The NBA season is taking shape as the holiday window approaches. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are once again surging early, but the Los Angeles Lakers have arguably been the most impressive team in a competitive Western Conference. Luka Doncic’s historic start is fuelling them, with 39.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game.
In the East, the new-look Philadelphia 76ers seem as if they have played together for years. LeBron James and Jaylen Brown have hit the ground running alongside their new teammates. Their offseason trade partners, the Boston Celtics, are tailing them closely, having barely missed a beat with new faces around Jayson Tatum.
In this week’s Power Rankings, the panel ranks where each team stands and highlights each team’s best newcomer over the first few weeks of the season. Which players are vaulting their teams up the standings?
1. San Antonio Spurs
Next games: @ CHI (Nov. 11), vs. GS (Nov. 13), @ UTAH (Nov. 15)
Drafted 26th in 2026, Tarris Reed Jr. knew that earning minutes as a rookie in San Antonio would be difficult, even after he gave French phenom Victor Wembanyama buckets, according to sources, during the early days of open gym over the summer. Reed is averaging just 5.3 minutes per game, but the Spurs’ brass has been impressed with the rookie’s preparedness every time his number is called. San Antonio is thin at centre, and veteran backup Luke Kornet has struggled. That could lead to more minutes for Reed as the season progresses.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Next games: @ MIL (Nov. 11), @ PHX (Nov. 15), vs. CHA (Nov. 17)
After recording one of the most memorable debuts imaginable, when he scored 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 from the field in a win, Kessler has continued to have a major impact. The 7-2 centre has been durable, playing in all 12 of L.A.’s games. He is averaging a career-high 14.9 points while shooting 69.1% from the field, with 10.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He has also played north of 30 minutes per game while averaging only 2.9 fouls, which is paramount for a Lakers roster without a go-to big man to back him up.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Next games: @ POR (Nov. 11), @ LAC (Nov. 13), @ SAC (Nov. 15)
Rookie centre Aday Mara, selected with the No. 12 pick courtesy of the LA Clippers, has made an instant impact in Oklahoma City. The 7-foot-3 big man entered the league as an elite rim protector, ranking fifth in the NBA with 1.9 blocks per game. Mara also has a soft touch in the paint and intriguing potential as a passer. He ranks fifth among rookies in rebounding at 5.9 per game, and he is averaging 8.1 points on 62.5% shooting over 19 minutes per game.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Next games: vs. TOR (Nov. 12), vs. IND (Nov. 15), @ BKN (Nov. 16)
Brown has said that this is Tyrese Maxey’s team, but of late it is starting to look like his as well. Maxey had his best stretch as a Sixer on the team’s recent road trip, scoring 30 points in a win over Detroit and 29 points in a win over the Chicago Bulls.
“He’s something we really needed,” Maxey said.
5. Boston Celtics
Next games: @ TOR (Nov. 11), vs. DAL (Nov. 15), vs. ORL (Nov. 16)
George set the tone for the season on opening night, breaking the franchise record for the most points in a debut with 38. Since then, he has remained a seamless fit in Boston. He has become one of the team’s best wing defenders and a reliable second option on offence as the Celtics have jumped out to the second-best record in the East.
“On and off the court he’s been great,” coach Joe Mazzulla said.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Next games: vs. DAL (Nov. 12), vs. CHI (Nov. 14), vs. POR (Nov. 16)
The Timberwolves should be ecstatic with the early returns from their summer trade for Ball, who quickly forged a dynamic partnership with Anthony Edwards. Even after Edwards was sidelined by knee surgery, Ball has kept Minnesota’s offence in the top 10. He is on pace to become the franchise’s first player to average at least six assists since D’Angelo Russell in 2022-23. Meanwhile, the Hornets’ offensive efficiency has plummeted from fifth last season to 30th this season after they traded Ball in June. No takebacks.
7. Houston Rockets
Next games: vs. GS (Nov. 11), vs. UTAH (Nov. 13), @ WAS (Nov. 15)
Veteran guard Marcus Smart is not only reliable for coach Ime Udoka but also familiar with him from their time together with the Celtics. Most of all, Smart gives the Rockets another steady ball handler and tenacious defender, capable of starting whenever Fred VanVleet is forced to rest on the second night of back-to-backs as he continues to recover from last year’s ACL surgery. A former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Smart plays with the intelligence and toughness that Udoka covets. He also provides veteran leadership alongside VanVleet and Kevin Durant.
8. Detroit Pistons
Next games: @ WAS (Nov. 12), @ MIA (Nov. 14), @ SAS (Nov. 17)
It was a bit of a slow start for Collins, who signed as a free agent to replace veteran Tobias Harris. Collins fits more closely with what the Pistons want to be, with his athleticism and shooting complementing Jalen Duren’s interior presence. However, with Duren out with a hamstring injury, Collins has been paired with Paul Reed, which has been a bit clunky. When J.B. Bickerstaff removed Reed from the first five and went small against the Wizards, it opened things up for Collins. He scored a season-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds in a 122-111 win on Monday night.
9. Golden State Warriors
Next games: @ HOU (Nov. 11), @ SAS (Nov. 13), @ NO (Nov. 16)
During one of his unfiltered livestreams this summer, Lendeborg, the outspoken No. 11 pick, predicted he would average around 15 points, six rebounds and four assists as a rookie. It felt overly ambitious at the time. It now appears he might have been selling himself short. Through his first 11 games, Lendeborg is averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and four assists. The scoring punch has been particularly surprising and important for the surging 8-3 Warriors. He is making better than 44% of his 5.5 attempted 3s per game, and he has earned enough trust from Steve Kerr that the coach is putting the ball in the rookie’s hands to make decisions down the stretch of close games.
10. New York Knicks
Next games: vs. CLE (Nov. 11), @ IND (Nov. 13), @ TOR (Nov. 15)
At times Drummond has appeared out of place. Mike Brown has pulled him abruptly in the middle of games for not getting back on defence and has tried James Wiseman instead. But one thing that cannot be denied is Drummond’s effect on the glass. The Knicks were expected to suffer a drop-off as one of the best offensive rebounding teams after Mitchell Robinson departed for Boston. Yet per 36 minutes, Drummond has averaged over eight offensive rebounds, helping the Knicks remain a top-three team in that category. Brown has also praised Drummond’s screen-roll defence recently, noting his physicality.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Next games: vs. OKC (Nov. 11), @ SAC (Nov. 13), @ MIN (Nov. 16)
Portland’s best newcomer is actually an old friend in Lillard, who is doing his best to make Rip City forget that he was traded to the Bucks in 2023 and missed last season with an Achilles injury. Lillard, 36, is averaging 19.4 points and 4.4 assists, and he has made fast friends with All-Star wing Deni Avdija. The Blazers boast an excellent plus-9.4 net rating when Avdija and Lillard, their two leading scorers, share the court.
12. Denver Nuggets
Next games: @ MEM (Nov. 11), @ NO (Nov. 14), vs. PHX (Nov. 16)
The Nuggets remain in a perpetual search for lineup combinations that can survive the minutes when either Nikola Jokic or the scorching Jamal Murray is off the floor. Through nine games, they are minus-15 in Jokic’s bench time and minus-29 in Murray’s. Within that search for depth after Peyton Watson’s departure this past summer, they have received encouraging contributions from Brazile and Bryce Hopkins, both second-rounders from the 2026 draft. Brazile is a 6-10 wing with a 7-4 wingspan, flashing early as a rebounder and a defensive disruptor in several of Denver’s wins. He is averaging 20.3 minutes, a number that might rise as the season progresses.
13. Memphis Grizzlies
Next games: vs. DEN (Nov. 11), @ NO (Nov. 13), vs. @BKN (Nov. 14)
Rookie Cameron Boozer, the third pick of the 2026 draft, is already surprising opponents with his unexpected agility and scoring prowess. “I had no clue he could move the way he moves, also that he could shoot the way he shoots,” said Golden State centre Draymond Green on “The Draymond Green Show” podcast. With Isaiah Stewart out due to a right knee bone bruise, Boozer is also showcasing his versatility by sliding over from his natural power forward spot to centre.
“We are featuring him in a lot of different sets,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said.
14. Atlanta Hawks
Next games: @ CHI (Nov. 13), @ MIL (Nov. 15)
With the Hawks’ offence struggling early in the season, coach Quin Snyder inserted rookie Flemings into the starting lineup and moved veteran CJ McCollum to a reserve role. The Hawks went on to win three of the four games with Flemings starting, while ranking fifth in offence. Something to watch is whether Snyder trusts Flemings to close games. In the past four games, he ranks eighth in minutes per game in the fourth quarter.
15. Dallas Mavericks
Next games: @ MIN (Nov. 12), @ CLE (Nov. 14), @ BOS (Nov. 15)
The Mavericks took a flier on Risacher when they acquired him in the three-way trade that sent Luguentz Dort to Atlanta, hoping to develop the former No. 1 pick into a quality role player. The 6-9 Risacher has impressed with his defensive activity as a reserve, averaging 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Coach Dusty May is comfortable giving Risacher the assignment of guarding elite scorers across multiple positions. His defence on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kevin Durant helped the Mavs secure wins over the Thunder and Rockets.
16. Cleveland Cavaliers
Next games: @ NYK (Nov. 11), @ MIA (Nov. 13), vs. DAL (Nov. 14)
Headline acquisition Peyton Watson is still struggling to find his footing in Cleveland, but Thomas, picked 34th in the 2026 draft, has been a pleasant surprise for the Cavaliers. The rookie guard shone at summer league and has carried that performance into games that count, averaging 13 points and hitting 48% of his 3s so far. After starting the season with three DNPs in Cleveland’s first five games, Thomas has quickly worked his way into playing 20-plus minutes every night.
17. Toronto Raptors
Next games: vs. BOS (Nov. 11), @ PHI (Nov. 12), vs. NYK (Nov. 15)
This award should arguably go to Kawhi Leonard, who returned to Toronto in an offseason trade, but he has played only two games this season while sidelined with soreness in his left knee. The reality for the Raptors is that no newcomer has made a significant impact this season. Graves, the team’s first-round pick, has been the best of the additions, which also include veteran Kyle Anderson and rookie Jaden Bradley. He has reached double digits once this season, scoring 11 points in a loss to Minnesota, and has largely played a depth role.
18. Miami Heat
Next games: vs. CLE (Nov. 13), vs. DET (Nov. 14), vs. HOU (Nov. 16)
Even with the Heat’s early-season struggles, it would be almost malpractice to leave Antetokounmpo off the list. After playing a career-low 36 games last season with Milwaukee, he has appeared in all 10 games this season. The former MVP has scored 25 points or more in seven games and is on pace to average the most rebounds of his career since 2019-20. He is currently averaging a career-high 3.7 offensive rebounds.
19. Washington Wizards
Next games: @ IND (Nov. 11), vs. DET (Nov. 12), vs. HOU (Nov. 15)
The 10-time All-Star counts as a newcomer, right? He technically joined the Wizards last February but did not play a game for them until this season. All he has done with his new team is average 25.7 points and 9.7 rebounds. Washington is 4-5 when Davis plays and 0-2 when he does not, including a 39-point shellacking in Oklahoma City without the star big man on the court.
20. New Orleans Pelicans
Next games: vs. BKN (Nov. 11), vs. MEM (Nov. 13), vs. DEN (Nov. 14)
Coach Jamahl Mosley has largely relied on familiar faces while juggling his rotation due to injuries. Believe it or not, New Orleans’ top eight scorers are all returning members of last year’s 26-win team. Watford, a journeyman forward who joined the Pelicans on a minimum contract this summer, has worked his way into Mosley’s rotation by averaging 7.2 points and 3.5 rebounds off the bench over the past six games. Meanwhile, Bennedict Mathurin, a 2022 lottery pick who signed a two-year, $15.4 million deal with New Orleans in free agency, is averaging a career-low 15.0 minutes per game.
21. Phoenix Suns
Next games: vs. CHA (Nov. 12), vs. LAL (Nov. 15), @ DEN (Nov. 16)
This year’s Suns team, which ranks last in the league in rebounds per game, would be in even worse shape on the boards if not for Bridges, who is securing a career-best 7.8 rebounds per game, two more than he averaged for the Charlotte Hornets last season. The 6-7 forward is also putting up 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and a career-high 1.2 steals per game. After starting the season 1-5, Phoenix has won two of its past three games, with Bridges averaging 9.3 rebounds during that stretch.
22. Indiana Pacers
Next games: vs. WAS (Nov. 11), vs. NYK (Nov. 13), @ PHI (Nov. 15)
Injuries have interrupted Zubac’s total impact in his new home, but he played one of his best games of the season against the Mavericks this week. It was despite a modest box score of 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, as the team was a plus-6 while he was on the floor. In spurts, he has shown there is room for more, especially as the Pacers get accustomed to his game while they await Tyrese Haliburton’s return to the lineup.
23. Charlotte Hornets
Next games: @ PHX (Nov. 12), @ LAC (Nov. 15), @ LAL (Nov. 17)
Allen is averaging 15.3 points for the Hornets while making 47% of his 3-point attempts. Charlotte ranks 28th in 3-point percentage as a team, but that is not Allen’s fault. He ranks second in individual 3-point percentage, sandwiched between Jamal Murray and Stephen Curry, among 77 players with at least 50 attempts.
24. Orlando Magic
Next games: @ UTAH (Nov. 11), vs. MIL (Nov. 13), @ BOS (Nov. 16)
Da Silva is not considered a newcomer, having been drafted in the 2024 first round. But with Paolo Banchero injured, Da Silva is averaging career highs in minutes (30.5) and points (15.1). He is also shooting 40% from 3. Da Silva became a new face in the Magic’s starting five on Saturday night, making his first start of the season in a loss to Golden State.
25. LA Clippers
Next games: vs. OKC (Nov. 13), vs. CHA (Nov. 15), vs. UTAH (Nov. 17)
The 6-5 guard, selected with the No. 5 pick out of Illinois, ranks fifth in 3-point percentage (39.0%) among rookies with at least 30 attempts. He has also found a way to generate points at the line, ranking second in total free throw attempts and second in free throw percentage (86.5%) among rookies with at least 30 trips to the line. As the Clippers begin their rebuild after the lacklustre Kawhi Leonard and Paul George era, Wagler’s development should be the franchise’s top priority this season.
26. Brooklyn Nets
Next games: @ NO (Nov. 11), @ MEM (Nov. 14), vs. PHI (Nov. 16)
It has been hit or miss for Randle so far this season. At times he has been the most consistent Net on a team full of developing guards. He has had to create his own offence, which he might prefer, as Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin are also battling injuries. He and Michael Porter Jr. can only play together so much because their styles clash. On some nights, such as Sunday against Dallas, he has been a minus-33 in a 130-93 loss. He is a proud veteran in a tough situation, and the Nets have to find ways to maximise him on this ill-fitting team.
27. Utah Jazz
Next games: vs. ORL (Nov. 11), @ HOU (Nov. 13), vs. SAS (Nov. 15)
After a slow start, Darryn Peterson has started to get cooking, displaying the scoring ability that enticed the Jazz to draft him with the No. 2 pick. He has recorded his first three 20-point performances in the Jazz’s past three games. Over those three games, Peterson has averaged 24 points on 51.9% shooting from the floor, making 11-of-24 on 3s.
28. Chicago Bulls
Next games: @ SAS (Nov. 11), vs. ATL (Nov. 13), @ MIN (Nov. 14)
There have not been many bright spots for the Bulls so far, but Wilson looks like he belongs. The early returns are strong, at 19 points and six rebounds per game, and his potential is tantalising. He attacks the basket with the intent to dunk everything, and his defensive highlights are eye-popping. Wilson is not used to losing frequently, and with the Bulls in position to keep piling up defeats, Chicago is already trying to manage his body language and effort. Tiago Splitter benched him last week against the Knicks after noticing him getting down following some missed shots. Still, despite the growing pains, Wilson is easily the team’s best newcomer.
29. Milwaukee Bucks
Next games: vs. LAL (Nov. 11), @ ORL (Nov. 13), vs. ATL (Nov. 15)
Burries has already replaced Ryan Rollins in the Bucks’ starting lineup, and he has been the biggest bright spot during a miserable start to the year in Milwaukee. He had the best game of his young career against the Raptors last week, with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He has come out of the gates as a strong rebounder, and since moving into the starting lineup he is averaging 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 29 minutes. As the Bucks’ season continues to slip away, Burries should receive even more opportunities.
30. Sacramento Kings
Next games: vs. POR (Nov. 13), vs. OKC (Nov. 15)
The No. 7 pick has opened his career with 20 or more shot attempts in 10 consecutive games, the longest such streak for a rookie since Wilt Chamberlain (19 games) in 1959. It has not all been inefficient, either. Acuff has made 45% or more of those shots in five of the past six games, showing greater comfort and a willingness to pass. He has recorded games of 10, 12 and 14 assists during that stretch. Acuff recently said: “Early on, I wasn’t making as many reads. I was forcing a lot of shots. I think the game has slowed down for me.”