NBA power rankings 2025-26: Thunder rolling, Pistons and Knicks move up to second, third
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find new superlatives for the Oklahoma City Thunder. At a staggering 23-1, the defending NBA champions are not just winning; they are dismantling the league with historical efficiency. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the runaway MVP favorite, operating with a surgical precision that has rendered opposing defenses helpless. Even when managing minor rotation injuries, the Thunder’s depth remains unmatched, allowing them to maintain a double-digit net rating that rivals the greatest teams in league history. While their dominance at No. 1 is the season’s constant, the real intrigue lies in the chaotic reshuffling directly beneath them.
The Detroit Pistons have officially vaulted to No. 2, cementing their status as the season’s absolute shocker. Under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit has transformed from a perennial lottery fixture into a defensive buzzsaw. Sitting at 19-5, the Pistons boast a top-three defensive rating, stifling opponents with a physicality that has been missing in the Motor City for nearly two decades. Cade Cunningham has finally taken the leap to legitimate superstar status, orchestrating the offense with poise while Jalen Duren dominates the glass. This isn't a fleeting hot streak; it is a fundamental paradigm shift in the Eastern Conference hierarchy that has the rest of the league on notice.
Right on their heels, the New York Knicks have climbed to No. 3. After a somewhat uneven start to the campaign, the Knicks have stabilized, winning key matchups to improve to 16-7. The chemistry of the core group is finally yielding the offensive fluidity fans expected, but it is the return to relentless defensive principles that has sparked this latest run. With OG Anunoby anchoring the perimeter and Karl-Anthony Towns stretching the floor, New York looks like the most complete threat to challenge the upper echelon.
Elsewhere, the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets remain dangerous in the top five, but the gap between Oklahoma City and the field feels significant. As the Emirates NBA Cup knockout rounds approach, the Thunder look untouchable, but the rise of Detroit and New York proves that the race for the second tier is more competitive—and surprising—than anyone predicted in October.
The Detroit Pistons have officially vaulted to No. 2, cementing their status as the season’s absolute shocker. Under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit has transformed from a perennial lottery fixture into a defensive buzzsaw. Sitting at 19-5, the Pistons boast a top-three defensive rating, stifling opponents with a physicality that has been missing in the Motor City for nearly two decades. Cade Cunningham has finally taken the leap to legitimate superstar status, orchestrating the offense with poise while Jalen Duren dominates the glass. This isn't a fleeting hot streak; it is a fundamental paradigm shift in the Eastern Conference hierarchy that has the rest of the league on notice.
Right on their heels, the New York Knicks have climbed to No. 3. After a somewhat uneven start to the campaign, the Knicks have stabilized, winning key matchups to improve to 16-7. The chemistry of the core group is finally yielding the offensive fluidity fans expected, but it is the return to relentless defensive principles that has sparked this latest run. With OG Anunoby anchoring the perimeter and Karl-Anthony Towns stretching the floor, New York looks like the most complete threat to challenge the upper echelon.
Elsewhere, the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets remain dangerous in the top five, but the gap between Oklahoma City and the field feels significant. As the Emirates NBA Cup knockout rounds approach, the Thunder look untouchable, but the rise of Detroit and New York proves that the race for the second tier is more competitive—and surprising—than anyone predicted in October.
