Thunder top final NBA power rankings, Nuggets and Spurs round out top three

Two Eastern Conference teams, the Pistons and Celtics, also crack the top five in the final 2025-26 NBA power rankings.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:37pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy of an NBA playoff game, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the dynamic action on the court.The final NBA power rankings set the stage for a thrilling playoff run, with multiple contenders vying for the championship in a league marked by parity and depth.Denver Today

The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, top the final NBA power rankings of the 2025-26 season. The Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs round out the top three, while the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics complete the top five. Several teams are positioned as title contenders, including the defending champion Thunder, the Nuggets, Spurs, Celtics, and Pistons.

Why it matters

The final power rankings provide a comprehensive look at the NBA landscape heading into the playoffs, highlighting the top teams with the best chances of winning the championship. The rankings also showcase the parity across the league, with multiple contenders from both the Eastern and Western Conferences.

The details

The Thunder, who went 64-18, are the defending champions and boast the league's best defense. The Nuggets, led by the returning Peyton Watson, finished 54-28, while the Spurs, a surprise team this season, went 62-20. The Celtics, with Jayson Tatum back from injury, and the Pistons, who thrived despite Cade Cunningham's absence, round out the top five.

  • The Thunder won the championship last season.
  • The Nuggets and Spurs will face off in a highly anticipated second-round playoff matchup.
  • The Celtics went 13-3 in the games Jayson Tatum played after returning from a torn Achilles.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder's superstar and two-time MVP, known for his clutch performances.

Peyton Watson

The Nuggets' young forward who missed the end of the regular season with a hamstring injury but is expected to return for the playoffs.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star player who returned from a torn Achilles and helped the team go 13-3 in his final games of the regular season.

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons' young star who missed 11 games late in the season due to a collapsed lung, but the team still went 8-3 in his absence.

Julian Champagnie

The Spurs' young player who believes the team has a shot at winning the championship this year.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, why not? I think that we've been putting in work all year. Obviously, we had no clue what we were gonna look like at the start of the year, but we always had a goal of going to the playoffs. And I feel like, if you can get there, you have a shot.”

— Julian Champagnie

“You go through the regular season, there's different opponents every night that present different challenges, but it always starts between you and yourself.”

— Mark Daigneault, Thunder Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This final NBA power ranking highlights the parity and depth of talent across the league, with multiple teams from both conferences positioned as legitimate title contenders. The Thunder's defensive prowess, the Nuggets' depth, and the Spurs' surprising rise have set the stage for an exciting and unpredictable playoff run.