NBA (National Basketball Association): power rankings
Season 2026/27 · updated 13 October 2026
The strongest team by the model is Oklahoma City Thunder: +7.1 points per game against an average team on a neutral floor. The regular season starts on 20 October; until then this is a pre-season ranking: last season’s strength, of which every team keeps 70% — rosters change between seasons.
- Best offenceMiami Heat3.9 points per game above an average team
- Best defenceNew York Knicks6.1 fewer points allowed per game than an average team
Ranking
Rating — points margin per game against an average team on a neutral floor: offence (points scored above an average team) plus defence (points allowed below it).
| # | Team | Rating | Off. | Def. | Proj. | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | +7.1 | +2.5 | +4.6 | 57–23 | 21 October · at San Antonio Spurs (2) |
| 2 | San Antonio Spurs | +6.9 | +2.6 | +4.2 | 56–24 | 21 October · Oklahoma City Thunder (1) |
| 3 | New York Knicks | +6.7 | +0.6 | +6.1 | 56–24 | 21 October · Philadelphia 76ers (19) |
| 4 | Boston Celtics | +4.8 | −0.9 | +5.8 | 52–28 | 20 October · at Detroit Pistons (5) |
| 5 | Detroit Pistons | +4.6 | 0.0 | +4.5 | 51–29 | 20 October · Boston Celtics (4) |
| 6 | Charlotte Hornets | +3.2 | +0.1 | +3.1 | 48–32 | 22 October · at Brooklyn Nets (29) |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | +2.9 | +3.9 | −1.0 | 47–33 | 23 October · at Oklahoma City Thunder (1) |
| 8 | Houston Rockets | +2.6 | −1.4 | +4.0 | 47–33 | 22 October · Dallas Mavericks (23) |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | +2.4 | +1.7 | +0.7 | 46–34 | 23 October · at Philadelphia 76ers (19) |
| 10 | Toronto Raptors | +2.0 | −0.3 | +2.4 | 45–35 | 22 October · Chicago Bulls (22) |
| 11 | Minnesota Timberwolves | +1.6 | +0.5 | +1.1 | 43–37 | 22 October · at Miami Heat (15) |
| 12 | Los Angeles Lakers | +1.4 | −0.3 | +1.7 | 43–37 | 22 October · Golden State Warriors (20) |
| 13 | Atlanta Hawks | +1.3 | +1.9 | −0.7 | 42–38 | 22 October · at Orlando Magic (17) |
| 14 | Los Angeles Clippers | +1.2 | −0.4 | +1.6 | 43–37 | 22 October · Sacramento Kings (28) |
| 15 | Miami Heat | +1.1 | +3.9 | −2.9 | 42–38 | 22 October · Minnesota Timberwolves (11) |
| 16 | Phoenix Suns | +0.7 | −1.6 | +2.4 | 42–38 | 22 October · at Portland Trail Blazers (18) |
| 17 | Orlando Magic | +0.6 | −1.0 | +1.6 | 42–38 | 22 October · Atlanta Hawks (13) |
| 18 | Portland Trail Blazers | +0.1 | −0.8 | +0.9 | 40–40 | 22 October · Phoenix Suns (16) |
| 19 | Philadelphia 76ers | −0.6 | −0.3 | −0.3 | 39–41 | 21 October · at New York Knicks (3) |
| 20 | Golden State Warriors | −0.9 | −0.5 | −0.4 | 38–42 | 22 October · at Los Angeles Lakers (12) |
| 21 | New Orleans Pelicans | −2.5 | +0.7 | −3.2 | 34–46 | 22 October · Indiana Pacers (24) |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | −3.6 | +1.1 | −4.7 | 31–49 | 22 October · at Toronto Raptors (10) |
| 23 | Dallas Mavericks | −3.7 | 0.0 | −3.7 | 32–48 | 22 October · at Houston Rockets (8) |
| 24 | Indiana Pacers | −4.0 | −0.4 | −3.6 | 31–49 | 22 October · at New Orleans Pelicans (21) |
| 25 | Milwaukee Bucks | −4.5 | −3.0 | −1.5 | 29–51 | 22 October · at Washington Wizards (30) |
| 26 | Memphis Grizzlies | −4.8 | −0.1 | −4.7 | 28–52 | 22 October · Utah Jazz (27) |
| 27 | Utah Jazz | −5.7 | +1.4 | −7.1 | 27–53 | 22 October · at Memphis Grizzlies (26) |
| 28 | Sacramento Kings | −5.9 | −2.1 | −3.7 | 25–55 | 22 October · at Los Angeles Clippers (14) |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets | −7.1 | −6.5 | −0.6 | 23–57 | 22 October · Charlotte Hornets (6) |
| 30 | Washington Wizards | −7.8 | −1.2 | −6.6 | 22–58 | 22 October · Milwaukee Bucks (25) |
How it is calculated
The rating is the same team strength the season forecast runs on: the average points margin against an average team of the league on a neutral floor. It comes from game margins (overtime included), adjusted for the opponents and for home court (currently about 1.8 points). Last season is the starting point, but a team keeps only 70% of that level: rosters change between seasons. Until the season’s first game that is the whole rating — a pre-season one. After that this season’s games decide, the latest counting most: injuries and trades change a team during the season too.
Offence and defence are worked out the same way from points scored and allowed: how many points per game a team scores above an average team and how many fewer it allows. Together they add up to the rating. They are per game, not per possession: a fast team scores more and allows more.