Categories: NBA

2024 NBA Power Rankings: Evaluating all 30 teams as the NBA playoffs close in

With the 2023-2024 season nearly complete, 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 current NBA standings, and take a look at the top 50 NBA players this season.

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.

5 worst teams in NBA power rankings

30. Washington Wizards (Previously: 29)

Credit: James A. Pittman-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Wizards should have been better considering the talent they have on the roster. But outside of Kyle Kuzma, the team has been a massive disappointment and is headed to having not only the worst record in the league this season but their worst mark in franchise history. That is saying something for an organization that has endured many losing seasons during its existence.

Also Read: 20 highest-paid WNBA players in 2023

29. Detroit Pistons (Previously: 30)

Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The hope this season was that new head coach Monty Williams could bring the Detroit Pistons back to respectability this season. Unfortunately, the losing ways of 2022-23 have continued this season despite having Cade Cunningham available for much of the season. The only bright spot is they may avoid finishing with the worst record in the NBA for the 2023-24 season.

Also Read: Who is the oldest NBA player? (All-time and active)

28. San Antonio Spurs (Previously: 28)

Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

In his first season in the league, French phenom Victor Wembanyama has completely lived up to the hype. He is leading the San Antonio Spurs in many key statistical categories and has shown he can not only be the face of the league but that may happen sooner than some expected. However, he needs to get help because despite his best efforts the Spurs have remained one of the worst teams in the league all season.

Related: Victor Wembanyama could become one of NBA’s best ever; his skills are only one of the reasons why

27. Charlotte Hornets (Previously: 27)

Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

After a disastrous season last year, the Charlotte Hornets have made no progress in 2023-24, and similar to his brother Lonzo, LaMelo Ball has been dogged by injuries for a second straight campaign. While it is another lost season in Charlotte, the one bright spot is first-round pick Brandon Miller has shown signs he could evolve into a building block in the seasons ahead.

Also Read: 10 shortest NBA players ever, including the shortest basketball player in the league today

26. Portland Trail Blazers (Previously: 26)

Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

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 the fall of 2023. The Blazers went into their first Lillard-less season with a roster that seemed pretty good on paper. However, despite a big season for Anfernee Simons, Portland has been a big disappointment this season. Chauncey Billups’ seat is getting very hot.

Related: 25 highest-paid NBA players – Milwaukee Bucks now have two of the richest

Top 25 NBA teams right now

25. Memphis Grizzlies (Previously: 25)

Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Memphis Grizzles were always going to be behind the eight-ball when Ja Morant was suspended for the first 25 games of the season and starting center Steven Adams went down with a season-ending injury. Yet there was hope when Morant returned after his suspension. Then hope was dashed with a season-ending injury to the young star and the Grizzlies have been a bottom-of-the-battle barrel squad in the NBA standings all season long.

Also Read: Highest-paid NFL coaches

24. Toronto Raptors (Previously: 23)

Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

While Scottie Barnes has elevated his game and grown into the new face of the Toronto Raptors, the team is in rebuild mode after trading off OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakim before the trade deadline. The rest of the season will be about finding the team’s other building block to serve as the wingman for Barnes going forward.

Also Read: 2024 NBA mock draft

23. Brooklyn Nets (Previously: 24)

Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Despite breaking away from the drama of the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving era, the Brooklyn Nets have not been able to be a respectable team in 2023-24. Even though they have a pair of 20 points a game scorers — Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas — the Nets fell back into their usual ways and have been a loser all season long. It cost Jacque Vaughn another head coaching job and they head into the end of the season with a lot of questions.

Related: NBA Rookie of the Year 23-24 – Top NBA ROY odds and candidates to win

22. Utah Jazz (Previously: 19)

Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Utah Jazz were one of the best stories in the NBA power rankings for much of last season. However, reality eventually set in and it has never let up, even in the new season. While Lauri Markkanen has continued his All-Star play and they have gotten solid performances from other members of the roster, the lack of a No. 2 star is one of the biggest differences for this team and why they aren’t even a playoff contender heading into the final weeks of the season.

21. Atlanta Hawks (Previously: 22)

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Despite a bunch of trade rumors surrounding Dejounte Murray, the Atlanta Hawks stood pat with their roster for better or worse. Even though they are nearly 10 games under .500 they are still in the playoff race and seem like a lock for the Play-In Tournament. However, the way things are going, Trae Young and the Hawks are sure to be knocked out early in the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Related: 50 Best NBA players of 2023

20. Houston Rockets (Previously: 21)

Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

After a better-than-expected start under new head coach Ime Udoka, the Houston Rockets have been a team fighting to get into the Play-In Tournament in April. After spending a boatload of cash in the offseason this has not been the results the organization was looking for. However, in what has been a frustrating year, the rise of Alperen Sengun has been a surprise bright spot in 2023-24.

Also Read: Top-selling NBA jerseys in 2023

19. Chicago Bulls (Previously: 20)

Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

This has been another lost season for the Chicago Bulls with Lonzo Ball again missing much of the year and the organization never finding an answer for that void. Furthermore, surprisingly, they did not move unhappy star Zach LaVine before the trade deadline.

While they are still in a position to earn a Play-In Tournament spot, there is not much reason to expect Chicago to make any noise this spring.

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

18. Golden State Warriors (Previously: 18)

The Golden State Warriors have been fascinating to watch all season as their “Big Three” looks to prove they’ve still got it a year after failing to defend their most recent NBA championship. However, as the season played out, it seemed like Draymond Green was doing all he could to make things implode from within, plus Klay Thompson is in a serious battle with father time.

However, in recent weeks the team led by their legendary greybeards have played far better and Thompson has embraced his bench role and become a super-sub. They aren’t winning a title but they will be a problem in the postseason.

Also Read: Golden State Warriors, Mike Dunleavy Jr. blasted for inactive NBA trade deadline

17. Los Angeles Lakers (Previously: 17)

This season has been a very mixed bag as Lebron James and Anthony Davis have played at an All-Star level for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the secondary players that were so impactful in 2023 have not been as consistent. There is no reason to expect this team to reach anywhere close to the heights they rose to last spring but their top stars won’t go easily into the season night.

Related: NBA insider explains why Lebron James is source of Los Angeles Lakers struggles: ‘Defensively he’s a nightmare’

16. Philadelphia 76ers (Previously: 13)

Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The squad led by reigning league MVP Joel Embiid and new head coach Nick Nurse was very impressive over the first half of this season. And the best part of it was that Tyrese Maxey was playing at a superstar level in filling the void left by James Harden. They had one of the best offenses in the league and a rock-solid defense to back it up.

Unfortunately, Embiid suffering a serious knee injury has put a ceiling on this group. If he can return in March as some expect, they are a legitimate title contender. If not they could be a one-and-done team in April.

15. Indiana Pacers (Previously: 15)

Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Early in the 2023-24 campaign, the Indiana Pacers were a legit top-five team. While they have struggled to stay among the best in the East, landing Pascal Siakam at the trade deadline was the move they needed to make and he and Tyrese Haliburton make a formidable combo. However, for as good a scoring team as they are, their defense is a major problem they won’t be able to solve this season.

Related: NBA MVP race 2023-24

14. Miami Heat (Previously: 12)

Credit: USA Today Network

After a rough finish to January, the Miami Heat played very well in February and slowly crept up to a top-four spot in the East. Unfortunately in March they fell back to Earth and are again fighting to avoid being in the Play-In for a second straight year. Still, with a trio of players scoring 20 per game, the Heat can get healthy they will unsurprisingly be a problem this spring again.

13. Phoenix Suns (Previously: 9)

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns have been one of the most frustrating teams in the league this season. An absurd amount of scoring talent but the issues of depth and health have dogged them all year. The shame about it is Kevin Durant is having one of the best all-around years of his career, but the Suns head down the stretch a team with low expectations despite a massive payroll.

Related: Frank Vogel reportedly could be one-and-done if Phoenix Suns disappoint in playoffs

12. Dallas Mavericks (Previously: 11)

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

There was a lot of pressure on the Dallas Mavericks after a horrid showing at the end of last season. They had 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.

While they haven’t been a dominant force Doncic is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season and Irving is hitting his stride late in the season. Look for this group to find their way out of the Play-In and be trouble for a top seed in April.

Related: 25 highest paid NBA players

11. Orlando Magic (Previously: 16)

Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic have taken the progress they made last season and evolved into a legitimate top-six club in the Eastern Conference this season. Some big moves at the trade deadline would have been a huge help but that has never been the Magic way. Nevertheless, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are one of the best young combos in the league and their outstanding defense makes them one of the best under-the-radar squads in the NBA this season.

Also Read: 20 Worst NBA players of all-time

Top 10 NBA teams in 2023-24 season

10. Sacramento Kings (Previously: 14)

Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

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. However, for as good as the two young stars are, they still lack the pieces necessary to take them from a good to a great team. Furthermore, their defensive deficiencies continue to hold them back in a stacked Western Conference.

9. New Orleans Pelicans (Previously: 10)

Credit: Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports

To the surprise of many fans and pundits, Zion Williamson has stayed healthy for most of the season, and low and behold the New Orleans Pelicans are a top-five team in the West. They have a trio of high-level scorers and a top-10 defense in an era where most teams rarely play it. Heading into the last few weeks of the season, avoiding a first-round clash with the Nuggets should be the top goal.

Also Read: NASCAR schedule for 2024

8. New York Knicks (Previously: 8)

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks have been one of the big surprises in the league this season. Not because they are good, many expected that, but after a pair of big trades before the deadline, they have a team that can seriously contend for a finals spot. The big question is health. If OG Anunoby and Julius Randle aren’t on the floor in the playoffs, Jalen Brunson’s best efforts will be wasted.

Related: New York Knicks make blockbuster trade in wake of worrying OG Anunoby injury news

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (Previously: 4)

Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Despite dealing with serious injuries to a pair of their best players, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the best teams in the league in 2023-24. They only have one superstar talent in Donovan Mitchell, but they have a deep roster and one of the very best defenses in the NBA. They won’t be a favorite in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but they will be a harder out than they were last year.

Also Read: 10 best centers in the NBA

6. Milwaukee Bucks (Previously: 7)

Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the most fascinating teams to watch in 2023-24. They have a pair of elite stars and a strong roster but they have had to deal with the drama of firing a first-year head coach and then replacing him with an old-school bench leader in Doc Rivers. While there were serious growing pains after Rivers took over, it seems like this group is gelling at just the right time and could be the biggest threat to Boston in April.

Related: Get Affordable Live Sports On Paramount Plus. Including NFL, CFB, NBA, Golf, Boxing, Soccer and More.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (Previously: 6)

For the first time in a while, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have remained relatively healthy for much of a season together in LA. The big issue will always be if the other shoe drops and their injury devil returns. For the first few months of the season, many were skeptical about how well the group of Leonard, George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook would be together, but they have shown this season they are an elite group that is a problem for any team in the league.

Related: 20 best NBA players of all time

4. Minnesota Timberwolves (Previously: 2)

Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the best squads in the NBA all season long. While there was a lot of doubt about whether this group was for real after a red-hot start, they have maintained their strong play and done so with an outstanding defense. Anthony Edwards continues to grow into a top-five player in the league, and that gives them a serious edge when they face the best of the best in the postseason.

Also Read: 10 best second-round picks in NBA Draft history

3. Denver Nuggets (Previously: 5)

Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

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 and the rest of the roster showing they were a championship group as well.

Denver has dealt with injuries, including to Murray, this season and it has pushed them down the Western Conference standings a tad. Nevertheless, when healthy they remain a title contender and seem like a team just playing out the string until they turn it on in April.

Also Read: Top-selling NFL jerseys in 2023

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (Previously: 3)

Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

After a breakout performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have become one of the best stories in the league this season. Without a doubt, SGA has played a huge role in that, but the rise of Chet Holmgren and the strong play of their other young players has been an impressive development. They have the talent to go far this spring, but proving they are mentally strong enough to do it will be the big test in the coming months.

Also Read: 2024 NFL Draft picks by team

1. Boston Celtics (Previously: 1)

Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics were one of the top teams in our NBA power rankings throughout last season. And that has again been the case in 2023-24. They are not only one of the best offensive teams in the game but also have an elite defense. There is no team more complete than Boston and they are by far the favorites to bring a title back to Beantown later this year.

Which team is best in NBA?

Heading into the new season, the Denver Nuggets were seen by many as the best team in the NBA. However, the Boston Celtics have been the top team all season in the league and are primed for a return to the NBA Finals this spring.

Which NBA team has the brightest future?

Considering how good they have been this year, there are many around the league who believe the Oklahoma City Thunder have the brightest future in the NBA. Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren are not even in their prime and they have evolved into a dynamic duo.

Another squad many see a huge upside in is the San Antonio Spurs due to the addition of super-prospect Victor Wembanyama. If they can get the French phenom some help, don’t be surprised if they become a scary team in the near future.

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 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.

Published by