Album of the Week: “ A Very Special Christmas,” Jimmy Iovine (1987)

It may seem like we are digging deep, but Run D.M.C.’s “Christmas in Hollis” is goated. And with that, winter is here, and the holiday season reaches its zenith. We hope everyone gets what they want out of this time of the year.

As for basketball, the NBA Cup was supposed to be the entry point into the season for casual fans. Perhaps that worked for some — the three Cup games in Las Vegas were all bar fights. But Charles Barkley told us the season doesn’t start until Christmas, so I understand that there may be a few of you paying attention to the NBA for the first time this week. You’ve missed plenty, so let’s do some catching up.

Fine print: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We’ll retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers each 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

What to expect from Power Rankings:

These are my subjective rankings. I will consider a variety of objective measures, but it’s my final call.
These rankings are not just a review of the past week — we are projecting forward as well, so it is a balance of the two.
These are subjective, but not biased. There are no agendas in the Power Rankings, and we strive for an inclusive meritocracy
The one quality that these rankings possess: “Ruthless aggression.”
Enjoy the games, and enjoy the rankings, please!

For Week 10 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will revisit opening-week questions for each team. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.

Tier 1: Top Contenders1. Oklahoma City Thunder (25-3)

Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W vs LAC, L at MIN
Offensive rating: 119.0 (fifth place)
Defensive rating: 103.2 (first place)

The Big Question, revisited: Is Chet Holmgren breaking out this season?

The Thunder have lost three times this season. Two of the losses were on zero days’ rest after beating the LA Clippers and catching a flight. And now two of those losses have come with the starting lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Holmgren could be in the All-Star conversation, as he’s averaging an Evan Mobley special (18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks). But how Holmgren maximizes his opportunities with a full roster will be something to watch over the next month.

2. Denver Nuggets (20-7)

Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W vs HOU, W vs ORL, L vs HOU
Offensive rating: 123.7 (first place)
Defensive rating: 115.1 (17th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Can Aaron Gordon score like an All-Star all season?

Gordon began the season with a career-high 50-point performance and was averaging a career-best 18.8 points per game when his season was sideswiped by his troublesome hamstring. The Nuggets are 8-4 in the month that Gordon has missed, which included a six-game win streak that was snapped Saturday night against a Houston Rockets team that Denver has beaten twice already. Hopefully Gordon can pick up where he left off whenever he gets back.

3. Detroit Pistons (22-6)

Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W at BOS, L at DAL, W vs CHA
Offensive rating: 116.5 (9th place)
Defensive rating: 109.7 (2nd place)

The Big Question, revisited: Which young Pistons take the next step with Cade Cunningham?

Cunningham’s numbers are all up, except for his shooting, after establishing himself as an All-NBA player. Pistons center Jalen Duren, a 2026 restricted free agent, has taken a similar fourth-year leap. Duren has increased his on-ball opportunities, and he is punishing foes by nearly doubling his free-throw attempts per game from 3.1 last season to 6.0 this season. The only centers averaging more than Duren’s 18.0 points per game are Nikola Jokić, Alperen Şengün, Karl-Anthony Towns and Bam Adebayo.

4. New York Knicks (20-8)

Last ranking: 5
In the last week: NBA CUP W vs SA (exhibition), W at IND, L vs PHI, W vs MIA
Offensive rating: 121.7 (second place)
Defensive rating: 114.0 (15th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Can the Knicks count on Mitchell Robinson as a starter?

New York tried Robinson as the starting center for all nine games he played over the first 15 of the season; Robinson was unavailable for the first four games. When the Knicks lost at Orlando on Nov. 22, it dropped New York’s record to 9-6. The Knicks are 11-2 since with Josh Hart as the primary starter, not including winning an NBA Cup that they won’t raise a banner for or co-name street signs for. Robinson is an effective but limited player who is best in a 20-minute role rather than a foundational part of a starting lineup. Robinson has played more than 25 minutes once all season, and that was in Friday’s loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.

5. San Antonio Spurs (21-7)

Last ranking: 6
In the last week: NBA CUP L vs NY (exhibition), W vs WAS, W at ATL, W at WAS
Offensive rating: 118.2 (sixth place)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (fifth place)

The Big Question, revisited: Have the Spurs figured out how to play when Victor Wembanyama is off the floor?

How dare this question be asked about the almighty Wemby and his horsemen? In the first 12 games when Wembanyama was still a starter, the Spurs were outscored by only 11 points when Wembanyama was off the floor. While Wembanyama was out for a month, the Spurs leveled up and outscored opponents by 38 points. And since Wembanyama came back, the Spurs have been outscored by only three points. This, of course, doesn’t include the NBA Cup championship, because that game doesn’t count in the standings and is therefore not pure and ethical basketball.

Tier 2: In a Good Place6. Houston Rockets (17-9)

Last ranking: 4
In the last week: L at DEN, L at NO, W at DEN, L at SAC
Offensive rating: 121.0 (fourth place)
Defensive rating: 112.1 (fourth place)

The Big Question, revisited: Size is cool, but is there enough skill here?

Size is indeed cool. Houston loads up and mauls teams on the glass . The Rockets get to the paint. And they are the only team making more than 40 percent of their 3s. There is enough skill, but the Rockets also turn the ball over more than any team in the league outside of Portland. Houston is in the bottom five in assist-turnover ratio. And its recent rash of overtime losses leaves Houston with a 6-8 record in clutch-time games. Houston has plenty of blowout wins, though, so I’m sure none of this is concerning at all!

7. Minnesota Timberwolves (19-10)

Last ranking: 8
In the last week: L vs MEM, W vs OKC, W vs MIL
Offensive rating: 116.7 (eighth place)
Defensive rating: 112.3 (sixth place)

The Big Question, revisited: How do the Timberwolves evolve offensively around Anthony Edwards?

As far as output, the Timberwolves are about the same this season as they were last season. That’s not a bad place (top 10 on both ends of the floor). Edwards’ assists are down, but the trade-off leaves him as an even more lethal scorer than he was before. He’s north of 40 percent from 3 (bad night against the Bucks notwithstanding), he’s under 3.0 turnovers per game for the first time in four seasons, and he’s better from everywhere inside the arc. Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo are all scoring more. The next step for Minnesota, besides maintaining what it has with the starters, is finding someone besides Naz Reid to emerge from the bench.

8. Boston Celtics (17-11)

Last ranking: 9
In the last week: L vs DET, W vs MIA, W at TOR
Offensive rating: 121.3 (third place)
Defensive rating: 114.7 (16th place)

The Big Question, revisited: How do the Celtics win the other math problems?

The Celtics will be just fine without Jayson Tatum, thank you very much. Sure, they’re still dominating 3-point margins while residing in the bottom five in paint points. But Boston slows the game down to a relatively extreme degree, allowing it to be in the top five in both fast-break points allowed and paint points allowed. The Celtics win those margins, as well as points off turnovers and second-chance points. Outside of Tatum, the Celtics have been remarkably healthy, and that lineup consistency makes a significant difference.

9. Los Angeles Lakers (19-8)

Last ranking: 7
In the last week: W at UTA, L at LAC
Offensive rating: 118.0 (seventh place)
Defensive rating: 116.9 (23rd place)

The Big Question, revisited: Should LeBron James take his time coming back?

James didn’t debut this season until Nov. 18. By Saturday night in Intuit Dome, he was feeling good enough to drop more than 30 points for the first time. But James is also the last starter standing, as Luka Dončić left the loss to the Clippers with a leg injury in a game that Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton were physically unable to participate. As the Lakers alternate close wins with blowout losses, two things can be true: James is still capable of special performances, and the Lakers are worse off the more they have to rely on him.

10. Orlando Magic (16-12)

Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L at DEN, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 115.6 (10th place)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (10th place)

The Big Question, revisited: How is their 3-point shooting still this poor?

The Magic have increased their 3-point attempts each month this season, but they have only made 32.9 percent from 3 in December. Paolo Banchero, Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva are all shooting 25 percent from 3 or worse this month. Orlando is an eternally poor shooting team. The good news is that Desmond Bane is comfortable, with all four of his 30-point games this season coming since Black Friday, including his game-winning performance in Utah.

Philadelphia’s Paul George is averaging 16.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 11 games this season. (Jordan Godfree / Imagn Images)

11. Philadelphia 76ers (16-11)

Last ranking: 14
In the last week: W at NY, W vs DAL
Offensive rating: 114.7 (13th place)
Defensive rating: 113.3 (11th place)

The Big Question, revisited: How does Paul George change things?

George didn’t make his season debut until Nov. 17. Philadelphia allowed 115.2 points per 100 possessions, ranking 18th in the NBA, before George’s season debut. That number has dropped to 111.7 points per 100 possessions since George suited up. Just getting a 25-minute, 6-foot-8 veteran has been a solid presence for Philadelphia.

Tier 3: The Bubble12. Toronto Raptors (17-13)

Last ranking: 12
In the last week: W at MIA, W at MIL, L vs BOS, L at BRK
Offensive rating: 113.4 (19th place)
Defensive rating: 112.3 (ninth place)

The Big Question, revisited: Are the Raptors too aggressive defensively?

The Raptors still foul quite a bit, but they’re not as bad in that department as last season, and they have four players averaging at least one steal per game. Having the right balance of when to press and when to have the defense chew up clock has been a steady lesson for head coach Darko Rajaković. Toronto doesn’t miss RJ Barrett’s defense, but his knee injury has made more of an impact on Toronto’s underwhelming offense.

13. Miami Heat (15-14)

Last ranking: 11
In the last week: L vs TOR, W at BRK, L at BOS, L at NY
Offensive rating: 114.3 (15th place)
Defensive rating: 112.3 (seventh place)

The Big Question, revisited: How does Miami sustain playing faster than ever?

Miami still plays faster than any other team in the NBA overall. But the Heat have lost eight of 10 games now. It’s fun to play against the Heat, a team that won’t foul but can permit good looks, especially with center Kel’el Ware on the floor. Other teams are more talented than they are, and that talent margin is leading to some regression toward the mean.

14. Phoenix Suns (15-13)

Last ranking: 16
In the last week: W vs GS, L at GS
Offensive rating: 113.7 (17th place)
Defensive rating: 113.7 (12th place)

The Big Question, revisited: How will this center situation unfold?

This one wasn’t too hard to figure out. Mark Williams has started every game since Week 2, and he remains a poor rim protector despite decent production otherwise for 24.5 minutes per game. Oso Ighodaro slots in more appropriately as a second-unit big who occasionally shows up next to backup center Nick Richards. Lottery pick Khaman Maluach has played only 59 minutes all season. Phoenix has been shaky in December, and the center position remains a situation to monitor.

15. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-14)

Last ranking: 15
In the last week: L at CHI, L vs CHI
Offensive rating: 115.4 (11th place)
Defensive rating: 113.9 (14th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Who is going to help Donovan Mitchell on the perimeter until Darius Garland gets back?

At this point, this question needs to be asked: When does the All-Star Darius Garland get back? Cleveland has lost seven of the last eight games that Garland has played, including the home-and-home last week against the Bulls, and the one victory was a game at Washington that saw the Cavaliers trail by 17 points. Garland is shooting 39.4 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from 3 and averaging 3.0 turnovers per game in his last eight games. Mitchell is having a career year, but none of his veteran teammates are, and now Evan Mobley is dealing with a multi-week injury.

16. Golden State Warriors (14-15)

Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L at PHO, W vs PHO
Offensive rating: 113.0 (21st place)
Defensive rating: 111.5 (third place)

The Big Question, revisited: Can Jimmy Butler force the issue all season?

Golden State hasn’t been consistent, but Butler has been solid and present. Butler has missed only four games, his individual numbers are all good, and the Warriors have outscored foes by 99 points in Butler’s minutes this season. When Butler is off the floor, the Warriors have been outscored by 65 points.

Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear17. Atlanta Hawks (15-15)

Last ranking: 13
In the last week: L at CHA, L vs SA, L vs CHI
Offensive rating: 114.8 (12th place)
Defensive rating: 115.5 (18th place)

The Big Question, revisited: How will they be able to optimize Kristaps Porziņģis?

Porziņģis had given the Atlanta offense a tremendous offensive threat as a player who can shoot with range, finish inside and even make the right pass. This season is the first of Porziņģis’ 11-year career where he averages at least 3.0 assists per game. But Porziņģis’ recurring illness keeps being a factor in his lack of availability, as he has only played in 13 games this season. The Hawks got Trae Young back this week, and their already collapsing defense has hit new depths.

18. Memphis Grizzlies (13-15)

Last ranking: 19
In the last week: W at LAC, W at MIN, L vs WAS
Offensive rating: 112.5 (24th place)
Defensive rating: 113.8 (13th place)

The Big Question, revisited: How much of an X-Factor is Cedric Coward?

Coward earned the starting job in Memphis by the middle of November, pairing with fellow Washington State product Jaylen Wells as the wings of the future in Tennessee. While Coward’s individual numbers have not been as good as a starter, the Grizzlies have played better with Coward in the first unit. Memphis had a chance to get back to .500 for the first time since the beginning of November, but it gave up 130 points at home with two days’ rest to the Wizards.

19. Chicago Bulls (13-15)

Last ranking: 24
In the last week: W vs CLE, W at CLE, W at ATL
Offensive rating: 113.9 (16th place)
Defensive rating: 117.7 (25th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Is this defense trustworthy?

Chicago has given up more than 110 points in nine straight games, including 150 to Atlanta. So no, the defense was not trustworthy and has been a bottom-five unit over the last month. Over Chicago’s last 14 games, foes have made 38.2 percent from 3. When the Bulls started 5-0, opponents made a league-low 30.1 percent from 3. But the Bulls swept the week on the strength of superb shot making from Chicago’s entire rotation.

20. Portland Trail Blazers (12-16)

Last ranking: 20
In the last week: W vs SAC, W at SAC
Offensive rating: 113.5 (18th place)
Defensive rating: 116.4 (21st place)

The Big Question, revisited: Can Shaedon Sharpe coexist with the rest of Portland’s creators?

In a word, yes, Sharpe can fit in offensively. Sharpe got off to a slow start, and he’s still a poor decision maker (2.5 assists, 3.0 turnovers per game) with an inconsistent jumper (32.6 percent 3s). But Sharpe is up to career bests 22.0 points and 5.0 free throws per game, and he has scored 20-plus points in a season-best four straight games. Portland mainly needs to get point guard Jrue Holiday back.

Cooper Flagg has been putting up numbers since moving out of his point guard role for the Mavericks. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)

21. Dallas Mavericks (11-18)

Last ranking: 18
In the last week: L at UTA, W vs DET, L at PHI
Offensive rating: 109.0 (28th place)
Defensive rating: 112.3 (eighth place)

The Big Question, revisited: Can Cooper Flagg make up for Dallas’ guard deficit?

The Mavericks tried to use Flagg as a point guard to begin the season. He’s not a point guard. Then they tried free agent acquisition D’Angelo Russell. That didn’t work. Brandon Williams got his shot. Dallas went 2-7 in Williams’ starts. The Mavericks were the league’s worst offense when they gave two-way contract rookie Ryan Nembhard the starting job, which coincided with Anthony Davis’ return from injury. That has resulted in a 6-4 record for Dallas, including wins over Denver, Miami, Houston and Detroit. It has also resulted in Flagg averaging 24.0 points despite nonexistent 3-point accuracy (16 percent) over the last 10 games.

22. Brooklyn Nets (8-19)

Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L vs MIA, W vs TOR
Offensive rating: 111.6 (26th place)
Defensive rating: 116.3 (20th place)

The Big Question, revisited: How are the Nets going to get stops?

They shut down the Raptors on Sunday one week after embarrassing the Bucks. Only four games this entire NBA season have seen a team fail to score 85 points, and two of them involved the Nets defense. Brooklyn doesn’t have many pigeons in the lineup, and it has plenty of length. Noah Clowney, in particular, has flashed at power forward. The result is a team that can challenge teams that don’t have elite shot creation, speed and separation.

23. Milwaukee Bucks (11-18)

Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L vs TOR, L at MIN
Offensive rating: 112.8 (22nd place)
Defensive rating: 116.5 (22nd place)

The Big Question, revisited: Can Giannis Antetokounmpo do this all season?

Antetokounmpo has already had to leave two games early because of multi-game injuries, and he has only played in 17 of Milwaukee’s 29 games. His minutes are down to 29.1, in part because of his injury departures. And the Bucks are 2-10 when Antetokounmpo doesn’t play. Antetokounmpo is still able to do special things, but he needed to stay on the floor if he wanted to avoid the rumor mill from spinning about his future in Milwaukee. So far, his injuries have exposed the Bucks team that he was set out to carry.

24. Utah Jazz (10-17)

Last ranking: 22
In the last week: W vs DAL, L vs LAL, L vs ORL
Offensive rating: 114.3 (14th place)
Defensive rating: 121.0 (29th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Is Lauri Markkanen back?

Some wondered why I didn’t put Markkanen as my Utah representative for last week’s trade winds. It’s really simple: Markkanen is a 28-year-old franchise player on a long-term deal who wants to be in Utah. And he’s playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging a career-best 27.8 points. Markkanen is starting to miss games, as he’s been out three of the last five. But Markkanen has 10 30-point games this season after having only four 30-point games all of last season.

25. Charlotte Hornets (9-19)

Last ranking: 25
In the last week: W vs ATL, L at DET
Offensive rating: 113.1 (20th place)
Defensive rating: 117.1 (24th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Is this the year LaMelo Ball gets back to the All-Star Game?

It’s not looking like it. The Hornets still aren’t very good, Ball has missed 10 games already, and he hasn’t been nearly as good when he plays compared to last season. Ball is averaging a career best 8.6 assists per game, but he’s at career lows from the field (39.1 percent) and from 3 (31.6 percent). If Ball couldn’t have been an All-Star last year when he was averaging 27.3 points per game before the All-Star break, then it’s not happening this season with Ball at an inefficient 19.2 points per game.

Tier 5: Basement Floor26. LA Clippers (7-21)

Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L vs MEM, L at OKC, W vs LAL
Offensive rating: 112.7 (23rd place)
Defensive rating: 118.2 (26th place)

The Big Question, revisited: When does Bradley Beal start contributing offensively?

Never. In Beal’s previous four seasons, he averaged 49 games and 20.2 points. Even if Beal missed half of the season and averaged only 15 points per game, that would have been better than what the Clippers received for their Norman Powell replacement, which is 121 minutes (none in fourth quarters) and a season-ending hip injury in Week 3. The Clippers tried to get younger by going from Powell to Beal, but they got a whole lot worse off.

27. New Orleans Pelicans (7-22)

Last ranking: 27
In the last week: W vs HOU, W vs IND
Offensive rating: 112.1 (25th place)
Defensive rating: 118.9 (28th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Can the Pelicans convert their shots?

Before these last two weeks, not really. The Pelicans make 46.5 percent from the field, and only the Pistons score more paint points. But they are bottom five in converting in the restricted area and in the non-restricted paint. Credit the Pelicans for figuring some things out in the last two weeks, though, as they are making 50.4 percent from the field while riding a four-game win streak with both Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole coming off the bench behind lottery rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears.

28. Sacramento Kings (7-22)

Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L at POR, L vs POR, W vs HOU
Offensive rating: 108.8 (29th place)
Defensive rating: 118.8 (27th place)

The Big Question, revisited: How does Doug Christie navigate the shot creators?

Perhaps it is easier to figure out the offense by having shot creators be injured and benched. Four of Sacramento’s seven wins this season have come against top-eight teams in the Western Conference: Golden State, Denver, Minnesota and Sunday night against Houston. In the comeback overtime win over the Rockets, the Kings didn’t have center Domantas Sabonis or shooting guard Zach LaVine, started minimum contract Russell Westbrook over multi-year contract Dennis Schröder and used 2027 player option guard Malik Monk for less than five minutes. For one night, it worked out. The Kings have all of these players plus DeMar DeRozan and Keegan Murray, and only the Indiana Pacers have a worse offense this season.

29. Washington Wizards (5-22)

Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L at SA, W at MEM, L vs SA
Offensive rating: 109.2 (27th place)
Defensive rating: 122.7 (30th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Who cares about power forwards?

Not the Wizards, the worst defensive rebounding team in the league. On Sunday, the Wizards started Kyshawn George and Justin Champagnie at forward, two players listed under 210 pounds. The Spurs secured 20 offensive rebounds and outscored the Wizards 32-9 on second-chance points. It’s not like Washington has any big forwards, mind you. This is Washington’s roster construction, and we’ll see if they add bigger forwards and/or plus-rebounders at some point in 2026.

30. Indiana Pacers (6-22)

Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L vs NY, L at NO
Offensive rating: 108.1 (30th place)
Defensive rating: 116.1 (19th place)

The Big Question, revisited: Can the Pacers survive an early-season rash of injuries?

No, the Pacers could not survive the wave of injuries. That is a major difference between the Celtics without Jayson Tatum and the Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton. While none of Boston’s top-eight-minute players have missed five games, the only Pacers who haven’t missed at least five games are Pascal Siakam, Jarace Walker and centers Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson. Siakam has played a total of seven minutes (in one game) this season with projected non-center starters Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin.