With the 2024-25 regular season underway, our latest NBA power rankings offer an evaluation of all 30 clubs in the association. Along with an appraisal of every squad around the association, stay up to date with the upcoming slate of games on the NBA schedule and see who are the 50 best NBA players in the new season.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at where every NBA team ranks right now.
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The 10 worst NBA teams right now
30. Washington Wizards (Last Week: 28)
Even with new head coach Brian Keefe, the Washington Wizards have been an absolute mess this season and are definitely one of the worst teams in the NBA this season. Jordan Poole has been better in his second season with the team. However, top star Kyle Kuzma is off to a very rough start. Also, being bottom five in scoring (108.5 PPG) and points against (122.9) is a bad combination.
29. Toronto Raptors (Last Week: 30)
On the offensive side of the ball, the Toronto Raptors were one of the best-scoring teams in the league to begin the year. However, injuries to top scorers Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickly sapped the life out of their offense in recent weeks. But Barnes is back, and the results have shown as they scored big wins over the Pacers and T-Wolves recently and were even very competitive in a recent game against the Cavaliers.
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28. Utah Jazz (Last Week: 29)
In year three as head coach, Will Hardy is feeling a lot more pressure after a season and a half of poor play from the Utah Jazz. The goal from the top is to be better this season. Unfortunately, they have been one of the worst teams in the NBA to start the year. They already have a pair of losing streaks of four or more games. However, they showed the potential the team did have when they scored a major upset win over the Knicks recently.
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27. Philadelphia 76ers (Last Week: 27)
The Philadelphia 76ers should be a major player in the East this season — when their top two players are on the floor. Unfortunately, Joel Embiid and Paul George have missed much of the new season. It hasn’t helped that Tyrese Maxey has also been banged up, and there has been recent in-fighting between teammates. Philly could certainly turn things around soon, but thus far, they have been absolutely awful this season.
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26. New Orleans Pelicans (Last Week: 26)
New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green has a very talented roster. But who knows when he will get it at full strength? Dejounte Murray just recently made his Pels debut, CJ McCollum is sidelined and now top star Zion Williamson will be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury. This group has been a disappointment for the same reason as the 76ers. The ugly early season injury curse.
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25. Charlotte Hornets (Last Week: 25)
Last season top star LaMelo Ball mirrored his brother Lonzo as a gifted player who had trouble staying on the court. In the new year, Ball is healthy and playing like an All-Star for the Charlotte Hornets. Unfortunately, it has not resulted in a good start to the season.
While Miles Bridges and 2023 first-round pick Brandon Miller have played solid, they need to elevate into becoming a No. 2 option to fear or the Hornets will have a ceiling on their potential. Also, key injuries to their top big men are part of why they are a bottom-10 team in defense right now.
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24. Chicago Bulls (Last Week: 23)
Over the first month, the Chicago Bulls have played well and Zach LaVine has boosted his trade value by returning to his All-Star form. Likewise for veteran big man Nikola Vucevic. It is why they are a top-10 team on offense (117.4 PPG) right now. Unfortunately, the reason why they are among the worst teams in the league this season is an opponent’s PPG average (123.9) that is dead last in the league.
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23. Portland Trail Blazers (Last Week: 22)
The Portland Trail Blazers got off to another slow start this season and are still among the worst-scoring teams (105.5 PPG) in the NBA. The most shocking thing is that Anfernee Simons has gone from being a borderline All-Star to a struggling secondary scorer in the new season. Unfortunately, they don’t have an elite defense to counter their struggles on offense, and it’s why they are a bottom-feeder in the West.
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22. Atlanta Hawks (Last Week: 20)
Trae Young has returned to being the focal point of the Atlanta Hawks after the departure of Dejounte Murray this summer. The young veteran has had to be more of a leader than ever before. And he has sacrificed some of his scoring to help elevate others. Unfortunately, ATLs has a disappointing record due to a bottom-three defense giving up just over 120 points per game.
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21. Brooklyn Nets (Last Week: 16)
On paper, the Brooklyn Nets are very much a team in rebuild mode. However, despite the organization looking toward the future, they have been very competitive this season. Cam Thomas is having a legitimate All-Star-level season and greybeard Dennis Schroder is having a career renaissance for new head coach Jordi Fernandez. The Nets may not make the playoffs but they have not been the easy win for opponents like most expected them to be this year without Mikal Bridges.
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20. Detroit Pistons (Last Week: 19)
The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in basketball last season. However, things have turned around for Motown’s favorite team this season. After the first five weeks, they are hovering around .500 and playing competitive ball. New head coach JB Bickerstaff has made a difference and helping former first-round pick Jaden Ivey turn into a real difference-maker has played a massive role in Detroit’s solid start to the season.
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19. Indiana Pacers (Last Week: 17)
While the Indiana Pacers can fill it up on a nightly basis, they have gotten off to a sluggish start in 2024-25. The reason is twofold. Firstly, the same old problem from last season persists. The Pacers’ defense continues to be a major Achilles heel, and the 118.1 points they are giving up on average is among the worst in the NBA right now.
However, one of the scariest problems thus far is a rough start for top star Tyrese Haliburton. If the All-Star is not himself this Pacers team could be in serious trouble this season.
18. Milwaukee Bucks (Last Week: 24)
The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the biggest shocks in the NBA to begin the season. They have a pair of ultra-talented stars in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, a good roster, and a Hall-of-Fame-worthy coach. Yet the Bucks were one of the worst teams in the NBA over the first month. However, the team has started to look much more like the squad we all expected. During a recent win streak, they scored big wins over the red-hot Rockets and the Pacers.
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17. Sacramento Kings (Last Week: 13)
There are big expectations for an already good Sacramento Kings team that added DeMar DeRozan in the offseason. Unfortunately, the team has not been as formidable as expected this season. While De’Aaron Fox is having a fantastic start to the year, they are a middle-of-the-road team in several key areas and that is a big surprise for such a talented group.
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16. San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 21)
The hope was that a year of experience and the helmet of NBA legend Chris Paul could help elevate Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs this season. So far, the plan is showing potential, as they are a game over .500 following the first five weeks of the season. After missing several weeks, the return of Devin Vassell has been big and has given them another worthwhile weapon on offense.
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15. Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 12)
The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the best squads in the NBA all of last season. However, they made a massive blockbuster trade just days before the start of training camp that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. While some thought it would be a lateral move at worst, the Wolves have not played as well with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo on the roster. The biggest difference from last year, however, is the elite defense that took them to the Western Conference Finals earlier this year has not been nearly as good this fall.
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14. Miami Heat (Last Week: 18)
The Miami Heat should be a competitive team again this season. But they are still a big piece away from being a power player in a stacked Eastern Conference. They have been solid thus far. Mostly due to more patented Erik Spoelstra’s top 10-level defense. Tyler Herro is playing like an All-Star, and after a slow start to the campaign, Jimmy Butler has started to look more like his vintage self in recent games.
13. Dallas Mavericks (Last Week: 14)
In the offseason, the Dallas Mavericks added future hall-of-famer Klay Thompson. And they will have key role players Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington on the roster from the start of the season. While they have hit some bumps in the road over the first few weeks, they seem to be hitting a groove of late. They have both a top-10 level offense (116.2 PPG) and defense (110.7 opponents PPG) as November nears a close. That is a very good place to be for the defending Western Conference champs.
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12. Phoenix Suns (Last Week: 6)
There is a lot of pressure and high expectations on this Phoenix Suns roster. And thus far, this team under new head coach Mike Budenholzer has been better. The most fascinating part of their nice start is they have quickly taken on the defensive mindset of their coach and aren’t just relying on bludgeoning the opposition with their offensive might each night. Unfortunately, after a strong start, an extended injury to top star Kevin Durant has led to several losses, and it’s why the fall in our latest NBA power rankings.
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11. Los Angeles Clippers (Last Week: 15)
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue continues to show why he is one of the best in the game. Despite being without top star Kawhi Leonard due to (of course) another injury and Paul George being in Philly, the team has played far better than anyone expected. After five weeks, they are a few games over .500 and are backed by a top-five defense (106.5 opponents PPG).
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10. Denver Nuggets (Last Week: 11)
The Denver Nuggets got off to a worrisome start to the season. However, despite being without Aaron Gordon, they have overcome a slow start and are playing better. While Denver should be very good due to the excellence of the reigning MVP, Jamal Murray’s poor play from last season and the Olympics persists. It is very much cause for serious concern. Nevertheless, Denver is one of the best-scoring teams in the NBA and has a good record as we get to the Holiday season.
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9. New York Knicks (Last Week: 9)
The New York Knicks front office went all in this summer to bolster this roster for a serious championship run. On paper, they have one of the best rosters in the league and should be a force on both sides of the ball. However, when adding a pair of stars to the mix, it takes time and it can lead to mixed results.
We have seen that from the Knickerbockers this season. After a recent win streak that included a dominant win in Phoenix, New York went to Utah to face the lowly Jazz and incurred and stunning loss. This team is still a work in progress.
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8. Los Angeles Lakers (Last Week: 7)
The expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season were not high. That’s what comes with having a new head coach. However, over the first five weeks, JJ Redick is making the LA front office look like geniuses after getting off to a 10-6 start. It is still very early, but the newbie coach is pressing the right buttons. Anthony Davis is playing like an MVP candidate and the fact that 10-year veteran D’Angelo Russell bought into being benched and has been better for it sends an exciting message about their potential.
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7. Orlando Magic (Last Week: 10)
The Orlando Magic got hit with a massive blow early in the season when top star Paolo Banchero suffered a torn oblique. However, head coach Jamahl Mosley deserves a huge amount of credit. Despite being without their top player the team has persevered. They have a top-four record in the East and the best defense in basketball as we near Thanksgiving. Furthermore, Franz Wagner was tasked with elevating his game with his running mate and has admirably picked up some of the extra scoring slack.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (Last Week: 8)
The Memphis Grizzles were expected to be far better this season with superstar Ja Morant back. And so far the results have been positive. Yet, what makes their start so promising is that many talent evaluators felt Jaren Jackson Jr. would take another development step forward in the new season. And so far the defensive ace is proving to be a legitimate No. 2 to Morant.
While injuries have been a bump in the road over the first five weeks, they are still one of the elite scoring squads in the game (120.3 PPG).
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5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Last Week: 4)
The Oklahoma City Thunder were without big-ticket free agent addition Isaiah Hartenstein for much of the season. Then, they lost young star Chet Holmgren to a major injury. Yet, it has not stopped them from being one of the top teams in the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing like a superstar, and they still have the second-best defense in the NBA (103.6).
4. Houston Rockets (Last Week: 5)
The Houston Rockets showed some late-season promise in year one for head coach Ime Udoka. They have continued that momentum in 2024 by kicking off the season with a 12-6 start. What is exciting is that the strong showing is led by young stars Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun and backed by at top three defense in the NBA (105.1 PPG). The Rockets are quickly turning into the new “it” team of this season.
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3. Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 2)
The 2024 edition of the Golden State Warriors has been fascinating. Klay Thompson is gone, and Jonathan Kuminga has not turned into a third star for the team. Even the legendary Steph Curry is not putting up his usual wild scoring stats. Nevertheless, they are one of the best teams in the NBA by playing a fun team ball style with a top five, and most importantly, a top 10 level defense.
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2. Boston Celtics (Last Week: 3)
The Boston Celtics were one of the top teams in our NBA power rankings throughout last season and will remain near the top all season long, barring a major injury. They have one of the best-scoring teams in the league, and big man Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t even played yet. Their defense is top 10 level, and the “Unicorn” will likely help improve that upon his return. They are an elite squad in the league and aren’t even at full strength yet. Terrifying.
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1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Last Week: 1)
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ start to the new season has been one of the biggest stories in the NBA this year. Some around the league were confused by JB Bickerstaff’s firing after leading a strong team last season. However, Kenny Atkinson has proven to be a tonic that has taken Cleveland’s play to new heights. They are the best-scoring team in the league (123.4 PPG) and are backed by a good defense (111.1 opponents PPG).
They are a deep team and when Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are on the same page they are a problem for any team in the league.
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NBA stats leaders
Below our stats app offers a full rundown of the leaders in every major statistical category from the 2024-25 NBA season.
NBA Power Rankings FAQ
What is the best NBA team right now?
After starting the season with a 17-1 record, there is no doubt the Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the league right now. Not only are they performing at an elite level on offense, but they are also backed by a top-10-level defense.
Who is the highest-rated NBA player?
There are many amazing players in the league today. However, after winning a third MVP award this past season, it is hard to argue that Denver star Nikola Jokic is not the best player in the league right now.
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What is the best NBA team all time?
Picking the greatest NBA team of all time is very subjective. However, if there were two popular options, it would be the Michael Jordan-led Bulls team from 1995-96 that won 73.
Another top choice would be the Warriors squad from 2015-16 which also won 73 games.
Which NBA team is most popular?
It is debated which NBA team is most popular. However, the Lakers have always had a very strong fanbase. Likewise for the Warriors and Celtics. But with the Knicks expected to be a serious title contender this season, New York’s favorite team is likely to drive a lot of interest in the 2024-25 NBA season.
