So much can change in the NBA in just a couple weeks, and it's already happened to start the 2026-27 season. A massive rash of injuries has decimated the playing field, leaving some teams trying to tread water until their stars return, and others needing to find new solutions with key pieces out for the foreseeable future. No team has been hit harder than the Oklahoma City Thunder , who are missing Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Cason Wallace with long-term injuries that threaten their status as a contender.
Some teams already look dead in the water to start the season, and it's not just perennial doormats like the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls. The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz hoped to break into the playoff picture this year, but they've both been just awful to begin this year. Meanwhile, there are a few teams potentially making the jump from good to great who deserve to be taken seriously the rest of the way.
There are some major changes from our last set of power rankings when training camp opened . Let's rank every team in the league so far.
30. Sacramento Kings: One of the wildest stats of the young season is Darius Acuff being tied with Luka Doncic for the league lead in field goal attempts per game so far. Acuff needs to scale back his shot volume and start to get some of his veteran teammates more involved to reach his ceiling, but ultimately nothing is saving this Kings team this year.
29. Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers just don't have anything they can hang their hat on to start the year. Darius Garland is turning the ball over constantly, Keaton Wagler can't score from two-point range, and there's just not enough size in the front court. This team is bad, bad.
28. Milwaukee Bucks: It was always going to be a long year for the Bucks after the Giannis trade, and it's already proving true. This team is dreadful on both ends despite head coach Taylor Jenkins doing a good job of helping them stay in games to start the year. Tyler Herro has been cooking so far, and his eventual trade deadline deal might be the one thing to look forward to the rest of this season beyond their rookies' development.
27. Chicago Bulls: The good news is that Caleb Wilson has been outstanding, and might already be the team's best player. The bad news is that Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey are struggling to fit in around the rookie forward, which might put this Bulls' rebuild back to square one around their new franchise player. Chicago's perimeter defense is atrocious, it's not a good rebounding team, and it's dead-last in three-point percentage. It's going to be a long year, but Wilson's activity on both ends is a thrilling sign for the future.
26. Brooklyn Nets: The Nets had five first round draft picks in 2025, and it was immediately obvious that they blew it in the moment . Three of them are fully out of the rotation to start their second season, and even Egor Demin, the best pick of the bunch, is putting up woeful scoring efficiency numbers so far. The Nets owe their pick to the Rockets, too. There's not a lot of hope here.
25. Phoenix Suns: The Suns look dreadful so far, and I'm sorry to say Khaman Maluach, one of my class of 2025 favorites, looks totally out of his depth playing big minutes. The Miles Bridges trade was always going to be a disaster, and it's gotten off to a particularly rough start. I still think Phoenix could be a little more respectable if they would just bench Jalen Green for Collin Gillespie.
24. Utah Jazz: The Jazz aren't supposed to be tanking anymore, but they still look like one of the worst teams in the league. This team has absolutely nothing at center after injuries to Jusuf Nurkic and Jaren Jackson Jr., and the young backcourt of Darryn Peterson and Keyonte George is still struggling to find synergy. At least Ace Bailey looks good to start his second season.
23. Indiana Pacers: The Pacers are trotting out G-League level lineups with injuries decimating the roster. Tyrese Haliburton's return from an Achilles tear was supposed to save this team, but he's immediately out with a hamstring strain, and that's just the start of the injury report. The Pacers just need to do their best to pick up a couple wins until they get their team back.
22. Orlando Magic: Another season, another cursed year of injuries for the Magic. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs are out for the intermediate future, and Franz Wagner hasn't been able to lift the offense by himself with a jump shot that remains broken.
21. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller is off to a hot start, but he's chucking shots as frequently as anyone in the league, and it will be interesting to see how and if that changes when Kon Knuppel and Coby White return.
I was lower than most on the Heat entering the season, but they have still been a huge disappointment regardless of expectations. Klay Thompson looks as washed as I thought he would be, Andrew Wiggins doesn't have enough shooting or creation ability to fit into the new system, and Bam and Giannis still haven't figured out the offensive end. If anyone can solve this puzzle, it's head coach Erik Spoelstra, but the early reports are highly discouraging.
The Pelicans look a little feistier than expected. Zion Williamson is off to a very good start just as the hype around him has died down, Dejounte Murray has helped stabilize the backcourt, and Trey Murphy III continues to be one of the better off-ball scorers in the game. The most exciting development for the Pelicans is that Jeremiah Fears looks better and better every week. This team isn't going anywhere, but at least they're giving their fans something to watch.
The Hawks feel pretty disappointing despite a 4-4 start. Jalen Johnson's scoring efficiency is down and it doesn't feel like he's added anything to his game over the offseason. Lu Dort is showing his limitations on offense without impacting the defense as much as Atlanta hoped. This team doesn't have enough force going to the basket, and the defense isn't anything special despite generating a lot of takeaways and forcing misses from three. The Hawks look mid as always.
The Wizards' terrible rebounding has me a bit skeptical that they can stay afloat, but for now they deserve credit for getting off to a winning start despite integrating a lot of new pieces. Trae Young's passing and foul grifting is keeping his scoring efficiency afloat despite a cold start as a shooter, Anthony Davis is still a very good offensive player who can make an impact defensively when he wants to, and Kyshawn George looks better and better with each passing week. It will be fun to see how they integrate A.J. Dybantsa into the mix now that he's back from injury.
Yaxel Lendeborg mania is sweeping the NBA and reinvigorating the Warriors during the final years of the Steph Curry era. I had Yaxel as a top-5 prospect on my final draft board, so I'm not too surprised by his success, and I tend to believe it will be sustainable going forward. Curry is still sensational when he's able to go, and I like some of the other role players like Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, and Georges Niang. It's too bad Kristaps Porzingis is cooked , because I don't know how this team will answer its issues in the middle.
It's not too soon to be worrying about the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic looks like he's lost a step after enduring multiple injuries last season, Cam Johnson is off to another slow start, and the depth of this team is just abysmal. Maybe Jokic will retain his top level and lift everyone else with him, but the Nuggets sure seem like they're going to have a lot of problems if that doesn't happen.
Cooper Flagg looks like a possible MVP candidate in his second season, and that would change everything for the Mavs. The 19-year-old star just doesn't miss mid-range shots anymore, and even if he cools down eventually, his uptick in defensive playmaking is another fantastic sign for his development. Kyrie Irving's return has added another shot creator and pull-up shooter, and role players like Naji Marshall and Daniel Gafford seem more comfortable in their assignments as Flagg and Irving take control of the offensive load. Dallas fans should be feeling good about the direction new head coach Dusty May has the team headed in.
The Knicks just haven't found their offensive stride yet, and they should roar back to form once that happens. Jalen Brunson just isn't hitting shots from anywhere right now, and Mikal Bridges has been ice cold on offense. Backup center was the biggest question for this team after they let Mitchell Robinson go to avoid the second apron, and there has been a noticeable downgrade from him to Andre Drummond. I'm interested to see if they can maintain their status as the league's No. 1 defensive rebounding team. The Knicks will be fine either way.
I may have had the Wolves at No. 1 in these power rankings for a few brief, beautiful days until Anthony Edwards exited the lineup for multiple months with a knee operation. Edwards was playing at an MVP level, and there's plenty of hope the Wolves can regain their place in the title race once he returns. The Wolves feel like they're going to be a pretty inconsistent team until he gets back. Rudy Gobert's offense has been dreadful so far, and LaMelo Ball is running a bit hot and cold as the lead option. Still, players like Ayo Dosunmu and Jaden McDaniels can keep the Wolves in games on the right nights even if Ball is struggling. Minnesota should be able to at least tread water without Ant.
The Cavs have always been defined by their 'core four' in the Donovan Mitchell era, but it does feel like the team made some sneaky moves to improve their depth over the offseason. Mario Hezonja has been a bench contributor who can knock down threes after six years away from the NBA. Meleek Thomas looks like a gem of a second round pick who is adding microwave scoring to keep bench lineups afloat. The Cavs need to get Peyton Watson going, but they should be in the mix all season in the East.
Memphis is the biggest surprise team in the league to start the season. Ty Jerome is playing like an All-Star, and that's actually underselling him because at least so far he'd be in the MVP conversation. Cameron Boozer has been an instant impact rookie as the youngest player in the league despite struggling to score from two-point range so far. Isaiah Stewart has been an excellent addition to the front court with his efficient inside-out scoring and supplemental rim protection, and Cam Spencer and Jaylen Wells both look prepared to take a step forward. I way much higher than consensus on Memphis coming into the year , so I tend to believe their hot start is real even if they're probably playing over their heads a bit right now.
The Raptors still look formidable even with Kawhi Leonard already getting shutdown after two games. Toronto is top-10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and they're excellent in the possession game with elite marks in offensive turnover percentage, offensive rebounding percentage, and defensive turnover percentage so far. Scottie Barnes continues to grow as an interior scorer, and if his ice cold outside shot ever comes around, he'll be an easy All-NBA pick. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett have helped pick up the scoring slack without Leonard around, and it will be fascinating to see how they adjust when he returns. One thing to watch: the Raptors are fouling more than any team in the league. When the refs let them be physical, Toronto is hard to beat.
The Blazers' offseason vision is playing out to perfectly to start the season with a team that looks majorly improved offensively while still being excellent on the defensive end. Damian Lillard has hit the ground running as he returns from an Achilles tear, and his partnership with Ja Morant was going a lot better than many expected before Morant exited with a hamstring strain. Deni Avdija is killing it, and at this point has to be considered one of the game's best forwards. Donovan Clingan keeps getting better as a paint defender, and Toumani Camara is one of the league's most efficient scorers so far.
The Thunder got hit with the worst onslaught of injuries in the league just when it seemed like they were the championship favorites. Jalen Williams is probably out of the year, and Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren are also both set to miss multiple months. The Thunder still have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and he continues to play like the best player in the world. Add in an elite defense, and OKC will still have a chance this year even in a diminished state.
The Sixers have a middling offense (No. 19) and a dominant defense (No. 2) out of the gates, just like everyone expected. Yeah, right. Philly has gotten off to a 7-1 start by winning a bunch of close games against a softer schedule so far. The Sixers' defense is benefitting from some poor outside shooting by their opponents, but it's possible that will sustain given all of the attention their collection of stars demands on the other end of the floor. LeBron James looks pretty old to start the year, and Jaylen Brown's scoring has taken a significant step back from 42.2 to 27.5 points per 100 possessions since last year with Boston. I wouldn't be shocked if this team hits a stretch of adversity soon, but it's a good sign that they continue to bank wins. The offense is sure to rise just as the defense is sure to fall, but it should all average out to continue making the Sixers a really good team.
Is this finally the year Luka Doncic wins his first MVP? The 27-year-old is playing as well as anyone in the league, and the team around him makes way more sense than it ever has in Los Angeles. Matisse Thybulle was an inspired free agent signing, and he's giving the Lakers an improved defensive floor while showing his improved outside shooting is no fluke. Walker Kessler has helped the rim protection, which should lift the defense (currently No. 20) when opponents stop being so hot from three. Jake LaRavia also looks more comfortable in his second season. The Lakers are an explosive offensive team with Doncic and Reaves at the controls, and the early returns on the rest of the pieces are encouraging enough so far.
The Celtics still look like the Celtics without Jaylen Brown. Jayson Tatum will be in the MVP mix once he starts shooting better than 23% from three, Paul George has been excellent so far at hitting threes and getting into the passing lanes defensively, and the depth around them continues to be as good as any team in the league. The Celtics' defensive rebounding has fallen from No. 4 to No. 27 since last year. Assuming that's just a small sample size fluke, Boston will continue being one of the best the East has to offer.
The Pistons are proving their playoff crash-out last year has no bearing on their continued regular season success. Detroit is winning with the same formula that led them to 60 victories last year, with the league's No. 1 defense and an offense that's right around league average despite star big man Jalen Durant being sidelined with a hamstring strain. Cade Cunningham is one of the best guards in the league, and Detroit can put a little more spacing around him this year with Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter, Isaiah Joe, and even John Collins capable of stretching the floor. Ausar Thompson feels like the best perimeter defender alive, and Paul Reed is proving he's an elite backup big. The Pistons' success last year was no fluke, but ultimately this team will only be judged by its playoff run.
The Spurs haven't looked like the steamroller many expected to start the season, but they still have a top-10 offense and top-5 defense statistically, which is impressive for a team still finding its footing. The three-guard starting lineup with Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle has some obvious limitations and may not be built to last all season, but it's still out-scoring teams by +31.3 points per 100 possessions in a small sample. The Spurs have so many different lineup configurations they can go to around Victor Wembanyama, and Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, and Tobias Harris (when he gets healthy) are going to factor into high-leverage moments when they need to. The Spurs are far from a lock to make another deep playoff run coming off such a long season, but they still feel like one of the safest bets to be there at the end of the season.
The Rockets look like the most complete team in the NBA through the first two weeks. Houston leads the league in net-rating despite playing the toughest schedule of any team so far . The Rockets' No. 1 ranked offense is probably unsustainable, but there's no doubt that this team has so many more ways to win offensively than they did last season. Alperen Sengun's continued development and the return of point guard Fred VanVleet has helped slot Kevin Durant into a more appropriate role where he doesn't have to create as much. Jabari Smith Jr. looks more comfortable as a shooter, Amen Thompson continues to be an absolute wrecking ball defensively, and Marcus Smart is playing like one of the best value free agent signings of the summer. The Rockets are tough across the positional spectrum defensively, they're great on the glass, and they have more avenues to creating efficient offense this season. At least so far, they look like the best team in basketball.
