champions at the beginning of last season. They capped a magical season with their first championship since 1973, ending a 53-year title drought. Jalen Brunson cemented his status as a New York legend, scoring 45 points in the title-clinching Game 5 and earning Finals MVP honors.

New York lost just three games total during the playoff run, often blowing out opponents. Moving Karl-Anthony Towns into the offensive hub unlocked a new dimension, but in the end, it still came down to putting the ball in Brunson’s hands. The Knicks bring back their entire starting five for 2026-27. They lost Mitchell Robinson, who logged big minutes in the playoffs, but replaced him with Andre Drummond. They also re-signed Finals contributors Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet.

Some regression is natural for a defending champion in today’s NBA, but New York should still rank among the East’s top teams with as good a shot as any to return to the Finals.

4. Boston Celtics (2025-26 record: 56-26)

Boston had one of the most pivotal offseasons in franchise history, trading Jaylen Brown to division rival Philadelphia for Paul George in a move largely seen as necessary to avoid second-apron penalties. George no longer has the same explosiveness he once did and will play in support of Jayson Tatum, who now takes over fully as Boston’s No. 1 option.

The Celtics are betting on a young core of two-way role players. Center Neemias Queta had a solid first season as a starter and gets more front court help with the addition of Mitchell Robinson. Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Payton Pritchard and Hugo Gonzalez are counted on to form one of the league’s best bench units. Boston also needs a bounce-back year from Derrick White, who shot just 33% from three, his lowest mark in four years. Even in a down year, he still made first-team all-defense and finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

The biggest question is Tatum’s health. He returned less than a year after tearing his Achilles, averaging nearly 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and 1.4 steals in 16 games. However, a calf and knee injury sidelined him for Game 7 of Boston’s first-round series against Philadelphia. If Tatum returns to first-team All-NBA form, the Celtics have title upside.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (2025-26 record: 49-33)

Minnesota had a busy offseason, trading Julius Randle in a cost-cutting move and dealing fan favorite Naz Reid in a franchise-altering trade for point guard LaMelo Ball from Charlotte. The Timberwolves were bounced from the second round fairly easily by San Antonio last season, and one glaring need was offensive playmaking beyond Anthony Edwards.

Ball, who can score at all three levels and facilitate at a high rate, addresses that directly. Minnesota’s backcourt depth is among the league’s best: Edwards is an All-NBA talent, Donte DiVincenzo played all 82 games while shooting 38 percent from three and Ayo Dosunmu, acquired at the deadline, dropped 43 in the opening series against Denver. Minnesota also landed a potential draft steal in Duke guard Isaiah Evans, who joins one of the league’s best guard rooms to learn from.

The front court raises more questions. Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels are first-team all-defense caliber players, and McDaniels found a new offensive level last season, averaging 15 points on 41 percent three-point shooting. But they need Jonathan Kuminga to reach his ceiling, as he adds valuable depth at power forward.

With San Antonio and Oklahoma City looking far ahead of the rest of the conference, Minnesota has work to do, but should again be one of the West’s top contenders.

6. Philadelphia 76ers (2025-26 record: 45-37)

It’s a good time to be a Sixers fan. After beating Boston in the playoffs for the first time in decades, Philadelphia flamed out in the conference semifinals, but the ascension of Tyrese Maxey, an excellent rookie season from VJ Edgecombe and flashes of greatness from Joel Embiid signaled the championship window remains open.

Philadelphia is all in. They made one of the offseason’s biggest moves, trading Paul George and draft picks for Jaylen Brown, who was fresh off a second-team All-NBA season. That alone would have made the Sixers a top East contender, but they went further and signed LeBron James in free agency. Philadelphia may be one of the most talked about teams in the league given the star power. Every loss will fuel the skepticism that this won’t work. But as it stands now, this is a roster loaded with elite talent that is a tough matchup if the stars align.

7. Denver Nuggets (2025-26 record: 54-28)

Denver rode another historic season from Nikola Jokic but was upset in the first round by a shorthanded Minnesota team. The Nuggets will be among the West’s best simply because of Jokic, but they need more from the supporting cast to climb higher. The health of Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon will make the difference. Denver’s biggest loss in the offseason was forward Peyton Watson, who got caught up in the team’s tight salary-cap situation and was dealt to the Cavaliers.

They added DeMar DeRozan in free agency for second-unit scoring, and Marvin Bagley III could see valuable minutes when Jokic rests. Denver also drafted Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile, a 6-foot-10 forward who could find a rotation role this season. But this team will go only as far as Jokic can take them.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (2025-26 record: 52-30)

No team is going for it financially quite like Cleveland, which carries one of the NBA’s largest payrolls. If it doesn’t work out this season, a roster rethink may be in order. James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen carried Cleveland to the conference finals and a 22-point lead late in Game 1, but New York erased it and swept the rest of the series. Cleveland landed one of the offseason’s biggest steals, signing Peyton Watson to a four-year deal in a sign-and-trade with Denver.

Watson now steps into a starting role on a team with title aspirations and could become a key piece of Cleveland’s future core if a reset is needed after this season. There is a lot of variance with this team, but on paper it could end up representing the East in the Finals.

9. Detroit Pistons (2025-26 record: 60-22)

Detroit shocked the basketball world by claiming the East’s No. 1 seed, powered by an All-Star season from Cade Cunningham, who established himself as one of the NBA’s best point guards. Jalen Duren finished third-team All-NBA, and Ausar Thompson made first-team all-defense and placed third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Detroit narrowly beat the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in round one before falling to Cleveland in a Game 7 conference semifinal.

A turbulent offseason followed, with contract talks around Duren, who struggled in the postseason, souring what had been a promising year. Detroit re-signed and extended Thompson to his rookie max, brought in Isaiah Joe and John Collins, but lost Tobias Harris. Repeating as a No. 1 seed will be difficult in a deeper East, but another playoff run is expected.

10. Miami Heat (2025-26 record: 43-39)

Miami made one of the offseason’s biggest additions, trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and his former teammate Bobby Portis. In exchange, the Heat sent Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis and three first-round picks to Milwaukee. Giannis now pairs with Bam Adebayo to form one of the league’s most formidable front courts. Miami also signed sharpshooters Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson.

Given how strong the East is, a Finals run would be a shock even with Antetokounmpo’s star power, but Giannis and Bam can elevate an otherwise patchwork roster into the playoffs.

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11. Houston Rockets (2025-26 record: 52-30)

Houston finished as the fifth seed last season, but an injury to Kevin Durant right as the playoffs began sank its first-round hopes. All year, the absence of Fred VanVleet at point guard was seen as the team’s Achilles’ heel, since Houston lacked a true court organizer.

With VanVleet back, Durant healthy and the young core of Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard intact, Houston should be firmly back in the mix. They added defense in the backcourt with Marcus Smart and scoring with Bogdan Bogdanovic, but the hope rests on the young core taking another leap while the veterans provide steady presence.

12. Toronto Raptors (2025-26 record: 46-36)

Toronto put together an impressive 2025-26 season, improving by 16 games and finishing fifth in defensive rating thanks to Scottie Barnes, who made second-team all-defense and finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Toronto made one of the offseason’s biggest moves, trading Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick to the Clippers to reunite with Kawhi Leonard, who had a more eventful year off the court than on it, but still earned All-NBA Second Team honors.

Leonard and Barnes give Toronto one of the strongest wing combinations in the league. The Raptors added Santa Clara forward Allen Graves to fill the shooting void left by Dick’s departure and drafted Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley, a guard out of Arizona who should see second-unit minutes.

13. Los Angeles Lakers (2025-26 record: 53-29)

It’s a new era in Los Angeles as the LeBron James chapter closes and the roster shifts fully into Luka Doncic’s hands. The Lakers’ offseason focus was building around Doncic’s strengths. They re-signed Austin Reaves, who posted a career year, signed center Walker Kessler to a four-year deal to anchor the front court and signed Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes to a four-year deal and Collin Sexton to a two-year deal, among one of the most complete roster overhauls in the league.

Los Angeles is hoping Kessler proves to be the player his early trajectory suggests and that Reaves can sustain last year’s scoring efficiency, but there’s plenty of work ahead in a stacked Western Conference.

14. Atlanta Hawks (2025-26 record: 46-36)

Jalen Johnson’s leap vaulted Atlanta into the sixth seed a year ago, where they lost Game 1, won Games 2 and 3 to take the lead, then lost three straight to end their season. For Atlanta to vault into the top of the East, they need another step forward from Johnson, as well as from Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu.

The Hawks brought back CJ McCollum and traded for Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins from Oklahoma City for wing depth. Atlanta isn’t a favorite to come out of the East but has enough talent to make noise.

15. Orlando Magic (2025-26 record: 45-37)

It was a disappointing season for Orlando, which gave up four first-round picks for Desmond Bane to pair with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, only to fall to the eighth seed and blow a 3-1 series lead in the first round to Detroit. Injuries and inconsistent play from the young stars sapped momentum from what looked like a new chapter. The same core runs it back in 2026-27, and for this team to meaningfully compete, its stars will need to stay healthy and improve on last year.

16. Indiana Pacers (2025-26 record: 19-63)

The Pacers were one of the league’s worst teams last season without Tyrese Haliburton, who was still recovering from the Achilles injury suffered in the 2025 Finals. Indiana has the ability to make the biggest leap of anyone on this list, bringing back most of the team that reached the Finals two years ago, adding Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. and getting a full season from Ivica Zubac, who arrived from the Clippers at February’s deadline.

If Haliburton returns to form, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith take another step and Pascal Siakam proves he’s still an All-Star caliber player, Indiana could surprise many and make a deeper playoff run than expected.

17. Charlotte Hornets (2025-26 record: 44-38)

Charlotte put together one of its best seasons in years, ultimately falling in the play-in tournament. Fourth overall pick Kon Knueppel established himself as a core piece, and Brandon Miller posted a career year averaging 20 points a game.

This offseason was about moving on from longtime franchise pieces. Charlotte dealt LaMelo Ball to Minnesota for Naz Reid, improving front-court depth at center and power forward, and traded Miles Bridges to Phoenix for Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale. This is a much different-looking Hornets team, and after a step forward last year, another one may be harder to come by as the bottom of the East grows more competitive.

18. Portland Trail Blazers (2025-26 record: 42-40)

The Blazers improved by six games and made the playoffs before a five-game first-round loss to San Antonio, but got promising results from younger players.

Deni Avdija had a career year, averaging 24 points, seven rebounds and nearly seven assists en route to an All-Star appearance. Shaedon Sharpe averaged 21 points and 1.5 steals a game, and Donovan Clingan led the league in offensive rebounds per game while averaging a double-double. Portland also got flashes from Scoot Henderson and had six players averaging double figures overall.

The Blazers took the ultimate flyer this season in Ja Morant, whose tenure in Memphis fell apart last season. A dramatic leap seems unlikely given how strong the top of the West is, but another playoff appearance is firmly in the cards.

19. Dallas Mavericks (2025-26 record: 26-56)

In their first full season without Luka Doncic, the Mavericks began the Cooper Flagg era and there was plenty of reason to be excited. Flagg won Rookie of the Year, averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists, and made clear he’ll be one of the league’s future stars.

Under new coach Dusty May, formerly of Michigan, Dallas drafted Morez Johnson Jr., an excellent defensive player who should pair well with Flagg, at ninth overall, and expects him to be a valuable rotation piece. In the offseason Dallas also traded for Santi Aldama, an excellent front-court player in Memphis in recent years, and for former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, who could find new footing in a new environment. Dallas will be competing for a play-in spot.

20. Washington Wizards (2025-26 record: 17-65)

Washington has been a revolving door for player acquisitions in recent years, but the roster finally appears to be settling. The Wizards traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis in the middle of last season, and if both stay healthy, they remain premier talents. Washington also added Deandre Ayton, Tre Mann and Khris Middleton, but the biggest acquisition was No. 1 overall pick, AJ Dybantsa.

Dybantsa proved to be one of the most versatile players in college basketball last season, drawing comparisons to Kawhi Leonard and carrying an All-NBA caliber ceiling. He gets the benefit of playing alongside multiple All-Stars who can take pressure off him as he adjusts to the league. Washington should make a drastic improvement on last year’s 17-65 record and could push for one of the East’s lower playoff seeds.

21. Golden State Warriors (2025-26 record: 37-45)

Golden State had high hopes of riding the experience of Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry into a playoff run, but neither played more than 45 games, and the Warriors missed the playoffs entirely. For Golden State to compete for a title again, Curry and Butler need to stay healthy for a full season.

If they do, the addition of Kristaps Porzingis gives them a front-court option they haven’t had in years, and Yaxel Lendeborg, drafted 11th overall as one of the older and more NBA-ready prospects, should contribute right away. Still, plenty needs to break right for Golden State to make a real run this season.

22. Phoenix Suns (2025-26 record: 45-37)

Phoenix had no expectations entering last season but snuck into the eighth seed before falling to Oklahoma City in the first round. Devin Booker put together another All-Star season, Dillon Brooks had a career year, Jalen Green averaged nearly 18 points a game and Collin Gillespie came out of nowhere to be a valuable offensive quarterback. Even with the trade for Miles Bridges adding explosiveness up front and Luke Kennard providing solid three-point shooting, Phoenix still isn’t at the point of being a championship contender.

23. Utah Jazz (2025-26 record: 22-60)

The story of the Jazz season may be landing a draft steal in Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, considered the best pure scorer in this draft class and now a focal point of Utah’s unproven but high upside offense. They traded for Jaren Jackson, Jr. at the deadline last year, Keyonte George took a major leap and Lauri Markkanen was an All-Star caliber player.

Utah brought in Josh Okogie and Josh Green for two-way veteran depth, and the hope is that last year’s No. 5 pick, Ace Bailey, builds on his 14 points a game to make this an intriguing group that could surprise and push for a play-in spot.

24. Chicago Bulls (2025-26 record: 31-51)

With the fourth pick in this year’s draft, Chicago landed one of the most promising prospects available in Caleb Wilson, a 6-foot-10 forward out of North Carolina who lit up Summer League and was viewed by many as having the highest ceiling in the draft class. He joins a team that missed the playoffs but showed flashes of potential. Josh Giddey finished just shy of a triple-double average with 17 points, nine assists and 8.3 rebounds a game. Matas Buzelis averaged 16 points, six rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

Chicago picked up Nic Claxton, who had languished in Brooklyn but is a strong front-court player, and Norm Powell, who has strung together good seasons in Toronto, the Clippers and Miami and will provide veteran scoring punch. If the rookie forward exceeds expectations even slightly, Chicago could be a big climber and compete for a playoff spot.

25. LA Clippers (2025-26 record: 42-40)

The Clippers’ offseason was dominated by off-court drama, including a salary-cap circumvention investigation into Kawhi Leonard that ultimately led to his trade for Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick. The Clippers have entered rebuild mode as the Leonard and Paul George era ends. Ingram joins Rui Hachimura, Kris Dunn, Dick and fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler.

The fallout from the league’s investigation cost the Clippers five future first-round picks, making for a turbulent stretch as the team looks to build toward a future run once those picks return, starting with developing its young talent into the right fit to contend again.

26. New Orleans Pelicans (2025-26 record: 26-56)

New Orleans missed the playoffs for a second straight season and fired coach Willie Green, entering 2026–27 under new coach Jamahl Mosley. Much of the roster returns, with Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray, who missed most of last season recovering from an Achilles injury, forming the core. New Orleans traded for AJ Johnson and signed Bennedict Mathurin to add scoring depth. Without a marquee addition, the Pelicans are banking on their once-promising young core finally delivering, or a rebuild may be next.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (2025-26 record: 25-57)

Memphis begins a new era by trading away Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., who along with Desmond Bane were once seen as the franchise’s future. The new era starts with top prospect Cameron Boozer, towering center Zach Edey and a wave of new additions in Jerami Grant, Jordan Hawkins, Quinten Post, D’Angelo Russell and Isaiah Stewart.

Boozer was considered one of the safest prospects in this year’s draft and, with no real expectations on this roster, will get room to find his footing as the next face of a Memphis rebuild.

28. Brooklyn Nets (2025-26 record: 20-62)

Brooklyn finished 20-62 last season, struggling to compete in an East without a bona fide star. Michael Porter Jr. had his best season as the offensive focal point, but this wasn’t a roster built to contend, and the story is largely the same heading into the new year. Porter is joined by Julius Randle, acquired via trade, and Keon Ellis, who signed a two-year deal, but losing Nic Claxton hurts the team’s center depth. Brooklyn again looks to be in rebuild mode, this time led by sixth overall pick Mikel Brown, Jr., a Louisville guard, as the next hope for the franchise’s return to relevance.

29. Milwaukee Bucks (2025-26 record: 32-50)

After finally trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee has pressed the shiny red rebuild button. The Bucks got back Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis, along with a haul of draft picks, each player carrying some potential. Still, it’s hard to see this team competing meaningfully this season. The best path forward may be developing what they have while looking for a future star. As part of the rebuild, Milwaukee drafted former Arizona guard Brayden Burries, a guard who can contribute right away as the franchise figures out its next chapter.

30. Sacramento Kings (2025-26 record: 22-60)

It wasn’t long ago the purple beam lit up the Sacramento sky regularly, but it has all fallen apart quickly. The team finished 28th in net rating and a meaningful step forward is hard to envision. Sacramento is hoping Domantas Sabonis can stay healthy for a full season, De’Andre Hunter provides value on the wing and Keegan Murray rediscovers the promise he showed a few years ago. They are also hoping they’ve landed their next franchise star in rookie point guard Darius Acuff, Jr. And then there is the flyer on Ben Simmons. If everything falls into place, Sacramento could climb a few spots and push for a play-in berth, but that’s far from a sure thing.

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