1. Oklahoma City Thunder 

They’ve opened the season by making a statement with wins over the Spurs and Nuggets. The 2025 champions are showing they’re serious about reaching the mountaintop again after getting eliminated by the Spurs in the 2026 Western Conference Finals. 

2. Philadelphia 76ers

LeBron James and company look like the real deal after beating the defending champion Knicks as well as the Celtics. James, who’s turning 42 years old this season, could actually win his fifth championship if the 76ers keep this up. 

3. New York Knicks

Their 0-2 start isn’t great. But they’re the defending champions and deserve to be near the top of these rankings until proven otherwise. 

4. San Antonio Spurs

There will be some growing pains integrating a three-guard rotation. But it won’t be long until they figure it out. Wemby carried this team to the Finals last year and he’s expected to carry them far again.

5. Houston Rockets

This team might’ve been slept on entering the season. Fred VanVleet is back and Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. are looking dangerous. The Rockets could be a dark horse in the West.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

This team’s success is going to hinge on Walker Kessler. And Kessler is looking good. 

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards is so much fun. He opened this season with a 45-point performance against the Heat. When he and LaMelo Ball figure things out, the Timberwolves could make some real noise.

8. Toronto Raptors

Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Kawhi Leonard and Immanuel Quickley can’t be slept on this season. The Raptors’ starters combined for 92 points to beat the Bulls by 43 points in their opening game. 

9. Detroit PIstons

They’re looking good but were dealt a blow when Jalen Duren suffered a right hamstring strain. He’s going to be reevaluated in two weeks, which means the team is going to face a very tough stretch without him, including playing the 76ers twice and the Knicks.

10. Boston Celtics

Paul George had a 38-point performance in the Celtics’ loss to the Pistons in their season-opener, followed by Jayson Tatum scoring 36 points in a win over the Knicks. The Celtics’ stars are looking ready to go.  

11. Denver Nuggets

This team has a great starting lineup. But not much depth. 

12. Portland Trail Blazers

Welcome back, Dame. We missed you. Lillard has seemingly found his rhythm after missing last season because of a torn left Achilles’ tendon. Lillard, Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara are going to be a lot of fun this season. 

13. Memphis Grizzlies

The 19-year-old Cam Boozer already looks like an All-Star. In his second NBA game, he finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals in a win over the Warriors. 

14. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers will need more scoring from James Harden, who’s averaging 14 points over two games, if they’re going to make any noise in the East. 

15. Dallas Mavericks

Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg could be dangerous when they find a rhythm alongside one another. They’ve had a tough opening schedule, with losses to the Spurs and Rockets. But this team has a lot of promise. 

16. Indiana Pacers

We’ve learned not to underestimate Tyrese Haliburton after he led the Pacers to the Finals in 2025. This team will always be dangerous with him on it. 

17. Miami Heat

The Heat are off to a rough start at 0-3. But Bam Adebayo hasn’t looked like himself. We’re still optimistic that he and Giannis Antetokounmpo will figure things out, though. 

18. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks beat the Magic and Hornets and a lot of guys are making contributions. They have a lot of promise on both sides of the court. 

19. Charlotte Hornets. 

Love seeing Naz Reid balling out for the Hornets. He’s averaging career-highs in points (20), rebounds (8.7) and assists (three) in his team’s three games, including wins over the Heat and Nets and a loss against the Hawks. 

20. Orlando Magic

An 0-2 start isn’t what Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs had in mind. This team better get things together or it’s going to be a long season. 

21. Utah Jazz 

A 20-point loss to the Grizzlies in their season-opener wasn’t on their bingo card. But it’s early and I expect Lauri Markkanen to get his act together soon. 

22.  Phoenix Suns 

They lost to the Trail Blazers by 41 points in their season-opener. Still stunned by that. But Devin Booker redeemed himself with a 43-point performance against the Warriors on Saturday.

23. Washington Wizards

Trae Young and Anthony Davis both have a lot to prove. This team is a wildcard. They could exceed expectations…or flounder. They’ve only really been tested by the Raptors so far in a 112-102 loss. This is a team to keep your eye on.  

24. Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson has lived up to expectations, averaging 22.3 points and eight rebounds in three games. His Rookie of the Year campaign has officially begun. 

25. Los Angeles Clippers 

They’re missing so many guys, but Darius Garland looks like he’s back in All-Star mode, which is nice to see after he was hampered by injuries last season. 

26.  Golden State Warriors

Things aren’t looking great for this injury-riddled team that’s without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody moody for the first few months of the season and Kristaps Porzingis indefinitely. But they still have Steph Curry and Draymond Green. And Yaxel Lendeborg is a ton of fun on and off the court, including recently making waves for saying he lost all respect for Luka Doncic. 

27. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are off to an 0-3 start, though they did take the Nuggets to overtime in a game on Saturday. It appears to be the same old sad story for this team. 

28.  Sacramento Kings

It’s going to be a long season for the Kings, who currently have the second-worst offensive rating in the NBA (102.4). 

29. Brooklyn Nets

They’re in rebuild mode, but Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. are still fun to watch. 

30. Milwaukee Bucks

Goodbye Giannis. Hello dark days.