NBA Power Rankings: The overlooked contributors from all 30 teams

With less than a month remaining in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, teams are already securing their positions for the playoffs while others are conceding their chances of continuing into June.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are the only two teams to at least secure a playoff berth, both demonstrating strong performances in a competitive Western Conference. While these championship contenders have largely solidified their positions thanks to the efforts of superstars — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama are both in the MVP conversation this season — success in the NBA frequently hinges on contributions from lesser-known players.

Alongside the updated 1-30 rankings, our NBA analysts are highlighting one underrated player from each team — ranging from emerging talents on playoff teams to seasoned veterans providing a late-season boost for squads aiming for the lottery.

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

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 | Mar. 4 | Mar. 11

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: 54-15

• Previous ranking: 1

• Next games: @ BKN (Mar. 18), @ WAS (Mar. 21), @ PHI (Mar. 23)

While bigger names were traded at the deadline, Sam Presti’s acquisition of Jared McCain from Philadelphia in exchange for Houston’s 2026 first-round pick (along with three second-round picks) could prove to be as significant as any move in the current championship race. While other contenders were relatively inactive, the Thunder added a second-year guard with a growing reputation as a scoring spark off the bench. It remains to be seen how McCain will integrate into a full playoff rotation in OKC, but he has made 43.8% of his three-point attempts and averaged 11.4 points off the bench in his 17 games since the trade, contributing to the injury-plagued Thunder’s recent nine-game winning streak. — Anthony Slater

2. San Antonio Spurs

• 2025-26 record: 51-18

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: vs. PHX (Mar. 19), vs. IND (Mar. 21), @ MIA (Mar. 23)

Rookie guard Dylan Harper has played a crucial role in the Spurs achieving their first 50-win season since 2016-17, ending an eight-season drought. Prior to this, San Antonio had recorded at least 50 wins every season from 1999-2000 to 2016-17. The second overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Harper serves as the sixth man in what is arguably the strongest backcourt in the league. Although he has missed the last two games due to a bruised right calf, he was instrumental in the Spurs winning 18 of their last 20 games leading up to Tuesday night. — Michael C. Wright

3. Detroit Pistons

• 2025-26 record: 49-19

• Previous ranking: 4

• Next games: @ WAS (Mar. 19), vs. GSW (Mar. 20), vs. LAL (Mar. 23)

The importance of Isaiah Stewart cannot be overstated, and his absence is keenly felt when he is not on the court. The Pistons managed to navigate his seven-game suspension, but now a troublesome left calf has been diagnosed as a strain, sidelining him for at least a week. As the league’s premier rim protector, the Pistons are cautious with him as they approach the playoffs. Last postseason, he was limited to just 19 minutes in a pivotal Game 1 against the Knicks. — Vincent Goodwill

4. Boston Celtics

• 2025-26 record: 45-23

• Previous ranking: 3

• Next games: vs. GSW (Mar. 18), @ MEM (Mar. 20), vs. MIN (Mar. 22)

After limited playing time last year following a late first-round selection, the 25-year-old Baylor Scheierman has become a reliable rotation player under coach Joe Mazzulla this season, shooting 38% from beyond the arc and consistently providing energy off the bench on the wings. — Tim Bontemps

5. New York Knicks

• 2025-26 record: 45-25

• Previous ranking: 5

• Next games: @ BKN (Mar. 20), vs. WAS (Mar. 22), vs. NO (Mar. 24)

The long-term strategy to keep Mitchell Robinson on the court has been difficult to argue against. The Knicks spent the initial months of the season managing his minutes, avoiding back-to-backs, and generally keeping him out of risky situations. They are optimistic he will be able to log significant minutes in the playoffs, and it is evident why he has become a key component of their offense. Robinson’s offensive rebounding (4.4) frequently leads to three-point opportunities and helps him avoid foul trouble. Last Friday against the Pacers, he played a season-high 31 minutes, securing nine of his season-high 22 rebounds on the offensive end. — Goodwill

6. Los Angeles Lakers

• 2025-26 record: 43-25

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: @ HOU (Mar. 18), @ MIA (Mar. 19), @ ORL (Mar. 21), @ DET (Mar. 23)

As the only Laker to participate in every game this season, Jake LaRavia has been a crucial asset for coach JJ Redick. Although his recent struggles from long range have garnered attention (he’s 1-for-14 from three-point range in March), he remains one of L.A.’s most adaptable defenders and contributes in various ways on the court, averaging 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. — Dave McMenamin

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

• 2025-26 record: 42-27

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: @ CHI (Mar. 19), @ NO (Mar. 21), vs. ORL (Mar. 24)

Second-year guard Jaylon Tyson has stepped up as a significant contributor for the Cavaliers, filling in as a starter during the early part of the season while the team dealt with injuries and finding his place as a reserve following the trade deadline. He ranks third in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (45.7% on 4.5 attempts per game), making him an effective complement alongside Donovan Mitchell and James Harden — Tyson has found success as a screener in pick-and-roll situations with the Cavs’ stars. — Jamal Collier

8. Denver Nuggets

• 2025-26 record: 42-27

• Previous ranking: 9

• Next games: @ MEM (Mar. 18), vs. TOR (Mar. 20), vs. POR (Mar. 22), @ PHX (Mar. 24)

Tim Hardaway Jr. has emerged as one of the best values in the league on a veteran minimum contract. The 34-year-old guard has provided the Nuggets with a much-needed offensive spark off the bench, averaging 13.9 points in 27.2 minutes per game leading up to Tuesday night. He is tied for 13th in the league with 188 three-pointers made and is shooting 41.0% from long distance. — Tim MacMahon

9. Houston Rockets

• 2025-26 record: 41-26

• Previous ranking: 7

• Next games: vs. LAL (Mar. 18), vs. ATL (Mar. 20), vs. MIA (Mar. 21), @ CHI (Mar. 23)

Reed Sheppard has made only 10 starts this season, but Houston’s struggling offense needs to determine how to best utilize the boost the sharpshooting sixth man can offer from beyond the arc while minimizing his defensive liabilities. Kevin Durant accepted responsibility on Monday for another late-game collapse against the Lakers, stating, “I’m the offense. And the opposing team is going to use all [its] resources to not let me get comfortable.” Houston managed just 35 points and had more turnovers (17) than field goals (14) in the second half. The challenge is that when teams double Durant, the Rockets find it difficult to capitalize on the resulting matchup advantages. — Wright

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

• 2025-26 record: 42-27

• Previous ranking: 6

• Next games: vs. UTAH (Mar. 18), vs. POR (Mar. 20), @ BOS (Mar. 22)

The 25-year-old guard Bones Hyland has revitalized his career in Minnesota under Wolves president Tim Connelly, who selected him in the first round in Denver. Hyland, who is shooting 38.5% from three-point range and providing an offensive lift off the bench, will be crucial in the upcoming games with Anthony Edwards sidelined due to right knee inflammation. — Bontemps

11. Orlando Magic

• 2025-26 record: 38-30

• Previous ranking: 13

• Next games: @ CHA (Mar. 19), vs. LAL (Mar. 21), vs. IND (Mar. 23), @ CLE (Mar. 24)

Orlando’s front office deserves recognition for its recent draft selections. Not only did it pick Anthony Black outside the top 10, but it also selected forward Tristan da Silva. Since the All-Star break, da Silva has started twelve of fifteen games, averaging 12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and shooting 50% from the field. For the season, the lineup of Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, da Silva, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter has a plus-15.9 points per 100 possessions. — Bobby Marks

12. Phoenix Suns

• 2025-26 record: 39-30

• Previous ranking: 12

• Next games: @ SA (Mar. 19), vs. MIL (Mar. 21), vs. TOR (Mar. 22), vs. DEN (Mar. 24)

Jordan Goodwin signed a two-way contract with the Lakers last February, had it converted to a standard contract in March, was waived in July, and was quickly picked up by Phoenix, where he has become an essential role player on both ends of the floor. The sturdy 6-foot-3 combo guard is averaging 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals off the bench for a surprising Suns team that entered Tuesday ten games over .500. — McMenamin