NBA Power Rankings: Did your team fulfill or fall short of its seasonal goals?

The conclusion of the 2025-26 NBA regular season has arrived, with the final games taking place this Sunday featuring all 30 teams.

Each new season brings with it significant expectations, with some franchises achieving or surpassing their objectives while others have strayed far from the initial plans established in October.

The Oklahoma City Thunder maintained their status as the frontrunners this season, once again dominating the Western Conference, and are poised for a substantial playoff run as they aim for a repeat championship. The Dallas Mavericks, following their lottery win last year and the selection of No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, are looking ahead to next season after a disappointing inaugural year with their rookie star.

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons have surpassed all forecasts, just two seasons after finishing at the bottom of the standings with the league’s poorest record. The Boston Celtics, nearly a year after losing Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury, have firmly reestablished themselves in the playoff race.

As the regular season draws to a close, our NBA insiders analyze whether each team has met or fallen short of their preseason expectations in this final edition of the season’s power rankings.

Note: Team rankings reflect the opinions of our panel members (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill, and Zach Kram) regarding team placements.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 29 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 12 | Nov. 19 | Nov. 26 | Dec. 3 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 24 | Dec. 31 | Jan. 7 | Jan. 14 | Jan. 21 | Jan. 28 | Feb. 4 | Feb. 11 | Feb. 25 | March 4 | March 11 | March 18 | March 25 | April 1

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

• 2025-26 record: 63-16

• Previous ranking: 1

• Next games: @ LAC (April 8), @ DEN (April 10), vs. PHX (April 12)

Jalen Williams has been sidelined for 46 games this season. Isaiah Hartenstein has missed 33 games. Alex Caruso has been out for 24 games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has missed 12 games. Chet Holmgren has been unavailable for 11 games. This represents significant injury challenges for a team that is again on track for a win total in the mid-60s. While it hasn’t been as historic as the 24-1 start suggested when experts anticipated a run at the 73-win record, this team continues to demonstrate its strength in crucial moments and heads into the playoffs as the favorite to repeat. The Thunder have a record of 130-30 over the past two seasons. — Anthony Slater

2. San Antonio Spurs

• 2025-26 record: 60-19

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: vs. POR (April 8), vs. DAL (April 10), vs. DEN (April 12)

Rookie Dylan Harper set a positive tone during his introductory press conference in June, stating that the franchise’s playoff drought is “going to change pretty quickly.” The Spurs improved their win total from the previous season by over 25 games, marking the third 20-win increase in franchise history. A healthy Victor Wembanyama has delivered several MVP-caliber performances while leading a team that has developed stronger chemistry with each game. In addition to Wembanyama, the backcourt trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Harper represents San Antonio’s most talented group. While inexperience is a concern as the playoffs approach, coach Mitch Johnson has kept things light, humorously noting, “Ignorance is bliss.” The question now is whether the Spurs can be considered serious contenders. — Michael C. Wright

3. Detroit Pistons

• 2025-26 record: 57-22

• Previous ranking: 3

• Next games: vs. MIL (April 8), @ CHA (April 10), @ IND (April 12)

It is easy to overlook the forecasts that the Pistons would face challenges after losing Malik Beasley due to a gambling investigation. However, Cade Cunningham has emerged as an MVP candidate, Jalen Duren has made significant strides, and Ausar Thompson has established himself as a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year contender. Could Trajan Langdon and J.B. Bickerstaff have anticipated this? Perhaps, but it would have been on the “best-case scenarios” list. Expectations for playoff success have also risen this season. Will a single playoff series victory suffice? Or have the previously struggling Pistons reached a point where a trip to the conference finals or beyond is expected, assuming Cunningham fully recovers from his punctured lung? — Vincent Goodwill

4. Boston Celtics

• 2025-26 record: 54-25

• Previous ranking: 4

• Next games: @ NYK (April 9), vs. NO (April 10), vs. ORL (April 16)

To say that things have gone better than Boston could have anticipated is an understatement. Yes, Joe Mazzulla always expected this team to be competitive, and the term “gap year” was removed from the conversation. Not only have the Celtics been competitive, but Jayson Tatum has returned and is performing well, nearly a year after his Achilles injury last May, and securing the second seed in the East is within reach. — Tim Bontemps

5. Denver Nuggets

• 2025-26 record: 51-28

• Previous ranking: 7

• Next games: vs. MEM (April 8), vs. OKC (April 10), @ SA (April 12)

Injuries, particularly recurring hamstring issues for forwards Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, have disrupted the Nuggets’ season and significantly impacted Denver’s defensive performance. The Nuggets reached the 50-win mark and are seen as a genuine contender to win the West, primarily due to possessing the league’s top offense, led by proven champions Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, both of whom are enjoying the best statistical seasons of their careers. David Adelman has had an impressive rookie season as head coach after securing seven playoff victories in the interim role last season. — Tim MacMahon

6. New York Knicks

• 2025-26 record: 51-28

• Previous ranking: 5

• Next games: vs. BOS (April 9), vs. TOR (April 10), vs. CHA (April 12)

No team, not even the reigning champion Thunder, had such clear expectations entering the season as the Knicks. Finals or bust. Mike Brown was brought in to expand the rotation, develop the bench, and reduce reliance on the starters. Check, check, and check. Karl-Anthony Towns is under scrutiny, Jalen Brunson remains their primary option, and yet they have been an inconsistent team that can impress one night and confuse the next. They feature a top-three offense and rank seventh in defense, yet questions remain. June is approaching, but May awaits as everything will be revealed in the postseason. — Goodwill

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

• 2025-26 record: 50-29

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: vs. ATL (April 8), @ ATL (April 10), vs. WAS (April 12)

Despite a fluctuating regular season that has positioned the Cavs to finish as the No. 4 seed in the East, the perception of the 2025-26 season as a success will hinge on the upcoming months. Cleveland made what is likely the most significant gamble of the NBA season by trading away 26-year-old guard Darius Garland for 36-year-old James Harden—a win-now strategy that shortens their contention window but could redeem an inconsistent campaign with a strong playoff performance. — Jamal Collier

8. Houston Rockets

• 2025-26 record: 50-29

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: vs. PHI (April 9), vs. MIN (April 10), vs. MEM (April 12)

The arrival of Kevin Durant brought hope to an organization that believed it was just an offensive catalyst away from making a serious playoff push after last season’s first-round exit. However, veteran Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL during an unofficial workout in the Bahamas prior to training camp, leaving the Rockets without a true point guard. Compounding the issue, center Steven Adams sustained a season-ending ankle injury, leading Houston to employ a committee approach to running the offense throughout the season. While it appeared disjointed at times, the offense improved as the season progressed. The injury challenges allowed younger players like Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason to gain valuable experience, which could ultimately benefit them in the playoffs. — Wright

9. Atlanta Hawks

• 2025-26 record: 45-34

• Previous ranking: 11

• Next games: @ CLE (April 8), vs. CLE (April 10), @ MIA (April 12)

When Trae Young was injured in the fifth game of the season, the Hawks shifted their focus to Jalen Johnson. Johnson emerged as a standout, Nickeil Alexander-Walker surpassed expectations, and the Hawks adjusted by trading Young and Kristaps Porzingis while acquiring CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga to better align with coach Quin Snyder’s system. They have gone 18-3 since February 22. Although the Hawks could finish as high as fifth, which would be a significant achievement given their transformation since October, there are currently no expectations. Whatever they accomplish for the remainder of this season is bonus as they aim to provide Johnson and this young group with playoff experience while hoping that the unprotected first-round pick they possess from New Orleans turns into a high selection and a potential key addition to their core for 2026-27. — Ohm Youngmisuk

10. Los Angeles Lakers

• 2025-26 record: 50-29

• Previous ranking: 6

• Next games: @ GS (April 9), vs. PHX (April 10), vs. UTAH (April 12)

After an impressive March in which L.A. went 15-2 to rise to No. 3 in the West while Luka Doncic’s MVP campaign gained momentum, the Lakers faced a day that will be remembered for its significance last Thursday. During a 43-point loss to the Thunder, Doncic sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and Austin Reaves suffered a left oblique strain—injuries that will sideline both players for weeks and jeopardize the team’s postseason aspirations. These unfortunate injuries have overshadowed a resilient season for the Lakers, where second-year coach JJ Redick adapted with the team and LeBron James excelled in a third-option role. — Dave McMenamin

11. Minnesota Timberwolves

• 2025-26 record: 47-32

• Previous ranking: 9

• Next games: @ ORL (April 8), @ HOU (April 10), vs. NO (April 12)

Following back-to-back seasons that concluded with trips to the Western Conference finals, this season has been unusual for Minnesota. The Timberwolves will again secure a top-six seed by the end of the regular season, but with injuries to stars Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, it is challenging to envision a repeat of last postseason’s success. The Wolves will need to navigate through Denver and San Antonio first to return to the conference finals. — Bontemps

12. Charlotte Hornets

• 2025-26 record: 43-37

• Previous ranking: 15<img src