TITLE: 2025-26 NBA Season Opens With Thunder Atop New Power Rankings and Jokic as Early MVP Favorite
SLUG: 2025-26-nba-power-rankings-and-award-predictions
CONTENT:
The 2025-26 NBA campaign tips off with a fresh set of projections placing the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 1 in a full-league power ranking and installing Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic as the projected Most Valuable Player.
Power Rankings
Veteran NBA writer Sam Amico released his annual list, slotting all 30 clubs in the following order:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
5. Houston Rockets
6. New York Knicks
7. Orlando Magic
8. Golden State Warriors
9. Los Angeles Lakers
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Dallas Mavericks
12. Los Angeles Clippers
13. Detroit Pistons
14. Atlanta Hawks
15. Indiana Pacers
16. Philadelphia 76ers
17. Boston Celtics
18. San Antonio Spurs
19. Memphis Grizzlies
20. New Orleans Pelicans
21. Sacramento Kings
22. Portland Trail Blazers
23. Miami Heat
24. Chicago Bulls
25. Toronto Raptors
26. Charlotte Hornets
27. Phoenix Suns
28. Utah Jazz
29. Brooklyn Nets
30. Washington Wizards
Projected Playoff Outcomes
Amico’s forecast advances the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference finals and the Denver Nuggets past the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals. He then predicts the Nuggets will defeat the Cavaliers for the NBA championship.
Individual Honor
Jokic, a two-time MVP who guided Denver to the 2023 title, is Amico’s pick to claim the league’s top individual award once more.
The rankings and predictions were published as the regular season begins, marking Amico’s 19th year covering the league full-time and roughly a decade since he started issuing comprehensive preseason forecasts.
Source: Hoops Wire
