Each week, Melissa Rohlin of the California Post will power rank the NBA’s 30 teams:
1. San Antonio Spurs
There was palpable pain on Victor Wembanyama’s face after the Knicks eliminated the Spurs in the NBA Finals. The Spurs had double-digit leads in each of their four losses in that series. Wembanyama blamed himself. Here’s to betting he’s going to be a beast this season.
2. New York Knicks
We underestimated the Knicks last season and won’t repeat that mistake. They return 10 of their 12 rotational players. They’ve proven that no deficit fazes them. And Jalen Brunson is fearless.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
The 2025 championship Thunder were stunned by the Spurs in the Western Conference finals last season. This roster is deep, young, talented and hungry to get back atop the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has won two straight MVP awards, isn’t going to take his foot off the gas this season.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey? This should be fun. It might take them a second to figure things out and develop chemistry. But if they do, watch out. It’ll be interesting to see if this superteam takes over the league or flames out, such as the disappointing Nets who never got past the second round of the playoffs despite having Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden on the roster.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
The regular season doesn’t matter for this Cavs team. They keep combusting in the playoffs, including getting swept by the Knicks in the 2026 Eastern Conference finals. Either they make a deep run with Donovan Mitchell, Harden, Peyton Watson and Evan Mobley or else it’s hard to imagine there isn’t going to be a reckoning soon.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
This team has a lot of question marks. But also a lot of potential. If Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler play to their potential and the team’s perimeter defense surpasses expectations, the Lakers could be very good. But this team has nine new players, including Kessler, who played only five games last season after having season-ending shoulder surgery. So, yeah, lots of questions.
7. Houston Rockets
Fred VanVleet has returned after missing last season because a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee that he suffered in an offseason workout in September 2025. Alperen Sengun is looking good. Durant is still very much Durant. This team could be the dark horse of the West.
8. Indiana Pacers
Didn’t you learn not to overlook Tyrese Haliburton back in 2025? You know, when he stunned the NBA by leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals before suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of that series? Sure, he’s going to be shaking off rust this season. But he’s someone to keep your eye on.
9. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons added more scoring threats after Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren were overcrowded by defenders in the paint last postseason. If Ausar Thompson can also be counted on having a reliable outside shot, they could be good.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves’ ceiling rose after they acquired LaMelo Ball, pairing him with Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. Jonathan Kuminga was another great addition to the roster. If the hype is real, the Timberwolves could give the top teams in the West a run for their money.
11. Boston Celtics
Brown is gone. We’re going to see what Jayson Tatum can do without his longtime counterpart, with whom he won a championship in 2024. And this should be a revenge season of sorts for Paul George, who caught a lot of strays from pundits amid the Brown trade.
12. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets had an underwhelming offseason. But any team with Nikola Jokic is going to be in the championship hunt. Their starting five of Joker, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun is very skilled, but their lack of depth could haunt them.
13. Miami Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo are going to be a lot of fun on both sides of the court. This team should be a title threat in the next couple of years.
14. Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard has returned to the Raptors, whom he carried to a championship in 2019. After far too many injury-riddled seasons with the Clippers, he looked great last year, averaging 27.9 points on 50.5% shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game over 65 contests. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the league’s best players.
15. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg is gearing up for a breakout season, and Irving is returning to the lineup after missing last season because of torn left ACL. It’ll be interesting to see what new coach Dusty May can do with this group in the wake of the Doncic-Anthony Davis debacle.
16. Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are formidable, but a lot of questions remain around this team, especially with its outside shooting. Their eye-popping payroll coupled with the fact that this team hasn’t gotten past the first round of the playoffs the last three years means they’re on a very short rope to figure things out quickly.
17. Atlanta Hawks
This team should have a strong defense behind Lu Dort and Dyson Daniels. If Jalen Johnson can continue to take leaps, this team could make some noise.
18. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors didn’t have the offseason they hoped. Antetokounmpo was traded to Miami. James chose the 76ers. But if Jimmy Butler returns healthy in a few months from his torn right ACL, he, Steph Curry and Draymond Green could make some noise in the West, especially if Yaxel Lendeborg keeps impressing.
19. Utah Jazz
This team is lacking frontcourt depth at the start of the season after Jusuf Nurkic suffered a partial plantar plate tear in the second toe of his right foot during the preseason. But Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson are exciting, and Darryn Peterson could be a difference-maker.
20. Washington Wizards
Trae Young and Davis both feel as though they have a lot to prove. Young’s star has fallen. Davis has been on a wild downswing ever since he was dealt to the Mavericks for Doncic. Those two guys should be very fun to track this season as they seek revenge.
21. Los Angeles Clippers
This team is down in the dumps following the Aspiration scandal. They’ve hit rock bottom. They’re racked with injuries. But don’t be surprised if coach Tyronn Lue somehow brings out the best in them.
22. Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker really needs a great year following last season’s subpar performance. He shot 45.6% from the field, his lowest percentage since his third season in the league. If he can reemerge as a superstar, he and Dillon Brooks could be fun.
23. Portland Trail Blazers
This team could be ranked much higher. It depends how Damian Lillard looks after missing last season because of a torn Achilles tendon. And how quickly Lillard, Deni Avdija and Ja Morant can develop a rhythm. There’s a lot of wild cards here. But this team also has the potential to skyrocket in these rankings very soon.
24. Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson should compete for Rookie of the Year. Josh Giddey is always fun. And Matas Buzelis made leaps last season. The Bulls have a lot of growing to do. But there’s also intrigue here.
25. New Orleans Pelicans
We’re entering this season with the same tired storyline. The Pelicans won 26 games last season, yet they refused to pull the plug. Don’t expect much to change this time around.
26. Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer is living up to the hype. He joins some young hotshots in Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer. This team should be fun. But it’ll be a while before it can make noise.
27. Charlotte Hornets
Ball is out. Let’s see what the team’s creators can do without him, especially Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Naz Reid.
28. Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff is an electric scorer, and if he lives up to his potential, this team could be worth monitoring. Domantas Sabonis claims he’s healthy following knee surgery. And there’s also always intrigue around Ben Simmons. But winning games is another issue altogether.
29. Brooklyn Nets
While everyone suspects the Timberwolves of taking veiled shots at Julius Randle, he could raise the Nets’ ceiling. But it’s a very low ceiling, despite Michael Porter Jr. and Mikel Brown Jr. being on the roster.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
Welp, at least the Bucks won a championship in 2021 before everything fell apart.