Full NBA Power Rankings Heading Into the All-Star Break

This most recent NBA season has been one of the wildest in quite some time. From teams surpassing standards, to shocking downfalls of squads, to a historic trade deadline, the 2024-25 season will surely have its place in NBA history books whether or not you cheer or boo the performance of your favorite team. The all-star break is a time for the NBA to relax. There are no games for the weekend, with a few NBA events in its place. Given the all-star break, now is a great time to rank every NBA team from the bottom of the barrel to the top of the food chain. These rankings give more weight to team metrics, their post-deadline roster, and how these teams are performing as of late than simply just their win-loss record.

30. Washington Wizards: 9-45

With the least amount of wins this season, the lowest win-loss percentage, the lowest margin of victory, the worst offensive and defensive ratings, as well as the lowest net rating, the Washington Wizards are the worst NBA team in every aspect. Simply put, the Wizards are dreadful. This is year two of their long rebuild. Fortunately, their young core is showing promise. Rookies Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington, for example, as well as sophomore Bilal Coulibaly, are all participating in this year’s Rising Stars Challenge during the all-star break. Sarr is also participating in the Skills Challenge. Team chemistry is also high in Washington, and with this promising young trio, the only way to go is up.

29. New Orleans Pelicans: 13-42

Brandon Ingram’s time with the Pelicans is no more. Ingram was traded to Toronto in exchange for role players and draft capital. It’s undeniable this move relieves New Orleans of an often injured Brandon Ingram, and equally undeniable Ingram will give his new environment with wins for years to come if healthy. Ingram has already signed a multi-year extension in Toronto, a sign of things to come. New Orleans has been underperforming, to say the least, after being in either the playoffs or the play-in the previous three seasons. They only continue to build around Zion Williamson, a risky move given his injury history, as shown by this trade. Second last in win-loss percentage, net rating, and margin of victory, New Orleans has fully earned this position in these power rankings. 

28. Utah Jazz: 13-41

Second, and very close, to last in defensive rating and third last in net rating are the Utah Jazz. Utah, despite coming off a victory to an already talented Lakers team now with Luka Doncic, is undeniably struggling. Lauri Markkanen, who the Jazz are handing $238 million over five years, is having a down-year statistically. On the court, Lauri is being bolder and experimenting in various aspects of his game. He has no other option. Some nights, it works, and he shows why he was an all-star just two seasons ago. Some nights, it flops. The Jazz are largely to blame, running detrimental lineups and rotations on the regular, especially starting three bigs in a league where starting two is unusual. The allegations of tanking are therefore inevitable.

27. Charlotte Hornets: 13-39

Charlotte tried and failed to ship their starting center in Mark Williams to the Lakers. Regardless of whether all sides have set aside that, Mark has been incredible for the Hornets when healthy. Charlotte, however, needs both Williams and LaMelo Ball to be healthy. Charlotte has lost 14 straight games when Ball is out but performs solidly as of late with him.

26. Toronto Raptors: 17-38

Toronto’s new core of Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett is nothing to scoff at. All four have contracts running through at least 2026-27, but it’s yet to be seen how these four will share the court. In the meantime, one can only hope Toronto can build upon this, especially with a long-term answer at the center position. Should they have tried to trade for Mark Williams instead?

25. Chicago Bulls: 22-33

The Chicago Bulls have dropped four straight games and been 4-13 in their last 17 games. Not only do they have a four-game losing streak, but they have lost by an average of a horrifying 24.5 points a game, or a combined 98 points. For example, they scored only 29 points in the first half of Tuesday’s game against the red-hot Detroit Pistons. Despite all of this, a top-heavy Eastern Conference may force Chicago into the Play-In Tournament regardless.

24. Philadelphia 76ers: 20-34

A late-game Joel Embiid turnover capping off an unfortunate home loss. Paul George struggles in lineups without Embiid or Tyrese Maxey. Embiid potentially needs yet another knee surgery. The 76ers are having a masterpiece of a season. It may be time for the 76ers front office to reconsider the direction of this squad.

23. Brooklyn Nets: 20-34

The Brooklyn Nets have won six of their last seven games, but strangely, the one loss was a home loss to the Washington Wizards. In a stellar defensive effort, the Brooklyn Nets allowed just 103 points per 100 possessions during that time. If this trend continues, expect the Nets in the upcoming Play-In Tournament. This would likely put the Bulls out of the tournament.

22. Portland Trail Blazers: 23-32

The Trail Blazers have been on and off as of late, with winning streaks and losing streaks. With Deandre Ayton out, rookie big Donovan Clingan has succeeded thus far with an uptick in minutes. Portland has a promising young core that could make them a threat in the loaded Western Conference for years to come. However, they still need to find more consistency and develop their young talent to truly contend.

21. Miami Heat: 25-28

Miami has been tumbling since they traded away Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. In their last 16 games, they are 5-11, including their most recent four games ending in defeat each time. Ideally, other players would step up and take charge. At least they don’t need to worry about Butler’s antics anymore.

20. Phoenix Suns: 26-28

The Phoenix Suns have also been sliding, going 2-7 in their last nine games. Kevin Durant notably hit 30,000 career points this week despite the lack of team success. It’s far too easy to blame this recent slide on the lack of success the “big three” of Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker bring together given how often one or more of those stars are injured. However, Phoenix struggles even with all three on the court and healthy. 

19. Orlando Magic: 27-29

The Orlando Magic have not been so magical in their last 15 games, going 4-11. This includes a win against the lowly Charlotte Hornets. Despite a hot start to the season, Orlando has been struggling to an intense degree, particularly former first overall pick Paolo Banchero. Fortunately, Franz Wagner exists and is helping Orlando not be completely rock-bottom in this timespan.

18. San Antonio Spurs: 23-29

It’s not that San Antonio has been better than teams like the Heat, Suns, and Magic as of late. They have simply been less bad. De’Aaron Fox has been averaging nearly 22 points and eight assists a game in his first five games with the Spurs. The duo of Fox and Victor Wembanyama have dozens of games this season to work with each other more, which should smooth things on-court between them. The Spurs, however, may still miss the playoffs in Victor’s sophomore season. 

17. Atlanta Hawks: 26-29

With the Hawks, two of their trade deadline pickups have been excelling. That duo is Georges Niang and Caris LeVert. Both averaged roughly 15 points a game, and both were scary accurate at shooting three-pointers. Winning their first three games after the deadline, they lost a 149-148 overtime thriller to the outstanding New York Knicks on Wednesday.

16. Sacramento Kings: 28-27

The Kings truly shook up their roster at the deadline and are now 3-3 since. However, all three losses were to teams with losing records. New addition Zach LaVine has helped raise Sacramento’s offensive rating by nearly eight points per 100 possessions. It will be interesting to see what the revamped Kings will do, but that sentence has certainly been a sentence said before.

15. Dallas Mavericks: 30-26

Dallas is winning. Despite trading away their present and future success in Luka Doncic, the Mavericks front office being shamed and booed for the shocking decision, and their key addition in Anthony Davis being injured in his Mavs debut, the Mavericks are 4-3 since the controversial trade. This is especially of note given they have won three of their last four matchups. On paper, it’s easy to expect the Mavericks not to succeed like this without Doncic or Davis. But this has allowed Kyrie Irving and a rotating cast of role players to step up.

14. Detroit Pistons: 29-26

A meteoric rise in an already shockingly good season for last year’s worst-performing NBA squad, Detroit is on a four-game winning streak and has won six of their last eight games. Detroit has more than doubled their win total of last season, and the NBA All-Star Game has not even happened yet. If they can continue to be consistent like in their two most recent games, not only will Detroit make the playoffs, but one can expect a deep run from this promising Detroit squad. That’s a statement that would have you laughed at by entire rooms before the start of this season, and all it took were front office changes, coaching changes, and some key veteran free agency signings to help guide the young Pistons. 

13. Golden State Warriors: 28-27

Jimmy Butler has helped Golden State be 3-1 with their key trade acquisition. Butler has fit great so far with Stephen Curry and is a safe pick to make the Play-In Tournament. However, given that one Jimmy Butler loss was to an Anthony Davis-less Mavericks, Golden State will hope that loss was an exception and not the standard for what we can expect from the powerhouse duo of Butler and Curry. Especially in the playoffs, where the Warriors have a reputation to uphold. 

12. Indiana Pacers: 30-23

With this recent five-game slump of Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers have gone 2-3 in that stretch. Before that, they were 12-2 within the previous 14 games, including a loss to the highly-efficient Cleveland Cavaliers. During the 12-2 stretch, he averaged roughly 20 points, 8.5 assists, and three threes a game while shooting 43.2 percent from the three. Over the last five games, though, he's at roughly 14 points and 2.4 threes a game, with a 38.7 three-point percentage and marginally fewer assists a game.

11. Milwaukee Bucks: 29-24

Kyle Kuzma was struggling all season in Washington. He had a rough start to his stint in Milwaukee, but he has been averaging 20 points and nine-and-a-half rebounds a game these past two games. With both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard out, the Bucks will hope Kyle continues this success. On Wednesday, Milwaukee even beat the Timberwolves in Minnesota without Giannis or Dame. 

10. Los Angeles Clippers: 31-23

Kawhi Leonard’s minutes were bumped up this week as the Clippers went 3-0 since February 8th. Kawhi still shows hope of leading this Clippers team to the playoffs alongside James Harden and a highly-improved Norman Powell. There is still some dust for Kawhi to shake off. Plus, the recent bench additions of Ben Simmons and Bogdan Bogdanovic can only help the Clippers stay in the top six of the Western Conference.

9. Houston Rockets: 34-21

Houston, you have a problem. 2-7 in their last nine games is a worst-case scenario for the young and hungry Rockets. It’s evident Fred VanVleet’s veteran presence is missed, and he’s looking to return from his ankle injury shortly after the all-star break. To stall a playoff matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder for as long as possible, Houston needs to return to the third seed, a placement now owned by the Denver Nuggets after the Rockets nine-game slide. 

8. Minnesota Timberwolves: 31-25

Minnesota was disappointed at home to an injured Milwaukee squad. However, the Timberwolves were injured as well. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Mike Conley were all out, leaving Anthony Edwards with less help around him on the court. Jaden McDaniels put up a career-high 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting in Saturday's win over the Blazers, proving Edwards is not alone out there. 

7. Los Angeles Lakers: 32-20

LeBron James and Luka Doncic. One of basketball’s all-time greats and one of basketball’s future greats. That’s not to underestimate Luka currently. He is a five-time NBA all-star, a five-time NBA All-NBA First Teamer, and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals just last year. Doncic has done all of this, and he is currently just 25 years old. LeBron is 40, and one can only imagine the accolades Doncic will acquire between now and when he turns 40. This duo is sure to shake the league. 

6. Denver Nuggets: 36-19

Denver enters the all-star break with an eight-game winning streak. This is the longest current winning streak of the league. Capped off by Jamal Murray’s 55-point performance against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Oklahoma City should be scared of the Nuggets. Denver could very well overtake Memphis for the second seed in the Western Conference and be a major force in the playoffs.

5. Memphis Grizzlies: 36-18

With Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies look like a true title contender. Morant has not played in more than five consecutive games all season, which is the true Achilles heel of the Grizzlies. The trio of Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Desmond Bane is a force to be reckoned with, dominating any competition that comes their way. The Grizzlies are roaring and should do so in the playoffs if Morant can stay on the court.  

4. New York Knicks: 36-18

New York has won nine of their last 11 games heading into the all-star break, and one of those two losses was against the Boston Celtics. However, if they want to make a playoff run, they have to improve on defense. Despite being second in offensive rating, they are 20th in defensive rating. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are both firing on all cylinders. With Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and a Josh Hart fifth in triple-doubles this season, New York can and will put the ball through the hoop over and over again. Yet, as they all say, defense wins championships. 

3. Boston Celtics: 39-16

When the Celtics win, they win by a lot. 14 of their 39 wins have been by 20 or more points, and the Celtics are off the heels of a dominant three-game stretch. First, they go to New York and destroy the Knicks 131-104. Then, they dominate in Miami against the Heat 103-85. Finally, they won against San Antonio by 13 points. All of this has been happening since February 8th. They are defending NBA Champions for a reason and may very well go back-to-back. 

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: 44-10

Either the Cavaliers or the Thunder can have the second or the first ranking in these power rankings. Cleveland ranks behind Oklahoma City given their head-to-head record. Tied at one win each, the Thunder’s victory was a dominant 20-point win, and the Cleveland win was a close seven-point win where the Cavs had to come from behind. These two teams are making history in a very key metric: the SRS, also known as the simple rating system. SRS is a simple combination of point differential and strength of schedule. Cleveland currently has the 13th highest SRS of any NBA team ever, and could very well enter the top 10 at the season’s end. Winning eight of their last 10 games, Cleveland is the well-deserved top dog of the Eastern Conference, and new addition De’Andre Hunter is already thanking Cleveland by going seven for 13 from the three in his first two games with the team.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 44-10

The Thunder are on pace for the highest SRS in NBA history. This would surpass history’s greatest teams like every Chicago Bulls team that won a championship with Michael Jordan, including the 72-win campaign, and the famous 73-9 Warriors along with every Warriors team of that era. Oklahoma City has by far the best defensive rating this season, leading by a big margin of nearly four points in that metric. Combine that with their highly efficient offense, and you get the highest net rating of the league. Naturally, Cleveland is second in net rating this season. However, an NBA Finals series of Cleveland and Oklahoma City would have every basketball fan drooling at history being made every minute.