Album of the Week: “thank u, next”, Ariana Grande (2019)
We have reached the end of November! And it is the end of normalcy. I was in a mall in Florida, where it was almost 80 degrees outside, and already, a Christmas tree was up and the Santa cycle was established. It was jarring.
For me, Thanksgiving has become the holiday that I just want to skip over. It launches the time of the year that marks a blitz to the end, where you have to watch your money and decide how much you need to flake on plans. But some of you love Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season. And I am glad that you are here to see what number your team is this week and what they have to be grateful for a month into this NBA season.
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 6 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will explore what each team is thankful for. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.
Tier 1: Top Contenders1. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-1)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W at NO, W vs SAC, W at UTA, W vs POR
Offensive rating: 119.6 (fourth place)
Defensive rating: 102.8 (first place)
Thankful: Fourth-quarter rest
Reigning MVP/scoring champion/NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played in all 18 of Oklahoma City’s games so far. He has scored at least 30 points in 15 of them. And Gilgeous-Alexander has only needed to play in seven fourth quarters all season. Again, this is without All-NBA/All-Defense selection Jalen Williams unavailable because of wrist surgery.
2. Detroit Pistons (14-2)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W vs IND, W at ATL, W at MIL
Offensive rating: 117.2 (eighth place)
Defensive rating: 110.0 (second place)
Thankful: Troy Weaver
Weaver is the current general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans, and he was let go as Pistons general manager after the 2023-24 season. His missteps were plentiful, culminating with a 14-win season that year, and he needed to be replaced. But look at this 14-win team now, featuring the following players drafted under Weaver: Isaiah Stewart, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson.
3. Denver Nuggets (12-4)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: L vs CHI, W at NO, W at HOU, L vs SAC
Offensive rating: 121.9 (second place)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (ninth place)
Thankful: Nikola Jokić
Master of the obvious here. This man won his three MVPs and his NBA Finals MVP before turning 30. Since turning 30, he averaged a triple-double for the first time last season and is averaging 30 points per game for the first time this season — while leading the NBA in both rebounds and assists. And Jokić is going to be needed that much more, because now Aaron Gordon (hamstring) has joined Christian Braun (ankle) on the Denver inactive list for most, if not all, of December.
4. Houston Rockets (10-4)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W at CLE, L vs DEN
Offensive rating: 122.5 (first place)
Defensive rating: 112.1 (eighth place)
Thankful: Josh Okogie
Okogie wasn’t exactly a priority free agent after being waived by the Charlotte Hornets in July. However, the Rockets signed Okogie to a minimum contract and have played him 20 minutes per game, starting him 10 times. He has given the Rockets a 3-and-D rotation player, and while the defense part of that equation isn’t surprising, the shooting is. Okogie is a career 30.5 percent 3-point shooter, but he has hit 42.9 percent of his career-high 3.0 attempts to begin this season.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (12-4)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: W vs UTA, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 115.8 (15th place)
Defensive rating: 113.3 (14th place)
Thankful: Clutch time
The Lakers have 12 wins this season. Half of them have come in clutch time, which the NBA defines as any game that is within five points at some point in the last five minutes of regulation. Los Angeles is the only team in the league without a clutch-time loss. Fourteen teams have a better point differential than the Lakers this season, but only two teams have a better record. The Lakers are a good team without clutch time, but they’re a great team with it.
Tier 2: In a Good Place6. Toronto Raptors (12-5)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: W vs CHA, W at PHI, W vs WAS, W vs BRK
Offensive rating: 119.2 (fifth place)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (11th place)
Thankful: Darko Rajaković’s offense
I did a story last year about why isolation basketball works for some teams (like the ones that employ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and might not work for others. Last year’s Raptors were dead last in isolations, per Synergy, while finishing second in assist percentage for the second straight season. They’re still in the bottom five in isolations this season, but even with the addition of a strong isolation player in Brandon Ingram, that ball is still moving. Only the Miami Heat have averaged more assists per game than the 30.4 that Toronto is averaging to start the season, while the Raptors rank fifth in assist percentage.
7. Miami Heat (11-6)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: W vs NY, W vs GS, W at CHI, W at PHI
Offensive rating: 116.6 (13th place)
Defensive rating: 111.2 (4th place)
Thankful: The Utah Jazz and LA Clippers
All it took for the Miami Heat to get Norman Powell from the LA Clippers was for the Heat to send Utah Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love. Powell already has three 30-point games this season and is threatening a 25-point 50/40/90 season. Will Miami extend Powell, who turns 33 years old in May and has missed at least 20 games in five of the previous seven seasons? Perhaps a lot of that will have to do with how Powell meshes with 2025 All-Star Tyler Herro, who could make his season debut Monday night.
8. Phoenix Suns (11-6)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at POR, W vs MIN, W vs SA
Offensive rating: 116.9 (10th place)
Defensive rating: 112.0 (seventh place)
Thankful: Dillon Brooks
The Suns lost four games in a row in October and have since recovered to win 10 out of the last 12 games. This is Brooks’ ninth NBA season. He has been to the playoffs in four of those seasons. Brooks played a big role in turning around the Memphis Grizzlies, and he was instrumental in helping the Houston Rockets get the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Now, it looks like he could help his third franchise of the 2020s return to a certain level of rep. Brooks is allowed to take more shots than ever, averaging 21.4 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the field, both of which would be career bests.
9. San Antonio Spurs (11-5)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: W vs MEM, W vs ATL, L at PHO
Offensive rating: 117.2 (ninth place)
Defensive rating: 111.8 (fifth place)
Thankful: De’Aaron Fox’s space
At some point, the Spurs will be able to get on an extended run with Fox pairing with Victor Wembanyama. But that would require both players to be healthy at the same time. Fox missed the start of the season, and now he’s carrying the Spurs with Wembanyama injured, along with guards Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-6)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: W vs MIL, L vs HOU, W vs IND, W vs LAC
Offensive rating: 116.5 (14th place)
Defensive rating: 111.9 (sixth place)
Thankful: Donovan Mitchell’s efficiency
Only four players are averaging 30 points per game on 50 percent shooting from the field. Mitchell is by far the shortest at 6-foot-2, and unlike Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jokić, Mitchell is making 4.0 3s per game as well. Cleveland’s offense falls off when Mitchell is off the floor, but Mitchell would also gladly trade some of the volume he needs to produce for an even more lethal offense with Darius Garland. When Mitchell and Garland have shared the floor, Cleveland has scored 133.9 points per 100 possessions in 78 minutes.
For the Knicks, it’s good to have Jalen Brunson back. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)
Tier 3: The Bubble11. New York Knicks (9-6)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: L at MIA, W at DAL, L at ORL
Offensive rating: 119.7 (third place)
Defensive rating: 114.8 (18th place)
Thankful: Jalen Brunson’s return
Brunson missed a week with an ankle sprain and went right back to getting buckets. He’s made double-digit field goals in four straight games now. His return takes some pressure off of Karl-Anthony Towns, who is shooting career lows from the field (42.9 percent) and from 3 (31.8 percent).
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-6)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: W vs DAL, W vs WAS, L at PHO
Offensive rating: 118.1 (seventh place)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (12th place)
Thankful: Health
The Timberwolves have played 16 games. Among the seven players who play more than 20 minutes per game, Minnesota has had five games lost to absence. Four of them were from Anthony Edwards, the other from Jaden McDaniels. Many discuss injury as something that isn’t supposed to happen, but the reality is that it is rare for a team to have sustained periods of health. And outside of Edwards’ 10-day hamstring injury, that’s what the Timberwolves have had to start this season. Perhaps this is the week they beat a team with a winning record for the first time.
13. Atlanta Hawks (11-7)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L vs DET, L at SA, W at NO, W vs CHA
Offensive rating: 115.5 (16th place)
Defensive rating: 112.7 (13th place)
Thankful: Ball movement
Trae Young hasn’t played all month, and yet the Atlanta Hawks are one of three teams to average at least 30 assists per game to start the season. And since Young’s injury, five Hawks are averaging at least three assists per game, led by power forward Jalen Johnson’s 7.9 per game. Johnson’s numbers since Young went down are ferocious overall, as he is averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds on 55.7 percent shooting from the field and 46.7 percent shooting from 3. Johnson can pretty much do it all. He just needs to show that he can stay on the court.
14. Philadelphia 76ers (9-7)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: W vs LAC, L vs TOR, W at MIL, L vs MIA
Offensive rating: 116.8 (12th place)
Defensive rating: 115.2 (19th place)
Thankful: Tyrese Maxey’s energy
Maxey has been running around like Sonic the Hedgehog this season, and the 76ers would likely have a losing season without his heroics. Last Monday night saw Maxey upstage his big homie James Harden in a comeback win against the Clippers, with Maxey scoring 14 of his game-high 39 points in the fourth quarter. And then Maxey scored 22 of his career-high 54 points in the fourth quarter and overtime of a win at Milwaukee, the second night of a back-to-back. He says that he could play two more games if he had to. That’s part of the Sixers’ problem, but on a week where they got Paul George back and were only able to split the week with Joel Embiid out again, we’ll just appreciate Maxey’s unlimited battery for now.
15. Boston Celtics (9-8)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: W at BRK, L vs BRK, W vs ORL
Offensive rating: 118.8 (6th place)
Defensive rating: 114.0 (16th place)
Thankful: Neemias Queta’s defense
Queta has solidified himself as Boston’s starting center. And that’s a good thing, because the Celtics allow 20 fewer points per 100 possessions when Queta is on the floor. He does the big man things well as a rebounder and shot blocker, but he is also good at defending the pick-and-roll and holding up on an island. For a team that seemed to have a Dunkin-sized hole at center entering the season, Queta has done a solid job in his minutes. And that’s a good thing, because the other Celtics centers aren’t nearly as sturdy defensively.
16. Orlando Magic (10-8)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: W vs GS, W vs LAC, W vs NY, L at BOS
Offensive rating: 116.8 (11th place)
Defensive rating: 113.7 (15th place)
Thankful: Jalen Suggs recovery
The Magic got blown out in Boston, allowing 48 out of 138 points in the second quarter alone. And of course, it was a game where Jalen Suggs was held out to rest his surgically repaired left knee. Orlando is 8-5 with Suggs and 2-3 without him this season. But as mentioned before this season, Suggs gives the Magic their defensive punch. When Suggs is on the floor, the Magic allow 102.8 points per 100 possessions, the equivalent to the soul crushers that are the Oklahoma City Thunder. And when Suggs is off the floor, the Magic allow 115.5 points per 100 possessions, which would rank 20th as a team at this point of the season.
17. Chicago Bulls (9-7)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: W at DEN, W at POR, L vs MIA, W vs WAS
Offensive rating: 114.3 (20th place)
Defensive rating: 116.6 (20th place)
Thankful: Nikola Vučević in the clutch
Vučević had two buzzer beaters two seasons ago, and he added a third career buzzer beater in Portland to help the Bulls maintain a winning record this week. Chicago’s defense is always going to be vulnerable with Vučević on the floor. But Vučević is one of the more skilled starting centers in the league, and his ability to shoot 3s at a 40 percent rate has won Chicago multiple games this month. Last but not least, Vučević knows that these exhibitions of strong late-game play wouldn’t be needed if the Bulls actually played a consistent four quarters of acceptable basketball. Credit to him for recognizing that a higher standard is needed.
18. Golden State Warriors (9-9)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: L at ORL, L at MIA, L vs POR
Offensive rating: 112.6 (23rd place)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (10th place)
Thankful: Jimmy Butler’s floor
I’ll always be amazed at Butler’s ability to get more steals than turnovers or fouls. He has 28 steals in 16 games this season and only 25 turnovers and 20 personal fouls. He’s been doing this his whole career. When Butler shares the court with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Warriors have outscored opponents by 61 points in 218 minutes. The problem has been the other 651 minutes, where the Warriors have been outscored by 62 points. That sums up their .500 record neatly.
Teams may not fear the deer as they once did, but Myles Turner goes antlers up after made 3s. (Benny Sieu / Imagn Images)
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear19. Milwaukee Bucks (8-9)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L at CLE, L vs PHI, L vs DET
Offensive rating: 114.9 (18th place)
Defensive rating: 117.0 (21st place)
Thankful: Myles Turner’s antlers
Not a good week for the Bucks, as they were swept this week and lost Antetokounmpo to a multi-week injury. Perhaps the best news is that Antetokounmpo’s groin strain wasn’t as bad as it could have been. But the best thing to come out of this week had to have been Turner’s antlers celebration. It was later mocked by the 76ers, but honestly, every team should have a logo-inspired gesture.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (7-10)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: L vs PHO, L vs CHI, W at GS, L at OKC
Offensive rating: 114.9 (19th place)
Defensive rating: 117.4 (22nd place)
Thankful: Donovan Clingan’s offensive rebounding
Portland started 4-2 this season. The Blazers have lost eight of their last 11, alternating blowouts with heartbreakers while dealing with injuries to so many guards. Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe (calves) have joined Scoot Henderson (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle (thumb) and Blake Wesley (foot) on the shelf, not to mention Damian Lillard (Achilles). One of the few advantages Portland still enjoys is the sheer presence of Clingan on the offensive glass. Only Steven Adams and Mitchell Robinson average more offensive rebounds per game to start this season than Clingan (4.8 per game).
21. Memphis Grizzlies (6-11)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: L at SA, W vs SAC, W at DAL
Offensive rating: 109.9 (25th place)
Defensive rating: 114.3 (17th place)
Thankful: Zach Edey’s return
Interesting week for the Grizzlies. You had parlays being talked about at the end of a blowout win and injured players talking trash in Dallas. We’ll shift the focus here to someone actually playing in Edey, who has been a net positive in all four of his games after missing the start of the season because of ankle surgery.
22. Utah Jazz (5-11)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: L at LAL, L vs OKC, L vs LAL
Offensive rating: 112.8 (22nd place)
Defensive rating: 119.5 (26th place)
Thankful: Keyonte George’s leap
Mind you, this is merely an offensive leap, as George remains a poor defender on one of the very worst defenses in the NBA. And George is still on the streaky end when it comes to his efficiency. But George has done a solid job of complementing Lauri Markkanen overall as Will Hardy’s point guard, averaging 23.1 points and 7.2 assists per game. He’s up to 7.0 free-throw attempts per game, which ranks 23rd overall and eighth amongst point guards, ahead of players such as Brunson and Curry.
23. LA Clippers (5-12)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L at PHI, L at ORL, W at CHA, L at CLE
Offensive rating: 113.8 (21st place)
Defensive rating: 119.2 (25th place)
Thankful: James Harden
The LA Clippers have won two games all month. One of them required a 41-point Harden triple-double in double overtime at Dallas. The other required a double nickel from Harden in an afternoon start at Charlotte. At this time last year, Harden didn’t have a single 30-point game. And he didn’t need one then, because this time last year, the Clippers were 10-7 despite not having a single game from Kawhi Leonard. Harden has six 30-point games already, and the Clippers are threatening to waste an extraordinary start to Harden’s season because their defense has cratered.
24. Dallas Mavericks (5-13)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L at MIN, L vs NY, W vs NO, L vs MEM
Offensive rating: 105.3 (30th place)
Defensive rating: 110.6 (third place)
Thankful: Cooper Flagg at small forward
As the starting point guard, Flagg averaged 13.6 points, 2.9 assists and shot 38.8 percent from the field in seven games. In the games since he has started next to D’Angelo Russell or Brandon Williams, Flagg’s numbers are up to 17.9 points, 3.3 assists and 49.7 percent from the field. The new vision was fully realized when he dropped 12 field goals on the Pelicans in a comeback win. Flagg doesn’t turn 19 until next month. He’s going to be fine, especially if his organization doesn’t conspire against putting him in the best position to succeed.
25. Charlotte Hornets (4-13)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: L at TOR, L at IND, L vs LAC, L at ATL
Offensive rating: 115.0 (17th place)
Defensive rating: 119.2 (24th place)
Thankful: Kon Knueppel’s readiness
We’re not even through the first quarter of the season, so needless to say, we have a long way to go. But Knueppel, the fourth pick in the 2025 draft, is threatening a 20-point 50/40/90 season at age 20. He’s at 19.4 points, 49.1 percent field goals, 43.8 percent 3s and 90 percent free throws. The Hornets have a hard time keeping their stars on the floor, but Knueppel has been a major bright spot.
Tier 5: Basement Floor26. Brooklyn Nets (3-13)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L vs BOS, W at BOS, L at TOR
Offensive rating: 112.6 (24th place)
Defensive rating: 122.8 (29th place)
Thankful: Jordi Fernandez’s perspective
One look at Brooklyn’s roster can tell you that winning is not the top priority. The Nets have dismantled the roster, used all five first-round picks and are hoping to hit with a 2026 lottery pick. But as hard as that is on a head coach, especially one getting their first opportunity at the job in the NBA like Fernandez, it is important to foster an environment that promotes some level of growth. Fernandez shared a piece of his mind before a rare win Friday in Boston: “There’s a difference between losing and being a loser. And losing is just not getting the outcome that you want. And being a loser is when you lose and you don’t care, or when you’re not willing to take whatever it takes to be successful.”
27. Sacramento Kings (4-13)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L at OKC, L at MEM, W at DEN
Offensive rating: 109.5 (26th place)
Defensive rating: 121.0 (28th place)
Thankful: Keegan Murray coming back
Murray was rusty in his season debut after missing the first 15 games of the season due to left thumb surgery, missing eight of 13 shots and five of six 3s off the bench while the Kings suffered the worst of their defeats this season at Memphis. But Murray was ready to start in Denver, and the Kings finally snapped an eight-game losing streak that saw them lose each of those games by double digits. Sacramento’s roster makes a whole lot more sense with a player who is willing to play without the ball in his hands and defend multiple positions. Unfortunately, Murray came back just in time for Domantas Sabonis to hit the shelf with a knee injury.
28. Indiana Pacers (2-14)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L at DET, W vs CHA, L at CLE
Offensive rating: 106.1 (29th place)
Defensive rating: 118.9 (23rd place)
Thankful: Pascal Siakam
It’s been a disaster this season. But Siakam has been a beacon of stability while scoring more points than ever (24.8 per game). Siakam has two seasons left on his deal after this one, and he could help the Pacers relieve pressure off Tyrese Haliburton when Haliburton returns from Achilles surgery.
29. New Orleans Pelicans (2-15)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L vs OKC, L vs DEN, L at DAL, L vs ATL
Offensive rating: 107.4 (28th place)
Defensive rating: 119.9 (27th place)
Thankful: The paint
The Pelicans have scored 880 points in the paint so far this season. They have allowed … 880 points in the paint this season. It’s the 3-point line that makes the Pelicans look like amateurs. No team has a worse differential of 3-point field goals made than New Orleans.
30. Washington Wizards (1-15)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L at MIN, L at TOR, L at CHI
Offensive rating: 107.9 (27th place)
Defensive rating: 123.4 (30th place)
Thankful: For this month to be over
The Wizards were not expected to do much this season. And they are not doing much. It’s been bad. I can’t even say they should be thankful for the Mavericks, since they only beat them once out of two chances. They’ve lost to every NBA team they have faced so far in that sense. The Wizards have two games this week, and they’re both NBA Cup games: against the Hawks at home and at Indiana. Washington hasn’t won a game in the month of November since it won at Detroit on Nov. 27, 2023, back when the Pistons were starving. It has been 25 straight losses in the month of November ever since Kyle Kuzma said — at this point, it’s like, don’t be that team…