NBA Power Rankings: Suns make a leap; time-capsule items to remember 2025
By now, we can tell who's good and who isn't. The year is ending, but the season is just beginning.
Album of the Week: “The Dark Side of the Moon,” Pink Floyd (1973)
If I may take a moment and let you in on something: This is the final Power Rankings of 2025.
And that’s enough reminiscing now! It’s not like we’re preparing for a great gig in the sky or anything. We’re just here to do what we do every week, and that’s to have fun with numbers and teams. Because we’re putting 2025 to bed, we’re bringing back the idea of a time capsule.
Christmas is an interesting marker in the season. We can tell who is good by now, but there’s also a team not doing so hot now that is almost guaranteed to steal a playoff spot:
East teams in top 8 previous four seasons entering Christmas that missed playoffs (replacement)
2024: Hawks (DET)
2023: 🔒
2022: Pacers (MIA)
2021: Cavaliers, Wizards, Hornets (PHI, ATL, TOR)— Law Murray 🎄 (@LawMurrayTheNU) December 25, 2025
This year is ending, but this season is just beginning.
Fine print: these Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We’ll retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers each week:
- Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league
- In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams
- The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack
- Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do
- Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear
What to expect from Power Rankings:
- These are my subjective rankings. I will consider a variety of objective measures, but it’s my final call.
- These rankings are not just a review of the past week — we are projecting forward as well, so it is a balance of the two.
- These are subjective, but not biased. There are no agendas in the Power Rankings, and we strive for an inclusive meritocracy
- The one quality that these rankings possess: “Ruthless aggression.”
- Enjoy the games, and enjoy the rankings, please!
For Week 11 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will explore an item for each team to remember 2025 by. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.
Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (27-5)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W vs MEM, L at SA, L vs SA, W vs PHI
Offensive rating: 118.5 (sixth place)
Defensive rating: 104.6 (first place)
Time Capsule: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s trophy case
Let’s address the elephant in the room first. If this were a two-team league, the Thunder would not be leading these Power Rankings. They’ve lost to the San Antonio Spurs in three states this season. But they are 27-2 against the rest of the NBA, which is who they will complete all but two of their remaining regular-season games against. Oklahoma City is still really good against the rest of the league, and Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning scoring champion, MVP, Western Conference finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP. There aren’t many players who can claim that over a career, let alone do it in one year.
2. San Antonio Spurs (23-8)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W vs OKC, W at OKC, L vs UTA
Offensive rating: 118.8 (fifth place)
Defensive rating: 112.5 (fifth place)
Time Capsule: Victor Wembanyama’s summer training
The Slenderman healed from deep vein thrombosis, shaved his head, met Harry Potter, let Kevin Garnett yell at him, went into the lab with Hakeem Olajuwon and declared beast mode. I hope he plays for 20 years. I strongly considered having San Antonio top this list, but the Spurs have lost their games immediately after playing the Thunder twice now. I know the first one didn’t count (NBA Cup vs New York Knicks), but these rankings are a vibe, and I’m willing to let Wemby cook now that he has the Spurs starting center position back from Luke Kornet.
3. Denver Nuggets (22-9)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W vs UTA, L at DAL, W vs MIN, L at ORL
Offensive rating: 124.0 (first place)
Defensive rating: 115.8 (20th place)
Time Capsule: Hawk-Eye camera from Game 4
The Nuggets were staring at a blown lead and a possible overtime at Intuit Dome that could have put them down 3-1 in their first-round playoff series against the LA Clippers before Aaron Gordon narrowly beat the buzzer with a game-winning offensive rebound and dunk. Denver wound up winning that series despite firing champion head coach Michael Malone a week before the postseason, then pushed the eventual champion Thunder to seven games in the West semifinals. As great as Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray have been this season, Denver needs Gordon back healthy, especially with Christian Braun still out and Cameron Johnson dealing with his own multi-week injury as well.
4. Detroit Pistons (24-8)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W at POR, W at SAC, L at UTA, L at LAC
Offensive rating: 116.9 (eighth place)
Defensive rating: 110.9 (second place)
Time Capsule: 13-game win streak
The Pistons’ spot at the top of the Eastern Conference was built on the strength of the longest winning streak in franchise history in November. Detroit established a level of defense and depth that could sustain all season. The Pistons have been good at avoiding extended losing streaks, but their Western Conference road trip has seen their defense falter somewhat. The Pistons survived allowing 127 points in Sacramento before Christmas, but they gave up 131 in Utah before being demolished by Kawhi Leonard — the second time the Pistons visited Intuit Dome in 2025 and allowed more than 50 points to a future Hall of Famer.
5. New York Knicks (22-9)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: L at MIN, W vs CLE, W at ATL
Offensive rating: 121.1 (third place)
Defensive rating: 114.3 (15th place)
Time Capsule: Jalen Brunson Boulevard
The Knicks made their first conference finals in a quarter-century in 2025. And they acted as if they both had never been there before and had already won a championship, giving the whole squad their own street signs just to get their head coach fired after a second-straight postseason exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. Fortunately for the Knicks, they don’t have to worry about the Pacers now. They even won the NBA Cup! But there’s no banner for that, so it can’t go in our time capsule.
Tier 2: In a Good Place
6. Houston Rockets (19-10)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: L at LAC, W at LAL, W vs CLE
Offensive rating: 121.2 (second place)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (seventh place)
Time Capsule: Fanatics Fest
The Rockets returned to the postseason in 2025, and they earned a Game 7 at home against the Golden State Warriors, only to succumb due to a lack of shooting and easy buckets. Houston went from that Game 7 to a seven-team trade, landing Kevin Durant, who found out about the move while on stage in New York during Fanatics Fest. The Rockets hit a rough patch while losing games to each of the bottom-five teams in the West, but they ran circles around the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas while coming home and blowing out the Cleveland Cavaliers without Alperen Şengün.
Tier 3: The Bubble
7. Phoenix Suns (18-13)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: W vs LAL, W at NO, W at NO
Offensive rating: 114.7 (13th place)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (10th place)
Time Capsule: Devin Booker’s extension
Death, taxes and Booker staying in Phoenix. Everything else has changed around him, though. James Jones is out. Jordan Ott is Booker’s fourth head coach in four years and eighth overall. None of Booker’s teammates played in Phoenix for Monty Williams. Durant was traded, and Bradley Beal (and Beal’s no-trade clause) was released. But Booker has a 2029 player option, so he’s committed to a Suns team that is looking to continue overachieving this season after years of underachievement.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-12)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: W vs NY, L at DEN, L vs BRK
Offensive rating: 116.4 (10th place)
Defensive rating: 112.7 (eighth place)
Time Capsule: The Believe That Awards
Anthony Edwards has his own award show, and he had Mara Wilson (aka Matilda) receive a Legacy Award. That is definitely going in the time capsule. It was a typical uneven week from Minnesota, as it took advantage of the short-handed Knicks, melted down in overtime in Denver on Christmas then laid a complete egg at home against the Brooklyn Nets.
9. Boston Celtics (19-12)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: W vs IND, W at IND, L at POR
Offensive rating: 120.8 (fourth place)
Defensive rating: 114.2 (14th place)
Time Capsule: Mikal Bridges’ steals
Boston looked like it had a great matchup in the Eastern Conference semifinals against a Knicks team that it swept in the regular season. But the Celtics failed to defend their championship, basically getting the series snatched out of the bare hands of stars Jaylen Brown (Game 1) and Jayson Tatum (Game 2) before having to sustain the disaster that was Tatum’s Achilles tendon rupture. The teardown was expected but commenced all too soon. At least the Celtics continue to ship along this season, bad loss Sunday in Portland aside.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (20-10)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: L at PHO, L vs HOU, W vs SAC
Offensive rating: 117.6 (seventh place)
Defensive rating: 117.4 (25th place)
Time Capsule: Luka Dončić Men’s Health cover
The Lakers received the gift that is the Sacramento Kings (not just any Kings — a rest-disadvantaged, short-handed Kings team that played the day before at home) to snap their first losing streak of the season. The Lakers have Dončić, so that helps snap losing streaks. Dončić becoming a Laker was the blockbuster of all blockbusters, and he was finally moved to take his fitness seriously in a way to suggest that his level of motivation was higher than ever. It has certainly felt like that at times, even if he hasn’t been at his best in December. Perhaps he needs a GQ cover to really get going again.
The Magic are a different team without Jalen Suggs on the floor. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)
11. Orlando Magic (18-14)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L at GS, W at POR, L vs CHA, W vs DEN
Offensive rating: 115.0 (11th place)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (12th place)
Time Capsule: Jalen Suggs’ neckband
I am a Suggs appreciator, and you should be as well. He’s basically Orlando’s resident NFL player masquerading as a point guard, and his Deion Sanders homage of wearing his headband around his neck before the game gets going is simply a nice touch. Suggs is dealing with another one of his injuries, this time a hip contusion that has had him out of commission since the Magic made it to Las Vegas, and Orlando has been a .500 team in his absence.
12. Toronto Raptors (19-14)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: W at MIA, L at WAS, W vs GS
Offensive rating: 113.9 (18th place)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (sixth place)
Time Capsule: Scottie Barnes at center
I wasn’t sure what I was going to put here, and then Scottie Barnes started at center in place of the injured Jakob Poeltl next to Immanuel Quickley, a returning RJ Barrett, trade acquisition Brandon Ingram and usual reserve Ochai Agbaji. Barnes had a game to remember forever, outrebounding the entire Golden State Warriors starting lineup 25-19 by himself as part of a 23-point, 10-assist triple-double. Barnes added three steals for good measure. The Raptors were outscored by 29 points in Barnes’ minutes at Washington, but then he does things like this to show how critical he is to Toronto’s success.
13. Miami Heat (17-15)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: L vs TOR, W at ATL, W vs IND
Offensive rating: 114.2 (17th place)
Defensive rating: 112.0 (fourth place)
Time Capsule: Jimmy Butler’s joy
Butler played the first two days of 2025 with the Miami Heat, said he probably won’t find his missing joy playing for the franchise, then found himself suspended immediately and traded a month later. Miami has had to deal with the fallout ever since. It hasn’t been easy, with the Heat making the playoffs as a 10th seed only to get annihilated by Cleveland. This season began with a jolt, but a five-game losing streak this month brought the Heat back to .500. Teams know the Heat are playing fast now, but the jury is still out on whether Miami is talented enough to sustain the success it had to begin this season.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-16)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: W vs CHA, W vs NO, L at NY, L at HOU
Offensive rating: 116.4 (ninth place)
Defensive rating: 114.7 (16th place)
Time Capsule: Tyrese Haliburton’s offensive rebound
When last season’s East semifinals began, the Cavaliers had a regular-season and postseason combined record of 68-18 and had just finished the most lopsided four-game sweep in NBA postseason history. Cleveland is 18-20 dating back to the start of the Pacers series, though, and the Cavs’ swag has never recovered from Tyrese Haliburton rebounding his missed free throw in Game 2 and stepping back on the departed Ty Jerome for a game-winning 3-pointer. It’s looking more and more like this season will be the last of Cleveland’s star core that has been together for four seasons.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (16-14)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: L vs BRK, L at CHI, L at OKC
Offensive rating: 113.8 (19th place)
Defensive rating: 113.7 (13th place)
Time Capsule: VJ Edgecombe’s debut jersey
The Sixers had to tank extra hard to improve their chances of keeping a 2025 lottery pick. Even former Sixer Tobias Harris noted how Philadelphia lost 27 of its last 31 games (and had the good fortune of a Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl parade to mask the stench). But Philadelphia lucked out and got the third pick in the draft, and then Edgecombe went out and scored a Sixers NBA debut record 34 points in his first game. Edgecombe hasn’t scored 30 in a game since, and he missed 13 of 16 shots in Oklahoma City. But for Philadelphia, that’s better than Edgecombe going somewhere else.
16. Golden State Warriors (16-16)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: W vs ORL, W vs DAL, L at TOR
Offensive rating: 113.4 (21st place)
Defensive rating: 111.5 (third place)
Time Capsule: Jonathan Kuminga’s holding patterns
Kuminga was a talking point all of 2025 for one reason or another. No, Kuminga didn’t get traded. No, Kuminga did not fit in last season once Butler was acquired and the Warriors started playing extremely well. No, Kuminga’s contract situation was not resolved in a timely manner, leading the Warriors to basically sit out the summer transaction period and come away with sciatica patients Al Horford and Seth Curry and not much else. And now Kuminga is alone on Golden State’s bench, having played more than 21 minutes once since Nov. 12, while the Warriors wait (again) for a date to facilitate his trade. I’m looking forward to not talking about this in 2026.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear
17. Memphis Grizzlies (15-17)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: L at OKC, W at UTA, W vs MIL, L at WAS
Offensive rating: 112.7 (23rd place)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (11th place)
Time Capsule: Washington State Cougars
Memphis has had its ups and downs this season. Getting swept by the Wizards with a chance to get back to .500 is a new low. At least the Grizzlies are getting a real lift from whoever is scouting the Pacific Northwest as if the franchise is still based in Vancouver (bring back the Sonics, by the way). The year started with second-round pick Jaylen Wells nearly snatching Rookie of the Year honors, coming in third place despite being the 39th pick in the draft. Then the Grizzlies went back to the well (sorry), trading up with Portland to select Cedric Coward, despite Coward recovering from shoulder surgery. Now, the two wings are starting together. Hopefully, Memphis can actually get its ideal starting lineup to last more than a week: Wells and Coward have played a total of five minutes this season with Zach Edey, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
18. Milwaukee Bucks (13-19)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: W at IND, L at MEM, W at CHI
Offensive rating: 112.6 (24th place)
Defensive rating: 115.7 (17th place)
Time Capsule: Antetokounmpo Family Reunion
The Bucks have had a series of significant transactions in 2025, all while holding off on the one that anyone with access to a trade machine keeps trying to make with Giannis Antetokounmpo. This was the year that Milwaukee parted ways with 2021 champions Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton. The Bucks also waived Damian Lillard, the star whom Milwaukee traded Jrue Holiday to acquire, after Lillard tore his Achilles tendon in the postseason. Milwaukee signed Myles Turner as a Lopez replacement and has marooned him outside the 3-point line. And, of course, Milwaukee added Giannis’ brothers Thanasis (29 minutes this season) and Alex (319 G-League minutes) to the roster. All Giannis can do for now is hope a windmill provides a spark for a team that is 3-11 without him this season.
19. Chicago Bulls (15-16)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: W at ATL, W vs PHI, L vs MIL
Offensive rating: 113.6 (20th place)
Defensive rating: 117.2 (23rd place)
Time Capsule: Josh Giddey half-court game-winning buzzer-beater
When Giddey hit that 3 against the Lakers in March, I thought Stacey King was actually going to bring Elizabeth back to life. The whole ending was chaotic bliss. Chicago’s season of runs is back on an upswing, as it used a win streak that reached five games Friday against the 76ers to reach .500 before Giannis’ Saturday night windmill.
Trae Young is back from injury, but that hasn’t been good news for Atlanta. (Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
20. Atlanta Hawks (15-18)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L vs CHI, L vs MIA, L vs NY
Offensive rating: 114.6 (15th place)
Defensive rating: 115.8 (19th place)
Time Capsule: The Play-In Tournament
At this point, the Hawks are an eternal fixture in the abyss that is the East Play-In Tournament. The Hawks failed in it as a No. 8 seed this past spring, and despite a 13-10 record without Trae Young, the Hawks find themselves on a six-game losing streak that commenced as soon as Young returned from his knee injury. Atlanta can’t defend at all with Young on the floor, and it’s worse this season than it’s ever been.
21. Utah Jazz (12-19)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: L at DEN, L vs MEM, W vs DET, W at SA
Offensive rating: 115.0 (12th place)
Defensive rating: 121.3 (29th place)
Time Capsule: Player Participation Policy fine
We have seen some Player Participation Policy fines in 2025 — Cleveland was fined twice this season — but the Jazz were actively tanking when they were fined in March for sitting Lauri Markkanen. This season, Markkanen is making good teams wish he sat more. He continues to score at a level he has never scored before, and he averaged 29.5 points in wins over the Pistons and Spurs defenses on back-to-back nights. He’s only missed four games. If the Jazz are not tanking, then Utah is going to be relevant at least in the Play-In Tournament hunt.
22. Brooklyn Nets (10-19)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: W at PHI, W at MIN
Offensive rating: 112.4 (25th place)
Defensive rating: 115.8 (18th place)
Time Capsule: Five first-round picks
The Nets really walked out of draft night like LeBron James at the Heatles pep rally. They used all of the picks! But also, the Nets are kind of a problem right now. They’re literally December’s best defense, holding foes to 44 percent shooting from the field while permitting only 9.9 3s per game this month. Even with Cam Thomas back and getting buckets, the Nets found time for all five of their first-round picks in a blowout win Saturday at Minnesota.
23. LA Clippers (10-21)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: W vs HOU, W at POR, W vs DET
Offensive rating: 114.4 (16th place)
Defensive rating: 117.7 (26th place)
Time Capsule: Trees
It’s been such a nasty season for the Clippers that a four-game win streak still has them squarely in the bottom five of the West. And they have won these games with some fairly unsustainable outcomes, such as the Lakers missing just about every 3 they could, back-to-back games of 20 trees, er, 3s, Brook Lopez hitting a career-high nine 3s in Portland, and then Kawhi Leonard notching his first 50-point game in his 900th appearance (including postseason). But the point of this Clippers team was to have the kind of talent capable of putting up preposterous performances. Better late than never, but they have a long way to go. Apparently, so does the league’s investigation that commenced in September.
24. Charlotte Hornets (11-20)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L at CLE, W vs WAS, W at ORL
Offensive rating: 114.7 (14th place)
Defensive rating: 117.3 (24th place)
Time Capsule: 6-7
LaMelo Ball is a 6-foot-7 basketball player for a Hornets team that ranks significantly lower than sixth or seventh in the Power Rankings. We need to leave 6-7 in 2025, but I’ll credit the Hornets for making some incremental progress. They’re still not good, mind you. But they can beat good teams if you let them hang around.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (13-19)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: L vs DET, L vs ORL, L vs LAC, W vs BOS
Offensive rating: 112.9 (22nd place)
Defensive rating: 116.2 (21st place)
Time Capsule: Poker
It may not feel like it now, given that Tiago Splitter has handled the head coaching duties for a Trail Blazers team that can do things like upset a team like the Celtics once every couple of weeks. But Chauncey Billups, who agreed to a multi-year extension in April, isn’t coaching this team as he faces federal gambling-related charges. It’s not a Trail Blazers focus on the day-to-day, but it is one of the biggest scandals and sports stories of the year, and it is unresolved as 2025 draws to a close.
Tier 5: Basement Floor
26. Dallas Mavericks (12-21)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L at NO, W vs DEN, L at GS, L at SAC
Offensive rating: 109.4 (28th place)
Defensive rating: 112.9 (ninth place)
Time Capsule: Casket from the post-trade funeral
What a 2025 for the Mavericks. They really traded Luka Dončić, who did not play a single game for them in the calendar year after his Christmas 2024 calf injury. If you thought Dallas could get through Christmas 2025 without another soft tissue injury, you’d be sadly mistaken, as Anthony Davis left the game in Golden State and was held out of the loss in Sacramento due to right adductor soreness.
27. Sacramento Kings (8-24)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L vs DET, W vs DAL, L at LAL
Offensive rating: 109.1 (29th place)
Defensive rating: 119.0 (28th place)
Time Capsule: De’Aaron Fox tribute video
This team really won its division just three seasons ago. They had a winning record two seasons ago. Fox was at point guard, Mike Brown was the head coach, and Jordi Fernandez was an assistant. Even last year, they hit 40 wins for the third straight season. Sacramento might not hit 20 wins until April at the rate it’s going. And the Kings had all the point guards they could have ever needed, with Fox being the last to go among a trio that included Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell. Devin Carter, the grass is greener on the other side!
28. New Orleans Pelicans (8-25)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: W vs DAL, L at CLE, L vs PHO, L vs PHO
Offensive rating: 111.9 (26th place)
Defensive rating: 118.8 (27th place)
Time Capsule: Derik Queen’s triple-double
New Orleans is going to endure scrutiny for a long time due to the draft-day trade the Pelicans maneuvered to acquire center Derik Queen. It wasn’t the only potentially regrettable and questionable June trade the franchise made, as the Pelicans gave Indiana its first-round pick back while Tyrese Haliburton was dealing with a serious calf injury. That trade is why Queen is in New Orleans as well. But if Queen can do things like score, rebound and assist at an elite level in the same game, then perhaps it is worth it.
29. Washington Wizards (7-23)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L at CHA, W vs TOR, W vs MEM
Offensive rating: 110.2 (27th place)
Defensive rating: 122.0 (30th place)
Time Capsule: 2025 lottery
This team lost 64 games and still didn’t get a top-five pick out of it. No disrespect to Tre Johnson, whom Washington wound up drafting sixth and has been as advertised as a shooter (37.9 percent 3s, 87.9 percent free throws), but that’s unfortunate work. The Wizards could use upgrades at every position, though they have so many young players already that some of them are going to get squeezed out.
30. Indiana Pacers (6-26)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L at BOS, L vs MIL, L vs BOS, L at MIA
Offensive rating: 107.7 (30th place)
Defensive rating: 116.8 (22nd place)
Time Capsule: “Overrate that.”
This media outlet asked players who was the most overrated, and enough said Tyrese Haliburton that he led the discussion. The way Haliburton ripped through the entire East from that point on, with his own song to match, was a sight to behold. The basketball gods were the only thing that could stop Haliburton, or the Pacers, for that matter. He had the Thunder shaking more than any cloud in the sky. See you in 2026, Tyrese.