NBA Power Rankings: Nuggets, Celtics and Bucks stay on top, Grizzlies and Knicks drop

NBA Power Rankings: Nuggets, Celtics and Bucks continue to top league hierarchy

What does the Harden trade mean for Embiid and the 76ers? (1:52)
ESPN.com

The 2023-24 NBA campaign is officially in full swing, and in the first two weeks, we’ve seen some surprises and a few teams struggling out the gate.

The 4-0 Denver Nuggets continue to dominate as one of the few undefeated teams left in the league, along with the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics, both 3-0. And in the highly competitive Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers sit squarely at .500, as they continue to find their rhythm in managing LeBron James’ minutes.

The Philadelphia 76ers remain in the top 10 despite the drama surrounding James Harden that came to a head on Tuesday, as Harden was traded to the LA Clippers.

And although it’s early, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets have yet to find their groove as the only teams without a win.

Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

1. Denver Nuggets
2023-24 record: 4-0

Previous ranking: 1

Next games: @ MIN (Nov. 1), vs. DAL (Nov. 3), vs. CHI (Nov. 4), vs. NO (Nov. 6)

The champs are rolling and quickly reminding everyone that they are a top team in the NBA despite all the exciting offseason moves by teams like Phoenix, Boston and Milwaukee. Not only do the Nuggets have the best player in the league in Nikola Jokic, who seems primed for a third MVP, but they boast the best starting five. Jokic, Jamal Murray & Co. have been dominant at times, as they showed against Oklahoma City, but they’ve also been unflappable when the game is on the line, like they were at Memphis. Once Michael Malone’s second unit begins to mesh, the Nuggets will be a real terror. — Ohm Youngmisuk

2. Boston Celtics
2023-24 record: 3-0

Previous ranking: 3

Next games: vs. IND (Nov. 1), @ BK (Nov. 4), @ MIN (Nov. 6)

Things couldn’t have gone much better over the opening week for Boston, which swept its first three games and saw Kristaps Porzingis immediately get comfortable in his new surroundings. Plus, the combo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White is one of the best defensive guard duos in the league. –Tim Bontemps

3. Milwaukee Bucks
2023-24 record: 2-1

Previous ranking: 2

Next games: @ TOR (Nov. 1), vs. NY (Nov. 3), @ BK (Nov. 6)

The partnership between Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo is off to a strong start, coming together for a pair of wins over Eastern Conference contenders in Philadelphia and Miami. Both players have clicked off the court because of their similar personalities. But the Bucks also realize it will be a work in progress before the team fully finds its cohesion, especially on defense, where the Bucks rank 25th in efficiency through the first three games. — Jamal Collier

4. Phoenix Suns
2023-24 record: 2-2

Previous ranking: 4

Next games: vs. SA (Nov. 2), @ PHI (Nov. 4), @ DET (Nov. 5)

After all the hype surrounding the Suns’ offseason, Phoenix fans have had to wait to see their team take shape. There was an encouraging opening-night win against Golden State for Devin Booker (32 points, eight assists), but he hasn’t competed since because of a foot injury. Bradley Beal hasn’t played yet because of a back injury. But Kevin Durant (27.7 points per game) keeps rolling right along, playing all three contests and passing Hakeem Olajuwon for No. 12 on the all-time scoring list in the process. — Dave McMenamin

5. Golden State Warriors
2023-24 record: 3-1

Previous ranking: 6

Next games: vs. SAC (Nov. 1), @ OKC (Nov. 3), @ CLE (Nov. 5), @ DET (Nov. 6)

It’s a small sample size, but it looks like the Chris Paul era in Golden State is working — like, really working. A season ago, the Warriors could barely survive the non-Stephen Curry minutes. But with Paul coming off of the bench as a sixth man, Golden State is thriving in them. Fully healthy, the depth on this team is exactly what a title contender looks like. And with Curry off to his hottest start since the season he won his unanimous MVP in 2016, the Warriors are looking scary. — Kendra Andrews

6. Philadelphia 76ers
2023-24 record: 2-1

Previous ranking: 8

Next games: vs. TOR ( Nov. 2), vs. PHX (Nov. 4), vs. WAS (Nov. 6)

The James Harden trade was as much about handing the keys to the franchise over to Tyrese Maxey as it was about moving on from The Beard. Maxey’s play over the first three games, in which he won his first Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, backed up why many in Philly believe he can be an All-Star this season. — Bontemps

7. Dallas Mavericks
2023-24 record: 3-0

Previous ranking: 17

Next games: vs. CHI (Nov. 1), @ DEN (Nov. 3), vs. CHA (Nov. 5), @ ORL (Nov. 6)

Luka Doncic is the first player to lead his team outright in points, rebounds and assists in the first three games of a season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. He also joined Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players with multiple 30-point triple-doubles in the first three games, according to ESPN Stats & Info data. And his 49-point night against the Nets — not one of the triple-doubles — has been Doncic’s most spectacular performance during Dallas’ 3-0 start. — Tim MacMahon

8. LA Clippers
2023-24 record: 3-1

Previous ranking: 12

Next games: @ LAL (Nov. 1), @ NY (Nov. 6)

The Clippers finally agreed to a deal with the Sixers on a trade for James Harden. While the Clippers felt they needed to add more talent to give Kawhi Leonard and Paul George a better shot at a title and improve their passing and scoring, Ty Lue will have a lot to figure out. Will he start Russell Westbrook, Harden, George, Leonard and Ivica Zubac? Which combinations will work best for Lue? Can four of the top 12 players in isolation possessions find chemistry quickly? Where does Terance Mann fit once he is back from injury, and who will finish games? Only time will tell, but the Clippers feel they have upgraded their talent and their chances at competing for a title. — Youngmisuk

9. Sacramento Kings
2023-24 record: 2-1

Previous ranking: 13

Next games: @ GS (Nov. 1), @ HOU (Nov. 4), @ HOU (Nov. 6)

The beam is actually brighter this season than last. It makes sense, because the Kings don’t appear to have regressed from last season. They did take a major blow early with De’Aaron Fox slated to miss at least one game — possibly more — but if they can stay afloat without him, they should remain right in the mix in the stacked Western Conference. — Andrews

10. Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24 record: 3-1

Previous ranking: 14

Next games: vs. NO (Nov. 1), vs. GS (Nov. 3), vs. ATL (Nov. 6)

Chet Holmgren has immediately filled the Thunder’s needs for rim protection and 3-point shooting. He is the first player in NBA history with at least 10 blocks and 10 made 3s in his first four career games, per ESPN Stats & Info research. He has made 62.5% of his 3s — the best percentage in the league among players with at least 10 attempts — and is tied for second with 2.8 blocks per game. — MacMahon

11. Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 record: 2-2

Previous ranking: 5

Next games: vs. NO (Nov. 1), vs. GS (Nov. 3), vs. ATL (Nov. 6)

It was clear early on Monday that it was going to be a different type of night for D’Angelo Russell when he dunked on Orlando’s Paolo Banchero. “Surprisingly, D-Lo dunked the ball,” Russell quipped afterward about his first slam since being traded to L.A. last season. Russell went on to score 12 of his team-high 28 points in the fourth quarter against the Magic to get the Lakers back to .500 at 2-2. — McMenamin

12. New Orleans Pelicans
2023-24 record: 2-1

Previous ranking: 16

Next games: @ OKC (Nov. 1), vs. DET (Nov. 2), vs. ATL (Nov. 4), @ DEN (Nov. 6)

On Monday night against the Warriors, Zion Williamson scored his 3,000th point in career game No. 117. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since the NBA-ABA merger, only Michael Jordan (108 games) has registered 3,000 points quicker than Williamson. Williamson tied the marks of David Thompson and Billy Knight while accomplishing the feat three games faster than David Robinson and Shaquille O’Neal did. — Andrew Lopez

13. Cleveland Cavaliers
2023-24 record: 1-3

Previous ranking: 9

Next games: @ NY (Nov. 1), @ IND (Nov. 3), vs. GS (Nov. 5)

Darius Garland missed two of Cleveland’s first three games with a strained left hamstring, and Donovan Mitchell missed one contest because of right hamstring woes, making it difficult to pass judgment on the Cavs’ early struggles. Newcomer Max Strus has done his best to fill their absences, notching two 20-point, 10-rebound performances in the first three games after never reaching the 20-10 mark in 189 career games before joining the Cavaliers.– McMenamin

14. Indiana Pacers
2023-24 record: 2-1

Previous ranking: 19

Next games: @ BOS (Nov. 1), vs. CLE (Nov. 3), vs. CHA (Nov. 4), vs. SA (Nov. 6)

With All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton at the helm, Indiana is already on track to be one of the best passing teams in the NBA. Haliburton is averaging a league-high 12.3 assists, and the Pacers have racked up 100 assists through three games, the most by any squad since 1988. It’s why Indiana has the second-best offensive rating in the league early on. — Collier

15. Atlanta Hawks
2023-24 record: 2-2

Previous ranking: 18

Next games: vs. WSH (Nov. 1), @ NO (Nov. 4), @ OKC (Nov. 6)

Dejounte Murray helped the Hawks rebound from back-to-back losses to start the season with a 41-point effort against the Timberwolves. He tied his career high, and it marked the third time he dropped 40 in any game, all with the Hawks.