Album of the Week: “Reasonable Doubt,” Jay-Z (1996)
Today is one of my favorite days of the NBA regular season: Presidents’ Day. Finally, a day on the calendar with nothing going on. I hope I didn’t just jinx it.
It’s not just NBA All-Star Weekend that’s over; the entire February wave has passed. The Super Bowl is done. The NBA trade deadline is closed. And for everyone, the All-Star break has arrived.
There’s still a regular season to finish, but before we get to that, one last look at the weekend at Intuit Dome — where just about every team found its way into the NBA’s bonus stage.
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 18 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will remember All-Star Weekend moments for each team. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.
Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Detroit Pistons (40-13)
Last ranking: Second
In the last week: W at CHA, W at TOR
Offensive rating: 116.6 (10th place)
Defensive rating: 108.3 (Second place)
All-Star Weekend moment: We have a new No. 1 in the Power Rankings — not just for the first time this season, but for the first time since late March 2025. The Pistons claimed it in a week that included multiple suspensions and multiple All-Stars.
Fittingly, in an All-Star game that featured real defense for the first time in years, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff led the winning Stars squad, with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren on the roster.
Detroit also joined the “40 before 20” club — and there may not be many teams joining them and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2. San Antonio Spurs (38-16)
Last ranking: Third
In the last week: W at LAL, W at GS
Offensive rating: 117.0 (Seventh place)
Defensive rating: 110.9 (Third place)
All-Star Weekend moment: We can finally say it: the Spurs are ranked above a team they beat four times this season.
Mitch Johnson, coaching the veteran USA Stripes, delivered some of the week’s best pre-All-Star sound — openly wondering why San Antonio had only one All-Star despite strong results against star-laden opponents, and arguing that if De’Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle weren’t All-Stars, Victor Wembanyama should be leading the MVP race.
Fox ultimately landed on Johnson’s Stripes squad, while Wembanyama was credited with sparking Sunday’s competitive edge.
Honorable mention: The Spurs sent three players to the Rising Stars game (Castle, Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant), and Bryant nearly stole Saturday night’s dunk contest.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14)
Last ranking: First
In the last week: W at LAL, W at PHO, L vs. MIL
Offensive rating: 117.8 (Fourth place)
Defensive rating: 106.3 (First place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The Thunder getting hammered at home by Milwaukee meant a team that started 24-1 didn’t carry the league’s best record into the All-Star break.
Their season to date has been built on defending-champion credibility and early dominance; they were the NBA’s best team from opening night through early last week. They’re still good, but just 7-7 over their last 14, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed the All-Star Game with an abdominal injury.
Chet Holmgren was the last Stripes All-Star to see the floor, finishing with 10 points and two blocks across three games.
4. New York Knicks (35-20)
Last ranking: Fourth
In the last week: L vs. IND, W at PHI
Offensive rating: 118.9 (Third place)
Defensive rating: 112.8 (11th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: They brought back Shooting Stars for a reason: to give the Knicks another title. Fresh off the NBA Cup, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Allan Houston (Allan Houston!) delivered another exhibition win. Fun fact: Houston won this event in 2012 as a part of another New York trio, including Landry Fields and Cappie Pondexter. No shade to the Knicks, but I’d rather watch Brunson and Towns go one-on-one (we got a taste in the All-Star Game) than see Shooting Stars again.
5. Boston Celtics (35-19)
Last ranking: Fifth
In the last week: W vs. CHI
Offensive rating: 120.2 (Second place)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (Ninth place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The best part of the All-Star break for Boston: They’re already at 35 wins and right where they’re used to — near the top of the Eastern Conference, with All-Star Jaylen Brown leading the way.
It was an upsetting weekend off the floor for Brown after his Saturday All-Star event was shut down, a storyline that lingered into Sunday. On the court, Boston’s path to the “40 before 20” club runs through a Western Conference road trip against four winning teams before returning home to host the Brooklyn Nets next Friday.
Tier 2: In a Good Place
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (34-21)
Last ranking: Eighth
In the last week: W at DEN, W vs. WAS
Offensive rating: 117.5 (Fifth place)
Defensive rating: 113.3 (12th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The Cavaliers already have more losses than all of last season and won’t reach 40 before 20. Forget that for a moment: No team has a better record since January than Cleveland, and the James Harden era is off to a fast start.
Donovan Mitchell scored 12 points across three quarters for the Stripes, while Jaylon Tyson led Team T-Mac on Friday with 10.
7. Denver Nuggets (35-20)
Last ranking: Sixth
In the last week: L vs. CLE, W vs. MEM
Offensive rating: 121.0 (First place)
Defensive rating: 116.9 (24th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: Nikola Jokić is our modern-day Tim Duncan, and he set a new personal low at this All-Star Game, playing just one of two games and going scoreless in five minutes. Even Duncan got a bucket in all 15 of his All-Star appearances.
Jamal Murray struggled alongside Jokić, missing all six shots in that game, but bounced back in his second with two 3s and four assists.
8. Houston Rockets (33-20)
Last ranking: Seventh
In the last week: W vs. LAC, L vs. LAC
Offensive rating: 117.0 (Sixth place)
Defensive rating: 112.0 (Fifth place)
All-Star Weekend moment: This was an All-Star Game where Kevin Durant played center, and Alperen Şengün played point guard. Durant buried a key catch-and-shoot 3 against Şengün’s team, with Victor Wembanyama too deep in the paint to contest a Durant catch-and-shoot 3 from Jaylen Brown.
Also worth noting: Reed Sheppard spinning Carter Bryant all the way around Friday night in the Rising Stars challenge.
Tier 3: The Bubble
9. Los Angeles Lakers (33-21)
Last ranking: Ninth
In the last week: L vs. OKC, L vs. SA, W vs. DAL
Offensive rating: 116.3 (11th place)
Defensive rating: 116.6 (23rd place)
All-Star Weekend moment: Luka Dončić tweaked his hamstring in the first game of what is now going to be an eight-game Lakers homestand, so his five-minute heel turn at Intuit Dome was an encouraging sign ahead of a likely return later this week against the LA Clippers.
This was also an unusually active All-Star showing for “reserve” LeBron James, who scored 15 points in 22 minutes as a starter for the veteran Stripes — his most points and minutes since the 2022 game in Cleveland (he skipped last year entirely).
And yes, Jaxson Hayes not getting lobbed to by Dončić or LeBron on Saturday night was a missed opportunity, to say the least.
Anthony Edwards was named the 2026 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22)
Last ranking: 10th
In the last week: W vs. ATL, W vs. POR
Offensive rating: 117.0 (Eighth place)
Defensive rating: 112.4 (Seventh place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The Timberwolves have an All-Star MVP again: Anthony Edwards, the franchise’s first since Kevin Garnett in 2003.
Edwards opened the Stars-World overtime with a bucket and poured in 13 of his 32 points in that first game.
The game doesn’t even get to overtime if Edwards doesn’t lose Jamal Murray at the end of regulation and patiently wait for an opportunity to sink a catch-and-shoot, game-tying 3 on Stars’ final possession.
11. Toronto Raptors (32-23)
Last ranking: 11th
In the last week: L vs. DET
Offensive rating: 113.8 (16th place)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (Sixth place)
All-Star Weekend moment: What Anthony Edwards started in overtime against the World Team, Scottie Barnes finished, nailing a game-winning 3. While Barnes had a major moment, it was a forgettable night for Brandon Ingram, who failed to score in his first All-Star Game since 2020.
12. Phoenix Suns (32-23)
Last ranking: 14th
In the last week: W vs. DAL, L vs. OKC
Offensive rating: 114.5 (14th place)
Defensive rating: 112.7 (10th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: Devin Booker was the only member of the winning Stars team born in the 1990s, and this was his last All-Star Game of his 20s. He wound up playing a role that is close to how he was playing for the Suns in November, finishing with eight assists in 28 minutes. Booker had one of the more agonizing second-place finishes in 3-point contest history, as he dried up on his final rack with a win in sight.
13. Philadelphia 76ers (30-24)
Last ranking: 12th
In the last week: L at POR, L vs. NY
Offensive rating: 114.8 (13th place)
Defensive rating: 114.5 (15th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The 76ers backcourt was featured all weekend long. Rookie VJ Edgecombe was powerful on Friday night, scoring the final 10 points of his first Rising Stars game while hitting the game-winning free throws in the championship game to secure the MVP Award.
Tyrese Maxey didn’t do so well Saturday night in the 3-point shootout, but he was the starting point guard for the champion Stars team on Sunday. Maxey scored seven of his 15 points in the first three minutes of the final game Sunday night to effectively bury the veteran Stripes. Now, the 76ers need Maxey and Edgecombe to lock back in, because they played two of their worst games of the season to back into the All-Star break.
14. Golden State Warriors (29-26)
Last ranking: 13th
In the last week: W vs. MEM, L vs. SA
Offensive rating: 114.3 (15th place)
Defensive rating: 112.5 (Eighth place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The Bay Area hosted All-Star Weekend last year, and Stephen Curry was the MVP. But Curry missed the last five games before All-Star Weekend this year due to a right knee injury. At least Steph hit from the courtside set for the vibes.
15. Miami Heat (29-27)
Last ranking: 15th
In the last week: L vs. UTA, W at NO
Offensive rating: 113.7 (17th place)
Defensive rating: 111.6 (Fourth place)
All-Star Weekend moment: It was a fun Miami Heat weekend. San Diego native, UCLA alum and former LA Clipper Norman Powell represented Jamaica on the World team as a first-time All-Star, one night after just missing the finalist cut in the 3-point shootout. And Kel’el Ware and two-way contract Jahmir Young both hit a 3 each in losing efforts on their respective Rising Stars teams.
But the star of the weekend was Keshad Johnson, who had a smashing time winning the dunk contest Saturday night. A full weekend for the Heat, and a nice weekend for San Diego, considering the fact that Johnson was on the Final Four team from 2023.
16. Charlotte Hornets (26-29)
Last ranking: 16th
In the last week: L vs. DET, W vs. ATL
Offensive rating: 116.8 (Ninth place)
Defensive rating: 114.8 (16th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The Hornets win streak was snapped, with Moussa Diabaté and Miles Bridges getting suspended for their fight with the Pistons. But the Hornets got a win before the break, and rookie Kon Knueppel made it to the finals of the 3-point shootout. Knueppel is a safe bet to win that contest at some point in his career. It was a busy weekend for Knueppel, as he was on “Team Cameron” in Shooting Stars while also losing a game in Rising Stars.
17. Orlando Magic (28-25)
Last ranking: 17th
In the last week: W vs. MIL, L vs. MIL
Offensive rating: 113.6 (19th place)
Defensive rating: 114.0 (14th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The scariest moment of the weekend was when Magic rookie Jase Richardson went from paying homage to dunk champion father Jason Richardson to barely avoiding serious injury in the dunk contest. At least Richardson can laugh about it …
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear
18. LA Clippers (26-28)
Last ranking: 18th
In the last week: L at HOU, W at HOU
Offensive rating: 115.3 (12th place)
Defensive rating: 115.6 (20th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: Before we get to the theater of the absurd that was the Clippers hosting this All-Star Weekend (with no hint of purple or gold to be found anywhere!), we have to address the Clippers “selling” at the trade deadline. The Clippers sold high on James Harden and Ivica Zubac. That does not mean that they are punting on their season. Kawhi Leonard has shown that, as he dragged the Clippers to a comeback win in Houston on zero days rest.
This was a weekend that featured the franchise’s best player retiring two months after being dismissed by the team in the middle of a road trip, the team’s center of the future (Yanic Konan Niederhauser) having a strong showing in Rising Stars, former Clipper Corey Maggette on “Team Cameron” in Shooting Stars, and Kawhi Leonard scoring 31 points in a 12-minute game against the World team to ignite the All-Star Game Sunday. In the middle of all that is the pending results of a league investigation that commissioner Adam Silver reminded the media that he is not involved in on a day-to-day basis.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (27-29)
Last ranking: 20th
In the last week: W vs. PHI, L at MIN, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 113.5 (21st place)
Defensive rating: 115.5 (18th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: It’s still Dame Time, even if Damian Lillard hasn’t played all season and hasn’t been on the court for the Blazers in nearly three years. Lillard is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in last year’s playoffs, but he still managed to earn a three-peat in the 3-point shootout. Lillard’s timely performance was sandwiched between centers Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen going at each other Friday night in Rising Stars and All-Star Deni Avdija getting a couple of buckets and a few dimes Sunday.
20. Milwaukee Bucks (23-30)
Last ranking: 21st
In the last week: L at ORL, W at ORL, W at OKC
Offensive rating: 113.1 (24th place)
Defensive rating: 116.4 (22nd place)
All-Star Weekend moment: Speaking of Lillard, the former Buck got a post-shooting visit from none other than Celebrity Game coach Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was unable to play Sunday because of his calf injury. It was a rough Saturday afternoon of shooting from Bobby Portis Jr., who finished last among the eight contestants in the 3-point contest. But the Bucks had some fun wins before the break, with Antetokounmpo enjoying the Cam Thomas show in Orlando and Ousmane Dieng getting a triumphant return to Oklahoma City.
Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson had a solid showing throughout All-Star Weekend. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
21. Atlanta Hawks (26-30)
Last ranking: 19th
In the last week: L at MIN, L at CHA
Offensive rating: 113.6 (20th place)
Defensive rating: 114.9 (17th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: Jalen Johnson played all of 278 minutes at Duke. But someone needed to be the All-Star on “Team Cameron.” Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft, was an injury replacement for the Rising Stars game, then missed all five of his shots in a scoreless performance in a losing effort. Johnson at least finished the weekend strong with 14 points in 20 minutes Sunday for the winning Stars team.
22. Memphis Grizzlies (20-33)
Last ranking: 23rd
In the last week: L at GS, L at DEN
Offensive rating: 113.3 (23rd place)
Defensive rating: 115.6 (19th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The Grizzlies had three players in Rising Stars, but only two played, as rookie Cedric Coward managed right knee soreness; 2024 second-round picks Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer being participants showed good drafting on Memphis’ part. Wells knocked down a couple of 3s on the Team Vince squad that beat Spencer and Team T-Mac.
23. Chicago Bulls (24-31)
Last ranking: 22nd
In the last week: L at BRK, L at BOS
Offensive rating: 113.5 (22nd place)
Defensive rating: 117.6 (25th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: As much as the league may have wanted Mac McClung to be a part of All-Star Weekend, the Bulls two-way contract player didn’t dunk this year and was not able to play in Rising Stars. Matas Buzelis also declined to dunk after participating last year, but he did have a nice drive on Donovan Clingan for a dunk that led the scoring in a championship won by Team Vince. It’s been a rough three weeks for the Bulls, losers of nine of their last 10 games.
24. Dallas Mavericks (19-35)
Last ranking: 24th
In the last week: L at PHO, L at LAL
Offensive rating: 110.2 (27th place)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (13th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: Cooper Flagg injured his foot and had to miss Rising Stars. The only time the Mavericks were represented was when Flagg showed up at the Technology Summit. The Mavericks additionally took a nine-game losing streak into the All-Star break, with both Daniel Gafford (ankle) and Naji Marshall (foot) leaving the final game with injuries.
25. Indiana Pacers (15-40)
Last ranking: 29th
In the last week: W at NY, W at BRK
Offensive rating: 108.8 (30th place)
Defensive rating: 116.1 (21st place)
All-Star Weekend moment: Yes, the Pacers were fined for Player Participation Policy violations for resting All-Star Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard and the since-traded Bennedict Mathurin against the Utah Jazz before the trade deadline. Yes, the Pacers have 40 losses. But none of those losses came in the week going into the All-Star break. Also, Siakam made 5 of 7 field goals Sunday for the World team.
Tier 5: Basement Floor
26. Brooklyn Nets (15-38)
Last ranking: 25th
In the last week: W vs. CHI, L vs. IND
Offensive rating: 110.6 (26th place)
Defensive rating: 117.7 (26th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: We have reached the Silver Zone. You won’t find any All-Stars in this tier. But Egor Demin was a Rising Star, and he had some nice moments for Team Vince, including a quick dunk off the opening tip against Team T-Mac.
27. Utah Jazz (18-38)
Last ranking: 28th
In the last week: W at MIA, W vs. SAC, L vs. POR
Offensive rating: 113.6 (18th place)
Defensive rating: 121.0 (30th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: It took Cooper Flagg getting injured, but Ace Bailey made it to Rising Stars as the lone Jazz representative for the entire weekend. Bailey had five points, four rebounds and two assists in a Team Melo win against Team Austin, but he was shut out in the championship game against Team Vince. This all came after the Jazz were fined $500,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league” for roster management in two games — including one that they won at Miami. Damned if they do, damned if they don’t, and damned if they do and win anyway.
Mind you, if the Thunder are responsible for turning the wattage up on Utah’s tank, that’s the same team that supertanked the 2022 season finale against the Clippers by playing Georgios Kalaitzakis 48 minutes of a 50-point blowout ahead of a draft where they landed Chet Holmgren with the No. 2 pick.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (15-41)
Last ranking: 27th
In the last week: W vs. SAC, L vs. MIA
Offensive rating: 112.4 (25th place)
Defensive rating: 118.0 (27th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: There’s so much assorted slander to go around that the Pelicans are out of everyone’s conversation this winter. That’s what happens when you make your bizarre moves in June. Both lottery rookies were in the Rising Stars game, with Derik Queen winning the championship with Team Vince over Jeremiah Fears and Team Melo. Fears is the point guard, but Queen is the better passer right now while Fears is the more reliable bucket.
29. Washington Wizards (14-39)
Last ranking: 26th
In the last week: L at CLE
Offensive rating: 109.4 (29th place)
Defensive rating: 120.4 (29th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The Wizards reset their whole team, lost more than 60 games last year and didn’t even get a top-five pick in the draft — so they traded for two injured stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis. And they’re still going to take one more crack at the lottery! In the meantime, the Wizards had four Rising Stars. Alex Sarr, the lone top-five pick of the bunch, was held out because of hamstring tightness, but Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George and rookie Tre Johnson all were on the court in the Team Vince versus Team T-Mac game. George wound up victorious over Carrington and Johnson, and then George piled up as many assists in the Team Vince win (four) as the entire Team Melo combined.
30. Sacramento Kings (12-44)
Last ranking: 30th
In the last week: L at NO, L at UTA
Offensive rating: 109.6 (28th place)
Defensive rating: 119.8 (28th place)
All-Star Weekend moment: The worst record in the NBA. Already more losses than all of last season. A 14-game losing streak entering the All-Star break. And zero All-Star representatives despite three starters having Los Angeles ties in DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook. And now LaVine is out for the season, as well. A true factory of sadness … but at least they haven’t been fined!