With the first week of the NBA season in the books, we re-evaluate the top teams in the league. The Wolves are rising after bouncing back from their opening loss to the Lakers.
Alright, NBA fans, it’s time for the second edition of our weekly power rankings, where we separate the contenders from the pretenders. Unlike last week, where everything was based on preseason hype and roster talk, we actually have some basketball to evaluate now. Of course, it’s still early in the season, and records don’t tell the whole story. One bad night can skew the standings, and one hot shooting streak can make a mediocre team look like world-beaters. So while we’re considering how teams have performed on the court, we’re also keeping the big picture in mind—balancing what we know about these squads with what we’ve actually seen so far.
With that in mind, let’s get into the rankings, focusing on the top 12 teams that have either met expectations, exceeded them, or are still finding their footing.
1. Boston Celtics (3-0) – Last Week’s Ranking: 1
It’s business as usual for the defending champs. The Celtics kicked off the season by steamrolling the Knicks on the night they raised banner #18. They followed that up with wins over the Wizards and a gritty nail-biter in Detroit. Until someone knocks them off the pedestal, they remain the league’s gold standard.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) – Last Week’s Ranking: 2
The Thunder hit the ground running, and it’s hard to find any flaws in their start. Their opening night rout of the Nuggets on the road was a statement game if there ever was one. They didn’t stop there, dismantling the Bulls in Chicago and then edging out a tough win against Atlanta. Right now, OKC is looking every bit like the West’s top dog.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-1) – Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Yes, we’re bumping the Wolves up to No. 3, even if it feels a bit like a homer move. Their season-opening loss to the Lakers was ugly—no denying that. The team appeared out of sync while incorporating the new additions of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, and they struggled to find any rhythm. But then the Wolves eked out a gritty road win in Sacramento, where Randle and Anthony Edwards both went off for 30-plus. The momentum carried into their home opener, where they manhandled the Raptors. Tuesday’s matchup against Dallas will be the real litmus test for whether the team can keep up its positive momentum.
4. Phoenix Suns (2-1) – Last Week’s Ranking: 8
Phoenix has come out of the gate hot, with two impressive wins over the Clippers and Mavericks. Their lone blemish was a road loss to the Lakers, which—let’s be honest—seems to be a pattern up here in the top 5. Under new head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Suns look more cohesive than the squad that got swept out of the playoffs last season. It feels like this team is on the verge of a real breakthrough.
5. Dallas Mavericks (1-1) – Last Week’s Ranking: 3
The Mavs kicked things off with a solid win over the Spurs, and the much-hyped Victor Wembanyama. However, they couldn’t keep that momentum going, falling to the Suns in Phoenix and earning them this spot in the rankings. Still, let’s not forget that this is the same Dallas team that bulldozed its way to the NBA Finals last year. We’ll learn a lot more when they visit Minneapolis on Tuesday for a rematch with the Timberwolves.
6. New York Knicks (1-1) – Last Week’s Ranking: 6
The Knicks got their doors blown off on opening night by the Celtics, but who didn’t see that coming? I mean, facing Boston while they’re raising a banner is like playing a video game on the hardest difficulty. They rebounded nicely with a blowout win over the Pacers, avenging their 2024 playoff loss in the process. Next up are games against the Cavaliers and Heat, which should give us a better sense of where they stand in the East.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (3-0) – Last Week’s Ranking: Not Ranked
Raise your hand if you had the Lakers starting the first week of the season undefeated. Exactly. The Lakers took down the Wolves, Suns, and Kings to kick off their campaign and did it all without having to leave Los Angeles. It’s easy to get carried away, but let’s see how they handle their first road game against the Suns before we start buying Lakers stock.
8. Denver Nuggets (0-2) – Last Week’s Ranking: 5
The Nuggets have stumbled out of the gates, and it’s not a good look. They lost their home opener to the Thunder in blowout fashion and then followed that up with a loss to a Clippers squad missing Kawhi Leonard. There are whispers about issues between coach Mike Malone and the front office, and the team just doesn’t look like the same force that won it all in 2023. Still, any team with Nikola Jokić deserves the benefit of the doubt—at least for now.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers (3-0) – Last Week’s Ranking: Not Ranked
The Cavs are one of the season’s early surprises, starting 3-0 with wins over some of the East’s lower-tier teams (Raptors, Pistons, Wizards). No one’s throwing a parade for beating up on the little guys, but an undefeated record is an undefeated record. The schedule gets tougher soon, so we’ll see if they can keep this up.
10. Memphis Grizzlies (2-1) – Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Everyone’s sleeper pick is off to a decent start, but there are still questions. Wins over the Jazz and Magic are nice, but the 20-point drubbing by the Rockets was a reminder that Memphis is still figuring things out. They’re healthy, and Ja Morant is back from suspension, but consistency will be key if they want to climb higher.
11. Orlando Magic (2-1) – Last Week’s Ranking: 12
The Magic won their first two games, including a solid victory over the Nets, before falling to Memphis. There’s plenty of optimism surrounding this young squad, with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner continuing to develop. They’re probably a year away from really making noise, but they’re going to be a tough out for anyone.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (1-2) – Last Week’s Ranking: 7
The Sixers haven’t exactly inspired confidence out of the gate, dropping games to the Bucks and Raptors before finally picking up a win against the Pacers. Adjusting to the addition of Paul George will take some time, but the upcoming stretch against four straight Western Conference teams could make or break them early.
Teams that Dropped Off
Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) – Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Indiana Pacers (1-2) – Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Wrapping Up
There you have it, folks—completely subjective, totally debatable, and open to all kinds of arguments. Do you think the Wolves deserve the 3 spot? Are we overhyping the Lakers’ hot start? Should we have put the 2-1 Clippers or Warriors on the list? Let’s hear it in the comments.