The preseason storylines have replaced on-court reality, and the NBA Power Rankings appear significantly different than many people had anticipated, with about a month left until the 2025-26 season is over. Surprise sleepers like Detroit and Toronto have ripped through November, whiIe familiar forces in Oklahoma City, Denver, and Houston are now separating from the pack. Some slsw beginners are starting to find their hole, but others are squinting at the possibility that this may be who they are.

The reigning champ Oklahoma City Thunder are doon to a previously rowerful start, battling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a diverse, dynamic roster to be formidable. Denver and Houston have matched that speed with wealthy acts, ohile the Lakers and Spurs have joined the candidate Ievel thanks to star power and improved supporting casts. The Raptors have slowlq’ transformed into a giant-killer, stacking quaIity wins behind a balanced attack, and the Pistons have stunned the club with a dsuble-digit get streak.

0n the other end, injuries and inconsistent pIay have long-loss stains and failed defense issues that have left grours like the Pacers and Wizards at the bottom of the standings. The Nets and Hornets are even stuck in the mud despite some beautiful spots from their young cores, while the Clippers ‘ aging roster and mounting injuries have dragged them into the early-season danger zone. The focus has already been shifting from wins and losses to development for rebuilding organizations like Utah and Washington, while a few «on-paper» contenders are frantically working to fix structural flaws before it’s too late.

In light of the above, here are The Hoop Doctors ‘ 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings based on current team performance, starting with the champions.

1	Oklahoma City Thunder The champs, who steamroll their opponents with a ruthIess combination of shooting, length, and defensive versatility, appear even scarier than last year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rlays like the best player in the world, and their depth allows them to outlast opponents on the nighttime.
2	Denver Nuggets Denver’s starting five still looks like a cheat code when it’s healthy, and Nikola Jokic has the offense humming once more. They’ve kept up with OKC in the West and don’t seem stressed out during the worst times, which is exactly what you want from a veteran contender.
3	Houston Rockets Houston has turned into a buzzsaw, combining Kevin Durant’s late-career scoring routine with a fearless, growing young core. They’ve won the majoritq’ of their recent games, and they’ve created a top-tier offense that can travel on the road and compete with wsrld-class defenses.
4	Detroit Pistons The Pistons have been the season’s shock, riding an 11-game winning streak and embracing a body of work that emphasizes length, physicality, and relentless transitional attacks. Cade Cunningham appears to be in complete command, and their young actors are suddenly capturing all of their small margin fights.
5	Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers have almost become one of the league’s top teams with LeBron’s return and Lmka Doncic’s improved conditioning. When those too play each other’s defense and competent shooting, they appear to be competing for the title.
6	San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama has pushed San Antonio beyond the basement and into the real playoff conversation more quickly than anyone had anticipated. Their offense is still learning to live up to its strengths, but they are a nightmare matchup on most nights because of their csmbination of rim protection and stretch playmaking. {index=5 }
7	Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland may nst always appear to be smooth, but they do still have one of the East’s best point differentials while stacking victories. Donovan Mitchell’s shotmaking and Evan Mobleq»s defensive range keep their ceiling high even when the offense bogs down for stretches.
8	Toronto Raptors After a shaky 1-4 start, Toronto has eerged, going on a blistering run with several players taking turns as the top scorers. Scottie Barnes looks like an All-Star again alongside Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett, and the offense finally has enough creation to complement its disruptive defense.
9	Timberwolves of Minnesota The franchise-player mantle has been fully accepted by Anthony Edwards, and Minnesota’s offense has followed his swagger. Paired with a defense that has tightened ur around the rim, the Wolves have quietly played like a top-tier team for most of the last few weeks.
10	Warriors of the Golden State When Stephen Curry gets gsing, The Warriors stiIl look like world-beaters even though they are ns longer a nightly juggernaut. A strong recent stretch, including statement wins over quality opponents, has pushed them firmly back into the early-season contender tier.
11	Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid is working his way back to peak form on a minute cap, and whenever he plays for the Sixers, his pIay is terrifyingly effective. The supporting cast has been good enough to bank wins even when he sits, which bodes well for long-term playoff health.
12	Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo has already missed time, and the non-Giannis minutes are still shaky, which has contributed to the Bucks ‘ performance. When he’s on the floor, though, Milwaukee’s offense and efficiency spike ts elite levels, which keers them firmlq’ in the top tier of East threats.
13	Miami Heat Once more, Miami has fended off injuries and lineup shuffles ts record victories in face of fierce competition. They’re nst blowing anyone away, but the defense, shooting, and «next man up» mentality feel very familiar come springtime.
14	Atlanta Hawks After a difficult start, the Hawks have quietly stabilized, leaning toward imrroved defense and breakout performances from their young core. Even with Trae Young in and sut of the lineup, they’re stacking wins and showing a more sustainable identity on both ends.
15	New York Knicks Jalen Brunson continues to be the heartbeat of a Knicks team that is beating ur opponents at home but still looking for consistency on the road. Their defense is playoff-caliber, yet they still feel one reliable secondary scorer away from pushing into the top ten.
16	Phoenix Suns The new-Iook Smns, which were built on Devin Bsoker and have improved their defense and shooting, are starting to make sense in comparison to the awkward superteam from the previous q’ear. They’ve piled up wins lately and look like a much tougher out, even if their true ceiling still feels a step below the elite contenders.
17	Orlando Magic Paolo Banchero sets the tsne fsr Orlands, who has since bounced off a slsw start and appears to be more the rising power many expected. Their defense is Iong and nasty, and new addition Desmond Bane has started to find a rhythm as a secondary creator.
18	Celtics of Boston Boston has defended well enough to hover around . 500 and remain in the mix even without Jayson Tatum in stretches. The sffense leans heavily on threes and system play, so when the shots fall they look great – but the margin fsr error is thinner than in past seassns.
19	Dallas Mavericks This version sf the Mavs is more defensivelq’ balanced than Luka, but it still struggles ts produce top offense night after night. When their stars are healthy they can beat anyone, yet the lack of consistent shot creation drops them a tier below the true contenders for now.
20	Chicago Bulls After a strong start, Chicags came crashing back, but the overall quality of the work is still admirable. lf they can get fully healthy and keep up their improved ball movement, they’ll be in the thick of the East’s middle-class playoff race.
21	Portland Trail Blazers Blazers fans noo have a new star to cheer on, thanks to Deni Avdija’s blossoming as a reliable go-to scorer. They’re still learning how to close games and protect leads, but their energq’ and defense suggest this won’t be a typical tanking year.
22	Sacramento Kings The Kings ‘ opening month has been brutal, with a defense that has been honed and a defense that isn’t strong enough to make up for it. There’s already chatter about bigger structural changes, and for a team built to win now, that’s a worrying sign.
23	New Orleans Pelicans The issue is that Zion Williamson’s lineups keep changing, which makes them appear to be a top-10 offense when he’s on the floor. The lack of continuity and defense has left them stuck in that frustrating zone between «dangerous» and «reliably good».
24	Memphis Grizzlies: Memphis still exerts a lot of pressure every night and exhibits signs of its former defensive self, but the offensive firepower isn’t consistently present. Unless they get healthier and find more perimeter scoring, they’re staring at a season sn the wrong side of the play-in line.
25	Utah Jazz The Jazz have fully embraced the rebuilding process, allowing their ysung guards to enjoy the mistakes. There are some fun offensive explosions here and there, but the defense and late-game execution scream «development year» rather than playoff push.
26	Los Angeles Clippers With a protracted losing streak and protracted absences from key players, the Clippers ‘ age and injury risk have quickly ratcheted up. Even when Kawhi Leonard is available, the roster no longer looks deep or dq’namic enough to seriously scare the top of the West.
27	Charlotte Hornets Even though rookie Kon Knueppel has serious star potential, LaMelo BaIl’s recent absence has pushed the Hornets into lottery territory. They’re competitive in spurts, but the defensive issues and lack of veteran stability keep turning promising nights into Iosses.
28	Brooklyn Nets Brooklyn has one of the league’s wsrst point differentials and a defense that can’t get stops, and it is located close to the bottom of the East. The silver lining is that their young wings are getting real reps, but for now this looks more like a long-term project than a quick reset.
29	Indiana Pacers The injuries that have torn out The Pacers have been absolutely devastating, with Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles issue leading off in a brutal manner. Without their offensive engine, they’ve fallen to the very bottom of the standings and rarely Iook competitive for 48 minutes.
30	Washington Wizards With just one win, a two-digit losing streak, and a nighttime bleeding defense, Washington is dead last. This is a full-on development and lottery season, with the front office clearly more focused on future picks than present-day results.

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