The 2024-2025 NBA season started with a bang, and many surprises are already happening around the league.
Forget the preseason NBA team rankings and throw them out of the window for now, as some would-be contenders have struggled right out of the gate, whereas the once-perceived bottom-tier teams are making their entrance known for everybody to see.
Week one of exciting basketball is done. Let’s head now to our weekly NBA team rankings here on TPS.
Who are the top-ranking NBA teams after week one of action?
30. Utah Jazz
The Jazz should not be this bad, especially with the talent on their roster. They were outclassed in a couple of games, resulting in a 0-2 week. Before the season started, there were initial hopes that this team could possibly perform way beyond expectations after an abysmal performance last year, but if week one were any indication, this would be a long year for this franchise again.
29. Washington Wizards
While it was a surprisingly good week for Jordan Poole, the same can’t be said for the rest of this Wizards team. They were blown out by an average of 19.5 points in their two losses in week one. To be fair, they were competitive in the first half of both games against the Celtics and the Cavaliers but faltered after halftime.
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28. Detroit Pistons
As expected, the additions of Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley barely made a positive impact on the Pistons. A 0-3 week can testify to that. However, if we look closely at their recent games, they’re not as bad as before. They managed to keep the games close, giving them a fair shot at positioning themselves for a win in the fourth quarter.
27. Denver Nuggets
Uh oh…this is not the start that the Nuggets wanted. We have no choice but to put them in here after week one of action, as they have dug themselves into a 0-2 start for the season. They looked old and tired against the Thunder. Even with a 40-piece from Jokic, they faltered versus the Kawhi Leonard-less Clippers.
26. Sacramento Kings
Same with the Nuggets, another strong Western Conference team has struggled right out of the gates. The Kings failed to close out games at the start of the season, falling to 0-2. Despite having De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan on the team – two of the best clutch players in the league last year – the Kings still could not score the ball when needed the most.
25. Charlotte Hornets
After impressing everybody with their win against the Rockets to start their campaign, the Hornets proceeded to lose two games in a row at the hands of the Hawks and the Heat, respectively. Brandon Miller has struggled with his shot after a promising rookie year. The only bright spot for them right now is the play of LaMelo Ball.
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams Starting Small Forwards From WORST To FIRST For The 2024-25 Season
24. Portland Trail Blazers
It’s nice to see that the Blazers are showing some fight in their games after being blown out embarrassingly by the Warriors during their season opener. In a home and away battle with the Pelicans, they lost one but surprisingly played well enough to set themselves up for a win in their second match.
23. Indiana Pacers
This is not what the start that the Pacers had in mind after a successful run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. While 1-2 may not look bad, how they performed on the court so far is an entirely different picture. The good news is they have all the time to turn things around in the weekly NBA team rankings as their campaign intensifies.
22. Philadelphia 76ers
No Joel Embiid and no Paul George to start the season. As a result, the Sixers went from plausible contenders to middle-of-the-pack teams. Tyrese Maxey can’t do it all, no matter how talented he is. This is what happens when two of your superstars are injury-prone.
21. Houston Rockets
The Rockets—a young team with playoff aspirations—should have no business losing to teams like the Spurs and the Hornets. While Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green balled out in week one, their supporting cast performed poorly and well below their expectations. Is the Dillon Brooks experiment crumbling before our eyes? He seems to have lost confidence in his jump shot in the last couple of years.
20. San Antonio Spurs
After an abysmal season opener against Luka Doncic and the Mavs, the Spurs fought admirably in their second game, resulting in a victory against the Rockets. Victor Wembanyama has shown an improved outside game, which made him essentially unguardable from anywhere on the court. They will be tested this week with the Rockets, Thunder, Jazz, and the Wolves on their schedule.
19. Toronto Raptors
1-2 isn’t such a bad start for the Raptors, considering that their starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley, is still out due to an injury. RJ Barrett hasn’t dressed up as well, which adds to their woes to start their campaign. However, after being blown out by 30 points by the Cavaliers on opening night, they bounced back, won against the Embiid-less Sixers, and managed to keep the game close during their recent clash with the Wolves.
18. Brooklyn Nets
Forgive us if we’ve mentioned in the past that Cameron Johnson will carry the bulk of the offensive load for this team. That title now belongs to the mercurial Cam Thomas, who is averaging 30 PPG to start the season. Even if they’ve lost their first two games, they ended week one with a bang, with a win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
17. Chicago Bulls
OKC, Bucks, and Pelicans—that was a tough opening week for the Bulls. Even though they only came out with a 1-2 slate, with their lone win against the Bucks, this team isn’t as bad as advertised. There are a lot of things they could improve as the season progresses. For starters, Coby White needs to be consistent in giving this team a chance to win on a nightly basis.
16. Milwaukee Bucks
Is it too early for the Bucks to hit the panic button after their losses to Chicago and Brooklyn? Despite great performances from their star duo, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the team has failed to win their games against inferior teams. In hindsight, if their woes continue, coach Doc Rivers might be on the hot seat as the season progresses.
15. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pels should have gone 3-0 with a fairly easier schedule compared to other NBA teams in this rankings, but they suffered an ugly loss against the Blazers to end week one, going 2-1 instead. To add to their woes, Dejounte Murray is now out for at least a month due to a hand injury.
14. Miami Heat
After getting embarrassed by the up-and-coming Magic squad to start their campaign, the Heat had a bounceback game and won against the Hornets to end week one of action. They will be tested against the newly revamped New York Knicks in week two, followed by two contests against mediocre teams, the Wizards and the Pistons.
13. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs went 1-1 to start their 2024-2025 campaign. They easily dispatched the Spurs on opening night before coming up short against the Suns in their second game. Klay Thompson has been a great addition to this team so far, averaging 20.5 PPG in the two contests.
12. New York Knicks
Let’s not jump on the Knicks’ bandwagon just yet. They have looked mediocre in one game and outstanding in the next. Jalen Brunson and the rest of the team struggled at the expense of the Celtics but managed to perform well against the Pacers. A clash versus the Cavs to open week two should be a good indicator of where they’ll land on the NBA team rankings next week.
11. Los Angeles Clippers
Coach Tyronne Lue proved that he’s one of the best coaches in the game today. Even with Kawhi Leonard out, he has steered the Clippers on a 2-1 record despite relying heavily on the talents of an aging James Harden. Can they sustain their fine play throughout the season? Well, if Ivica Zubac continues to perform well for them, then it’s possible.
10. Golden State Warriors
Who would have thought that the Warriors still had some fight in them despite losing Klay Thompson to the Mavs last summer? Well, it’s hard to count out Stephen Curry despite him being closer to father time than his prime years as a player. However, a dark cloud now lingers above them as Curry suffered a nasty ankle injury during their loss against the Clippers to close out week one.
9. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks had an easy schedule to open their 2024-2025 campaign, resulting in wins against the Hornets and Brooklyn. To no one’s surprise, with the departure of Dejounte Murray, Trae Young basically just went back to his old form and shot the lights out, leading his team to a couple of victories. However, a thrashing by the Thunder at the end of week one might put a temporary pause on their optimistic outlook this season.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
After losing their season opening match against the Lakers, the Wolves have now won two straight games. Julius Randle is fitting nicely with the team as he’s more assertive in the scoring department than ex-Wolves Karl-Anthony Towns. And Anthony Edwards is on a mission to prove that he belongs in the MVP conversation this year.
7. Memphis Grizzlies
It’s such a welcome sight to see Ja Morant back on an NBA court again. As a result, the Grizzlies compiled a 2-1 record after week one of games. They weren’t really high on the NBA preseason team rankings due to the uncertainties surrounding them before the season started, but it looks like they didn’t miss a beat after following their successful campaign almost two years ago.
6. Phoenix Suns
The Suns have looked good despite Devin Booker and Bradley Beal’s offensive struggles to start the season. Kevin Durant has been magnificent for Phoenix, leading them into a 2-1 slate after week one of the games. Week two should be a fun one, as they are up against the Clippers, the Blazers, and the Sixers.
5. Orlando Magic
Strong wins against the Heat and the Nets have catapulted the Magic in this week’s NBA team rankings. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have looked like a strong young duo that the league should start worrying about. They still have areas that need improvement, such as three-point shooting and transition offense, but there’s no doubt that they will get better there sooner rather than later.
4. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are 3-0 to start the season. Yes, you read that right. Even with an almost intact roster from a year ago, they look like a completely different bunch on the court. Anthony Davis is finally playing at his full potential, scoring more than 30 points in each of their games during opening week. LeBron James is still performing at top form at 39 years old and fulfilled his lifelong wish when he and his son, Bronny James Jr., shared a moment as the first father and son duo on the court during their season opener against the Wolves.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs arguably had the easiest schedule to open their campaign. After week one, they comfortably dispatched Toronto, Detroit, and Washington. The real challenge begins this week, as they will face the Lakers, Magic, and Bucks. If they could come out unscathed in week two, they’ll be heavily considered for the top spot in next week’s NBA team rankings.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC had a clean sweep during the first week of their 2024-2025 campaign. All of their wins came from blowouts, too. The young trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams are poised to wreak havoc across the league. Don’t be surprised if they will be regulars within the top five of the NBA team rankings here on TPS for the rest of the season.
1. Boston Celtics
As expected, the Celtics remain the team to beat across the league. Even without Kristaps Porzingis, Boston easily cruised to a 3-0 record during opening week. Jayson Tatum has been balling like a madman, scoring the ball in a variety of ways against hapless defenders. Is this his revenge tour after being relegated to the bench in last summer’s Olympic games by Steve Kerr? It’s interesting to see if anyone can outwrestle the top spot from them for an entire 82-game season.
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams Starting Centers From WORST To FIRST For The 2024-25 Season
