Shams: OKC viewed as best-positioned franchise in all of sports (0:56)Shams Charania explains why the Thunder might be in the best position of any sports franchise. (0:56)
From early All-Star performances to disappointing starts, the 2025-26 NBA regular season has been nothing short of interesting.
Nikola Jokic is having yet another historic career start, quietly grabbing his eighth triple-double this season against the Chicago Bulls on Monday and leading the Denver Nuggets in points and assists in their past eight games.
Their Western Conference rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have dominated our Power Rankings this season, holding the No. 1 spot for five straight weeks. Meanwhile, their 2025 Finals rivals, the Indiana Pacers, have fluctuated at the bottom of these rankings and the conference standings, dealing with myriad injuries and losing streaks.
Speaking of streaks, the Detroit Pistons are dominating the East and riding an 11-game win streak — their longest since 2008. The last time the Pistons got off to this hot a start, they reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2008.
In addition to our rankings, our NBA insiders picked the most important role player on each team. Which sixth man is making the biggest impact? Who can step up in place of injured superstars? Let’s break down where all 30 teams land in this week’s Power Rankings.
Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Kevin Pelton, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram) think teams belong this season.
Hardaway has made the biggest impact among the veterans added by the Nuggets in the offseason to boost their bench. Hardaway, who signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, is averaging 11.4 points in 22.8 minutes per game while shooting 47.1% from 3-point range. He has quickly formed a chemistry with Nikola Jokic, who has assisted on 18 of Hardaway’s 49 buckets. The Nuggets are scoring 129.6 points per 100 possessions when those two are on the court together. — Tim MacMahon
As one of only two Lakers players to play in every one of their first 15 games, and with eight of those appearances coming off the bench, the nod for L.A.’s super substitute goes to LaRavia. Signed to a two-year, $12 million contract during free agency, the 24-year-old forward has flourished so far, averaging 10.2 points on a career-best 47.7%, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals. “He just knows how to play basketball,” JJ Redick said earlier this season. — Dave McMenamin
Minnesota traded up to draft Dillingham to be their point guard of the future in 2024, but so far it’s been a struggle for him — and the team continues to have a long-term hole at the position. He’s shooting 39% overall, 23% from 3 and Minnesota is getting outscored by 14 points per 100 possessions in his limited minutes this season. — Tim Bontemps
In his first season in Toronto, Mamukelashvili has emerged as one of the league’s top backup centers. Mamukelashvili is a capable stretch big, sinking 45% of his 3-point tries, and the Raptors have a plus-13.8 net rating when he’s on the floor. That’s the second-best margin on the team, behind only the plus-17.3 net rating for fellow reserve Gradey Dick. — Zach Kram
Grimes is not only the most important bench player on the 76ers, but he’s a strong candidate, through the first month of the season, to win the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Grimes has picked up right where he left off after coming over from the Mavericks at last season’s trade deadline, averaging 16.8 points and hitting 40% of his 3s while attempting upward of six per game. — Bontemps
A third-year vet, Gillespie has come into his own this season as a reliable backup point guard for first-year coach Jordan Ott. Gillespie is averaging career-best numbers across the board with 9.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. And he played in all 14 games during the Suns’ surprising 9-6 start. — McMenamin
He’s not exactly a household name, but the numbers say Queta has had a massive impact on the Celtics this season, with Boston boasting an elite defensive rating of 99.7 points per 100 possessions when he’s on and 122 points per 100 possessions when he’s off. Part of that, though, is math: Teams are shooting 32% from 3 when Queta is on the court, and 38% when he’s off. — Bontemps
The Bulls snapped a five-game losing streak Monday with an upset over the Denver Nuggets thanks to an impressive 66-point performance from their bench, led by Dosunmu’s 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting and five assists. Chicago has come back to earth after its red-hot start, but its bench has emerged as one of the team’s strengths. Bulls reserves lead the NBA with 48.1 points per game, and Dosunmu leads the way with a career-best 15.7 points per game on 55% shooting and 46.5% from 3. — Collier
John Collins has been the Clippers’ best bench player, averaging 12.0 points and 4.6 rebounds, but their most surprising reserve has been Sanders. The big 6-foot-8 rookie guard, drafted No. 50 in the second round out of Nevada, is averaging 7.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists and is trending in the right direction with back-to-back double-digit scoring games after the Clippers lost Bradley Beal for the season. — McMenamin
Because of a hamstring injury, McConnell missed the first 10 games this season. And since he has returned, the veteran guard has had to take on more scoring responsibility than ever before because of the injuries around him. McConnell sports a career-high 25% usage rate through four games, and while it’s a small sample, his efficiency has suffered as a result. Even with the stable, organized McConnell back in the fold, Indiana has still lost all four of those games by 15-plus points. — Kram
Playing for his fourth team in eight seasons after being drafted No. 2 in the 2018 draft, Bagley is enjoying a career-best player efficiency rating. Bagley is getting to the free throw line at a career-best rate and shooting 66% from the field — his previous career high was 59% — and he’s playing a solid 15 minutes per night backing up another No. 2 pick, young center Alex Sarr. — Kram
Two players in the NBA have scored at least 30 points and grabbed at least 19 rebounds in the same game this season: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hartenstein. The Thunder’s perpetually under-the-radar center is performing even better in his second season with the franchise, averaging career highs in points (12.9), rebounds (10.9) and steals (1.5). His 62 makes within five feet are the seventh most in the league. His 84.9% conversion rate is higher than the six players above him. Hartenstein has appeared in all 15 games of the Thunder’s 14-1 start. He has a $28.5 million player option next season and has shown to be plenty worth it. — Anthony Slater
The Rockets continue to roll, winning their fourth consecutive contest Sunday, powered by a 35-point night from Kevin Durant, who might be on the way to membership in the 50-40-90 club for the third time in his career. But keep an eye on sharpshooting reserve guard Sheppard, who is shooting 47.8% from deep this season and averaging 15.7 points over his past six games. Sheppard struggles on defense, but he’ll improve with more experience. Houston believes that, too, considering his minutes have increased. He has played 24 minutes or more in each of his past five appearances.– Michael C. Wright
Take the Cavs’ win over Milwaukee on Monday night as a snapshot of Ball’s potential impact. He didn’t shoot the ball well, going 2 of 8 from the field and 1 of 6 from 3, but he was everywhere on the court, collecting five assists, two steals and five rebounds. The Cavs were plus-11 in his 23 minutes. Cleveland needs Ball to help initiate offense at guard with Darius Garland still sidelined after a setback with his toe injury, but Ball can also provide a different dynamic to the Cavs’ rotation in the playoffs by helping the offense operate more in transition while also being a disruptor on defense. — Jamal Collier
Is Bridges a primary scorer or someone to fill in the blanks when attention is elsewhere? Is he a lockdown defender or a good one given the right scheme and matchup? He has had a bunch of roles in Phoenix (overqualified role player) and Brooklyn (not a fit as the No. 1 option), but with this Knicks team he could be perfectly nestled as a facilitator in Mike Brown’s new-look offense. His shots per game are his lowest since 2021-22 with Phoenix, but his .421 3-point percentage is right on track for his career high. And averaging nearly five assists a night is a welcome development. With Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby battling injuries, more will be placed on Bridges’ shoulders to keep the Knicks upright in a surprisingly competitive Eastern Conference. — Goodwill
When the Hawks acquired Alexander-Walker, they felt they were adding much-needed two-way versatility and an exceptional role player. They’ve gotten that and more so far. Since Trae Young went down with an MCL injury, Alexander-Walker has been big for coach Quin Snyder. He can play point and shooting guard and attacks on the drive to put pressure on defenses. Alexander-Walker missed a couple of games because of injury but has scored in double figures in each game he has played. Since Young was injured on Oct. 29, Alexander-Walker is averaging 19.4 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Moody hit seven 3s in a hot first-quarter performance in New Orleans this past weekend. It was only the 22nd time in NBA history that a player has made seven 3s in a single quarter, and the first time it’s been done this season. Moody finished the night 8 of 12 on 3s and is now up to a career-best 45.3% from deep on 6.6 attempts per game. Moody tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb late last regular season and said it impacted his jumper in the playoffs. He made only 33% of his 3s in 12 playoff games and then underwent offseason surgery. He and his thumb are healthy again, and it is showing in his conversion rate. — Slater