Three weeks into the 2025-26 regular season — and with the in-season NBA Cup already in progress after a Halloween tip-off — ESPN’s panel of writers has posted its first November power rankings. The listing slots every club 1-30 and singles out one “newcomer” per roster, defined as a rookie, offseason acquisition or first-year head coach whose influence is already visible.
Key early trends include the Oklahoma City Thunder opening 8-0, the Chicago Bulls racing to 6-1 in the East and the Los Angeles Lakers starting 6-2 despite LeBron James’ absence. Below is a team-by-team rundown of the rankings, records, upcoming games and the fresh faces drawing attention.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-0)
Top newcomer: Guard Ajay Mitchell is averaging 17.3 points in 27.6 minutes while filling injury-created back-court minutes.
Next four: @ POR Nov 5, @ SAC Nov 7, @ MEM Nov 9, @ GSW Nov 11
2. San Antonio Spurs (5-1)
Top newcomer: No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper is at 14.0 points, 4.0 assists and 50% shooting but will miss multiple weeks with a left calf strain.
Next four: @ LAL Nov 5, vs HOU Nov 7, vs NO Nov 8, @ CHI Nov 10
3. Denver Nuggets (4-2)
Top newcomer: Reserve wing Tim Hardaway Jr. scores 10.2 per game and is hitting 44.8% from three.
Next four: vs MIA Nov 5, vs GS Nov 7, vs IND Nov 8, @ SAC Nov 11
4. Los Angeles Lakers (6-2)
Top newcomers: Jake LaRavia (12.6 ppg, 58.5% FG), Deandre Ayton (16.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 65.1% FG) and Marcus Smart (1.7 spg, team-best +64 plus/minus) all make cases.
Next three: vs SA Nov 5, @ ATL Nov 8, @ CHA Nov 10
5. Houston Rockets (4-2)
Top newcomer: Kevin Durant headlines an offense averaging 127.8 points through five games, the franchise’s best five-game start ever.
Next three: @ MEM Nov 5, @ SA Nov 7, @ MIL Nov 9
6. Philadelphia 76ers (5-2)
Top newcomer: Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe leads his draft class at 20.3 points on 49% overall and 42% from deep.
Next four: @ CLE Nov 5, vs TOR Nov 8, vs DET Nov 9, vs BOS Nov 11
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)
Top newcomer: Second-year wing Jaylon Tyson steps in for the injured Darius Garland, averaging 10.9 points and 44% from three.
Next four: vs PHI Nov 5, @ WAS Nov 7, vs CHI Nov 8, @ MIA Nov 10
8. Chicago Bulls (6-1)
Top newcomer: Isaac Okoro adds perimeter defense; offense lags at 6.0 points on 38.5% shooting.
Next three: @ MIL Nov 7, @ CLE Nov 8, vs SA Nov 10
9. Milwaukee Bucks (5-3)
Top newcomer: Center Myles Turner averages 9.7 points and has won praise from coach Doc Rivers for his defense.
Next three: vs CHI Nov 7, vs HOU Nov 9, vs DAL Nov 10
10. Detroit Pistons (5-2)
Top newcomer: Duncan Robinson fires six threes a night at 41%, valuable for a team sitting 27th in long-range attempts.
Next four: vs UTA Nov 5, @ BKN Nov 7, vs PHI Nov 9, vs WAS Nov 10
11. New York Knicks (4-3)
Top newcomer: First-year coach Mike Brown guided the club out of a three-game skid with a 20-for-42 three-point outburst Sunday.
Next three: vs MIN Nov 5, vs BKN Nov 9, vs MEM Nov 11
12. LA Clippers (3-4)
Top newcomer: Sixth-man John Collins posts 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting a career-high 58.5%.
Next three: @ PHX Nov 6, vs PHX Nov 8, vs ATL Nov 10
13. Golden State Warriors (5-3)
Top newcomer: Veteran Al Horford delivered clutch minutes in an overtime win at Denver but sits out back-to-backs and the Warriors are −36 with him on court.
Next four: @ SAC Nov 5, @ DEN Nov 7, vs IND Nov 9, @ OKC Nov 11
14. Portland Trail Blazers (4-3)
Top newcomer: Jrue Holiday averages 16.7 points and a career-best 8.3 assists while leading a turnover-forcing defense.
Next three: vs OKC Nov 5, @ MIA Nov 8, @ ORL Nov 10
15. Miami Heat (4-3)
Top newcomer: Norman Powell has topped 20 points in three of four outings, filling in while Tyler Herro recovers.
Next four: @ DEN Nov 5, vs CHA Nov 7, vs POR Nov 8, vs CLE Nov 10
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3)
Top newcomer: Second-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. slides into Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s old rotation slot, but shoots only 32.1% overall.
Next four: @ NYK Nov 5, vs UTA Nov 7, @ SAC Nov 9, @ UTA Nov 10
17. Orlando Magic (3-5)
Top newcomer: Desmond Bane shoots 28.5% from three through eight games but is expected to unlock spacing once chemistry develops.
Next three: vs BOS Nov 7, vs BOS Nov 9, vs POR Nov 10
18. Atlanta Hawks (4-4)
Top newcomer: Kristaps Porzingis averages 15.0 points during Trae Young’s injury absence, adding 12 boards Sunday and 11 free-throw makes Tuesday.
Next three: vs TOR Nov 7, vs LAL Nov 8, @ LAC Nov 10
19. Boston Celtics (3-5)
Top newcomer: Forward Josh Minott earns recent starts, providing energy, offensive rebounds and turnovers created.
Next four: vs WAS Nov 5, @ ORL Nov 7, @ ORL Nov 9, @ PHI Nov 11
20. Toronto Raptors (4-4)
Top newcomer: Brandon Ingram, acquired last season but debuting now, logs 22.3 points on a career-best 55.0% shooting clip.
Next three: @ ATL Nov 7, @ PHI Nov 8, @ BKN Nov 11
21. Memphis Grizzlies (3-5)
Top newcomer: No. 11 pick Cedric Coward ranks third on the roster in scoring and is above 50% from long range.
Next four: vs HOU Nov 5, vs DAL Nov 7, vs OKC Nov 9, @ NYK Nov 11
22. Dallas Mavericks (2-5)
Top newcomer: Highly touted rookie Cooper Flagg averages 13.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists while learning point-guard duties.
Next four: vs NO Nov 5, @ MEM Nov 7, @ WAS Nov 8, vs MIL Nov 10
23. Phoenix Suns (3-5)
Top newcomer: Dillon Brooks plays only three games due to a core strain yet sits at 19.3 points and 2.7 steals, aiding a defense that climbed from 27th to 22nd.
Next three: vs LAC Nov 6, @ LAC Nov 8, vs NO Nov 10
24. Charlotte Hornets (3-5)
Top newcomer: No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel posts 14.0 points in 30.1 minutes and drains 43.1% of 7.3 three-point tries per game.
Next two: @ MIA Nov 7, vs LAL Nov 10
25. Sacramento Kings (2-5)
Top newcomer: Russell Westbrook, signed a week before opening night, has already cracked the starting five and logged 26 points and 12 rebounds Monday.
Next four: vs GSW Nov 5, vs OKC Nov 7, vs MIN Nov 9, vs DEN Nov 11
26. Utah Jazz (3-4)
Top newcomer: No. 5 pick Ace Bailey averages 4.6 points on 29.5% shooting, but coaches applaud his attitude and work ethic.
Next four: @ DET Nov 5, @ MIN Nov 7, vs MIN Nov 10, vs IND Nov 11
27. Indiana Pacers (1-6)
Top newcomer: Backup center Jay Huff blocks 3.7 shots per 36 minutes while shooting only 18% from deep after a 41% year in Memphis.
Next four: vs BKN Nov 5, @ DEN Nov 8, @ GSW Nov 9, @ UTA Nov 11
28. Washington Wizards (1-6)
Top newcomer: No. 6 pick Tre Johnson hits 2.1 threes per contest at 36% but owns an 11-assist, nine-turnover line through seven games.
Next four: @ BOS Nov 5, vs CLE Nov 7, vs DAL Nov 10, @ DET Nov 10
29. New Orleans Pelicans (1-6)
Top newcomer: Rookie Jeremiah Fears remains the starting point guard, alternating rough nights with a 21-point, 10-for-15 gem.
Next three: @ DAL Nov 5, @ SA Nov 8, @ PHX Nov 10
30. Brooklyn Nets (0-7)
Top newcomer: Michael Porter Jr. is the second-leading scorer, but opposing defenses are loading up on him and Cam Thomas while coach Jordi Fernandez searches for effort.
Next four: @ IND Nov 7, vs DET Nov 7, @ NYK Nov 9, vs TOR Nov 11
ESPN’s voting panel consisted of Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Kevin Pelton, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram. Previous rankings from Oct. 29 and preseason polls provided the baseline for this week’s movement.
Source: ESPN.com
