NBA power rankings 2025-26: Championship tiers are back and San Antonio is on top of them

We’ve brought back the Championship Tier ranking to our NBC Sports NBA Power Rankings. Here’s what each tier means:

Title contenders: This is self-explanatory.
In the Hunt: Teams that could make the Finals, but need a number of things to break their way.
Playoff Teams: Solid playoff teams, this includes some teams currently in the play-in we should expect in the playoffs proper.
Play-In Teams: Teams headed to the Play-In (ones less likely to escape that round).
Tanking Tier: Self-explanatory.

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Title Contenders

1. San Antonio Spurs

(56-18, last week No. 2)
Dylan Harper, last June’s No. 2 pick, has almost flown under the radar this season nationally. Part of that is all the focus on Victor Wembanyama, and part of that is Harper has had a smaller role with his team than the other players in the top four. That said, don’t sleep on him. Harper has been brilliant and might be the best of this group in a few years. It’s not just the 11.5 points and 3.9 assists a game that impresses, it’s his ability to get to the rim — he is averaging 8.4 drives per game and 41% of his shots are at the rim. He’s also been a plus defender, something very rare for a rookie. Harper is going to make First Team All-Rookie, but watch next season for a breakout from him. San Antonio is 18-2 since the All-Star break but remains 2.5 back of Oklahoma City for the No. 1 seed in the West (and the league).

2. Boston Celtics

(50-24, last week No. 4)
Gap year? Jaylen Brown has thoughts for you. Last week, Boston answered any doubters and solidified its spot as the favorite to come out of the East — both in betting odds and the minds of most pundits — by beating Oklahoma City, then on Sunday knocking off a trendy and hot Charlotte team. Boston is 9-1 in games Jayson Tatum has played, and that includes him looking more comfortable and stepping up with 32 points against Charlotte while Brown was out. Boston is not likely to catch Detroit for the No. 1 seed in the East, and it could use a few more wins to hold off New York for the No. 2 seed. Boston is on the road this week in Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

(59-16, last…

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Publish date : 2026-03-30 19:57:00

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