We’re about three weeks into the 2025-26 NBA regular season, wiht the annual NBA Cup already underway after tipping off on Halloween night.
In the East,the chicago Bulls have jumped to a surprising hot start,going 6-1 and in an early standings race with the Philadelphia 76ers,who seemed to have shaken their injury bug from last season.
in the West, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder have proved why continuity will serve them well this season. They remain the only undefeated team left. The Los Angeles Lakers, still without LeBron James, are 6-2. This is the best eight-game stretch his NBA team has had without him in the lineup.Along with our weekly rankings, our NBA insiders chose a newcomer — defined by a rookie, offseason addition or new coach — who has made an impact already for each team. From Mike Brown’s arrival in New York to Cooper Flagg’s warm welcome in Dallas,these are the 30 players and coaches who impressed in the first week of the season.Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Kevin Pelton, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and zach Kram) think teams belong this season.
Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 29
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
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2025-26 record: 8-0
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Previous ranking: 1
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Next games: @ POR (Nov. 5), @ SAC (Nov. 7), @ MEM (Nov. 9), @ GSW (Nov. 11)
Top newcomer: Ajay Mitchell
In the apron era, a financial reckoning will soon force the Thunder to rearrange their rotation below the headliners. But that day is not yet here. Oklahoma City brought back the entirety of its championship rotation, so there isn’t much room for a newcomer to bust through the doors. Mitchell will have to qualify in his second season. He played 597 minutes as a rookie before toe surgery, and there were intriguing flashes. But the first seven games of his second season have been somthing different. Stepping into a major role due to backcourt injuries,Mitchell is averaging 17.3 points in 27.6 minutes, making the case he should stay in Mark Daigneault’s nightly plans even when Jalen Williams and others have returned. — Anthony slater
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2025-26 record: 5-1
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Previous ranking: 6
Cooper Flagg is averaging 13.6 points,sixth best amongst rookies this season. ESPN Illustration —
- 2025-26 record: 5-2
- Previous ranking: 9
- Next games: @ CLE (Nov. 5), vs. TOR (Nov. 8), vs. DET (Nov. 9), vs. BOS (Nov. 11)
Top newcomer: VJ Edgecombe
There have been few newcomers to make a bigger impact with their team this season than Edgecombe, the sensational rookie guard out of Baylor whom Philadelphia snagged with the third pick in June’s NBA draft. Edgecombe is making all of the pain of last season’s miserable campaign for the 76ers worth it, as he entered Tuesday night’s game averaging 20.3 points — miles ahead of anyone else in the class — while shooting over 49% overall and 42% from 3. — Tim Bontemps
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- 2025-26 record: 4-3
- Previous ranking: 2
- Next games: vs. PHI (Nov. 5), @ WAS (Nov. 7), vs. CHI (Nov. 8), @ MIA (Nov. 10)
Top newcomer: Jaylon Tyson
This is technically his second year in the league. Still, Tyson’s minutes were so sporadic in his first season, the fact that he stepped into the starting lineup with Darius Garland injured and played well could be a huge growth for the Cavs’ rotation. He’s averaging 10.9 points and shooting 44% from 3 on about five
NBA Power Rankings: Week 2
1. Boston Celtics
The Celtics remain at the top after a strong start. Jrue Holiday is averaging 16.7 points and a career-high 8.3 assists, leading a Blazers defense forcing turnovers at the NBA’s best rate. Despite a quiet night against the Lakers (0-of-6 from 3), Portland is above .500 for the latest point in a season as 2022-23. — Kevin Pelton
2. Golden state Warriors
* 2025-26 record: 5-3
* Previous ranking: 3
* Next games: @ SAC (Nov. 5), @ DEN (Nov. 7), vs.IND (Nov. 9), @ OKC (Nov. 11)Top newcomer: Al Horford
The Warriors’ best win came in overtime against Denver, showcasing the version of Horford they envisioned. He played 29 minutes, hit clutch 3s, and effectively guarded Nikola Jokic.However, his 19th season requires a maintenance program, limiting his availability – he’s already missed games and been ineffective in others. The Warriors have been outscored by 36 points with him on the floor this season. — Slater
3.Milwaukee Bucks
Pat Connaughton is averaging 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. While some attribute his success to the struggles of other newcomers like Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, and Chris Paul, his career-best 58.5% shooting deserves recognition. — McMenamin
4. Miami Heat
* 2025-26 record: 4-3
* Previous ranking: 15
* Next games: @ DEN (Nov.5),vs. CHA (Nov. 7), vs. POR (Nov. 8), vs. CLE (Nov. 10)top newcomer: [Information missing from provided text]
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## NBA Power Rankings: Week 2 (Nov. 4, 2025)
1. Boston Celtics (8-0)
Boston continues to roll, and Kristaps Porzingis is a huge reason why. The Celtics are 7-0 as a loss at Cleveland. If Porzingis can stay healthy, his impact will only grow. — Youngmisuk
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2025-26 record: 3-5
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Previous ranking: 23
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Next games: vs. WAS (Nov. 5),@ ORL (Nov. 7), @ ORL (Nov. 9), @ PHI (Nov. 11)
Top newcomer: Josh Minott
As Boston waits to get Jayson Tatum back on the court, it took fliers on several upside swing players this offseason. One of them, Minott, has settled into a starting spot in Boston’s rotation over the past few games and has immediately made an impact as a high-energy grinder, creating extra possessions by hitting the glass and creating turnovers. — Bontemps
top newcomer: Brandon Ingram
Ingram isn’t technically a new addition, as Toronto traded for and extended him in the middle of the 2024-25 campaign, but he never played a game for the Raptors until this season. The one-time All-Star leads Toronto averaging 22.3 points, and he’s quietly posting the best efficiency numbers of his career thanks to a hot streak from his midrange-heavy shot diet. Ingram never made more than 49.7% of his shots in any previous season, but he’s all the way up at 55.0% this season. — Zach Kram
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2025-26 record: 3-5
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previous ranking: 16
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Next games: vs. HOU (Nov. 5), vs. DAL (Nov. 7),vs. OKC (Nov. 9), @ NYK (Nov. 11)
Top newcomer: Cedric Coward
Coward,the 11th pick of the draft,shines for a Memphis squad flashing few luminous spots in the wake of the one-game suspension of veteran point guard Ja Morant. The Grizzlies moved up five spots to acquire Coward in the draft as the brass identified the shooting guard’s athleticism, versatility and physicality as key elements in building around Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Offensively, the rookie ranks third on the team in scoring while connecting on better than 50% from deep. — Wright
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2025-26 record: 3-4
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previous ranking: 24
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Next games: @ DET (Nov. 5), @ MIN (Nov. 7), vs. MIN (Nov. 10), vs. IND (Nov. 11)
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2025-26 record: 3-4
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Previous ranking: 24
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Next games: @ DET (Nov. 5), @ MIN (Nov. 7), vs. MIN (Nov. 10), vs. IND (Nov. 11)
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2025-26 record: 1-6
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Previous ranking: 25
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Next games: vs. BKN (Nov. 5), @ DEN (Nov. 8), @ GSW (Nov. 9), @ UTAH (Nov. 11)
Top newcomer: Russell Westbrook
Kings microphones picked up an exchange between Westbrook and Domantas Sabonis late in their recent road win in Milwaukee. sabonis had five fouls. westbrook, fearing he would pick up a sixth, ordered Sabonis off Giannis Antetokounmpo and guarded him instead. Sabonis remained eligible for the final 2:35 and the Kings prevailed 135-133. This exemplifies Westbrook’s immediate impact on a roster needing leadership and defensive versatility. He signed a minimum one-year contract a week before the season began but has already earned a starting and closing role, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes against the Nuggets on Monday night. — Slater
Top newcomer: Ace Bailey
Utah’s front office and coaching staff are optimistic that Bailey, the fifth pick in the draft, can develop into a franchise cornerstone.That potential hasn’t translated into immediate production for the teenager, who is averaging 4.6 points on 29.5% shooting. however, the Jazz have been encouraged by Bailey’s approach and willingness to be coached since his arrival in Utah.— MacMahon
