Merry New Year!
It’s time to put the 25 in the 2024-25 season. I don’t even need to hype up the energy for this week ahead. We have the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers on a 70-win collision course — nice of the league to flex that one into national visibility on Wednesday night! You have suspensions, you have injury returns, you have starting-five shakeups. It’s about to get sticky in January. There will be something to watch for all, even the people who act like they do not watch the games!
We have New Year’s resolutions for each team this week — 2024 is in the past, and we have the time capsule to show for that. Onward and upward!
A reminder: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week:
• Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league
• In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams
• The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack
• Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do
• Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear
Let’s cast a line into Week 11 of The Athletic’s NBA Power Rankings. Win/loss records and statistics are through Monday’s games.
Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-4)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W at LAL, W at DAL, W vs CHA
Offensive rating: 121.3 (first)
Defensive rating: 109.8 (seventh)
2025 resolution: Keep it quiet
A Cavaliers team that didn’t have any major transactions outside of hiring Kenny Atkinson as head coach is on pace for a season even better than last year’s champion Celtics. Cleveland has been quiet for a team that has been this good and dominant. But the Cavs have the perspective of having to grow slowly this decade, while Atkinson has been with so many other teams that had to grind. The humility and perspective will serve them well.
GO DEEPER
The Cavaliers — at 31-4 — are echoing greats like the ’16 Warriors, but don’t tell them that
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-5)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W vs. MIN, W vs. LAC, W vs. NY, W vs. BOS
Offensive rating: 114.8 (eighth)
Defensive rating: 102.7 (first)
2025 resolution: Get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the MVP
While the Cavaliers are more balanced with their attack, every team knows what is coming with Gilgeous-Alexander. And yet, Gilgeous-Alexander keeps leading the Thunder to wins. The last four Oklahoma City victories have all come after trailing by double digits at some point, and Gilgeous-Alexander has reached at least nine field goals and 29 points in each comeback.
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the MVP? (Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images)
3. Boston Celtics (26-10)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W vs. TOR, W at MIN, W at HOU, L at OKC
Offensive rating: 119.7 (second)
Defensive rating: 109.3 (sixth)
2025 resolution: Take advantage of regular-season losses as defending champ
The Celtics are getting every team’s best shot, and while that might hurt in the standings now, it could benefit them later. Boston simply ran out of buckets in Oklahoma City, failing to score in the paint at all in the fourth quarter while missing repeatedly from 3 after halftime. Every defender who was assigned to Gilgeous-Alexander was cooked as well. Still, the Celtics are experiencing playoff atmospheres in the middle of the season, and they should be well-conditioned for the spring.
4. Memphis Grizzlies (24-13)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W at PHO, L at SAC, L at GS, W vs. DAL
Offensive rating: 116.6 (fifth)
Defensive rating: 109.0 (fifth)
2025 resolution: Be fine in the West
The Grizzlies have been cleaning up against the Eastern Conference, winning 13 interconference games already. They have all season to show that they can be equally as good against the West, where the Grizzlies are only 11-10. Memphis was upset with homecourt advantages the last two times it made the postseason, but it has been well-balanced even when shorthanded. The Grizzlies just have to show that they can be a threat against the teams it matters most against.
5. Houston Rockets (23-12)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W vs. DAL, L vs. BOS, W vs. LAL
Offensive rating: 112.5 (12th)
Defensive rating: 106.7 (third)
2025 resolution: Let the church say …
Amen … as in Amen Thompson. The fourth pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, Thompson showed how much of a difference-maker he was in the second unit to begin this season. But now that he is back from suspension, Thompson finds himself starting with power forward Jabari Smith Jr. sidelined with a fractured left hand. Thompson is still an untrustworthy shooter who is not as consistent a passer as he was originally billed to be. But he makes splash plays regularly, and more time to make an impact will have the Rockets wondering if he should stay a starter even when Smith returns.
Tier 2: In a Good Place
6. New York Knicks (24-13)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W vs. UTA, L at OKC, L at CHI, L vs. ORL
Offensive rating: 119.2 (third)
Defensive rating: 112.4 (14th)
2025 resolution: More Karl-Anthony Towns dishes
The Knicks are 6-0 this season when Towns has more than five assists in a game. It’s not one of the things at the top of what makes Towns special. But Towns has enjoyed finding his teammates, and New York is a better team when Towns excels as a facilitator.
GO DEEPER
The Knicks in 2025: 5 bold (and not-so-bold) predictions
7. Denver Nuggets (20-14)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: W vs. ATL, L vs. SA, W at SA
Offensive rating: 117.0 (fourth)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (19th)
2025 resolution: More 3s
The Nuggets are 5-0 this season when they make more than 15 3s – but 0-4 when they make exactly 15 3s. Denver is the antithesis of needing 3s to win games, as it has 20 wins despite attempting 40 3s in a game only once all year and averaging the fewest 3-point attempts (31.1 per game) in the league. Percentage is more important than attempts, though, and the Nuggets rank fourth in the league in 3-point percentage. They take the right kind of 3s, and if they can add more volume within the framework of how they play, then they will be even more threatening.
Tier 3: The Bubble
8. Dallas Mavericks (20-16)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: L at HOU, L vs. CLE, L at MEM
Offensive rating: 115.2 (sixth)
Defensive rating: 111.4 (11th)
2025 resolution: Explore solutions without the stars
The Mavericks are 0-3 this season without both Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, and they will be without both stars for what appears to be most of January. For a team with title aspirations, Dallas must find a way to win games. Whether that is increasing the ball movement, finding another on-ball presence or tapping into better defense, this is an opportunity for the Mavericks to develop the skill sets of their role players so that when Dončić and Irving do come back, the team is even better equipped to support the stars.
9. Orlando Magic (22-16)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L at DET, W at TOR, L vs. UTA, W at NY
Offensive rating: 108.6 (26th)
Defensive rating: 106.3 (second)
2025 resolution: Protect oblique muscles
Orlando’s resiliency to compete this season despite being shorthanded in almost every game since the beginning of November is remarkable. Paolo Banchero could return any game now from his torn oblique, and while it doesn’t appear that the Magic will be full strength until March because of Franz Wagner’s torn oblique, they are giving themselves an opportunity to be a very tough postseason opponent.
It’s time for Giannis Antetokounmpo to get angry. (Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)
10. Milwaukee Bucks (18-16)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: W at IND, L vs. BRK, L vs. POR, W at TOR
Offensive rating: 112.2 (14th)
Defensive rating: 110.7 (10th)
2025 resolution: An angrier Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo went on a tear during portions of 2024 when he appeared dissatisfied with his franchise’s attention and urgency. It will be interesting to see when Antetokounmpo can reach a level of fury from within next, and how long he can go on a dominant trail. Antetokounmpo had to miss some games because of nagging injuries, a reminder of how finite that energy can be.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (20-15)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: L vs. CLE, W vs. POR, W vs. ATL, L at HOU
Offensive rating: 113.1 (11th)
Defensive rating: 114.9 (21st)
2025 resolution: Better play against the Eastern Conference
At 16-8 against the West, the Lakers are in an envious spot as far as potential tiebreakers are concerned. But Los Angeles has a 4-7 record against the East, and that’s without playing teams such as the Knicks, the Celtics, and the Bucks. Almost everything about the Lakers’ record is better than how they have played overall, but their play outside of the conference has more accurately reflected their point differential this season.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (18-17)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: L at OKC, L vs. BOS, L at DET, W vs. LAC
Offensive rating: 111.1 (21st)
Defensive rating: 110.0 (eighth)
2025 resolution: Point guard Ant
It took the latest three-game losing streak for coach Chris Finch to change up the starting five and make Anthony Edwards the de facto point guard. But, really, Edwards has been the primary playmaker for a while now, rendering Mike Conley a bystander. Edwards is basically in the James Harden role when Harden first got to the Houston Rockets. An assistant coach on those Rockets staffs? Finch. Prepare for a ton of volume from Edwards, especially in the form of 3s and assists.
GO DEEPER
Chris Finch backs struggling Wolves starters, says there are no plans to change course
13. LA Clippers (20-16)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: L at SA, L at OKC, W vs. ATL, L at MIN
Offensive rating: 110.0 (23rd)
Defensive rating: 108.4 (fourth)
2025 resolution: Keep Kawhi Leonard on the floor
The best thing that has happened to the Clippers is the long-awaited healthy return of Kawhi Leonard to the lineup. Leonard is still going through a multi-week ramp-up that has him playing preseason-style minutes, and that can be disruptive for a Clippers team that has not been playing great since the end of November. LA has long-term goals in mind with Leonard, which makes it an intriguing team, but one that might slip even further in the standings this month while Leonard gets used to playing again.
GO DEEPER
How Kawhi Leonard’s return felt at Intuit Dome, and how he resets the LA Clippers
14. Indiana Pacers (19-18)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: L vs. MIL, W at MIA, W vs. PHO, W at BRK
Offensive rating: 113.8 (ninth)
Defensive rating: 115.0 (22nd)
2025 resolution: More volume from Tyrese Haliburton
The Pacers are 5-0 when Haliburton scores more than 30 points, 6-0 when Haliburton attempts more than 18 field goals, 7-0 when Haliburton makes more than four 3s, 8-0 when Haliburton has more than 11 assists. He hit all four marks when he went for 33 points and a season-high 15 assists (with no turnovers) in a blowout win at Miami. On the flip side, Indiana is winless when Haliburton is held to single-digit scoring (0-7). As unselfish as Haliburton is, the Pacers are at their best when he is aggressive.
15. Golden State Warriors (18-17)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: W vs. PHI, W vs. MEM, L vs. SAC
Offensive rating: 111.6 (16th)
Defensive rating: 110.3 (ninth)
2025 resolution: Get more free throws
The Warriors are the NBA’s worst free-throw shooting team, but when they get there with volume, everything is better. Golden State is 7-1 this season when attempting at least 25 free throws, with the lone loss coming against the Cavaliers. Of the eight games when the Warriors attempted at least 25 free throws, they only cleared 80 percent in one of those games — the season-opening smackdown at Portland. Unfortunately, they just lost the only player on the team who attempts more than 3.5 free throws per game for most of the month after Jonathan Kuminga’s serious ankle injury.
16. Detroit Pistons (18-18)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: W vs. ORL, W vs. CHA, W vs. MIN, W vs. POR
Offensive rating: 111.6 (17th)
Defensive rating: 113.3 (17th)
2025 resolution: Don’t have Cade Cunningham do everything
As impressive as it was to see Cunningham drop 40 on the Timberwolves, it is even better for the Pistons when he doesn’t have to dominate a game. Detroit is 5-11 this season when Cunningham attempts more than 20 field-goal attempts. Cunningham has at least nine assists in all five of those wins as well; the Pistons are 6-2 when Cunningham drops more than 10 dimes. The more Cunningham can get other Pistons rolling, the better.
GO DEEPER
Cade Cunningham shows another dimension for Pistons with offensive aggression
17. Sacramento Kings (18-19)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: W vs. PHI, W vs. MEM, W at GS, W vs. MIA
Offensive rating: 115.1 (seventh)
Defensive rating: 112.5 (16th)
2025 resolution: Keep the beam lit by keeping it simple
Interim coach Doug Christie is getting Sacramento to just play the damn game and measure up to its considerable talent advantage. Namely, the Kings are shooting more 3s, running with more purpose and hacking away to force more turnovers. Sacramento is still a factor in the West thanks to a winning streak that has mixed comebacks with competent performances in clutch time.
Jimmy Butler’s suspension could open the opportunity Jaime Jaquez Jr. needs. (Eakin Howard / Getty Images)
18. Miami Heat (17-17)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W vs. NO, L vs. IND, L vs. UTA, L at SAC
Offensive rating: 112.2 (15th)
Defensive rating: 111.6 (12th)
2025 resolution: Rediscover Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The seven-game suspension Miami gave to Jimmy Butler might be what Jaquez needs to get himself going. Jaquez had a sparkling rookie season, earning a spot on the All-Rookie first team despite being drafted well outside of the lottery. This season, Jaquez’s numbers haven’t quite taken the leap as expected. But Jaquez has some Butler qualities, and he achieved his first career triple-double on Monday in Sacramento, albeit in a loss that saw him miss clutch free throws in overtime.
19. San Antonio Spurs (18-18)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: W vs. LAC, W at DEN, L vs. DEN, L at CHI
Offensive rating: 111.3 (18th)
Defensive rating: 111.9 (13th)
2025 resolution: Explore Victor Wembanyama’s offense
Wembanyama’s defense is phenomenal and consistent. At times, Wembanyama looks like a world-beater offensively as well. But he is still under 50 percent on field goals while averaging nearly a turnover per quarter. Wembanyama has his entire 20s to reach peak efficiency offensively, and it will be interesting to see where that improvement is in real time this season with the Spurs right in the thick of the Play-In race.
20. Atlanta Hawks (18-18)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L at DEN, L at LAL, L at LAC
Offensive rating: 111.2 (19th)
Defensive rating: 113.8 (20th)
2025 resolution: Keep making it tough on the East
The Hawks have only played 20 games against intraconference opponents this season. But Atlanta is 13-7 in those games, and only the Cavaliers have lost fewer games against fellow East teams. The Hawks are responsible for half of Cleveland’s losses this season, and the Hawks have also tagged the Celtics, Knicks and Bucks with at least one loss each as well.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear
21. Phoenix Suns (16-18)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: L vs. MEM, L at IND, W at PHI
Offensive rating: 113.2 (10th)
Defensive rating: 115.1 (23rd)
2025 resolution: Take care of the basketball
The Suns are 2-10 this season when they have more than 15 turnovers. Because they are so bad at forcing them themselves, they are extra vulnerable when they can’t protect the rock. But when the Suns do prevent giveaways, they’re a mirror of the team that struggles with turnovers, compiling a 10-2 record when they have fewer than 13 turnovers.
22. Chicago Bulls (17-19)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L at WAS, W vs. NY, W vs. SA
Offensive rating: 112.4 (13th)
Defensive rating: 115.3 (24th)
2025 resolution: Hit the glass
The Bulls are 0-7 when they grab fewer than 45 percent of available rebounds this season and are 0-9 when they record fewer than 40 rebounds overall. Chicago is one of the worst teams in the league in terms of the possession battle and has yet to overcome any nights when it doesn’t have a nose for the ball.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (14-20)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: L at SAC, L at GS, W at BRK, L vs. PHO
Offensive rating: 109.0 (25th)
Defensive rating: 112.5 (15th)
2025 resolution: Sell out to force turnovers
The 76ers are 1-13 in games that they’ve been held under 18 points off turnovers. The only time they won a game with the points off turnovers not powering the defeat was in Boston on Christmas Day. Nick Nurse has been much better defensively than offensively this season, and whoever Philadelphia adds to the roster should have a role in being able to disrupt passers and ballhandlers.
24. Brooklyn Nets (13-23)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: L at TOR, W at MIL, L vs. PHI, L vs. IND
Offensive rating: 110.5 (22nd)
Defensive rating: 116.2 (25th)
2025 resolution: Lottery luck
The Nets look like defiance every time they steal a win. But the talent they have parted with already, in addition to the pieces they still hope to move, make it clear that they want to get on with a rebuild. The May lottery drawing will show how much help they can give their franchise in the bigger picture.
25. Utah Jazz (9-25)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L at NY, W at MIA, W at ORL
Offensive rating: 111.2 (20th)
Defensive rating: 118.3 (30th)
2025 resolution: Brice Sensabaugh’s emergence
Sensabaugh had three career 20-point games before January 2025 got here. Now, he is coming off his first career games of 10-plus buckets, and he did it consecutively. It hasn’t been a great run for Utah’s recent first-round picks for a variety of reasons, but if Sensabaugh can maintain his breakthrough, then it makes Utah’s season a little more interesting.
GO DEEPER
Jazz are walking the fine line between development and improving their draft position
Tier 5: Basement Floor
26. Portland Trail Blazers (12-23)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L at LAL, W at MIL, L at DET
Offensive rating: 108.5 (27th)
Defensive rating: 117.1 (27th)
2025 resolution: Finding Scoot Henderson
Henderson is not Portland’s primary playmaker as long as Anfernee Simons is still on the team, and there are still instances where Henderson has to play off the ball while Simons runs the offense. Every now and again, Henderson shows that he is capable of more. But he still has too many games where he will fail to make a single basket.
GO DEEPER
Anfernee Simons in ‘hardest mental battle’ amid Blazers’ losing, but won’t ask for trade
27. Toronto Raptors (8-28)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L at BOS, W vs. BRK, L vs. ORL, L vs. MIL
Offensive rating: 109.4 (24th)
Defensive rating: 117.1 (26th)
2025 resolution: Keep dominating assist percentage
The most endearing aspect of the Raptors is how well they generate assists — 68.6 percent of Toronto’s baskets this season are assisted, which ranks fifth in the NBA. For perspective, the four teams ranked higher have won at least half of their games this season. Rebuilding teams such as the Raptors need to foster the right style of basketball, and they have done that to this point.
GO DEEPER
Who wants Jakob Poeltl? How about Bruce Brown? Exploring your Raptors trade ideas
28. New Orleans Pelicans (7-29)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L at MIA, W vs. WAS, W at WAS
Offensive rating: 107.8 (28th)
Defensive rating: 117.8 (29th)
2025 resolution: Look forward to next season
The injuries to so many starters in New Orleans have shot this season to smithereens. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson could both come back healthy, but this isn’t 2022. The hole is too deep for New Orleans to make something happen, even to chase another Play-In spot.
29. Washington Wizards (6-27)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: W vs. CHI, L at NO, L vs. NO
Offensive rating: 105.3 (30th)
Defensive rating: 117.5 (28th)
2025 resolution: Learn good habits
The Wizards are too young to understand the league right now. But as long as their young players see the floor consistently and take their lumps, the long intentional rebuild in Washington might bear fruit, especially defensively.
GO DEEPER
Wizards’ Alex Sarr had a rough start, but No. 2 pick is showing signs of potential
30. Charlotte Hornets (7-27)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L at DET, L at CLE
Offensive rating: 106.8 (29th)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (18th)
2025 resolution: Improve in all games, but especially clutch time
Charlotte has the longest losing streak in the NBA, and no team has more losses in clutch time (14). The Hornets are at the bottom of the Power Rankings to start 2025 despite a 30-point scorer in LaMelo Ball. Alternating blowouts with bad execution late shouldn’t be the case for this long, but that’s where the Hornets are for now.
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(Top photo of Darius Garland: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)
