With the 2023-2024 season underway, find out who are the best and worst NBA teams with our latest NBA power rankings.
Along with the latest pecking order around the league, you can also check out the final NBA standings from 2022-2023, take an early look at the top 50 NBA players this season, and stay up to date with the latest NBA trade rumors.
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Without further ado, here are our current NBA power rankings for all 30 teams in the top professional basketball league in the world.
NBA power rankings: 5 worst NBA teams right now
30. Memphis Grizzlies (Previously: 10)
Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies will have far more pressure on them this season. Being the cool, fun, rising team in the West is no longer acceptable. They must now show if they can compete for a championship or if changes to the roster and coaching staff need to be made so they can make it to the next level.
With Steven Adams out for the season and Morant serving his suspension, the Grizzlies have gotten off to a disastrous start. They were the last team to be winless over the first couple of weeks and the importance of Morant has never been more evident.
The All-Star is set to miss the first 25 games of the season and they might go into a hole he can’t help them climb out of when he returns.
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29. Miami Heat (Previously: 8)
The expectation and hope all summer was that the Miami Heat would add the superstar they needed in Damian Lillard. Unfortunately, the team they ousted in the postseason — the Milwaukee Bucks — swooped in and landed the seven-time All-Star. They also lost Max Strus and Gabe Vincent in NBA free agency.
Those departures and the lack of a clear second star has been evident thus far as the Heat have gotten off to a terrible start and an early losing skid is why they are near the bottom of our latest NBA power rankings.
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28. Charlotte Hornets (Previously: 26)
Last season was an unexpected disaster for the Charlotte Hornets. After showing so much promise two seasons ago, they took major steps back in 2022-2023. LaMelo Ball regressed a bit and not having Miles Bridges on the roster — due to off-the-court issues — became a far bigger problem than many expected.
Not much has changed in the new season and in some ways, things have gotten worse. Bridges is still away serving his suspension and Ball is off to a rough start offensively. Shooting just over 30% from the field this season.
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27. Washington Wizards (Previously: 20)
The Washington Wizards should have been better with the talent they had last season, but alas, they missed the playoffs once again in 2022-2023. The reimagined front office will hope head coach Wes Unseld Jr. can do more with an adjusted roster led by Jordan Poole, Tyus Jones, and returning star Kyle Kuzma in the new season.
Unfortunately, it has been a struggle to start the season as Poolie continues to get his feet wet in his new offense. But making matters worse is their rough play on defense that puts them behind the eight ball each not if they can’t fill it up offensively.
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26. Detroit Pistons (Previously: 30)
Following a season-ending injury to young star Cade Cunningham last season, the Detroit Pistons fell into a deep tailspin that they could never recover from. What made matters worse is that rookies Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren could not pick up the slack and struggled threw a horrid season. The two former first-round picks playing better and veteran Bojan Bogdonavic having another strong season will be the difference between a lottery team and a playoff contender under new head coach Monty Williams.
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So far this season Cunningham has been good again, but he is getting little help from his talent-rich teammates. Furthermore, Bogdanovic being sidelined with a calf injury has led to mixed results for Detroit in the early season.
Top 25 NBA teams right now
25. Houston Rockets (Previously: 23)
After another ugly showing last season, the Houston Rockets front office is hoping that giving big money to point guard Fred VanVleet and defensive ace Dillon Brooks can be the impetus in a rise back to prominence for the Rockets.
Unfortunately, the money has not delivered good results to begin the season. Building chemistry between the star veterans and young players like Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. has proven difficult for Ime Udoka in year one. However, one bright spot so far has been the surprising ascension of center Alperen Sengun into a premiere role on the team this year.
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24. Orlando Magic (Previously: 28)
The Orlando Magic were a pleasant surprise last season. While they did not finish with a positive record, Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero was impressive for much of the season and helped to make the Magic far more competitive than they should have been against the elites of the NBA. Much of last year’s team is back and will get a bench boost from top pick Anthony Black in 2023-2024.
However, the team has had mixed results so far this season as Bancheo has begun the season in a deep sophomore slump (shooting 37% from the field). Without him maintaining the standard he set last season, this group will have a glass ceiling all year.
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23. Portland Trail Blazers (Previously: 27)
After months of rumors and speculation, the inevitable finally happened and Damian Lillard’s legendary run with the Portland Trail Blazers came to an end in September. This will be their first season without the star guard in over a decade and it will be interesting to see how the group featuring disgruntled Suns center Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and star prospect Scoot Henderson can fair with a massive hole to fill in the offense.
To begin the year, Sharpe has taken a big leap forward in his game and is leading the team in scoring. However, Henderson has gotten off to a quiet start with Malcolm Brogdon off to a good start as the team’s new lead point guard. Considering their talent, the Trail Blazers have a lot of upside if Chauncey Billups can continue to develop his top prospects.
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22. Indiana Pacers (Previously: 25)
The Indiana Pacers had very mixed results last season. Early on they seemed headed to a return to the postseason, then injuries and poor play short-circuited all the impressive momentum they created. Much of last year’s team returns with another year of experience and chemistry. Plus, top pick and big man Jarace Walker should give them the rebounding and moxy boost they lacked in the frontcourt last year.
While Haliburton is playing at an All-Star level again this year, the lack of a strong secondary scorer has hurt them. This Pacers roster is pretty deep with rock-solid talent, but if someone else can’t elevate their game to being a top scorer worth being respected by opposing defenses, Indiana will remain a team outside the playoff picture.
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21. Utah Jazz (Previously: 21)
The Utah Jazz were one of the best stories in the NBA power rankings for much of last season. Heading into the season they were expected to be one of the worst teams in the league, however, first-year head coach Will Hardy led a competitive team and developed Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler into budding stars in the league.
The Jazz have had a very tough schedule to start the season and it has shown in their early results. However, while Markkanen continues to perform like an All-Star the team’s lack of a top-shelf second star is becoming a glaring weakness and puts a cap on their potential this season.
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20. Toronto Raptors (Previously: 24)
Despite another offseason of rumors and rumblings that they could make some major moves, the Toronto Raptors — for the most part — stood pat with the same roster they have had the last couple of seasons. The big difference in 2023-2024 will be that they won’t have star guard Fred VanVleet running the offense after he took huge money to go to Houston in the summer.
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With VanVleet gone, Dennis Schroder has done a good job filling that void, and Scottie Barnes has continued his ascension to being the future face of the franchise. However, with Pascal Siakam’s stats down in several key categories, the team has struggled to start the season.
19. Chicago Bulls (Previously: 22)
The Chicago Bulls likely have another difficult season ahead in 2023-2024. Lonzo Ball is confirmed to miss the entire year and the team was unable to replace him with a similar impact talent at point guard this summer. Furthermore, lingering issues with unhappy star Zach LaVine could be another key element in a down season for the squad in the new league year.
While LaVine and DeMar DeRozan have gotten off to All-Star-level starts, the continued lack of strong point guard play is still the Achilles heel of a team that has more than enough talent to be a force in the East.
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18. San Antonio Spurs (Previously: 29)
The San Antonio Spurs have hope to bounce back from another losing season due to having once-in-a-generation super prospect Victor Wembanyama on the roster this year The French phenom is the most hyped young player since Lebron James and his development will be one of the biggest stories to watch in the new season.
San Antonio has gotten off to a solid start in the new season due to strong play from rising star Devin Vassell and veteran Keldon Johnson. Their performance leading the team has taken a lot of weight and obligation off of Wembanyama and has allowed him to play more freely. This has led to very nice stats for the Frenchman to start the year (over 17 points, 7 rebounds, and two blocks per game).
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Who is the best NBA team right now 2023?
It is hard to bet against the defending champion Denver Nuggets and superstar center Nikola Jokic. However, after making a blockbuster trade for seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard in the offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks are expected to be the best NBA team in 2023.
17. Brooklyn Nets (Previously: 19)
The Brooklyn Nets did not add a star in the summer, but at least this season should be devoid of drama and volatility for the first time in a long time. The start of the new campaign will also bring far lower expectations, and it will be interesting to see what Jacque Vaughn can do in his first full year with Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson.
Early in the year, Bridges continued his growth from the second half of ’22-’23. However, what has proven to be the most fascinating development is the massive leap Cam Thomas has taken. The third-year man is leading the team in scoring to begin the season as he averages an absurd 28 points per game after posting 10 per game last season.
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16. Sacramento Kings (Previously: 9)
The Sacramento Kings were the biggest surprise in the NBA last season. They had one of the best offenses in the league and De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis turned into a dynamic duo for the team. Although they didn’t make any major changes in the summer, they are a year older and better and will be expected to make far more noise in the West.
However, in the new season they have gotten off to a so-so start due to early revenge from the Warriors. Nevertheless, they remain a very dangerous offensive team in the Western Conference.
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15. New York Knicks (Previously: 7)
Jalen Brunson proved he is one of the league’s newest superstars and that the New York Knicks are a more dangerous team because of his talents. While they didn’t make any major moves in the summer, they retained all the key players from last year’s roster.
However, they have gotten mixed results this season from their veterans. RJ Barrett has gotten off to a fantastic start and been an early pleasant surprise. However, Julius Randle has been awful to begin the year and his shooting under 30% from the field has been huge in their slow start.
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14. Phoenix Suns (Previously: 4)
New head coach Frank Vogel has a very tall task in front of him as he tries to somehow create a working situation with three superstar scorers in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and now Bradley Beal. Booker and Durant were dominant at times last season, but Beal is a wild card that could make things chaotic or become one of the scariest offenses in league history.
Unfortunately, injuries to Booker and Beal has short-circuited the Suns start to ’23-’24 and Durant will hope to keep them near .500 until his fellow superstars return.
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13. Cleveland Cavaliers (Previously: 11)
The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the best teams in the East last season. Superstar guard Donovan Mitchell fit right in with the rest of the team and they also had one of the better defenses in the NBA. However, being good isn’t the goal this season, it will be about finding out if they can be a Finals contender.
While Mitchell is off to a great start again, Darius Garland has not been the elite No. 2 scorer he was last year with his points per game and three-point shooting percentage way down in the new season. That has led to a rocky start for the Cavs to begin their campaign.
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12. Minnesota Timberwolves (Previously: 16)
The Minnesota Timberwolves have the pieces to be a force in the West, and growing superstar Anthony Edwards is primed for a big season. The big questions are can Karl-Anthony Towns stay healthy — a key question every season now — and can Mike Conley be a bigger difference-maker this year?
So far, Edwards has been dynamite and the rest of the roster has chipped in to a solid start. What makes this unit interesting is if they can continue the strong play on defense they have shown this season, they may be able to reach their potential and not have to blow things up at the deadline.
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11. Oklahoma City Thunder (Previously: 17)
The Oklahoma City could be like the Memphis Grizzlies of a few seasons ago. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a breakout season that put the league on notice and the team was very competitive. Now, with Chet Holmgren back after missing last season, and 2023 first-round pick Cason Wallace, the Thunder are a dark horse to be a top-five squad in the West this season.
They have continued that strong play from last season in the new campaign as SGA has maintained his budding superstar play so far. What is key is Holmgren is off to a good start after rupturing a tendon in his foot last year. This is a team to keep an eye on because of the wild upside they have on the roster.
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How many teams make the NBA playoffs 2023?
The top six teams from each conference automatically reach the playoffs. Then the next four compete in the NBA Play-In Tournament to decide the seventh and eighth seed in each conference. But once the official NBA playoffs begin, there are still 16 in total.
Top 10 NBA teams in 2023-2024 season
10. Atlanta Hawks (Previously: 15)
Outside of finally trading John Collins, the Atlanta Hawks roster from last season remains intact in the new year. After a full training camp under head coach Quinn Snyder, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Hawks made a turnaround in 2023-2024 and were able to become a playoff-caliber squad again.
So far so good in the new season. Dejounte Murray and Trae Young are off to good starts, and De’Andre Hunter has elevated his game to fill the void left by Collins.
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9. Milwaukee Bucks (Previously: 2)
After a shocking first-round elimination from the 2023 NBA playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks made some major changes. They switched head coaches and made the biggest trade of the offseason when they acquired superstar guard Damian Lillard. The combo of Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo should be dynamite once they figure out their chemistry.
Unsurprisingly, that hasn’t happened just yet and the team has gotten off to a sluggish start with new head coach Adrian Griffin. Nevertheless, they have shown early signs of their high upside this season.
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8. Philadelphia 76ers (Previously: 13)
The Philadelphia 76ers finally pulled the trigger and jettisoned unhappy future Hall-of-Famer James Harden out of town. While they didn’t get a star in return, the move gave them solid depth and opened up a lot of opportunities for a big move sooner rather than later.
Nevertheless, the team led by the reigning league MVP has gotten off to a solid start, and the best part of it is that Tyrese Maxey has played at a superstar level in filling the void left by Harden. The young star is shockingly averaging just over 30 points per game to begin the year.
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7. Los Angeles Clippers (Previously: 12)
For the first time in a while, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard began the new season relatively healthy. The big issue is how long does that last? Even passed their primes, if they are healthy the Los Angeles Clippers will be a playoff-caliber team easy, especially with unhappy star James Harden now on the roster too.
The team is off to a solid start to begin the season and the big story over the first few months will be how head coach Ty Lue is able to create chemistry and manage personalities like Leonard, George, Harden, and Russell Westbrook.
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6. Los Angeles Lakers (Previously: 5)
The Los Angeles Lakers did not go star hunting in the offseason because they didn’t need to. The roster was able to get to the West Finals last season and their young players are primed for further growth in the new season. Just like the last two years, their success will again hang on the health of Anthony Davis and Lebron James as the NBA icon is another year closer to 40.
After a slow start, the Lakers seem to be building momentum and D’Angelo Russell as slotted into a role as the team’s third-best player. If Austin Reaves can get out of his slump, this is a team that should be in the top 10 of our NBA power rankings for much of the season.
5. New Orleans Pelicans (Previously: 14)
The New Orleans Pelicans were one of the five best units in the West with Zion Williamson. When he went down with another long-term injury, the team was a group fighting for a playoff spot. Can Williamson stay healthy, and can they again be a powerhouse in the West if he does?
In the new season, they have returned to being a force in the West since Williamson has been available. And just like last season, the three-headed monster of Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum has been a handful for opposing teams since either of them can fill it up and be the No. 1 scorer any night.
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4. Golden State Warriors (Previously: 6)
The Golden State Warriors will be fascinating to watch as their “Big Three” look to prove they’ve still got it a year after failing to defend their most recent NBA championship. In the new season they will have the addition of future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul and figuring out his fit on the roster will be one of the major storylines early in the season.
So far, the old-head Warriors have been very good and while their stats don’t jump off the page — aside from Steph Curry’s MVP candidate start — they are quickly racking up a bunch of wins early in the season.
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3. Denver Nuggets (Previously: 1)
The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title by taking out the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. Superstar Nikola Jokic showed that he is much more than a regular-season monster as he dominated in the playoffs. However, what was key was the continued rise of Jamal Murray into a legitimate star in the league and the rest of the roster showed they were a championship group as well.
It has been same ole, same ole in the new season as the Nuggets again have one of the best records in the league. While it may not be fancy or as spectacular as other teams, Denver is still a well-oiled winning machine in ’23-’24.
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2. Dallas Mavericks (Previously: 18)
There will be a lot of pressure on the Dallas Mavericks after a horrid showing at the end of last season. They will have a whole training camp and preseason to find chemistry between superstars Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the rest of the team. Furthermore, another losing season could lead Doncic to push the trade request button sooner than the team wants.
With an easy schedule to begin the campaign, the Mavs have been a monster this season. Doncic is playing at an MVP level and Tim Hardaway is off to a career-best start in 2023. Their start is all the more impressive since Irving has struggled with his shooting this season.
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1. Boston Celtics (Previously: 3)
The Boston Celtics were one of the top teams in our NBA power rankings throughout last season. They should stay there for much of the new year after adding Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to an already strong roster led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
To begin the year they were one of the last unbeaten teams in the league and the new All-Star-level additions seem to be making a seamless transition as the Celtics are on course to being a top-five team in our NBA power rankings all year.
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What is the best NBA team right now?
Heading into the new season, the Denver Nuggets will be seen as many as the best NBA team right now. Almost all of the roster from their championship team will be back this season. However, the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics are the other powerhouses to watch in the league this year.
Which NBA team has the brightest future?
Considering how good they were last year, there are many around the league who believe the Sacramento Kings have the brightest future in the NBA. Stars Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox are not even in their prime and they were still one of the best teams in the league in 2022-2023.
What is the Sacramento Kings power ranking?
With the new NBA season nearly here, the reigning Pacific Division champion Sacramento Kings are ranked at nine in our current NBA power rankings.
Who will be the best NBA players in 2025?
As the sport transitions away from aging legends like Lebron James and Kevin Durant, there is a new generation of superstars right around the corner. That is why the best NBA players in 2025 will likely be Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Devin Booker, Jalen Brunson, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama.
Who has the best longevity in NBA?
While Vince Carter and Udonis Haslem were some of the longest-tenured players in league history, when it comes to competing at a high level no player in NBA history has had better longevity than Lakers star Lebron James.
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
