Who's Gonna Win It All? A Fresh Look at the NBA's Best and Worst Teams

The Thunder's Defense and SGA's Mid-Range Game Make Them a Tough Team to Beat

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the team to beat this season, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading a strong lineup. They have a chance to be the first team since the Warriors to win back-to-back championships. The Thunder's defense and SGA's mid-range game make them a tough team to beat. However, the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors could challenge them for the title.

Teams at the Bottom of the Rankings

The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Brooklyn Nets are at the bottom of the rankings. They are all in rebuilding mode and will likely be tanking for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Washington Wizards: Have some young talent but need a lead engine to take them to the next level.
Utah Jazz: Have a good young coach and some promising players but are still a ways away from being contenders.
Brooklyn Nets: Need a top-3 pick this year to have any hope of turning things around.

Struggling Teams

The Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans are also struggling.

Charlotte Hornets: Hoping for a breakout season from LaMelo Ball, but injuries have been a problem for him.
New Orleans Pelicans: Hoping Zion Williamson can stay healthy and lead them to the playoffs.

The Phoenix Suns are in a tough spot, with limited cap flexibility and no control of their future first-round picks until 2032. The Sacramento Kings are in denial about their rebuild, and the Chicago Bulls are likely to finish with around 39 wins again this season.

Eastern Conference Teams

The Philadelphia 76ers have a chance to compete for the East, but injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George are a concern. The Indiana Pacers are in a gap year without Tyrese Haliburton, and the Miami Heat are hoping for a bounce-back season from Bam Adebayo. The Portland Trail Blazers are giving up the lottery game and hoping to make a playoff run with Jrue Holiday. The Toronto Raptors have a lot of talent, but it's unclear if the pieces will fit together.

Western Conference Teams

The Memphis Grizzlies are trying to compete for a playoff berth while still being able to land a premium lottery pick. The Boston Celtics are built for a gap year while Jayson Tatum recovers from his Achilles injury. The Milwaukee Bucks are hoping Giannis Antetokounmpo stays healthy and productive. The Dallas Mavericks are hoping Cooper Flagg can bring Mavs fans back after the Luka Doncic trade. The San Antonio Spurs are hoping Victor Wembanyama takes another giant leap forward and leads them to the playoffs.

Other Teams

The Detroit Pistons are hoping their young talent can take another leap and help them win a playoff series. The Atlanta Hawks have a good mix around Trae Young and could take a step forward this season. The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping Luka Doncic can lead them to a championship. The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping Kawhi Leonard stays healthy and leads them to the playoffs. The Golden State Warriors are hoping their aging stars can stay healthy and compete for a championship.

The Orlando Magic are hoping Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner can make each other better and lead them to the NBA Finals. The Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping Anthony Edwards can take another step and lead them to the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets are hoping Kevin Durant can help open the floor and knock down shots. The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping to breakthrough and make it to the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks are hoping to make the NBA Finals and prove they are a contender.