Archive · as published October 1, 2026
NBA Power RankingsOctober 1, 2026
No regular-season games yet, so this is the projection alone: expected wins from the daily simulation of every roster against its schedule, with the market's win totals as a check.
| # | Team | Rating | Proj W |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Oklahoma City ThunderOKC | +2.04 | 56.2 |
| 2 |  San Antonio SpursSA | +1.90 | 55.1 |
| 3 |  New York KnicksNY | +1.12 | 48.9 |
| 4 |  Boston CelticsBOS | +0.94 | 47.5 |
| 5 |  Detroit PistonsDET | +0.91 | 47.2 |
| 6 |  Denver NuggetsDEN | +0.82 | 46.5 |
| 7 |  Philadelphia 76ersPHI | +0.79 | 46.3 |
| 8 |  Houston RocketsHOU | +0.69 | 45.5 |
| 9 |  Cleveland CavaliersCLE | +0.67 | 45.3 |
| 10 |  Minnesota TimberwolvesMIN | +0.62 | 44.9 |
| 11 |  Los Angeles LakersLAL | +0.53 | 44.2 |
| 12 |  Miami HeatMIA | +0.41 | 43.3 |
| 13 |  Toronto RaptorsTOR | +0.41 | 43.3 |
| 14 |  Orlando MagicORL | +0.29 | 42.3 |
| 15 |  Atlanta HawksATL | +0.26 | 42.1 |
| 16 |  Indiana PacersIND | -0.01 | 39.9 |
| 17 |  Golden State WarriorsGS | -0.05 | 39.6 |
| 18 |  Portland Trail BlazersPOR | -0.05 | 39.6 |
| 19 |  Phoenix SunsPHX | -0.07 | 39.4 |
| 20 |  Charlotte HornetsCHA | -0.25 | 38.0 |
| 21 |  Utah JazzUTAH | -0.62 | 35.1 |
| 22 |  Dallas MavericksDAL | -0.75 | 34.0 |
| 23 |  Washington WizardsWSH | -0.82 | 33.5 |
| 24 |  LA ClippersLAC | -1.02 | 31.9 |
| 25 |  Chicago BullsCHI | -1.18 | 30.6 |
| 26 |  New Orleans PelicansNO | -1.22 | 30.3 |
| 27 |  Memphis GrizzliesMEM | -1.27 | 29.9 |
| 28 |  Milwaukee BucksMIL | -1.45 | 28.5 |
| 29 |  Brooklyn NetsBKN | -1.75 | 26.1 |
| 30 |  Sacramento KingsSAC | -1.89 | 25.0 |
The top five that week
- Oklahoma City Thunder top the board at +2.04 with a projection of 56.2 wins. The gap to San Antonio Spurs is 0.14 rating points, close to a coin flip between the two.
- San Antonio Spurs sit second at +1.90 with a projection of 55.1 wins.
- New York Knicks sit third at +1.12 with a projection of 48.9 wins.
- Boston Celtics sit fourth at +0.94 with a projection of 47.5 wins.
- Detroit Pistons sit fifth at +0.91 with a projection of 47.2 wins.