The Oklahoma City Thunder top Yahoo Sports’ NBA preseason power rankings with an +8.1 rating, edging out the San Antonio Spurs (+7.4), who feature the league’s most hyped prospect in Victor Wembanyama. The Thunder’s lead reflects their blend of star power and depth, while the Spurs’ ranking highlights their reliance on Wembanyama’s development to sustain their title contender status.
Beyond the top two, the Boston Celtics (+4.8) and Detroit Pistons (+3.9) round out the elite tier, with both teams boasting strong rosters and championship pedigree. Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets (+3.7) emerge as a potential sleeper, having been the league’s top rebounding and three-point shooting team before Steven Adams’s season-ending injury last year.
With Adams returning alongside Fred VanVleet and the addition of Marcus Smart, the Rockets could challenge for a division crown if health holds. The Utah Jazz (+3.5 implied) also stand out as a dark-horse contender, backed by a young core and elite coaching under Will Hardy, though they remain a work in progress after years of rebuilding.
Florida Panthers
Vancouver Canucks
Ottawa Senators
New York Islanders
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Tampa Bay Lightning
Seattle Kraken
New Jersey Devils
New York Rangers
New York Knicks
Toronto Raptors
Detroit Red Wings
Philadelphia Flyers
Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers
Minnesota Wild
St. Louis Blues
Nashville Predators
San Jose Sharks
Chicago Blackhawks
Winnipeg Jets
Denver Broncos
Seattle Seahawks
Houston Rockets
Oklahoma City Thunder
Edmonton Oilers
Utah Mammoth
