NBA power rankings 2025-26: Thunder remain on top, Knicks climb to second as trade talks heat up

LAS VEGAS — On the day that 79 players who signed contracts last summer become eligible to be traded, that and the NBA Cup will be the focus of this week’s NBA Power Rankings. That loss in the Cup does not change who is on top of this list.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

(24-2, last week No. 1)
A veteran NBA media member told me this week he thinks this season’s Thunder is the best team he’s seen since the Kobe/Shaq Lakers. I would argue these Thunder have the potential to be the best since the Curry/Durant/Green Warriors. Whatever comparison you want to make, we are talking rarified air and a team with a legitimate shot at breaking the Warriors’ 73-win record (as long as there are no more games in Las Vegas, where this team struggles to shoot for some reason and did so again in an NBA Cup loss to San Antonio). Does getting that record matter to the Thunder? “Absolutely,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Winning matters, and no matter what form it looks like to me. So absolutely.”

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2. New York Knicks

(18-7, last week No. 3)
New York will be playing for the NBA Cup Tuesday night thanks to a 40-spot against Orlando from Jalen Brunson, who has positioned himself to be tournament MVP if the Knicks pick up the win. The Knicks are also positioned to be in the middle of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes (if he finally demands a trade), but the sense in league circles is that the Knicks really like their team right now and are not inclined to overpay and blow it up to land the two-time MVP. Especially if he is just going to force his way to New York next summer anyway.

3. Detroit Pistons

(20-5, last week No. 2)
Detroit is going to come up in trade rumors as a team looking for an upgrade — Lauri Markkanen would be a perfect fit for them if he can be pried out of Utah, Anthony Davis gets mentioned — but don’t expect them to blow this thing up to make a deal. Detroit is the first team in the East to 20 wins, it has a top-10 offense and defense, and an All-NBA leader in Cade Cunningham. This team already has a shot to come out of the East, they don’t need a desperation move to contend now. The Pistons will…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-power-rankings-2025-26-193134890.html

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Publish date : 2025-12-15 19:31:00

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