NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
On the eve of the 2026-27 campaign, we're looking at how things shape up as the regular season begins. Title odds courtesy of theScore Bet.
Jump to:
ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio's poised for a deep playoff run with all of its major pieces back. Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper are only scratching the surface. Meanwhile, Tobias Harris is coming off a standout postseason and adds a veteran presence to the locker room.
Title odds: +270
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
The consistency and availability of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams will be under increased scrutiny in the first year of their lucrative long-term deals, which paved the way for the departures of key contributors Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins.
Title odds: +265
3. New York Knicks
Although Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart were crucial to the Knicks' dream run, both shockingly came up empty in extension talks this summer. That could galvanize the duo in the chase for a repeat, but it seems like the front office is taking an entirely unnecessary risk.
Title odds: +1000
4. Philadelphia 76ers
What a change a single summer produced for the 76ers. With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in tow, anything less than Philadelphia's first conference finals appearance since 2001 would feel like a failure for this astounding collection of talent.
Title odds: +800
5. Denver Nuggets
A tax crunch cost Denver its breakout star in Peyton Watson, and the team is banking on 37-year-old DeMar DeRozan to fill the void despite their contrasting play styles. DeRozan will also have to come off the bench for the first time since his rookie 2009-10 season.
Title odds: +2500
6. Toronto Raptors
As the saying goes, "Defense wins championships." That's a good omen for the Raptors, who boasted the league's fifth-best defense last season and have added seven-time All-Defensive selection Kawhi Leonard to the mix alongside fellow lockdown defender Scottie Barnes.
Title odds: +1700
7. Houston Rockets
Houston won 52 games despite Fred VanVleet's season-long absence and Steven Adams being limited to 32 appearances. VanVleet's return should provide the Rockets with steady play at the point, while Adams remains an elite offensive rebounder and valuable screen-setter.
Title odds: +3000
8. Detroit Pistons
Detroit bowed out in the second round of the playoffs after finishing atop the East with 60 wins. The Pistons' offseason wasn't ideal: They lost Tobias Harris and clashed with Jalen Duren during contract negotiations. But the acquisition of Isaiah Joe provides some much-needed spacing.
Title odds: +2500
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota chose to roll the dice on LaMelo Ball instead of maintaining the status quo. The early returns have been promising, with Ball creating easier looks for Anthony Edwards and allowing the latter to be more of an off-ball threat.
Title odds: +2200
10. Boston Celtics
Microscopic sample size be damned, Jayson Tatum and new pick-and-roll partner Mitchell Robinson formed a lethal pairing in the preseason that opposition defenses can't decipher. Robinson's rim-rolling repertoire will create countless corner threes for the trigger-happy Celtics.
Title odds: +1200
11. Cleveland Cavaliers
Two-way wing Peyton Watson will need to bridge the gap between an offensively skilled backcourt duo that can't guard their positions and a defensively oriented frontcourt with flaws at the other end. In basketball as in life, balance is the key.
Title odds: +2500
12. Los Angeles Lakers
With LeBron James moving on, the Lakers pried Walker Kessler from the Jazz to the tune of $130 million, two unprotected firsts, and two potential swaps - a steep price to pay, but one that provides Luka Doncic with a dangerous lob threat and rim-protector.
Title odds: +4000
13. Miami Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the latest big fish Pat Riley has reeled in. While there are questions about Miami's depth and 3-point shooting, the Heat should have a menacing defense with the Greek Freak in the fold alongside Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins.
Title odds: +3000
14. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers could be giant-killers as the East's big-market outfits scrap for supremacy. Tyrese Haliburton's return from a 16-month absence elevates Indiana, and his on-court chemistry with Ivica Zubac could propel the 2025 finalists to a deep playoff run.
Title odds: +4000
15. Atlanta Hawks
The plucky, well-coached Hawks will harbor modest expectations as they lack the star power required to endure the rigors of postseason basketball, although players like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Lu Dort will be a nuisance to opponents.
Title odds: +6600
16. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix added some necessary size on the wing with Miles Bridges while shifting Collin Gillespie into a sixth-man type of role. With Luke Kennard now also on the second unit, the two should help balance out a bench that had the league's sixth-worst field-goal percentage (44.5%) last year.
Title odds: +15000
17. Charlotte Hornets
Can the Hornets' offense keep buzzing in the post-LaMelo Ball era? Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller have an opportunity to step into bigger offensive roles. The offseason additions of Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, and Royce O'Neale should compensate for the loss of Ball's outside shooting.
Title odds: +10000
18. Portland Trail Blazers
New coach Micah Nori seems to have settled on a veteran backcourt of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant, leaving impending restricted free agent Scoot Henderson to audition for a new contract off the bench. Henderson should still get plenty of opportunities, however, since Shaedon Sharpe's expected to be sidelined until 2027.
Title odds: +7500
19. Orlando Magic
The Magic moved on from head coach Jamahl Mosley following their third straight first-round playoff exit. Can his successor, Sean Sweeney, get more offense out of Orlando's roster? The Magic are nearing the second apron and lack tradable draft assets, so the improvement needs to come internally.
Title odds: +7500
20. Golden State Warriors
Perhaps no team's potential is as heavily determined by health than it is for these Warriors. Steph Curry appeared in 43 games last season, Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are recovering from long-term ailments, and Kristaps Porzingis' status remains a mystery. Play-in tourney or bust.
Title odds: +6000
21. Washington Wizards
There's an unusual optimism in Washington with prized recruit AJ Dybantsa now the centerpiece of an emerging young core. Grievances over Trae Young's four-year, $212-million deal are partially offset by the franchise's reported unwillingness to overpay Anthony Davis.
Title odds: +15000
22. Dallas Mavericks
The future is suddenly bright in Dallas following Cooper Flagg's outstanding Rookie of the Year campaign. The Duke product should take another step forward now that he's playing alongside Kyrie Irving, who missed Flagg's rookie season with a torn ACL.
Title odds: +25000
23. Utah Jazz
Utah will have Keyonte George pulling the strings behind a scary wing combo of Darryn Peterson and last year's No. 5 selection, Ace Bailey. That should simplify life for Lauri Markkanen, who also has former DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr. manning the paint behind him.
Title odds: +15000
24. Chicago Bulls
It's a brand-new day in Chicago, which has a new head coach in Tiago Splitter and a new front office now helmed by Bryson Graham. No. 4 selection Caleb Wilson gives the franchise the kind of young cornerstone talent it hasn't had in a while.
Title odds: +50000
25. New Orleans Pelicans
Aside from hiring Jamahl Mosley as their new head coach, the Pelicans' only major offseason move was signing Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year, $16-million deal. That lack of activity is surprising after New Orleans managed just 26 wins last season with a healthy Zion Williamson.
Title odds: +40000
26. Memphis Grizzlies
A strong contender for Rookie of the Year, Cameron Boozer ushers in a new era in Memphis following Ja Morant's trade to Portland. The second overall pick figures to complement the 7-foot-3 Zach Edey in what should be a nightmare of a frontcourt for opponents.
Title odds: +100000
27. Brooklyn Nets
It may be difficult to envision a scenario in which a team whose two best players are Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. doesn't finish at the bottom of arguably the league's toughest division. That said, every team starts the season with zero losses.
Title odds: +100000
28. Los Angeles Clippers
No team in NBA history has been dealt a blow as colossal as the cap-circumventing Clippers. Sure, the immediate outlook is bleak, but remember: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
Title odds: +100000
29. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks begin a new chapter with Giannis Antetokounmpo off to South Beach and Taylor Jenkins assuming head coaching duties. The development of first-round picks Brayden Burries and Nate Ament will be prioritized as Milwaukee identifies the right pieces for its rebuild.
Title odds: +100000
30. Sacramento Kings
Ben Simmons' long-awaited NBA comeback has been derailed by an Achilles tear, and it could be an ominous portent of a doomed campaign for a rebuilding Kings team. Simmons was expected to earn a spot in Doug Christie's starting five.
Title odds: +100000
US: Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET; Hope is here. Call (800)-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support (MA); Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).
CA: Please play responsibly. AB (18+) & ON (19+) only. If gambling is affecting your mental health or well-being, 211 Alberta is here to help. Call or text 211 or visit ab.211.ca (AB). Call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600. Text us at 247247 or chat with us at www.connexontario.ca (ON).
