2025 NBA Power Rankings: Evaluating all 30 teams heading into February

With the 2024-25 regular season underway, our latest NBA power rankings offer an evaluation of all 30 clubs in the association. Along with an appraisal of every squad around the league, you can also stay up to date with the upcoming slate of games on the NBA schedule and see who are the 50 best NBA players right now.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at where every NBA team ranks heading into 2025.

Also Read: 20 Worst NBA players of all-time, including Greg Oden

The 10 worst NBA teams right now

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30. Washington Wizards (Last Week: 30)

Even with new head coach Brian Keefe, the Washington Wizards remain one of the league’s worst teams. They have an atrocious defense and have also struggled for much of the season to put points on the board. Top star Kyle Kuzma having one of his worst seasons in years isn’t helping either. The team is in the midst of a 13-game losing skid and playing as bad as last season’s Detroit Pistons squad. It is another lost season in DC. The only hope for some on the roster is an escape via a trade before the Feb. 6 deadline.

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29. Utah Jazz (Last Week: 28)

In year three as head coach, Will Hardy and his team have taken another step back. And despite getting a massive contract extension in the summer, top star Lauri Markkanen has seemingly regressed further in his third season in Salt Lake City. They have lost 10 of 11 as we close in on February and things are looking bleak.

The Jazz have the assets to make some impact trades if they want. But if team president Danny Ainge continues to remain overly patient, the Jazz are headed toward another appearance in the NBA Draft lottery this June.

28. Charlotte Hornets (Last Week: 27)

While LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller have put up some pretty good numbers this season, it has not made the Charlotte Hornets a competitive team. Despite the strong play from their backcourt, the Hornets have one of the worst records in the NBA. While they are a solid defensive team (giving up 112.2 opponent’s PPG), they are near the bottom of the league in points per game (107.5) despite having a pair of 20-plus-point scorers.

LaMelo Ball earning a spot in the All-Star game will be the only highlight of Charlotte’s first half.

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27. New Orleans Pelicans (Last Week: 24)

It has been a rough season for New Orleans Pelicans fans. They were ravaged by injuries to many of their best players over the first couple of months. And they are now just starting to get close to full health heading into February. With Zion Williamson finally back, they are showing signs of life and a potential turnaround. With a lot of season left they have the time and talent to dig themselves out of their massive hole and get back into play-in tourney contention.

26. Brooklyn Nets (Last Week: 26)

This was always expected to be a heavy rebuild year for the Brooklyn Nets. After some competitive play to begin the year, an extended slump was all the organization needed to go into full-on sell mode and trade off a couple of their better veteran players. Unfortunately for Nets fans, injuries have not allowed them to take advantage of a weaker Eastern Conference and they continue to spiral toward the bottom of the standings after going 2-13 in January.

25. Toronto Raptors (Last Week: 29)

Over the first couple of months, the Toronto Raptors were a solid group on the offensive side of the ball. However, in December and for much of January they slipped into mediocrity even with talented scorer Immanuel Quickley back from injury. It also hasn’t helped that they are among the worst defensive squads in the league (117.4 opponent’s PPG).

However, they have played better in the last couple of weeks. Scoring wins in six of seven and a pair of wins over the Hawks. They have a hole to dig out of but the East is wide open and they have time to compete for a play-in spot.

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24. Portland Trail Blazers (Last Week: 25)

The Portland Trail Blazers have a roster that should be able to contend for a play-in spot this season. However, they are once again among the worst teams in the NBA. They have no player that will even sniff an All-Star game invite or talents other teams are kicking down the door to trade for. Head coach Chauncey Billups is without a doubt on the hottest seat in the league. Fortunately for him, a recent blip of strong play to end the month may be fool’s gold for Portland fans.

23. Philadelphia 76ers (Last Week: 23)

The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA over the first half as injuries and in-fighting led to an awful first half. Despite having a trio of All-Star-level scorers, the 76ers offense has been mediocre at best this year (108.1 PPG). While their defense has been good this season, it has not been enough to get them back to relevancy. Joel Embiid’s knees continue to be a major problem and sidelining him for most of January is reason to doubt Philly will make the playoffs in 2025.

22. Chicago Bulls (Last Week: 22)

The Chicago Bulls have a pair of players — Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic — that will get All-Star consideration this season. And former first-round pick Coby White is having another strong year for the team. However, the Bulls are a Jekyll and Hyde team. On offense, they are one of the league’s best and a headache for opponents. But on defense, only the Wizards are worse. One can only imagine where they might be if they were just a middle-of-the-road team on defense.

21. San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 21)

The San Antonio Spurs have been much better than they were last season. With the help of NBA league legend Chris Paul, the team was above .500 for much of the season. However, they started to struggle in January, and the absence of head coach Gregg Popovich has surely had an effect. Nevertheless, midway through the season, they have only two fewer wins than they did all of last year.

20. Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 20)

The 2024-25 edition of the Golden State Warriors got off to a red-hot start, and after the first month, they had one of the best records in basketball. But things have completely fallen apart since then. While Stephen Curry is still a star, he can no longer do it on his own, and they badly lack a second star scorer. They have been linked to a boatload of trade rumors this month. They need to do something or they could shockingly be left outside the playoffs in 2025.

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19. Detroit Pistons (Last Week: 17)

The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA last season. However, things have turned around for Motown’s favorite Bball team this year. After a historically bad showing, the Pistons have been far more competitive than pundits ever expected this season. The growth of 2023 first-round pick Jaden Ivey has been a big factor, along with the continued health of top star Cade Cunningham.

Head coach JB Bickerstaff is putting together a solid case for Coach of the Year and heading into February the Pistons are flirting with a top-six record in the East. It has even led to surprise speculation that they could be buyers instead of sellers before the trade deadline.

18. Atlanta Hawks (Last Week: 15)

The Atlanta Hawks have been a handful for opposing defenses. Led by the face of the franchise Trae Young, the team has four players averaging 19 or more points per game at the midway point. It is why they have had a far better season than many predicted this season. However, their defense is bottom three in the league, and that is why they have a ceiling. After a recent hot streak, they have been hit by injuries that have led to a slump and falling down the latest standings.

Also Read: NBA playoffs predictions for the 2024-25 season, including who will win it all next spring

17. Miami Heat (Last Week: 18)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is again proving why he is among the very best in the sport. Despite the dark cloud that Jimmy Butler has created over the team with his contract drama, the Heat have remained competitive all season. Even with the future Hall-of-Famer out due to a suspension they are a game over .500 and a legitimate playoff contender.

The big question now is will they actually complete a Jimmy Butler trade before next week’s trade deadline? After walking out of practice recently the future Hall-of-Famer has been suspended indefinitely as he tries to force the team’s hand.

16. Orlando Magic (Last Week: 14)

The Orlando Magic got hit with a massive blow early in the season when top stars Paolo Banchero and later Franz Wagner suffered major injuries It seemed like it would be a death blow for their season. Yet, head coach Jamhal Mosely did a splendid job keeping his team competitive and thriving with their elite defense. However, a rough finish to December has extended into a poor month of January.

The team enters the next month of the season having lost eight of their last 10 and continuing to fall down the standings even with Banchero back in the lineup.

15. Sacramento Kings (Last Week: 13)

There were big expectations for an already good Sacramento Kings team that added DeMar DeRozan in the offseason. Unfortunately, they were a major letdown over the first couple of months, and it is why the organization took a very bold step by firing head coach Mike Brown at the end of December. While the move was panned by many around the league, it has delivered positive results, and the team won nine of 10 following the switch. Hope has returned to California’s capital city.

14. Dallas Mavericks (Last Week: 12)

The Dallas Mavericks were quietly having another strong season. They were a top-four club out West and a game from having the second-best record in the conference heading into the new year. Their offense was among the best in the league, and it was backed by a rock-solid defense.

However, Luka Doncic suffering a serious calf injury has completely changed the team’s trajectory for the weeks ahead. Recent injuries to players like Derek Lively and Klay Thompson have only made things tougher for head coach Jason Kidd. He will have to put forth some of his best work yet to keep Dallas from falling out of the top 10 in the West.

13. Phoenix Suns (Last Week: 19)

Heading into February, the Phoenix Suns are a team just a few games above .500. That is not what the front office expected from a group with two superstar scorers and an NBA title-winning head coach. The Suns hope moving Bradley Beal to the bench will offer him and the team better rotations in upcoming games. However, they would much rather have a potential trade that sends him out of town and lands them Heat star Jimmy Butler.

After a rough November and December, they have played better in January. Giving Phoenix fans reason to believe this may not be another disappointing season.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 16)

The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the best squads in the NBA all of last season. However, they chose to make a bold preseason trade that sent team great Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. The deal has backfired because both Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo have been disappointments in Minnesota. While their defense is still among the best in the NBA (107.7 points against) they are bottom 10 in offense without KAT being the secondary option behind Anthony Edwards.

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11. Los Angeles Clippers (Last Week: 9)

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue continues to show why he is one of the best in his field. Despite being without top star Kawhi Leonard for much of the first half due to injury, the team played far better than anyone expected. With the multi-time champion back on the court, LA has a massive upside in the weeks ahead, especially with a top-three defense. The big question will be injury injury-prone or aging star Leonard and James Harden can stay healthy.

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10. Indiana Pacers (Last Week: 10)

The Indiana Pacers had their fanbase very concerned over the first couple of months of the season. While they were never expected to be a defensive juggernaut, the regression of their offense and the poor play of top star Tyrese Haliburton confused many. Nevertheless, after a rough November, the team has played well, especially in January. They are 9-2 after the first month of 2025 and quickly moving up the standings heading into February.

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9. Los Angeles Lakers (Last Week: 11)

The expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season were not high. That’s what comes with having a new head coach who has no experience at any level. While it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride at times for the team over the first few months, LA has started to develop some real momentum heading into February. Winning six of their last seven. If they can make trades to improve some of the weak spots on the roster, the Lakers could be a surprising force in the second half.

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8. Milwaukee Bucks (Last Week: 8)

The Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the biggest stories in the NBA this season. The team with a pair of superstars and a Hall-of-Fame-worthy coach struggled badly over the first month-plus. It added to speculation that Giannis Antetokounmpo could be moved this season. However, they have played up to expectations over the last few months and have quickly risen up the standings and these power rankings.

The Bucks have been linked to potential trades for Jimmy Butler before the trade deadline. The Heat star could be the final piece in making Milwaukee the biggest threat to the Celtics.

7. Denver Nuggets (Last Week: 6)

When you have the best player on the planet, Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. Yet, over the first couple of months, the team struggled, and it led to various rumors of trades and key members of their championship team being moved. However, over the last few weeks, Denver has played well — winning 10 of 11 at one point this month. Now, a trade could be to help add to a Finals-contending team instead of trying to salvage a disappointing year.

6. Memphis Grizzlies (Last Week: 4)

The Memphis Grizzles were expected to be far better this season with superstar Ja Morant back. And so far, the results have been very good. With their superstar back they are the best-scoring team in the league (123.3 PPG) and own one of the best records in not just the West but the whole NBA. If they can make some impactful moves before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, the Grizz have a real chance to get to the Finals this spring.

5. New York Knicks (Last Week: 7)

The New York Knicks have been a surprisingly dominant offensive force this season. Their starting five which includes Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges have gelled faster on the offensive side faster than many NBA pundits expected. However, they still have a ways to go on defense. And that weakness showed in a rough start to January.

However, heading into February they have again caught fire and demolished the Kings and Grizzlies during their recent win streak.

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4. Boston Celtics (Last Week: 3)

The defending champion Boston Celtics don’t have the best record in the NBA. However, the regular season feels like a dress rehearsal for the spring. The team has played very well and is again one of the best teams in the game. But it feels like head coach Joe Mazzula is doing everything he can to make sure his team stays healthy and peaks as we get closer to the postseason later this year.

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3. Houston Rockets (Last Week: 5)

The Houston Rockets showed some late-season promise in year one for head coach Ime Udoka and have continued that momentum in the 2024-25 season. The hire continues to look like a brilliant move as the coach has turned former lottery picks that looked like they might be busts into core members of the team’s resurgence into elite status. This week was a perfect example of how good they can be when they scored consecutive wins over the Cavaliers (twice) and the Celtics.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (Last Week: 2)

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been outstanding this season under new head coach Kenny Atkinson. While they are still tough on defense like they were last season, he has helped elevate their offense to new heights and they are among the best in the NBA right now (121.8 PPG). They are deep and play with a lot of effort. There is no reason to believe they won’t be a top-five team in the league for the rest of the season. The NBA playoffs will be this team’s real proving ground.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (Last Week: 1)

The Oklahoma City Thunder have twice been hit by huge injuries this season. However, they have endured and remained one of the best squads in the NBA this season. Their defense is the best in the game (103.6 points against per game) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have felt like a new-age Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. OKC remains the team to beat out West and recently passed the Cavs for the best record in the NBA right now.

NBA stats leaders

Below our stats app offers a full rundown of the leaders in every major statistical category from the 2024-25 NBA season.

NBA Power Rankings FAQ

What is the best NBA team right now?

After starting the season with a 36-6 record, a case could be made that the Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the league right now. However, with one of the best defenses in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder (35-7) are also in the discussion as the best team in the league right now.

Who is the highest-rated NBA player?

There are many amazing players in the league today. However, after winning a third MVP award this past season, it is hard to argue that Denver star Nikola Jokic is not the best player in the league right now.

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What is the best NBA team all time?

Picking the greatest NBA team of all time is very subjective. However, if there were two popular options, it would be the Michael Jordan-led Bulls team from 1995-96 that won 73.

Another top choice would be the Warriors squad from 2015-16 which also won 73 games.

Which NBA team is most popular?

It is debated which NBA team is most popular. However, the Lakers have always had a very strong fanbase. Likewise for the Warriors and Celtics. But with the Knicks expected to be a serious title contender this season, New York’s favorite team is likely to drive a lot of interest in the 2024-25 NBA season.