With the 2023-2024 season underway, find out who are the best and worst NBA teams with our latest NBA power rankings.

Along with the latest pecking order around the league, you can also check out the final NBA standings from 2022-2023, take an early look at the top 50 NBA players this season, and stay up to date with the latest NBA trade rumors.

Related: NBA playoff predictions – Bracket picks & 2024 Finals champion

Without further ado, here are our current NBA power rankings for all 30 teams in the top professional basketball league in the world.

NBA power rankings: 5 worst NBA teams right now

30. Detroit Pistons (Previously: 30)

After a bottom-of-the-standings showing in 2022-2023, things have not changed much for the Detroit Pistons in the new season. After winning two of their first three, the team has gone into a massive tailspin as they have lost 17 straight and are without a doubt the worst team in the league and our current NBA power rankings.

However, there is hope they can turn it around and become a decent team with Bojan Bogdanovic back after missing much of this season.

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29. Washington Wizards (Previously: 29)

The Washington Wizards should have been better with the talent they had last season, but alas, they missed the playoffs once again in 2022-2023. The reimagined front office will hope head coach Wes Unseld Jr. can do more with an adjusted roster led by Jordan Poole, Tyus Jones, and returning star Kyle Kuzma in the new season.

Unfortunately, the Wizards have been one of the worst teams in the league again in 2023-24. Poole has been a major disappointment and Jones has not made quite the impact the organization hoped for when they acquired him. While Unseld Jr. was able to hold on to his job he is on extremely thin ice as we head into the new year.

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28. San Antonio Spurs (Previously: 27)

The San Antonio Spurs have hope to bounce back from another losing season due to having once-in-a-generation super prospect Victor Wembanyama on the roster this year. The French phenom is the most hyped young player since Lebron James and his development will be one of the biggest stories to watch in the new season.

San Antonio got off to a solid start in the new season and impressed many, however, it wasn’t long before they fell into a massive slump that included a double-digit losing streak. While the young phenom has put together a season worthy of being “Rookie of the Year,” he has not gotten much help from his teammates toward being a competitive team this season.

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27. Portland Trail Blazers (Previously: 26)

After months of rumors and speculation, the inevitable finally happened and Damian Lillard’s legendary run with the Portland Trail Blazers came to an end in September. This will be their first season without the star guard in over a decade and it will be interesting to see how the group featuring disgruntled Suns center Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and star prospect Scoot Henderson can fair with a massive hole to fill in the offense.

While they have a solid team with some promising young players, they lack a legitimate All-Star talent. Plus, their top overall pick in June has struggled in his first season and hasn’t delivered the boost they hoped for off the bench.

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26. Memphis Grizzlies (Previously: 28)

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies will have far more pressure on them this season. Being the cool, fun, rising team in the West is no longer acceptable. They must now show if they can compete for a championship or if changes to the roster and coaching staff need to be made so they can make it to the next level. But that won’t really start until Morant returns from his 25-game suspension.

With Steven Adams out for the season and Morant still away, the Grizzlies have struggled all year long. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. have each had good seasons, but it hasn’t been anywhere close enough to keep them out of the Western Conference cellar thus far.

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Top 25 NBA teams right now

25. Charlotte Hornets (Previously: 25)

Last season was an unexpected disaster for the Charlotte Hornets. After showing so much promise two seasons ago, they took major steps back in 2022-2023. LaMelo Ball regressed a bit and not having Miles Bridges on the roster — due to off-the-court issues — became a far bigger problem than many expected.

With Bridges back from his suspension, the team has been much more competitive and has three players with 20 points per game potential with Ball, Bridges, and Terry Rozier. While they may struggle to reach the playoffs, Ball has been outstanding at times this season and has a chance to be an All-Star this season.

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24. Chicago Bulls (Previously: 24)

The Chicago Bulls likely have another difficult season ahead in 2023-2024. Lonzo Ball is confirmed to miss the entire year and the team was unable to replace him with a similar impact talent at point guard this summer. Furthermore, lingering issues with unhappy star Zach LaVine could be another key element in a down season for the squad in the new league year.

While LaVine and DeMar DeRozan have gotten off to All-Star-level starts, the continued lack of strong point guard play is still the Achilles heel of a team that has more than enough talent to be a force in the East. With the holidays drawing near, new reports suggest this group could get a major — and needed — shakeup soon with LaVine and the organization aligned to send him elsewhere.

Also Read: NBA Finals odds for 2023-2024 NBA season

23. Utah Jazz (Previously: 23)

The Utah Jazz were one of the best stories in the NBA power rankings for much of last season. Heading into the season they were expected to be one of the worst teams in the league, but first-year head coach Will Hardy led a competitive team and developed Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler into budding stars in the league.

While Markkanen has continued his strong play this season, Kessler has stagnated. The Jazz have a solid roster with some nice players, but few game-changer talents that make them a force in the West. It just seems like a matter of time before they make a major move to add more assets or a legitimate star.

Related: 50 Best NBA players of 2023

22. Toronto Raptors (Previously: 22)

Despite another offseason of rumors and rumblings that they could make some major moves, the Toronto Raptors — for the most part — stood pat with the same roster they have had the last couple of seasons. The big difference in 2023-2024 will be that they won’t have star guard Fred VanVleet running the offense after he took huge money to go to Houston in the summer.

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The Raptors have played better of late and earned victories over the Pacers and Suns as they try and get back to .500. Scottie Barnes has been given more opportunities this season and has shown a good bit of the potential the organization has always seen in him. And they need it, with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby likely to be moved this season.

21. Atlanta Hawks (Previously:14)

Outside of finally trading John Collins, the Atlanta Hawks roster from last season remains intact in the new year. After a full training camp under head coach Quinn Snyder, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Hawks made a turnaround in 2023-2024 and were able to become a playoff-caliber squad again.

Dejounte Murray and Trae Young are off to good starts, and De’Andre Hunter has elevated his game to fill the void left by Collins but that has not been enough thus far to return them to being a top-four team in the East. If they continue like this then the chatter of breaking this group up before the trade deadline will restart.

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20. Houston Rockets (Previously: 17)

After another ugly showing last season, the Houston Rockets front office is hoping that giving big money to point guard Fred VanVleet and defensive ace Dillon Brooks can be the impetus in a rise back to prominence for the Rockets.

In this young season, the Rockets have shown some nice development signs under new head coach Ime Udoka. The biggest change with the former Celtics coach is the fact that 2021 first-round pick Alperen Sengun has gone from an afterthought to the team’s best player so far this season as he leads them in scoring.

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19. Golden State Warriors (Previously: 21)

The Golden State Warriors will be fascinating to watch as their “Big Three” look to prove they’ve still got it a year after failing to defend their most recent NBA championship. In the new season they will have the addition of future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul and figuring out his fit on the roster will be one of the major storylines early in the season.

After losing six straight they have been better recently, and Steph Curry is playing like an MVP candidate again. However, Klay Thompson’s struggles has led to being a middle-of-the-road team this season. If Thompson can’t find something closer to his elite form soon, the Warriors could be headed to being sellers in February.

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18. Brooklyn Nets (Previously: 20)

The Brooklyn Nets did not add a star in the summer, but at least this season should be devoid of drama and volatility for the first time in a long time. The start of the new campaign will also bring far lower expectations, and it will be interesting to see what Jacque Vaughn can do in his first full year with Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson.

It has been an up-and-down season for the Nets so far, but one huge positive is the outstanding play of Cam Thomas. He has taken a huge leap forward in 2023 and seems to be usurping the top scorer role from Bridges as he leads the team in points per game heading into the new year.

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17. Los Angeles Clippers (Previously: 19)

For the first time in a while, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard began the new season relatively healthy and have surprisingly stayed that way. The big issue will always be how long does that last. Nevertheless, even passed their primes, if they are healthy the Los Angeles Clippers will be a playoff-caliber team easily, especially with unhappy star James Harden now on the roster too.

It took some time and a six-game skid but head coach Ty Lue is molding the Clippers “Big 4” into a well-oiled unit. Harden has taken on a role as a key ball handler and Russell Westbrook going to the bench was a big sacrifice that bettered their chemistry and unity.

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16. Cleveland Cavaliers (Previously: 15)

The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the best teams in the East last season. Superstar guard Donovan Mitchell fit right in with the rest of the team and they also had one of the better defenses in the NBA. However, being good isn’t the goal this season, it will be about finding out if they can be a Finals contender.

While Mitchell is off to another great start again, Darius Garland struggled to begin the season. However, he has played much better of late, and it’s shown in their results as they scored wins against the 76ers and Nuggets recently.

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15. Phoenix Suns (Previously: 18)

New head coach Frank Vogel has a very tall task in front of him as he tries to somehow create a working situation with three superstar scorers in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Booker and Durant were dominant at times last season, but Beal is a wild card that could make things chaotic or they become one of the scariest offenses in league history.

We still don’t know how the trio will work since Beal has missed most of the year with a back injury, however, Durant and Booker have started to look more and more like the force they were late last season as the Suns have slowly started to climb back up the standings.

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14. New Orleans Pelicans (Previously: 16)

The New Orleans Pelicans were one of the five best units in the West with Zion Williamson. When he went down with another long-term injury, the team was a group fighting for a playoff spot. Can Williamson stay healthy, and can they again be a powerhouse in the West if he does?

In the new season, they have returned to being an offensive force in the West when Williamson has been available. Unfortunately, their defense has struggled ant times. Nevertheless, when they had big games in the NBA In-Season Tournament, they delivered impressive performances.

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13. Miami Heat (Previously: 9)

The expectation and hope all summer was that the Miami Heat would add the superstar they needed in Damian Lillard. Unfortunately, the team they ousted in the postseason — the Milwaukee Bucks — swooped in and landed the seven-time All-Star. They also lost Max Strus and Gabe Vincent in NBA free agency.

Those departures and the lack of a clear second star were problematic early. However, Tyler Herro has stepped up in a major way and has led the team in scoring in December. While they aren’t as flashy as other teams, it’s hard to underestimate the Heat when they have Jimmy Butler on the court and Erik Spoelstra on the sideline.

Related: NBA trade tracker 2023-2024

12. Sacramento Kings (Previously: 8)

The Sacramento Kings were the biggest surprise in the NBA last season. They had one of the best offenses in the league and De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis turned into a dynamic duo for the team. Although they didn’t make any major changes in the summer, they are a year older and better and will be expected to make far more noise in the West.

After finally getting Fox back from an injury the team took off in November. However, they have had some difficulties against the elites in the West this season, including three surprising losses to the Pelicans as they head into the new year.

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11. New York Knicks (Previously: 9)

Jalen Brunson proved he is one of the league’s newest superstars and that the New York Knicks are a more dangerous team because of his talents during last season. While they didn’t make any major moves in the summer, they retained all the key players from last year’s roster and should be able to return to the postseason in 2023-24.

Early in the season, they got mixed results due to horrid play from Julius Randle. However, the two-time All-Star has played better of late and the team has moved up the standings due to having the best defense in the league to begin the season. While they fell short of reaching the NBA In-Season semis the Knicks have fixed some of their early struggles and are playing well again.

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Top 10 NBA teams in 2023-24 season

10. Indiana Pacers (Previously: 11)

The Indiana Pacers had very mixed results last season. Early on they seemed headed to a return to the postseason, then injuries and poor play short-circuited all the impressive momentum they created. Much of last year’s team returns with another year of experience and chemistry. Plus, top pick and big man Jarace Walker should give them the rebounding and moxy boost they lacked in the frontcourt last year.

So far this season, the Pacers have been one of the nice surprises in the league and there was no better proof of that than their impressive run to the finals of the NBA In-Season Tournament. While they didn’t win the tourney trophy, they put the East on notice that Tyrese Haliburton and the offense are a legitimate force to be reckoned with every night heading into 2024.

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9. Oklahoma City Thunder (Previously: 8)

After a breakout performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have become one of the fastest-rising teams in the NBA. Now, with Chet Holmgren back after missing last season, and 2023 first-round pick Cason Wallace, the Thunder are a dark horse to be a top-five squad in the West this season.

As we close in on the new year OKC looks like a team the West needs to take seriously as their young core has been very impressive this season and SGA is playing like an MVP candidate (over 30 points per game) right now.

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8. Dallas Mavericks (Previously: 7)

There will be a lot of pressure on the Dallas Mavericks after a horrid showing at the end of last season. They will have a whole training camp and preseason to find chemistry between superstars Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the rest of the team. Furthermore, another losing season could lead Doncic to push the trade request button sooner than the team wants.

With an easy schedule to begin the campaign, the Mavs got off to a monster start. They have slipped a bit since then but they are still a top-five team in the West. The biggest issue is they are having trouble beating other teams ahead or near them in the standings.

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7. Los Angeles Lakers (Previously: 11)

The Los Angeles Lakers did not go star hunting in the offseason because they didn’t need to. The roster was able to get to the West Finals last season and their young players are primed for further growth in the new year. Just like the last two campaigns, their success will again hang on the health of Anthony Davis and Lebron James as the NBA icon is another year closer to 40.

After the first month, the Lakers seemed to be in a bit of a hole. However, some adjustments to the starting lineup and rotations proved to be a difference maker and they have taken off ever since. Earlier this month, the franchise and James added a major feather to their caps by being the firsts to win the league’s inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.

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6. Philadelphia 76ers (Previously: 3)

The Philadelphia 76ers finally pulled the trigger and jettisoned unhappy future Hall-of-Famer James Harden out of town. While they didn’t get a star in return, the move gave them solid depth and opened up a lot of opportunities for a major move sooner rather than later.

Nevertheless, the team led by reigning league MVP Joel Embiid and new head coach Nick Nurse has gotten off to a flying start. And the best part of it is that Tyrese Maxey has played at a superstar level in filling the void left by Harden. The young star is impressively averaging just over 26 points a game to start the new season and role players like Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. have been key contributors.

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5. Denver Nuggets (Previously: 2)

The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title by taking out the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. Superstar Nikola Jokic showed that he is much more than a regular-season monster as he dominated in the playoffs. However, what was key was the continued rise of Jamal Murray into a legitimate star in the league and the rest of the roster showed they were a championship group as well.

To begin the year it was the same ole, same ole for the Nuggets as they dominated. However, a major injury to Murray has led to them slipping in the standings as they have suffered a few losses and it’s why they have dropped in our latest NBA power rankings.

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4. Orlando Magic (Previously: 12)

The Orlando Magic were a pleasant surprise last season. While they did not finish with a positive record, Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero was impressive for much of the season and helped to make the Magic far more competitive than they should have been against the elites of the NBA. Much of last year’s team is back and will get a bench boost from top pick Anthony Black in 2023-2024.

As we close in on 2024, the Magic are shockingly one of the best teams in the league. Banchero has had another strong year, but teammate Franz Wagner seems to be the breakout star this season as he leads the team in scoring. Orlando has a dynamic frontcourt that will be a problem for teams in the East all year long.

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3. Milwaukee Bucks (Previously: 4)

After a shocking first-round elimination from the 2023 NBA playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks made some major changes. They switched head coaches and made the biggest trade of the offseason when they acquired superstar guard Damian Lillard. The combo of Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo should be dynamite once they figure out their chemistry.

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After some early bumps in the road over the first couple of weeks, the Lillard and Antetokounmpo combo has caught fire and is very much looking like the force many envisioned. They are closing in on an NBA In-Season title and have sent a loud message in December to the Eastern Conference.

2. Boston Celtics (Previously: 1)

The Boston Celtics were one of the top teams in our NBA power rankings throughout last season. They should stay there for much of the new year after adding Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to an already strong roster led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

As the Cs close in on the new year, it is just like the last year. They are the best team in the East as they have a top-five defense and top-10 offense. It is a winning combo that makes them the favorite to reach the finals, again.

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1. Minnesota Timberwolves (Previously: 5)

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the pieces to be a force in the West, and growing superstar Anthony Edwards is primed for a big season. The big questions are can Karl-Anthony Towns stay healthy — a key question every season now — and can Mike Conley be a bigger difference-maker this year?

So far, so very good. The Timberwolves and their elite defense have been one of the creme’s of the 2023-24 season crop as we near the new year. Edwards is playing like a superstar and he is getting big help from his veteran teammates. Is Minnesota a serious title contender?

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Which team is best in NBA?

Heading into the new season, the Denver Nuggets will be seen as many as the best NBA team right now. Almost all of the roster from their championship team will be back this season. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics are the other powerhouses in their conferences so far this season.

Which NBA team has the brightest future?

Considering how good they were last year, there are many around the league who believe the Sacramento Kings have the brightest future in the NBA. Stars Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox are not even in their prime and they were still one of the best teams in the league in 2022-2023.

Another squad many see a huge upside in is the San Antonio Spurs due to the addition of super-prospect Victor Wembanyama. The French phenom is the most hyped youngster since Lebron James and is quickly showing his immense potential in his rookie season.

Who is the greatest team in NBA history?

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.

Who will be the best NBA players in 2025?

As the sport transitions away from aging legends like Lebron James and Kevin Durant, there is a new generation of superstars right around the corner. That is why the best NBA players in 2025 will likely be Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Devin Booker, Jalen Brunson, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama.

Who has the best longevity in NBA?

While Vince Carter and Udonis Haslem were some of the longest-tenured players in league history, when it comes to competing at a high level no player in NBA history has had better longevity than Lakers star Lebron James.