The NBA is back and already delivering plenty of drama just a week into the 2024-25 season. While it’s still early, several teams and newcomers have hit the ground running, shaking up our preseason expectations. In this edition of our NBA power rankings, we take a closer look at the squads and fresh faces making the biggest splashes.
Celtics Cement Their Status as Front-Runners
The Boston Celtics wasted no time reminding everyone why they’re the reigning champs. An opening night thrashing of the Knicks, complete with a record-tying avalanche of threes, served as a stark warning to the rest of the league. With their core intact and hungry for a repeat, the C’s maintain their perch atop our rankings.
Thunder Rumbling Out West
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have bolted out to a surprising 3-0 start behind the stellar play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The dynamic guard looks poised for a full-fledged superstar turn, thrusting the young Thunder into the early playoff picture. Savvy veteran pickup Alex Caruso has provided a major defensive boost off the bench.
“We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the Thunder’s latest win. “We know we have the talent to compete with anyone.”
Nuggets Stumble Out of the Gate
The Denver Nuggets, fresh off their first title, have hit some early turbulence. Back-to-back losses to open the season, including a stunner against OKC, have the champs looking uncharacteristically vulnerable. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic can’t do it all, and the Nuggets need more from their supporting cast to steady the ship. Offseason addition Russell Westbrook is still finding his way in a reserve role.
Coaching Carousel: Redick’s Fast Start
On the sidelines, rookie head coach JJ Redick has the Lakers off to their best start in over a decade. The sharpshooting legend appears to be pushing all the right buttons, quickly earning the trust of his veteran roster. Although it’s a small sample size, Redick’s transition from the broadcast booth to the bench has been seamless thus far.
Other notable newcomers making early impacts include:
- Klay Thompson, thriving as a go-to scorer in Dallas
- Dyson Daniels, locking down opponents for the Hawks
- Buddy Hield, providing instant offense for the Warriors
- DeMar DeRozan, steadying presence for the Kings
Of course, it’s a long season, and these early returns are no guarantee of future success. Plenty of teams and players will rise and fall in the coming weeks and months. But for now, the NBA landscape is already shifting in intriguing ways, setting the stage for what promises to be a captivating campaign. Stay tuned as we continue to update our power rankings and track all the major storylines across the association.
