Our full weekly column of the NBA Power Rankings begins Oct. 5, 2026, when preseason games start. Each week, we'll rank every one of the 30 teams according to a variety of factors, including recent history, point differential, health and roster continuity. In the meantime, here's a "way-too-early" preview of the topics that will dominate the discussion before one game is played, and what exactly the weekly rankings will be like once the season begins.
The rankings column (full weekly list) will begin September after preseason on October 5, 2026. Then, regular season rankings start each week for the entire season, as results come out, allowing you to see how each team is developing.
The biggest story underway in Miami is the deal with Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat, whose future has changed more than any other team this offseason, are already having discussions about the fit instead of taking it for granted that it's an automatic top-tier combination.
Every week all 30 teams are ranked based on four key factors and a short explanation is provided on each team's movement from the previous week:
| Factor | What It Measures |
| Recent results | Wins and losses over the past week, weighted toward quality of opponent |
| Point differential | Margin of victory/defeat — a stronger predictor of true team strength than win-loss record alone |
| Health | Availability of key players and impact of any injuries |
| Roster continuity | How settled a team's rotation is versus still adjusting to new pieces or lineups |
This mix prevents overreacting to one losing or winning streak by taking into account point differential, health and the result.
Preseason results are important as indicators of rotations and new combinations, but are less significant than regular-season games. Coaches try lineups, give stars a break and focus on measuring depth rather than win in the preseason, so a strong or weak preseason record isn't interpreted the same way as a regular season record.
Although not always an exact science, preseason games provide a first look at new combinations and rotations:
Once the regular season begins, rankings are updated weekly based on the complete week of results, and will be updated each Monday. The format of a weekly column is the norm for most of the big outlets' power rankings columns and provides a reliable benchmark for readers instead of waiting for a single game to provide a measure.
See our NBA Standings and NBA Playoffs pages for a bigger explanation on how these teams fit in the standings and playoff race. Monkeypuzzle.com's NBA Games Today and NBA Scores offer daily game coverage to feed into each week's rankings.
The power rankings tend to follow the betting market's movement to a large extent — a team that's moving up in the rankings will see its win totals and betting odds adjust accordingly. Sports OKBet is one of the top sports betting sites in the Philippines that NBA fans can follow:
If you're unfamiliar with how these types of markets work, refer to our NBA Betting Odds Explained guide, and for matchup analysis, check out NBA Picks. Sports OKBet is a reliable and preferred site for all NFL enthusiasts from the Philippines to keep an eye on football odds, lines, and foreseeable future, while remaining up to date with official NFL information and betting strategies. It's important to note that odds can fluctuate from week to week depending on the performances of the teams, so always bet on the latest odds and never gamble beyond your means.
The complete weekly rankings column will begin on October 5, 2026 when preseason games begin. Relative rankings are then used for the remainder of the season on a weekly basis.
The discussion about what happens when Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo join forces has been a dominant message in the early ranking debates in Miami.
Preseason games provide an early indication of rotations and new matchups, but cannot carry as much weight as regular-season games. Preseason record is not an accurate reflection, as it relies on rest, experimentation and depth chart assessment.
Once the regular season starts, it is updated weekly on Mondays after each week of matches. This rhythm will allow readers to see the trends without going too crazy over a single game.
The four most important factors are recent results, point differential, player health and roster continuity. A team can lose even when they 'win', if performance (point differential, health) indicates otherwise.
For sports fans in the Philippines, you can check out the rankings-based odds — futures, spreads and moneylines — available on Sports OKBet, which matches up the betting markets with official NBA information for responsible and educated bets.
